[12:21]

Brooklyn steps into the Hostel. She went out to the local market a bit down the street and came back with an energy drink. Upon opening the door, she then sees a line of blood inside. She looks back outside, seeing bits of dried red liquid in front of the hostel. Leaving the door open, she follows the trail of blood into the living area.

Brooklyn- "Did someone die? Why is there so much blood?"

She slowly walks into the building, finding nothing else out of the ordinary. As she follows, the blood trail gets wider. She treads lightly in the main hall and goes to the living area. There she finds Handu Brazee on the couch sleeping while holding a bloody wound on the side of his abdomen. James is next to him, sniffing and examining him. No one seemed to have been around to notice Brazee or his blood since he’s been here. She enters into a frightened state once putting the pieces together.

Brooklyn- "Mister Brazee are you okay. Please be alive. Mister Brazee!"

Handu- "Ha!!!"

He had just awoken from a nightmare scaring Brooklyn in the process.

Handu- "Oh it's just a Royce. You scared me dear."

Brooklyn- "What happened? Your blood is everywhere and you're bleeding."

Handu- "Are the doors open?"

She looks over and then nods yes.

Handu- "Close them real quick and come back."

Brooklyn looks at James and he does it for her. Handu looks in amazement as James goes by.

Handu- "That's a big ass polar bear dear."

Brooklyn- "He's a dog. What happened?"

Handu- "Oh right… Gunners."

Brooklyn- "Gunners? As in the gang? Did they hurt you?"

Handu- 'If it wasn't for her pretty face I would've lost patience already. ' "Yes dear. They shot me. Can you get some more cloth and probably some liquor too?"

Brooklyn- "I don't drink alcohol, so I might not have any, but I'll do my best to find some."

Brooklyn leaves for the kitchen to get the first aid kit. Handu tries to sit up from lying down but is halted from doing so. The pain from the wound stiffens his body, so he just stops attempting to move altogether. In a few minutes, Brooklyn comes back with a first aid kit. She slowly removes his left hand, covering the wound on the right side of his abdomen. After a couple minutes of examination, she gives her take.

Brooklyn- "It's deep but it looks like you're only bleeding out. Nevermind the bullet actually went through. You're still bleeding, but it's mostly dried out. Luckily no organs have been hit. I don't feel too sure since I'm not licensed or have much experience. I should probably take you to the hospital."

Handu- "The hospital isn't a kindly destination right now."

Brooklyn- "Why not?

Handu- "Just help me first and I might tell you later.'

Brooklyn- "The best thing to do is close the wound on both sides. If I can remember, don’t you have it.”

She looks at him like he already knows what is going to have to happen next.

Handu- 'Shit.'

He lifts his right hand, and a flame appears in his palm. It's not very big until Brooklyn tells him to increase the heat. Handu increases the heat and hovers his hand over his wound. He bites his teeth together to help keep quiet through the painful process. He isn't quiet; he screams inside his mouth behind his teeth, making a sound similar to someone aggressively suffocating. The successfully completely dries up, closing the wound.

Handu- "Okay… That wasn't too bad. Time for the other side."

Brooklyn- "Wait! Hold a second."

She slowly turns his back and feels the other side of the now patched wound. She was glad that she didn't have to hear his screaming noise again.

Brooklyn- "I think it's fine now."

She places bandages around his abdomen.

Brooklyn- "Get some rest. I'll get a couple towels and…."

Eli- "Helloooooo. Can I get some decent shitty service here?! Ahh here we are."

Three men Brooklyn has never seen before come into the living area and look at both of them. All three of the intruders wear white clothing and are diverse in physical appearances. None of them look to be armed, which keeps Brooklyn's nerves under control. James comes behind them, growling, spooking the three of them until Handu says something.

Handu- "Can you chill your… pet... for a bit. They not the enemy right now."

Brooklyn tries her best to

Slipper- "That's a big white horse dawg."

Handu- "What you Players want?"

Eli- "I yeard dem Gunners lookin for ya."

Handu- "And…?"

Stolen novel; please report.

Eli- "We was wonderin if we can broker a deal. We stay at yo little hub here for protection. And we wanna a hunin million."

Handu- "And it's just you three makin these demands. I rather have all my skin fall off and get peed on."

Brooklyn- ‘Woah.’

Eli- "Listen ole man. We ain't jokin aroun."

Handu- "First off I ain't jokin ya jit. Second, a hundred million urodollars for 'letting me go', fuck off mate. And third, you don't even know where you at right now."

Tankee- "Yeah we do. We at the Holladay Hostel, this place famous for being… Rosiyian, I think. Well anyways it's still yo crib do."

Slipper- "You gotta stop thinkin and talkin Tankee. You ain't too good at tat."

Handu- "It's her place not mine."

Everyone's eyes fall on Brooklyn, who sits on the floor next to Handu.

Eli- "Her?! She ah little cute. What you tryna say Mister Handu?"

Tankee- "Royce, Roysian… Oh shit I got my shti wrong. Hey yo no bro. You don't wanna mess with her man. She a Royce."

The three Players had been taken back and checked themselves. Handu smiles.

Handu- 'I wish I was a Royce sometimes.'

Eli- "A'ight here my revised offer for yall. We set up camp in this building. In return we want hunnin million."

Brooklyn- "Uhh…" 'Is that not the same offer from before?'

Handu- 'She looks too naive and oblivious for this type of stuff.' "I don't understand why you three wanna try and take this place. Isn't Holladay a neutral zone?"

Eli- "Not anymore, so listen. We heard ya was here and now the boss wants us to stake claim here no matter what. You know, take advantage of da situation. We thought dis was one of your secret spots but guess not. That too bad, but we not leaving here till we get what we get. Now we gotta deal or nah?"

Handu- "What if we nah?"

Eli- "I don't think you in the position to say so Mister Handu Brazee. One of da reasons we here anyways."

Handu raises his hand and it engulfs in flames. The main speaker of the three Players also engulfs his hand in flames. Jameson Georgian growls and is ready to attack.

Eli- "I know your Paradise is legendary or sum but you hurt right now and we three ain't the only ones on dis property. The boys outside will be glad to come in and help put you in a casket early ole man."

Handu- "Ya wouldn't dare with her in the room. Risk a war with Big Royce would ya?"

Eli- "I mean you here too and it's not like William like yo ass either. Anyways whether it's Royce or even Law's house, ion give a flying fuck."

Brooklyn- "I agree."

Everyone's faces, again, turn back to Brooklyn in surprise.

Brooklyn- "I'll pay you and you can take the basement."

Everyone still had their faces stuck in surprise.

Brooklyn- "Do we have a deal?"

Eli- "Uhh… We initially negotiated with Handu because he has da money. Unless the Royce fam can provide."

Tankee- "We don't want William to know our doings, so we'd rather not…."

Brooklyn- "What is your name?"

She points her eyes at the skinniest of the. He has freckled white skin and ginger mostly hidden underneath his backwards ball cap.

Eli- "Huh?"

Brooklyn- "What's yo name?"

Eli- "Eli."

Brooklyn- "I'm giving you a one-time deal. I have lots of work to do and this is taking too much time out of my day. So please just accept it."

Brooklyn stood up and finally said something with a sturdy tone. The young woman had finally found herself and put her flag up to claim some type of power in this conversation. Everyone's hostility in the room decreased, fanning out the flames in their palms.

Eli- "Huh?"

Brooklyn- "You thought this place was Mister Brazees's but it's not, it's mine. Even if you kill him, you can't kill me. Meaning you guys would've never been able to take this place if Handu was here or not because I'm here. However you guys are holding a hostage against me so I'm negotiating and giving you a good deal. I'm giving you the basement of my building, a hundred million urodollars in very advance payment. All I ask is that you do not disturb the resident of this property, me, or anyone else that come here invited. Do you understand, Eli?"

She spoke in her normal innocent tone, but her voice did not fluctuate. Her words came out evil but with no underlying vice. All at the same time, stunning them, Handu the most.

Handu- 'I mean I knew she was smart but not brave.'

Eli- 'I guess this broad is smarter than I thought. Even if I ask about the advancement payment, my hands would still be tied down. Damn it, this was really not planned out well.'

Brooklyn- "Or we can all risk dying and I'll call the police."

Eli- "Fine fine fine… I agree. All I ask is that you two keep quiet on our deal. I don't want the rent-a-feds on our arses. Now can we see the basement?"

Brooklyn- "It's downstairs."

She points to the staircase her tenants use.

After the Players leave, Brooklyn falls to her knees with tears going down her face.

Handu- "You alright dear?"

In his mind, he was just complimenting her bravery, but once she began crying on her knees, his thoughts cycled around in puzzlement.

Brooklyn- "I was so scared Mister Brazee. I thought I was going to choke to death while talking."

Handu laughs a little bit before turning back to being earnest.

Handu- "Oi, Royce girl."

Brooklyn faces him, trying to wipe away the tears.

Handu- "Where's Ace?"

Brooklyn- "He went out with Nami Vince."

Handu- "Are they on a date?"

Brooklyn- "I don't think so."

Handu- "It don't matter. Whatever the case is, ya need to get him so he can kick these guys' asses out of here."

Brooklyn- "Why? Didn't I just make a deal with them?"

Handu- "Screw the deal. These are gangsters."

Brooklyn- "Aren't you a gangster."

Handu- "I'm a businessman that deals in borderline criminal but legal activities. I'm not a gangbanger or a virgin like Peloni."

Brooklyn- "What does Peloni’s virginity have to do with anything?"

Handu- "That doesn't matter. The point is that these guys will turn your second floor into a hotbox armory if you don't-"

Brooklyn- "No. I can't go back on the deal. That goes against my honesty and values."

Handu- 'What the fuck…? Oh wait, since Ace will probably win the tournament, she can use that to pay off that hundred million easily.' “Ok I guess.”

Brooklyn- "Only problem is that I don't have that type of money."

Handu- "You bet on The Untitled in Tournament For Paradise, correct?"

Brooklyn- "Yeah."

Handu- "You'll be fine then."

Brooklyn- “Really.”

Handu- “Yep.”

Without further question, she fully believes in him.

Handu- ‘'Either way she'll be safe because she's a Royce and Ace is here too. And that black and white bear over there is here too.'

He sits up, groaning in pain.

Brooklyn- "Do you need help at a hospital?"

Handu- "No hospital. I have my own doctor."

Brooklyn- "Then why did you come here?"

Handu- "A deal went sideways with the Gunners, got shot and this was the closest friendly place nearby. By the way, did ya notice I don't need my wheelchair anymore?"

She smiled.

Brooklyn- "I'm going to get ta cleaning, then. I'll help ya right after."