13:02 <banana> Back in the day things were better, as everyone knows.. but there are some advantages to the 21st century. 13:04 <banana> Back when, there wouldn't have been an Inter City group up here at all, miles from West Ham. Now that the country's more connected, Rolf can move around, where the jobs are going, and still have friends who know what's what. 13:06 <banana> It was a good night out, plenty of drink, a chance to show off his new swag, someone won the actual game although he doesn't quite remember who... 13:08 <banana> When Rolf Hughes makes it back to his own flat, there's some arsehole leaning on the door to it. And he looks familiar. 13:13 <banana> It takes a moment, because the most distinctive part of the young guy's appearance is new. He has the top of his head shaved, with heavy sideburns and gel on the rest, so that his red hair seems to form a sort of collar or wave sweeping around the back of his head 13:13 <banana> . 13:14 <hrolf> Rolf is pretty drunk at this point. He stumbles through the dimly lit corridor, and leans against the wall for support, wheezing. But he also casually slips a hand into his coat to rest on the gun nestled inside. “Wossat…who there?” 13:14 <banana> The name doesn't immediately come to mind, and he didn't look like this, but Rolf remembers the face of a former tenant. Not a good one. 13:15 <banana> He started out fine, but there were.. problems? It was a while back. The guy was changing locks and phone numbers, payment became irregular. Never ends well for them, but it cost you time and money. 13:15 <hrolf> "Whosse you want? Gerronoutahearunlessyouwant - erp" Rolf coughs, and then holds a hand to his mouth to control a wave of nausea. Once it settles - "yerheadcrackedopen." 13:16 <banana> "It's Liam Penberthy, Mr. Hughes. You're a hard man to find, for all that we've ended up in the same place." 13:16 <banana> Penberthy doesn't look too strong, but he's not fazed by the threats yet. 13:17 <hrolf> Does he look armed? Is his demeanour threatening? 13:18 <banana> He's blocking your door, which is a shit thing to do, but not exactly a threat. Apart from the high-collar hair, Liam has a jacket on and cheap jeans.. there's no obvious sheath or knife bulge. Something's off here, though. 13:25 <hrolf> Rolf doesn't respond, but simply lets his coat fall open to let the gun he's carrying be displayed in full view. 13:26 <banana> Liam: "Jesus. Okay. I'm not here to get into a scrap.. uh, not with you, Mr. Hughes." 13:26 <banana> He moves aside a little and waits for Rolf to say something, watching quite closely now. 13:27 <banana> What he *doesn't* do is run away, which you might expect; he's clearly scared of Rolf, but something about the situation is still.. what this guy wants? 13:28 <hrolf> “If ye say so. Get yer hands up and get on your knees and let me search you.” Assuming there’s compliance, Rolf will commence a putdown. 13:29 <banana> Penberthy is not happy about this. You can see the glower in this face; the actual decision's made in a flash, and he does kneel, but he starts talking. 13:30 <banana> "Mr. Hughes, you've been done over and so have I. We're on the same side here." 13:32 <hrolf> "Oh, that so?" The patdown done, Rolf has his gun out and pointed at the man. With his free hand, he unlocks the door to his flat and motions him inside. "After you. Let's hope you haven't made the worst decision of yer life tonight, lad." 13:32 <banana> He's not carrying weapons. He has a wallet - but if you pull that out, he's likely to object and the nature of this encounter will change. The only odd thing was in one of his pockets, a squashed mess of leaves and berries. 13:33 <banana> Liam: "No, I know which that was." 13:33 <hrolf> "Not repeatin' meself. Inside." 13:34 <banana> Inside he goes. 13:35 <banana> Liam turns around, but he doesn't pay much attention to Rolf's flat - he's trying to keep an eye on the gun. "Look, I need to let you know about our enemy. The man who's cost us both, your money and my life." 13:37 <hrolf> Rolf switches the light on. The interior of Rolf’s flat is not as messy as you might expect, but it is heavily decorated with posters. Union jacks, british bulldogs, Winston Churchill, Winston Churchill as a British bulldog, various West Ham players over the years. The largest one appears to be the infamous picture of Paolo di Canio, in full West Ham kit, throwing a fascist salute. Rolf draws the curtains and curtly motions 13:37 <hrolf> the interloper towards a sofa. “Sit.” 13:38 <banana> Penberthy goes silent again as he takes in the interior decoration. His eyes widen a little, and he sits. Expecting to be questioned, no doubt. 13:43 <hrolf> Rolf's sobered up pretty quickly. Eyes narrowed, he watches the interloper like a hawk ready to pull the trigger at the slightest provocation. He pulls his phone out a jean pocket and dials a number. "Yeah...hey mate" - he winces as there's loud and raucuous cheering from the other end, the night hasn't ended for some, and after a few minutes of yelling he manages to get his point across - "...simmer down, yeah? Slight 13:43 <hrolf> problem...might need some cleanup at me flat. Oh and brring Baz, yeah?” He closes the call and puts his phone on top of a chest of drawers. “I reckon it’ll take them about half an ‘our on the tube. You’ve got about that long to explain what this is about.” 13:45 <banana> Penberthy folds his hands in his lap. "Fast talking's what got me in this situation. I'll give it to you straight, and.. Baz is as Baz does." 13:46 <banana> "Hughes, you've been victimised by my identical twin." 13:47 <hrolf> Rolf bursts out laughing. "That's a new one. I've 'eard some 'orrible excuses for being late on rent in my time, but..." 13:49 <banana> "It's not an excuse. It's identity theft, innit. You can laugh at the bastard when you've helped me find him and I kick his head in." 13:50 <hrolf> "Why the fack should I 'elp you, assuming this cock and bull story is true?" 13:52 <banana> Liam: "Firstly, it's the right thing to do. My brother moved into my life, kicked me out and fucked up your plumbing. We've got a mutual interest." 13:52 <hrolf> "Not me problem anymore. I got new tenants, that pay." 13:54 <banana> Liam: "You're the one with the paperwork that says where he's got to next. Passwords, jobs, accounts.. I got locked out of it all. I need the receipts and transfer papers you've got. And if you wanted to join in on the revenge.. looks like you'd be good at it." 13:57 <hrolf> "Revenge for a couple month's back rent? Well I *do* 'ave a reputation to maintain, but I got better things to do with my life now, yeah?" 13:58 <hrolf> "Whatever paperwork you want - remaining mail, et cetera. Is probably in the trash somewhere. But if you want I could take a look, if you have anything that makes this worth my time?" 13:59 <banana> Liam: "That makes one of us then. For your time.. what do you want? Money?" 14:00 <banana> He doesn't look like he has money. 14:01 <banana> Or if he did, he spent it on hair gel. 14:01 <hrolf> "Money's a start." Rolf pauses a beat. "Or influence. Or informaton, what might be of use in me circles. Not that you'd know anything about em." 14:01 <hrolf> "Frankly my lad, I doubt you have anything of use to me." 14:05 <banana> Liam shifts on the sofa. He's twitchy. "Information. I could.. get you into some things.. hook you up with people who have mad skills. But only once we turn my twin into knackers' glue. I'm not yet.. fully.. in." 14:07 <banana> Rolf gets a text. A few of the lads will be here very shortly. 14:09 <hrolf> Rolf yawns and looks at the clock. "It's getting late mate, and yer putting me to sleep. Me mates should be here soon." He brightens up as he gets the text, reminiscing about the evening - it felt good to be back in London. "Tell you what lad, I'm in a good mood tonight. Might leave you with one leg unbroken to hop home on, yeah?" 14:12 <banana> Liam: "Shit. Hughes, I need that paperwork. It's no use to you and the only other one who'd want it is the bastard. If you won't help, I'll..." 14:12 <hrolf> "You'll what, mate?" 14:12 <banana> There's a heavy knock at the front door. Meaty. 14:13 <hrolf> Rolf walks sidewise towards the flat’s door, keeping his gun pointed at Liam. He calls out: “Yeah? Who’s there?” 14:15 <banana> Gazza: "I'm here with Stevie and Baz. You alright, Rolfie?" 14:15 <banana> Liam leaps up from the sofa and backs toward the bedroom. 14:16 <hrolf> Rolf unlocks the door and lets them in., nodding and jerking a thumb towards the lad backing away. "Let this be a lesson to you lad. The next time you want to get in touch...make an appointment." 14:18 <banana> Gazza does an arm grip to greet Rolf as the lads pile in. Barry just cracks his knuckles with little metal noises. 14:19 <banana> Penberthy flings open the bedroom door. It opens on a sunlit factoryscape, some lunatic interior sprawl with boat keels, workmen, canals and ramps everywhere. Distant noise rings out from the straining workmen, who you only glimpse. 14:19 <banana> "I'm coming back, Hughes. Me or him. You can't stay out of this now that you've been tagged." 14:21 <banana> Steve is the one with good reaction time, and he almost moves fast enough to get a grip on the guy. Liam plunges through the doorway and then it's gone, leaving Rolf's friend holding a scrap of denim in his bunched fist. 14:21 <hrolf> "Well, fuck me."