Hundreds of Hundreds

Participants:

shard_icon.gif scotch_icon.gif

Scene Title Hundreds of Hundreds
Synopsis Shard comes over to Saint Joseph's in the Rookery to talk about his plan to clean up Staten Island with Rev. McCoy.
Date Oct. 01, 2009

The Rookery

After the bomb, Staten Island grew to become a haven for undesirables. If the Island is their home, then the Rookery is their playplace. Equal parts gritty and decadent, it boasts dark alleys, bright lights, and every pleasure that one could imagine. Provided you know where to ask, of course.
Some areas have fared better than the rest of the island; some have fared far worse. For each well-tended brothel or gaming house, there's at least one creaky, crumbling structure left over from the days of pre-bomb suburban glory. The population is considered universally distasteful, even by much of the rest of Staten Island. Criminals, refugees, victims of radiation poisoning… Those who have nowhere else to go often end up here. The most common method of getting out is to have your body dropped in the river, followed closely by being left wherever it is you got killed. Good luck


The Front of the building has long been destroyed and blocked with rubble, since then the lights stayed on at the back stoop, and someone has usually remained outside even on the coldest night for a few hours. Knowing that some of the druggies and drunks will be sifting there way this ways abouts, Scotch is currently parked outside with a small pack of plastic cups, and a thing of hot coffee held conveniently in a couple of thermoses.

One cigarette dangles in his mouth as he nurses on his own mug of black goodness as well. Long night, even longer day after all its nigh one in the morning, and he'll be up early and at it as well. But the coffee does some good. It helps people, and he can spread a good word or two, while doing it.

White sneaker press against the ground. "Some would say that our bodies our temples. And that smoking is like installing a chimney to the temple." Shard lands softly a few feet away from Scotch. "Temples don't look good with chimneys." He delivers with a soft smile. Taking a few steps closer, Vincent offers his hand forward. This time he's wearing gloves and seems to have no problem shaking hands.

"As long as we're out here, Rev. I'mma get straight to it so I don't waste your time. I aint here for minor change, or to make a little tiny stamp. I've thrown away everything for this project. Staten Island is my life. And I'm going to die willing to see it change. I guarantee you that. So basically what I'm sayin' if we partner up, we're partnering up to make major changes not small adjustments here and there. I'm in this all the way."

"Did you know, that the ancient Hebrew temples had a smoke passage way to allow smoke from the sacrifice out? You could see the smoke from anywhere in the city due to the daily sacrifices, back when Christ was starting his ministry." A grin from Scotch as he sees the tall ex rapper seemingly come into view. And his own hand comes out of a pocket, shaking the man's gloved hand right there. A good solid grip, Scotch knows how to shake hands.

"Well, I appreciate honesty." Scotch offers before patting the stoop where he is sitting. Even motion made to the coffee. "Well, just so you know. Any man called to the ministry doesn't pussy foot around it. I was sent here for the long haul as part of my ministries. I want change as bad as you do, so I don't cater to quittin." A long drag and a sip of coffee once he's exhaled. "I you want a partner, you still have one, King."

"Really?" Shard gives a grin as Scotch tells him about the ancient Hebrew temples. He lets out a little laugh before going to sit down next to Scotch. "I guess I have some stuff to learn from you." Vincent admits as he settles next to the other man. Propping his forearms on his knees he lets out a soft sigh. "Well good. But there's some other stuff goin' on the island that you should know about. It's a nest to crime and whatnot but there's more. Norman White. Ever heard of him? Thinks he's going to save Staten, not in the way I intend to. Wants to purge it clean, give a utopia to Evolved." Vincent sighs lightly.

"A lot of the island pitches me against him. Like it's some type of battle. And even though I do want to see this island change." He pauses. "It is a battle. And if White wins, everyone on the island dies." Vincent confesses.

"Yessir, I shit you not." For his knoweldge of the bible and all things preacherly, Scotch sure does have the mouth of a sailor, or rather an ex sailor. A grin as he looks over to the other man, and at least takes time to put out his cigarette so the smoke won't bother Shard all too much. "I still have stuff to learn, man. Its all relative. If I teach you, you teach me. Its how it works." A nod there as he takes another sip of coffee, and a lets the warmth help ease him in. "I do know its a nest of crime. I've had to chase out a few thieves with a gun or such, but its because they are stealing from others in my care. I don't have anything really worth stealing." A chuckle, before he's falling silent again. "I did hear that.." Which will prove problematic to the whole love thy neighbor bit.

"Well, unless you're evolved. Doubt he will be killing Evolved folks, won't look much like a savior there.." A grunt. "Its a hard part- A lot of the world doesn't treat the Evolved like citizens…viewed more like boogeymen and monsters. Shit like that-so I can see the appeal in White's words…Just." Well it is easy to show where Scotch falls in this. "I'll have your back." a grun there. "Maybe try reasoning with the feller." Easier said than done.

"I have. We both know a fight in whatever form it comes is inevitable. We're going to meet and hash out rules to this fight." Shard grins a bit at the pastor next to him. "I've been doin' all this crazy…" He takes a breath. It's been a long time since he's cussed in public. Maybe even since some of his albulms. "Shit. Crazy, crazy shit. Gettin' all this Save Staten stuff goin on. I've been runnin' on prayer alone and…" He deflates a bit. "To be honest with you Rev. I know He's up there, but sometimes I feel like I'm doin' this alone."

"It'll be good to have someone like you along for the ride." Vincent admits, bringing up one hand, balling his fist to give a pound to the other man.
"I'd say it would be best to do this away from other folks, just you an him, if it comes down to it. I mean a fight like what we're talking about." And one hand is coming up to rub along the scruff of his jaw. "Don't like it, I can tell ya….Don't get me wrong, Norman can be a good guy an all, but-don't see the point in a fight.." The hesitancy to cuss is noted, and Scotch grins ever so slightly, before he is taking another sip. "Maybe that's why I am here?" asked with a look. One hand reaching over to pat the man on his back. "Maybe God finally heard ya and said, you know what, I'll send crazy ol' Scotch McCoy, let you two figger it out. Moses had Aaron-though that's a bad comparison, but Paul had a lot of fellas help him. An Jesus had his disciples. You-you get me."

A laugh there before his fist is coming back for the pound. Yeah he had fellas do that to him when he was in the corps. "I find, when it feels like God is silent, an you're all alone, that's when he's really working. He just doesn't let you know, other wise you'd think it was easy and get lazy.."

"Agreed." Though he pauses when the man refers to himself. "Scotch?" Vincent asks with an arched brow. "Your nickname is Scotch?" He lets out a little laugh. "Alright, alright. Reverend Scotch. Yeh, I like it." Booms the deep voice and hearty laughter of the former superstar. He pauses with a smirk. "Jonathan and his shield bearer took on… how many men Reverend? I forget but it was a lot." He shakes his head in wonderment.

"I could dig being Jonathan. That is if you're down with being a shield bearer, or… shit, I could be the shield bearer if you want to be Jonathan. I'm good either way, Rev." He gives a nod to Scotch's advice at the end. "Yeah. I guess you're right."

"Yeah, I got in the Corps. Don't ask, its a long ass story. But I like it." the grin should say as much though a grin is given the superstar and there's a faint shrug of his shoulders. "They say thousands. Who really knows? I like thousands.." a grin there, before he is looking to his coffee cup. "I'm cool with being a Shield bearer. Only good speaking I do is on Sunday anyway." a faint grin before he's looking back to the other man. "I sure hope I am." And there comes a soft laugh. "Otherwise I've been giving bad advice for a while."

"I won't ask then." Shard says, giving a little shrug. Looking up he gives a soft sigh. Clapping his hands together, he rubs the gloves against themselves for a moment. "Thousands really? I thought it was something like twenty? Before Saul and company charged up. Or maybe hundreds. I don't remember. But thousands. That is impressive." He pauses, placing his chin in his hand. "Think we could do that?"

"Oh go a head an ask." a chuckle and he's setting his cup down. "They say thousands, or hundreds of hundreds. Probably closer to twenty or fifty. But then in your armies you only had a handful of professional soldiers, and then a collection of tribesmen that kinda knew what they were doing." A nod there. "Its a great number…I'll look it up." A look back towards Shard and he's flashing a grin. "Brother, you put your mind and heart to anything and you can move mountains. I honestly believe that." A nod for a moment. "I think we could do that."

"Save it." Shard mumbles. "For some time when I'm in a bad mood and need a story. Right now I'm feelin' hopeful. Might not last til tomorra mornin' but it's here now." The rapper rumbles, leaning forward and dipping his chin. He nods thoughtfully at Scotch's words. "Hundreds of hundreds." He muses on thoughtfully.

"Let's do it then."


Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License