<div style="text-align: center">《Ray Jr, Armando, Marcia, Hale Sr. 》<br/>
Location: Abendblume<br/>
Addressing: Alvaro <a class="username" data-user-id="288" data-username="Flannel King" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/288/">Flannel King</a> , Rebel <a class="username" data-user-id="6997" data-username="Traveler" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/6997/">Traveler</a>​</div><br/><div class="bbImageWrapper bbImageAligned--left lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FM8Ak8BZ.jpg%3F2&amp;hash=f395bd3ac305d7a3d4864cfc83be0aaa" title="M8Ak8BZ.jpg">
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</div>Ray Jr got up early that following morning. He packed up his arsenal and pulled extra ammunition, same as he would any time he was headed out to pick off necros. Nothing out of the usual, or so it would initially appear. At least not until he called upon more than his typical backup. It was a nice morning. Weather was agreeable and many were about and about earlier than they might have been. The calm after the storm, where folks settled in and forgot about the problems that came with the place, because truly, Abendblume looked like paradise compared to the state of the rest of the world.<br/><br/>Alvaro came next. He was the one who knew Ray's true direction for the day. The man he trusted to back him up right to that crucial moment. The confrontation with his father that was proving inevitable. He doubted he would have questioned him even if he hadn't been brought in on Ray's purpose. That was just the sort of man Alvaro was when you needed him to be. A quality he appreciated. Armando would be another story entirely, and he didn't know enough about Rebel to say one way or another. Alvaro had been the one working with Rebel, but had they built up enough of a rapport to put this sort of strain on their relationship? He recalled the meeting, and the night of the exiles, and imagined that their relationship was strained to begin with. Best to get ahead of it before it snapped.<br/><br/>"Today will be a day of growth and repair for Abendblume," Ray told Alvaro optimistically. It was not out of line of what his father had ordered him to do when it came to the interpretation and image of Abendblume. If people knew the whole truth, and the sacrifices his dad was not willing to make, they would be appalled.  If Hale Sr. was not willing to make changes, they would have to make the changes for him.<br/><br/>Ray walkied for both Rebel and Armando to meet him at the front gate. Another guard chimed back, reminding him that Armando was not on, but he had not been difficult to locate.<br/><br/><div class="bbImageWrapper bbImageAligned--right lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6LIL1U3.jpg&amp;hash=0ba16922c35b0a7a75a43fd37a373940" title="6LIL1U3.jpg">
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</div>As promised, Armando had planned a morning with his sister and godchildren to picnic out in the east garden beside the courtyard. The kids were out playing in the field that ran alongside while their mother was setting out contents from the basket. Marcia had packed salpicao de frango, brazilian chicken salad finger sandwiches with a few substitutions given their limitations. The chicken had been canned, raisins substituted for grapes, leftover shredded carrot peels, chickpeas added, and a mayo made from the canned chickpea water, vinegar, and a bit of oil. Armando had watched her stress over whipping the mixture and the dish into something they could recognize as familiar and comforting. The way Marcia coped with uncertain situations. It was why when he saw Ray Jr. and Alvaro approaching, it wiped the smile off his face.<br/><br/><div class="bbImageWrapper bbImageAligned--left lazyload js-lbImage" data-lb-caption-extra-html="" data-lb-sidebar-href="" data-single-image="1" data-src="/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F7oElLSt.jpg&amp;hash=ba78dca2905636ce172d83249f803513" title="7oElLSt.jpg">
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</div>Marcia snapped her attention to what her brother was looking at, brows knitting together.<br/><br/>"Morning, Armando.." Ray nodded towards the woman who was clearly displeased to see him. "Marcia. I hate to ruin your plans, but I have need of Armando today."<br/><br/>"No," Marcia said with a shake of her head. "Armando has been relieved of his duties."<br/><br/>"My father was premature with his decision," Ray returned.<br/><br/>"<i>Oh</i>, you you supersede Hale Sr. now?" Marcia's eyes moved over to Alvaro. They were both dressed and armed for official business. It wouldn't have been unusual to her if it had been Ray alone. He and Armando often worked through their issues beyond the walls, but never had the trio gone out together. Was it something Hale Sr. had ordered? She wrung out her hands, thinking about all she'd said to Rebel. Him coming to their breakfast table to put Armando at ease. Her brother has said too much. Likely, so had she. Had Rebel then gone back to Hale with her words? She understood that Alvaro was most often the executioner, and she eyed him with unease. Did Ray understand the capacity with which his father worked? She didn't want to believe that the cards were stacking against them, and she grabbed Armando's hand as he stood up.<br/><br/>Armando would never understand her suspicions and concerns. He was too loyal. He would never suspect something of Hale. Certainly not Ray, and he was just comfortable enough that he may not watch his back with Alvaro to the degree that he should. Marcia was skeptical. She understood that blind spot Armando had for certain people because she had the same thing for toxic individuals of her own.<br/><br/>Armando shook free of her grasp, assuring her that he would make up for it. To her and the kids. He was so eager to be put back to purpose. She could tell it filled him with joy to be called upon. So unsuspecting. A lamb to slaughter.<br/><br/>"It is important. It it wasn't, I would have never have made the interruption," Ray assured her, which peaked Armando's attention.<br/><br/>Something was not right. She could feel it, and as her brother moved forward to speak with Ray in an effort to keep her<i>out</i>of the situation, she touched the back of Alvaro's arm.<br/><br/>"<i>Por favor não</i>," her tone was soft, pleading. Please was the same in spanish and brazilian portuguese. Her eyes were worried, searching, trying to decide if Alvaro was the monster that Hale used him as. They'd known each other a long time. Surely this was beyond him, even?<br/><br/><div class="bbCodeSpoiler">
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<div class="bbCodeBlock-content">Please do not</div>
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</div>"Is there a reason you are pulling Rebel from the trajectory assignment that I put into motion?" Hale's voice cut through as he came down to locate his presumptuous son and to sort through contradictory orders. Hale had been planning a meeting with Rebel that morning to see how things were going. Likely, he'd touch base with Alvaro after and see if they were all on the same page, but when called upon evidently they had already been given other orders. He was surprised to see Alvaro there. Even more surprised to see Armando preparing to head out with them. Hale snorted.<br/><br/>"And now, I find you contradicting me when it comes to Armando as well."<br/><br/>"This falls under the department you assigned me. Imagine the uproar if some of the dead come knocking at our gate? Some of the exiles you turned out," Ray pointed out. "At any rate, I figured we needed some quality time. Family bonding, like<i>you </i>suggested. I take responsibility for things going a bit sideways the other night. A communication issue they had called it, but one we're going to sort through. I suspect we may need a bit more<i>damage control.</i>I need capable men. The threat right now is out there, but panic in here will be a problem. None of these people are used to being reminded of the way of the world as it stands now. This is a really bad time for necros with familiar faces to show up as reminders." It wasn't a lie by any means, just a duel purpose mission. They could take care of what they needed to along the way. There certainly wasn't a threat to Abendblume from another community, so Hale could spare a portion of his security department. Ray needed the major players, however risky it was, for his own purpose.<br/><br/>Ray's argument made too much sense for Hale Sr to argue, especially openly. He narrowed his eyes, not quite buying what his eldest was selling, but knowing that it was these sorts of assignments that Ray preferred. He enjoyed going out for 'target practice' as he fondly referred to picking off necros. It was the company that he'd picked that made him a little suspicious, though in the end he shrugged. Once it was all said and done, he would have each one report back to him individually.<br/><br/>"Okay," Hale Sr. said with a nod and a smile, making eye contact with Alvaro. He was confident that he would return to him with a report of the true scope of things. "Keep one another safe. It is nice to see you finally showing interest in working alongside others."