Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I'm Duck. It's a nickname. "

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

Max Fielding ([info]fieldingcases) wrote in [info]lost_world,
@ 2013-07-03 20:18:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:!status: complete, eleni stark, max fielding

Help Still Wanted (Eleni)
Max had been looking. Not too deeply, but he was looking all the same. Frank had warned him away from it, which only seemed to increase his interest in it all. He hadn't focused all of his attention on the murders and missing women. No, he actually had time to look into a few other cases. They were quick and easy things, just a little information was all he needed.

Max sat quietly pondering the article that Frank had been looking at the day he'd come in. There were girls missing. There were dead girls found. There were people who were scared, and he supposed he didn't blame thing. Life was crazy after all.

They'd left the "Help Wanted" in the window. He hadn't had a cute little broad tucked away in his trench coat, which was unfortunate. Then again, maybe having a young woman come in might not be a good thing. She could be in trouble. He sighed softly, picking up the mug to have a sip of coffee. Alcohol was in a drawer somewhere, but he wasn't jumping for it. Not yet anyway.


(Post a new comment)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-04 02:18 am UTC (link)
While Isaac might have secured money in less than legal ways, Eleni didn't feel right living off that sort of thing. When it became clear that they weren't just going to be here for a night or two, she realized that she had to actually find some sort of gainful employment. She got laughed out of a few offices before she came to the Help Wanted sign in the office of a private eye. Maybe it would be the same story here, but she pressed on all the same.

She was dressed in the same outfit she'd woken up in the diner in, though she'd found a way to clean it up so she looked as fresh as anyone could while on a job hunt all over a city.

She wasn't expecting to find someone she knew in the office already. She stopped just inside the door, her mouth forming an 'oh' of surprise.

"Max? What are you doing here?"

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-04 03:12 am UTC (link)
Max blinked and nearly spit out his coffee when he realized who walked through the door. His feet hit the floor harder than was needed, but not so hard he looked like a complete idiot.

"Red!" Thankfully Frank wasn't in yet. He was looking into a case at the top of the list, so that left Max all too himself in the office.

"I work here, beautiful." He stood and started toward her, his arms open for a hug. "Come here."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-04 03:28 am UTC (link)
Eleni beamed and touched her hair briefly.

"Not so red at the moment," she joked.

She stepped towards Max and wrapped her arms around him in response to the invitation.

"Suddenly, I feel like I got a slow start to things," she said, tilting her face up to look at the p.i. "Just started job hunting today. That sign out front wouldn't mean that you have an opening for a 'girl Friday' sort, would it?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-04 03:40 am UTC (link)
"Sweetheart, you don't forget a color, not that one once you know it's there." Max's hand lifted to brush a few finger tips over what should have been a red hair. The lack of color hadn't changed the softness of it.

"I don't know if he'd want one, but we need one. Well, we need a receptionist, secretary, billing - you know how to run an office?" It hadn't been asked like she was a silly woman who was lucky to know how to use an adding machine. It was an earnest question. Did she know what he was asking? He'd done most of that on his own and hated it, even if it meant he was getting paid.

"Unless you're thinking of running a few cases, and while I know you can handle yourself, might not be the best time to strap on a target to that pretty head of yours. There's something of a..." He tried to think of a word used in politer company. "A crazy serial killer." Yes, something of.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-04 03:53 am UTC (link)
When Max's fingers moved to touch her hair, Eleni couldn't help but smile to herself. There was a spark there, to be certain. She wasn't sure if they'd found a right time and place for all of it considering that they kept being shuffled from planet to planet, but she did enjoy the touch right now.

"I was the secretary for the Academic Excellence Society at my school. Not the same thing, but I've got a good memory for details and I'm organized."

She frowned and pulled back enough to look at him.

"There's a serial killer on the loose? And you and Frank are working on tracking him down?"

She wasn't the sort to just sit on the sidelines when people were in trouble, but she also knew how to play to her strengths and help in whatever way she was needed.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-04 04:05 am UTC (link)
Eleni wasn't the only one who felt the little spark, or the stomach drop, if that was what she felt. Yet, Max wasn't going to act on it, not yet. He couldn't; things weren't right for it.

"It's not the same thing, no, but it's a step in the right direction." He smiled down at her, his hand lifting to run a thumb along her jaw.

"Frank's working the case. I haven't been around long enough for the police's comfort, and Frank's too much of a hero to let me get hurt on something like this." That didn't exactly answer her question; he didn't say he wasn't working the case on the side, just a little bit at a time.

"You read the paper lately?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-04 04:28 am UTC (link)
Butterflies. There were definitely butterflies. And tingles that followed his thumb as it ran along her jaw. She couldn't help but wonder what he'd do if she just stood on her tiptoes and planted one on him, but there were more pressing matters right now. Plus, she knew better than to risk getting a guy in trouble for being unprofessional on his first (or one of the first?) day on a new job.

Eleni could read between the lines well enough to guess at what wasn't being said. Though she would leave it at that for now. She studied Max, her smile fading into a look of concern.

"Not recently, no. I've been too busy pounding the pavement."

She hadn't even thought to check the newspaper, truthfully. By her time, everything was online. Actual physical papers were relics in museums, not things that one turned to for the news. So she was simply feeling disconnected because she didn't have any internet access.

"What's going on? What do you know about the killer so far?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-05 01:55 am UTC (link)
"Here." Max stepped back, grabbing the paper to hand to her. He didn't shove it at her, just offered it to her. "This is the most I've got to go on. Frank's zipped up, not saying much of anything. I've checked out a few things, but haven't gotten very far." He shrugged, feeling that he'd have to dig deeper eventually.

"Frank probably wouldn't mind a receptionist. I wouldn't mind having someone to look at who doesn't smell of Old Spice or whisky." He gave her a smile that suggested he was teasing as much as telling the truth. "Plus, I'd rather snuggle up to someone in a skirt if I have to get close to someone in the office."

He knew that wasn't the sort of thing people said in a more professional setting, but he didn't care. He just took up a seat behind his desk and waited for her reaction, her thoughs.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-06 12:54 am UTC (link)
Eleni took the paper and started to skim the article. She did smile and glanced up to look at Max.

"You usually get snuggly with people around the office?" she teased. "And you never know, maybe Frank's got a skirt hidden in his closet somewhere."

Probably not the best way to talk about her new boss before she even met him, assuming that he was her new boss.

"Does this mean that you'll put in a good word for me on the job?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-06 04:45 am UTC (link)
"Well, seeing other than my uncle and possibly you, Frank's the only other person I've had regularly in my office - my co-workers have been limited, usually to just me. I guess you could say I do get snuggly with people around the office." Max didn't mind how that sounded. He had fallen asleep on the couch in his office on more than one occasion. Usually snuggled in a blanket he kept for just those moments.

"Yeah, just promise me if you get that urge to start looking into things, you'll give me a ring? I don't think you going in alone is a good thing, not right now." Not ever possibly. He just left it for the time being. They'd figure it out from there.

"Your brother? How is he?" He had a feeling the little jerk made it. She didn't seem all that upset, or looking for the kid.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-06 05:01 am UTC (link)
Eleni laughed softly at the comment about getting snuggly with himself. There were definitely ways that could be taken and the quirk of her eyebrow might have said that she wasn't blind to the various meanings it could have.

"Well I suppose it's a good thing that you might have more people around the office then," she teased.

She finished skimming the article and held it out to return to Max.

"Are you trying to keep me safe, Max Fielding?" she asked, her lips curved upward in a pleased smile. It was sweet, him wanting to protect her. Even if he knew that she could protect herself.

"Isaac's okay. He's here and in one piece." she shrugged. "He's Isaac."

She loved her brother dearly but theirs was a complicated relationship, and she didn't always love his life choices.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-06 05:46 am UTC (link)
"Yeah, guess it is." Max took the paper back, leaning in his chair to put his feet up on the edge of the desk. His hands rested easily enough on his lap as he watched her.

"I'm trying, but you don't exactly make it easy, do you?" He gave her a smile and a wink. The smile faded a little, but he didn't look upset or angry. Instead he seemed calm and nodded. "Good. Glad that you know where he is." It seemed to take some pressure off the more sensible of the twins; she knew that her twin was more or less okay. As okay as that one ever got.

"Where are you two staying?" He had found another file and was looking it over, also using it to give her a small look over. She did look nice in the getup, but she probably looked nice in almost anything. There was a soft hmph of a laugh as he pulled his attention back to the file.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-06 01:19 pm UTC (link)
Eleni took a few steps closer to Max and leaned over to touch his cherk briefly before she rested against the desk. She smiled at Max.

"Maybe it's easier than you think. Usually, I'm a self-saving damsel."

She stood and took a place next to Max's chair, leaning over just a little closer than was necessary as she tried to peek at the file.

"What do you have there?"

(Reply to this) (Parent)


[info]lw_mods
2013-07-06 01:26 pm UTC (link)
Frank spotted the pair from the window on the office door before he let himself in. He smirked to himself as the woman jumped and moved away from Max as if she'd been caught doing something she shouldn't. He smiled at her and then raised an eyebrow at Max.

"Who's the dame?"

His new partner apparently worked fast, whatever he was working at. Frank just hoped that this wasn't a client. He knew from personal experience that getting involved with your clients usually mucked up the works.

(Reply to this) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-07 06:21 am UTC (link)
Max had smiled up at Eleni as she leaned over; he might have even angled the file a little, forcing her to lean even closer. Well, he was enjoying the lean until Frank made an appearance.

Unlike the superhero's daughter, Max didn't move or jump. He stayed right where he was, leaning slightly back in his chair, file in hand. He gave his partner a slight nod as he entered then laughed.

"Dame's Eleni Stark. She's the broad I didn't have in my coat earlier. Thought I'd have one brought in just special for the office. I think she classes up the joint, gives it that feminine touch people are always talking about." He gave Eleni a wink and a smile.

"Think she's probably a little overqualified to be a receptionist, but I think she can handle the regular business of an office." He shrugged.

"Red, this is Frank Rake." He motioned between Eleni and Frank. Max didn't seem to care that the nickname might seem odd in the all grey situation.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-08 01:20 am UTC (link)
Eleni smiled politely at Frank and moved to offer her hand. The other p.i. gave her hand a strange look before he took it and kissed the back of it.

"Nice to meet you," Eleni said. "Like Max said, I'm here for the job opening, if you'll have me."

She tried not to look too eager or desperate, though a job was really necessary at the moment. And if she had to work somewhere, she wouldn't mind working with Max. Not to mention that she wanted to be around to help if he was going after a serial killer. She wanted to protect him as much as he wanted to protect her really.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]lw_mods
2013-07-08 02:02 am UTC (link)
Frank shifted his gaze between the two in his office, silently taking note of the tension there. After he'd kissed Eleni's hand, he gave Max a broad smile.

"Well, I suppose the joint could use a little extra class."

He looked back to Eleni.

"I take it you know how to answer the phones and field client requests? And that you understand that none of us get paid until the clients pay up?"

When both questions received a nod, his smile widened.

"Consider yourself hired then." He turned his attention back to Max. "And try to keep your eye on the ball here, Fielding. Just because we've got a pretty dame around the place doesn't mean your work can get sloppy."

His smile was still in place, indicating that the admonishment wasn't as gruff as it might have sounded.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]fieldingcases
2013-07-09 12:23 am UTC (link)
Max watched as Frank made with the classy moves; he actually smiled at the show. There were no ill feelings, no jealousy. He just watched the two; his head tilted a little before his eyes dropped back to the file, "reading" while they discussed business.

"What?" Max managed a wide eyed confused look. "My work was sloppy before we even got a pretty young thing to cover the phone, check the bills, and make the coffee. She'll just make you forget just how sloppy." He laughed softly, sitting up.

"Frank, I wondered if you had any pull with the local kids round here, maybe some of the local fences?" He set the file down. "Want to see if this ring showed up." It wasn't an overly difficult case; Max was getting a feeling that someone was trying to pull an insurance scam and using the local p.i. to do it.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]lw_mods
2013-07-10 02:46 am UTC (link)
Frank laughed and shook his head. He winked at Eleni.

"Let's hope he's right," he said with a small smile.

He walked over to Max's desk and scribbled out a few numbers.

"Try Charlie first. Tell him I sent you. If he doesn't help, try Bill. They do most of the fencing business in town. If they haven't seen it, it's either not on the black market or some sloppy freelancer's bound to slip up soon enough."

Once the numbers were written out, he moved over to his desk and pulled out a few pieces of paper. He thumbed through them but said nothing. Then he looked over at the young woman.

"Why don't you get to work on those files? It's been awhile since anyone's organized them and it could use a woman's touch."

To Max, he nodded.

"I'll be back later tonight. Try not to scare off dollface on her first day."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]eleni_stark
2013-07-10 04:11 am UTC (link)
Eleni watched as the whirlwind of a p.i. walked out the door. She turned her attention back to Max, a little bit of suppressed laughter in her expression. She wasn't deaf so she'd caught the exchange that had happened as if she wasn't in the room.

"I'll do my best not to distract you too much," she teased as she headed to the file cabinet.

She wasn't sure how seriously she would take the jokes traded between the two private investigators, but she found that the thought that she might provide a little bit of distraction to Max put a little bit of extra bounce in her step even as she faced a task that was likely to be tedious and boring.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs