March of 2016. Sherwood Forest, Maryland.
The last Kindred exits the youngest Rosselini's haven, signaling the conclusion of the Swap Meet. Radiating smugness, Karina makes her way towards her quarters, Vincenzo and Shardik and her father in tow. With her departure, the wraiths disperse themselves amongst the grounds.
Alain leans, unaccompanied, against the fountain. The blond wraith's round face seems drawn, his eyes dart about in a frenetic, paranoid manner. He jumps, hearing the approach of another individual, fading into Obfuscate without seeming to realize it. Cuthbert glances to where his friend was sitting, raising his hands in passivity. "Relax man, it's just me." Alain's form blinks into view, his blue eyes narrowing suspiciously at the other wraith. Cuthbert catches the look, forcing a smile onto his own face. He speaks with a strained casualty. "How was your trip with Psychopath Sr?"
Eyes widening in fear, Alain reacts like a deer in headlights, shushing Cuthbert and gazing warily at the other wraiths, drawn to the pair's conversation. "Don't. Don't fucking joke like that, 'Bert."
Cuthbert shrugs, giving Alain a puzzled smile. "Thought you'd want to brag about getting some action." He looks up towards the manor. "She's not around."
A scoff comes from the side of the building, but both wraiths barely spare a glance to the grim faced Lieutenant as he continues his eavesdropping. Off Cuthbert's look of concern, Alain scrubs at his face with his knuckles. The blond wraiths seems to almost shrink into himself. "You may be the current golden boy, but I don't enjoy this shit." He stares around the yard, overly suspicious. "I'm not..." He trails off as the other wraiths approach, Jackie Boy following the bespectacled Robert Gray, a hank of the older wraith's shirt in his small fist. Robert settles onto one of the stone benches, making the effort to distract Jackie from pestering his agitated comrade. Alain watches them, shifting his eyes to Lt. Mann and back to Cuthbert. He swallows, loudly and needlessly. "I'm not a monster."
At this line, the Lieutenant guffaws. "You're right about that, boy. You're not a monster, you're a fucking pansy." He points towards the manor. "That little girl up there has bigger balls than you."
At mention of Karina, Alain cowers, staring down at his own feet. The Lieutenant sneers, even as Cuthbert strides towards him, ever the defender. "Why don't you mind your business, you sack of shit?"
He punctuates his words with a wave of his hands, and the Lieutenant flies backwards, landing on his ass. Leaping back up with a growl of anger, he stalks towards the taller wraith, hands opening as an assault rifle materializes into his grasp. Jackie Boy starts to sob, as Alain disappears from view, a shameful expression on his face. Lt Mann and Cuthbert converge on each other. With a sigh, Robert places a comforting hand on the young wraith's shoulder, looking sharply towards Mann and Cuthbert. A fathomless shroud of black falls on both wraiths, a stifled shriek coming from within. Cuthbert breaks from the shroud first, shooting Robert a dirty look before unmanifesting and escaping further into the yard. Lt Mann escapes the shroud with more dignity, stepping into the cul-de-sac driveway with a barely repressed shudder. Jackie's head buried in his shoulder, Robert simply peers meekly at the remaining wraith, piping up in his quietly effeminate voice. "We're all in the same situation Jay, why instigate?"
The Lieutenant studies Robert for a moment, his expression stern. "We're not buddies, we're fucking soldiers. Those little pansies shirk responsibility like a pair of dirty socks. We serve the girl, we don't bitch about our fucking plight."
Robert pushes his glasses up his nose, appearing almost astounded. "She's not your friend, either. She'd kill you just as soon as any of us."
Lt. Mann straightens his fatigues, sparing no parting glance to Robert or Jackie as he returns to his post. His words travel through the quiet night to those in earshot. "I'd rather serve the devil, than be in her path."