PROMO: "This Is How She Reminds Me."

[Guest Kibagami]

PROMO: “This Is How She Reminds Me.”

 

A black Lamborghini Diablo cruises slowly down the streets of Phoenix, the streetlights glaring off the car’s rims as it comes to a graceful stop at a red light. The driver drums his fingers impatiently on the steering wheel. He didn’t exactly buy this car to sit still in it…and tonight, he needs to think.

 

It’s been six years since last he spoke with James…six years since he’s been back home. It’s been a long night, and it’s not over yet. Nekura has finally returned from his business in Japan…he wonders if Thoth knows, yet. You never can tell with the Reaper what he chooses to reveal, and what remains secret…even from the Silent One.

 

Damn, what a long light. He looks past the intersection for a moment, letting the music carry him away. Jessica used to love this song so much. She said it reminded her of how things used to be…

 

“I’ve been wrong, I’ve been down

To the bottom of every bottle

To stop what’s in my head

Scream “Are we having fun yet?”

 

Yeah, yeah, yeah (No, no)

Yeah, yeah, yeah (No, no)

Yeah, yeah, yeah (No, no)

Yeah, yeah, yeah (No, no)…”

 

A sudden rapping on the Diablo’s window startles the Clansman. Unaccustomed to being surprised, he turns lightning-quick to the window…

 

“Oh, God…Jessica?”

 

No, not Jessica…but the similarity is truly amazing. Standing outside his window, a young girl- barely eighteen, nineteen at the most- stands expectantly, a coy smile on her face. Her hair is jet-black, flowing down past her shoulders. Her eyes are azure, deep, cloudy. Her faded white t-shirt just barely reads “Bikini Kill”, and is phenomenally low-cut. Just above her swelling chest, beneath her neck, a tattoo of an Egyptian ankh, a symbol of hope and life, glistens…it’s new.

 

Against his better judgment, against all of Nekura’s training, against the last six years of his life, he rolls the Diablo’s window down.

 

“Hey, mister. You look a little lonely in there, baby. Want to take a poor, helpless little girl out on a ride for a while…oh, damn. You’re that wrestler guy, aren’t you? Silent?” The girl’s eyes go wide…but she’s still smiling. A little intimidated, perhaps…but she’s not afraid. “Jesus, dude, you’re crazy, aren’t you? I saw that thing with Christian Fury last year, that was some trippy shit. How’d you get him to cut that girl up like that? Man, I thought I was gonna…”

 

He raises his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Yes…yes, it’s me. Please…my name is Nathan. And I didn’t do it, really. Nekura did. I just…I helped, that’s all.”

 

“Wow. So the Clan, it’s like, for real out here, isn’t it? Man, that’s nuts. How do you guys get away with being on national television like that?”

 

“It’s complicated, but it works out, somehow. I used to live around here, you know.”

 

”REALLY? Wow, man, that’s awesome. I’ve lived here all my life, myself. Didn’t get along with the ‘rents too well, though, so I’m out here now. It’s all right, I guess. Never really thought about it…shit, why am I bothering you with this? Sorry, man, I didn’t know who you were.”

 

“No, no, no, it’s…it’s okay, I think…no, I mean, it’s all right. What’s your name?”

 

”My name? Angel.”

 

“No, your birth name.”

 

“I don’t use it anymore, dude. My parents never gave me anything else, and I didn’t want to keep the name. I had it legally changed to Angel when I got emancipated.”

 

“Oh…well, that’s good for you…Angel. Look…you look tired. You want to go for a ride? Get some coffee, maybe?”

 

The girl’s eyes brighten up immediately. “WOW! Sure thing, man! That’s awesome! This is a tight ride, dude. Makin’ some bank with the Clan, huh?”

 

Silent laughs, the first genuine laugh he’s shared with anyone since…since Jessica died, back in December. “Yeah, I’m, ah, “making bank”. And please…Angel…call me Nathan.”

 

“Never made it as a wise man

Couldn’t cut it as a poor man stealin’

And this is how you remind me

This is how you remind me

 

This is how you remind me of what I really am

This is how you remind me

Of who I really am…”

 

He is woken by his cell phone, ringing insistently on the table beside the bed. Groggily, he answers it.

 

“Silent. Talk to me”

 

“I’m outside. Nekura sent me.”

 

“Give me five.”

 

”Done.”

 

Silent hangs up the phone, puts it down, and rolls out of bed. He hurriedly pulls on his pants…accidentally waking someone up in the process.

 

“Hmmm? Oh, c’mon, once more…?”

 

He smiles…a genuine, tender smile as he bends over the bed, brushing a lock of Angel’s hair out of her face. “I’m sorry, Angel, I’ve got some business to take care of. Look…I’ll leave my number. You call me before tonight, okay?”

 

”Okay…Nathan…” She smiles up at him dreamily, reaches one gentle hand up to trace the scar on his face, before she falls softly into her dreams.

 

The Silent One stands, steeling himself for what needs to be done. He finishes dressing, takes a wad of bills from his wallet, and puts it on the table next to her head. On the notepad lying on the dresser, he scribbles a brief note, places it beneath the bills, and moves towards the door…

Angel-

 

I saw the tracks, baby. Take the money, get rid of your pimp. Get another cup of coffee or something...there’s a drug called methedrine, used to treat withdrawal symptoms of heroin addicts. It’s not quite legal in the Stats yet, but it does work, and it’s not addictive. Call me tonight. I’ll get you a month’s supply or so; that should be enough to get you through.

 

You did a lot for me last night, Angel…more than I can tell you right now. We need to talk. Call me at 240-555-3043.

 

Thank you…

 

-Nathan

“Nekura sends his regards.”

 

A hooded figure stands behind the motel, bowing slightly as the Silent One makes his appearance.

 

“It is an honor to serve the Master in his return. What is your message?”

 

“He beseeches you to prepare yourself for the…the revelation of the Balancer’s origin. The time is drawing near, and the elders are growing restless in Japan.”

 

”Very well. Tell him I will make sure we progress on schedule with the original timetable.” Silent turns abruptly on his heel and begins to walk away.

 

“There is…one other thing. A question of my own.”

 

Silent pauses, turns back to the messenger. “What is it, Richard?”

 

”Who is the girl?”

 

Silent removes his sunglasses, revealing the crystal-blue eyes that burn beneath. He approaches the hooded Clansman slowly, deliberately, until he is no more than six inches away from the other man’s hooded face.

 

“The girl. Is not. Your concern. Richard. You would do well to remember who I am.”

 

”And you would do well to remember the teachings of the Master. There is no love, there is no compassion. There is the Clan, and that is all we have. There are many would envy you, Silent One, many who would assume your position through your transgressions. We will have to kill the girl, as a show of good faith. Master Nekura will not be pleased, all the same.”

 

Silent pauses for a moment. “You’re right, Richard, of course. Reece is going to be pissed.”

 

”You dare presume to use the Master’s name?”

 

”You’re boring me, Richard, and you know how I hate to be bored. We’ll just have to see to it that dear Mr. Black doesn’t find out about this little episode, don’t you think? Tell the devil I said hello.”

 

The messenger’s head jerks back slightly as he realizes the import of Silent’s words. “No, no, surely you wouldn’t-“

 

Richard’s words are cut off by the sharp crack of his vertebrate as the Silent One casually fractures his neck. He releases the messenger’s body, letting him fall lifeless to the ground. He sighs, more annoyed than concerned.

 

“Yes, Richard. I actually would.”

 

He does not bother to hide the body. Richard has no fingerprints, no dental records. He doesn’t exist officially anywhere on the planet. Silent walks calmly out to the Diablo, climbs in, and drives away…

 

“This is how you remind me…”

 

END PROMO

[Guest TheBostonStrangler]

Whoa....trippy stuff. I'm sleeping with the lights on tonight.

[Guest SupaTaft]

Best promo EVER!!

 

Seriously.

[Guest Beingz0wningj00]

Heh heh

 

 

Break that ho in half, yo!

[Guest kelloggs]

Silent. Thank you for stepping up and writing some bangin' promo's. These last two have been the best I've seen from you in my short tenure here and that first one against Poisyn was tight. Hehe...if we're "making bank" in the JL Silent please tell me where my cuts at...

 

M. "I'm begging over her" Francis

[Guest Edwin MacPhisto]

::further applause::

 

It just keeps getting better. Another truly great promo.

 

Be sure to save all these.

[Guest DiabloIIFreak1010]

Great promo, Silent. I really enjoyed it.

[Guest Longdogger_Pete]

Damn. The mystery of Silent becomes more complex with each passing day.

 

Good stuff. You've managed to impress me, and coming from me, that's saying a lot.

[Guest BigTim2002]

wow...I'm speechless and stuff...

[Guest Ace309]

Now, see, this stuff makes me worry if I can uphold the Clan's name properly. It's just so much better than anything I've done, especially recently.

[Guest ErekT2k]

I just can't believe that I didn't read this promo the day it came out. Great stuff, Silent, once again.

 

Kudos.

 

This time, however, I wasn't about to side with you. It's still great.