Roman Turin (lovemenot) wrote in schisms, @ 2019-03-17 20:08:00 |
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Entry tags: | !character: caspian finn, !character: roman turin, !complete |
WHO: Caspian and Roman
WHEN: 3/16 late afternoon?
WHERE: Roman's Apartment
SUMMARY: Deals are struck over mutual interests, and Roman gets more information about his fellow Chrysalis member than he expects.
WARNINGS: Low
It might have been Saturday when most everyone went out, but Roman had gotten in early the morning so had slept most of the day away. When the message from Caspian came in, he had rolled out of bed. Normally, Roman would not care about what it was that Caspian did for his normal life. He could not say that he had not looked into it. When he would be have to work with the man eventually, as Massacre did, Stasis did not let just anyone on his team. It had been a plus that the man had been interesting and a good lay with no strings. The business with the vague roofies that had been reported on the news had brought Roman’s attention on things and then to have a not-quite friend of Caspian’s make strange remarks over it had peaked his attention further. Inviting Caspian over had two reasons, gain more information the man was being tight-lipped over and loosening those lips in a fashion that satisfied both of them. Roman hoped Cordelia was not at home for this. That she would not feel what he was doing. Checking in on his messages, Roman laid across the living room couch. Half dressed, he had dark jeans and no shirt. He would not be going out until late night. --- The trek down the dim corridor was too long and yet came to an end far too quickly. He’d considered not going to Roman’s at all - the implication seemed far too great for his liking but he gave the other man the benefit of the doubt. There was little interest in resuming a second round of what had taken place in the back of his SUV - he had Nina to consider and he liked her a great deal more than he should. All the same he closed the distance between the elevator and the door. Pausing he knocked and waited to be let inside. Whatever expectations he had he let go of. This was business as far as he was concerned. He had bigger things to worry about now that he’d upturned everything promising with the Yakuza. A moment was taken to peer around at the hallway finding it scarce. That was fine with him. Less problems that way. — Dark strands of hair fell over a dark gaze. The door opening, Roman smirked at the sight of Caspian. His eyes running down the other man. Roman touched his Pluto pendant on its long silver chain as his eyes found Caspian's ring. “Come in.” A hand gestured out inviting the other man into the minimalist, yet large apartment. There was little to look at inside to tell of the personality of the person who lived there. A small bookshelf over in the corner near the large windows that looked out into Shangri-La, a couch, table, chair, etc. Enough things to have someplace to sit, but not enough to make it feel like a home. The only extensive section was the kitchen bar that separated the area from the living room, lined with various alcohols and mixers that did not need refrigeration. “Would you like water or tea?” --- When the door opened those blue eyes met the man lingering in the threshold. The invitation was taken and Caspian moved into the flat from the hallway, already glancing about to study the place. “Thank you,” he expressed, finding the layout and furniture acceptable. His own apartment wasn’t as fancy as one might believe. “Water would be fine,” he replied. Out of the jacket, Cas set it gently over the back of a chair, revealing the modest and casual clothing he’d adorned for the day. Yelling at subordinates didn’t always require a suit. “You have a nice place. Cozy.” There was little personality there almost as if it were a cover for something else but he didn’t pry. — “Cozy?” Roman quirked a brow at the word. He knew the place was not cozy, Delia's apartment next door was cozy. Grabbing a bottle of water, he set it down on the small coffee table indicting for Cas to sit down there. “It's better than some places, nicer than it should be given the price, but then, that's why I liked it.” He was sure the apartment looked like a cover, which had a bit of humour to it as the apartments he occupied before buying his own had been far more intimate and filled with memories. Not his memories, but memories all the same. Those were the places where the actual owner became his play thing for as long as he needed. --- In the interest of being cordial the adjectives had arisen. A shrug of his shoulders and Caspian moved to settled down where beckoned. He stretched his legs and relaxed against the cushions. “To each their own.” His own apartment wasn’t bad either, and he paid almost nothing because of the fact that his landlord nearly always forgot to collect rent. Uncanny, it was. “Apartments are like diamonds in the rough at times, you can find the gems where you least expect them.” He doubted Roman had invited him over to chat about living spaces, though. — “This place was the best decision I made moving into the city. Rather than using some rich idiot's uptown loft.” Sitting beside, Roman leaned his head against his hand, elbow on the back of the couch angled toward Cas. His gaze studying. “Tell me about the guy I was talking with?” His tone casual, pheromones swirled around them. If Roman had to, he would bond Caspian to him, for now, he kept with arousal and the euphoric feelings he could stir in others to loosen their lips. For now. Caspian seemed to react very well to attraction pheromones. --- “Places are much better when they’re your own,” he agreed, nodding. You got to put your own touch on them, leave your own impression and markings there. Unlike most drug lords he watched go down in a blaze of glory, he was modest and discreet. When the conversation turned to their mutual interest another casual shrug would be offered, “I am afraid there isn’t much to say. James is part of the Yakuza, they’re interested in drug trafficking and violence from what I’ve seen. He and I have a mutual interest affected by this recent news of drugs making their way into drinks unexpectedly. It’s bad for business, to be honest.” He left out the part about James’ powers for now, that was none of his business anyway. Relaxed, eager to please. All of the sudden he was more interested in telling Roman what the other man wanted to hear. — “Oh?” To Roman's knowledge he had never met any Yakuza in America. It did not surprise him that they were in the drugs business in the city. “What is the mutual interest?” Normally, Roman would not pry, but the drugs in drinks had the chance of affecting his own life. Being a bartender that used his powers on his customers that created a drugged like effect made such news reports a problem to him. Roman leaned back further into the couch. His mind mentally calibrating the levels of hormones and pheromones to get what he wanted. There were five people, mostly, safe from him using his abilities on them in the entire world. Caspian was too fun to escape his use. --- Being in the business that he had chosen to indulge in meant that he had to be knowledgeable of competition; turf wars could be a big thing if one wasn’t careful. He was fortunate that his product was exclusive, hard to come by, and had not yet broken out of his control. Like any product there were always cheap alternatives but none of anything he had seen packed the same punch as Divinity. There was a reason it was expensive. Clearing his throat, Caspian smiled a bit, “We are in the pharmaceutical business, love. This news story has impact on our business - sales will drop, people will become more wary, product becomes harder to push. No one likes to miss an opportunity to grow revenue, but then there are always challenges in this world.” The Yakuza stayed in their territory and sold their drugs on whatever turf they claimed and Caspian kept to himself for the most part. At least, up until recently. — Pharmaceutical. Roman laughed out loud. He did not use drugs, himself. Why would he need to? A part of him would also be afraid of losing the control he had over his abilities. He did not mind hurting people or even kill people, but he would do it with the utmost control. “Do you know anything more about the news report?” Stronger pheromones encircled them. Roman knew Cas would have been less likely to give him any of this information, more details about a part of his life not linked to Chrysalis. “How do you plan on dealing with the intrusion?” --- At that laugh, Caspian blinked. That had not been what he’d expecting and it had taken him a bit by surprise though just about everything about Roman caught him off guard and left him reeling. Caspian rarely took anything that was mind or power altering. He didn’t even drink anything stronger than water unless he had to. Divinity was not like other enhancement drugs, it could be misused easily and one could lose control if they weren’t careful. Only when a mission called for it and only on command would he dare to put it into use. “I have not heard anything else in the media, but I have men, informants of my own, littered across the city in various places.” It was all he could do, gather intel. Wait. Strike. When those pheromones encircled him he took a breath, slipping a bit closer to the other man who he just now realized was shirtless. That was odd, but not in a bad way. “Once I figure out who is behind this there will be much pain and torture, the slow and delicious sort. I don’t take kindly to interruption in my business ventures.” That was tampering with the stockpile of cash he had socked away for a rainy day - Caitlyn’s college fund would suffer too. “Unless you had different ideas?” That was contingent on Caspian finding the person responsible before anyone else - he knew others like the Yakuza would be searching too. — Bartending would not make him millions. Short periods of fear amongst patrons made for a bad month in his personal cash, but he always had others’ money if he was desperate. The concern and desire for knowing about what was happening was because he refused to be found and taken back to a prison laboratory. Sure the government said they were all closed, but he knew better, scientists like his mother would not stop. “I am all for deliciously slow torture of others,” he said in a low seductive voice. For all he suffered at the hands of scientists at a young age, he learned a lot about what he could do to torture others. Roman licked his lips at the thought. “I would love to help though. Think of it as a side venture.” Fingers reached out to play down Caspian's arm, barely touching. --- That was what set Chrysalis and it’s members apart from everyone else, they didn’t mind torture or hurting others to better their own causes. It was extreme in some cases, sometimes in places he was not but there was no backing down. Not now. Not anymore. “That is what I admire most about you,” he breathed, coy. “And I would be grateful and honored for your help in apprehending and inquiring of such a subject. Consider it a group effort and all.” The hair on his arm began to stand up slightly in response to that ghost of a touch. He licked over his lips, shifting a touch closer to the other man. — “Do you admire more than that?” He teased, in between getting information. Dark eyes bright with mischief and that impish charm. Many said he had an angelic face, but a devil's heart. “Good. I'd be awfully heartbroken if I wasn't allowed at least a taste of taking care of whoever is causing issues.” The closer Caspian moved toward him, the more his fingers moved over him, keeping just as light as when there was more of a distance. “Will the Yakuza be an issue or a help? This James guy? Is he like us?” --- “Who wouldn’t?” It was the most honest answer he could give. He was in the throes of whatever spell Roman had cast upon him, all he could do was sing praises and want to please. His hand lifted, fingers jutting out to touch lightly at the skin at Roman’s shoulder. A lazy shape was traced, not one of any known geometry. “Could I deny you such pleasures?” The question was offered in a near purr. And then he sighed. “Not sure. I didn’t part with them on good terms. Those who try my patience are quick to become enemies, even with mutual interests at heart.” — “I’m sure it would be painful to do so,” he mused. No one denied him his pleasures when he wished to have them. He used pleasure as the greatest resource of life. Roman could give it as much as he could destroy it, take away everything in the human mind that made things good and starve the body of happiness as well as literally starve it in its process to metabolise food. To be on his good side was to be in a heavenly state; to be on his bad side was to find out why he represented Famine amongst the Horsemen. “What do you know of James? I could make sure he was on better terms to help the cause.” Fingers raised to slide over Caspian’s jawline. Games could be played amongst large groups of ‘bad’ men, but if they could be useful, then Roman wanted to collect them for his own uses. Yakuza was a massive organization with strong ties, much like any of the mafia’s that hid further underground in the modern era. He could not control everyone all the time, the effects faded eventually, though what was done was done and could hardly be changed. Put him in a room with anyone and they were his to gain resources from. --- Painful, he was sure. He only tested waters when he dared to get to the bottom of a challenge. Roman and any of the horsemen above him he dared not taunt. That was not a fight he would win - it was the same reason he knew not to run from Chrysalis, to betray what they’d built. He leaned into that touch for a moment, yearning for it, before something inside of him made him pull back slowly. “I would steer clear of him,” he replied in a breath. “He is not one to toy with. A pawn in a game much larger than you and I.” There was little desire to take on the entirety of the Yakuza. Caspian had been offended mostly that one so low on the ladder had come at him without having done his research prior. Caspian lead his own organization. He was no slave to anyone beyond Chrysalis. —--- “What if he comes to me?” Roman asked, his already dark gaze darkening further. “Does he have powers?” Little stood in Roman’s way of his games. He would heed Caspian’s suggestions though. Roman might not have thought before he did things most of the time, but if Caspian could give a reason he would listen to it. Caspian’s own abilities were not to be joked around with either. Sliding back into the corner of the couch, he waited to see how long Caspian could take it to be filled with the desire Roman stirred and barely have small tastes of his touch. Taunting in his own way the information out of his fellow Chrysalis member. --- “Then it is up to you to judge worthiness for yourself, love. Your interests far outweigh mine.” James could be useful but he’d never betray the Yakuza. Caspian had already tempted him with no avail. At the inquiry of powers he felt a sense of privacy for the other man though he knew Roman would take what he wanted ultimately, one way or the other. Locking eyes with the other man he placed the memory in the forefront of Roman’s mind, the way James’ palm and fingers lit up with blue energy, electricity almost. “Ay, his powers are unlike anything I’ve seen. He’s not easy to persuade, but I admire his spirit.” It was a fair warning - he could hate Roman if he wanted to but then that would get them nowhere as far as the ultimate goal. He preferred to offer his own opinions and let the other do with them as he pleased. Fingers danced idly over denim, his own legs were left with ravenous itching. Yearning. He didn’t want to betray Nina - he liked her more than he should - and here he found himself nearly neurotic without Roman nearby. It was a feeling he loathed and thus the distance betwixt was abruptly closed. — The memory played out in his head as Caspian spoke. Brows furrowed with the oddity of feeling having a memory he never experienced placed in his mind. It passed quickly. Roman licked his lips, settling his mind and accepting the information as it was. The power was a strange one. It could be useful, but something Roman would have to have bodyguards to take hits for him if he did not get him alone initially. Pheromones could easily get him where he needed to be with the man, but to get the bonding hormones he needed a closer distance. It was all a plan that Roman did not necessarily think to enact but there all the same in his mind. “I am very persuasive.” Tilting his head to the side, Roman grinned having gotten the information he actually wanted. Whatever drugs Caspian dealt in did not matter as much as the how they were going to handle the roofie situation and the whys of interest from the internet man and Caspian, himself. “What should we do now that our business is settled?” He asked, running his thumb over his own lips. --- If he doubted those above him there would be no organization to claim. He was proud of what they’d built. Each of them, large and small, had an impact on the success of Chrysalis. He was in a meager faction yet the bigger picture was what they strove for. “Please be careful.” He knew Roman would but he expressed it anyway. His own safety was questionable. He didn’t care about that. Whatever came next was up to his host. “Do you have something in mind?” — “I’m always careful,” Roman smirked. It was not a done deal with him having any further interaction with the Yakuza man. There was enough to go off of if it did come to happen. Roman would naturally pick up the man’s preferences through his own pheromones, as he did with everyone else, and he would use that in his decisions. Otherwise, Roman would not seek out the man if Caspian felt it was unnecessary to do so. This was about business outside of Chrysalis, after all. One leg came up to rest on the couch behind where Caspian had slid to meet his touch. Barefoot finding a space to be that would be out of the way. “You’re the telepath.” There were times he forgot the other man had that ability. Dangerous in its own right, at least for the private. “What do you think I have in mind?” --- “I know you can also be reckless,” he teased, words nearly floating from his lips in a purr. What consideration he had for others was slight; Caspian did his best to tend only for himself, others tended to fall by the wayside and yet he felt protective of the other man. Maybe recklessness came with being young. As young as you felt, anyway. “Ah, But there inlies the predicament,” he explained. “While I have the power to read your mind, it’s beneath me to do so unless otherwise permissed. Out of respect, of course.” He’d poked about in Angela’s mind and since then he’d learned not to. Not because he thought she would care but because of the things he had seen there. “It’s more fun when you surprise me.” — “You want to be surprised?” Roman bit on the end of his finger. Everyone knew Roman could be reckless, or what they would consider as such. It was a character flaw he was unlikely to ever grow out of. Pushing the limits of his own abilities and the pure luck that surrounded him in high combat situations, those made him feel alive. He did not need much of a push to go do anything though, no matter the consequences. A smooth move forward from his leaning position, hand coming up to Caspian’s chest, Roman leaned over the other man to position him into the other end of the couch. “It’s probably better for you not to get into my thoughts,” he whispered. To go into Roman’s mind or memories as he knew the man was capable of would be as fun as it would have been to go into Angela’s. The largest difference was the pure amount of time Roman spent in the program given how young he was when his mother put him there. Unless necessary, Roman would not want any such connections made. --- Reckless was dangerous. Caspian preferred control, being in charge of situations. But a bit of surprise now and then was refreshing. It was kept life interesting. The fluid motion had him shifting, leaning with Roman’s guidance against the couch. “Probably for the best.” He had no desire in the first place. His only concern would be allegiance when the chips were down. His own past was unsavory; both of his parents had failed him and he hated each of them equally. — Roman smirked, leaving Caspian on the other end of the couch. While tempted- and Roman was bad at staying away from temptations- his mind went back to Delia in the next apartment over. He had no way of telling if she was at home or not. Caspian could be puddy in his hands, but not now. Changing his course, Roman got off of the couch and grabbed himself a glass of rum. “Surprised yet?” He laughed. Beyond his past that could be accessed by the other man, it was important to Roman that Delia stay safe. She had nothing to do with their war, as far as he was aware, and Roman preferred that she not know about Chrysalis at all. Walking back, Roman ran his fingers through Caspian's hair. Pheromones changed slightly as he started to manipulate the man, amplifying the bonding hormone chemicals. “You can always be open with me, Caspian. About anything. We’d make a very good team.” --- A sense of disappointment and also relief commingled together as the empty air lingered between them. A breath escaped him and he lounged there trying to regain a sense of rationale and realism. It was a challenge to think clearly when Roman was around - his body ached and yearned for the other man in a way he could never truly comprehend but he knew it was probably due to the powerset. The temptation was there to go through Roman’s memories but he refrained. “I don’t think a moment goes by that I am not surprised by you.” It was an honest admission. That ruffling of his hair was an odd feeling. While the attraction was still there it had abated, yet he still felt close to the other. “We already do, Roman. It’s why we get along so well.” He knew he could be open and honest but there were things best kept close to the chest. --- A smile pulled at the corner of his lips. “Get along better than I expected.” Taking a seat at the edge of the couch in front of Caspian, invading his space again, Roman quirked a brow. “With our new venture to take care of this drug issue, I need you to know that you can have absolute trust in me.” The hormones doubled. To the subconscious mind, they were as close and in such trust as a mother to her baby. The attraction pheromones made it easier to create a logical reasoning for that feeling. Roman trusted Caspian as a fellow Chrysalis member. He knew he could trust him with his life on a mission, but there would always be a part of Roman that needed the reassurance of his abilities. “Do you need me to send people out to find more information or do you have that covered and will contact me when done torture needs to happen?” --- That itch for close proximity had lessened but it was still there, nagging a bit. When Roman got nearer the feeling abated and his heart which had been racing with near anxiety had calmed. “That is appreciated,” he began softly. It was a better conclusion to negotiations than he had tried to forage with the Yakuza. “I won’t forget that, nor betray that.” Chrysalis was important, they had resources and avenues that he could never dream to brag about. “Any help would be ideal. I’m not sure that I can count on or trust that the Yakuza will be quite as eager and cordial. But if my men apprehend the suspect before anyone else you will be the first call that I make.” That was a promise he would keep. — How ever the negotiations with the Yakuza went, it likely would have went better with Roman there, but then that could be said about most instances where mind needed to be influenced. Only when it came to the issue at hand did Roman care, the territories and various drugs meant nothing to his life or livelihood- unless James thought he could use Roman's vague business friendship with Caspian to his advantage. The man would find more than he was looking for if he tried. “Okay, I'll see whose strings I can pull. And, I'd appreciate that. Feel free to stop by the Electric Room to keep me updated when I'm pretending to be a normal human,” he chuckled. --- He had never been one to drag anyone else into his messes unless it was absolutely necessary. He appreciated the loyalty and returned it in kind tenfold when it was due to Chrysalis. He preferred not to mix work and play, and yet life seemed to have other plans. When Roman mentioned the club Caspian’s eyebrows arched. “The Electric Room,” he repeated. “Working, then?” His stomach dropped instantly. So much for separating work and play; for a moment he felt a bit possessive, protective. If Roman was hanging out around the Electric Room it was possible he knew Laura or had seen her there. The probability was likely even if her time there was not on a full time basis. It made him uneasy to have those two parts of his life commingle - it was dangerous, to say the least. Angela already knew about Caitlyn, and yet it seemed Roman was destined to find out about his daughter too. —--- “Yeah, I work as a bartender there on the weekend, when I'm not on a mission or taking a day to handle other business.” A finger ran along Caspian's chin, he could be his other business anytime he wanted. Keeping a life separate from Chrysalis was unnecessary for Roman. They could know where he was at all times as long as he got his calls to deal with issues. “It's a great place if you've never there. Very intimate for a club.” He winked. --- His fears were confirmed. That touch upon his chin was calming and it warred violently with the rest of what he was experiencing inside. “Ah, I see,” he replied softly. Once more his heart was racing, something deep in him was growing potent but not in a way he wanted it to. “I know that place,” he confessed, “I have a friend who is employed there part time, Laura. Do you know her?” — Brows furrowed. Roman could sense the increase in adrenaline fighting against his touch. Something he usually only experienced when interrogating people, when the intensity of what he could make them experience fought with what he was allowing their bodies to do. “Yes,” Roman said suspiciously. Placing his hand on Caspian's chest, above his heart, the dark mess of hair falling to the side as he tilted his head. “We work together often. Cute little awkward thing. Very good with her hands,” he teased to see how Caspian would react. The man was bonded to him, would trust him on a deep chemical level, but there was something about his relationship with her that had to be setting him off. --- The pressure of that touch was calming somewhat - he felt comforted by in spite of the subject being discussed. He trusted Roman, he knew that if he asked anything of the other more than likely it would be considered and perhaps executed as inquired. Was it too much to lend this intel to Roman? Angela knew already about his family. An uneasy wave washed across his skin. “She means a lot to me,” he began softly. “I’d be grateful if she remained safe while in your care.” — Roman lowered his dark eyes to match the bright blue ones. “Her and her daughter?” Caspian did not come off as a sentimental type, given their line of work it was hard to be. Laura having told him about the daughter made it a short jump to make that it was not just the woman who meant a lot to him. The exact relationship could not be read by Roman. Family was a foreign object to the man. A sudden smirk pulled at his lips. “You're in luck. She's a pleasure to work with and tease. I already help her get better tips when people are being particularly annoying.” There was a heart buried deep within Roman's chest. It was not particularly active most of the time, but there were qualities in Laura that Roman saw in himself- they were well hidden now, but his first moments of freedom had not been met with the confidence he now had. --- Nodding, he sighed. “Yes, both of them. It’s complicated.” They were as close to a family as he dared to get in this line of work; he’d considered wiping their minds to free both of them from his grasp but losing Caitlyn would plummet him into a madness that he doubted he would survive. Perhaps it was selfish. Laura had been his first love, Caitlyn had come from that feeling and the last few years things had turned sour and tense. He still cared about both of them, probably his daughter more but Laura no less. She had hurt him, wounded him, and he had never let himself get close to anyone again because of it. He was human, weaknesses would always be there. But he felt confident at least in their safety just then that any worry or doubt began to abate. — They were more than human. Roman could not be sure whether that made them more prone to weakness or less. Either way, he had no qualms with Laura. Caspian's family or not, he had no intention on letting her get hurt while she was at work with him. Leaning in, Roman kissed Caspian on the lips. “Now that there see less secrets between business partners. I need to get ready to go out. If we're not having fun, you are free to go.” He laughed, an amused sound, dark and mischievous. “Keep me updated and I'll make sure everything goes well between.” --- A nod would come. He didn’t return that kiss but did not look entirely put out by it either. His emotions were complicated things when Roman was around muddling around with them. “You’ll be the first to know anything.” What would happen with the Yakuza he wasn’t sure - he knew it was dire once this was over. Would Chrysalis protect him? He moved to leave, rising slowly. “If I can help you, as well, tell me.” Caspian made to head toward the door willing to free himself of the heavy air. — The pheromones lessened their control, Roman having gotten the information he wanted and the deal he intended. The bonding would keep, though. He liked Caspian, not that his constant use of powers on the man showed it. Roman had his own complication living next door, so he could not hold having that kind of weakness against him. Walking Caspian to the door, he smirked, leaning against the door frame as he opened it. “Ever get cold again, you know where to find me. Otherwise, I'll see you on the next mission.” He waited for Caspian to leave, closed the door behind him and sit back a few shots before going to get ready for his night. --- |