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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 10:32:14 GMT -6
Asher swore for the umpteenth time as she made her way through the maze of tunnels, searching for a certain employee of the brothel. The military woman had a bit of her own agenda and was known by much of the colour rebels when she came down, usually looking for the people she employed. Her brothel acted as sort of a halfway house for people trying to get information to and from the rebellion, so she was tolerated because she wouldn't turn anyone over.
After all, the girl had connections down here as well as up there. She had warned the rebels of upcoming raids since the cops who came to her brothel had loose tongues and the walls had ears. Sighing, she pushed her hair back, the tattoo standing out fairly well in the dark against her skin as she paused, getting her bearings again. Celine should be somewhere near here, she mused, eyes taking in her directions before turning left.
The police had come to her, asking about William Scott and while Asher knew much more than she had given him, she had also lied to them about Celine's whereabouts and that was certainly something she had to let him know as soon as possible, which was about the only reason she was down here. The tiny woman resisted the urge to kick something, scowling instead at the walls she passed, mentally counting off her steps.
She hated the dark and the enclosed space of the catacombs, which was why she was rarely down here alone. It wasn't so bad when she was with someone, but when it was her and her thoughts, she tended to drift into her past, an all together unpleasant thing. Shaking her head to shove her thoughts away, she frowned, chewing her lower lip before turning again, making her way deeper into the catacombs. "Goddamn police, fucking with military intel," she muttered under her breath, using most every curse word she knew. "Celine had better fucking be here."
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Post by Alexandre Lioncourt on Oct 24, 2009 11:31:01 GMT -6
There was a click and a light flashed on from a little ways down the tunnel in front of the girl. The light came from a flashlight that was being held by Alexandre Lioncourt. He was leaning lazily up against the wall, looking down the tunnel to the girl who had been cursing up a storm the whole entire walk.
The King of the Underground moved his hand to his lips and took a drag of a lit cigarette that only now became visible in the darkness. He blew out the smoke, his eyes taking in the form of the girl a bit more. Even from here, he could tell who the girl was. Her name was Asher, and he had seen her from time to time down in the underground. She was a part of the military.
“Wandering around in the dark alone with not light,” came his lazy voice as he continued to watch her. “I thought someone like you would have remembered a flashlight.”
Alexandre gave a laugh as he moved off of the wall and straightened up. His dreadlocks could be seen in this darkness still and they were pulled up into a loose ponytail. He was wearing a dark red coat that fell down to his knees. Upon his legs were dark jeans. He found the sight of Asher quite amusing and could not help but chuckle a bit more.
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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 11:39:48 GMT -6
An answering brighter light shone from her as a wry grin quirked her lips. "I have one, but chose not to use it. Makes it harder if you're being followed," she said, narrowing her eyes at him. "What do you want?" she asked, her tone full of suspicion.
It was rightfully placed, especially in the catacombs, despite him being obviously a colorful. One could never be too careful, the police had tried to infiltrate the colorfuls before, but it had never worked because so many of them were not creative enough. It was a difficult task to do, but there had been a few successes that were quickly terminated when the operative was lost.
She clicked her own light off, putting it back in her pocket as she made her way to stand across from him, arms crossed over her stomach as cool violet eyes regarded him. She was dressed in all black, a short sleeve T-shirt showing the barcode tattooed on her arm and black pants with heavy duty combat boots to protect her feet. The shoes boosted her up a few inches, but she was still far shorter than he was.
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Post by Alexandre Lioncourt on Oct 24, 2009 11:49:45 GMT -6
Alexandre lowered his light a bit to not be blinding the girl. “It really isn’t your place to ask me what I want,” he told her, observing her with careful eyes. “You are the one coming from the surface down to the catacombs. I should be asking what you want instead of vice versa. I am the one who is not a stranger to these tunnels.”
Taking another drag from his cigarette and then puffing out the smoke, Alexandre stepped toward Asher. “But I think it is not needed to ask you what you want. You appear to be searching for Celine. I could take you to her, if you tell me what you want with her.”
He flashed a smile. He had that power, as it was, to question people of what they really wanted. Alexandre had more authority over the majority of the people who came down to the catacombs. If she wanted something, she would answer to him even if she did not know him.
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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 11:58:44 GMT -6
"Last I spoke with Celine, he preferred being referred to as a 'he'," she mused, watching him with narrowed violet eyes. "And he works under my employ, so I have a right to see him and inform him of certain customers of his," she said, giving him a defiant look, as if she dared him to contradict her on this.
It was true she was from the outside, but she also tolerated the colour rebels in a way that very few outsiders did. Although, she could be tried and probably killed for treason for all she did with them, but she did have her own agenda that no one was clear of.
Giving him one last look, she moved past him, making her way down the path. "I can find him myself," she said, the military in her taking over and her childish stubbornness showing through.
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Post by Alexandre Lioncourt on Oct 24, 2009 12:05:38 GMT -6
“Oh, pardon me,” Alexandre said with a laugh before following after the girl. “Hey, now, I can’t help knowing what he prefers his gender to be on a day by day basis. I prefer to call him a ‘she’ since I think he makes a better woman than man. Either way, you may as well let me take you to where he is instead of allowing you to stumble around in the darkness, tripping over yourself.”
The colour rebel could not help but to laugh at her protests. She was a stubborn soul and that was easy to see. She would rather fall over herself bruising and yelling at herself the whole way there instead of have someone ‘hold her hand’ and take her to where she needed to be.
“It does not hurt to rely on others if they are trustworthy enough. Of course, you being of military, you know that you cannot trust everyone you see. I can assure you, though, that there would be no benefits to me hurting you in any way or misleading you.”
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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 12:17:07 GMT -6
"About the only benefit you would have would be a suicide wish," she muttered, turning to look at him as she crossed her arms over her chest, watching him with a cocked eyebrow. "And I highly doubt you actually want the military to have a reason to come down here," she said. "They are oh so fond of napalm."
Giving him a look that clearly said she didn't trust him as far as she could throw him, which was actually a decent distance, if she managed it right. "I have no reason to trust you nor do I have a reason to believe that you will in fact take me to see Celine. I do not know your name or anything about you, so why should I just take up the offer of some stranger in the tunnels?" she asked.
She pushed a few loose strands of hair back into her ponytail as she shifted, reflexively checking the weapons she carried on her at all times. She had a gun on her hip and another at the small of her back, a boot knife and a knife opposite the gun. It never hurt to go anywhere unfamiliar unarmed, although she doubted that he'd try and hurt her. Few were foolish enough to actually lash out at the military.
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Post by Alexandre Lioncourt on Oct 24, 2009 12:28:10 GMT -6
“Well, my name is Alexandre,” he said with a slight smile. He decided it was best not to tag on one of his many titles. Truly, the people of the surface only knew him by one of his many titles. The King of the Underground, King of Colour… Most wouldn’t even link him with his many little nicknames.
“There now we aren’t complete strangers. You know my name, I know your name. We’re good.” If that didn’t creep her out, he would be surprised. Of course, he was very informed which most were not about people who came in and out of the underground.
“If I take you to him, will that clarify that I am slightly trustworthy?” Alexandre questioned. “I mean, it would be ignorant of me to try and pull something on you. You are heavily armed as it is, and I would be defenseless. I don’t strap guns and knives upon my being.”
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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 12:46:17 GMT -6
Asher arched an eyebrow that he knew her name but didn't comment on it. After all, she was known by many but had few friends. It wasn't often that a member of the military risked everything doing what she did for the colour rebels. Of course, that meant they left her and hers alone, but it was a system that worked to everyone's benefit.
"It may, but then again, Alexandre, who knows if I am the completely trustworthy one," she pointed out with a smile, hinting that she did have her own agenda. "Although, doing what I do, one would have to be a fool to think otherwise," she said smiling lightly to herself at her own amusement.
She moved so she was facing him and gestured he lead the way. Once he stated his name, she knew who he was and filed it away for later information, remembering his name.
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Post by Alexandre Lioncourt on Oct 24, 2009 13:03:12 GMT -6
“I suppose I can lead you now,” Alexandre said with a slight smile before taking the lead. He knew the catacombs better than anyone else. He could move in the dark through the tunnels and find his way to the various sections of the underground. Which is why many looked to him for advice and such. He was able to give directions and even draw out maps.
His eyes flashed around for a moment, his mind quickly remembering where he had last seen Celine. He had been close to Alexandre’s chambers in one of the sitting rooms.
“It’s not that far from here,” he said to Asher as he continued to lead her down the tunnel. “We should be there in a handful of moments.”
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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 13:07:06 GMT -6
"Oh goody," came the sarcastic reply as she followed him, rolling her eyes behind his back. She may have thought he was attractive, but that didn't stop her sarcastic tongue from speaking. She frowned a bit, disliking how the police had come to the brothel to find out information on this man.
Especially since Asher knew about his extracurriculars and because Celine was a colour rebel as well. She sighed lightly, eyes sweeping and keeping track of where they were going, mentally counting off the steps and directions in her head. It was a small wonder the girl never got lost after going somewhere once, she just knew how to get there after having gone once, which was why she had been in the tunnels in the first place.
She muttered under her breath about something, the words unintelligible to anyone but her, unless you happened to be standing right next to her.
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Post by Alexandre Lioncourt on Oct 24, 2009 13:17:18 GMT -6
“Hey now, the sooner you reach Celine, the sooner you should be happy or at least content,” Alexandre said, glancing over his shoulder to look at her. He flashed a smile before taking one more drag off his cigarette. He let it fall onto the ground where he rubbed it out with the bottom of his boot.
They soon were walking toward a door where light crept out at the bottom where the door did not quite meet the ground. Alexandre walked forward, pulling out a key and unlocking the door. He then opened it, slipping the keys in some hidden place upon his being before allowing Asher to enter before him.
“After you, mademoiselle,” he said with a polite little bow and smile.
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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 13:22:24 GMT -6
Asher arched an eyebrow, a smile dancing over her lips as she watched him. Shaking her head, she moved past him, fingers trailing over his chest in a sort of teasing dance, almost hinting as to what she had to offer. "Then thank you," she said, a laugh making itself known in her voice.
Her eyes fell on Celine and it was with silent words that he came over to her and they stood to the side, in semi-privacy as she explained to him what she had found out about the investigation. He kept his cool and nodded, his voice low and soothing in pattern, much like Asher's was when trying to calm an irate customer.
She hadn't completely lied about Scott being thrown out and banned, but the murder was a different story and from what Asher had found out about the detective, things did not bode well since she was so tenacious about catching the suspect.
She delivered her warning to Celine, as well as filling him in on what the plan was, to ensure that no one went to jail and they avoided the police and investigations into the brothel.
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Post by Alexandre Lioncourt on Oct 24, 2009 13:33:09 GMT -6
Alexandre had locked the door behind them and had made his way over to one of the loveseats. The room was brightly decorated in red furniture. The walls had been decorated with golden fabrics that were hung like tapestries. There were lavender throw rugs upon the stone floor as well. The colors all seemed to clash terribly, but in a way they all went together. The room was very retro in appearance which was why Alexandre found himself so found of it.
He did not speak to the two who were discussing important matters of their own. He simply propped his leg up on a red, round ottoman and relaxed against the red throw pillows of the loveseat. Humming to himself, Alexandre pulled out another cigarette and lit it before putting it to his lips to take another drag.
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Post by Asher LeBeau on Oct 24, 2009 13:36:36 GMT -6
Celine seemed to pout, trying to throw Asher for a loop, as if he were asking to stay down here a while longer. She appeared resolute, shaking her head and placing her hands on her hips before Celine turned to Alexandre, almost as if seeking help from him.
Asher sighed, running a hand down her face as she watched the transsexual put on his pouting act. It worked on most everyone, her being one of the few exceptions because she had one of her own that worked damn well when she needed it to.
"Celine, don't even start," she said, her voice filling with amusement as she watched him collapse dramatically onto one of the loveseats, eyes pleading with Asher in mock hurt. "You know that despite my connections I can't completely shut them out and since you were the last one he was with, you have to be questioned," she said, watching him.
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