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Airs and Heiresses
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Molly Maltese
Molly Maltese
Old Shoe

Jul-6-2015 11:19

New York, 1938
St. Regis Hotel
Rooftop Nightclub

"So there I was, staring down a barrel INCHES from death...and I told the man, 'darling REALLY, if you simply must shoot me do allow me to remove my earrings. They are Cartier, you know." Molly Maltese paused to take a sip of her Red Snapper, popping the olive neatly between her cherub lips before gnashing it to a pulp. "And the man was quite flummoxed, he said- I say, is that Riza Hawkeye?"

She rose, the group of rapt men in tuxedos and women in glittering dresses and furs murmuring their protests as she wended through their knees. But the apparition she was quite sure had been Riza Hawkeye had vanished in the crowd of New York socialites populating the exclusive terrace.

"Well, this place is a bit ritzy for Riza." she murmured, fairly certain her old acquaintance didn't make a habit of populating social-climbing fetes. And she reasoned, any time Riza had appeared before it was hardly ever for a pleasant cause. Well, maybe that was unfair. It just seemed she was more the swirl-of-furs-and-stiletto-daggers type than a frothy socializer like Molly herself.

Peering around, Molly saw nothing but the shadowed faces of revelers partially cloaked in the smoky haze. She had just been about to give up and go back to her companions when the most shocking hubbub began. Over on the north part of the terrace, she could distinctly hear the shouts of men and panicked screeching of females. Moving forward, she could just make out..

"Did you see... The Ambassador... who could have... murder! Someone has pushed the Ambassador off the building!" Molly picked up speed, expertly weaving through the crowd of panicked voices. Sirens already began to sound twenty stories below. Just as she grasped the ledge and looked over, an all too familiar voice sounded in her left ear.

"Oh hello there, old friend. Lovely breeze out today."

Before her stood Riza Hawkeye herself, looking utterly unruffled as several ladies fainted behind her.

Replies

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Sep-8-2015 19:43

“So Marc and Jasper will be on the roof watching our back…” Zeo rephrased Ed’s plan, deep in thoughts, “that would work.”

The team now gathered in the living room going through the details of the plan as much as they have it, which was not much, but it was a plan. Cigarette smoke clogged up the air in the room. Zeo held onto his sanity as it hung on the edge of the cliff. His face revealed none of the turmoil inside. That moment of weakness he showed Vulkie was now gone. Zeo could not break if he was to get through this with his mind intact. He needed to have Arielle take him to Anais.

That name echoed in his head again.

"And are you sure the British Royal Guards will agree to your plan? To put Kerr at risk?" Zeo questioned. Edward’s expression confirmed that he was not certain.

“We shall have to take the shot to find out, won’t we?” Ed feigned strength with his voice. “Jack, Sphinx's second in command will be there. We need that Amulet from him in order to infiltrate their headquarter in Delhi, put an end to the madness. We need to do this!”

“Fine, you deal with the Royal Guards. Riza and I can hide within Kerr’s office, with or without his consent.” Zeo took out a toothpick from the silver holder and bit on it hard. Does everyone need to smoke like a chimney in here? At least Ed was not smoking…

“What about me? I can help.” Vulkie volunteered. Everyone else eyed her warily. Zeo was not present during the conflict but he heard enough about Vulkie’s return to thievery. Zeo remained silent on this as he had been through worse himself. He just wanted to get the ambush over with, so that he can head towards what really mattered. This reminded him.

“Can you help me watch Arielle while we head off to set up the ambush?” Zeo asked Vulkie without directly looking at her, but he could sense that she did not like that idea.

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Sep-8-2015 19:44

“Oh I’ll do that!” Molly raised her elegantly gloved hand, “Actually I'd like to step back from the action a bit.” She unconsciously shifted her hat, trying not to look at her hair where it was cut short. “It’d be a nice girl to girl bonding time!”

“We need someone to stay with Ambassador Kerr, to make sure he stays within our range of protection.” Ed mused, making it up as he went along. “Vulkie, you stay with Kerr.” Vulkie beamed with satisfaction.

The FBI agent downed his whiskey as he raise from his seat. Zeo was not comfortable that Ed was drinking as they made plans, but his own mind was half occupied elsewhere. “Well let’s get ourselves geared up then.” Ed announced, “As soon as Jasper, Marc and Arielle return we are leaving for the British Embassy."

Riza Hawkeye
Riza Hawkeye
First Nomad

Sep-9-2015 11:35

Riza lay on a bed upstairs, an arm flung over her eyes. Dealing with people was always so exhausting. She much preferred the solitude afforded her by this tiny bedroom. She had no idea where Arielle had run off to, and things couldn’t get underway until Marc had returned. Riza figured it was a good time to unwind. As she lay there, her thoughts wandered from one thing to the next, her mind so preoccupied by worry she thought sleep was impossible.

However, without realizing it, Riza eventually dozed off.

***
The arrangements had been made. It had taken months to track down her grandmother--the last time Riza had seen her was when she was a small girl. Then came the uncomfortable explanations: her parents’ murder, her disappearance and refashioning, Joseph and the baby. Of course, Riza skirted over the unsavory sections. But she had a feeling her Waipo knew anyway.

Now Riza was here, standing in front of the very same door, with her daughter clinging to her neck. She knocked, and after a moment heard the shuffle of footsteps from within. Hefting the baby in her arms, Riza wondered if she would miss it. The hair pulling. The crying. The baby smell. The joyous laughter. Those curious eyes. All the things which she had grown accustomed to over the past year.

As the door began to swing open, Riza was seized by a bout of uncertainty. Did she really want to do this? She wasn’t sure anymore. All logic dictated that it was best if the child grew up away from the life Riza had known. She didn’t consider herself a fit mother. But still a part of her did not want to let her baby go.

It was then that Riza realized she cared deeply for her daughter. She had become accustomed to sacrificing her own needs for the needs of this little one. When had that happened? When had she become a stranger to herself?

Riza Hawkeye
Riza Hawkeye
First Nomad

Sep-9-2015 11:36

An elderly, wrinkled woman appeared at the door. Locking eyes with Riza, she wordlessly reached out for the baby. A current of understanding passed between them.

“It’s not goodbye forever. Someday I’ll come back for you, I promise,” Riza murmured to the child, smoothing her jet-black locks for the last time.

The baby began to wail as the old woman took her in her arms and started down the hall. As the door began to swing shut, the child twisted in her grasp and reached her arm out towards her mother. A wrenching pain ran though Riza’s heart. As the child started to cry, Riza felt tears of her own threatening to drop. Reluctantly, she turned away. It was the hardest thing she had ever done.

“I’ll always love you, Charlotte,” Riza whispered, so softly that only she could hear.

Steeling herself, she quickly strode away, leaving a tiny trail of tears in the dirt.

***
When Riza awoke, she had trouble seeing. It took a moment to realize her vision was clouded by tears. She swiped a sleeve across her eyes. Had she been crying in her sleep? The hollow feeling still resonated within her, only one of the plethora of emotions threatening to choke her.

Riza sat up, drawing her legs to her chest. She buried her face in her knees and began to sob.

Arielle Zeo
Arielle Zeo

Sep-9-2015 20:08

"Where are we going?" Marc asked the girl who strode slightly ahead of him.

Arielle tossed back a glance to the man accompaning her. "I need to get my things, amoung other things. Don't worry, we are not too far away."

Marc sighed, this girl was as frusterating to talk to as Jospeh at his worst. At least the girl had answered the question. He thought about asking her about Anais, but thought not. He'd probably just be frusterated if he tried to converse.

Soon they arrived at a small wool shop. Arielle motioned Marc to follow her around to the back, where she quickly ducked inside.

"Philippe?" Arielle called, "I'm back."

A young man peeked his head into the room, scowling when he saw Marc. "Arielle, who is this? First you reject my protection in an opium den, and now you bring some strange man to my home?"

Marc looked on in interest as Arielle scowled at the man. "Louis-Philippe Messelier, this is Mr. Lacrimosa," Arielle waved her hands between the two men, "Mr. Lacrimosa, this is Louis-Philippe Messelier. Philippe has a bit of an advantage over you, Mr. Lacrimosa, as he has heard much about you, and I doubt that you have ever heard of Philippe."

Messelier held his hand out to shake, though suspicion still shown from his face.

"Arielle, what the hell is going on? And stop calling me 'Mr. Lacrimosa' for God's sake. I'm not that old!" Marc groused even as he shook Messelier's hand.

"I'll explain later, Mr. Marc. We don't have much time," Arielle turned to Philippe, "I found Father, and Aunt Riza. I'm not entirely sure why they are here, but most of Mother's friends are all here, in Shanghai."

"I am ever at your service, Elle, you know that. Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready," Philippe called over his should as he bounded up the stairs.

Marc burst out "What the hell is going on? Who is he? Why is he 'at your service'? He is not coing with us! How do you know we can trust him?" He thought to himself, 'How do we know we can trust you?'



Arielle Zeo
Arielle Zeo

Sep-9-2015 20:08

"I trust him more than any of you, and I am entrusting my mother's life to you. He is coming with us because we will need him. It's not just Mother's life at risk, Mr. Lacrimosa, it's everyone's," Arielle lectured as she pulled a bag out of a chest hidden away beneath the stairs.

Marc paced the room, muttering under his breath. Try as she might, Arielle could not catch what he was saying to himself.

"Mr. Marc, what are you all doing here, anyway? Kerr is the British Ambassador, right?" she asked, partly for enlightenment, and partly to try to save the floor. Marc's shoes had already left scuff marks on the cork floor.

Just then, Messelier came down with a small pack slung over his shoulder. He took Arielle's pack from her and asked, "Where are we headed to?"

M. Lacrimosa
M. Lacrimosa
Thespian

Sep-10-2015 18:51

Marc stared through the scope mounted on his rifle. Everything was in place and ready for Sphinx and that bastard Jack. From the vantage point, Marc and Jasper had a nearly perfect view. Vulkie sat in front of Ambassador Kerr pretending to, or possibly actually, flirting with him. Joseph and Riza were hidden in the office, and Edward waited nearby with the British Royal Guards.

Edward. His plan to use the ambassador as live bait was complete crap. Marc was shocked Kerr had agreed, even if it was under pressure. Marc had finally started to calm down after being away from Edward, even if it had only been fifteen or twenty minutes.

"I'm getting real tired of this shit, Carlyle. Your drinking and making this up as you go is going to get someone killed, and I hope to God you got a backup plan if everything turns to shit." The whole situation was FUBAR.

"I am entrusting my mother's life to you." Marc suddenly felt the weight of responsibility fall upon his shoulders. He barely knew Anais as it was, let alone the fact he had not seen her in...years. Marc was shocked she knew his description so well. Phillippe knew more about Marc than he cared for, but if Arielle (or Josee, or who ever she was now) trusted him, then there was no reason for Marc not to trust him.

Marc moved his rifle, scanning the area. There was no movement. It was way too quiet for Marc or Jasper's liking. "Got something," Jasper said. "Male figure just entered Kerr's office. Could be our man."

Marc turned and looked. He couldn't make out the face, but he could make out some of the details. Like the white-and-black pinstriped suit and light-colored hair. Jack.

"Where the hell did he come from?" Marc asked.

"Don't know. Must have missed his entrance while scanning the western side of the office."

Marc watched Joseph and Riza appear as Vulkie stood up. Joseph and Vulkie drew their guns, Riza twirled a knife. The office door burst open as Edward and four armed guards stormed into the office.

M. Lacrimosa
M. Lacrimosa
Thespian

Sep-10-2015 18:51

So far, so good, Marc thought. Jack and Joseph began talking. Edward said something too. Jack drew his gun and aimed it at Edward. Riza made a move, saying something, but Marc couldn't read her lips at the distance he was at. He raised his hands as if to surrender. Marc watched as Edward made a move towards Jack. He sidestepped, punching Edward in the face and knocking him to his knees. The guards turned around, pointing their rifles at the rest of the group.

"Son of a bitch!" Jasper yelled. "They're fucking Sphinx soldiers!"

"Damnit!"Marc yelled, yanking the bolt back on the rifle chambering a bullet. He aimed at the first Sphinx guard and fired. The bullet shattered the window into tiny pieces, hitting the man right on the mark. Blood shot from his chest, showering Joseph in the face. Everyone jumped, and the hand-to-hand fight ensued.

"My God," Jasper whispered as he watched Riza move with an agility he had never seen before. Her blades razor sharp, she slit one man's throat then shoved the dagger up through the bottom of his jaw. Spinning around, she threw another with accuracy, hitting another guard in the middle of his chest.

CRACK! The wood in front of Marc splintered. "Snipers!" Marc shouted. Jasper ducked down as a bullet tore through the wood where his head was seconds before.

Marc moved to another spot and raised his rifle. He reloaded another round and looked through his scope. A figure moved as another shot echoed from the same area. "Jasper. Two snipers. Keep them covered while I try to take these bastards out." Jasper fired two more shots into the action.

Marc searched for the sniper. It was nearly impossible until he saw a flash from the sun's reflection off of the scope. Quickly, Marc fired. He waited for the return fire, but it never came. "Jasper, switch with me!" Marc shouted. Jasper stood up and jumped to Marc's position, searching for the sniper.

Marc looked back into the office. Chaos still ensued and Marc's anger burned.

M. Lacrimosa
M. Lacrimosa
Thespian

Sep-10-2015 18:51

He was going to have to have a talk with Edward after this. He reloaded another bullet and took aim. Vulkie was lying on the ground, either unconscious or dead. Two more Sphinx members had entered the room during the quick change in positions.

He looked around. Joseph was beating someone near the window. He raised his foot and kicked, knocking the man out. Marc fired but missed another. A wasted shot. He quickly reloaded and shot a man coming behind Edward, who was pulling Jack off of Kerr.

Jasper fired a shot. "Got him!"

He jumped back down next to Marc. "Everything is FUBAR," Marc muttered.

When the fight was finished, Joseph grabbed Jack, and Ed grabbed Kerr with Riza's help and carried him out. Joseph made a hand signal. Marc and Jasper got up and left to go meet with them.

When they got to the rendezvous point, Marc threw down his rifle and grabbed Ed. He swung his fist and punched him in the mouth, splitting open his lip. "You son of a bitch! You almost got everyone killed with this fucking plan of yours. I hope you're happy!"

Joseph grabbed Marc. "Not here," he said. "Let's get Vulkie and get out of here. We need to question Jack. Kerr also needs medical attention ASAP."

Marc nodded and made his way into the Ambassador's office. Vulkie was gone.

"Joseph!" Marc called. Joseph appeared. "She's gone..." Marc said.

"Never mind her. We'll find her later. But for now, Kerr needs a doctor."

Joseph Zeo
Joseph Zeo
Tale Spinner

Sep-11-2015 09:07

The British Ambassador was bleeding badly. Dark blood gushed out from his left thigh. The wound would have been higher and Kerr’s ‘treasured’ limb gone, if it wasn’t for Vulkie pulling him away from Jack’s attack in the nick of time. Where is she? Joseph worried for his old friend.

Locking the prisoner with his better arm, Zeo loosened Jack’s collar with his right. Zeo noticed his laryngeal prominence is missing. The amulet with a strange glowing blue stone hang from his neck in a thin silver chain. Zeo ripped the amulet right out from his neck. As his hand touched the stone, images of streets after streets flooded into his mind and Zeo felt a burning pain in his skull. Zeo head a terrifying scream and his vision became bright white. Ear-splitting clatters hurt his eardrum…. then everything faded out.

****

Zeo remembered too clearly that ambush behind their own ambush.

Riza and Zeo quietly stood across from each other inside the emptied out cabinet, waiting. They remained silent but the awkwardness of their physical proximity rang loud between them, only punctuated by Vulkie’s small talks with Ambassador Kerr in the office. Kerr sounded nervous but he played along. Perhaps Zeo should have asked Riza to watch Arielle instead, so they would not need to be in the same room for so long, but he knew this deployment with him and Riza at the battlefront was the most logical for the task at hand.

Something smelled wrong, but Zeo could not pinpoint what it was. He flashed Riza a warning look. Ed was guarding the front door, so he would inform them if anyone was coming. Suddenly Vulkie stopped her chattering. Zeo peaked out. The bathroom door opened from the inside and someone walked out. It was not supposed to be occupied.

“You can pretend as much as you like, it’s not going to change your fate, Kerr.”
The person in the pinstripe jacket calmly claimed, in a pitch too high for his frame.

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