Futuristic Inked In Blood [Closed]

[Lucyfer]

"And the others," Evan leaned away from the screen, "I'll keep reviewing the documents in more detail, in either case." He had to, in case there were non-obvious things. "I'll send the list to Xandros. He'll take point. You'll have to go along, I'm afraid, Tessa. As someone…looking."

Xandros wrinkled his nose. "You want me to pretend to be like, what, a Master wanting to talk her into something?"

"I didn't say that," but Evan's grin was wicked, "but that seems a suitable cover, doesn't it?" Xandros groaned, "Obviously, don't get any tattoos. Either of you. It's hard enough keeping you employed, Xandros."

Xandros just rolled his eyes.

"You two can determine a cover story, just…try to find out anything you can about their work with Orzen or Veltose, or anything involving signatures."

~***~

Drugs were interesting. Everything changed, taste, sight, smell. Damia didn't dislike it, exactly, but she felt far more off kilter than she used to, since the Sight. She knew the drugs were in her veins even before she opened her eyes, because her teeth smelled like grass. They were at least smoother than smooth, and that was nice.

Or was that her tongue? Hard to tell.

She chewed air to get a sense of slowness. There was no pain, but her chest felt tight. There was a hand bound up in sandpaper (or so it felt) that she didn't want to move. Or maybe it was that her hand was full of crunchy glass shards?

Again, hard to tell.

She opened her eyes to the sterile white of the hospital room, but at least it wasn't tinged green. No more soil.

The Prince was there, dejected in a chair. She didn't remember arriving, but there wasn't a question who brought her. So, he hadn't wanted her dead.

Strange.

Her head swam with chlorine and moss as she forced herself to sit up. No pain, just weakness. She could see the temporary tattoos doing their work, henna bleeding in to add another layer of discomfort.

"No teddy bear waiting for me?" A slight, mock pout. "You didn't have to stay, you know." She would have figured things out. She had Gabriel's number memorized. "Thanks, though."

 

[cleopat]

Tessa’s eyes widened at the announcement Evan just made. “I will have to…what?” she squeaked out. Oh no, she did not like that idea. She already didn’t want to go to this dungeon. What if someone she knew was there? What if word got out that Tessa Onassis likes to spend time in a BDSM dungeon?

Oh, the family dinners…

The clients of those establishments were normally kept very private, but she didn’t know that. She could only think of the worst case scenario. “What if somebody who knows me sees me there? I don’t thinkI should go.” What future politician would be seen in a place like that?

Well…maybe a lot.

And then there was the matter of the cover story. Her masquerading as some submissive for Xandros. That thought only brought another flare of heat to her face.

~~~

Dimitri perked up in his chair when Damia stirred and spoke. No, he didn’t care that much. He was just concerned with how Gabe would react if Damia died from his hands. Yeah, that was it.

He chuckled at her first words. “No, no hospital gift shop teddy bear, I’m afraid. You just get me.” His face softened. “I wanted to make sure you were alright. You took quite the beating…from me. Or, well, from Quintus, technically.”

It was still his hands that delivered all those brutal blows to her body. Still, he wouldn’t let himself get worked up about it. It wasn’t his fault. He had been controlled.

But he shouldn’t had let himself get controlled in the first place. Fucking idiot.

And once he told Gabe about this…

Dimitri sighed and relaxed in his chair. “I still haven’t contacted Gabe yet. I wanted you awake before I did that.” And have someone else to take the blows if their leader was angry.

 

[Lucyfer]

Tessa was quite red at the thought of all this. No surprise to Xandros, he doubted she was the sort to hang around these places. Based on her fears of being recognized, that was a definite ‘no’. “Some walk around in masks in these places,” Xandros said as an off-handed offer. “Wouldn’t be too hard to find one for you.”

“If it is asking too much, Tessa,” Evan said, “I understand. I know this job wasn’t your family’s first choice, and you have other offers,” it was said gently, patience and understanding…but it was apparent he’d let her go if she couldn’t continue with these kinds of requests.

She had been honest in liking that he was passionate and wanted to help people, and truly as enthusiastic as she led him to believe…or she wasn’t.

Of course, he knew he was asking a lot.

That didn’t change the fact that it needed to be done.

Xandros waved that off, “Anyways, if someone you know sees you there…don’t you have the same blackmail on them?” That she saw them in such a place? He was pretty sure secrets liked these stayed secret because of the mutual blackmail part.

~***~

Damia wondered if the Prince remembered anything about what he did. He’d seemed pretty confused when he came out of it. Did he know now, or was it still a blacked out memory? She didn’t ask that immediately, as he mentioned Gabriel.

She just pouted.

“I wouldn’t have been upset to be unconscious for that,” she knew what was coming. Not because she was injured, just…the whole way it was done. It felt off. Gabriel was going to be upset about something. Not killing the wife, maybe the kids escaping? Maybe something else? There was something wrong with it all that wasn’t just the Prince getting possessed.

“Go call him, we shouldn’t leave him waiting this long after a…well I don’t actually know how long it’s been,” she looked around for a clock, but didn’t find one. “Still,” point was, it should have been reported immediately.

Gabriel probably knew.

Which meant he was probably angry it took them this long to report in.

He was going to yell at her and she wouldn’t even have a stupid bear.

 

[cleopat]

Xandros mentioned the option of bringing a mask…which Tessa didn’t hate. It was a possibility if she had to go along with this mission.

Which, based on what Evan said next, Tessa would have to, or her job would be in jeopardy. She didn’t want to quit and go crawling back to her parents for help with another job. She got this one without them, and she was determined to see it through.

She shrugged at Xandros’ question. “It depends on who the person is, honestly.” Some were just too powerful to be blackmailed, and had more people trusting their word over Tessa’s. And others, she could easily blackmail as well. It was too risky.

She sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, then opened them and focused on Evan. “Alright, I’ll do it.” For the information they needed to figure out what Inked was. “But I will be using a mask.” And maybe a wig. Or just straighten her hair.

~~~

Dimitri lifted one eyebrow. “Well, too bad. We both should be there for the conversation we’re bound to have.” He wasn’t happy at all about this. “And you were out for about three hours.”

Three hours without an update to Gabe, which was unlike Dimitri. Yeah, things weren’t going to go well. So, with a heavy sigh, Dimitri got out his phone, but before he dialed Gabe’s number, he shifted his chair to be closer to Damia.

Gabe will be wanting to see both of them.

He dialed the number, and almost immediately, Gabe’s face came into view with a very displeased expression on his face. He spoke first, “Do you two want to tell me why I learned about two of my Praetorians fighting another one from the fucking Internet before they had even thought about calling me?”

His voice was calm. Too calm. Like right before the storm hit.

Dimitri realized how he knew, and he groaned, “Shit.”

“Yeah, it is fucking shit to have the video of the entire thing filmed for the entire fucking Internet to see live.” Ah, there it was. His voice rising with each word.

 

[Lucyfer]

Evan smiled as if he’d never doubted it for a second. Perhaps he hadn’t. Xandros didn’t know, but he was somewhat surprised she agreed to go along with it, even with a mask. “All right. You’ll want to, uh, check out a Toys store,” not a kids toy store, “to find a suitable mask. Or search the mask if that kind of place is also a bit much. You have my number, so you can let me know when you’re ready.”

“You’re already prepared?” Not that Evan seemed surprised by this, either.

Xandros scoffed a laugh, “These aren’t the kind of people you call to make an appointment with first, Evs.” He noted. “You drop in. If you’re me, anyways. He might not know me personally either, but he’ll know afterwards.”

Which meant he still had to play to his persona.

“You may want to enlighten Tessa as to what that means, Alexandros,” Evan said lightly, “Tessa, what do you know of my dear, ah, bodyguard?” he chuckled a bit at the title. It was as true, as it was a lie. Just like Tessa’s role as an aide.

She must be putting some things together, and her empathy gave her some additional unique insights.

~***~

Three hours wasn’t too bad. It was bad by Gabriel’s standards but for all Damia knew, it had been three days. Probably not. She’d probably be in a very different place if it was three days, because Gabriel wouldn’t wait that long.

Three hours, he might wait.

Seething.

That was evident when he showed up on the video. Gabriel knew what happened. From the Internet. When The Prince cursed, Damia gave him a queer look. She didn’t know what was going on, or why it was on video, but the Prince did. So, he was guilty of oversight. And it was a livestream.

Ah, well.

Damia held up a finger, “If you saw a video of it, I don’t think I have to explain why I didn’t contact you. I also had no idea we were being recorded,” which, was still bad, so she bowed her head, “Sorry. I should have noticed.” She might not have the same technological insights as the Prince, but she did see things. She should have seen this.

She was a bit distracted, but that was no excuse with Gabriel. She only had the contact excuse – she was fucked up and unconscious. “How bad is it?” Gabriel was going to tell them anyways. May as well ask for it, as she peeked back up.

 

[cleopat]

Tessa chuckled when Xandros suggested that a Toy store may be a bit too much. She wasn’t afraid of showing herself in one of those. Everyone had sex, that wasn’t some dirty secret. Though, some adults seemed to be scared of those types of stores.

She wasn’t quite prepared that Xandros was ready to start the mission. What he said made sense though. It felt kind of…odd to imagine setting up an appointment for a signature tattoo.

With Evan’s question, she looked at the man in question. “Not that much, to be honest. I know that he was out of his element at the party,” she had picked up on that emotion before she approached him. “And I know he has a certain…skill set that most bodyguards don’t have.” How he hacked into the office and the computer came back to her.

“And judging by some people you know, I take it you have an interesting history?” It sounded illicit, which she wouldn't judge him for. They all had their skeletons, they all had their reasons. Tessa surely wasn’t a saint.

“Oh,” she continued, “what should I wear for this, uh, meeting?”

~~~

“Don’t think you’re not in trouble just because you’re the one in the hospital bed,” Gabe hissed with a finger pointed at her. Or, as best as he could through the phone. “Both of you should have noticed a fucking phone recording the fight, especially you, Dimitri.” Oh, he used Dimitri’s real name.

Yeah, there was some anger.

“Quintus shared his little story for everyone before you two found him, and the entire audience had a nice view of his wife’s corpse being carried out of the house.” The inner workings of the Praetorians were being exposed, and Gabe hated being exposed.

“And then you,” he pointed at Dimitri, “aside from the issue of the fucking phone, you allowed Quintus to use his power on you, and all of that was also captured on the video.”

Dimitri swallowed, his head buzzing as Gabe continued to yell. “I know the mistake I made. I can’t apologize enough for it, but I understand what I did wrong, and it won’t happen again.”

“It better fucking not. This whole mission was just one giant fucking mess, even if Quintus is dead.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Not much was the truth of it, which meant that Xandros was still doing a good job, even if by necessity Tessa had learned a few things. Like his skillset with computers, which was indeed interesting for a bodyguard, but hardly the strangest thing. She apparently hadn’t noticed the number of tattoos, or been told. Only one was ever almost constantly visible – but usually not.

Even right then, it was covered by the high neck of his shirt.

And she didn’t ask for more.

Evan caught the slight smirk on Xandros’s lips, and realized he would be saying nothing more, either. He wasn’t upset with it. Tessa had a moment to learn, but went to the mission, so he’d let it stay there.

Especially as Xandros amused him by answering the question, “Whatever I tell you to wear, kitten.” Before he laughed and rose, shaking his head, “Nah, wear something comfortable and modest. I’m not going to put you on display for others.” As hilarious as that would have been, it’d be better if he played ‘protective’ of what was his, and not wanting anyone else to see.

It suited someone who wanted a slave.

~***~

Damia knew very well a hospital bed was no defense against Gabriel, but she clearly was not the one most in trouble. That was obviously Dimit—the Prince. Her mind insisted on forgetting the name as quickly as it could, but of course, she heard it again. It was going to linger, again. Perhaps more now that she was conscious of trying not to remember it.

As bad as it was for all of this to be seen, Damia had to fight back the, “so what?” she desperately wanted to say. Gabriel had PR people for this. If it was this bad of a fuck-up, he could execute her and the Prince before the public to show what happens when his Praetorian step out of line.

Problem solved.

Not that she was about to suggest a public execution and denouncing their actions.

“But Quintus is dead,” Damia noted, “which means he can’t defend himself anymore, and now you get to write the story.” Gabriel knew this. He was just angry to be angry, and remind them he was angry.

So Damia was going to play the obvious game, too. “I know you have genius PR people who can turn this into a victory for you. Maybe Quintus killed his wife? Maybe she committed suicide when she learned what the truth was and not whatever Quintus’s false confession is. Tie it to Denothetes and we have a win.” For the war effort.

Apparently you needed reasons for war besides just wanting the land. Damia didn’t know why they couldn’t just invade and get this nonsense game over with. It was so tedious. Gabriel wanted to be alive when the world was conquered, didn’t he?

“This will blow over in a month with enough distractions,” and those weren’t hard to make, either. “No one cared about Quintus.” Not like they cared about her. That hadn’t been intentional, though she wondered how her fanbase was blowing up over the video. Probably clucking and worrying like stupid little hens.

She hadn’t wanted a fanbase. She never did, not even in school, but they always found her. She just wanted to play video games in tournaments, without people realizing how she was so good at it. The Praetorian suit was a convenient gimmick, and then it became A Thing. She didn’t even make any social media posts herself – other people did all the work!

 

[cleopat]

Tessa was not expecting the answer Xandros gave to her question. So much so, that her heart fluttered and her eyes widened. Wait, no, of course it was just a joke. Why wouldn’t it be?

The image of Xandros propped over her in bed, whispered commands and praises in her ear, popped in her mind for a split second.

That wasn’t something she needed.

Tessa chuckled along with the joke and stood up as Xandros did. “A mask and some comfortable clothes, got it.” The clothes she currently wore were closer to business casual, so she would need to change. “I shouldn’t be too long in gathering what I need.” A second pause in thought before she continued, “unless you just want to tag along? Assuming there’s nothing you need to do.”

~~~

Gabe was about to further yell at Damia that he was limited in what story he could write for Quintus in why he was killed, but he stopped. They didn’t know that Quintus gave the reason for his execution on the video, live to all his viewers.

They didn’t need to know that they could never leave him, leave the Praetorians.

He just sighed, taking a few seconds to cool down. Oh he was still angry, but he had yelled enough about their most offensive transgressions. “The PR team will do what is needed to smooth this…situation over.” Damia’s suggestion would not work. Not with the video. But something could be done.

“And of course we will do anything to help create these distractions,” Dimitri piped in after Damia. He didn’t know what that would entail, nor did he want to know right then. Let it be a surprise.

Gabe sighed again and chuckled, a lowly chuckle that was not one of amusement at all. “Oh, I know you will. Nevertheless, we will reconvene later. I will send you a message.” He ended the call without so much as a goodbye.

Dimitri let out a loud sigh and relaxed back into his chair. “I was expecting worse, honestly.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Xandros arched a brow, and glanced down at Evan, who shrugged, “I need time to read through everything. I hardly need you here for that, Alexandros.”

“Sounds like I’m free to go sex toy shopping with you, then,” Xandros was too amused by how flustered over the situation Tessa was to relent any, “What store do you prefer?” He didn’t actually know the stores.

Oh, sure, he’d been in them himself, but he didn’t have a preference. He just went to whatever was near on a whim, or when he needed to grab some lubricant, a condom, or something interesting for the night, depending on how things were looking.

Tessa might have a preference, if only for her dignity.

“I don’t need to get changed, so I can meet you wherever,” he didn’t think he’d be following her home, though he could. He had no issues with that, it’d probably be good to know where she lived, although her family was unlikely to appreciate his arrival if she lived with them.

~***~

Gabriel was still sour. Off-drugs, Dame knew he would have been spicy, but on drugs it was just like sour candy. Weird. She still didn’t prefer the change to her senses for this, if only because she liked the normal insights into Gabriel. When he left them, she gave her own long-suffering sigh, “I love him, but he can be way too spicy sometimes.”

Not that Prince would ever get what she was saying.

“We’ll face worse with our distractions,” or whatever he did next. Damia wouldn’t worry about it. So long as she still got to attend Gina’s wedding, it didn’t matter. “But you gotta find that video,” she shifted a bit, an eagerness entering her eyes.

“I’m so curious what has Gabbers pissed off. Aren’t you, Prince?” He had to be. He’d tried to ask at what it was that condemned Quintus and Gabriel didn’t tell them, but apparently Quintus said quite a lot on the video, “I know it’s on the internet somewhere. I know you can find it.” He had skills. “Won’t you? Please?”

 

[cleopat]

Tessa wondered for a brief moment if she made a mistake in inviting Xandros to come with her to an adult toy store. She didn’t know the man that well, and based on his earlier comment, he was no stranger to teasing.

She had to think for a second when he asked about her preferred store. Another sentence she didn’t expect to hear. “There’s a store just a couple of blocks from my place that I prefer on the upper east side, Pleasures.” A woman-owned toy shop that had sold her the cutest and sexiest lingerie sets over the last few years.

Oh, and she had to answer this question in front of her boss. That was mortifying.

“You can follow me home, if you want. I’ll be stopping by there first.” Tessa hoped that wouldn’t be a mistake, to allow him to know where she lived. If Evan employed him, then he could be trustworthy, she hoped.

~~~

Dimitri gave Damia an odd look for her comment about liking Gabe spicy. It was a rather weird way to describe someone, but…he could understand. Gabe was definitely spicy.

But Dimitri wasn’t really that afraid of his spiciness, even in moments of pure rage. He had seen worse anger outbursts from the man before, but he still hated every single one, especially those directed at him.

Sometimes there was a body count behind his anger.

Dimitri raised a brow at the change of subject, and the matter of said subject. “Of course I’m curious.” What juicy secret did Quintus spill to his audience after betraying Gabe? Was it something big about Gabe himself?

Dimitri shifted forward, his phone in his hands and angled to where Damia should have no issue seeing what was on the screen. “And of course I can find it. That won’t be an issue.” So he set forth, scouring the Internet in the blink of an eye for any webpage that had the video, and within seconds, he had it pulled up, playing for the both of them to see and hear.

 

[Lucyfer]

Xandros wouldn’t have known Pleasures from any other store, but he nodded. He was willing to go there, didn’t think he’d have any problems with the place. If you went to one sex store, you went to them all, in his mind. “All right,” he didn’t care about following her or not, “I can tag along,” he’d know where she lived.

Not that it would have been that difficult to find anyways.

Not with his connections and knowing her name.

“Keep in touch when you have more, Evan,” Xandros tossed off a mock salute on his way out, following Tessa. In the suit, at least he’d look like he belonged in the area, even if he didn’t. He knew that still stuck out to Tessa.

“Since we’re going to be talking about tattoos soon,” Xandros said, “what do you have? Or have you even picked one yet?” Most went right to it as soon as they could get their one, and dreamed of ascending the ladder so they could get more and more.

Xandros had just…gone right by the laws.

~***~

There was no need to convince The Prince. He was on it immediately, and soon enough, the video was up with Quintus spilling his guts about his dead wife and the reason he was being hunted, which was hardly climatic. Damia almost laughed, because how did Quintus not know? It didn’t strike her as strange, and she expected, of course, that this was something Dimi—The Prince had to have figured out by now, too.

How could he not?

“Aww, I didn’t know he was Revenant, though. I always wanted to challenge that guy at Masters of War. I mean, I’m not great at that game, but I still wanted to. He was OP as fuck.” Damia was sad about that, and missing the opportunity to play with him. Of course, she didn’t know anything about the other Praetorians.

Maybe they were all awesome gamers!

Probably not, though.

His goal to unmask her was adorable. It hadn’t happened, as obviously shown in the video. “There, there’s where I fucked up,” watching the fight, she could see the moment when she turned away. She’d been doing so well. Quintus was bleeding, invisible. “I should have just shot you through the chest, but I ran to go get the kids and try to get you back that way. Stupid decision.”

Even if she was alive.

And so was the Prince.

Of course, that’s where a lot of footage would end, until the Prince returned carrying her out. Some sounds still reached the recording device, like the gunshots, but little else. “That was all Gabe was hiding though? That’s disappointing.”

 

[cleopat]

Tessa smiled as the topic went to one of tattoos. One she had intended to ask Xandros about as well. “Yes, I do have one. It may be more fun to show you…but I’ll tell you.” He may not be happy about having his emotions and thoughts controlled.

Even if it may have been a little funny to make him go through certain emotions.

“I’m an empath,” she told him. “I can manipulate your emotions, and if I’m touching you, I can even influence your thoughts to an extent.” But she couldn’t make them outright think whatever she wanted. It had to be…a gentle guiding.

“What about you? I still don’t know what you have.” Even if they had touched upon the topic of Xandros in Evan’s office.

~~~

Dimitri could only sigh as Damia went on about wanting to have challenge Quintus at some video game. He wanted to ask her if she was serious, but knowing her for as little as he had, he could already answer yes.

She was in a hospital bed recovering from near fatal wounds, and she was talking about challenging some traitor to video games.

He just ignored that part and went to the next thing, discussing where the fucked up. “I’m glad you didn’t shoot me through the chest,” he grumbled. He preferred living. But she had fucked up.

Just as he had fucked up.

“We both did things we shouldn’t have done. But what’s important is that Quintus is now dead.” Dimitri put his phone away. “And maybe Gabe is seeing all of our mistakes, or maybe he sees something we don’t.” He shrugged. “Gabe works in mysterious ways sometimes, but that’s why he’s the boss.

 

[Lucyfer]

Emotional manipulation.

Xandros really didn’t like that, and he didn’t make a point of hiding it. There was none. Tessa would know, so he was free to wrinkle his nose and cross his arms over his chest, as if it would keep her from touching him in the moment to prove it. Empathy was one of those strange powers he always thought should be illegal – compared to the one illegal one he had, which had no goddamn reason being illegal.

At least possession was illegal.

“Strength, endurance, flight, and sonic voice,” he ticked them off, pretty sure a woman as involved in politics as she was would be well aware his position didn’t rank four tattoos. Very few positions ranked that many, in Denothetes.

He heard it was easier under the dictatorship – at least, if you got in good with the dictator. He had no plans of that.

He was also pretty sure his sonic scream was legal there, but they allowed for a lot…if you were in the right positions. “Anyway, that’s mine,” he thumbed towards the sleek, dark red sports car, “Do you need a ride or is your vehicle near?” he knew he’d be following, or if not that, he’d be directed to Tessa’s place while he rode passenger.

~***~

Damia knew better than to say she wasn’t sure if letting Dimitr—The Prince—live was something she was glad for. Much was yet to be determined in that regards. She did chuckle as he seemed uncertain what Gabriel was upset about.

“He’s upset the video got out. We could have made 50 terrible mistakes, and he wouldn’t have cared if no one else knew,” speaking from experience, naturally. Her jobs got done, but sometimes not how Gabriel preferred. So long as they were done, it didn’t matter. “He has an image. This video makes him look bad, Prince.”

Which meant lots and lots of PR recovery.

Normal people weren’t killed for wanting to change careers. That looked bad for Gabriel. Damia knew what it was, even if she also knew what she signed up for. That was why she had to hide her identity. If she didn’t, she’d be on the chopping block by the Mob as a praetorian. Although, perhaps now she could vie for public sympathy.

If she ever thought of hanging up the job. “He’s not all that mysterious at all,” she chuckled, “he wants everything his way. Nothing short of that~,” she grinned, “but don’t worry, this will blow over. It always does. So we don’t need to worry unless he decides our use is done.”

Always possible.

“But assuming he doesn’t, you still owe me a race once I get out of here,” the topic was easy to shift, “I at least know you’ll be able to keep up. People who pick speed always do have fast vehicles. It just becomes so normal.”

 

[cleopat]

Xandros wasn’t thrilled with her power, which Tessa didn’t need her abilities to see. It was clear in his body language. But she wasn’t exactly happy with his own, with multiple tattoos, and one that wasn’t quite legal.

She didn’t say anything aside from “Interesting”, but did give him a quick look. Evan, what kind of guy did you hire?

Someone with a criminal background, she could guess, and suddenly the skills she had seen him use made sense.

They first came upon his car, one she had admittedly not expected. Not that she would say that. “Mine is just over there,” she said, pointing to her car just a few feet away. Her own sleek, black car didn’t scream obscene wealth, but it did indicate someone who was comfortable. “You’re following?” She went over to her own car, and after receiving his answer, she would lead the way to her place.

Tessa still didn’t know how to feel about doing what she will be, in some kink dungeon with this man she hardly knew. At least no one I know will be able to see me.

~~~

Damia was right - they had made mistakes on camera, and that was what Gabe was angry about. Making mistakes for everyone to see, proving the Praetorians were human, which, in turn, could prove Gabe’s flaw.

Dictators didn’t have flaws.

But the PR team will fix his image, and Gabe will forget his anger towards them. Unless they continue to fuck up on video, but what were the odds of it happening again? This was a first for them. Every other time, they did the job swiftly and cleanly for Gabe.

Dimitri could only chuckle at her insistence of having that race. “Are you sure you’ll be up for racing once you get out of here? You may need to take it easy for a bit.” Not that he cared, or concerned himself for why she was there to begin with. “After all, your injuries just may make it easier for me to beat you.”

 

[Lucyfer]

The ‘interesting’ said plenty to Xandros. He could tell neither of them were thrilled with the other. Yet, Evan hired them both. For whatever reason. As Tessa questioned his reason, he did question Tessa, but supposed the skill could come in handy when it came to questioning people. He just threatened and tortured.

It worked well enough.

“I’ll follow,” the momentary break might be needed, and so he did indeed follow the sleek black vehicle until it came to a stop. He found a parking spot, and it wasn’t long before he was out of his car and joining Tessa’s side to head up to her home.

“An apartment?” he was actually surprised. “Why not a house?” she definitely had the money for it, right? It at least meant he probably wasn’t going to see her parents or have to deal with that kind of scene, for which he was thankful but…an apartment?

~***~

Damia scoffed, “You’re cute when you think I care that much about winning or losing,” she shook her head, “if you win, I might like you better. I don’t have many challenges in things I enjoy.”

Of course, everything she enjoyed, she’d become substantially better at with the tattoos. Her video game skill went way up. Enough to be famous for it – as Decima, of course. Not as herself. But racing, dancing, gaming – so much had improved with her ability to sense more. Even cooking had improved! At least for her.

Some of her friends would disagree.

“If you lose to me in this state, you’ll just be boring again,” she gave a shrug, “which is probably the kind of date I should bring to a wedding, but still.” She’d try to talk Gabriel into it, but he was too mad at her now.

Another time.

The looks alone would be worth it.

 

[cleopat]

Tessa shrugged at Xandros’ question. “I don’t need a house. I’m just one person, and there were plenty of apartments in the city that offered what I needed.” Which included hers with the doorman that greeted her as she entered the building, and she greeted back with a polite smile and a ‘good day, Hector.’

“And I’m almost never home, so I didn’t need anything too big.” She guided him over to the elevator and pressed one of the buttons near the top floor. “Besides, this apartment has a view of the city I just couldn’t resist,” she grinned. The elevator dinged when they reached the floor, and Tessa exited first to lead the way to her door, one of only three on the floor.

She opened the door for them. The apartment was a decent size for one person, and nothing special stood out about the furniture, but the real perk of the apartment that Tessa fell in love with was the floor-to-ceiling windows that made up one wall, overlooking a wide view of the city.

“You can stay in here while I get changed real quick. Feel free to help yourself to something to drink,” she waved to the adjacent kitchen as she disappeared into her bedroom.

~~~

Dimitri scoffed. He’s not ‘cute.’ “And when I win, I’ll be sure to call on you for that one favor you owe me.” One he hadn’t yet decided what it would be.

But he wouldn’t tell Damia that. Let it be a surprise.

“When is that wedding again?” he wondered. “Wasn’t it soon?” He could’ve sworn she mentioned that it was the upcoming weekend or the next. “I guess you better heal pretty fast so you’ll stand a chance against me,” he smirked.

Dimitri was convinced that the race would be an easy win for him. Before her injury, he thought it would be challenging. Now? He didn’t dare get too cocky to let his guard down, but he still had his confidence.

Like hell he was going to be labeled as boring by some weird woman.

 

[Lucyfer]

Xandros just eyed Hector, without greeting, and kept on. He didn’t need to greet Hector, but he’d remember him. Apparently, Tessa didn’t feel a need to have something she, well, didn’t need. It was strange to him. Into the elevator they went, and then out to the floor with Tessa’s apartment.

Of course, it was nothing at all like the usual apartments he saw. It did have space, and the view was obvious from the windows. Way too much for him. Even this high up, he didn’t want windows like that, where people could look in easily.

He had curtains over his windows.

Sometimes, he considered boarding them up.

“Mmm.” He didn’t, in fact, go into the kitchen to examine her wares. He did go in it, but all he did was lean on the counter, and wait. He didn’t intend to drink or eat anything here; he was absolutely not comfortable in this place, once again too out of place to be comfy. At least he didn’t have to pretend otherwise.

~***~

Damia was amused by Dimitri’s insistence that he’d win. He’d look so precious when he lost. They always did. It was why she enjoyed winning so much, no doubt. Just those precious, devastated looks, she never got tired of. It was why she enjoyed the violence, too. That utter devastation and hopelessness, the brief moments of hope, of adrenaline – the thrill of it all! – nothing got her higher.

“It’s still Thursday, right? Or maybe Friday night by now...the wedding is Sunday,” Damia answered, “I’m sure they’ll let me leave in the morning,” these temporary tattoos did wonders. She’d considered getting a regeneration tattoo, but then Gabriel got one.

She couldn’t copy him.

“I guess you might have to stay until then, unless you brought my phone in?” she glanced around. She obviously wasn’t in her uniform, which would need serious repairs. She doubted her phone had been picked up off the floor of his car. “We can race as soon as I get out. Just take me back to my bike.”

No, no delaying at all.

 

[cleopat]

Tessa went inside her closet and chose an outfit she felt was modest, yet comfortable, as suggested she wore. So she opted for a pair of dark skinny jeans with a slightly oversized pastel green sweater that was plush and cozy. A pair of brown ankle boots finished the outfit.

Maybe this would give the proper, or improper, impression that she was a sub at the club.

She quickly did her hair back into a braid before going back out and reconvening with Xandros. “Will this do?” she asked, motioning down to her clothes. He seemed to…know the scene more than she did, so she would wait for final approval before going on to their next stop.

And the next stop shouldn’t pose a problem at all. Just go in, grab a mask, and leave. No sweat. But playing a couple in some dungeon as part of an assignment Tessa still had some nerves about. Especially with the guy she could feel did not care for her.

~~~

“I’m pretty sure it’s after midnight by now,” Dimitri answered, not bothering to look around for a clock. It didn’t matter. The sun wasn’t up yet, so it wasn’t quite Friday to him, and he was still running on adrenaline from the mission to even think about sleep.

He didn’t even want to begin to understand how Damia wasn’t exhausted and in need of sleep, but instead her mind working faster than his sports cars.

Dimitri raised a brow at her. “No, I do not have your phone.” Her phone was the furthest thing from his mind when he was driving her to the hospital. Where was it? Back at Quintus’ house? That wouldn’t be good. “Where is it? Do you know?”

And she wanted to race him as soon as she left the hospital. He shrugged, “Fine by me. Just don’t cry foul or unfair when I beat you.” Or if she got into an accident due to the extent of her current injuries. Dimitri would suggest for her to rest a few more days, but he knew her type. Stubborn. Unwilling to claim weakness.

That was all of them.

 

[Lucyfer]

The outfit was nice. Modest. Unassuming. Xandros approached Tessa as she came out to invite inspection. ‘I should probably change.’ Not that a suit was unheard of in these situations, but it was unheard of for him. Sure, plenty of people had figured out what he was doing by now, but this was still a different situation.

‘Yeah…gonna need to.’

He walked around Tessa and absentmindedly reached a hand out to tug her braid, “Yeah, that seems good,” he commented as the braid stayed wrapped up, and didn’t loosen with the pull. If she was going to turn her hair into a handle, he had to make sure it actually functioned.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t pull it off.

“I’m going to need to change, too. No one’s gonna buy me in a suit,” he chuckled, “so we can swing by my place after. Should probably just go in one car, anyways.” Which would obviously be his, but not his red one. He could switch it out when they got to his place.

He had one for his work with Evan, and one for his life.

And crime.

~***~

“My phone should be in my suit, or on the floor of your car. Somewhere in there,” Damia was pretty sure she hadn’t lost in the scuffle. She’d never had a reason to take it out, so ideally, it was still somewhere in his car. If it was lost, well, she’d get a new one. It wasn’t a problem. Theoretically.

Gabriel would have had such a thing recovered from the scene by now, and he hadn’t mentioned it, so it couldn’t have been there.

She still chuckled at how the Prince protested this in his way. Oh, it was going to be absolutely precious when he lost. “I won’t. I’m not a sore loser, Princeling. Though it sounds like you might be,” she couldn’t help the smirk, before leaning back into her bed, into the pillows, shutting her eyes.

“I’m going to rest. You should go…do whatever you need to do. Just come back for me in the morning, won’t you? I don’t know how to track you down for my things.” Sure, she could ask Gabe, but…well, he was in a mood.

She’d deal with the mood but she’d rather not. “Oh…what story did you tell them? So I know what to play along with when the nurses bother me in the morning?”

 

[cleopat]

Tessa let out an involuntary squeak when Xandros tugged on her braid. Her hands shot up to her hair to smooth out the braid, and she gave him a look that seemingly asked, why?

Sure, he may have been inspecting it, but was it really necessary?

Ignoring the fact that she enjoyed the sensation.

“Alright,” she agreed with the plans. They headed back downstairs and out of the building for Xandros’ car, which she quickly inspected with a glance of approval. “So,” she started in an attempt to get to know her work partner, sliding into the passenger’s seat, “have you been to one of these before? The sex dungeon, that is.”

~~~

Dimitri filed away the information of where Damia’s phone may be, intending to look later when he left the hospital. Which may be soon, as indicated by her body language, and soon her own words.

He scoffed as he stood up. “Yes, I may be certain in my future win, but I also know when to take a loss.” He wouldn’t be a sore loser, not if Damia was a formidable opponent. And if she raced as she fought, then he would have an exciting race ahead of him.

“Hmm? Oh, I told them I found you in an alley after being mugged.” He shrugged. “It was the first thing that popped in my head.” And if she didn’t like that story…then too bad. Though he knew in reality, Damia could easily fight off attackers without blinking an eye.

“Good night, and do actually get some rest,” Dimitri said before he left her alone and headed back to his car. As expected, he found Damia’s phone in the backseat, some blood splattered on it, along with her ruined uniform. Sighing, he started the car and headed home to try and get some sleep.

 

[Lucyfer]

The squeal almost made Xandros laugh. He managed to keep that in, as well as a scoff, but the amusement was there. That would probably suit the role well, too. At least she wasn’t trying to play opposite. That wouldn’t go well at all.

As they slid into his car, he plugged in the address for Pleasures to his phone and it started giving directions for him to follow. It wasn’t that far at all, which was nice. “Huh?” he didn’t initially understand what he’d been asked. “Oh, no. Not really my scene.”

That didn’t mean he didn’t understand it from others, and just being adjacent to it through other illegal operations. Not that the clubs themselves were illegal, but they attracted a certain…clientele that dabbled, or went right into, the illegal stuff. “There was enough talk of them in my circles, given the tats.”

Illegal tattoos were always talked about. Whether which ones should be legalized, which ones shouldn’t be, and of course, where to get them without too many problems. “Tyr’s pretty infamous in my circles.”

~***~

‘We’ll see.’

Damia listened to the Prince leave, and she would drift. Sleep came, and sleep went. The drugs made it difficult to discern, but Damia did rest, and when she woke, there was a nurse there checking on her. She got an overview of the situation, confirming the story that was told.

She was a touch annoyed to find out she’d been checked for rape, but supposed that fit the way she arrived and the story, given she hadn’t arrived fully clothed. Still, she didn’t like the thought of that minor violation.

She was indeed released in the morning, and given her choice of clothes to take out. Most of it was overly sterilized, bleached white in her mind, with no character, no feeling, but that sensation of being something she shouldn’t touch, but there were a few things that retained a scrap of character.

So, she ended up in an overlarge gray sweatshirt for the local university, and pink shorts that were almost covered by the sweatshirt, as well as green flip-flops.

Not ideal, but better than nothing.

She made sure the nurses wouldn’t be surprised by the return of the Prince – noting he had her belongings, while she waited in the waiting room with a pomegranate juice box and cheese sticks for him to show up.

 

[cleopat]

Tessa wanted to ask him what exactly were his circles, but she could hazard a guess. The unscrupulous past didn’t really bother her, depending on what exactly he did before working with Evan. But given that he was working for a senator, Tessa didn’t think he did anything she should be nervous about.

Her past wasn’t exactly clean either, and she still had the contact information for many drug dealers on her side of the city.

“Infamy doesn’t sound too good.” But tattooing names was a very unsavory business. “What all do you know about him?” Anything more he could give that he didn’t give at Evan’s office, something to help her step into the role they needed to get the information.

She didn’t know what she was more concerned with at the time - playing a couple in a sex dungeon, or having to deal with someone like Tyr, who had no issue in tattoos that should have long been illegal for good reason.

~~~

As he promised, Dimitri left his home early the next morning with Damia’s items stuffed in a tote bag he randomly found in his closet. Nothing was clean, but he would let Damia clean them however she preferred. They had all their own methods for getting out bloodstains.

He arrived to the hospital, and he didn’t even have to hunt down her room again. She was in the waiting room, dressed in a very interesting ensemble combination. Dimitri didn’t even hide his smile as he approached her, giving her outfit a once-over. “Nice fashion. It suits you.”

It most certainly did not suit anyone.

“Here you go,” he handed her the tote bag full of her belongings. “I’m assuming you’re already checked out and everything?” He assumed so, if she was just waiting for him in the waiting room. “Come, I’m sure your motorcycle misses you.”

 

[Lucyfer]

“Oh, you mean tattooing names sounds like something you’d be known as good for?” Infamy came with the job. Xandros couldn’t help but scoff a bit of a chuckle at the thought, and he shook his head, “Come on, most of us criminals are in this because we don’t like being controlled.”

That didn’t mean Tyr didn’t have a market.

Obviously.

As for what he knew, he just shook his head a bit. “Tyr’s interesting. Anarchist.” Despite the control tattoo bit. “Believes in bodily autonomy, even if that autonomy means deciding to give yourself up wholly to someone else. Thing is, I’ve never heard of him removing or disrupting the marks he makes, so he doesn’t seem to let people go back on their decisions.”

So if some girl said she was down to fuck, then changed her mind, he imagined Tyr would ignore that. Once he got a yes, he went forward. No safe words. “Here – I think this is your shop, right?” he was already pulling into a parking spot. “Want me to come in with you, or wait in the car?” he teased.

~***~

Damia rolled her eyes as Dimitri commented on her attire, rising to her feet. Even she knew it was terrible, although the sweatshirt was cozy. She definitely preferred clothing that wasn’t as baggy as it was. She took the tote as it was offered, not wincing at all in any pain, though it still trilled through her a bit.

“Thanks for bringing it,” she said as she put it over a shoulder. She wouldn’t be changing back into her armor, obviously. She was back to being Damia, for a bit.

Let the Decima fanbase worry their heads off.

“I’m all checked out,” she agreed, already starting for the doors to get out of there. “I know my baby misses me. You will have to wait for me to get changed into something more appropriate for riding once I get back to it,” no, she hadn’t forgotten the race, nor was she setting it aside.

She just had to make sure she was actually dressed for it. She wasn’t an idiot; if she crashed, she was still going to be as safe as possible. Even if that wasn’t much safer, it was better than driving in fricking flip-flops!

She did dig her phone out of the bag once she was outside, and checked for any missed messages. Mostly, checked to see if there were any from Gabe, before she’d move on to others.

 

[cleopat]

“I don’t think anyone likes being controlled.” Which is what Tessa had to deal with all of her life until she had a break after college and went off the deep end with partying and drugs. Funny how she would argue that she was in even less control of her life during that time.

Funny how life works out.

“Tyr sounds like one swell of a guy,” she said with great sarcasm as they pulled up to the shop. A tattooist who believed in bodily autonomy…but didn’t quite believe in bodily autonomy after the tattoo gun was out.

She hummed a confirmation that this was her shop, and rolled her eyes at Xandros’ question with a hint of a smile. As she slid out of her seat and out of the car, she did stop to turn back to Xandros. “You can be a good boy and stay here.” She’s been teased enough already, so she couldn’t help the words.

Tessa didn’t spend too long in the shop. She immediately went to where the masks were. She felt it appropriate to pick one that was red. After a few more minutes, she exited the shop with the small shopping bag in one hand and slid back into her seat.

~~~

Dimitri carefully studied Damia’s face for any sign of discomfort as she moved. She seemed to be in a far better state than when he last saw her. Impressive, considering it was only a few hours.

He hummed his agreement that she needed to get changed. Shorts and motorcycles never went well together. He was already dressed in attire appropriate for any vehicle race, and no matter which vehicle he ended up choosing to race against her with, he’ll don his helmet as a precautionary. Enough idiots die every year from not wearing a helmet while riding their motorcycle.

He led her in the direction of his car, thankfully not far from the entrance. “You can grab your motorcycle and follow me to my place, if you wish, and get changed there. I plan on switching vehicles for this race. Motorcycle against motorcycle.”

And he was aware that that would mean Dami would know where he lived. Normally having another Praetorian to know his location didn’t sit well with him, he found himself without much concern. He didn’t trust Damia, but unless Gabe decided Dimitri was better dead, he wasn’t fully concerned with her trying to kill him anytime in the near future.

 

[Lucyfer]

‘Oh, some people do. After all…you have to pretend to be one.’ Xandros managed not to say that aloud, but the thought was printed on his smirk as he parked the car. He chuckled at her ‘good boy’, but stayed in the car as directed, and waited patiently for her to return with the little mask in the little bag.

He saw red peeking out, and nodded approval.

“Good call,” he said, and then pulled out of the space once she was buckled in.

“So, I suppose I should tell you this much,” he said, once they were on the street, “I head up the gang known as the Red Dragons. Well, did. Pansies bailed on me when I started to take on useful jobs. Apparently they just wanted easy money,” he rolled his eyes. “so it’s just me and a couple others now.”

Not the group he used to have.

“People are going to know me by that name, even though it used to be a group. So, you’ll hear it there,” and then various shortenings and renderings of his actual name, some more annoying than others. “You don’t need to know much more than that, really. But since someone might ask about me by that name…figured you should know or it’d look weird.”

She might have heard of the Red Dragons. Or just the Red Dragon, considering the group had started to become infamous in their own way for targeting politicians and CEOs…and succeeding, with a few deaths involved.

Evan was probably looking more questionable by the minute.

~***~

Damia arched a brow at Dimitri’s offer, “You just happen to have female bodysuits laying around your place in my size, huh?” she couldn’t help but ask as she got to his car, “Well, at least I know your type, then,” she winked at him, “but you know, it’d actually be better if you swung by the office on Thrones street, or by my house, before we get to the motorcycle so I can get a proper suit.”

The one in the bag needed repairs.

She was hardly changing into that, although she did suspect that’s what he thought. That didn’t mean she wasn’t going to annoy him about it.

“Actually, go by the office. I left my favorite bike in that garage anyways before I changed to the one for work. I’ll deal with that one later, and I can follow from the office.” She waved off the issue of the one left behind. It was a work bike, she didn’t care nearly as much for it. She could have it towed, worst come to worst. If Gabriel hadn’t already had it towed.

But she did care about being seen on a work bike without her uniform.

That would be bad.

People knew Decima’s bikes.

Once in the car, she couldn’t help but ask, “So, what girl do you have visiting you often enough to leave behind bodysuits, Princey?” Then, reconsidered, “or really hot twink?” Though twink didn’t seem his type given…well, Gabriel.

Gabriel was not a twink.

Nor a twunk.

Although the image was hilarious.