Chapter 1: Hunger for Strawberries

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei shrugs.

"Based on what I've eaten, and this mule piss they call vodka, I'm not surprised." he chuckles to himself before adding,"You're actually welcome to join me if you think you're feeling adventurous. What could a night on the town hurt? Lovely ladies, good friends. You'll have a good time."

[patrick]

(to Grzegor and Alexei)
Patrick was still fired up by Li's speech, and felt the patriotism of Manalism in his head. He was in Moscow on business, concerning Manala crystals. He steps into the nearly empty restaurant with a grunt a smile to the only two other people enjoying the food in the establishment.

He isn't shy and walks straight over to their table.
"Fuck yeah, huh?! You hear them numbers? Let's get a coke over here. Waiter! Cokes around the table!"

Without waiting for acknowledgment he takes a seat.

"I'm Pat, mates."

[Jack Kruschev]

Anthony felt playful, in a cruel sort of way.

I spun around in his chair until he felt so dizzy that he could distinguish up from down. Soon, he felt the urge to get back to work. He began to make the creature he had created earlier's designs more...controllable.

[Grzegor Kulhan]

Grzegor politely acknowledges the man "My name is Grzegor, and this man to my right is Alexei" He flashes Patrick a smile "Nice to meet you but you don't seem as if you're from around these parts, would you please tell us a little about yourself?"

Grzegor tried not to appear rude as the cokes arrive "Oh lord in heaven" Grzegor thinks to himself "More corporate byproducts"

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei nods politely to Pat, taking a cautious sip of the coke Pat orders. He was rather surprised, for a moment he thought Pat was trying to buy some cocaine from him, even though he hardly looked like someone who uses cocaine regularly.

"Nice to meet you, Pat."

[patrick]

Pat was glad to meet new people.

"About myself? I'm from England, workin' as a machinist there."

He gulps from a bottle of coke, which is caffeine free but sugar-filled.

"You listen to the speech? Good times are comin'! I broke three fingers once, din't need no fuckin' hospital. I tied 'em straight with sticks. They're fine and work to this day!"

[Grzegor Kulhan]

Grzegor mantained his smile despit how hard it was becoming "Yeah, who needs medicine when we've got our spirits and the divine will of Father Manala to guide us?" Grzegor held up his empty glass of water "A toast to a brighter future"

Grzegor wondered if they'd get any other surprise visitors in the course of tonight

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei looks over at Pat,

"I was just inviting Grzegor along for a night on the town. I was going to drop by a friend's club."

[patrick]

Pat acknowledges Grzegor first

"It ain't medicine we're fighting. It's drugs and treatment. Anyone who medicates them-self is blessed."

Pat was ashamed of his self-medication, and choose not mention his tobacco use as a cure for insomnia.

He looks to Alexei

"Yeah, let's fuckin' go."

He drinks his coke down.

[Grzegor Kulhan]

Grzegor pushes away the coke bottle and stands up. "Let's get this show on road then." He shrugged at Alexei and leaves a tip on the table

A smile crept over Grzegor's face, he'd have plenty of material to put in his sermon later.

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei stood up and glanced at a waiter,

"Put it on my tab."

He led them out onto the street and walked down the street, leading through a complex, and obscure path of allies and even through apparently abandoned buildings.

"By the way," he adds while they walk, "You'll probably be patted down at the front. You have something you don't want anyone confiscating, or finding on you, I suggest you hand it over to me."

[patrick]

Pat chuckles.
"We're all honest men. I doubt there's anything we'll get in trouble for between us."

[Grzegor Kulhan]

Grzegor froze up when he heard Alexei speak "No I'm clean"
He was abnormally glad he didn't bring his revolver with him, that would've caused an awful lot of trouble.

"What exactly are we doing in this club?" Grzegor wondered out loud

[Alexei Nacharade]

Alexei walked into what appeard to be a grocery store, leading them through to a cellar door. He knocked once and said,

"It's Alexei."

The door opened and he strolled in, nodding to a few people. He wasn't patted down.

Looking back at his friends he says,

"Stand still while some of the guys pat you down. I'll see you downstairs."

With that he desceneded into the only mildly crowded night club. Music played loudly, and lights flashed. He smiled and shook the hands of all the associates he knew, offering a wink to those female companions he'd met before.

He walked to the bar, "Some real vodka, PLEASE!"

[patrick]

Pat considered backing out that moment, but while being felt up by a guard he decided to go with the flow. He was scared of what he'd find.

"Exclusive place, aye?"