Topic: DCH - Conspiracies

LdyBelial

Date: 2008-05-23 15:44 EST
With large windows on the south side facing the river, Tori's Diner always had a lot of natural light, though muted by thin blinds turned down, filling the room with a golden glow as the afternoon crept towards sunset. The bell rang when Alain enters through the single side door of the building, and stale cigarette smoke, sweet tea, scrambled eggs and cherry pie greets his nostrils. He couldn't help but watch Tori at the register writing down numbers, her lean-muscled tattooed arms propped against the counter while she works. Her chin lifts and her eyes snap to him, and she watches coolly....until she deciphers the Detective's undecipherable expression, and gives him a ghostly grin and a short wink. "Two cups of coffee, and leave us a pot," as the waitress herself was nowhere in sight. "You're lucky, D'Mourir," she replies with a laugh, but moves to get the coffee for him, and he sits in a booth facing the river.

Belial shimmers into existence inside the shadowy alley less than a block away. She moves to the opening and that green gaze sweeps with seeming casual indifference over the neighborhood. They have to be cautious, one never knows where spies might lurk and getting caught isn't an option, it's a death sentence, at least for Alain" Seeing nothing or no one out of the ordinary Bel is satisfied. She glides out onto the sidewalk heading towards Tori's Diner.

Through the glass window she spies the Detective. The slightest of pauses in her steps as guilt niggles at her conscious. He is so young and in the golden light of the end of day he looks vulnerable and far too mortal. A hand lifts to drag fingers through the mass of short ebon curls, a gesture that speaks volumes about her chaotic thoughts. Then she picks up her pace with renewed determination.

As Bel slips inside she can't help but think that Alain has picked an excellent location; she needs to compliment him on his area knowledge of the township. The place is small, quaint, and smells heavenly. The patrons range from Dockworkers to sailors, a rough lot with little disposable income and yet the ambiance is homey and comfortable. Bel smiles to the lady behind the counter as she moves to join Alain at his booth. The lady doesn't smile in return, but is gracious enough to offer Bel an upnod.

"Nice place you picked, Detective?" Bel smiles warmly as she slips into the seat across from Alain, resting small hands to the table's smooth, clean top. "I suspect you are going to reassure me the coffee is excellent?"

"I won't," he replies, grinning across at her - her cup of coffee is already waiting, and he rests his cigarette on the lip of the ashtray. "But it's a solid working-class cup of coffee, and it gets the job done." He raises his for a long sip. "It's good to see you again," he admits with a pause, but before the conversation turns more serious, he does ask, "Hungry?"

Bel shakes her head as she pours herself a cup of the coffee. With Yvette at home Bel rarely bothers to eat out; the lady has a talent in the kitchen and Bel has become rather addicted to the spicy Cajun cuisine. "Not particularly, no."

A hint of an amused grin flickers over beatific features. They could be just a random couple out to enjoy some quiet time not the conspirators they really are. They may not blend in with the local color, but neither do they stand out like sore thumbs. Bel finds the fa"ade comforting and rather humorous at the same time. Should anyone spy them from their typical social circles the rumor that will likely spread reeking of illicit romance. A situation Alain has frequently been associated to of late.

Bel cants her head as she adds sugar and cream to the coffee. "If you are hungry, don't hesitate to order on my account."

She's taking her time getting down to their business. Many excuses come to mind, but the honest and most direct are she is enjoying his company and she doesn't get a lot of 'downtime" lately. So' why rush when there is no need?

When Belial says no, Alain's bright blue gaze turns to Tori. It doesn't take long for their eyes to meet, and Alain shakes his head. No meal, just coffee. "No, think I'll just pick up Italian on the way home." He grins. "I'm nowhere near the cook I thought I'd become."

He takes up his cigarette for another drag. He appears comfortable, but there's a reason for it - he's scoped the place out, and he knows Tori has her way of alerting him should anything appear awry. His arm rests along the back of his seat, and in the golden sunlight, the numerous scars seem to deepen.

"I've made contact with Guthorm. He appears to be doing well, and we hatched a plan together. To 'murder' you." Eyebrows lift mildly.

LdyBelial

Date: 2008-05-24 13:44 EST
Bel laughs and the sound holds texture and depth; it is warm like honey yet soft like velvet. "Murder me?" her turn to arch a delicate brow. "Well" I am happy the two of you have met up. Please do share the idea?" Bel pauses to enjoy a sip of her coffee.

Surprisingly Bel has not been able to detect any kind of magical devices inside the diner. She feels the pulse of something else however; a damper that would hinder such things as image orbs or seedy boxes maybe even mages who don't understand ley line magic. And she had caught the exchange between the lady behind the bar and Alain. Her opinion of him is merely enhanced more as she recognizes the lengths he's gone to in order to ensure their privacy. Alain is always proving what a wise investment he truly is. Bel's smile beams as she regards him, cup held casually in hand. "Then I shall explain to you what tricks I have up my sleeve?"

"Our Norse friend seems to think that by seeing what means they employ to kill you, we'll get one big step closer what makes them tick and just how we stop their black little hearts." He puts out his cigarette, twisting it around in the ashtray - his right hand, which was shaking frequently just a week ago, has been completely steady since his meeting with Guthorm. "They don't seem to believe I can get you in the sack easily - I played like I could, they saw right through it, and I very narrowly bluffed my way out of it."

He tucks a few strands of hair back towards his temple and continues. "I've been thinking about this thing all wrong the whole time - just because they expect me to be a lustful son of a bitch who can't keep it in my pants, doesn't mean that should be my only strategy. I can contract a guy to tail you all through my turf, and you'll get spooked and get in touch with the one detective who knows that beat - me. You'll come into my office and I'll record the whole fucking conversation and turn it over to those assholes. I'll let them know where we're going to meet next and when, so they can 'ambush' you."

Bel's green eyes narrow as Alain explains how close he had come to being caught out by DCH. She had thought for certain the Senior Partners would have "expected" her to screw Alain. But it seems they wanted some other reaction instead" Bel frowns as she sets aside her empty coffee cup. The coffee was delicious, but the news is not. She can't help but wonder what other reaction could they have wanted"

"Then" why did Howe send you after me if he didn't expect you to be successful" Have you any idea?" Bel asks as slender fingers toy with the creamer absently. "Of course, your plan is brilliant, and I shall happily play along, but' Perhaps you should dig in to this a little as well" It might behoove us to know what he is thinking" you know, if at all possible?"

Bel is concerned and she has good reason. DCH has their hands on some pretty powerful magic and it needs to be taken away from the demonic trio.

"It is time that I explain some things to you Alain" things you might not find easy to understand. However, it is important that you realize what I need you to do for me" now that you are on the inside, so to speak."

Bel pauses to draw in a breath, that green gaze lowering to eye the creamer. "Last time I tangled with the trio they had a spell they shouldn't have been able to gain access to. I am not sure how they got it. What I do know is that it is Celestial in nature. Angelic arcane and we can't let them keep it. But before we can even attempt to raid their properties for their grimoire, we will need to damage them significantly. The only way to damage the demonic attorneys is to destroy their power. Power they have gained through the souls they have collected. I need you to find out where they are keeping their contracts, Alain?"

Bel falls silent watching Alain closely. Her reason two-fold; for what she's said to sink in and to give him a chance to ask questions should he have any. It also avails her of the opportunity to gauge his reaction.

His eyes seem to shine a little brighter at the mention of the contracts - he has his own reasons for wanting to destroy them, and its one thing he'd gladly give his life to accomplish. He almost talks about Lisa, but no, he knows better. He knows Belial would tell him to stay away, not to trust her, or worse to actually find a way to use her for information or as a scapegoat....because that's exactly what he'd say if he were in Belial's position.

Finally, he looks at her again. "I've been able to explore every inch of their property, except for what lies behind two doors." He tugs an envelope out of his jacket - he may be the biggest buyer of manila envelopes in Rhy"Din City - and tugs out what appear to be several photographs, actually "developed" from an image orb, and a floor plan. "They're always locked. When I implemented security in their building and asked about them, I was assured they shouldn't be worried about. Whatever's back there is important - I've found records throughout their building, but no sign of any artifacts or any of the contracts. If they're anywhere within, they have to be behind these two doors."

He taps his finger on one of the two doors on the floorplan. "As you can see, this room....ought to be the size of a broom closet, but I've seen the partners disappear into there and not emerge for hours at a time. The other appears to be the size of a large storage room, and I rarely see anyone going in or out....but again, nothing in this architecture is what it seems." He pulls a pencil from his jacket pocket and circles that door. "But if I had to bet money, I'd say we'll find some kind of prize behind Door Number Two."

LdyBelial

Date: 2008-05-25 23:57 EST
Belial looks impressed. She nods gently as she looks over the copious information, her attention at last focusing on the snapshots. "Alain" I can't believe you have been able to lay your hands on all this"!"

If Bel were reading Alain's mind, a trick she has in her repertoire, she would insist on using Lisa. Alain's choice not to tell Bel is wisest if he doesn't want Bel to exploit the situation. Belial has studied Sun Tzu for many years and believes wholeheartedly in fighting her battles as much behind the lines as on them. Lisa would be seen as a tool; a means to an end.

Bel looks up into Alain's blue eyes and for a moment is sidetracked. Something about him resonates with confidence, unlike last time. Perhaps he's simply found his footing again? Or" something else must have granted him enlightenment.

"Perhaps it is a woman?" the thought slides into her mind unbidden and a flicker of a frown flashes over beatific features before vanishing under a distracted smile.

Bel's curiosity is piqued because of her unexpected attraction to him, yet she knows better" Alain is young, she is not and truth be told mortals don't last long around her and her warring brethren. To keep him safe, she must keep a strict distance between them. Too bad; there is something very tempting about Alain" something that calls out to her.

Bel shakes her head to clear her thoughts and refocus on the matters at hand. "I suspect you're right' but you may want to check out that other area too. We can't even be sure they are keeping their contracts here in Rhy"Din. They have divisions all over multiple dimensions; they could have squirreled them away in any one of them."

But if it were Bel; she'd have kept her contracts very close at hand. The Below cannot be trusted and she has dealt with thievery from supposed "trusted" comrades in the past. The Senior Partners will want to keep a careful eye on their "acquisitions" too, no doubt.

"But yes, in this I think your instincts are right, Alain" You need to get into that area. Do you think it possible" What kind of locks are they using?"

He reaches across the table to push at one of the photos, revealing another underneath - a picture of a rather intricate locking mechanism for an otherwise ordinary-looking wooden door. "Once I make a move on these contracts, I'm almost positive they'll be missed - but I already have my own plans for what I'll do when that sort of situation arises. The room's protections probably do not anticipate anyone overtly hostile making it into the building to begin with, so conventional explosives might bring it down....but is there anything you can tell me about that lock" And, while we're on the subject, anything you can tell me about destroying blood contracts?" And by that, he means the contracts he assumes are signed in blood.

Bel stares at the image, a smile lighting on full, red lips. "It's our lucky day, Alain" I can get us past that!" And then she's nodding. "Yes, yes, the contracts?"

She takes up the image of the lock holding it out towards him. "My copy?" she asks. "And I'm ordering you to wait on the contracts. Let's get you inside that room and make sure they are in there, first. Then when the time is ripe, you can destroy them. It's a move we should wait until the last moment to pull; otherwise, we might not get close enough for it to matter. And that, sweets, simply won't do' We need DCH under control or out of the way before?"

Bel cuts off in mid-sentence, her mouth snapping shut as she gives a little shake of her head. "That's not important right now. What is; is how the contracts need to be destroyed. In order to free the souls they've collected there are two things you have to do; the contracts themselves must be blessed, and then burned so that only ashes remain. Even a scrap of paper left will allow them to resurrect them. Let me emphasis to you, Alain, there must be nothing left save ashes or those souls remain enslaved and the Senior Partners will have access to their energies."

From seemingly out of thin air, Bel produces a small spray bottle which she sets on the table and beside it she lays an orb the size of an acorn. "The spray bottle is holy water. It will nullify the demonic magics protecting the contracts. The orb is what?s called "blue fire". It's potent. When you use it, make sure to close your eyes before you drop it on the files. It will cast a very bright light that could blind even your mortal eyes." Bel warns. "I suggest you dump the files into some kind of container and ignite them all at once. It will burn very fast and nothing will be left for them to salvage from it."

Bel cants her head to the left, staring at Alain intently. "Promise me you won't do anything until the time is right, Alain" otherwise it won't matter. This trick will weaken them, and if we can't strike when it does" They will likely flee, hide away and recoup to come back and attack later. We can't have them lurking out there waiting for a chance to strike back at us."

"If you need the holy water, you can keep it - I have a supplier," he smiles, though he does move both objects to his side of the table. He suspects she has a supplier also....He fingers the orb of blue fire, holding it close to peer into its depth. "I should've gone to you guys for party favors months ago..." he mutters. Then he sets it down carefully, and looks at her.

"I can promise I will wait for the absolute right time, for your word on it....if you will agree that, should my cover be blown, I need to acquire those contracts and destroy them immediately if at all possible....because if my cover is blown, I'm not sure we'll get another chance after this." He prods the table with one finger pointedly. "I want to be damn sure the partners think hiring me was the worst mistake of their wretched lives, that's the impression I want to leave, or all our work together will have been for nothing."

LdyBelial

Date: 2008-06-03 16:58 EST
Belial nods solemnly, she understands. She has plenty of personal reasons to want the Senior Partners dead herself she can easily sympathize with another soul holding just as intense a grudge.

"Agreed. If you get caught; the contracts are to be tossed before they have a chance to take you. And the holy water, you keep that, Alain; you never know when it might come in handy. I have plenty too." although she doesn't elaborate on why.

Bel begins gathering up the information and returning it to the manila envelope as she speaks. "I will have the tools you'll need to crack that lock in less than twenty-four hours. Where would you like us to meet up" Perhaps here again, I do favor the coffee" and next time I may be bold and try some pie." Her tone is light and rather teasing when she mentions the pie. Then with more seriousness "Whatever "party favors" you want, draft me a list. I will get you the best of what we have."

"You get me those tools, I'll write you a list," he grins, opting to linger while she gets ready to leave as he lights a cigarette. It won't do for them to be seen leaving together. "As far as the partners not wanting me to sleep with you.." They had preconceived notions about you. They believed I would be able to sleep with Sid easily, but that getting close to you would be hard. As soon as I heard that challenge, I decided to take advantage of our 'arrangement' to prove them wrong, perhaps gain their trust enough to bring them down. That plan backfired, as you saw..." He takes a longer drag. "But I think this new one, setting one of my contacts to tail you, will work. Think it over....If possible, I'd like to decide when we meet tomorrow. Four thirty, right here..."

He grins. "I'll buy you a slice of the cherry pie. It's to die for."

Bel laughs as she rises, the sound full of depth and texture. Green eyes dance with an impish light. "Oh, hadn't I already agreed with your plan' Well" silly me. I'm in. Although, we should attempt to find out what Howe was expecting, you know, if you get the chance" I confess I am rather curious. Tomorrow at four thirty; I'll be here. You just make sure I have my pie and coffee, yes?" She gives him a somewhat lecherous wink, thinking there is no harm in leading any watching into thinking they are simply another Rhy"Din pair trying to hide an illicit affair. "You stay safe, Detective?"

Bel steps from the booth, heading towards the exit. She pauses to wave to the lady behind the counter in thanks. She knows the woman was watching their backs and fully appreciates her efforts. Then with only the most casual seeming inspection of the dark streets through the glass she slips out.

Alain watches Belial go, and then is left to enjoy his coffee and cigarette in silence. As he prepares to rise, he sees Tori looking at him with this faint little smile that is somehow both curious and knowing at once...

"Don't look at me like that."