The Hidden Game

[Helbaworshipper]

Cecile's body shook more, moving away from the door a bit. She looked at Claire, still uncertain on if she should trust the more grounded woman. She knew that the tears were still going down her face as she moved slightly closer to the woman, one hand seeming to hang in the air towards her. She couldn't really say anything, but part of her wanted something. She hadn't cried in front of Maes or Morgan because it showed her being weaker than she wanted to show anyone.

----

"Cut the ****," Elsa spoke, walking towards where he sat. "Everyone else is just fine and it's about time you owned up to the fact you're hurting like hell." She put grasped his arms as she moved her body to stay standing while holding him down a bit. "Show me your injuries or I'll force your clothes off." She wanted to sound nice an understanding, but she wouldn't back off when he was injured.

[Zorolo]

"REally? This is happening right now? When did women become so forceful?" Zorlo asked defiantly as he looked away, relatively flushed. "And I'm fine. Things went smoothly for me. I'll be fine," he told her, trying to struggle, and wincing greatly in pain as he failed to move her in the least. His struggle continued for a few moments as he tried to simply sneak out of her grasp. "Why are you so serious about this?" he asked her.

FInally, he accepted a bit of defeat as he opened up his shirt and looked away from the massive bruising on his chest. "But... if you're gonna be so forceful... let's get this over with..." he told her, looking away. "But... why are you here... and how'd you know I was hurt?' he asked her, somewhat annoyed, it seemed.

[GamerKale]

Claire let go of the locket and took Cecile's hand, she wasn't sure how comforting such a callous covered palm would be, but she had to try. She parked the car and moved so that the girl could rest her head against her chest. "It's going to be ok. Mo- I... You're safe. You're ok." There were two pictures in the locket one of Claire, wearing a sun dress, and girl less than five tugging on her mother's hair in a park. And the second had to be a school picture of the girl a little younger than Cecile, the picture was a couple years old by the fading, and she had the tell tell signs of a drug addict.

[Helbaworshipper]

Perhaps because it felt even a little better, Cecile felt her tears stopping. She listened to Claire's heartbeat, remembering how those sorts of sounds calmed her. She felt like a child while she was there. More so because it had been a very long time since she had had a mother's touch on her. She felt that urge when she saw Maes, like she had found something that she might want to pursue in some way. However, she didn't know how far it would go. Would it be like a big sister to Maes, a mother, or even... At this point, she knew it couldn't go further than that.

----

Elsa put a hand to her tongue, using the saliva to begin healing the the wound. She knew that it looked rather gross, but it was enough, she'd hope, to get him healed enough. "You can figure it out yourself." She answered, wanting him to be healed before she was calm again.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo shivered as he felt her wet hand touch his chest before he sighed and continued looking away. "Thanks... I guess... but... I'm... I want to know... what are you going to do now?" His glance partially fell towards her as he smiled slightly before looking away again. "I mean... ya know, I'm not normal... nor were any of the others. The lot of us are outcasts... but you... you still have a chance to try and be normal... I'm just wondering what you're gonna do. Are you going to help us... or return to your old life?" he asked her, seemingly thinking for a moment.

"I mean... I'd like having you around. You seem like a clever, intelligent woman... just the kind of person to effectively balance myself and that Allraine woman. The two of us are reckless... but you're... you seem like someone who likes to be prepared... at least to me. I'm not a very good judge of character though... or so I've heard," the green-haired man said as he chuckled before sitting up slightly.

The pain was mostly gone. Still, he felt some lingering sense of guilt though... could he tell her... or would he? He wasn't sure yet. He'd just figure it out eventually... After all... she needed to know. They all did.

[nekoryuuha]

With everyone going their separate ways for the moment, Allrainne also felt this would be a good time to get situated somewhere in this place. After all, they had a good amount of time before Maes' performance and she knew where the place was. But where...? This place was huge. Taking a moment to think on that, she simply looked at the key itself to find the number '3-2' on it. Not too surprising, since the Woman highly doubted that Tamlin would honestly give her a key open any door...would she...? Allrainne shook her head. "Well, whatever... Hey, Arianna, let's head up and get ready for Maes concert," she said to her kid sister. Surprisingly, the frail looking girl shook her head.

"I... Need to do something first. Can you go up without me for now?" Arianna replied to her sister, looking back at her. The look in her eye was enough to make Allrainne smile and nod back before going to get their things to head up to their room. She wasn't sure what Arianna wanted to do, but she was content to let her do for herself if that's what she wanted.
With everyone gone now, Arianna turned her gaze back to Tamlin, whom was putting out her cigarette now. She had information to acquire. "Excuse me," she started as she walked up to the landlady. "I want to know something. What did you mean by Zorlo's being dead in a week? We were told something about his family coming for him before as well. Is his family coming to kill him? Or is something else beyond all this happening?" she asked.

[GamerKale]

Claire hesitantly caressed Cecile a few times, until she realized she herself was crying. She stopped with the caressing and wiped the tears from her own eyes with her kerchief. She noted that the girl seemed to be recovering so she took a deep breath, squeezed Cecile's hand one last time, and reluctantly pulled away. The handkerchief left between them.

"Sorry, I know you don't like me. I overstepped." Claire exited the large vehicle and slid to the ground. She opened Cecile's door and offered a hand, a long practiced motion. "I need a change of clothes, and I'm not going all the way back to my apartment for a change, though it would probably be faster than asking Renee to repair these, so why don't you come in and try some things on?" The fashion boutique they were in front of was very upscale and named Renee's.

[Helbaworshipper]

Cecile nodded, her hand holding onto her purse as she walked down by herself. She hadn't confirmed or denied Claire's response of disliking her. Part of her just knew that it was inevitable that she'd have to be weak in front of someone. By herself she'd end up like an animal again if she wasn't careful. She followed the woman into the boutique, one hand pulling out a handkerchief to wipe off what remained of some of her make up.

----

"I can't go back to my office and my apartment is full of things that would need to be moved if I even remotely thought of moving in here." Elsa's voice spoke, sounding practical as she focused on the last bit of healing. "Right now I just want to... be..." She felt her mind starting to drift a bit. She continued healing, lifting her hand up and moving back enough to remove her shoes. It had been a long day for her and particularly long in the case of the fact she hadn't called her parents and probably couldn't call work to say she was fighting creatures called fallen angels. "I just wish things made sense." She spoke softly, leaning towards him with her head landing against his chest. Her eyes closed and her breathing was even. Perhaps because it was the first time she could relax in a awhile.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo looked at her a bit strangely as he felt her rest before he looked at the ceiling and sighed. "You know," he whispered to himself, "a few days ago, I couldn't get a date. Now I"m surrounded by women... and I'm still not sure what I'm doing," he admitted to himself with a mild chuckle. "I'll let you rest for now..." he told her, trying to move as little as possible. "I'll wake you up before Maes concert. I'm sure he'd like that..."

~~

Tamlin looked at the girl and sighed as she patted the little girl on her head. "Well, I'll tell you this: when his family arrives, they won't be here to exchange happy stories and celebrate with him," she stated kindly to the girl. "His oldest sister and brother just older than he aren't too terrible... its the youngest one that's a nightmare," the woman stated as she reached into her pocket, but sighed as she found no cigarettes. "If you wanna keep old green-hair around, you'll have to get more information from him. I can't really say, as it isn't any of my business," the woman stated as she simply shrugged and started to walk off.

"Anyway, your sister is in room 3-2, go check on her and make sure she isn't breaking stuff. I'll vber most angry if I find my stuff broken by you freeloaders," she said jokingly... for Arianna's sake at least.

[GamerKale]

The second the pair entered the boutique they were assaulted by an oh so helpful store clerk, fortunately before she could go too far into her spiel Claire clapped a hand over the girl's mouth and she slipped into a french accent as she spoke, "We're here to see Renee. Tell her Sophie Devereaux is here." The girl nodded politely and hurried off. "Take my advice, don't be a spy, too many things to remember."

Not a minute later a brunette French woman several inches taller than Claire, and while she was in a designer dress that muted them somewhat it was clear she had more muscle than any boutique owner should, appeared from the back room and practically tackled the driver. "Claire Renee Chantal, it's good to see you." She then picked Cecile up in similar fashion, "And you must be Danielle. Oh you've gotten so big, I'm sure you don't remember me, you were such a little tike last time I saw you, I'm Renee Regis." Finally Renee took a breath and Claire managed to get a word in. "RENEE! This is Cecile, a client." Renee let go of the girl immediately, "Oh, I'm so sorry Claire, I just- WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CLOTHES? No no no, this won't do. This way."

Renee dragged them along, chattering about how awful they looked, and told her employee to close up for the day, leaving the three of them alone in the store, at which point she ripped Claire's shirt off. "Claire, the last time I saw a hole like this you had just run a man through with his own sword, he was paralyzed for a week, until y'know I had to clean up after you and finish the job. What happened?" "I got run through with a sword this morning. I don't really understand the how myself, but I got healed." Renee raised an eyebrow then shrugged, "Alright, now then let's find you two some real clothes." Claire glared at her until she amended, "Or I could fix this while we find some clothes for Cecile, the only other person with any kind of taste in here."

[Helbaworshipper]

Cecile was reminded a bit of the first time she had gotten a make over. "Personally, the need for some bit of a make over is due." She answered, seeming to relax a bit more. "I'd like to your expertise in action." She knew that saying it made her feel a bit different and probably more normal than she wanted to. She kept her smile as she made sure that all of the smeared make up had been removed. She had a lot of money stored, so she hoped that she could repay Claire back when they left.

[GamerKale]

Renee expertly applied make-up to Cecile, and somehow she managed to wrangle Claire into the chair too. She then unleashed them upon the clothes. "Just find some outfits you like and try them on. Have fun. That goes double for you Blondie." Claire waved the comment off and focused her attention on the darkest, most conservative, and yet allowing for full range of motion of the outfits, a very small section that, and found that when she came out of the dressing room a big poofy blue dress accented inn white and gold waited for her. "Renee, what is that?" "A ball gown, it might be a bit snug. I sized it for the last time I took your measurements and-" That got Claire to grab it and disappear into the dressing room. Renee stifled a laugh, "Too easy. How are you coming along Cecile?"

[Helbaworshipper]

Cecile hadn't really noticed the few in a sense injuries she had received from previous arguments. They had scarred properly, and now seemed to show in a slight design on her back. Of course, she hadn't really found it unpleasant to look at, but she subconsciously would choose to do something that would cover it consistently. She remembered that the scar on her hip had made the look of what seemed to be a lemon or perhaps a diamond. She was currently wearing a low cut skirt and in the process of trying on a short sleeved blouse with a set of roses embroidered on it. She spoke from behind the curtain of the dressing room. "I'm in the process of trying another outfit on. You must be asked on quite a lot." She spoke, buttoning the blouse slowly. "You've got the the technique of a quite an experienced woman."

[GamerKale]

"Of course, I'm French. And unlike little Claire here I didn't run off to throw my life away in the military at the age of 15." "I'm standing right here, you know! "Quite so. If you hadn't wasted your youth you could be where I am instead." Renee entered Cecile's room, and Claire let out a little grunt from the other side of the partition. "Are we trying to prick a poor defenseless American in particular or are we just making a splash? Fortunately you shouldn't have too much trouble with that, unlike a certain old biddy." "I hate you."

[Helbaworshipper]

"Just a splash," Cecile spoke, hoping for some reason that the marks of her business wouldn't bother the woman. "I'm starting a new chapter in my life." She felt like perhaps it would put her spirits up more to change her style a bit. She probably wanted to be able to look at Maes without thinking about as many things in the past right now. She wanted to remain Cecile Blanc and her memory would remain as it had. She just wanted to be able to face Maes without regrets.

[GamerKale]

"In that case. We'll need a couple of choice accessories. One moment." She returned after a few minutes with a number of things including a few pairs of very high heels and a silver rapier. "Now, how you wear the sword is very important. On your hip says you know how to use it which is intimidating, but on your backside they will miss it at first, be drawn in by your beauty. Then they will notice it when they get close and be forced to pause and really think about you and that will ensure they remember."

"She can't walk around with a sword." "Of course she can, she is daring, dangerous, and possessed of a deadly beauty." "Oof. A little help." Claire said as she fell out of her changing room, unused to having so much unwieldy bulk to carry around. "We are nearly complete. You should finalize things yourself while I help the one with two left feet." She stepped out and got Claire to her feet. Several zips and gasps later Claire was wearing the dress properly. [color=#0080000]"Yeah, I'm going back to my suits. They at least don't try to kill me." [/color] "Hold a moment. Cecile you should really see this." "I look ridiculous." "Ridiculously amazing." Claire looked like something that had stepped out of a painting and was clearly not amused. "All of my hate Renee. All of it. If I could move my arms I would be strangling you right now."

[Helbaworshipper]

Cecile remembered that vaguely she had admired the women who could wear fancy dresses and dance. They'd dress nice and watch operas or even dance with men in armani suits. She had a child like smile for a moment, her eyes lighting up as she looked at Claire's appearance. She simply went to an accessory and showed it to Renee, as if there were an agreement that she'd wear that dress eventually.

[GamerKale]

Renee nodded agreement with Cecile's choice and then helped Claire disentangle herself from the dress without damaging it. And when she had her suit back on Renee handed Claire a slip of paper. Claire took a look at it then sighed, "Send some new stitching to my place and it will be taken care of by end of week." "Done. Good hunting Cecile." Renee escorted the pair out, locked up, and left herself. Notably she was also driving a hummer. "This is going to be a long night. Almost time for the concert, I think. Is there anywhere else I can take you beforehand, ma'am?" Claire asked Cecile in a formal tone, once they were alone.

[Zorolo]

Zorlo sat quietly in the room and had been staring at a clock for the last short while. He had considered many things... including his past and his fate... and his current circumstances. As minutes ticked away in somber silence, the green-haired man fell deeper and deeper into thought. His eyes fell out of focus and he drifted away from consciousness...

Still, time is a funny thing. THere is too much of it when you are waiting, and never enough when you are busy. This was how it was for Zorlo. As his eyes refocused, he rubbed them with his forearm and looked at the clock. "Damn," he whispered as he rested his hand on Elsa. "Miss Elsa, please wake up. Its almost time for Maes' concert and we need to start getting ready," he told her, giving her a few gentle pushes, trying to jog her out of sleep.

[Helbaworshipper]

Elsa seemed a bit out of it as she opened her eyes. She blinked, moving back from Zorlo. She did remember feeling tired from healing almost constantly. "I... I'm sorry about sleeping on you." She spoke, rubbing her eyes to wake herself up a bit more. "I'll make some coffee before I wash my face. I don't even presentable for a concert." She got to her feet and went into his kitchen. She owed them both a bit of something to keep them up.

----

"I'm not high up enough to have a name like that." Cecile spoke, her hands in her lap. "It's really your choice in this case." She looked a lot more relaxed, though it was still visible that she had a worry regarding her position regarding Maes and particularly what would happen with her threat.