// STRAUD MANSION //


I truly got mixed up with the Marscapones in an event that was not lost to the Hexfiles.

The year was 1995.

MANDARC

HOW DID YOU MEET VINCENT?

STRAUD

THE FIRST TIME?

I’M NOT SURE I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME ANYMORE.

BUT THAT TIME HE WANTED HELP RETREIVING HIS SON FROM TRELAINE.

MANDARC

YEAH, YOU WERE SOMETHING OF A LEGEND AROUND THE LAB.

MOST DIDN’T WANT TO DISCUSS IT THOUGH. ESPECIALLY NOT WITH ME AROUND.

BUT I GATHERED THERE WERE EXPLOSIVES INVOLVED.

STRAUD

I CALLED IN OLD FAVORS OWED.

MANDARC

SWEET.

YEAH, IT WAS CONNECTED WITH A LARGE INCREASE OF SECURITY AT THE LAB.

STRAUD

IT IS NOT A COURSE OF ACTION I’D OFTEN TAKE.

MANDARC

IT WAS QUARQ, WASN’T IT?

HE’S SUCH A BELIEVER.

STRAUD

VINCENT WAS HIBERNATING A LOT IN THOSE DAYS.

IT REQUIRED GREAT ENERGY TO DO WHAT HE DID.

YOU ARE YOUNG, YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO HAVE TO EXERT YOURSELF IN SUCH A WAY.

BUT FOR VINCENT, ONE OF THE OLD ONES, IT WAS TRULY A FEAT TO BEHOLD.

MANDARC

WERE YOU THERE?

STRAUD

NOT THEN, IN 1995, NO. I WASN’T THERE.

IT WAS HIS FIGHT.

BUT I LED HIM RIGHT TO HIS DOORSTOP.

MANDARC

DID KEV TRULY HAVE THE TEETH?

STRAUD

IN SOME RETELLINGS.

MANDARC

WHY DID CEDRIC SPOOF IN HIS APPEARANCE TO THE GOTH KID?

STRAUD

HE WISHED HE’D BEEN THERE AND THOUGHT IT WOULD MAKE FOR AN EASIER LIE, SHOULD THE TIME COME.

HE WAS PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

I DON’T FAULT HIM FOR IT.

MANDARC

YOU DON’T FAULT HIM FOR MUCH.

STRAUD

EXCUSE ME?

MANDARC

YOU DELIVERED THE ZHOU FAMILY TO HIM ON A SILVER PLATTER.

STRAUD

AND YET HE’S ATTEMPTING TO SHIRK HIS DUTIES.

MANDARC

NO ~

STRAUD

DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU’RE ATTEMPTING TO DO BY ATTENDING COMMUNITY COLLEGE WITH MARSCAPONE?

I FIND THE WHOLE ESCAPADE TO BE A COLLOSAL WASTE OF TIME.

MANDARC

I’VE BEEN THINKING, MASTER.

WHAT IF THERE’S MORE TO OUR VICTORY THAN ELIMINATING OUR ENEMIES? WHAT IF THERE’S ALSO WINNING THE HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE?

IF THE REVEAL IS TRULY ON ITS WAY THEN IT FALLS TO US TO BE PREPARED.

I WANT TO BE STANDING UPRIGHT AMONG THE FALLEN MASSES.

I WANT TO BE THERE TO LEAD OUR PEOPLE TO VICTORY AND PEACE.

IF I AM THERE STANDING AS A BEACON OF GOODNESS, I WILL BE PRIMED TO BE A FIGURE OF DIPLOMACY.

STRAUD

IT’S GOOD ENOUGH IN THEORY BUT CAN YOU ACTUALLY MAKE IT THROUGH?

THE RISKS ARE HIGH.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO TRUST THE EVERY DAY STAN.

AND MARSCAPONE IS ALREADY ON YELLOW ALERT.

MANDARC

YOU WOULDN’T HAVE BROUGHT EMMITT HERE IF YOU DIDN’T BELIEVE HE’D BE SAFE.

WE’LL GO THROUGH SAFE CHANNELS.

STRAUD

YOU THINK THERE ARE SAFE CHANNELS?

MANDARC

I HAVE FAITH.



CEDRIC//

You have to know when to hold 'em

Know when to fold 'em

Know when to walk away.