We few, we happy few
The car ride from the airport was uncomfortably silent, save for the odd blaring of car horns as Rupert weaved the rental car in and out of traffic on the highway. Speeds not meant to be traversed in packed quarters bore no concern; his only goal was to reach the Luxor hotel with Ethan in tow.
Ethan stared out the window, debating on if he could manage to get out of the car and out of sight before they got where they were going. He still wasn't sure why he'd come along in the first place. "You can let me off anywhere Ripper, I'll go play some cards while you sort things out."
"Plenty of time to gamble afterwards," Rupert grumbled. Eyes focused on the road, nary a glance at his bargaining chip.
Ethan snorted. "You don't believe there is an after." He could feel a slow panic start to build in his chest as he saw the tipof the pyramid-shaped hotel. He really did not want to go back there. Ever. He saw a flower delivery van, much like one he'd been in when he'd left here over a year ago, and started to tremble slightly. "Seriously, Ripper. You don't want to have me right there while you're making a deal. Bad form you know." He struggled to keep his voice calm.
"You don't believe there is an after." Try as he might supress it, Rupert knew Ethan was right. This wasn't going to end well. But it was going to end. 'Let the world crumble', he cursed silently, 'as long as Genesis is safe'. Rupert finally shot Ethan a glance. "No deals, Ethan. Not this time. You just stand and act darling, and when I yell 'duck'..."
"I know, I know. Try to draw fire." Ethan gave him a nervous grin as his joke fell flat. "Have I mentioned I don't want to go back to that hell hole?" He froze as they drew up in front of it, looking like a rabbit cornered by a great hound. "I'm not going, Rupert."
Rupert jammed the brakes, the car lurching to a halt. He slammed his fist against the steering column, the horn blaring and startling passersby. "I swear on my soul, Ethan Rayne, if you take one false step, you'll wish Eyghon had finished what we started all those years ago."
Ethan closed his eyes. "I am not going back there." he nuttered through clenched teeth. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Giles. His trembling stopped as the whites of his eyes slowly bled away to darkness. "I could give a fuck about your bint, you will not make me go back there to die."
Crackles of energy streamed through the dashboard, lurching out at Rupert. Muttering a few words, he pushed Ethan's energies back. His right hand flexed outwards, grabbing the old boy by the neck. "We could just finish this here," Rupert chided. "I've no intention of sacrificing you to Cain, Ethan. If you don't come with, he wins and you're a blot on the walls of existence anyway."
Ethan used his energy to push back, but was unable to focus as the panic once more crept back in. His eyes went back to their normal appearance and his shoulder slumped a bit. "Let's just get it over with." He turned to stare out the window once Giles let go of his throat.
Sensing Ethan's agreement, Rupert released his grip, moving to turn off the engine and place the keys in his pocket. "After you," he smiled grimly.
Ethan stared out the window, debating on if he could manage to get out of the car and out of sight before they got where they were going. He still wasn't sure why he'd come along in the first place. "You can let me off anywhere Ripper, I'll go play some cards while you sort things out."
"Plenty of time to gamble afterwards," Rupert grumbled. Eyes focused on the road, nary a glance at his bargaining chip.
Ethan snorted. "You don't believe there is an after." He could feel a slow panic start to build in his chest as he saw the tipof the pyramid-shaped hotel. He really did not want to go back there. Ever. He saw a flower delivery van, much like one he'd been in when he'd left here over a year ago, and started to tremble slightly. "Seriously, Ripper. You don't want to have me right there while you're making a deal. Bad form you know." He struggled to keep his voice calm.
"You don't believe there is an after." Try as he might supress it, Rupert knew Ethan was right. This wasn't going to end well. But it was going to end. 'Let the world crumble', he cursed silently, 'as long as Genesis is safe'. Rupert finally shot Ethan a glance. "No deals, Ethan. Not this time. You just stand and act darling, and when I yell 'duck'..."
"I know, I know. Try to draw fire." Ethan gave him a nervous grin as his joke fell flat. "Have I mentioned I don't want to go back to that hell hole?" He froze as they drew up in front of it, looking like a rabbit cornered by a great hound. "I'm not going, Rupert."
Rupert jammed the brakes, the car lurching to a halt. He slammed his fist against the steering column, the horn blaring and startling passersby. "I swear on my soul, Ethan Rayne, if you take one false step, you'll wish Eyghon had finished what we started all those years ago."
Ethan closed his eyes. "I am not going back there." he nuttered through clenched teeth. He slowly opened his eyes and looked at Giles. His trembling stopped as the whites of his eyes slowly bled away to darkness. "I could give a fuck about your bint, you will not make me go back there to die."
Crackles of energy streamed through the dashboard, lurching out at Rupert. Muttering a few words, he pushed Ethan's energies back. His right hand flexed outwards, grabbing the old boy by the neck. "We could just finish this here," Rupert chided. "I've no intention of sacrificing you to Cain, Ethan. If you don't come with, he wins and you're a blot on the walls of existence anyway."
Ethan used his energy to push back, but was unable to focus as the panic once more crept back in. His eyes went back to their normal appearance and his shoulder slumped a bit. "Let's just get it over with." He turned to stare out the window once Giles let go of his throat.
Sensing Ethan's agreement, Rupert released his grip, moving to turn off the engine and place the keys in his pocket. "After you," he smiled grimly.