Dossier:
Elias

Gangster Saves Your Life

{ Today is a Thursday, concurrent with Isaac Part 1 }

{ Scene 1: Brewhouse Café }

• Elias is there to do some reconnaissance of Vex business; is on his phone when he enters.
• Chats up Listener when he orders his drink – preference for the special latte with pralines, but orders a choco-vanilla from Listener’s recommendation.
• A man with a briefcase enters the café, looking a little “sus”, and catches Elias’ attention. Listener has not seen the man before.
• The sound of chains being threaded through the front door’s handles is heard. Elias instructs Listener to start evacuating customers via the back exit. Before the Listener has the chance to do anything a loud explosion is heard and chaos ensues.
• Elias manages to retrieve the briefcase before escaping with Listener. Elias does not want to be found by the police, so they flee the scene.

{ Scene 2: Elias’ apartment }

• Elias tells Listener about:
  • His affiliation with the Wraiths.
  • How the Brewhouse Café is in gray territory (a neutral location not owned by any of the gangs).
  • A black out that happened nearly a decade ago wasn’t an accident, and instead was from a battle fought between the two gangs. Over a dozen people died as a result.
  • That the mayor is corrupt and in the pocket of the gang.
  • The police are paid to look the other way as well.
• Elias plans on bringing the briefcase to his father in the morning; Listener stays over.

Events are mentioned in Isaac Rhoades’ story line, during a phone call he receives in Part 2.

Meeting the Gang Lord

{ Today is Friday, Concurrent with Isaac Part 2 }

{ Scene 1: Elias’ Apartment, Morning }

• Elias wakes Listener up. He hands them his phone and tells them to input their address.
  • Listener chooses the good path: They input their address into Elias’ phone only.
• They have breakfast together (bacon and waffles) before heading to their base, a hotel downtown.

{ Scene 2: The “Base” }

• Elias takes Listener to meet his father Warden and hand over the briefcase.
• Warden is displeased that Elias brings Listener with him, first saying that Listener should go home, and then threatening their life.
• Elias proposes that he guards Listener in one of their suites while Warden opens the briefcase.
• Listener learns that Elias has a poor relationship with Warden, especially when his mother is mentioned and he gets slapped for his retort.

{ Scene 3: Hotel Suite }

• Elias takes Listener to one of the VIP suites.
• Listener is free to use the amenities in the hotel but should only interact with Elias.
• Elias tells Listener he was originally studying for his cosmology degree before he was recruited to join the gang.
• Elias goes to find a laptop to purchase clothes for Listener.
• Elias tells Listener to pick out a movie for them to watch together.

Investigating with a Gangster

{ Today is [Saturday], just over a week since part 2 }

{ Scene: Hotel Suite }

• Elias and Listener are playing cards, Listener is losing (has lost three out of five games already). Elias wants to make things more interesting by having loser do whatever winner says, and is in the process of convincing the Listener to consent.
• Warden comes to the suite with the briefcase. He has neither opened it yet, nor has he discussed it with the Execs due to his suspicions there’s a rat within the organization.
• All of the remaining survivors of the fire are now dead, supposedly due to their injuries.
• Inside the briefcase contains photos of someone with the initials M.L., along with dates and locations written on the photos. Listener and Elias are also able to identify the man with the briefcase.
• Warden speculates that the Penance have made their move from Hanford to Stockton. Man with the briefcase was possibly blackmailed into providing the photos.
• Elias becomes agitated by Warden and starts talking about the events in Fresno, which has Warden pull him into another room to continue their discussion.
  • While they are in the other room, Listener takes the “bad path” and uses Elias’ phone to take pictures of the contents of the briefcase (six photos in total).
• They finish talking and come back in. Warden will take the briefcase to James and arrange a meeting with the Holders. Elias promises Warden to do some research.
  • James is Elias’ Uncle and Consigliere to Warden; former financial advisor, now he helps Warden with the organization.
• Elias mentions the tentative truce the Wraiths have with the Vex, but since the assassination of Callum a couple of months ago (not by the Wraiths), there’s been new tensions between the two gangs.
• Elias talks about himself:
  • It’s safer to be part of the gang than to be on his own.
  • He feels reluctant to take Warden’s position because he doesn’t want to be responsible for other people’s lives. He believes James would be better suited.
  • Has never been out of the country, and would like to travel: Bali, Istanbul, Croatia, or the Philippines. He’d want to experience the local culture and food.
  • His first job was at a McDonald’s, but was fired from punching a rude customer in the face. Does not regret doing so.
  • His first reaction towards a situation isn’t violence, but he’s not above using it. Almost all of the fights he’s been in he’s won.
• Elias asks about Listener and finds out that they like to play video games. He suggests having a console brought in so the two of them have more entertainment (and more games that he can kick Listener’s butt at).
• Elias goes to make a phone call and notices his phone has moved, asks Listener if they did that.
  • Phone call is to Mike, who is with James – instructs Mike to get the spare key to his apartment from James, and to bring his Xbox with controllers and games and bring them to Warden’s main branch, then return the key to James.
  • Mike will be there in 20 minutes.
• While they wait, Elias teaches Listener how to play “Hail the Jack”.

Hiding Alone with a Gangster

{ Today is a couple weeks after part 1 }

{ Scene 1: Hotel Suite, Living room, Nighttime }

• Listener is playing Xbox and getting frustrated with the level they’re playing.
• Warden has ID’d the man with the briefcase, and Elias is doing further research on a computer.
  • Briefcase man was a realtor, but in the past had serious debt. He was able to find a high paying job, sell his home for a profit and move to Hanford.
  • He probably worked with the Penance for his luck to turn around so drastically.
  • Background checks indicate that he had no criminal history whatsoever.
  • Elias comments that Briefcase man had a very boring life.
• Elias talks about his student life, of all of the trouble he’d get into, but also about how much fun he had. He attended U.C. Berkley for college, but didn’t complete his degree because he was recruited by his father to join the Wraiths.
• Elias flirts with Listener, and admits that he’s attracted to them.
• Elias receives a message from Warden stating that the Execs have found out about the Penance moving into Stockton, and not because the Wraiths have told them about it. Elias finds the photos that Listener has taken of the briefcase and is furious.
  • Elias’ phone is backed up to a cloud server in the event something happens to it, and select Execs have access to the backups.
  • Elias is under intense scrutiny by the Execs to determine whether he’d be a suitable heir for the Wraiths.
  • By not having any of the leadership in the Wraiths informing the Execs of the new gang, it will reflect poorly on Warden and Elias.
  • Listener apologizes, stating they were only trying to help. Elias says he will take the heat for this incident, but will not protect them if something else happens.
  • Execs help fund/provide resources to the Wraiths.
• Elias explains that since he and Listener are the only survivors, they’re in serious danger. Elias brazenly states that he’s used to it, but then admits that he’s not as blasé about it as he previously asserts.
  • “Screwed by association”
• There’s a knock on the door, and Elias shushes Listener. Supposedly it’s room service with some complimentary items. Listener takes the “good path” and stays quiet until the person at the door leaves. Elias would have been informed by Warden if something was being sent up, and there wouldn’t be any complimentary things delivered to this floor. The person knew to come directly to their room as well. Because of where they are, it’s most likely Listener who’s the target. Only a few people know that Elias and Listener are there: Warden, James, Mike, and some of the hotel staff.
• Because their location has been compromised, Elias suggests that they’ll have to move, but not until they’ve informed Warden of the situation. Listener is told to get some rest, and Elias will stay up to keep watch. He checks that the gun he has is loaded.

{ Scene 2: Hotel Suite, Listener’s bedroom, Late night/Early morning }

• Listener has a nightmare about the bombing at Brewhouse, loud enough that Elias hears them and wakes them up. Listener asks Elias to keep them company.
• Elias talks about his past traumatic experiences:
  • A car accident while driving in the rain and nearly killing a family.
  • When he first joined the gang, and a rival gang kidnapped him and held him for ransom.
  • The most traumatic he isn’t able to talk about.
• Elias changes topics and talks about stargazing.
• Listener goes back to sleep listening to Elias type on his laptop.

Moving in with a Gangster

{ Today is approximately three weeks since staying in the hotel suite }

{ Scene 1: in a car headed to a new safe house }

• Elias offers to reimburse Listener when everything is done, either from Warden or himself, as long as Listener doesn’t do anything to betray Elias.
• Wraiths have been around for more than a decade.
• Even though Elias doesn’t want to be a leader, he’d rather be clever leader and keep others from dying.
• Elias nicknamed their driver “Avox” after The Hunger Games, because his tongue was cut out by a rival gang and is now mute.
  • The Hunger Games is a guilty pleasure for Elias, and he suggests a movie marathon since Listener has never watched it before.

{ Scene 2: Wraith safe house }

• Elias and Listener upon arriving at the safe house are greeted by James. Elias was never told about the off-the-grid, high tech safe house because it was on a need-to-know basis, and he didn’t need to know.
  • There’s a double locking system on the door: a retinal scanner and a 6-digit key code.
  • After entering, another 6-digit code is required to either disable the alarm or trip the panic alarm and must be inputed within 30 seconds.
• Elias and Listener will be staying until it’s deemed safe. It’s fully stocked, and deliveries will be checked before reaching them.
• James reports to Elias about their latest intel, and is concerned that Listener is present for the information. Elias tells James the least he can do is tell Listener what’s going on since they were dragged into the situation – wrong place, wrong time.
  • They found the person trying to access Elias’ suite at Quetza Hotel. He almost got away because he knew where all of the cameras are.
  • He’s a staff member that’s been working at the hotel for about three years and knows everyone including Elias.
  • Coworkers described him as a nice, charming, hard working member of the hotel staff.
  • He’s been part of the Wraiths for the same amount of time, he was placed at the hotel due to his previous hospitality experience.
  • After being interrogated, he said he was after the briefcase. James thinks otherwise, and plans on interrogating him again.
  • No new information has been discovered from the contents of the briefcase. They’re running all of the faces through all of the resources they have.
• Elias wants to be part of the investigation but Warden is not convinced that Elias wasn’t the target from the beginning so he wants him to stay in the safe house.
• Before Callum’s death, it was planned that the Wraiths and the Vex would merge. Now that Callum is dead, the merger will probably not go through.
• James agrees that Elias and Elias’ mother don’t belong in the gang world, and tried to reason with Warden to keep him out of it.
• Elias was in his second year at Berkley when he was recruited, and would have graduated by now and found a job in the field.
• James tells Listener a cute/embarrassing story from Elias’ childhood.
  • Elias broke his leg when he was 7 years old helping a baby bird that fell out of a nest.
• James offers to talk to Warden about Elias succeeding him.
• James tells Elias to help Avox with the boxes so he can talk to Listener alone
  • James ran a background check on Listener and found they have bad credit and money problems.
  • Listener started working at Brewhouse since March. They left a better paying job and started the same week the Callum was assassinated.
  • James threatens Listener, and warns them not to tell Elias about this conversation.
• Elias returns, and James gets up to leave. Elias walks James to the door, and they talk about the upcoming meeting with the Execs, where they want Elias and Listener to attend as well.
• Elias returns and sees that Listener is visibly shaken. Listener takes the perfect path and tells Elias about their conversation with James. Elias tries to give a reasonable explanation for James’ behavior, and tries to reassure Listener that their life isn’t in danger from him.
• Listener is still having nightmares, and Elias suggests that time and yoga will help them cope.
• To lighten the mood, Elias suggests playing Golden Eye on N64 and will teach them how to play. Elias confesses that he likes to play video games with Listener.

---

Transcript of conversation between Elias and James:

Elias: Ha ha. Don’t you have to be somewhere?
James: I do. I need to prepare for the upcoming meeting. They want both of you to be there, which is stupid.
Elias: The Execs?
James: Yeah, they’re too busy worried about their money and political power to understand how dangerous it is for you to meet them there. It goes against the idea of a safe house.
Elias: What does Dad think about it?
James: You know how he is. Always making sure they’re happy. I’ll talk to him about that too, but no promises. :sigh: Sometimes I can’t even keep up with what’s happening anymore.
Elias: *unintelligible* Hope it gets quiet again soon.
James: When things get quiet, that’s when you need to watch your back.
Elias: Yeah. Talk to you later.
James: Remember the first code after I leave.
Elias: Yeah.
[Door opens then closes, keypad is pressed]

A Dangerous Meeting with Gangsters

{ Scene 1: Outside the Meeting room }

• Elias and Barista are waiting for the meeting to start. Elias is anxious about it since meetings are only for when something big is about to go down, and Warden & James are the ones to attend.
• Elias’ nervousness also stems from the different rules that the Execs follow, which are different from the common sense that most people have.
• The previous time Elias had attended a meeting was when he first joined the Wraiths, and Warden introduced their names and positions.
• Elias tells Barista not to give the Execs what they want.
• James opens the door and tells them to join the meeting.

{ Scene 1: Meeting with the Execs }

Execs Meeting Minutes

1. Call to Order by Warden
2. Introduction of Attendees (in order)
   • Warden
   • Elias
   • Barista
   • James
   • Vitale: in charge of Oakland Expansion
   • Malina: in charge of the Wraiths operated nonprofit Equiunion
   • Elliot: Police force (high ranking, maybe a chief?)
   • Lexi: Knowledge of Pharmaceutical Industry
   • Markus: Politician (US Senator?)
3. Warden is concerned that in the last 3 months there has been more activity happening than in the last 2 years combined.
4. Merger of Wraiths and Vex
   • Warden: The merger with the Vex should have happened by now and because it hasn’t they’re vulnerable to Morgan and the Penance.
   • Elliot: Wonder if the merger will still happen?
   • Warden: Plans on reaching out to the Vex.
   • James: Thinks the would have reached out by now.
   • Lexi: Thinks the Vex aren’t interested in merging anymore. She’s heard rumors of a shell company possibly owned by the Vex buying pharmaceuticals from Enzetar.
   • Warden: Callum wasn’t interested previous; wants to know what kind of pharmaceuticals.
   • Lexi: DXM and Morphine.
   • Warden: Asks for Lexi’s opinion on this information.
   • Lexi: Fairly certain that the two highly addictive drugs will flood the streets. The Vex didn’t deal drugs when Callum was leader, so she’s unsure on how they’ll use them.
   • Elliot: Talks about the statistics on drug related crimes are at an all time low and that he wants to keep it like that. Mentions an old Stockton gang, the Skullags, that dealt drugs and the main reason Elliot turned to the Wraiths for help.
   • Vitale: Thinks that the Vex aren’t interested in merging because they haven’t reached out in the three months since Callum was killed.
   • James: Worried that the Vex think the Wraiths are the one who killed Callum.
   • Warden: Morgan + the Penance are most likely the responsible for preventing the merger. The Fangs are too small of a gang to be suspects.
   • Vitale: Asks Warden what does he think Morgan wants.
   • Warden: Unsure, but knows he announced his intentions of taking over Stockton from the moves he’s made.
   • James: References the burnt flag of Stockton was left in the library.
   • Malina: Asks if they have the flag.
   • Elliot: Replies that they only having a picture of the flag. Since it was found by a kid during a field trip to the kid, the Librarian took a photo in case it was touched by one of the people there. By the time the police arrived the flag was gone. Surveillance cameras weren’t working in the whole building when it happened. Police didn’t interview all of the witnesses and said it was only a prank.
   • Warden: Summarizing Morgan’s activities – Callum’s death; the flag in the library; the bomb sent to Warden (aka Housekeeper’s package); blowing up Brewhouse.
5. Brewhouse incident
   • Warden: Tells Elias to report on what happened.
   • Elias:
     • Went to Brewhouse because he got a tip from Leeno that there was someone leaking info about Equiunion and they were making a drop-off there.
     • Arrived early to see who was there, especially any Vex, and Fang members, and the public.
     • Sat at the counter, ordered a drink, and was still on the phone with Leeno when he spotted a sus guy come in (aka Briefcase/Whistleblower guy) with his hood up and a briefcase. Sus guy sat in the back.
     • Asked Barista whether they had seen sus guy before, and Barista answered no.
     • Heard noises at the door, and went to see what they were. Found the doors locked by chains.
     • Sus guy begins panicking and then the explosion happens. Lots of damage and fire.
     • Sus guy is killed in the initial blast, so Elias grabs the briefcase and he + Barista escape out the back.
     • Lexi: Asks if he remembers smelling gas – no.
     • Elliot: Asks if Barista was there the whole time – Barista was working the counter since Elias arrived.
     • Elliot: Is suspicious of Barista since they would normally never have the opportunity to be in the same room as the Execs, the same with Elias.
     • Elias: Defends Barista and says they had nothing to do with the explosion.
     • Vitale: Asks if there’s proof.
     • Elias: No proof, but gives the argument that they wouldn’t be at the cafe if they knew it was going to be blown up.
     • Vitale: Isn’t convinced.
     • Elliot: Agrees with Vitale.
   • Warden: Considers Brewhouse an attack on the Wraiths. The Vex might not be convinced the Wraiths weren’t responsible, but they should be prepared for anything, especially after the attack on Elias at the hotel (part 4).
6. Interrogation of Attacker at Hotel
   • Elliot: Asks James about the interrogation of the person caught.
   • James: Answers that he got from Attacker –
     • Attacker was promised his father’s hospital debts would be paid off if he got rid of Barista.
     • Money paid to Attacker was traced back to the account of a nonprofit called Ark Eden.
   • Malina: Confirms with James that it’s the Ark Eden based in Hanford, and says it’s owned by Morgan. They won the nonprofit achievement award at last year’s ENE Conference. They’ve only been active for less than 5 years but are becoming a prominent NPO, and she remembers seeing Morgan there.
   • Markus: Adds that there are some Senators in his [political] party that want to expand that company like they did for Equiunion. If they have the support of the House [of Representatives] then the two companies would have equal footing, but it’s uncertain at this point because there might be a conflict.
   • Warden: Expects Markus to continue his support of Equiunion and prevent Ark Eden from expanding.
   • Markus: Promises to find more supporters.
   • Elliot: Reminds Markus to do it tactfully so there isn’t any hint of scandal that might jeopardize his position as an Exec.
7. Oakland Expansion
   • Warden: Adds that the Oakland Expansion is slightly delayed because of Brewhouse.
   • Vitale: Reports all plans have been finalized except for one. He should get confirmation in the next few weeks.
   • Warden: Asks to be kept updated.
8. The Penance + the briefcase contains evidence connected to the bomb that was sent to Quetza Hotel
   • Malina: Asks what proof?
   • James: Responds that after they opened the briefcase, he and Elliot dismantled the bomb to look for serial numbers, but they were all removed. The briefcase contained the blueprints for the exact type of bomb, and the assets the Penance have shares in. Three match the manufacturer models.
   • Lexi: Asks which three?
   • James: Answers –
     • Ramraller – Firearms company based in Nevada
     • Hook & Head – independent company specializing in premium cabling
     • Scytheson
   • Markus: Surprised to hear the name Scytheson.
   • Lexi: Asks what is the significance?
   • Elliot: Informs the group that Scytheson arms half of the military, which means he’s supporting Morgan and his plans with a lot of weapons.
   • Lexi: Asks about the Wraith’s arsenal.
   • Elliot: Concerned that Scytheson gives the Penance an advantage.
   • Warden: Insists that since the Wraith is a larger group it shouldn’t matter. Morgan plans on taking over Stockton, but he believes that is not his end game and has bigger plans. Morgan’s plans didn’t destroy the Wraiths arsenal or to have Warden removed as leader. Instead Callum is killed; the Stockton flag is left as a message; a bomb was meant to kill Warden and destroy the hotel; and Brewhouse explodes with Elias in it. Everything that’s happened is more personal (ie targeting those people specifically).
   • James: Wonders why Morgan is specifically targeting Warden.
   • Warden: Doesn’t know, but when the Skullags did, Fresno was the result.
   • Vitale: Suggests that Warden is missing a simpler explanation – sussy Barista.
   • Elliot: Agrees with Vitale.
   • Elias: Begins to protest, but Warden stops him.
   • Warden:
     • Reveals he allowed Barista to attend to see their reaction to being at a meeting with the Execs.
     • The background check on Barista says that they come from a humble family, and left so their parents wouldn’t have the burden of supporting Barista according to the conversation he had with their parents. Parents are happy to hear that Barista is doing well.
     • Barista left their previous better paying job because they were being harassed by their boss, who threatened to fire them if they didn’t give him what he wanted, as well as make work unpleasant for them if they talked. This boss had a record of this behavior with other employees. Barista decided to quit instead.
     • Likes that Barista stood up for themself.
     • Declares that Barista is officially under the protection of the Wraiths.
     • Since Elias, Barista, and the briefcase survived Brewhouse, the Penance will have to delay their plans and that gives the Wraiths to investigate more on Morgan – why did Sus/Briefcase/Whistleblower guy suddenly want to share information now? Maybe it was because the Penance were doing something so immoral that he felt compelled to expose them? Does he have family in Stockton that he wanted to protect. Or did he have a sudden epiphany?
9. Tasks for the Execs
   • Elliot: Keep an eye out for any Penance members that come into Stockton.
   • Lexi: Find out more information about the Vex and Enzetar in case they’re buying more than just DMX and Morphine.
   • Markus: Keep being a politician.
   • Malina: Plan an event for the victims of Brewhouse. Warden wants to show the Wraiths’ support of Stockton and possibly flush out the enemy.
   • James: Concerned that it could end up like Fresno again.
   • Vitale: Oakland Expansion will be discussed later; Find the new leader of the Vex and all information he can about them.
10. Overall Goals
    • Keep Elias & Barista safe
    • Find out who the new Vex leader is
    • Find out what the Penance really want
11. The Fangs
    • Elliot: Asks about the Fangs.
    • Warden: Maintain the current distance from them since they’re not an active threat.
    • Elias: Wants to make a suggestion –
      • Since things are still questionable the Vex, and the Penance will most likely attack soon, they need to make sure they can survive if both gangs attack.
      • Suggests they merge with the Fangs and/or other smaller gangs from Stockton. Since the Penance don’t care about collateral damage, it would be smart to ally with the other Stockton gangs to protect their city.
    • Elliot: Begrudgingly agrees that it’s a good idea, but is distrustful of the Fangs and thinks they should be kept on a short leash.
    • Lexi: Adds that because the Fangs aren’t interested in dealing drugs as well, the Vex starting to deal could be the common ground to wanting to stop the Vex. Would like to know why the Fangs don’t deal drugs.
    • Elliot: Will try to find out the reason.
    • Vitale: States the merger will either benefit or delay the Oakland Expansion, but it would have been the same if they merged with the Vex. A merger with the Vex would have been better since they’re larger, but that was to maintain their position; instead they need to ensure their survival, so merging with the Fangs can’t hurt either way.
    • Malina: Suggests that Morgan could already be looking for allies in Stockton so approaching the Fangs first is a better move. Wants to know what their current relationship with the Fangs is like.
    • Elliot: Confirms that they aren’t on bad terms, just petty fights.
    • Malina: States that since the Fangs are a local gang they should care what happens in Stockton, and especially if the Vex want to make changes.
    • James: Concerned that the Fangs won’t care.
    • Malina: Counters that the Fangs wouldn’t be able to fight any territory disputes on their own.
    • Warden: Says that Terra founded the Wraiths in order to protect Stockton and that he tries to honor her wishes and memory with is decisions. Knowing that there will be casualties for both the Wraiths and the public, he will do whatever it takes to protect everyone, which may include fighting dirty.
    • Elliot: Agrees with the sentiment.
    • James: Agrees as well, but also knows they need to make a decision sooner rather than later on whether to merge with the other gangs.
    • Warden: Will make his decisions and reply soon.
12. End of Meeting

{ Scene 1: Still in the meeting room after the Execs have left }

• Elias turns to Barista to discuss the meeting. He admits that he was nervous.
• Elias reassures Barista that they did well by not backing down and that Barista wouldn’t have been allowed in the building if Warden found anything in his research of them.
• Elias checks on how they’re feeling. Elias plans on crashing once they return to the safe house, and offers to make Barista some ramen.
• Warden talks to Elias and Barista:
  • Warden: Compliments them on a good job during the meeting.
  • Elias: Responds that if he hadn’t kept his cool, the Execs would hate him even more.
  • Warden: Disagrees with that statement.
  • Elias: Feels differently and complains specifically about Elliot’s attitude towards him.
  • Warden: Explain to Elias that Elliot doesn’t respect Elias because he hasn’t earned it yet. Elias was at the meeting because he’s Warden’s son, while Elliot fought for his position to help the city, even it it means working with the Wraiths in order to get things done. The only way Elias can earn all of Execs’ respect is to show what he’s capable of.
  • Elias: Argues that he’s unable to because Warden only allows him to do clean up.
  • Warden: Says he’s proud of Elias for his suggestion of recruiting the Fangs.
  • Elias is flustered.
  • Warden: Originally wasn’t planning to include Elias in things because he didn’t think Elias was ready, but now he will. Warden complements him for his good instincts, and that he’s a survivor & protector.
  • Elias is flustered some more.
  • Warden: Reassures Elias that mistakes will be made, but he has made them as well.
  • Warden: Turns to Barista and apologizes for suspecting them and as his apology he said he “sorted out that manager” for them by leaking incriminating info found on the manager’s iCloud account to a journalist.
  • Barista: Thanks Warden.
  • Warden: Wants to talk about Elias & Barista’s relationship. It’s important because he’s worried Elias will make bad choices because of his feelings for Barista, and to make sure he’s aware he won’t get manipulated then.
  • Elias: Promises that he’ll be careful.
  • Warden: Asks Barista what is their opinion of what the Wraiths do.
    • Barista chooses the good path: They tell Warden that what the Wraiths do is okay.
  • Warden has another meeting to attend and promises Elias that he will keep him informed.
  • Elias is happy.

{ Scene 2: Back at the Safe house }

• Elias gives Barista the promised bowl of ramen.
• He sits next to them and asks why they didn’t tell him about the reason why they quit their previous job. Elias is understanding about why they quit, and wants to beat up the manger, but he’s already lost his job, has been cancelled by the internet, and might face jail time.
• Barista’s opinion of Warden has changed because Warden has to put on a tough appearance even though the Wraiths are actually vigilantes who help people.
• Elias chafed against joining the Wraiths because he thought he was supposed to want a “normal” life – a family with the white picket fence home + garden.
• Elias didn’t know about what his parents did as a child; he calls them cringey because they were so in love with each other. His ultimate goal is to find a partner to be as cringey with as his parents.
• Before Fresno, Warden was still intimating but he smiled more, had a sense of humor, and would rough house with Elias. After Mom’s death, he hardened himself, and distanced himself from everyone, including Elias for a while. Elias thinks that Warden is keeping secrets about what happened during Fresno – during the meeting Warden said Fresno was caused by the Skullags, but Elias though the Vex were the perpetrators, so has Warden been lying to him this whole time and why? Maybe Warden is still unsure whether Elias should succeed him. Elias doesn’t want to give up his dream, but he also wants to help his Dad and make him proud.
• He joking says that he wishes Warden was vampire so he wouldn’t have to succeed him as leader.
• The Wraiths are [Stockton’s] bad guys, and the public doesn’t know at all what they’ve done to keep the city safe.
• Elias didn’t know they’re expanding to Oakland either. Elias wants to be able to help.
• Elias was surprised no one said anything about the photos during the meeting, and hope they forget about it altogether.
• Elias offers to find out what happened during Warden’s conversation with Barista’s parents and to give them a message.
• Elias is happy that Barista is with him in the safe house.

---

Transcript of conversation between Warden and James:

Warden: Well, I think that went rather well all things considering.
James: It is a lot though. It’s nothing like it was before.
Warden: I know. We’ll fight it just like we always do. We’ve made it this far haven’t we?
James: But the game is changing. We have to play by different rules now.
Warden: And what rules are those?
James: *sigh* We, might have to go against our own morals to take these guys down. If you’re right, then they want more than just ____ the city ____.
Warden: One move at a time James. We’ll talk about this later. I want to have a few words with these two.
James: Alright, I’ll have Avox prepare the car.
[James leaves the room]