InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I rule all."

shadowwhisper (shadowwhisper) wrote in haunted_roads,
@ 2008-03-04 00:08:00

Entry tags:

anthony, eliina

Week Three - Monday Late Evening
Who: Anthony and Eliina
Where: Eliina's office
Why: Tony's branching out
Rating: PG13 at the minimum.

It had been an entertaining week so far. Having moved into a new home, Anthony was getting himself settled in. Most of his furniture had been taken care of. None of it really meant anything to him in the long run, but one always did have to keep up appearances at the very least. Potential victims coming into his home, which also doubled as his ‘photo studio’ would question the lack of furniture after all.

Of course, he already had to get rid of some of it. His initial annoyance with Slade had passed rather quickly when he began to play with his new toy. At the very least, the fire demon had an eye for beauty. The young girl managed to last a couple of days before he broke her. It had been an enjoyable couple of days, for him at the very least, but in the end the whole mattress set had to be replaced. He was half tempted to send the demon a bill for the new bed, though he would have to send her something at the very least.

He was not quite sure where the girl would end up. Likely some brothel in South East Asia, or perhaps even India or the Middle East, where white women were seen as exotic rather than the norm. He doubted she would be thankful for still being alive, but then, mortals always took slavery so personally. It was always amusing to watch their reactions to such things. But, just thinking about it brought his mind to the task at hand.

In all his time in Seattle, he had not managed to snag a reliable contact within the legal realm. Which was unusual for him, since lawyers were always so easily bought. He must have been getting lazy in his ‘old age’. That thought amused him even more, but as the problem became known to him, so to do a solution.

It was a pity that Lorenzo had been killed. The vampire had been like a kinsman to him. As often a rival as not, but always respected, Tony knew the bloodsucker had his fingers in every pot imaginable. But, his attention was focused upon his former pet. Pretty little thing, but more importantly, she was a lawyer. And by all accounts, one willing to let her fingers get a little dirty.

As he settled into a seat in the waiting room of the office, Tony let himself smile a little. He planed to enjoy the next couple of minutes at the very least. He wondered if the girl would even remember who he was, it had been so long since he had last seen her.

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mens_rea
2008-03-07 07:20 am UTC (link)

While Anthony might have had an... entertaining week, Eliina could not exactly say the same. She'd spent the entire weekend hunched over her desk going over a stack of briefs that didn't seem to ever shrink in size. She had almost come to the conclusion that the pile was self-regenerating... that or she was losing her ability to comprehend what exactly it was she was reading. The latter was starting to seem like the more likely scenario.

Monday had turned into much the same sort of day. She arrived early and didn't appear to be leaving until well after dark. Her secretary was gone already but there was always the night receptionists that worked. When a large number of your clients couldn't walk about freely during the day... such things were necessary.

While Eliina's day might have been long and her neck already ached from the sharp angle she'd held it at all day reading... it was still a better week than many previous. Her relative freedom made that the case. She still knew that her hands were dirty in more than one way, but it felt worth it. That was a fact she had to remember.

Eliina's phone rang, almost startling her in the quiet that had fallen over her office. Not a corner, but certainly more than the glorified closet she had received as a first year associate. A short conversation with the receptionist and a terse, five minute response from her and Eliina's face had paled noticeably. Even remember who he was... she did. Eliina hadn't forgotten many of the names of Lorenzo's associates. She had made it her business to know them.

There was no avoiding this particular situation though. Eliina sighed and pushed up from her desk. She took the entire five minutes that she had mentioned to the receptionist, smoothing out the skirt of her suit, finger combing her hair, anything to make certain that any of the... trepidation she'd felt about one who had known Lorenzo showing up at her office. Satisfied with her work she exited her office and made her way to the waiting room.

"Mr. Pastorelli..." Eliina said as she soon as she spotted him. "Please follow me to my office." And there was the rather impersonal demeanor she worked so hard to uphold.

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shadowwhisper
2008-03-08 04:01 am UTC (link)

In the time he waited, Tony did what he always did. He took in every aspect of his surroundings, as well as those within it. Not that he expected trouble, but he lived by an old adage, one that had kept him alive for far too long. Know your surroundings.

When she finally appeared, Tony looked her over once, before he rose to his feet. She had grown quite lovely indeed. At least now he had at least a partial reason for why Lorenzo had kept her for so long. He would never understood why one would want to keep a pet for as long as he had, but at least having such a lovely one would at least be more worth while.

His hands linked behind his back, he followed Eliina to her office. His gaze shifted from side to side as he took in the decorations, as well as the other offices and the names on their doors. It might come in handy, after all, to know who she worked with. One never knows when a little black mail might come in handy. Even if he couldn’t think of a reason it would be needed. Not yet anyway.

Once inside the office, he paused inside of the doorway and let his eyes roam the room. Then, once she had taken her own seat, he inclined his head once toward her, and then moved to take his own seat across from her. “You have grown into quite a lovely young woman. I had always wondered what Lorenzo saw in you.”

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mens_rea
2008-03-08 06:08 am UTC (link)

The waiting room that he had been left in, just as the hallway he was led down, was immaculately appointed. The firm had no trouble covering the overhead and then some. It did pay to offer services that so few others did and silence came with an especially hefty price. They made the best of it though, with several floors of offices in a high rise. Views were nothing to shrug at after all. They did so like to impress.

Even if one of their newest partners, Ellie Louis... could care less about impressing. She held herself as she always did, with a strong sense of indifference as he looked her up and down. She was rather used to it at this point in her career, not that it made her like it anymore.

Even less from someone who had known Lorenzo... who had so valued her physical appearance.

Eliina's stride was perhaps a bit too quick, she was unable to hide her irritation in that as her black heels made quick time of the path back to her office. She was waiting just inside the door as he passed through, to promptly close the door behind him. That was also done maybe a bit too harshly. One deep breath and Eliina was back under control. Or so she hoped. His words though were a test of that.

"My... loveliness has little to do with anything that is of any importance at the moment." Eliina answered coldly as she moved past him headed to her desk. She always felt more in control seated behind the wooden monstrosity. "What can I do for you Mr. Pastorelli?" She kept right on, avoiding any references to Lorenzo.

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shadowwhisper
2008-03-08 06:31 am UTC (link)

“Please, if you think that your beauty isn’t of importance, you’re more naïve than I could have imagined. Given the field that you are employed in, I suspect it is a weapon that you use quite often.” Tony said with a snort and a shake of his head. But, then he smiled at her as he leaned back in the chair and linked his hands in the air before him. His elbows rested on the seat arms, but his hands were before him, as if he was planning something.

“As for what you can do for me? At this very moment, nothing. Though, given how my operations tend to happen within a city, I thought it was prudent to come and say hello. Perhaps see just how well we could work together. Lawyers are, after all, so very useful. Especially those who are aware of our existence, and what we do in the world.”

He then angled his head a little as he regarded her. Not her form, this time, but his eyes resting squarely on her own. “Though, I suspect there might be someway I can help you. Given just how agitated you seem at the moment, something must have you in a pickle. Or is this anger toward me? Have I somehow offended you? Should I have followed you home instead of coming to someplace so public?”

“Or have I reminded you of Lorenzo? A shame, that. Nobody really deserves to be killed in that manner. Not even those of us who deserve to cross death’s door, which he most certainly did.”

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mens_rea
2008-03-08 08:28 am UTC (link)

If she needed any more reason to stick to the less shapely suits she tended to favor, he certainly sealed the deal on her fashion choices. Potato sacks if she could get away with it. How she loathed being valued based primarily on what she provide that was pleasing to someone else. "If you think I'm concerned about your... imaginings of me, then you might want to reconsider your own naivety." Eliina replied, as she smoothed the sides of her skirt down before she took her seat.

Fashion she might have cared little about, but she hated wrinkles.

She was rather proud of herself for listening to everything he said in full, and actually considering it like a good little employee ought to. "So you're considering our services. Perhaps on retainer. In your case I would suggest a rather large on as you never know what kind of representation you might need." And by that of course she meant that he would need more than his fair share with the illicit work he was no doubt up to.

Eliina was fairly certain that Lorenzo hadn't known a single person who played by the 'rules'. They all preferred their own set.

She had attempted to busy herself by pulling up a file on her computer, the standard retainer agreement but it was a wasted effort really as he was finding each and every way to push her buttons. It was almost impressive it wasn't such an easy thing to do in reality. A fact she hated. Eliina stared at the screen for a moment before sliding her green eyes over to him. "I am not agitated. You read far too much into the strain of a long day. Though if you'd prefer to think I harbor any sort of feeling for you..." she cast one hand through the air. "Feel free."

Her biting replies really meant little at the mention of Lorenzo. Few things could stop her in her tracks so effectively. He still had that effect even after his demise. "It was a hardship that we all had to bear. But life does go on." Eliina replied perhaps a bit too tersely. Though to think she held any remorse over the fact that Lorenzo was no longer among them was laughable. A fact that he would no doubt know. So why try.

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shadowwhisper
2008-03-08 09:50 am UTC (link)

Her reactions amused him. He couldn’t help it. He knew he shouldn’t be, but he was. He tilted his head as he regarded her and her reactions for a long moment. Then, he offered her a smile as he slowly lowered and rose his head in a single nod. “Ellie Louis, you could not begin to imagine my imagines of you. Though, it might be interesting to take a look and see just what you are thinking.”

He then laughed and shook his head a little. “Do you really wish to put my signature into an official record, young lady? Can you honestly assure me that this firm as a whole would serve my interests best… or is everyone in this firm as flexible in their morals as we are? Then again, attorneys never were known for their moral stature, even the best of them.”

“Not that I plan on hiring your services for myself. It’s been decades since anyone’s been able to pin any crime on me. A fact I don’t plan on changing anytime soon. But I do take care of those who work for me. One has to look after their family, after all, whether or not it is blood. That would, of course, include you, if I put you on this… retainer.”

“A long day, of course. Those I quite fully understand. Nothing that can get a person annoyed more than a day in which nothing ever seems to get accomplished.” A hand motioned toward the pile of paperwork that was stilly likely nearby, if not still on the desk. “That would upset anyone, I’m sure.” He just smiled, as he did not seem to care whatsoever for the paperwork itself.

“Yes, a hardship for everyone who worked with and for him.” Her reactions puzzled him, Both defensive and not, secretive and open. She was likely hiding something. But then again, she was the type of lawyer that willingly defended those who broke the law, so there could be a lot of things she was hiding.

He was silent for a moment as he considered the opportunities before him. The intriguing mystery, and his need for an actual lawyer. In the end, he decided, that if it came to it, he could find another lawyer. So, with a smile, he leaned forward on his chair, almost as if sharing a conspiracy with her. “It was fortunate that you were not at home when they came for him then… who knows what might have befallen you if you had been…”

Not that he thought she was implicit in Lorenzo’s death. No, the other vampire had many enemies amongst other vampires. And if he truly thought she was guilty of killing his friend, or even had a hint she might have been involved, he had other aces up his sleeve. After all, it would likely be an easy task to just rip the information from her mind rather than ask her and risk the lies.

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mens_rea
2008-03-11 09:39 pm UTC (link)

She had always been an endless source of amusement, Eliina knew it and she did despise it. But no amount of hating that fact could prevent her knee jerk reaction to the smug face of a vampire. Or other race that knew well and good that they had the ability to end her life with one good swing of their hand. Eliina did her best to erase the look of distaste from her face and instead just arched a single brow as he repeated the name that beamed from the nameplate on her desk. "The last place I want to be is in the recesses of your mind." She retorted coldly.

The swing of her one crossed leg slowed slightly as they spoke of business. That was one surefire way to cure her anxiety. "The firm always protects a clients interests. If interests and..." she paused slightly as she tended to veer from the rest of the firm when it came to ethics (she had more in her little finger than most did), "when ethical complications arise they are dealt with." She said simply. Most often they were just ignored or brushed under the proverbial rug. She had done her fair share, but she tried to avoid it now that she had the choice.

And she had not missed his 'we are' dig. Anger flickered momentarily in her eyes, but she'd done her best to just press on, ignoring the barb that made her want to send a volley of defensive comments his way.

Eliina sat up sharply, her shoulder blades pressing tightly into the back of her chair. "I can assure you I have no need for anyone to... take care of me." Her head cocked to the side and a sardonic smile slid over her features. "I'm a big girl now so if don't worry yourself." Never again did she plan to be under the thumb of any man.

Speaking of Lorenzo, especially with anyone that had known him (granted that would be the only time she sought to mention his name) always managed to send a flux of emotions through her. She'd hated him but sometimes hated herself for what she'd had to do to be free of him. A catch-22. "Yes... a hardship. I'm certain you are quite broken up about it." Sarcasm won out for the moment. Unprofessional of her yes, but she lacked the control that she hid behind ordinarily. He was managing to quite deftly break that wall down.

The silence between them grated on her nerves. Her purse sat in a desk drawer, a prescription bottle or two just a few lengths away that could help settle the tightening of her chest and the grating of her teeth... but too far just now. "I was quite fortunate, that I cannot argue with. Flames are just as deadly no matter the race." At least as far as Eliina knew. Though her knowledge was far more geared to vampires than any other.

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shadowwhisper
2008-03-13 07:15 am UTC (link)

She got most of that look off, but not quite enough. But then, the tone of her voice would have told him everything he had needed to know about her feelings as it was. “Would you rather be in the recesses, or at the forefront?” Tony asked with that very smug smile he knew was irritating her. He leaned fully back against the chair as he folded his hands over his stomach.

“Really now? Somehow I think you haven’t thought this freedom thing through, ma’am.” He said as he regarded her again. He then paused as he tilted his head back toward the door, as if he was listening to something just outside. Then, Tony shook his head again. Likely just another attorney passing by, right? “You were under Lorenzo’s protection. Nobody would touch you or claim you without risking his wrath. You don’t have that any longer. I would remember that while you go about your life. A vampire’s best defense is secrecy… and you know way too much about our world.” Despite his attitude, it would not sound like a threat. Well, at least it would not SOUND like a threat.

He studied her for another moment, before he nodded once to her. “Then that I can attest to. Though, I think I will have the retainer be through my business. It would not do for my name to be on paperwork when it will still be there in thirty years and I will still look the same.”

“You might be surprised at how much his death affected me. I will not spend a lot of time mourning, but I had known him centuries before you were born. When you have been friends for someone for a hundred years, you tell me how their death affects you.” Not that they were truly friends, but even associates. He had been fond of Lorenzo, though just as often he had been fond of beating the other vampire down in some display of power or influence. It was how they lived after all.

“Flames affect everyone just as easily as they do us. The only beings not affected by fire are ghosts. Unless, of course, you burn down the source of their bonding to this world, then they’re destroyed as any other creature might be. Though, it is never something fun to watch… or smell.”

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mens_rea
2008-03-16 08:31 am UTC (link)

The look that crossed over Eliina's face was anything but pleased. Button after button pushed. The worst part of it all being that she knew exactly what he was doing and somehow seemed incapable of stopping herself from letting him edge his way under her skin. Perhaps she'd gotten lax in the months without Lorenzo around as a constant reminder of just how irksome men could be. Especially those that enjoyed a human snack. "Clearly, those are the only two option..." Eliina drawled, her fingers drumming slightly on her desk top. Damn smug smile that she wanted to wipe right off his face.

Eliina's lips pursed slightly before she took a breath and forced her features to relax as best they could. She'd need a drink tonight. A nice tall one. His words bothered her on far too many levels the lack of... threat to his words only the tip of the iceberg. "I don't need anyone's protection. I do my job and as part of that is confidentiality. If anyone feels the need to take issue with that... I suggest they speak with the managing partner." While she promptly left town. No she did NOT want to be under any vampire's control no matter what the supposed perks might be. In the end there were none.

Answering his questions with any sort of professional tact was more than wearing thin on Eliina, but she was doing the best she could. "Of course, wouldn't want to draw any suspicion..." Eliina replied simply before leaning over to scrawl a note onto a small note pad. She'd get her secretary to draw up the necessary papers. "I am well versed in what is required for your... kind." She finished, though her professionalism did drop off ever so slightly with the phrasing used.

Eliina did her best to not scoff at Anthony's liberal use of the word friend. She didn't scoff, she did however open her mouth something she would likely come to regret... "You friend? Really now Anthony. I do know better than to believe that you or Lorenzo are the sort to have... friends." She said leaning forward, elbows coming to rest on the desk. No no, they were not friends in any traditional sort, might explain why it was so hard for her to make any of that variety in the here and now considering how she was raised.

"You do have such extensive knowledge on how to... damage others. I'd almost say I was surprised." Eliina replied quickly. Only she was not surprised in the slightest. He, no doubt, knew how to kill anything if he wanted to. She only blinked once as he made reference to the unpleasantness of such an end. It had been all of the above. "I can't imagine it would be. As I said, it was quite an unfortunate end."

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shadowwhisper
2008-03-17 06:59 am UTC (link)

That look really made his evening. The complete look off irritation that he saw was really what he had been seeking all along. He tilted his head to the side, however, as he only continued to smile at her. “Well, I honestly doubt that you would enjoy me being in your head. You seem to be the type who enjoys her secrets.” And the way he said it, it would seem that he was not referring to her thinking about him with those words.

“Of course, you don’t. Everyone always seems to think that.” He comment about the manager brought a laugh to his lips, and he shook his head at her. “Really, now? You think if one of us took exception to your work we’d speak to the manager about it? You’d wake into your own apartment and find someone sitting there, smiling at you and going ‘We need to talk’.”

“I know you are, I wouldn’t have come here if you were not.” Even if he did not know what he knew from Lorenzo, he was the type to do all the background information on a contact before trusting them with anything, after all. Kept life from getting too interesting. “I’m sure what you work up will be as good as they can be.”

“You should know what you are talking about before you make such claims, Eliina. Lorenzo and I knew each other for a century and a half. And while at times, we took delight in foiling the other’s schemes, do you think either of us would have lived this long like that if we didn’t like each other? Shouldn’t let your own bias to the bastard distort your views on the world around you.”

“And yes, I know how to kill and cause extreme damage to others. I knew all that long before I became a vampire. That’s what happens when you grow up homeless on the streets without a father or mother to raise you. Isn’t much different in your time, than it was in mine, after all.”

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mens_rea
2008-03-22 04:19 am UTC (link)

She did play all too easily right into his cards. Giving him exactly what he wanted. Hours later, when she finally made it home and had a large glass of wine to drink and think over the course of the day she'd hate herself for walking so easily into his so very easily constructed plan. She had to be smarter... had to be. "I believe one is entitled to their privacy regardless of whether or not they harbor any secrets." She said curtly, more than ready to dismiss the current topic.

The pull of Eliina's lips wasn't pretty as she leveled Anthony with a less than pleased gaze. "If you think it easy to find yourself seated in my living room you underestimate my intelligence." She had learned a few things living for years with a bloodsucker. Things that she paid well for now. Wards and every precaution she could think of to keep her condo, hers and hers alone. It all went far past the ordinary human security system and that wasn't bound to change anytime soon.

Though, she knew it was breakable. If anything she knew never to think she was entirely safe. That was something that wore at her more than any amount of work stress ever could.

Eliina gave a short nod of her head as she note reminder was written and a few more details were scribbled down in a shorthand that Eliina only really understood. It worked for her and that was really all that mattered.

Her legs shifted under the table. Crossing and uncrossing once, anything to keep the tell-tale bounce of her foot from starting. Her nerves beginning to reach their breaking point. "And here I thought I was basing it entirely on my bias toward the bastard sitting across from me." She said simply, no smirk on her face just an impassive look that only said she wanted to be done with any conversation with him. "Like or not, I'm certain that you will get over it. Not the first... friend you've lost and certainly not the last." Not in his line of work.

Eliina blinked once and almost couldn't contain a burst of laughter. "I'm afraid my sympathies have all been used up... " She glanced at the clock that ran at the corner of her computer screen. "Just as our time has." She added. Not that she had any appointments coming up just yet. But he didn't need to know such facts.

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shadowwhisper
2008-03-25 05:02 am UTC (link)

Well, to be fair, he did have more than two hundred years of experience in such things than she did. And, Tony did always believe in being prepared for first meetings. They had a tendency to set the pace for things in the future. He did not respond to her response in words, but instead in a smile.

He tilted his head at her next words, however. She should have known better than that. “That sounds like a challenge. You should know better, Eliina. Any security system can be broken. One just needs to know the right people.” And his smile then grew. After all, he would know the right people and she would most likely have that suspicion.

Not that he planned on it. Not one little bit. But he wouldn’t let her in on that. More fun to let he fret and worry and berate herself for such things. It was always a pleasure to bring a little bit of chaos to someone’s life without having to lift a finger after all.

“Oh, bastard. That would hurt, should hurt, but I don’t think it does. After all… all you know about me is I was friends with your former master. But then… that is enough, isn’t it? Pity.” Anthony said as he smirked at her. “And yes, I will get over it. Just as I’m sure he would’ve gotten over my passing. But then, I’m sure you’d have gotten over losing a friend as well. But, I’m the bastard for doing it.”

“But, of course. I wouldn’t want to waste any more of your time.” Tony rose from his chair, and paused only long enough to straighten out his clothing. “Do try to enjoy your evening.” And with that, he turned to stroll out of the office.

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