Outcasts RP

Vincent smirked as he heard Levi's scream, "Like music to the ears."

"Do tell." Stella said with a small smile, taking a sip of tea.

Levi forced his breathing to calm and fight the pain like Isabella had taught him. His mind cleared and the pain ebbed slightly. He pulled the inch-long dagger from his pocket and jammed it into the lock. "Come on. Come on," he whispered.

"Well, I'm not from here, obviously. I was born in India to a very wealthy and powerful family. I grew up with all the luxuries our culture can provide, but I was a rather nosy child. I asked far too many questions, and unfortunately that continued into my teenage years. I was hired by other families and the Indian government as an information broker and a spy. I found things. Terrible things. Deadly things."

"Is it smart to leave him alone?" Catherine asked, putting an ice cube up to her lip.
"You heard him screaming, he's in no condition to escape."

"What kind of things?" Stella asked curiously, quietly.

The door clicked quietly and swung open. "Yes," he whispered, staggering out. He kept a hand to his chest, quelling the worst of the bleeding.

"The Prime Minister's advisor was not all he seemed to be. He was allied with enemies of our leader. He had hired a half dozen assassins to kill him, but they all failed. Because of me. But, I couldn't just tell the Minister. He had to see for himself, but before that could happen, the advisor caught me. He tortured me for days on end. When I wouldn't talk, he set up a conspiracy to banish me from the country. I was too well-known to kill. He'd be hated for the choice. He manipulated all the information to look like I had set up the hits on the Prime Minister and confronted him about it. The Minister was an old friend, so he mercifully let me live. I pled my case, but the evidence spoke. I was banished from India. If I was to return, I'd be killed on sight. But, that's a good thing I've done. I'm not a hero. By a long shot."

Stella looked at him sadly, "That's terrible, I'm sorry, Israel."

He waved a hand. "I still write my family on occasion. I'm just glad they weren't affected in the whole ordeal." He leaned in closer. "Now, to make you feel better, my dear. I was working a job in Afghanistan for a rogue regime that was trying to topple all the good that was happening there. They paid well, and I needed the money." He quirked a dark smile. "With my knowledge, the government collapsed."

Victoria threw the doors open unannounced. "I hear my son is still alive."

Vincent looked over at the door and smiled, "Aunt Victoria, yes he's down in the cells. I'm afraid he still has no memory."

Stella looked down at her hands, "But you had to do what you had to do, it's not like you had evil intentions." she said quietly.

"I think I'll pay him a visit." She descended the stairs and found Levi slumped against the bars, panting and coughing. "Well, you're rather resourceful. And you've gotten better."
"Yay. More faces I don't recognize."
"I'm insulted. You can't remember your own mother."
"I couldn't remember my own name for a while. Don't be too offended. Are you here to beat me up, too?"

"No, my intentions weren't particularly evil, but I still took the job knowing what the outcome would be. I knew exactly what would happen, and yet I still went through with it."

"She graced ourselves with her presences, lucky us," Catherine said sarcastically.
Vincent ignored her and sat back down, continuing his card game.

Stella was silent for a moment before asking, "Do you regret it?"

"No, Catherine took care of that for me. I want you on my side, you brilliant boy."
"Ha! Fat chance."
Victoria's eyes darkened. "Or I'll kill Isabella."
"Like you even know where she is."
"I can find out."
"Then you'll be the first."

Israel dropped his eyes. "I do. Every day of my life. I saw kids murdered in the street because of what I did. I can remember each of their faces."

Stella looked at him sadly, "It's in the past though, you have to move on."

"I know, but those sort of things just stay with you. It becomes a part of you. Just like a soldier returning from war. You can take the man out of the battlefield, but you can never really take the battlefield out of the man. Every face of those who died, every injury you ever caused, they stay with you. They shape who you are - for better or for worse." He smiled faintly. "For better, in my case."

"Vincent! I think you should come down here! We have a little situation," Victoria called, grinning.
Levi swore under his breath. "It's not going to be easy with you people, is it?"
"I'm afraid not."

"I'm still waiting to see how my actions will affect my life, hopefully for the better." she said quietly, still ashamed.

Vincent smirked, putting his cards down and headed towards the cells, "What seems to be the problem?" he asked, leaning against the wall.

"You learn from them. Remember the pain you're feeling now. I know how it feels. Instead of letting it drive you insane with sadness and regret, choose to never make the same mistakes again. Let it be the force that drives you forward." He smirked at himself. "But enough of the therapy session from me. I'm barely older than you are."

"I think you need better locks. And my little son refuses to join us. I think we could use a resourceful, smart man like him on our side, don't you?"

"Still, thank you for keeping my secret, and I promise to keep yours as well." Stella smiled, "And I'll remember that." her smile wavered, she wasn't sure though if she'd be able to have a choice in her actions.

Israel took her hand. He leaned over and kissed her cheek gently. "I want to see you again, soon, but I need to get back to camp. I need to make sure Levi's OK. But, you have to promise me that we'll meet again."

Stella nodded, understanding, "We'll be in touch, I promise that." She kissed him on the cheek and got up, smiling, "Keep safe, Israel."


"I'll check on that, and yes, I think it would be best for him to join. It'd make us a family again." Vincent smiled, "And worse comes to worse, we can just reprogram him."

"To you as well." He didn't want to leave her, but the promise of reunion was enough for him right now. He smiled and disappeared out the door and into the night.

Levi stepped back, eyes flicking back and forth.
"That's true. Like poor Benjamin. This one's already been through it once and beaten it. Sort of. He'd be harder to convert a second time. His mind is already defended against it."

Stella lingered as he left before heading in the opposite direction. She couldn't stop smiling. She felt at peace knowing he was okay and that he didn't hate her. It was enough to make her happy for once in a long time.

"It's worth a shot at least," Vincent said and looked at Levi with a smirk, "You look like a trapped mouse, cousin. How pathetic."

"Maybe not a mouse," Victoria said. "Maybe a wolf."
"I was always told not to corner animals. That's when they're at their most dangerous." He pulled the gun from his belt and cocked it in the same motion. "Stupid girl didn't take it from me."

"Dammit, Catherine." Vincent hissed under his breath, taking a step back and pulled out his own gun. "Control your son, Victoria."

Victoria took a step forward and froze when Levi shifted his attention. "Which one of you is quicker, I wonder."
"I wouldn't bet my life on it, if I were you," Levi stated.

Israel found Isabella lounging in a hammock. "Where's Levi?"
"I thought he was with you," she replied, setting aside her book.
"Damn," he muttered.
"Where is he, Israel?"
"I don't know. He never showed up."

"Now we're at another standoff, this sure is getting annoying." Vincent sighed, moving forward, his gun still trained on Levi, "Where's Catherine with a bottle when you need her." he muttered idly.

Gen woke up from her short nap and yawned, stretching fluidly before getting out of bed and decided to look around a bit more.

Levi shifted so he could watch both of them without strain. "Thankfully not here."

"Where could he be?" Isabella asked.
"I don't know." He hesitated. "Maybe someone grabbed him? Someone from his past?"
"Vincent maybe?"
"Or Victoria."
"We need to go look. Now. We should take Scott with us."
"Go get him. I'll get us weapons."
"Meet back here in five minutes."
He nodded once and took off."

Vincent sighed, glancing over at Victoria, "Do you really want me to shoot him?"

Gen wandered around the hallways around her room. She was still trying to process everything that had happen, though it was difficult for her to do so.

((I tis tired, night!!))