homeless_pard | Guilty Pleasures

Entry tags:

jason au

Guilty Pleasures

Who: Khemrys, Raphael, Richard, Anita
When: A week or so after Khem moves into Lillian's spare bedroom to spare Anita's nerves.
What: Reconciliation. Ostensibly. (Not).

Khemrys woke with a dark feeling, hands shivering as she made her morning tea and passed Lillian a mug of soothing tisane. There had been more injuries recently, and many of the rats were uttering darkly that it was because Anita had all but said she didn't care for the rats now that they were sheltering Khemrys. As a consequence those that were probing at the St. Louis area were striking the rats first, many of whom still had non-shifter family or friends. A community, the wererats. It wasn't bad enough yet that Rafael had come to her to approach Jean Claude but she and Lillian were pulling full shifts at the hospital, twelve and twelve, that often bled far longer. Hence barely managing a meal before one or the other of them needed to sleep.

But today...today felt different. Something that had been hovering and vague was narrowing dark attention upon her specifically. It was certainly far from reassuring...but it was relieving in the fact that it meant that such may not be bleeding frustrations upon those who'd been kind to her. Just as she was trying to resign herself to whatever this was there was a knock on the apartment door, Rafael letting himself in after a moment, "ah, Khem...we've got silver..."

She gasped, dropping her mug and not even bothering to throw on a coat or shoes as she tore toward the hospital. The soonest she could get hands on the poor injured shifter the better in this case, they'd learned that in the past week at least? If she got them soonest silver didn't kill, nor did it even truly scar with her and her knowledge of drawing poisons.

At least awakening to power had been useful in some regard?

Rafael snorted and scooped her up within a few feet, he could get there FASTER and he had no idea where her shoes were. Fool woman. "I hear your shop misses you..." he noted, no reason not to have a pleasant conversation after all!

"And I it," she admitted, barely paying attention. "It has been a home, but it is the High Lord's in truth, no matter it was also funded by a heart's brother and my lord Jason."

"Homes are important though," he sighed, nodding to one of his that opened the door for them. "We're working on it okay?" If nothing else he'd approach Jean Claude about buying the damn thing if it came to it, he knew what assets were worth indulging after all. And damned if she hadn't been compounding medicines based on sending runners to her manager there...

"Stress not lord," she noted softly as he set her down by a bed, "all resolves itself in time. And homes may change." It was a distracted statement though as she knelt by the bleeding young man to see to his arm. Shot. A bullet. She was learning to hate this world's weapons, as if death were hard to ensure with lesser weapons! Feh! "He'll not lose the arm but it will take some hours, please ask others be seen to unless they too arrive silver-shot..." she murmured, cleaning the wound after sending the boy into a deep slumber.

"Of course, don't you dare drop on us." She'd done that a time or two since she'd started staying with them, pushing a new power too far...so a lot of people fed her snacks randomly and checked in on her just in case...

"Aye..." she didn't truly hear him and he resigned himself to getting a meal into her soon.

Far later the room went oddly quiet, Rafael was physically blocking the door baring his teeth in a display any rat would be wary of...but the warm, rich voice past him didn't seem to care. "I just want to meet her."

"She'd busy, Richard. Sit and wait if you really want."

"You can't stop me..."

"Is that a challenge?"

Khemrys blinked at the menace in that tone, rising and wiping her hands before touching her friend's shoulder, "who has come lord?"

"Lord?" Richard snorted, looking over the man's shoulder at her then blinking. "You're a stick of a thing aren't you?" How was this woman any kind of issue enough to twist Anita harder in the triumvirate?

"Respect to our healer," Raphael hissed.

"Healer huh?" the wolf reached forward to pinch Khemrys's chin, truly puzzled and trying to just...understand. No one was talking to him until Anita had called, teary, last night...

Khemry's eyes swam to gold in shock before she stepped back, she had been told since her arrival that she need NOT allow handling! "I have granted you no such familiarity lord!"

"...what has been given my wolves is mine," he noted gently. "I need to see."

"I granted no such to a wolf, lord, but to a man who wouldst not hand me to another so casually."

"Casual huh?" he mused, eyes stormy as he withdrew his hand. "And you're okay with others calling him?"

"It is his chosen role, lord, as he accepts my own boundaries I accept his choices within reason."

"Reason huh?" he sighed. "He's been...upset since you moved in here."

"Was I to stay where I caused such unrest to a woman who thinks herself a Power?" she countered gently, trying not to feel hurt that Jason might have sent this man.

"Thinks?" Richard rumbled dangerously.

Ah, yet another of the woman's toyed and twined hearts. She had grown lax in her words since living somewhere safe against such. "Aye, but certainly it is not why such as you came?" she noted, gratefully for Rafael's arm still between them.

"I came..." he sighed, "because she doesn't have your number."

...what? She blinked, "I don't understand."

"She's upset at the harm this is causing to our pack, so..."

"And so?" she sighed.

"So, here's her number. Please call her," he sighed, passing a piece of paper.

She accepted the slip, peering at it, "is this an order then lord?" Or attempt at such?

"...what? No. Just...I don't like either of them unhappy. My pack or Anita."

Ah, and so he sought her to broker peace though it had been the woman's words not her own that caused such a rift. "I see. Your concern is a kindness unto them."

"Kindness...right," he sighed, glanced at Rafael, then headed back outside.

The Rat King sighed and glanced over his shoulder at the healer, "are you alright?"

"That was their...third?" she mused.

"Yeah, that fucked up triumvirate of Power crap. Messes with his head. He used to be a decent guy, he still tries but..." yeah. "The power helps him hold the wolves safe, but he's strong enough to do that on his own now I think."

"One may hope," she sighed. "My thanks for the shield."

"Hey, part of my job girl. Now, that number..."

"I will call," she admitted, making the man wince. "I felt threatened today lord. There is ill intent and it bears upon me like the wind. Best to see what has been planned."

"Hell."

She chuckled as he pushed her toward the breakroom and firmly pointed at the cardboard container of curry before finding her a phone. She had one of her own, true, worn at her side in a silk pouch, but better mayhap that she did not give the number to Anita. "Aye, eating, eating..." yes, eating, then poking the number into the phone and setting it to speaker.

She preferred the 'speaker' setting, it let her use her hands in other projects, in this case, feeding herself! "Anita."

Ah, such a charming way to answer a phone. "You sent a lord with your number," Khemrys noted softly, Rafael shamelessly leaning in the door to listen. "If you wish to speak, lady..."

Anita sighed, shifting the phone on her shoulder and waving Micah out of the room. Finally, the bitch had taken the bait. She had plans, yes. "Look, I don't like you."

"Such is apparent, yes."

"But I don't like my people unhappy either. Jason's been moping and that has an effect on his work and his role as pomme." Not to mention the fucker had turned HER down when she'd tried to convince the man why his moping was idiotic.

"My lord Jason is very dedicated to his work in all roles," Khemrys noted stiffly.

"He's MINE. And Jean Claude's. And Richards. Don't forget that, so I have to pay attention to his health," Anita growled. Some words just got her back up and that was one of them. No one else got to claim her people. Obviously she just needed to show the man that this saint Khemrys was just like any other slut once a man stopped paying attention to her. Hence this...plan. "Look, vocabulary aside we should talk," she sighed.

"Are we not doing such?"

"Face to face," she snorted. "Neutral ground even, just some girl talk okay? I just want to work this out for my people."

Khemrys paused in her eating to glance at Rafael and sigh, rubbing a temple. She could already feel the headache. "As you like then."

"Good, meet me at the club. That lets Jason see you when his shift is over." A baited hook the bitch couldn't ignore, hopefully. More importantly she'd checked the schedules, Jason had a hen party, that meant her wolf would have his hands full until Khemrys was suitably...occupied.

"The club," Khemrys repeated, a touch stunned.

"He's told you about his work right? It's a good neutral zone and has better drinks."

Rafael was shaking his head, but Khemrys sighed, "alright then. When?"

"Tonight, seven."

"One hour," Rafael sighed, already leaning out of the door to arrange some security. Or driver. EITHER OR IN THIS CASE.

"If there are no pressing injured here then I will be present," Khemrys allowed. "Should another arrive with dire injury you will be contacted."

"Be there," Anita snorted, hanging up. It irked her that the woman not only messed up the necessary balance in life but that she called Jean Claude High Lord obediently but didn't follow her directives properly. Bitch. "I'll be out," she snapped, breezing past Micah and Nat as she pulled her coat on.

She had things to do.

Events to set up.

If she recalled properly the set before Jason's was new blood. All masculine assurance and sculpted body, more than happy to take on a wilting virgin or two with the proper incentive. And by the time she had a drink or two in Khemrys, well, there'd be no resisting the Arduer. She could set the young man at any target she chose and Jason would fall back in line properly...

...and if that somehow didn't work no doubt seeing how Jason behaved with the parties that paid, well, that would achieve the same end wouldn't it? Finally things were looking up!

Better the woman drifted in the door alone, though someone had obviously made a suggestion as to wardrobe. None of those peasant skirts and laced blouses, no, she was in leather, kneehigh boots and black leggings under the sweeping, teasing edge of a coat that gave the illusion of a skirt with how it flared at the poor excuse for hips the woman had. Almost presentable then, a fact that made Anita smirk and wave at the bartender. They'd start easy, something fruity, light, and laced with powder.

She hadn't banked on the healer taking one sniff and setting the drink aside distastefully. Hell. "If you'd speak, lady?"

Anita sighed, waving for something else, "I need to know how to resolve this...thing....between us."

Khemrys blinked, hands soothing the coat edge along her knees as she considered that, "as I am aware, lady, I hold naught between us. You have no care for me, and so I have left."

"People remember you though," Anita sighed, sipping her own drink and watching as Khemrys set aside the next glass as well.

"I cannot and will not change the minds and memories of others, lady. Such is of the Left hand path and I do not walk such."

"Bullshit," Anita snorted. "They're happier, and healthier, forgetting. That's healing, not tampering."

"As the lady is not a healer I cannot agree," she noted gently, glancing at the stage as the performer before Jason stepped up to start his set.

Not bad, in Anita's experience, but then, Jean Claude didn't hire amateurs, it'd be a waste of hormones after all. "Look, fine, not forgetting, but you should end things. You're not coming back, Jean Claude won't have you, he's on my side."

"Ah," Khemrys mused softly, hands sliding in her lap again. "And you speak on his behalf then?"

FINALLY AN IN! "Of course."

"I see." Khemrys stopped fidgeting after she'd pulled her phone from it's pouch, fingers tracing one of the combinations she'd memorized. If Anita spoke with the High Lord's words then the man should not be surprised to be on speaker under the table edge now should he? "I have been naught but an aid to many here, I'd not think him so rash in his choices to bar me."

"He's come to his senses since whatever you did to him when the Council visited," she snorted. "Things are running better in your absence. "

"And yet the borders are sore taxed."

"No one would dare," Anita smiled.

"Then the numbers in the hospital have no bearing and sound no alarm to you?" Khemrys countered softly.

"My people know to tell me when there's need. I'm their protector."

"Ah, those who have sworn to you only then? The rats do not do so in my experience and so they do not fall under your protections despite treaties with the High Lord?"

"They don't feed the Arduer, by choice," Anita sighed, even the next mug of tea set aside by the picky little fake leopard.

"It is not a factor in their treaty," Khemrys countered gently. "They hold the border and intelligence in return for aid and shelter at need when they sound alarm. As they have."

"Not to me!"

"You are no war general, lady."

Fuck this shit. The target's set was over and she was tired of this game already, "I am the fucking protector, they come to me or to no one. Must not be a problem if they haven't asked my help. Also it's rude you won't drink with me. I've tried to accommodate you."

"I know doses when I scent them, lady," Khemrys noted quietly. "I am a healer after all."

"Bullshit, no one would dare try to drug you here, and your nose isn't were-good anyway, you're just being rude." She reached forward to sip one of the drinks as 'example' knowing it was nothing against her own ability. "See?"

"Foolishness, lady."

Anita sighed, "lady this, lady that, fuck you. I've been nice, Khemrys and you won't even give me my due as Jean Claude's partner. I'm High Lady to you."

Khemrys sighed, shifting to leave the booth, "you are not wed, lady, and have not taken any of the true responsibilities of such a title. If you'll not care for the lands proper, then you'll have no higher rank." It was common sense.

"Where do you think you're going?" Anita growled, grabbing the girl's wrist and letting her own power rise. "There's someone I want to introduce you to." Her role here was to submit and shatter that foolish dream Jason held, anything else was window dressing.

Khemrys froze, looking down at that grip, "you do not wish to test me lady." The words were near deadly calm, though gently said, somehow making the air seem muted and quiet despite the pounding music. "This meet was but a sham and an attempt to pad your own ego. I'll not be party to such."

"The hell you won't," Anita hissed, her other hand reaching for the man smiling and coming toward them.

"Awwww, is she shy?" the stripper smiled.

"Very," Anita purred as Jason's set cued up, women surging toward the stage.

Hmmm. Khemrys sighed and wrapped her fingers in turn about Anita then, "and so. Shouldst I find you an abuser, lady? One who seeks to harm those sworn to you?" The threat was again softly spoken, but no less real for that fact. Jean Claude was likely sending someone to prevent the shattering of the triumvirate, and her own escort was going to poke their heads in any moment to check on her...

...but she would not bow before this creature and the reek beginning to rise from her no.

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"I will, if we walk to the door first? My escort should be informed so he may tell Rafael..." she admitted quietly. "If I was too much longer he was to check on me," she admitted.

She had not gone into this utterly foolishly at least?

Jason managed a soft smile at that. As much shit as the rats had given him, he was grateful that they were trying to watch her back. "Yeah, we can do that."

He walked her through the crowds of happy people going to and from the bar; Jean Claude had at least been successful in distracting everyone.

"I am not certain I care for this club," she finally admitted as they hit the door. "Though I may be biased in such a judgement," since her first experience was...war.

And she'd not truly seen his opening...

...that might be for the best. "And I was not able to drink aught here."

He paused, shaking his head. "This...is something I think you'd have to work up to, and even then..." It was clear his mind was still racing: while he couldn't bear to let go of her hand, he seemed far away.

"I can't believe she tried to drug you," he grumbled, holding the door open for her and glancing around for a sign of the wererat.

The rat was casually standing beside the bouncer, more than comfortable ding so, though he seemed worried when Khem stepped out. She smiled at the boy and had a few words that resulted in him pulling out a phone to talk to Rafael as he headed for the car.

There'd be a guard on the shop regardless.

"She intended to discredit me in the eyes of others," she sighed. "It makes sense in that light? Or wished me to betray you..."

He was still shaking his head, taking her hand again gently and guiding her swiftly to a side door behind the bar. "I'm so grateful you realized what was going on. I don't...I don't know what's happened to her. She wasn't always like this. I'm just glad she wasn't able to hurt you."

He still sounded distant and...sad as he led her through the much quieter back hallways. There were familiar faces backstage in...various stages of undress, and the ones that could manage a greeting usually choked it out in shock at seeing her in the back hallways of Guilty Pleasures. He paused outside a door and gave her hand a squeeze. "I'll just be a second and grab my stuff."

"Everyone holds both light and dark," she admitted. "Seeds, but if we nurture one over the other we end up sealed to paths that end other options..." she thought that was the case with Anita honestly. A woman who'd been handed justification for selfishness, and that had twisted deeper.

She offered distracted greeting to those she knew, not truly seeing the OR their state of dress as she waited, "of course my lord. I'm sorry to be so...distracted." Tired.

So tired.

He paused, his face softening. "There is nothing you need to apologize for."

He slipped inside the room and true to his word was back out quickly carrying his bag and car keys. He offered his hand again, leading her to the rear exit and into the cold night air. He glanced back at her and smiled. "I didn't get to tell you how amazing you look," he said softly. "Are you warm enough?"

"On the contrary, there is much I feel," she admitted, squeezing his fingers. "This was an ill advised meeting but I was tired, and stressed with the damages she was allowing to the Rodere..." And that made her rash.

"And the man Richard..." he had been something discordant and odd.

Ah well. "I apologize for this eve."

He pulled her close against him as he opened the car door for her. "You're allowed to be stressed and tired; you've been working nonstop at the clinic and chased out of your home. And then you get thrown into the middle of all this bullshit tonight."

Jason froze at the car door, giving her a concerned look. "Richard? Wait, what did Richard do?"

She blinked up at him, gold still bubbling in her eyes but not as much as earlier? "He came to the hospital, Rafael did not allow him in the room with me," she admitted. A fact she was grateful for.

"Anita asked he relay her number and a request to call her."

That seemed to calm him slightly; he would have to stop by this week and thank Rafael. Still, with everything that happened tonight, he didn't like the thought of Richard just showing up at the clinic, trying to see Khemrys.

He reached out and gently cupped her cheek. "Let's get you back home where it's warm." And then maybe she could explain what happened back there in the club.

She turned her face into his palm to press her lips gently against his skin before sitting in the car and strapping in. Still hated cars, yes, but there was far less fear? "Home would be nice," she admitted.

"I find myself unhappy to be away these days." Yes.

"Me too," he said. "I hope maybe you can come back soon?"

It was a quick drive back to the shop at least, and he parked in his usual spot in the back. He escorted her inside, sitting his keys on the table and dropping his bag to the side of the door.

And then just watched her for a long moment. "You look so beautiful. I'm so sorry for what happened tonight."

"I may hope, the High Lord may be in mourning for some time though," she admitted, shrugging out of her coat after a moment to show the leggings and corset she wore underneath and hanging it on a peg by the door.

How Beryl had talked her into a coat that had the same weight and flare as an overdress was anyone's guess!

"It is NOT your fault my lord!"

He couldn't tear his eyes away from that sight, and it was all he could do to keep from running his hands over those leggings. But for once, he held back. Not after what he'd just done with Anita right in front of her.

"I should have known better. I just didn't think she'd do that...forcing the ardeur on me like that. And in front of you..."

He did step forward, kissing her hand. "What happened back there? I could feel power crackling around you when I got to the booth. And when the ardeur was gone...Anita was out cold and Jean Claude looked..." He frowned. "What happened?"

She was trying not to think about that, filing it under 'ways Anita tried to break people'. It was aiding in not feeling betrayed at the moment and that...

...she needed that.

"She wished us shattered," she sighed. "In any manner she might." And terribly so.

Ah. "She...broke her oaths, lord. Not for as long as the Council, but enough Power recognized such. The triumvirate is broken, and people will see her as she is now."

Jason's eyes widened. "Wait...the triumvirate is broken? How did...And he knew, didn't he, what was happening..." He shook his head. "No wonder Jean Claude looked like shit when we left."

He met her eyes with concern. "And is that why you're so tired? Did it take something from you like with healing?"

"She abused it, it breaks bonds that are betrayed," she shivered slightly. "And yes, the Hogh Lord knew." And had accepted the price.

"He chose your safety." A choice she certainly approved of!

Hmmm. "Maybe? No one else in this world enforces bonds, normally it would draw on all those of the land but..." she didn't know! She'd only done it once before!

He reached out and rubbed his hands cautiously over her arms. "It wouldn't have been just for me: she's been harassing you since you got here." His face darkened. "I'm still so pissed at her. I don't even want to think of what she might have done if Dylan hadn't walked away from your table."

There were certainly goosebumps under his fingers; she was incredibly good at seeming calm. She was, honest but..."I think, mayhap, I could have made him sleep?" Probably?

"You can hold back from a lot of the metaphysical shit that's thrown around, but I don't know...what if Anita had unleashed the ardeur on you, would you have been able to clear your mind enough to fight it?" He shook his head. "I don't know of anyone who has."

"I...don't know," she admitted quietly. "I'd have to experience it to find out..." and she didn't want to do that!

"I would have made Anita sleep next, I wouldn't have had to touch her..."

"No," he said quickly, shaking his head. "I definitely don't think it's something ever worth testing." Not that he didn't mind back in the day with Jean Claude, he always liked those feedings. But Jean Claude never used it as a weapon...at least not once he was free to make that choice himself.

"I still don't get...how you can even do that. Is it like vamp powers?"

"No," she agreed grimly. "I'd rather give blood without as my choice." Very much so.

"Ah?" Eh? "I don't know! It's...all like stories now, old stories of places past the Dales," she sighed.

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