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Post by Dj Aneksi on Jan 19, 2022 0:02:44 GMT
It was a poorly ventilated room, creating a harsh smell of alcohol and alcoholics. The music playing was muffled through worn speakers. The crowd was almost as rough as the alcohol and stayed in small cliques. The closest thing to socialization was the pool tables toward the front. Not exactly Dj's scene.
Dj waited at the bar, sipping water that surprised him by only slightly tasting like dishwater. He was dressed expensively in flowing clothes with black and cerulean hues to complement his skin. He stuck out in a way that got a few looks thrown his way. Not that he would ever grace anyone at this place by acknowledging them. He would never have walked in here of his own accord, and he looked it.
This had a little bit of merit to it. Dj was supposed to be meeting someone important to his superiors tonight. Whenever they showed they would easily be able to tell who isn't the average patron. Or at least that's the story he told himself. Honestly, he was just a bit annoyed that his talents were being used as a messenger instead of his normal, more exciting ventures. Though who knew, maybe this criminal genius would be hot and this could be worth his while. Only time could tell.
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108 
Likes: 1
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Post by Rie on Jan 19, 2022 0:32:25 GMT
He stood out like a sore thumb. These people were used to not having money, and what money they did have, they spent on other, more superfluous and fleeting things... like addiction. People were staring and whispering, muttering under their breath about snitches and weirdos and foreigners. It was a rather extreme amount of attention. Not good for the usually subtle life Rie led. And this is who they sent to meet her?
Little was known about Rie, the name whispered back and forth in the dark corners. It was an ambiguous, almost boogeyman like term, and wild rumors had popped up in the last few weeks as she really began to rise to power. Some people were convinced that this Rie character was male, others thought her to be female, some guess that Rie was actually a group of people all banning together under one name. A few nerds called her The Shadodw Broker, but for the most part... nothing was actually known.
And so the vast majority of people she ended up meeting up with did not expect some skinny, gangly girl to come out of the woodwork, wearing way-too-short shorts and a clingy, black top, all covered by her well loved, oversized trench coat. She wandered through the bar with utmost confidence, the kind that only came from either faking it or being in complete control. She had an odd, almost feline like grace about her, every foot set exactly where she wanted it to be, as she moved away from the pool table where she had been idly enjoying a game with some half drunk strangers.
As she passed one of them, she handed him her pool cue, giving him a link wink. He cocked a brow at her. "Going to get another drink," she said simply, and he nodded, seeming to forget that she hadn't gotten a first drink, and therefore couldn't need another. She sauntered away and towards DJ. She had left him to wait long enough.
Sidling up to the bar, she sat on one of the stools and cocked one booted foot up. She was right next to DJ, but didn't seem to be paying him any mind. Leaning forward, she placed an elbow on the table, obviously unconcerned with whatever might be on it, aand rested her chin on her palm. "Hey, love," she called out to the bartender, raising her other hand to gingerly flag the woman down. "Two more, down this way. On me."
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Post by Dj Aneksi on Jan 19, 2022 4:25:55 GMT
A particularly underdressed girl from the pool tables began walking over. As she approached, Dj made careful notes as he turned his eyes sideways. She couldn't be drunk. Her movements were too calculated, too careful. She seemed to be in good spirits when talking to him. The ends of his lips would curve ever so softly into a ghost of a smile. It was a welcome change from the whispers and death stares. She also seemed to be a far cry from what he expected of a respected criminal mastermind. It would never show in his expression, but he liked people challenging the stereotype.
After the drinks arrived, Dj finally turned to face her. He remained in perfect upright posture and had his legs crossed neatly. His eyes flash a neon pink for a brief second as reality around him seemed to ripple for that brief moment.
"Hey love, nice to meet you. Are you the one my boss sent me to talk to? Rie, I believe?"
His voice was almost hypnotic, every word rolled off his tongue in a warm, pleasing timbre. To anyone who tried eavesdropping, they would just hear the two making normal, if boring conversation. He wouldn't explain unless asked though, he prefered to keep his tricks to himself.
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
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Post by Rie on Jan 19, 2022 12:48:10 GMT
"Your boss, hmm?" Ripley purred. It was easy to play Rie, to be the vivacious criminal mastermind that undersaw all of the goings on. It was easy to play the whore. That all came almost like second nature to her, as if she had been playing the role her entire life. What was difficult was not, losing the confidence and exposing the vulnerable young child within. It was far too easy to forget that Ripley had just celebrated her twenty-second birthday, or that she had done so completely alone.
She leaned over the counter slightly, keeping her foot braced. It was a rather casual look for her, but in all actuality, it had its combative purposes. If, for whatever reason, she deemed DJ a threat... she could easily throw the bar stool back with one foot, and use the distraction and the momentum to show exactly WHY her long legs were so toned. Given, most men were distracted by the sheer amount of skin she was willing to show.
Offering him a wicked, predatory smile, she slid the glass over to him. "I'm not sure if I'd admit that out loud. That crook barely has a penny to his name, these days... and his name itself isn't worth much more." She took hold of her own glass and raised it in a cheers. Whether DJ clinked his glass against hers or not, she would toss back about a quarter of the drink, place the glass back on the countertop, and keep her teal eyes pinned on him.
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Post by Dj Aneksi on Jan 20, 2022 2:39:01 GMT
Dj remained quiet, mostly unphased except for a widening of his smile to denote he found the jab funny. Truth be told he didn't think much of his boss either but liked that he could remain mostly unknown in a smaller group. Despite this effort, his name had a bit of a reputation as well. To those who knew his boss, Dj's company was a very enticing bargaining chip. It was all rumors, but anytime Dj was around it seemed like a wave of successful heists and an updated wardrobe followed. To most onlookers, he remained a pretty face that followed power, to those with said power he was a coveted prize. Just what he liked.
It also seemed to be the vibe the blue-haired bombshell in front of him liked to give off. She was stunning and more importantly powerful. Dj also noticed how her legs rested and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly. This femme fatale managed to impress him with her grace and calculated body language. Instead of focusing on her beautiful figure though, he would quickly pin his eyes on hers. He wouldn't let her believe he was so easy to control. After a respectful sip of his drink he managed to down without scowling, he would offer his sultry, intelligent gaze that seemed to sparkle as he spoke.
"He's not much, but he's been good to me. If you have a better offer I'm all ears. I'm Dj." He would say, his voice gaining a somehow warmer timbre as he offered a hand to shake.
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
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Post by Rie on Jan 21, 2022 3:32:31 GMT
"I don't make offers," Ripley said simply, wrapping her long, slender fingers around the glass. She gave it a light spin and watched this stranger closely. It was interesting that he would so openly offer his hand... He lived - thrived, even - in a world where power was passed from hand to hand, where hard work was demanded by those that hadn't ever worked a day in their lives, where hands held and grasped and struck and caressed... There was no way he was unaware of the importance of hands, nor the power of a handshake. And she wouldn't fall victim so easily. "And I don't shake. Pleasure, though."
She leaned onto the bar, stretching her slender frame, to rest her chin on her hand. The posturing appeared casual, relaxed even. Every person in the bar that stared at them assumed she had had just one too many, that she was flirting, or perhaps catching up with an old friend. There was very little to say otherwise. She cocked a brow over one teal colored eye, an open challenge as she reached up to continue spinning the glass, managing to not spill a drop despite the fact that it was almost full.
"Business can wait. All work and no play, or however that adage goes. Tell me, DJ... why would your boss - an idiot, but a shrewd one - send one of his highest bargaining chips to meet with little ol' me? He either desperately wants this information... or you asked to come here. So, which is it?" She offered him a wicked sort of smile, full of perfectly straight and abnormally white teeth. "Is he desperate... or just daft?"
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Post by Dj Aneksi on Jan 22, 2022 3:43:21 GMT
Not making offers and refusing his hand. This person was very guarded, as Dj expected from someone this intelligent. He knew what the value of a handshake was in this world, and very few ever accepted his hand so soon. However, it was a great way to chip at someone's guard. For now, his hand would return to his drink for another sip. Even a simple movement like that embellished by a graceful flourish of his fingers.
When he set his glass down, Dj was greeted with a lowered posture and a raised brow. It resembled a lioness on the hunt. Instead of caving, his eyes just met hers there, his posture relaxing, as though this challenge was somehow more comfortable for him. Dj liked playing with dangerous people.
"Indeed, the business you two have can wait." He would offer back. When she asked her question though, he would take some time to play some more.
"I'm good at paying for things when he doesn't have the money to spend. Most people love having a pretty face tell them everything they want to hear, some people want me to make their next luxury look to further inflate their ego, and if they're hellbent on money, I offer them the things money can't buy."
He would list these off playfully. He would then return to his calm state, before finishing. "He sent me to you because he thinks you are worth one or more of these."
He would then just continue observing, wanting to hear what the blue-haired beauty would like from this exchange. His sultry stare and easy smile pinned on Rie's.
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
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Post by Rie on Jan 23, 2022 2:11:40 GMT
He sounded like the women she had met, time and time again, that flourished in the trade. The well-trained, well-kept, confident women of the higher ups; the ones that had taken the abuse and somehow made peace with it, even turned it into a weapon to utilize against their would-be abusers. In short, he sounded like a whore... but a very nice, very powerful whore, at least. All this talk about pretty faces and ego made her stomach churn, but it didn't show across her features. People always assumed she wanted sex... Then again, people USUALLY assumed that she was male, older, and a hell of a lot more gruff than she actually was, so that made sense, in a lot of ways. The rest of the crowd, the people who knew that she was female, seemed to be under the impression that she had slept her way to the top, and that THAT was how one became successful WITH her as well... by sleeping with her.
How many promises had people given her to blow her mind, to give her a once in a lifetime bedroom experience? How many had she turned down with a sultry, teasing phrase, flippantly dismissing them and walking away feeling like she desperately needed to shower? Even in this day and age, "asexual" wasn't a widely accepted term, and she felt certain that the general public would get a single whiff of that fact and utilize it against her. So, instead, she tucked her chin ever so slightly towards her neck, a gesture that people often made when they felt the stirrings of desire. It usually worked well enough - people just assumed she had control of her baser urges, rather than the fact that she had none at all.
That last playful comment... The things money can't buy. That was the only one that caught her attention, and if he looked closely, he would see the flash of something cross those teal colored eyes. She had caught the slightest change in his tone, as if that were somehow completely different than the rest of the things he had just listed. She tilted her head to one side, still resting it against her hand, as she continued to stare at DJ. What did he possibly think she could want that money couldn't buy, that she couldn't somehow garner for herself?
"Thinks, hmm? Now, does he think I'M worth more, or that the information he seeks is worth more? As I'm sure you know, those are two very different concepts. The information he wants... That's worth a hell of a lot more than a few hours of borrowed entertainment. Even if that entertainment IS wrapped in delectable taste and beautiful hair. But me? Surely, your boss doesn't actually think that by agreeing to discuss the POSSIBILITY of a deal, I am expressing some sort of LOYALTY to him?" Her smile turned borderline vicious, showing just a little too much of her perfect white teeth, her gaze hardening just a bit.
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Post by Dj Aneksi on Jan 26, 2022 0:09:52 GMT
Dj adored this dance. A little tease and a little danger, lose your soul to a stranger. Though it seemed the blue lioness grew weary of his games. She was poised to strike and even bared her fangs at the dark-skinned damsel. Calling out his vague turn of phrase and demanding concrete answers as her smile widened. She could probably have any number of people after his head with her connections.
Dj's confidence never wavered. His smile remained calm and sultry, his eyes observant and piercing. He would even pause and take another drink before responding, his eyes closed and his neck vulnerable for his last mind game. When he spoke, it was with a spine-chilling demeanor, like he was a handwave away from a trigger pulled from behind her head.
"I have never had to offer my body Rie." As he let that sink in, his posture shifted slightly, in such a way that his lioness would be able to see he was ready to react to her ready stool kick. Like he knew it was there the whole time. He would continue, his voice creating more tension as he spoke.
"I'm what you would call a witch. Potions and magical objects are my craft. I'm the middle man between you two and the space between stars, my dear lioness. For what my boss desires from you, I give you anything worth the same to you, understand? Luck, speaking with the dead, literally anything you desire of equal value."
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
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Post by Rie on Jan 26, 2022 12:47:35 GMT
She watched him watching her watching him. It was an interesting conundrum, and a similarity she rarely ever shared with anybody. It seemed most people these days were obsessed with brute force and extravagant shows of power, as if how hard you could hit and how fast you could die were the only bouts of measurable success. All around her, she watched people try to pretend to be smart or observant to impress somebody... but very rarely did she ever see somebody who shifted with her, recognized the primal posturing for exactly what it was, and responded to it in kind. She saw the way he exposed his neck and did not doubt, for a single moment, that it was intentional. He knew exactly what he was doing.
A genuine smile fluttered across her youthful face at that, and her eyes, though guarded, were alight with silent laughter. It was like breathing in deep lungs full of fresh air after being underwater. She couldn't remember the last time somebody actually made SENSE to her, on a personal level, and even if their interaction was fleeting...
So, he wasn't a whore. Good to know. She had quite a few doubts about the legitimacy of his statement, and knew that somewhere wrapped up in those words were a few choice statements to pick apart.... but she did not press. Instead, she focused on his latter comment, the one about being a witch. It was so well rehearsed that it sounded almost natural, even to her well trained ears. Space between the stars?
The stars had no space for her.
"You have absolutely no idea what I'd call you," she purred, maintaining her posture with the utmost control. That sparkling hadn't quite left the teal of her eyes as she gazed at him, however, and her smile was more amusement than predator. "It's strange. I tell him to send me what he thinks I'd ask for, and he sends me a wish granter... What wish, pray tell, does he think I have?" The question was more rhetorical than anything, but she chuckled and gave a slight shake of her head. If DJ had an answer... She would definitely hear him out. Meanwhile, she took another slow, deliberate sip of her drink to buy herself a little time to think. If she could ask for anything in the world, no strings attached and no holds barred... what would it possibly be?
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Post by Dj Aneksi on Feb 4, 2022 20:22:40 GMT
Dj's statement was true, but deceptive. He hadn't ever offered himself to anyone. He had been demanded, he had traded himself, but never offered. He of course couldn't refuse it, not without his life being at risk. In a world full of brutes the only thing he had to protect himself was his wits and beauty. People exploit the vulnerable, do whatever they can to make themselves happy. A thought that made his eyes glow pink softly with rage.
When he went to move his hair, it would for a moment be impossible to focus on Dj. An intense feeling of magic swirling through the air would accompany, as though the latent magic energies in Rie were stirred by Dj's emotion. Though it quickly died down when he remembered the fun he was having right now. He would speak honestly, focus now on her eyes as his glow dimmed.
"When you aren't sure of a gift, you send a gift card. It works for him normally." He would say with a playful eye-roll. Though to answer her question, his tone would adopt another slight shift into a suggestion.
"Though, I think what you need is someone of a kindred spirit. Someone you can be honest with. Someone you don't have to be ready to kick the stool at. Perhaps a subordinate or partner?"
He would say kindly. He could offer an item to ruin her life, but he enjoyed her company. So instead he would leave the suggestion there and wait to gauge her reaction.
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
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Post by Rie on Feb 7, 2022 2:09:26 GMT
The fact that he noticed her body language and the subtle cues that went along with her posturing was impressive, but not wholly unique. She knew a few people that paid just enough attention to know when there was violence on hand... or the potential for it. Still, for somebody that tried so hard to come across as daft and vapid, the keen intelligence behind his eyes obviously held some ground in truth, if he could pay that close of attention. She let a dangerous sort of smirk play across her face, lips pressed gently together to hide the threat of teeth, as she looked the man over.
A partner, a subordinate... Neither of those things sounded right. She wasn't totally sure what it was she was looking for, but the thought of being beholden to somebody, or somebody being beholden to her... She had desperately avoided even casual friends since arriving in Telluride, too focused on becoming THE fence, THE information broker, THE person that held a card out of everybody's hand... She didn't have time to report back to somebody, to let them in on her secrets.
And she definitely didn't have time to wonder whether or not she could trust them.
"You're damn perceptive," she admitted with a little nod. Her glass was about half empty at that point, and she idly spun it on the bar top. Her posture hadn't shifted in the slightest when he called her out, and that didn't change. She remained prepared for a fight, despite knowing that HE knew she was prepared for a fight... and despite that feeling of magic. The soft sound of chains rattling against the ground was nearly deafening for a brief second in her own mind, but as his powers died down... her chains seemed to calm as well.
Mmm. The call of Nen. It was strange, how it always had the same affect on her, no matter how many times a day she felt it. Still, it sent little shivers down her spine for a moment, just enough to remind her that she did, in fact, still feel SOMETHING. When she glanced at him, his glow was matched by one of her own: one teal colored eye, and only one, flashed brilliantly in the light of his power. It died down and nobody around them, save the bartender, seemed to notice at all... and she was quick to turn away, to give them the illusion of privacy.
"What I need, what I want, and what I plan on getting are all very different things. Tell me, DJ. Which of those three are you thinking to be?"
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Post by Dj Aneksi on Feb 28, 2022 16:36:54 GMT
Her words were intriguing. Dj hadn't meant to stir up her nen, but it was good to know she had nen at all. His charms would not make convincing Rie any easier. Fair enough, this type usually likes to keep their reach wide and inner circle small. He would smile softly, belying his caution as he took another slow sip. He mulled over negotiation tactics as he did, deciding to try just being honest with his usual flourishes.
"None of the above. Despite the fact I can give you everything you desire, you'd have to offer something of the same value. I'm not a big fan of the spotlight; I don't want to be an object of your desire. I want to make your life easier, and I know I can. In fact, I can make other people pay the price of your desires for you."
Now that that was on the table, he had to explain why he would ever offer something like this. His eyes would get jaded as he took another sip. He always hated this part but telling people your motives was important when making an honest deal.
"Of course, I have my motives. If I get this information from you, I'm free from this boss permanently. Then, I want to finally expand on my career, and helping you out gives me an avenue for personal jobs.
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
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Post by Rie on Mar 1, 2022 16:56:38 GMT
Her chains were like a living thing inside her, constantly responding to the world around her, as if seeking... She hadn't ever bothered to ask her mother what, exactly, they were searching for... nor if they had ever found it. The constant pressure to keep looking, to find whatever it was, kept her going through the nights when she wanted to give it all up. Right then, they seemed to want DJ... to wrap around him and drain him dry. She ran her fingers around the rim of her glass idly while she listened to his admittance.
She had plenty of things that she desired, but a partner? A friend? That definitely wasn't anything she wanted.... so he must be talking about something else. Was that part of his ability? Was he able to sense what people wanted? Wouldn't THAT be interesting? She glanced up at him again beneath her flourish of lashes. Ignoring the second comment entirely, refusing to even acknowledge the idea that she might desire a person, she focused instead on the last one. Make other people pay... That...
"Hmm." She stared at him, her gaze intense, as she contemplated what exactly everything he said might mean. Was there more to it than what he was saying?
"This information in particular... Or, pray tell, just information he thinks is what he's looking for?"
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Post by Dj Aneksi on Mar 1, 2022 17:43:55 GMT
Dj's nen was as mysterious as it was dangerous. It was able to stir and enhance other people's nen. Able to show people their desires and just in general left a pleasant, dream-like feeling in his presence. He couldn't tell what you desired, but the closer he was to it the more his nen would flare up. This coupled with his natural charms made his intuition almost supernatural.
Rie seemed focused on his words. Deciphering the vague phrases that held the key for salvation or ruination. Dj would wait patiently. He meant no harm and didn't mind giving Rie the time she needed to decipher that. However, her questions needed answers, so he would continue adding more to analyze.
"I'm bound to give him something of equal value to what he gave me. He offered me a more meaningful life and asked me to make his life more meaningful in return. This in practice meant I have had to make him connected to every big-time crime boss and informant in Telluride. You are the last one I need. As long as what you tell him is what he asked for, I don't care how true or meaningful it is."
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Rie
Player
Posts: 108
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Post by Rie on Mar 4, 2022 4:33:01 GMT
She couldn't help but smirk slightly at that. Phrasing... It was so very important when living the life her mother chose. High society was filled with some of the cruelest, most seething people, and some of the harshest words... and the ignorant would never know. They'd never be given the opportunity, for one, and for two... Ripley was convinced, down to her core, that some part of you had to be born with the right gene for that kind of life. Her mother fit in, though one could argue that came from how she was raised, with a doctor for one parent and a lawyer for the other. But Evie King was more than just the daughter of an aristocrat, she was the very heart and soul of many a social circle, and while she would never admit to it... She thrived off of that fact.
Her father, however, was a bit more of a ruffian, and it was plain to see what trying to fit into Evie's world did to him.
Ripley looked DJ up and down for a moment, that smirk growing into a look of absolute and utter confidence, coy and filled with promises most people would take the wrong way. This game... This was one she knew she was good at. In fact, she had yet to meet her match, and the only person that had ever surpassed her was a thousand miles away and FAR too innocent and sickeningly sweet to use it to her advantage. Much to Ripley's dismay, of course. It was hard, hating the literal embodiment of good. Though, at least this far, the little fence thought she was doing a damn good job.
"Did he?" she purred, before tossing back the rest of her drink. She didn't so much as flinch, setting the empty glass down on the bar top. It was just a moment, but one that she hoped was long enough to let DJ really think about her question. From the sounds of it, DJ had agreed to a bargain that actively worked against him. He gave a guarantee, whereas the other merely offered... as in, would try. "Make your life more meaningful, I mean."
She waited just long enough for DJ to answer before speaking again.
"I am neither a crime boss or an informant, so let's get that straight right now, between me and you. Crime boss implies that I have lackeys, and I'd rather just have cohorts. And informant is way too damn close to snitch. I'm a fence. I take in product I know could get a lot of people in trouble, and I sell it to either the highest bidder, or the one who strikes my fancy. Sometimes, that product is information, but not always."
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