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       #Post#: 10834--------------------------------------------------
       Predators' Reunion
       By: Raven Tepes Date: October 18, 2021, 2:42 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Victor stood outside of the historic Essex Playhouse that Raven
       owns with her husband, Alucard. He knew that she was inside and
       doing what has become a daily routine.. in between fighting the
       forces of evil. It’s a rainy, foggy early morning with dawn
       another couple of hours away in the sleepy portion of this
       London borough as he stood there watching the theater. Victor
       silently wondered to himself if she or even the Hellsing
       Organization had heard about the escape of him and his team from
       the DoD’s Weapon X Program. His shoulder length blond hair lays
       flat against his head, dripping with water from the rain, as a
       grin forms across his face with the thought of Raven’s possible
       reactions to seeing him again. Would she slap him? Would she
       scold him? Would she pounced on him in a fight? Or would she
       just greet him with her normal sweet, friendly smile? Victor:
       Nah, she ain’t gonna smile when she sees me. Not after the last
       time we saw each other. I’ll be lucky if her Ruski vampire guard
       even let’s me that close to her. Good thing I left Hugo and the
       others back at the HQ while I make this business trip. It’d be a
       blood bath if they had come with all the possible welcomes that
       I’d receive. Victor said quietly to himself as he watched the
       lit up office window in the third story of the theater.
       Even though he couldn’t sense her exact location, his instincts
       told him that Raven is in that room as he knew what kind of
       responsible busy body she really is when it comes to work. It
       was no surprise to Victor that she’s still running the three
       theaters while the world was going to crap. There was still
       ignorant humans who were being blinded by the governments about
       what was going on in the world, and those ignorant humans still
       want their theatrical performances and operas. Victor shook his
       head as he finally crossed the nearly empty street once a car
       passes by, snapping him from his thoughts. He had been studying
       public record blueprints of the Essex Playhouse for weeks before
       flying into London International and coming here. He study every
       possible entry and exist point that there is in the building in
       order to hopefully better avoid the bear of a bodyguard, Boris,
       and his men. Boris has never liked Victor and more than likely
       never will so avoiding a confrontation, as much fun as one would
       be, had to be avoided as much as possible for this reunion.
       Victor stealthily makes his way around to the newly refurbished
       fire escape in the back of the theater. He paused here and there
       to duck out of sight and listen to the sounds of random
       performers leaving the backstage door after a long night of
       performances and cleaning. He only continued once the sounds of
       the cheerful performers and stagehands fade away each time.
       Victor could easily smell a mix of humans, mutants, werewolves,
       and vampires in each of the little groups leaving the backstage
       and going home. That was no surprise to Victor. Raven’s lack of
       hatred and peaceful nature always accepted and worked with all
       people was a part of her personality that oddly warmed and
       soothed him in a curious way.. and Victor didn’t really hate
       those feelings when they involved Raven. Victor: Good ol’
       Babydoll. She’d hired a troll if they weren’t so damn stupid.
       Victor muses softly to himself after the last of the groups of
       theater workers left. He then moves on towards his goal. Victor
       only had one other pause when he heard a sound and smelled what
       he thought might have been a vampire, but he relaxes when he
       turns around and looks just to find nothing. Victor finally made
       it to the fire escape with a confident grin as he starts to
       climb up once he pulls the ladder down.
       Meanwhile… Raven had just gotten off the phone with the manager
       of the Warsaw Opera and walks over to the well stocked liquor
       bar in her office. They had just finished discussing which
       people to contact in order to replace two performers and both
       understudies who had all become sick before Sunday’s performance
       of Phantom of the Opera. Before that was a call from the Vampire
       Theater in New Orleans which needed her in a conference call
       with the Louisiana Department of Corrections in order to
       authorize an emergency delivery of the weekends death row
       inmates because there was a mix up with Texas. The whole ordeal
       had given Raven a headache and now she could use a drink. She
       grabs a bottle of Glenfiddich 15 year old Scotch whisky from the
       bar’s shelf and a short glass. After adding ice to the glass,
       Raven pours a double shot over the ice and then tops it off with
       some medical blood, type O negative.
       She then walks over to the lounger couch in her office and sits
       down. She had been so busy and so stressed out between the
       problems with all of the villain attacks and the daily business
       life that she didn’t pay attention to her supernatural senses as
       they were dulled by the stress headache so she wasn’t aware of
       Victor’s closeness to her location. She reaches to the coffee
       table in front of her, grabs  the table lighter and lights a
       strong sandalwood incense. Raven then sits back with her drink
       afterwards, takes a sip, lays back her head, and closes her eyes
       to try and relax. Raven: If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m an
       immortal, then all this stress would’ve killed me months ago.
       Alexa, plays smooth jazz on Pandora at half volume. The Alexa
       device confirms the command and smooth jazz music fills Raven’s
       office which puts a small smile on her face.
       Victor was happy that he managed to get to the third floor
       escape window without alerting Raven’s bodyguards. He knew how
       hard it is to sneak past a bunch of supernatural predators like
       vampires and that this was truly putting his skills to the test.
       Victor: So far it looks like I washed with enough charcoal soap
       to get past the blood suckers. He jokes in a whisper to himself
       as he tries to open the window just to find it locked. Victor:
       Well damn… Victor say with a quiet grin as he places his
       adamantium claws just right against the glass. Victor: Looks
       like I’ll hafta use the ol’ glass cutters. Ain’t it kinda unsafe
       ta have these windows locked? He jokes quietly as he twist his
       hand back and forth just right until a full circle of glass had
       been cut out. He pulls the glass piece out and places it on the
       fire escape landing. Victor then reaches in and unlocks the
       window, pushing it up slowly and carefully so not to make noise.
       The soft sound of smooth jazz hits his ears as he climbs through
       the window and stands in the main third floor hallway. Simple
       set up with balcony seating to his left through several
       curtained archway entries while a men’s and women’s restrooms
       were to the right. At the very end of the hallway is a door
       marked ‘Office”, and Victor knew that is where the music is
       coming from. Victor: It’s almost as if she’s expectin’ me. Hope
       she got a good bourbon. Victor quietly muses with a broad grin
       as walks straight for the office door. He stops briefly as his
       nostrils flared from the strong smell of sandalwood incense,
       scotch whisky, and blood which almost covered Raven’s own
       stressed out scent. This quickly told Victor everything that he
       needed to know about Raven’s own mental state as he places his
       hand on the unlocked knob and turns it. Victor: [I]”Damn, her
       headache is about ta get a lot worse.”[/I] Victor thinks to
       himself as he opens the door.
       The way Raven’s lounger couch sits in the office, her back was
       to the office door when Victor opens it. Victor’s smile turns
       from broad to more of a wry grin as many more devious, indecent
       thoughts raced through his mind. Oh how her prone state on the
       couch is so inviting to his more.. primal urges. He shakes those
       thoughts away as the last thing she needed was a fight which
       would happen if he was to follow through with just one thought.
       Instead, Victor clears his throat and speaks. Victor: Ya really
       should use a softer scent of incense if yer gonna relax with yer
       door unlocked, Birdy. Keeps ya from bein’ snuck up on by a
       criminal. Raven’s head snaps up from the laid back position. She
       quickly rises to her feet and turns to the door with a shocked
       look on her face to see Victor walking into her office and
       closing the door behind him. She couldn’t believe that she
       stupidly left herself that vulnerable let alone that Victor is
       standing in her office, and her faced shows it. Victor keeps
       walking over to a clearly shocked Raven and chuckles a bit at
       the look. Victor: Ya might want to pick yer jaw up. It’s not a
       flatterin’ look on ya.
       Raven shakes her head with her eyes closed in a hope that she’s
       hallucinating from the stress. Victor was last in the control of
       the DoD’s Weapon X Program under Admiral Wilcox. She was so
       stunned that she didn't hardly notice that Victor was wet from
       the light rain. They were suppose to have a power inhibitor on
       him. She always hated where Victor had ended up after leaving
       the Brotherhood because of the power inhibitors and the rumors
       of painful experiments, but at least she knew that he wasn’t
       causing trouble for the general public. Raven walks around the
       couch and stops next to the end armrest across from her office
       wet bar. Raven: Wh.. what are you doing here, Sabretooth? She
       wasn’t going to ask how he got in because she knows his
       background and how well he’s trained. Raven: How did you get
       away from the DoD?
       Victor walks over to the wet bar and finds a bottle of rare
       reserve Jack Daniels and grabs a glass. No time fer the how I
       got away, Babydoll. Only enough time fer the what I’m doin’
       here. He says as he then picks up the bottle of Jack Daniels and
       pours a double shot. He turn adds a single cube of ice from the
       bar mini ice maker and takes a sip of the expensive whiskey
       bourbon. Victor: Hell, we’ll be lucky if we got time ta catch up
       and find out how the other has been. He turns around and looks
       to her with a dashing almost flirty smile. Victor: Though ya at
       least knew where I was before I “quit” while ya sit in this
       stuffy ol’ city with a blowhard husband, tryin’ to keep the bad
       guys from winnin’, and protectin’ the meat sacks who would keep
       predators like us as slaves. Victor never cared how Raven felt
       about humans and this time was no different. Besides, he always
       loved the facial reaction she gave when he spoke like that, the
       way her nose slightly wrinkles, and the disappointment with some
       disgust that twinkles in her eye. He found the look rather cute
       and still does as she gives it to him this time too.
       Raven: Many of those “meat sacks” are very kind humans who are
       quite the fighters not afraid of jackarses like you.. She made
       sure to emphasize the word jackarses as she takes another sip of
       her drink that is still in her hand. Raven: ..and very good
       friends who’ve been there for me when I need them unlike other
       people. Those words brought a hardy chuckle from Victor who
       moves a bit closer to Raven. Raven: And you better not let
       Alucard hear you call him a blowhard…
       Victor: ..or he’ll kick my arse or worse. He says as he looks
       slightly down at Raven now he’s within inches of her. Victor
       takes another sip of Jack as a brief indecent thought flutters
       through his mind. The smell of Raven’s pheromones combined with
       the smells of floral perfume, alcohol, incense, and blood was
       driving his control to a brink that he hadn’t felt in a long
       time. Victor mentally reminds himself where it would lead to and
       that was not needed right now especially with how much stress he
       can sense from her.
       Raven: Actually I was going to say that he’ll put you in your
       place. She says as she looks up at him slightly. It’s now that
       she realizes that she can smell Victor’s own pheromones and
       hormones and the signals that they’re giving along with empathic
       connection that allows her a glimpse of his feelings about her.
       Oh this might not be good. She knew that she had developed
       Victor’s claws and supernatural sense of smell but this
       sensation feels more like a blood bond than anything else. She
       tries to hide the feelings of this emerging realization. Raven:
       If you touch me in any way than platonic, then Alucard will do
       far more than just hurt you.
       Victor outright laughed after Raven spoke but not just from her
       words but also from the awkward feelings coming off of her, not
       realizing what Raven already has. Victor: I’d like to see Ally
       Cat try to kill me for touchin’ ya. He’d might learn that he’s
       not the top dog he thinks he is.
       Raven: You’re impossible some times, Victor. Raven says with a
       sigh as she tries to relax some. The newest revelations about
       what happened to Victor and herself after their last violent
       encounter had only made her headache worse. Raven: Anyways, you
       said that our time is limited for conversation which I will not
       argue as it will only be a matter of time before Boris finds out
       that you’re here.. Raven raises her eyebrow slightly as watches
       Victor take another nonchalant sip of his drink. Raven: ..which
       we both know that he doesn’t like you.
       Victor: That Ruski is nothin’ more than a teddy bear. I can take
       him easily enough. Victor gives Raven a confident, wry grin.
       Raven: Cocky as usual I see. Raven rolls her eyes and sighs
       softly as she raises her free hand to her temple and rubs it
       softly. Raven: Can we please focus? I have enough of a headache.
       Victor gives her a soft chuckle and then places a hand gently on
       her shoulder with a bit of a massaging squeeze as a calming
       gesture. He knew that pressure point well and hoped it would
       work with Raven Victor: Alright, alright.. down to business then
       ya can relax a little. His smile becomes warm as he can feel her
       relax beneath his touch. That sensation caused an odd feeling of
       gratification to stir in him which he only really felt when
       killing, but he wasn’t mentally complaining. Victor: That’s
       better. Now, I need you to do me a big favor and go to your
       theater in New Orleans. I’ll be sendin’ ya a very important
       package that needs to be taken to Pilgrim. With how much stress
       and tension in Raven, Victor decides right then and there that
       mentioning Mister Sinister is the lead geneticist for the DoD’s
       Weapon X Program would only make her worse. He figures that it
       will be best if Willow or Illias tells her unless Taz already
       told her.
       A wary look crosses Raven’s face with Victor’s words and
       rightfully so considering Victor’s background.. though he still
       has yet to back stab her. Raven: What kind of package? What are
       you and General Pilgrim getting me in the middle of? She says as
       she gently pushes Victor’s hand off her shoulder which makes him
       sigh a bit. Her voice heavily reflects the wariness that she is
       feeling though Victor could sense and feel it more than the
       words express. She also gives an exasperated sigh and looks down
       a bit as she takes another sip of her drink.
       Without thinking about it, Victor gently places his free hand to
       Raven’s chin and lifts her face back to his after she takes a
       sip. Victor: I need ya ta just trust me and go to New Orleans.
       Okay?
       Raven: But, Victor.. She begins to speak as he lifts her face to
       look at his again.
       Victor: Ah come on, Birdy. I ain’t ever tried to kill or **** ya
       like I’ve done ta other women in my past, and I ain’t ever lied
       to ya either.. held back secrets, but never lied. What else can
       I do ta get ya ta trust me for cryin’ out loud? Victor is
       passionate with his words as he speaks to Raven, more passionate
       than even he expected. It’s the truth though. Raven is literally
       the only woman he hadn’t tried to kill or ****, and the thoughts
       even made him a little sick which he thought was odd but
       fascinating. His face though didn’t just show the passion but
       also the disappointment at her distrust in him. Victor: I know
       that I mauled the crap out of ya and practically took a chunk of
       flesh the last time we met, but ya shredded and drained me just
       as bad.
       As harsh as Victor’s words are, Raven knew that he was right.
       Victor had always treated her better than many others that they
       both know and far better than his criminal history suggests.
       What hits Raven the hardest though is feeling Victor’s passion..
       and the disappointment. She sighs softly and apologetically.
       Raven: I’m sorry. You’re right, Victor. You’ve done quite a bit
       to prove that I can trust you. She gives him a small reassuring
       smile which makes him relax and smile back. Raven: And if I
       remember correctly, that was a mutual discussion between
       friendly predators not necessarily a bloody fight between
       enemies.
       That makes Victor chuckle a bit and become more hopeful that
       Raven will agree to go to the Vampire Theater in New Orleans. He
       finishes off his drink and say with hope. Victor: I’ll concede
       to that. So does this mean that you trust me and will go to New
       Orleans to receive my package. He places the empty glass back on
       the wet bar and walks back over to Raven.[/b]
       Raven: Yes, I’ll go to my theater in New Orleans and receive
       that package for you, Victor.. She says to him with a bit more
       friendliness and relaxation in the tone. Raven: ..though I still
       want to know more.  She walks past Victor and finishes her drink
       just before placing the glass down. She then turns back to
       Victor.
       Seeing and hearing her friendlier and more relaxed voice and
       posture, Victor smiles and moves to but a breath a part from
       Raven which makes her head tilt up in a manner that drives him
       near his control’s limits again. He gets his face close to hers
       so his hot breath spread across her face which releases certain
       hormones in Raven that makes his nostrils flare. Victor: It’s
       nothing bad but could still cause ya some problems if the bad
       guys its been taken from find ya. Believe me when I say am I
       sorry, but there’s no else I can trust with this, Raven.
       Raven: I trust you, Victor. She says softly as she bumps into
       the wet bar from trying to back up from the closeness. She still
       remembers what happened the last time Victor got this close
       which was awkward, but now she can smell and empathically tell
       that Victor was feeling that way again. Raven: Um.. Victor..
       remember that I am your very married friend.
       Victor grins but doesn’t move back with Raven’s words. He knew
       it wouldn’t be much longer before Boris and his boys find out
       that someone broke into the theater, and he wasn’t going to
       waste this reunion especially not after figuring out what
       happened between the two of them. Victor: And when have I
       actually given a rat’s arse about ya bein’ a married woman with
       the wrong man?  He definitely wasn’t going to waste this reunion
       at all as he wraps both of his arms around Raven’s waist and
       draws her closer.
       Raven: But my husband is as much of a predator as you if not
       mo.. Raven’s words are cut short as the realization that it
       didn’t matter what she said to Victor. He pressed his lips
       against hers in a forceful kiss, cutting off her words. He could
       feel a swirl of emotions coming from Raven and smell how her
       scent flared in certain ways. He knew the slap was next and even
       welcomed it just to be able to talk to and hold the one woman in
       the world that he was willing and wanting to defend or murder
       for. Her hands pound and push against until he finally breaks
       off the kiss. She pulls back her right hand and slaps Victor
       across the face hard enough to cause his head to snap to the
       right and leave a nice welting, red mark. He knew anyone else
       would probably dead from a broken neck so he laughed a bit.
       Raven: Victor, how dare you?
       Victor: Ya knew it was gonna happen, Birdy.. He says as he rubs
       his cheek and looks back at Raven with a chuckle. Victor relaxes
       his grip around Raven’s waist. Victor: ..and more than past
       experiences told ya that it was gonna. They say blood is thicker
       than water, but they never woulda imagined what that sayin’
       would mean with someone like ya. Raven’s eyes widen with Victor
       gives his indirect way of saying that he knows about the strange
       blood bond between them. Victor: I definitely ain’t yer brother
       and ain’t yer ghoul if that’s what’s runnin’ through yer mind.
       Victor steps back a bit and quite surprised by how much control
       he’s actually got right. Victor: Just think of me as a love sick
       lion familiar who’s gonna always protect ya when ya need it
       most.
       Raven: More like a love sick horn dog. She says with a bit of
       sarcasm and a smile as Victor steps back. Raven: Well, I guess
       now we know what happened when blood was exchanged after our
       last encounter.
       Victor: Yeah, I thought I was goin’ nuts when I could seem to
       tell when ya were nearby. Now, I’ve gotten use to it. His smile
       then gets a bit broader. Victor: Hafta say that it’s interestin’
       to feel the internal reactions from ya when I mess with you.
       Raven: I’m just glad that I didn’t feel the slap I gave. I’m
       pretty sure that hurt. She gives him a sarcastic smile as she
       tries to relax more after that tense and awkward moment.
       Victor: Yeah, you’re lucky that I actually care about ya.. His
       smile is relaxed and warm but a bit more serious. Victor: ..or
       ya wouldn’t be unspoiled nor someone I call a close friend.
       Raven gets a bit more serious and sighs. Raven: I know, Victor.
       You still make me nervous now and then though. She says as she
       leans against the wet bar.
       Victor: I know, and I can’t blame ya, Raven. He moves close to
       Raven again but this time she remains more relaxed. Victor:
       That’s why I trust ya even more. Ya don’t trust me yet ya
       haven’t really lied ta me or tried ta kill me or tried ta back
       stab me. His smile becomes warm as this time he pulls Raven in
       for a hug. Victor: So don’t ya go changin’ on me. Gotcha?
       Raven could tell that this was a genuine platonic friend hug so
       was quick and comfortable to hug Victor in forgiveness. Raven: I
       promise that I won’t go changing, Victor. Raven says with a
       sigh.
       The peace is soon shattered though as the sounds of unhappy
       bodyguards begin to sound. One guard, Mikhail, pounds on the
       door to Raven’s office. Mikhail: Lady Raven, are you okay?!
       There is signs of intruder in the building!
       Raven wiggles herself from Victor while calling out to Mikhail.
       Raven: I am fine, Mikhail. Go alert the others. She prays that
       Mikhail hadn’t already warned Boris. She knows that Boris hates
       and distrusts Victor and doesn’t really need the conflict right
       now. [b]Victor keeps his mouth shut and starts assessing his
       escape options while Raven talks. She telepathically speaks to
       Victor. Raven: [I]”Victor, stay in here while I go and take care
       of this. I’ll try to clear you a way out since I really don’t
       feel like Natasha and I having to pull you and Boris apart.”[/I]
       She walks over to the office door as she speaks which is
       Victor’s cue to hide out of sight.
       Victor nods in agreement. Less confrontation before he’s ready
       for it is better than a Russian vampire and himself tearing
       apart the theater. That would really upset Raven and stress her
       out and that’s not needed. He shakes his head a bit in amazement
       at his own thoughts.. and even his own actions as he gets
       himself in position to stay hidden as Raven leaves the office.
       If this was anyone else, Victor knew that he wouldn’t go through
       all of this to speak to the person. He would’ve just barged in
       and forced the talk or send Hugo to snatch up the person needed.
       Raven is different for Victor, and even he’s not entirely sure
       why or how such a peaceful, sweet person could bring out the
       kitty cat in him.. and in a weird way it didn’t bother him.
       Raven opens the office door once Victor is in place and is
       greeted by a very worried Mikhail. Raven: See. I’m fine. Now
       let’s go find the others and check the building. It’s probably
       just a thief looking for the safe. She says as she walks pass
       Mikhail and closes the door. Mikhail nods and follows Raven to
       the stairs. Raven: After that, then we need to talk about a trip
       to New Orleans. There’s some matters that I must handle at the
       theater in person. Raven says as she and Mikhail walk down the
       stairs to the first floor where most of the others in the
       theater are at.
       Victor breathes easy knowing that Raven is clearing the way for
       him to get out. Once again, his thoughts turn to the
       possibilities if Boris had barged into the office and suppresses
       a laugh as he makes his way back the way he got in. Victor: I
       really wish that woman wasn’t married because I could make an
       honest predator of her. He says to himself as he slips back out
       the window on to the fire escape. In a silent hurry, Victor
       moves down the fire escape and off into the night. His thoughts
       briefly turn to what he could do to get Alucard permanently out
       of the picture which makes him laugh. Victor: I don’t understand
       what kind of hoodoo that woman has but one day Alucard will be
       out of the way and then I’ll have my chance.. whether anyone
       else likes it or not. He says to himself as he walks out into
       the early foggy morning and flags down a cab so he can go back
       to his hotel. Victor: Now to contact Mystique and tell her that
       we’re all set for phase two of Operation Annoy Sinister.
       [I]To be continued…[/I]
       *****************************************************