Should Have Seen This Coming... (open)

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

Her loft was somewhat quiet. There had been some business here and there since her return from the rehabilitation center, but it was not enough to make her happy (no matter how big the check was she got). Sitting at her work desk, Alisa was quietly tapping away on her PC, her legs pushed closely together, and her back straight as she worked.

Those red on black eyes of hers were very focused on the computer screen, taking no note if anyone knocked at her front door or even opened it. She needed to focus on something. She needed to take her mind off her physical and mental pain from nearly getting blown to bits... as well as her failure to get Sebastian Shaw to release Stephanie from the duties of the Hellfire Club.

Comments

[hellfire_child]

A steady alternating clicking of leather heels and polished oak precedes Alistaire's arrival, still using his cane. He opens the door on his own and approaches her, but stops outside of arms' length.

"We need to speak."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Oui, we do." Alisa gave out a sigh, moving her legs out from under her desk to rest on top of it. "You are angry, I can understand dat. But you mus' let me explain my actions..."

[hellfire_child]

Alistaire begins pacing back and forth, seemingly talking to himself. "In the span of a month, I have had my fortune ripped away from me, had to spend considerable personal assets, and put myself at direct risk of bodily harm in order to rectify the situation.

Following this, I discover my now not-deceased grandfather orchestrated the entire matter to handle my now freshly deceased father.

I find that I have lost my longest-standing and personally most powerful patron.

I find that I am tasked with rebuilding the Inner Circle of an organization with reach spanning centuries...

And now..." He comes to a halt again, cane thumping sharply onto the floor. "I find that my chief operative, a woman I entrust with the safety of my body and the authenticity of my valuables, has, with one meeting, undermined not only myself but my Aunt as well."

He looks at her.

"You may explain."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

She wanted to yell at him for the comment of bodily harm, knowing that if he had thought things out better or utilized her powers better, they could have walked out of that situation unscathed. Instead, she lost part of her leg, and he was walking with a cane for the time being. But it was best not to bring such things up, as it still hurt her as much as it did him.

"Dere was a Guild meetin' about it... an' we 'ad a vote o' confidence, Alisatire. I ain' even supposed to be tellin' you dis, but I trust you an' you are my friend an' someone I still do love." She gave off a small sigh, her eyes lowered some. "De New York Enforcers branch an' T'ieves branch are NOT 'appy wit' your Grandpere's return or de new choices he's made so far. Dey are truly concerned about anoder "Shinobi" incident from one o' you becomin' resentful o' your Grandpere's rule. He would 'ave found out about de Guild's standing's, even if I didn't tell him personally, an' de outcome would 'ave been de same. I just t'ought dat... maybe dis turn o' events wit' de Guilds coulda worked in my favor an' freed Stephanie from bein' somewhere she was not 'appy. Instead..."

[hellfire_child]

"You exposed her to being perceived as weak. Do you have any idea the kind of danger you've put her in now? This may not be the path she chose, but I have nothing but faith in her abilities to rise to the challenge." He locks his jaw, but keeps himself composed.

"What have the Guilds decided?"

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I did not mean to put her in danger, Alisatire. you know dat. But even if I said nuthin' , ONE o' de Guild members would 'ave! It was unfortunately a no win situation." Alisa pinched the bridge of her nose, her feet still up on her desk as her head started to hurt her.

"If I tell you what de guilds decided, what would you do?" She looked very concerned about this. "Because if you do sumt'ing, Alistaire... it WILL come back to me, an' I will pay in some o' de worst ways possible."

[hellfire_child]

"Then you should have allowed them to. Instead, now not only does Grandfather see weakness in Stephanie, but he sees that I can't keep my employee in line." He snarls.

He draws himself, perhaps softening a bit. "Alisa, you are mine. You don't suffer consequences unless I wish it so.

And rest assured, I have no intention of fighting the Guilds, least of all openly." He looks off into the middle distance. "Not when I can have them expend resources against one another..." He looks at Alisa. "I was planning to offer a spot on the Inner Circle to whichever Guild can prove themselves most deserving."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I'm not deservin' o' any spot right now, I know dat. An' you need to prove to your Grandpere you can keep me in line... so whatever you choose to do, I support you in such." She shook her head.

"One o' de Guild Members I one-up'ed long ago is talkin' about retribution against your Grandpere. A heist or some sorta sabotage to his Hellfire Guards, as some o' dem are in fact Guild Enforcers." Her own face softened a bit, perhaps showing some worry to Alistaire. It was rare she looked at him in such a way. "I did make an attempt to talik'em down, but he's a hot head an' an asshole. He believes de new Hellfire changes may be bad for Guild business an' dat dey'll continue to remain less den pawns for your Grandpere. De man's mentality is dat Sebastian Shaw is de new Candra, usin' all guild groups as toys for a game. while it might be true, he's no Candra, an' he ain' pittin' Guilds up against one an' other for mindless entertainment."

[hellfire_child]

"Deserving aside, I have more use for you where you are already."

Alistaire finally sits, giving Alisa's words their due consideration. The Hellfire Club isn't ready for war, and he'd really rather not deplete both Guilds more than necessary in the first place. Still, insurrection cannot be tolerated.

"Of course it's a game. Shaws don't see the world as anything else, but one to be won.

Would you be able to go to the Guild leaders with your concerns? A rabble-rouser can't be any more beloved by them than by you in particular."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Oui, I can." She gave a nod of her head. "As for me bein' beloved, most consider me a bastard child due to my adoption. Others see I came from nuthin' an' earned my status. It is why I said I am so very much like you, Alistaire. I am loved by some, hated by most."

There was a small grin forming on her face as she slipped her legs off of her desk, her "blade" making a thump as it hit the ground.

"I will go over his head an' speak to de leaders. I don' want a needless war over sumt'ing as stupid as a pissin' contest. I also, well... I am on your side. If I must I will forsake de Guilds for your family, if it protects de Shaw name."

[hellfire_child]

Alistaire isn't quite sure he likes that love/hate appraisal, but he lets it slide.

"Alisa, do not think of yourself as expendable. That's not for you to decide, and certainly not now. Too much is already in play." He turns around, looking out the window at the city. "Don't put your neck out too far. Contact the guild leaders remotely."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Very well." She gave a nod of her head before walking out from behind her desk. She made her way in front of Alistaire, taking a seat on the arm of the plush chair that was across from her desk that he sat in.

"So... 'ow 'ave you been, Boss. Haven' seen much o' you around lately. Physical t'reapy goin' well?" She playfully ran one of her hands through his hair. "we don' get to talk all "normal" like much dese days. Kinda miss it."

[hellfire_child]

He leans into that touch, not even thinking about it.

"It's slow torture, and embarrassing. I may have to finance the retirement of the staff involved. I don't like the idea of them gossiping about the condition they've seen me in."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"That's goin' a bit far, but I can understand. Our pride took a big hit." She gave of a small sigh, her fingers still going through Alistaire's hair as he leaned in a bit. She lowered her head to give his forehead a kiss. "At least you can send people off to retirement. I don' got anyone to do dat wit' , t'ough I wish i did sometimes. So tired o' bein' given a look o' "pity" at physical t'reapy. An' den I gotta go back to work authenticatin' bad art, only to be given de SAME look. You... you don' give me dat look. You still look at me as well, me."

[hellfire_child]

He tenses at the forehead kiss. He can handle casual contact, he can handle passion, but intimacy? It's still relatively foreign.

"It's not difficult to see past the prosthetic. I know you. I know what you are. This--" He gestures to her prosthetic. "--is just so much aesthetics, not identity."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Tell dat to de nurses at physical t'reapy an' de people o' Manhattan. It's always "what a poor dear!" or "I bet she'll never be able to find someone to love her, now", or my favorite "Man, I bet she's gonna end up like de girl on "Friends" who dated Joey"!"

Alisa saw him tense up, and then stopped stroking his hair or even placing her lips on his forehead for a second time.

"M'sorry, Boss. I didn' mean to make you tense up like dat. I jus' ... been kinda lonel- oh nevermind. Do you want some bourbon? I mean... if you ain' takin' any pain medication dat is. Last t'ing we need is for you to mix de two!"