Secra held onto him and looked up as he pulled his face mask down. With a soft smile she nodded, "It would be nice if you came out with me." She was lifted up and set in his lap, hugging him softly as he spoke she closed her eyes listening. "I know... I really should have stayed here and waited. But..." She stopped and felt his lips on her forehead.

With a soft smile she looked up at him, "I should go change. So we could head out. Ill be back in a few." She slid off his lap kissing his cheek before heading off to her room.

Once at her room she changed into a soft sweater cream colored, and a black pants. Pinning her hair up she walked around and found a blue scarf and wrapped it around her neck slipping on her boots as she was only wanting to go out for a stroll. Heading back over to Vezux's room she reentered. "You ready?"

Seeing her smile warmed his heart, it always made him happy, when she smiled, he shook his head, falling in love with her all over again, as he did that first day she opened his heart,fillng it with life and love, and memories, it over joyed him, that she did want to make him proud, but it made him love her more.

As she spoke he nodded, as she agreed with him, he sighed, and was glas they never stayed mad at each other, he was going to marry her one day, and the day he did, he hoped she said yes, he watched hopped down and kiss his cheek, he smiled , feeling his lips at his cheek, again it made him smile, brightening up his day.

Then as she went to go get dressed he smiled as he finished up a few things, and then he finished up those things, he set them a side getting them out of the way, so he wouldn't lose them, then as she came back, asking him if he was ready, he said, "Yeah, let's go....it's too nice to stay inside." He responded as he then got up, and set his pen down.

As he walked to the door, leaving his room, he was wanting to get out of the house, maybe get some fresh air, and see something different with her, experience something new, he shut his bedroom door, and kind of locked it, and started his way down the stairs with feeling happy, then he pulled up his mask over his mouth to keep the public eye from seeing his fangs.

She took his hand walking down the steps with Vezux to the main door, wanting to go out for a little. Secra held his hand tight keeping her eyes off of everyone but looked up at him occasionally. She was not sure what to say at that moment but she was just happy to be near him. Taking a deep breath she smiled enjoying the crisp air and and the breeze.

She was curious over some things but she wanted to avoid some questions to Vez until later. She kept hold of his hand looking at the people who were cold or on a stroll with either their loved one or children. She smiled softly with a little giggle until she hid her face in her scarf.

She was curious as to whos voice she heard the night before but decided to speak up. "I dont think I was alone... at the warehouse last night..." She looked at Vez wondering if he thought she was going crazy.

Not knowing what to say, he kind of felt shocked that she was held onto his had as they walked down the stairs and out of the house, going outside, he shook his head smiling back at her, she had such a beautiful smile, he always loved to see her smile, although he had no words to say, he thought maybe it was one of those times, where it was meant to be a silent happy moment. 

As he happened to look over, seeing her ponder on something , he almost wanted to ask, but he could see she was hasitant about speaking of what she was thinking about, he gave her smile, matching his eyes, then he looked up seeing what she was looking at, as he looked back down at her, seeing her blush, he realized what she was thinking about, or at least he had hoped she was thinking about it.

"Well I know, some guy was poking around the house lastnight, but there werent around all that much, but I heard that you put up a scary scene, and they got freaked out over it....so, maybe they wanted to check and see if you were alright...and maybe figure out who you were?" He kind stated in a small question, wondering to himself about it as well.

"Secra...I love you.."He blurted out, as gave her hand a gentle squeese, he did love her, and wanted to be with her, but he didn't want to scare her off either.

Holding his hand she walked closer to him, no gaps between their side as they walked. She looked up at him before back towards the sidewalk. With a sigh she listened to him mention about a man who he was talking about. 

"To be honest, I heard the voice... but didnt see anyone. I dont even remember returning to the HQ." She looked back at Vezux as her other hand played with the small ends of the scarf she wore. Looking at the road she shook her head trying to clear the thought of the smell and the sounds of the mans screams. Before looking back at Vezux and smiling.

"I love you too, vezzy" She held his hand tight as he squeezed hers, looking at him she couldnt keep herself from smiling until she looked back at the road. "Busy today huh?" She asked as people were going their separate ways.

As he saw walk towards him, leaving no space, he listened to her, respond to what he had to say, "Well...That is probably a good sign you don't go out by yourself again...I mean i know you need your fresh air...but that was dangerious, you could have died." He said, soft spoken. 

He then say her use her hand to pblay with her scarf, he wondered if she get nervous, he thought not to ask, as he looked up, seeing the trees in their fall colors, some of the falling onto the ground. He could see she seemed to looking at something that wasn't there, as if she was deep in thought, he sighed, shaking his head at last nights events, "Yeah...I am sure...you preety bad off, you had alcohol poisening...you could have died..."He let his sentence die, not knowing if he should speak about it too deeply or if she remembered.

As she said it back, his heart wamrd instantly, like he put in a warm bubble bath, and he never wanted to step out from that warmth, he saw her look at the road, it almost looked like she was blushing, she seemed shy after she said it, he gave a smile through his mouth mask, he would do anything for her, when it came her, he was a teddy bear, or soft for her.

A large sputtering car appeared trundling down the street.  The smoke billowing from the back was not a good sign of vehicular upkeep, however that it had been bought from the Ant Hill mob and it was capable of forward motion was a miracle.  The car wound its way through the streets, its occupants stopping the car occasionally to check on the address they had been given.  The passenger got out and walked into DorianGray’s lock shop. 

Seeing Dorian behind the counter handing out free locks he pushed his way to the front.  He was dressed in a pest controller airsuit if nothing else so that people would move out of his way.  It was a trick he had tried very successfully when in busy places to get what he wanted…and it worked to great effect here.

We’re  looking for a bar.  We don’t know what it was called, maybe the Manor?  Dunno.  Anyway we got word that there was a vomit inducing fight and there would need to be some clean up.  There may be dangerous pests, potentially cockroach type things we have to take care of.  Vicious cockroaches where they multiply their infestation on death.

Dorian looked at Artie_Bucco…they both shuckled.  Dorian replied

Yeah, there was a place just along the road.  It’s pretty obvious when you see it.  It’s a busy place…well there’s a lot of noise…but we don’t see many people going in or out and tend to just stay away.

Artie added…

We hope you get on ok.  Cockroach infestations aren’t good for business.

Not that long after Artie_Bucco asked the directions for the bar that was mainly known for next to noone to enter, DorianGray noticed a disillusioned ArturoStrigliori roam the streets between the bar and the Free Lock 'shop'.

I think they may haven't been able to hear because they were very busy with themselves, Arturo, DorianGray said when he found out ArturoStrigliori had actually been in the bar, participating on the events, but was fully ignored.

Tell you what, let's wait until Artie_Bucco has cleaned the place of all vermin, and then we will invite some of the big leaders to that bar. All right?

As Adonis happened to pass by, DorianGray addressed him

I am sure that you and your Godfather JackMezzo would drop by a café that is free of cockroaches, right, Adonis? I know my boss Random would!

Artie sat on a bench in the street.  He genuinely sometimes had no idea what DorianGray was talking about.  Artie doing manual labour outside of the restaurant?  No, for two reasons

1)    He paid people for that.
2)    If those people were unavailable then his bodyguards would certainly do that do

He walked down the street, in the shadows he could see trails of blood in the alleyways.  He didn’t want to follow them this time.  This last time he followed a trail he had ended up seeing things his innocent eyes did not need.  No, this time he was neither Hansel nor Gretel needing to find his way back to some grisly home so went into the universal bar that existed everywhere like a portal to many dimensions.  He looked for a name but no name could be found, was it the Manor after all?

Ever since reading War of the Worlds several years before while traveling around America,  Artie had been piqued by the idea of space travel and aliens.  He had wondered whether there were other things out there.  After reading other things he had dreams of parallel universes where a mysterious race of people, the Jaqs could appear as if by magic in the current world then disappear.

Shaking himself out of this daydream, he wandered across to where Dorian was standing.

Do you want to head in to this bar and have a look to see what happened?

Artie opened the door and peered around the corner.  The cleaning crews were setting up and looking to get started.  It was dark inside, the barman had closed the door as soon as feasibly possible presumably to avoid any awkward questions from the police if word of the fight had taken place.  Artie didn’t know where the light switch was and any light from outside was insufficient to illuminate much.  What was needed was someone who could come in with excellent night vision.  Someone who could reverse the colours through slits in his eyes or something.  If only there was some superhuman who could do that.  

As it was there wasn't, so Artie bumbled along the wall and found one eventually.  It wasn’t beside the door, it was behind a pillar that was used to support some intricate ceiling work.  When he flicked the light on he wondered whether this used to be the door and the owner had it rewired during the renovation.

I’d have moved the light switch to beside the front door he mused. 

Hmmmm, maybe not though what if people chose to switch the light off as they drunkenly exited or even worse, switched it out as they entered to shoot everyone.  But why by that pillar?  Maybe there was some light that could be shed on it in the wiring diagrams.  But that was a digression.

The booths were all sticky with drink and blood was pooled on the floor.  There were glass fragments from smashed bottles all over the place.  In truth this looked like a typical night out in his Scottish ancestral homeland so he was struggling to see what was wrong.

He stepped on something that did make a different crunch rather than the crunch of glass.  There were some cockroaches in the darkest corners of this bar.  Maybe there was a kitchen they had come from.  Anyway, Artie felt his stomach churning.  He could handle most things but cockroaches and any other winged insects were his nemesis, his kryptonite whatever that might be…his Achilles’ heel that was it. 

He stepped away and looked around to see if his friend DorianGray had come in.

"Dorian?" Joe said with a squint.

"What the fuck?" He huffed as he slowed his pace and placed his hands on his hips.

He was only out for a morning jog. Usually he'd take in the sights and sounds of The Streets from a more leisurely pace. Walking, sitting, half dozing on a park bench as he read through the latest papers of what was happening around the country. He could probably get them delivered to his office, one of them, but there was nothing like being out here with your nose to the grindstone. Not that he was working, as keeping informed was a pleasure all in itself for Joe Adonis.

Wearing matching grey sweat pants and jumper, with his white socks pulled up over the bottom of the pants, he looked like a Philly fighter getting ready to battle a Russian. All he was missing were the soundtrack behind him and an epic stair climb.

"Cockroaches?"

That was mainly what he heard. Something else about a cafe and the Godfather of South Philly himself being name dropped. He was panting, trying to catch his breath. The last thing he wanted to do was go on a cockroach squashing frenzy.

Artie stepped back outside into the real daylight from the murky half-light in the bar.  His eyes took a minute to adjust to the daylight but he was fixated on that thought of a man with night vision eyes…how long would that take to adjust to real light?  

Would his eyes revolve in his head, night vision slits for darkness replaced by regular eyes for daylight.  But his daylight eyes would still be in the dark which in itself would be fine but what about in daylight when daylight eyes were at the front and night eyes in the darkness of his skull.  

Would he have blurred images where daylight vision was superimposed with night slit vision of the inside of his head?  

Where would the optic nerve be?  At the side of his eye instead of at the back?  Would it keep going round in one direction and would the nerve not get twisted?  What if…he stood in a doorway with one eye outside and one eye inside in the dark?  Would he have the benefits of both?

Had this man evolved to be like this?  Had there been some half formed night vision slit people in the past that no-one had spotted?  He had seen people in his lifetime with a squint that you didn’t know which eye to look at but a night vision slit and a real eye?  Maybe someone should actually be on the lookout for night vision man.

Artie had always been described as someone who could daydream in tangents at a million miles per hour…so the sight of an actual Adonis snapped him back to reality.  He walked over to Adonis and DorianGray.

I like your style Adonis, there are not many people who can pull off the socks over the pants look and by golly you are one of them.
There are definitely cockroaches in there.  I stood on one and it multiplied in front of my very eyes.

Artie shivered at the thought

Anyway, I have instructed the Ant Hill cleaning company to be careful not to tread on them but to remove them carefully.  Contain and retain rather than…..

He searched for a pithy third word that would rhyme and give him a catchy catchphrase but the trauma of the cockroaches had rendered him quite stupid.

Contain and retain...

he repeated.

Then they can clear up the blood.  I took the trouble of delving a little deeper…it seems a guy minding his own business was shot and stabbed over by the warehouses after being beaten with a bottle.  Mistaken identity or something maybe.

Contain and retain? Ant Hill? What the fuck was this guy talking about. Adonis was confused. All he wanted was a bit of exercise before chowing into some bagels. Because the exercise would get his appetite up and also be the motivating factor to then burn the energy of the meal to come. It was science. Raw, natural science. This night vision and teleportation shit, not science.

"Artie, look man. I just wanted to take in the scenery of the streets as I got in a workout. Then Dolarain is here talking about cockroaches. And you're talking about mutating cockroaches. And now there is so much cock in my morning routine I feel like I'm gonna be pregnant before leaving."

Adonis was still catching his breath, but seemed to have it mostly under control. His energy was up, and his sense of adventure also peeking due to the flood of endorphins into his bloodstream and the testosterone levels being elevated. Also, science. Although this was one weird start to an adventure, he'd had worse. He shrugged his shoulders as he looked at both Artie_Bucco and DorianGray in turn.

"Fuck it, what's the mission." Joe said as he began stretching in an attempt to both cool down and also limber up before attacking whatever it was these guys had in mind. Stretching helped to reduce injuries following a work out and before one it was also used to get the body into a state that was ready for more vigorous exercise. Bro science.