Guilty Pleasures

[homeless_pard]

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.

Comments

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason blinked a moment and then looked into the stair behind her. "A lot of metaphysical shit went down. Why? Where is he?"

He frowned, turning back into the apartment to dig his phone out of his bag. Goddamn his phone must have been blowing up all night. He tried quickly finding Nat's messages in his flooded inbox.

[homeless_pard]

"He's home, I have no idea where that is so you are damn well driving me," she growled. "He's unprotected. Coffee on the counter. And tea." In travel mugs.

"...we did not think..." Khemrys gasped, whip braiding her hair.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason blinked through the messages on his phone, his face growing more concerned. He put the phone to his ear, hurrying back towards the bedroom to try to find a shirt to pull on.

When he hurried back out, he was somewhat pale but shoving his bare feet into his shoes. "I want to know where the fuck Micah is," he growled. "My last message was awhile ago: when did you talk to him last?"

[homeless_pard]

"He stopped responding half an hour ago. I'm hoping she took his damn phone away." And not something more drastic. SHE FUCKING HATED ANITA RIGHT NOW OKAY?! Domestic abuse was on her short list of killing offenses.

Khemrys was passing the nightshirt she'd just taken off and shoving her feet in boots!

[jasonpschuyler]

"Fuck." Jason paused, frowning for a moment at Khemrys. "Do you really think it's a good idea for you to come? I really don't want you anywhere near Anita."

Not to mention he didn't know what kind of state they would find Nathaniel in, but knowing Nat's inability to say no and the fact that Anita was cut off now from everyone else...

[homeless_pard]

"He may need a healer Jason..." she pointed out grimly.

"Whoa, no girl, we bring boy to healer, not other way around. Psycho chick has guns and hates you," Beryl vetoed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason nodded. "She was ready to shoot both of us last night, Khem. I don't want to take any chances. Beryl and I can get him out, you can make sure we have a spot for him when we get back."

He paused to slip his arm around her shoulders and pull her close. "After last night, I don't think she'd hesitate if she saw you, and she's good with her gun. I don't want to risk it."

[homeless_pard]

"...that was a gun?" Khemrys blinked.

Thaaaat made Beryl freeze and turn a look on Jason yes. How not? "You're going to explain as we drive, Jason. But yes, your ass stays inside the store bounds, call Lillian or Rafael," Beryl instructed.

"...ah?"

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason nodded, his eyes tired. "Yeah, that was a gun." He gave her a quick kiss. "We gotta go, now. Get stuff ready?"

And then he was grabbing his coat and hurrying out the door.

[homeless_pard]

Khemrys nodded, "I'll make sure one of the upstairs rooms is ready for him..."

"Good call girl, back soon." Hopefully? Her luck the damn place was in the suburbs way the fuck out there. Beryl snagged the coffee thermos and followed, "gun Jason? A gun pointed at Khem? And you pissed of Anita something hardcore?"

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason shook his head, climbing into the car and starting it while trusting Beryl was close enough behind. He wasn't going to take a chance speeding through St. Louis, but he wasn't going to be taking his time, either.

"She brought Khem to the fucking club last night," he ranted as he wrenched the car into gear. "Tried to roofie Khem, brought one of the dancers over for who knows what. I went over and she pulled a gun on us. Jean Claude even came over for damage control and all she could do was try to blame Khemrys for everything. Then she set the fucking ardeur on me and Khem did something and shattered the triumvirate. Right now I'm guessing all the links between Anita and all of her people are shattered."

[homeless_pard]

"She said she needed the outfit we bought but I figured you were having a nice date!" Hell, she needed to shake rats for details next time.

And great, psycho girl had leveled up last night. Great. "What the hell was that going to accomplish?" she snorted. "I mean realistically speaking and shit?" Drugs? Dancers? "Would you have dumped her?" Anita needed meds.

"Good. Bitch needed to be dropped."

[jasonpschuyler]

He gave her a slight glare, the barest distraction he'd allow but completely warranted. "What, you too? No, I wouldn't have dumped her! Why does everyone think I'm ready to bolt out of this relationship? Jesus."

Yeah, there was probably a slightly sore spot there.

But...

"But good call on the outfit, she looked fucking amazing," he admitted.

He sighed, driving faster now that they were heading out of the city limits. "Yeah, well, now she's dropped and we have a nice little power vacuum. Thankfully Jean Claude was able to keep it together, but I'm guessing Richard didn't have the best night of his life. They probably carted Anita's ass home after she blacked out, but I didn't think Micah would let her hurt anyone."

[homeless_pard]

"Exactly," she snorted, "so what the fuck did the woman think she was going to accomplish? Aside from terrorizing Khem back into 'men are scary' maybe," she mused. That might have been a goal?


I know, hot right?" Totally, girl had weird tastes but it was fun shopping with her!

"You said Anita's connections and shit were shattered right? What if that Micah dude didn't love her?" And was brain washed?

[jasonpschuyler]

"Have you met Khemrys? Those fucking Dames had her convinced that she was ugly and worthless. I feel like half the time I'm just trying to convince her that I'm not halfway out the door, and that's without Anita's 'help'."

"And yes, Jesus, I want more of that." He'd work extra...shit, he said he'd be taking a break. He'd do something to earn extra spending money if she had more outfits like that laying around.

He frowned, thinking for a moment. "Even if he wised up, I never thought he'd let Nat get hurt. He's still Nimir-raj. And he loves Nat."

[homeless_pard]

"Well, her world knows Jack shit a out dating, best analogy is mutual mistress thing going on," she snorted. "We're working on it." Slowly!

That was funny, honestly, "you say that like she's hurting for money herself now." Really? Just really Jason?

Ah. Hmm. "I'll beat his ass too obviously. "

[jasonpschuyler]

"Yeah, I've heard about some of this 'work' last night." He still was kicking himself over that one. "And I know she's doing well at the shop, but I still like to treat her every now and then."

There was a smirk as he eyed her. "Yeah, I bet you would, too." Micah would hold back against a human, trying to appeal to a calmer, more rational side that was not about to be found in Beryl.

[homeless_pard]

"Yeah? Benefitted I hope!" She shot back easily. "She's kind if desperate not to be boring. Some day I'll get in therapy." There was a lot to unpack there!

Hmmm.

"I've got studded knuckle dusters. He'd stay down a moment," silver studded no less, not for use on goid guys obviously but she'd declined a gun from the rat security patrol so...

[jasonpschuyler]

"No," he grumbled. "It caught me off-guard when she asked and then she went spiraling back into herself, worried that I was going to get bored with her and leave." He sighed miserably. "I've done a lot of shit in my life, Beryl: I don't want her feeling she has to do all that to keep me around."

He did have to laugh, however, at her plans for Micah. "Goddamn, Beryl. Just promise you don't do it in front of Nat: you'll only make him want to try them out." On the receiving end.

[homeless_pard]

She...shifted to stare at Jason for a long moment then shook her head, "you're kind Of an idiot huh?" JUST SAYING! "Nat and I are both working expanding her mental horizons, but we also push the comfort thing hard okay?" She promised!

"Not going to beat Nat with them," she snorted. "That kind of impact is not fucking safe. Tensile strength and blunt force was a fun lesson last week."

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason half threw up his hands. "I'm not! Look, she went from being upset when she realized stripping was more interactive than she thought, to suddenly asking if she could give me a blow job. I'm sorry, it was a little too act-of-desperation at that moment; like she felt she had to do something to keep me interested."

He sighed in frustration. "It was a rough night, Beryl: her first time at the club, Anita pushing the ardeur on me in front of her so she had to watch, and I felt like nothing I said all night seemed to reassure her enough that I'm happy with her after seeing all of that."

"Sounds like a fun lesson, but I think you'd be surprised with the kind of impact he can take from a human and be fine." He pulled onto a side street, slowing as he approached Anita's drive. "How do you want to do this, Beryl? I'm serious: whatever's going on with her right now, she's not all there and she's armed."

[homeless_pard]

"Maybe think she's been planning ahead too and intending to ask things is all," she snorted. "Less desperation and more she practices talking in a mirror to say things without her head exploding, so sometimes things kick over into 'I meant to ask this so it's a touchstone' you know?" That was a thing!

"And yeah, that's fucked up, it really is. You should...take her to different clubs before trying Guilty Pleasures again, even as a meet up." Advice!

"Less 'can he take it' and more 'if I'm punching the shit out of someone it's not because I care'. Mentally beating with my fists is not okay. Tools help spread that shit out into a place I can be intimate again." And figure that stuff out and holding to it was important.

"You know where he'll be?" That was also an important question! "Because I was going to play annoy the shit out of her at the doorbell while you got him out a window or something."

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason gave her a look. "Maybe, but can you blame me for wondering when it was so abrupt? I don't want to mess this up, Beryl."

And he gave her a nod. "That's fair," he allowed. He eyed the house uncertainly. "I would not put it past her to just shoot you if you showed up at her door this morning. If he's anywhere he'd be upstairs." He frowned. "And I don't see Micah's car. I can't believe he'd leave Nat here with her..."

[homeless_pard]

"I know, just saying," she snorted, looking up at the house. "I mean option B we set that shit on fire and hope she bails without him." SHE WAS A LITTLE ANGRY AT THE MOMENT OKAY?

"But if he's tied or shit that's a problem." Damn it.

[jasonpschuyler]

"Yeah, I'd rather not find out what level of suspicion they'd send me to a secured facility over, thanks."

He parked the car and started getting out. "You can wait here with our get-away car or come with, but getting him out is the main thing, not fucking around with Anita."