Fantasy FTK: Black Rose Detective Agency

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz blinked. "Wait...so do you have to make us forget or something?"
Delilah said nothing, turning his words over in her head.

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec closed his eyes and nodded silently. “I do think that would be an appropriate course of action. Aida and I both possess the ability to erase memories with hypnotism. I uhm... understand you may have feelings about this. I will say it’s safer than risking the secret getting out. If Meimar forces the truth out with a spell, you will not resist him. Better that you have nothing to tell.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah laughed. "What, so you think you can erase our memories and all your problems will be solved?"
She slammed her hands on the table, "Meimer and his wizardry doesn't scare me as much as it scares you."
She made her way over to the coatstand in the corner of the room, digging her hand into the pocket. "I'll take myself to my damn house."

Rheitz frowned but nodded her head slowly. "Alright. I'm okay with it."
She'd do anything to regain his trust. Anything.

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec got up as well. “Alright then. I suppose Waters already knows enough through the High Order. Sorry Rheitz, it’s honestly for the best.”

His eyes flashed white, and a high pitched ringing entered the girl’s mind. Rheitz could only see white and hear faint buzzing.
........
Lautrec was driving Delilah down the busy street at night. Aida and Rheitz were in the back seat. The goat girl was fading in and out of consciousness.

“Okay, so Waters and I will investigate the casino and the Burlesque house. Aida, take Rheitz for a walk to clear her head, and meet us here at 3am”
Aida nodded. She had only one thing on her mind: Elven Tree-sap.
“Got it... it’s kinda cool riding around like this. Do you guys do a lot of secret missions?”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah rested her chin in the palm of her hand. "Depends on whether your brother feels generous."
She shifted in her seat to face Lautrec, "How often do you do this gambling thing? I never pinned you as the type."

 

[Jodyguru]

Aida leaned forward. “What, really? He was the king of dice back in the old days.”

Lautrec glanced back “I was not.”

Aida shook her head “It was incredible. One time he threw three straight games rolling nothing but sevens. We made sure nobody was using magic or anything.”

Lautrec smirked. “She’s exaggerating... it was two games. I rolled a five and then snake eyes to pull it back in” he chuckled.

”I go out from time to time. They call me Gesswick St. Carlisle out here. I don’t like my identity being known, so I shape shift a little when I come to west district.”

It seemed like he was an expert at shaping himself to fit the situation. Was the Detective the real Lautrec, or was it another charade? Deep down, was he just another blood sucker? Delilah knew one of his deep secrets. It shed light on who he was under the mask, but he had been careful enough not to show too much.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah said nothing. Gesswick St. Carlisle, huh? Lautrec seemed to be a man of many faces and boy, was he good at hiding the real him.
She pointed out the window at an apartment building, "Here it is. Just drop me off at the curb. I'll be out in 15 minutes."
She stepped out from the car, wrapping her coat around herself tightly and rushing up the stairs to her small home.
Queenie greeted her from the kitchen table and Delilah scratched the Tabby's chin, dropping her coat on a chair.
"Now where the hell is that dress," she opened the door of her room, digging through her closet.

She managed to unearth the only party-wear she owned: a black cocktail dress, a faux fur wrap, long gloves, a strand of pearls, and a couple of bangles. Shedding the pants and blouse she normally wore, she put on the clothes, adjusting the cloth on her body. After some final touch-ups, she assumed the disguise to be good enough for a party girl in a casino and picked up her coat at the kitchen table.

Giving Queenie a final scratch on the chin, the detective locked up her apartment and made her way to Lautrec's car, shutting the door and sinking into her seat.

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec was having a cigarette outside the car while Waters was getting changed. He looked into the cabin at Rheitz, who was still fading in and out.
“How are you holding up? You had a pretty nasty fall” he said. The agreed story was that Rheitz fell down the stairs at the office and hit her head. That was the explanation for why she felt hazy and couldn’t remember recent events.

When Delilah came downstairs, Lautrec felt his heart skip a beat. “Wow Waters, you look tops” he said. He opened the door for her almost out of reflex.
Soon they were back on the road again, passing into the west district night scene.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

"I'm accompanying the famous Gesswick, ain't I? Better dress the part," she pushed herself up in her seat.
She glanced back at Rheitz, "Say, when are we dropping her and your sister off? They're not going in with us."

Rheitz blinked, sitting up in her seat with a small groan. "Wh-what? Oh, hiya Aida. We goin' somewhere?"

Delilah shook her head, "You aren't, but we are. Oh look, there it is. Hummingbird Casino."

 

[Jodyguru]

Aida hummed. “Well, I’m going to a party. It would sure be irresponsible to let a scary vampire go unsupervised, so Rheitz is going to chaperone until you get back.”

Lautrec turned, almost about to say something regarding the fact his sister was a 60 year old woman, but he wasn’t going to ask how old she thought she was, so he kept quiet.

He pulled over near the valet, who took his keys and drove the car to the lot. Rheitz and Aida were on the street headed in the opposite direction.

Lautrec smiled at the sight of Delilah. He wished this wasn’t an act to trick the mafia.
“It might be best to use an alias. Even though nobody could possibly recognize you, we can’t take chances” he said as they were walking.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz frowned. "Party?"
She grinned when Aida gave her a nod, "Gee, I haven't been to a party in a while! Boy, am I excited!"
She hurried after the dhampiress, an extra skip in her step.
...

Delilah frowned, "Fine. Name me then. I can't come up with anything good."
She adjusted the wrap around her shoulders, running the pearls between her thumbs, "Damn, I hate this gaudy stuff. It makes me look like a peacock on display at the zoo."
She slipped a hand onto Lautrec's forearm, walking beside him.

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec looked at her. The pearls reminded him of a Dominion noblewoman.
“How about Lady Peacock? It’s mysterious.” He looked at her sour reaction to that terrible name.
“Okay...how about Madame Cercei Rouse” this name he took from a haughty theatre maiden who died before Delilah was born. The actress was well known for playing miserly queens and noblewomen.

.....
Aida and Rheitz excited ran up to the door where Aida heard the party was happening. She threw open the door and gazed upon the scene.

A drab house populated with ill looking young adults, college aged and full of nihilism. A record player was running a fuzzy old jazz album to fill the silence. The room smelled like a sickly sweet something familiar of rain soaked garbage as people laid about like they just came back from the war front. In fact they were all stoned.
“I... wonder if we have the right house” Aida said with a nervous chuckle, looking at the scene.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Madame Cercei Rouse, huh? Delilah knew of the actress and her career acting as miserly queens and noblewomen.
"You think I look noble?" Delilah snorted, slapping his arm playfully, "Alright, I'll be Madame Cercei Rouse."
She rolled the pearls between her fingers again, listening to the beads brush and clink against each other.
"So, Mr.Carlisle, how big are we betting today?"

...

Rheitz stared at the group, frowning in confusion.
"Um...this isn't a party. It's more like a gathering of sad people."

 

[Jodyguru]

Aida hummed a little to the music. “Hey, I bet they’re all visiting the feywild. That’s why. Their physical bodies are astral projecting.” She had a big smile on her face.
“That means we’re fashionably late. Cmon, I bet there’s some more elf wax somewhere.” The woman ran into the kitchen and found a small metal contraption used for heating a bowl. There was an open bottle of the wax lying out next to a jug of water.
“Drink up, and meet us at Xiex” a friendly note left on the counter said.

“Looks like there’s enough for both of us... have you ever done this before... oh why am I asking?”
Aida heated the wax and inhaled, clutching it like a pipe. After she exhaled she handed it to Rheitz.
She opened the jug and drank. It was plain water. The point was to keep your body hydrated while your soul travels the extraplanes.
“Cool, now we just find a place to chill out. It doesn’t hit right away”

......

A man in a white suit greeted them when they entered the casino hall.
“Welcome to the Hummingbird, Sir and Mad- hey! I know you.” The attendee pointed at Lautrec.
“Back for more trouble, Gesswick?”

“Crap... oh nothing of the sort! I won’t be placing any bets tonight Gagne. I’m showing my lady friend a night on the town.”
“If you’re paying us for the pool hall thing, go talk to Stradler. He’s sitting in his office. Otherwise you’re banned from gambling.

“Madame, it is an honor to meet you. Let me show you our wonderful casino!”
“Madame, it is an honor to meet you. Let me show you our wonderful casino!”
It was like a complete 180 turn once the law had been laid down on the detective. The presence of a fine and wealthy woman was his new focus.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah held out her gloved hand, allowing the man to kiss it. "The pleasure is all mine, sir."
The female detective hung on Lautrec's arm, following the man.
She "oohed" and "aahed" exaggeratedly, though Lautrec could see she didn't care for the luxurious and decadent setup of the gambling hall.
"My Gesswick, you never told me such a place like this existed in the city!" She placed her head on his shoulder, pouting slightly, "I really do want to play a few games of poker. Liven things up a bit, hm?"
Delilah snatched a flute of champagne of a nearby waiter, taking a sip. "The alcohol is good too. Try some, would you?"
She extended the glass flirtatiously to the dhampir, cocking a brow teasingly.

...

Rheitz studied Aida's actions, copying them. The effects of the wax began to take effect when she had sat down on the chair.
The world in front of her blurred, the dim lights soon fading away to darkness.
She felt strange, the darkness giving way to a myriad of colors blurring together.
Finally, she was thrust into the light and a plain covered in wildflowers unfolded in front of her.
The air smelled of sun-dried grass and the sweet scent of wild daisies and violets. A bird cooed softly in a nearby tree.
Aida appeared in the corner of her vision, sitting in the grass and bathing in the light, something a dhampir would never do.

"Wh-what is this place? Is Elven Wax some sort of drug?"

 

[Jodyguru]

Aida chuckled. “Not just any drug. The best kind.... aw you’re so cute!”
Looking down, Rheitz had hooves instead of hands. The world was bigger than she remembers.
“Little soul goat! I want to be a bat. Can I be a bat?” Aida asked, but stayed the same. “Damn, you’re tripping really hard. Go find some goats and play your goat games”
While the goat girl scampered off, Aida dissolved into a cluster of butterflies that spread in all directions.
————-
Lautrec laughed along with her. He had a sip of her champagne before ordering himself a glass of red wine. He held a pouch of coin in his hand and put it in Delilah’s reach.
“Will you be my betting hand tonight?”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz felt strangely happy as she pranced through the fields, hooves just barely bouncing from the ground.
The sky was vivid, the grass bright and alive. She came across a few goats who called to her and she followed, happily.

...

Delilah grinned. Betting hand, huh? Wonder how many times he had roped a pretty girl into placing bets for him.
She raised a hand, fingers sliding down his wrist and fingers and wrapping around the top of the pouch.
"Seems like I'll have to be, huh?" she whispered in his ear, "Considering that you can't."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec smirked and hugged her around the waist. “I can trust you with my money. Can you trust me with your pretty neck?”
As he sipped his wine, a haunting image came to Delilah’s mind. A red stain in his mouth. The glass was full of her blood.
“You know, I didn’t start the fight. They attacked me with cue sticks after accusing me of sharking. Sore losers, I say.”
————
The frolicking continued until the image melted, and she was slowly seeing the musty apartment again. She got about as far as a single hit of Elf wax would take her.
“Dang, that’s all?” Aida rubber the pipe with her finger, then licked it.
“Well, it was fun while it lasted.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah pulled the hand around her waist, placing it at his side.
"I'm not one of the girls you play with, Gesswick. Best keep your hands off," she whispered hotly in his ear, grip tightening on his arm.
Their guide turned to give them a look and Delilah gave him a seductive smile, hands leaving Lautrec's arm.
"The difference between you and me, Gesswick, is that I can choose." She smirked at Lautrec, money pouch in hand as she took the arm of the man in the white suit.
"Say, doll, take me to the hottest game in here. I want to win some real money."

...

Rheitz fell forward in her chair, face smacking against the ground. The high the wax had given her came to a halt and she groaned, picking herself up from the ground.
"I don't want any more of that stuff. It's gonna mess me up real good." She rubbed her head, taking a seat next to Aida.
"Unlike you, I ain't gonna live forever."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec was a little bothered by her rebuffing him. Fine, she can go off with the host. Gagne would abandon her once she started gambling. He enjoyed his wine, then decided to head upstairs and pay Stradler a visit.

------
"I mean, that's up to you. I know a couple ways to make you immortal, and one involves a heavenly kiss on the neck." She showed her fangs and giggled. "Oh relax, I'd never do that to you. But, with magic or alchemy its possible to greatly extend your life. They say some nobles have the stuff, and change names every few decades."
Aida was high and spreading conspiracy theories. Though, with magic its hard to say what is possible and impossible.
"Cmon, lets go find a better place to hang. These guys were more fun when they were stupid twenty year olds."

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah wilted a bit when she saw Lautrec leave her, the smile on her face growing tighter and more fake.
She had honestly enjoyed annoying him, enjoyed the flirting, despite the fact that it was just for show.
Gagne, the man who had been showing them around, led her to a table of Poker.
"This is the "hottest" game here in Hummingbird. I hope you enjoy your time."
Gagne gave her a wink, sauntering back to his post. She let out small "oh" when a hand came to land roughly on her shoulder.

"Hey, looky here fellas! We got us a nice, pretty broad," he snaked a hand around her waist, pulling her into him.

"Let go of me," Delilah seethed, pulling his hand off of her, "I'm here to play, not get manhandled."

The man cocked a brow, "Play, huh? Alright, let's start a new game then. Redistribute the chips, wouldya?"

Delilah huffed, pulling out a couple of coins from the pouch. "I'm betting 10 gold."

The men around the table let out a whistle, "Man, the broad's loaded!"

Once everyone had placed their bets, the game began and Delilah hunkered down, prepared to win.

...

Rheitz stood up, brushing the hair out of her face.
"I don't want to live long. Dying makes what I do in my life worthwhile," she pulled on her coat, making her way for the door.
"Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving."

 

[Jodyguru]

Aida followed Rheitz onto the street, but her smile faded into a neutral expression with angry eyes. What did that mean, meaning in life? Wouldn’t she be able to accomplish more if death was avoidable?
They went to the same diner that Delilah frequented. They were always open and could be trusted for fresh waffles.
“So my brother is a detective. Do you like that stuff, the secrets and the adventure?” Aida asked while she put sugar in her coffee.
__________
After hearing the struggle, Lautrec decided not to visit the mob boss alone. He went around the building and appeared on the other side of the gambling hall. He swiped a chip off a slot machine and bet on a game of roulette. He looked over and saw Delilah sitting at the poker table.

“Three jacks. 25 gold to the madame” the card dealer said and pushed the chips towards her.

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Rheitz shrugged.
"I guess. The whole "going on adventures" thing isn't my forte. I'm too...excitable? I don't think before I do something and then it always messes things up," she stirred some sugar into her coffee, taking a sip, "I'm better at doing the research and figuring out the puzzle behind the scenes."
Rheitz had ordered pancakes and was waiting impatiently for the treat.
"How come you don't have a job yet? You're old enough, aren't you?"

...

Delilah grinned, taking a drag of cigarette from the slim holder she held between her fingers.
She picked up her flute of champagne in the other hand, taking a sip.
One of the men next to her licked his lips, face red, "You didn't shuffle them cards right! Women don't win these things!"

Delilah gave him a look, smirking, "You're just afraid that I'm winning, fair-and-square."

 

[Jodyguru]

Lautrec lost, and he moved over to see what was going on.
“Gentlemen. Let’s remain cordial. Call it beginner’s luck and let her keep playing” Gagne pleaded. “I’ll have to ask you to leave the building if you start a brawl.”
Waters could see a ring of blue light in his eye. The rowdy men settled down and went to go pull on the penny slots.
“What ruffians...” Gagne muttered.

Lautrec pointed himself toward the host.
“So I am banned but you let assholes walk around poker room?”
Gagne was sweating. “Well, maybe it will become a restraining order if you don’t pay me for the pool table!”

Second hand: how much does she bet?
——————
Aida shrugged. “Who knows why? I don’t care about anything. I have money from inheritance. Everyone I love is dead or dead inside.”
“It’s like you said. Mortality is a meaningful thing. You’re a rose, and I’m a painting. The paint chips away slowly, but the spirit lives on. Eventually you just escape into silence.”

 

[alwaystheOptimist]

Delilah leaned against the table, drinking down the rest of her champagne and placing it on the tray of a nearby waiter.
"I'll bet 10 gold again."
She took the cards dealt to her in her hand, schooling her face into a meditative expression.
She frowned when she felt an arm snake around her waist, turning to find the same man giving her a cheeky smile.
"Hands off, I said," she said through gritted teeth. The man gave her a sly smile, "What? Isn't this what broads are for?"
He squeezed her hip for emphasis, pulling her to him.

"I said, hands-off," she glared at the man, "or you'll be dead in a couple minutes."
She pushed him away, turning back to the table.

"I already got someone," she said, taking a drag from her cigarette, "so unless you want to meet the end of his fist, I suggest you put your hands away."

...

Rheitz frowned. "No wonder Boss is loaded. Honestly, I kind of feel bad for you, having to deal with all the "vampire" crap. Must be hard, huh?"
She grinned at the waitress who brought their food, taking her fork and digging into the meal.
She groaned in satisfaction, chewing slowly.
"This is so good! You should try some!"