Dominus_

I edited it so I could include that detail. Including not understanding where Alpha is, but now there's a big ass plant breaking out of my facility :( don't come in and hurt me <3

Posted.

• Brian, Whitaker and his security have arrived at First A.I.D. Labs.
• Met up with Rosso at the front entrance. Offered her and Whitaker food and rest while they prepare for the fight.
• Reunited with his team of telepaths and may be interacting with Belladonna.

I'll be posting in a few hours to connect Dirge and Hawkshade in this union more directly.

Rise Above Hate, Part 1

All I ever wanted was the chance to change the circumstances of my own life. The last name Newcastle gave me the power to do just that and more. As Brian Newcastle, I worked tirelessly to introduce Dominus International's First A.I.D. Labs into my hometown.

I thought it would inspire Grimm City. I thought it would show the city that there was a life beyond the cruelty of our streets. I know it sounds stupid, but I thought I could create the kind of hope I needed as a kid. And as I peer through the tinted glass of my limousine, a disgruntled masked vigilante studying my every gesture, I wonder.

Is this my fault?

Brian was discouraged. With members of the city council terminating their Dominus servers, there were blind spots in the city that he couldn't access from the grid. He knew there were faint whispers of distrust in his subsidiary company, but it wasn't until @ada_guillaume spoke to him telepathically that he learned the truth. This attack was a setup and if he didn't comply, his city would suffer for his pride.

"I don't expect you to like me, but we have an obligation to Grimm." He spoke to the Enigma (@detective_whitaker) with a sincerity emphasized by the closing proximity between the two. As they were encircled by his security detail, Brian walked shoulder to shoulder with his makeshift partner, looking to him with the same endearing nature that had won him favor within his community.

"Our government hasn't helped us. Have you seen any helicopters, special forces, anything?" As they approached the staircase leading to the front entrance of his facility, his personal hitwoman (@rosso) waited with an almost annoyed posture. He could tell she felt her talents were being wasted and for that Brian would compensate.

"It's still healing from an abused infrastructure. Dead presidents and piss poor international relations." It was a slight against his father. An aggravation with the world around him and as he pushed opened the doors of his facility, Brian guided his guests into the center of his facility where an elevator opened upon their arrival.

"It's the middle of the night. We'll be stopping in the Division One facility. Our medical division is running on a backup generator. There are showers if you want to get cleaned up," Brian casually peeled off his whiskey stained long sleeve shirt. As his rosary danced on his chest, Brian looked at his himself through the stainless steel of the elevator doors. In a moment of self-reflection, Brian smiled at the scars he'd been given from his youth and his time on the Force.

"You've got my permission to rest up, eat some food from the breakroom. Whatever you're in the mood for. I just hope you don't mind the room," As the doors opened, Brian and his associates were swarmed by members of his staff and their families. The number of pleasantries and thanks painted the King of Grimm as a saint walking among his devout. And for a moment the would-be hero played his role.

Brian smiled, he waved and he even comforted some of his more sensitive employees. It all ended when the trinity of telepaths known as Legacy approached from the sea of Grimm. In unison, they're eyes illuminated a static blue energy as their fingertips traced his scars.

"We've found @xxbelladonnaxx and her mind is interesting. May lead us to the rat's nest." Sabrina spoke into his ear but muttered nothing out loud. Samantha looked at Rosso with a peculiar interest in the girl's mental fortitude. Alana, on the other hand, looked at the Enigma liked she'd seen him before.

"Get my gear and wake her up," Brian responded telepathically as he approached the blocked off portion of his medical division. "We need to understand the depth of Ada's collaborators."

I'll be posting either tonight or tomorrow just been a bit busy with work.

@rosso: @hawkshade: would y'all mind if i moved everyone into his facility? If not I can just begin at physical introductions and move from there.

i kinda want to wait till dirge posts but i don't mind moving forward.

I'm actually being consistent in an rpg. 2018 is manipulating us, but to what end?

I have a cvu character....>.>

@rosso: I have to be quick if I want to assemble my champions...of peace.

so, I may have tried to assemble us before y'all fight @hawkshade@rosso I kinda want his message to arrive as they're about to get into it lol

@xxbelladonnaxx I'm trying to procure the unconscious bella so that'd be sweet if that's cool with you.

@dirge_ you can go yourself to the location or have one of your people drop off bella if that comes about or just represent him while the hunt for ada continues.

Everything's Grimm

"Don't walk into my home with that holier than thou attitude." Brian rubbed his eyelids with his sleeves, trying to make sure what he saw was real. After hours of handling an insurmountable amount of stress, the Newcastle legacy wasn't in the mood for late night hallucinations.

"You're over there talking about what I know, but you won't share a drink with me? That's some really funny shit." Brian let out a short-winded laugh, but it couldn't conceal the tears sliding down his face or the lingering scent of whiskey oozing from his pours. He knew he was above the mediocrity of self-deprecation, but even he could experience the nagging feeling of defeatism. If he could scream, he would. Hell, the appearance of @detective_whitaker gave him plenty of stress relief ideas, but he wouldn't.

"I'm trying my best to save my city, but my people are turning against me." He didn't know how he was made, but Ada Guillaume had figured a way around his intervention. "They think I'm the one behind all of this. Like I'd purposely destroy my home." With all of his might, Brian brought himself to his feet. He stumbled, at first, but found his footing as he walked toward his uninvited guest.

"Did you know I developed the Grid?" After inheriting his father's tech company, Brian started integrating communication networks and security feeds into the framework of the city. It's helped family's stay in contact with one another during situations like this. It's also helped him keep tabs on the person behind this mess, but he's starting to here chatter.

"I'm the reason people can even talk to one another and now they're saying Dominus International is behind all of this!" These accusations were intolerable. Allegiance to his brand was fading and Brian could feel himself losing the devotion of his people. He could see feeds from A-X Phones across the board turned off by their users. Like cracks in a mirror, trust in the Newcastle name splintered.

"Now you're here. Asking me what I know. Well, let me tell you this. Everything's grim and you're gonna help me fix it." At this point, Brian stood toe to toe with Whitaker. He was just a few inches taller than him, but it didn't stop Brian from looking down at his masked guest. He even smiled before taking a few steps back.

"The Grid can see through any webcam through permissions from its user, but I've since overridden those data walls after the EMP attack. Since then I've been able to create communication lines with certain individuals helping me quell this attack," Brian was beginning to find himself in the presence of his company.

An almost nostalgic feeling came over him as he activated his neuro network interface. By placing his fingertips over his eyes and thrusting them forward, Brian was able to bring about a holographic rendition of what he saw in his eyes into his living rooms quarters. He wasn't sure how Whitaker would react, but for him it was like he was catching up with his old partner on an ongoing case.

"Wait, what (@dirge_)?" It only took a few moments after reconnecting to the grid that Brian understood why communication lines were disconnecting. It was the actions of Laughlyn's botanical bosom buddy, Belladonna.

"Find files on the marijuana mistress," Brian's command brought forth a myriad of videos depicting frantic firsthand accounts of the woman's manipulative behavior as well as conspiracy theories that suggested she could hear through plants.

"Shit, shit, shit!" It didn't take long before the self-anointed King of Grimm pulled his botanical decorations from their pots and tossed them off his balcony. "I need you to bring that woman to the following coordinates." As if this night wasn't already rattling his anxiety, Brian quickly took notice of @rosso crossing paths with @hawkshade.

"Wait. Wait. Don't shoot. Don't move. Don't even blink. I'm sorry that I've been wasting your night Rosso, but the target (@amin_karrit) in question has been hiding like a child during a game of manhunt. I need you to follow the coordinates I'm about to send you. I promise that every moment you spend with me will profit." Brian hoped his message would translate to Rosso before she engaged with the caped vigilante, but he needed to be sure.

"Hawkshade, this is Brian Newcastle. We can deal with Laughlyn later. If I'm being honest I need you in perfect condition, because it's about time we take down the woman behind all of this. Meet me at the following coordinates and we'll find a way to take this tyrant down...together." Brian cupped his hands on his mouth as he tried to steady his breathing, the prospect of bringing them all together inside First A.I.D. Labs was dangerous considering it bordered on the Honor Valley River beside the destroyed bridge that led into Gothic City.

"Maybe you've got every reason to knock my teeth down my throat, but I'm asking you..." Brian glared at Whitaker with a slither of personal contempt, "Will you help me save this city?"