SMITHS.

.......................................... "ETKK NE RNTMC ZMC ETQX, RHFMHEXHMF MNSGHMF." ..........................................

[chvrlesmelton]

Stella Gibson + Uniform Gillian Anderson The Fall 2x01

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The woman gave a nod. 

Unclipping the folder, and removing a sheet of paper from it. Her gloved hand slid it across the table. A printed scan of a SHIELD ID card. 

“’Abstractions’ as you probably know it, is dead.” She spoke. “She was killed on Park Avenue, a few months ago.” The woman explained. “She knew we were getting close, she recruited someone. ███████ ██████ █████, of a like mind.” 

 “Does the name ██████ ██████ mean anything to you?” She asked. 

“This is the man you’ll want to bring in.” She stated, expression even and unwavering as she watched Arelette. 

Abstractions… Arrie had never heard the name, but she was sure this woman was talking about the one she’d been calling Dada this whole time. The mutant plucked the paper off the table, staring down at it for a while as she picked up on key details. The name, the face, the clearance level… It made some sense that a former agent had been targeting S.H.I.E.L.D., if this Miss Doppler had some kind of grudge. That didn’t explain why mutants too though… Even though Arrie freelanced for the organization, her grudges against it was WELL documented at this point.

That was something Arrie was going to have to dig up through her own sources. Especially at the mention of a supposed death at Park Avenue. Was Abstractions really dead? 

██████. The very mention of that name made her jaw tense up. It made her think back to their last conversation, months ago, where he had been… Uncharacteristically? Or characteristically antagonistic towards her. Arrie didn’t know. This whole scenario had them all wound up. 

“… It does. Unfortunately.”

But to have been recruited by the very person who’d presumably been blackmailing him too… There was no way he was okay with doing that, right? What the fuck was his angle? Arrie’s eyes finally moved away from the sheet of paper to her… new employer, if Arrie wanted to humour that thought. 

“I’m assuming you want him brought in alive, right? Because seems to me like there’s still some unanswered questions.”

[minusxne]

The woman watched Arelette’s expression, carefully. Observing her reaction to the name, whether or not it should be of genuine surprise. It seemed like it was. 

She gave a nod, almost an ‘ah.’ at the confirmation, that she knew the man. 

“Alive.” She agreed. Now they were talking details, the productive point in their conversation. 

“But brought in by whatever means are available to you. You will not know the location to bring him, without sufficient evidence that he is in custody. Understand, Arelette,” She started.

“-We all need to do what we can to safeguard ourselves. And one another. Everything becomes entangled, and we don’t know how many others are out there still carrying out Doppler’s work.” She stated. 

“I’ll do my best to answer what other questions you might have.”  

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

It sounded like they were beginning to get somewhere, closer to an understanding. Good. They could begin to speak in details, and expectations, and approach the root of this encounter’s meaning. 

A nod, at the threat. 

Now, the woman was reaching to her side, a briefcase to her right to pull out a wide manila envelope. “The fires, at New York’s Mutant Clinic, and at the Steele Home.” She paused, cool eyes glancing up to meet the vigilante’s. “It wouldn’t surprise you to know they were in fact, committed by the same individual.” She stated. 

“Do you have a feeling as to who that individual is?” 

“No, I don’t.”

As honest as an answer as that was, Arrie had a feeling this woman was about to spit out Gabe’s name. That wasn’t right though. Arrie KNEW it wasn’t right - she knew the kid. Even talked to him before this meeting. Gabe had an alibi, and even if she didn’t believe it, she had Micro to dig into that for her, because in a day and age like this, no matter how hard you tried to hide, you’d ALWAYS slip up. One camera, one photo, one video was going to find you, one way or another. 

And she was saying this as a shapeshifter, for fuck’s sake.

Regardless, she eyed the huge envelope, waiting to see whether it’d be slid over to her for her to inspect, or if this woman was going to open it for her.

[minusxne]

The woman gave a nod. 

Unclipping the folder, and removing a sheet of paper from it. Her gloved hand slid it across the table. A printed scan of a SHIELD ID card. 

“’Abstractions’ as you probably know it, is dead.” She spoke. “She was killed on Park Avenue, a few months ago.” The woman explained. “She knew we were getting close, she recruited someone. ███████ ██████ █████, of a like mind.” 

 “Does the name ██████ ██████ mean anything to you?” She asked. 

“This is the man you’ll want to bring in.” She stated, expression even and unwavering as she watched Arelette. 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The legal semantics thrown her way almost made the woman smile. It was a fun gotcha-card. She wondered if Arelette had that much faith in it, but there were better times and circumstances for a spirited back-and-forth on legalities and esotericism pertaining to the law. 

Though she believed her meaning had been made clear, that this ‘job offer’ should exist on the outsides of the law. 

“You’re right, if I wanted an agent, I would’ve hired an agent.” She gave another sniff. “Red tape and approvals and expenses, not to mention,” She sighed. 

“It’s our understanding, myself and the people that I represent, that SHIELD has their vision of justice. We have our own. They don’t necessarily align.” A knowing look. 

“I want to be very clear with you. You’re being asked to set aside protocol.” She pursed her lips. “You won’t be going in blind. You agree, and we’re willing to entrust you with exactly the information I promised.” 

“We have our safeguards in place.” Reaching to her side, the woman drew a picture from her purse, the image of a wrecked car at the side of a road. “It’s not blackmail. We have information that could be useful to you. You do the work, you get the information. You get the assistance. You don’t? We do nothing.” 

Faith, in the system? Haha, absolutely the fuck not. What kind of vigilante would anyways? What Arrie did have faith in was people wanting to cover their asses. She counted on them not wanting her to dig too deep. Everyone had dirty laundry, but feds tended to be the worst of them all… Either that or people who pretended to be one of them anyways. 

Arrie might have missed the target, but she hoped SHE was being clear - she didn’t like being cornered, especially not like this. 

If there was only one thing Arrie could agree with so far, it was how tied down S.H.I.E.L.D. was by their rules. In negotiations like these, maybe they helped, but Arrie could think of a million scenarios in which they didn’t. As for the whole justice thing, well, that was always relative. Arrie’s didn’t perfectly align with S.H.I.E.L.D.’s, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t perfectly align with this woman’s group either. Setting aside protocol didn’t mean shit to Arrie - despite her opinions of it, it wasn’t all totally wrong.

 The brunette eyed the picture, and it immediately clicked - that Morse Code message. It had a car crash in it. Were her people the ones responsible for sending that to her? In that case, why the fuck did they try to impersonate JP?

She had more questions than she had answers. And she didn’t trust this woman’s words. She highly doubted they’d do nothing if she didn’t do what they asked. If that was the lie she was selling though, Arrie would take the bait - having some intel was better than none at all. The fact that they met already gave Micro a head start. Hopefully that was enough to get them ahead of the game.

“If you’re really going to do nothing if I decide not to do things your way, I don’t see why I’d say no at this point,” Arrie sighed. “I’m sure you know what’s at stake though if you decide to fuck me over.”

I have your scent, and I’ll hunt you down, and if you’re lucky enough? I’ll make the beating quick.

[minusxne]

It sounded like they were beginning to get somewhere, closer to an understanding. Good. They could begin to speak in details, and expectations, and approach the root of this encounter’s meaning. 

A nod, at the threat. 

Now, the woman was reaching to her side, a briefcase to her right to pull out a wide manila envelope. “The fires, at New York’s Mutant Clinic, and at the Steele Home.” She paused, cool eyes glancing up to meet the vigilante’s. “It wouldn’t surprise you to know they were in fact, committed by the same individual.” She stated. 

“Do you have a feeling as to who that individual is?” 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

A stalemate. 

Maybe. 

“The facts are really simple. You don’t want the job or the information? That’s fine.” The woman turned to her side, and took the bottle that was offered to her, poured some sparkling water into her own glass and setting the bottle aside. 

“I could tell you where your brother is, and how to get him back. I can tell you exactly who is responsible for the fires. You’re telling me,” She sighed, leaned slightly against the armrest. “That your morality won’t allow you to do the job we both need done.” Disappointing. 

“We won’t be offering again.” 

Cool eyes fixed intently on the mutant, trying to determine something. 

“A need-to-know basis is for everyone’s safety. Any agent of any clearance level could tell you that.”

Arrie’s jaw grew tense, fighting the temptation to curl up her lip into an animalistic snarl. This woman was acting like she was dangling a juicy piece of meat. Did she really think Arrie wouldn’t find another way? That the connections she had couldn’t find another way? Isolation, coercion, Arrie was seeing patterns again. Was the offer really genuine? Arrie fucking doubted it.

“If you wanted an agent, you should’ve hired an agent,” Arrie hissed. “I don’t go in a job blind just for the sake of the greater good - good people die that way, and I won’t have any part of it.”

“And we? We as in who? You haven’t shown me any credentials, and haven’t given me a name. You know that all S.H.I.E.L.D., FBI and CIA agents are required by law to give that information when talking to a civilian, right? And legally speaking, I am one, and I asked.”

Arrie leaned back, raising her eyebrows as she smirked with contempt. You wanna fucking strong-arm me? Make that two, bitch.

“So unless you’re one of the feds, I have no reason to trust you. In fact, even if you were, I still wouldn’t. You have everything on me, and I have nothing on you - if I didn’t know any better, I’d consider this blackmailing.”

[minusxne]

The legal semantics thrown her way almost made the woman smile. It was a fun gotcha-card. She wondered if Arelette had that much faith in it, but there were better times and circumstances for a spirited back-and-forth on legalities and esotericism pertaining to the law. 

Though she believed her meaning had been made clear, that this ‘job offer’ should exist on the outsides of the law. 

“You’re right, if I wanted an agent, I would’ve hired an agent.” She gave another sniff. “Red tape and approvals and expenses, not to mention,” She sighed. 

“It’s our understanding, myself and the people that I represent, that SHIELD has their vision of justice. We have our own. They don’t necessarily aline.” A knowing look. 

“I want to be very clear with you. You’re being asked to set aside protocol.” She pursed her lips. “You won’t be going in blind. You agree, and we’re willing to entrust you with exactly the information I promised.” 

“We have our safeguards in place.” Reaching to her side, the woman drew a picture from her purse, the image of a wrecked car at the side of a road. “It’s not blackmail. We have information that could be useful to you. You do the work, you get the information. You get the assistance. You don’t? We do nothing.” 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The woman sat back in her seat, gave a light sniff. 

“You’re not being asked to take out victims. You’re being asked to assist in the root of this problem.” Her arms folded as she watched the mutant. Not an assassin. Well. They were all capable of desperate acts, weren’t they? When the most important things were on the line. 

“I’d like to be able to help you with your brother, Arelette. I really would.” She sighed, her cool eyes locked on the other’s. “It’s an incredibly difficult thing. Being in a position to help, but just not knowing.” She pressed her lips together into a thin line. 

“But I can’t help you, if you can’t help me. And yourself.” She added. 

Don’t give me your bullshit sympathy. But again, Arrie thought it better to hold her tongue, though her eyes held nothing but contempt at the mention of her brother. This woman was dancing around the truth, and the brunette found her patience growing quite thin because of it. Her gut feeling was getting worse, she knew she must be right - she was expected to kill, and what these people considered to not be victims might not be the case in her own eyes. That was grounds enough for her to tell them to shove it.

Oh, and don’t think she missed the subtle threat towards herself.

“It appears we’re at a stalemate then,” Arrie sighed. “I’m not going to agree to this if I don’t know who’s on that list, what they did, and exactly what you expect of me. And you’re not going to tell me either of those things before I agree because that’s a liability, along with need-to-know basis’s and all of that crap.”

No mentioned organization, no badge… And not a single name given, to top it all off. As far as Arrie knew, one of those things had to have been brought up by now. This whole negotiation was going from bad to worse - at this point, in all honesty, Arrie was sure this was a trap. And at this point, she was sure they figured that she wasn’t as desperate as she originally made herself out to be.

Oh well. 

“I’m already in a deep enough hole as it is. I might be feeling hopeless, but not enough to dig myself a deeper one.”

[minusxne]

A stalemate. 

Maybe. 

“The facts are really simple. You don’t want the job or the information? That’s fine.” The woman turned to her side, and took the bottle that was offered to her, poured some sparkling water into her own glass and setting the bottle aside. 

“I could tell you where your brother is, and how to get him back. I can tell you exactly who is responsible for the fires. You’re telling me,” She sighed, leaned slightly against the armrest. “That your morality won’t allow you to do the job we both need done.” Disappointing. 

“We won’t be offering again.” 

Cool eyes fixed intently on the mutant, trying to determine something. 

“A need-to-know basis is for everyone’s safety. Any agent of any clearance level could tell you that.”

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The woman watched. Watched as Arelette processed her words, gave her head the slightest tilt to the side as she began to speak. Listened carefully to her question, watched her eyes. 

“Picking you wasn’t a coincidence. Your stake in this, is personal.” She explained. Not to mention her abilities. “We can help you get your brother back. Give Nemeth a safe place, if you want. Until all of this blows over.” 

And then she paused, “Of course, no one is expecting you to work for free.” She added, an eyebrow lifting at the significance of that statement. “The money has been set aside to pay you. I think you’ll find it really substantial.” 

What did she have in mind? 

“We have the identity of a few dangerous individuals who’ve been committing these acts. We’re also aware, that you may have access to these individuals. I can’t give you more information, not until we have an agreement.” An understanding. 

“And here I thought it was unprofessional to make things personal,” Arrie scoffed. 

As much as she liked the offers that came soon afterwards, Arrie knew Roman wouldn’t agree to being held somewhere safe. Never in a million years would he ever allow Arrie to be out in the field alone if he could help it. And putting his trust in people neither of them knew? Fucking forget it. 

The mutant raised her eyebrow at the mention of payment. Not that she was going to complain about it out loud, but she was suddenly VERY suspicious of what this woman meant by getting the job done. And the fact that she apparently knew some of the people on this supposed list of threats? The brunette’s gut told her she wasn’t going to like what she was about to learn.

“I’m not an assassin, you know,” Arrie huffed, before explaining herself further. “As dangerous as these people may be, you said so yourself, they’re mistaken - being coerced into doing whatever it is they’re doing through blackmail. I won’t kill someone just because their fear has done some damage, so if that’s what you’re expecting me to do, I’m sorry - you picked the wrong person.”

She’d bring them in, maybe even make them bleed a little if she had to, but kill? No. That went against her code - death only came to those who REALLY deserved it.

[minusxne]

The woman sat back in her seat, gave a light sniff. 

“You’re not being asked to take out victims. You’re being asked to assist in the root of this problem.” Her arms folded as she watched the mutant. Not an assassin. Well. They were all capable of desperate acts, weren’t they? When the most important things were on the line. 

“I’d like to be able to help you with your brother, Arelette. I really would.” She sighed, her cool eyes locked on the other’s. “It’s an incredibly difficult thing. Being in a position to help, but just not knowing.” She pressed her lips together into a thin line. 

“But I can’t help you, if you can’t help me. And yourself.” She added. 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

“Because we have a common interest.” The woman explained, a glance that flitted over her shoulder at the growl that came from the mutant. She could see she was on edge, that was alright. They needn’t be friends. But. 

“There’s much you don’t know, that you need to understand.” She sat up a little better, straightening our her suit, smoothing down the fabric of her skirt. 

“There are more than a few forces at work here. The one who’s been threatening you, your friends? There are still some people, badly mistaken people, out there who are still doing their work.” The woman exhaled. 

“Myself and a number of people behind me have a vested interest in stamping it all out. The ugliness, the attacks on innocent people.” She sighed. “But, for a long time now, they’ve been evasive. I can’t tell you how much time and money has gone into bringing them down.”

“What we need now, is the right kind of people, to finish this job. You see how this benefits the both of us?” 

There’s much you don’t know.

Yeah, too much. That’s why Arrie had taken this huge risk in the first place. She had given Sterling everything she knew - even told him about The Whispering Gallery. She was sure he’d put two and two together once what she did came to light. It didn’t change the fact that he didn’t give her much in return… Arguably couldn’t, if she’d come to understand S.H.I.E.L.D.’s workings well enough. 

The mention of other parties though did pique her interest. Dada was blackmailing more than just mutants and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents? Involving this many parties was such a risk… Why take it in the first place? And all of the people still allowing themselves to be blackmailed, to have their strings pulled… If her host was right about one thing, it was that it all had to end. 

But still, there were so many questions left unanswered, and something even more, nagging the back of her mind - Was this woman always the person she was meant to meet at the Gallery? Or was this all the most elaborate trap Arrie had ever walked into? 

“Let’s assume I believe everything you’ve said so far,” Arrie sighed, not doing much to hide how conflicted her thoughts were at the moment. “What do you have in mind, for finishing this job? I highly doubt picking me was just a coincidence.”

[minusxne]

The woman watched. Watched as Arelette processed her words, gave her head the slightest tilt to the side as she began to speak. Listened carefully to her question, watched her eyes. 

“Picking you wasn’t a coincidence. Your stake in this, is personal.” She explained. Not to mention her abilities. “We can help you get your brother back. Give Nemeth a safe place, if you want. Until all of this blows over.” 

And then she paused, “Of course, no one is expecting you to work for free.” She added, an eyebrow lifting at the significance of that statement. “The money has been set aside to pay you. I think you’ll find it really substantial.” 

What did she have in mind? 

“We have the identity of a few dangerous individuals who’ve been committing and these acts. We’re also aware, that you may have access to these individuals. I can’t give you more information, not until we have an agreement.” An understanding. 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The woman tilted her head to the side. 

Trust was a difficult thing. Hard won in situations like these, but necessary. Give something, get something in return. Tricky to negotiate, the give and take. “My name doesn’t matter so much.” She conceded. 

She watched, as Arelette folded her arms across her chest. Leaned back and away. She had fair enough reason to be discomforted, so the woman maintained her own air of calm. 

“There is a name that matters, though. 

What if I told you, that I could tell you how to get your brother back, save Nemeth, and find the person responsible for the fires. The Mutant Care Unit, the Steele home.” She spoke slowly, deliberately. “I want to help you.” 

Arrie let out a dissatisfied growl that nearly passed the border of something a human was capable of making. Your name does matter if you’re going to give me that answer. Just like her host though, Arrie knew this conversation was currently on a precarious balance, and a wrong move from either of them could spell trouble. Was she counting on it? Absolutely. Sooner or later, this encounter was going to end in conflict. 

For now though, Arrie would play nice. Just for now.

She still hated the way this woman only called Roman by his last name. Hell, Arrie even hated the way she said it.

“And why DO you want to help me in the first place?” the mutant retorted. “I was under the impression that I was contacting the person responsible for everything. If you’re not them, then what’s your stake in all this?”

Arrie had a feeling she wasn’t going to like the answer she was about to get.

[minusxne]

“Because we have a common interest.” The woman explained, a glance that flitted over her shoulder at the growl that came from the mutant. She could see she was on edge, that was alright. They needn’t be friends. But. 

“There’s much you don’t know, that you need to understand.” She sat up a little better, straightening our her suit, smoothing down the fabric of her skirt. 

“There are more than a few forces at work here. The one who’s been threatening you, your friends? There are still some people, badly mistaken people, out there who are still doing their work.” The woman exhaled. 

“Myself and a number of people behind me have a vested interest in stamping it all out. The ugliness, the attacks on innocent people.” She sighed. “But, for a long time now, they’ve been evasive. I can’t tell you how much time and money has gone into bringing them down.”

“What we need now, is the right kind of people, to finish this job. You see how this benefits the both of us?” 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

“I am.” The woman confirmed, a nod to the captain and another individual who stood attending by the steps to the plane. She cast a look out over her shoulder before she stepped into the plane, walked down to sit at a table, extended a hand to Arelette, motioning for her to sit. 

“I’m sure you have no shortage of questions.” She pursed her lips, cool gaze watching the younger woman for a moment. 

“I’m going to do my best to get those answered for you.” 

Yeah, no shit I have some questions. But in a show of restraint, Arrie didn’t utter a word. Instead, she looked down at the offered seat, simply raising an eyebrow as she looked everything over. Nothing seemed unusual for now, but still, she was ever cautious.

The brunette slowly lowered herself down and slid into her seat, her arms notably crossed over her chest as she leaned back. She took a quick glance out their window before turning it back onto the older woman.

“I think a name would be a good place to start,” Arrie huffed. “I know you know mine, so what’s yours?”

[minusxne]

The woman tilted her head to the side. 

Trust was a difficult thing. Hard won in situations like these, but necessary. Give something, get something in return. Tricky to negotiate, the give and take. “My name doesn’t matter so much.” She conceded. 

She watched, as Arelette folded her arms across her chest. Leaned back and away. She had fair enough reason to be discomforted, so the woman maintained her own air of calm. 

“There is a name that matters, though. 

What if I told you, that I could tell you how to get your brother back, save Nemeth, and find the person responsible for the fires. The Mutant Care Unit, the Steele home.” She spoke slowly, deliberately. “I want to help you.” 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

She gave Arelette a polite nod, a silent ‘suit yourself.’ 

They were making fine time as they proceeded down the tunnel, through the expressway against the beginning flow of the morning commute. It was still very early. 

The drive brought them to the gates at a small, private airport, where waited for them a small jet. The woman opened the door on her side and climbed out. “This won’t be a long trip.” Was her assurance to the vigilante. 

Jesus fucking Christ, where in the HELL are they taking me? There was no way David would be able to get much more surveillance, once she stepped onto that jet. There’s always the tracker though. There’s always the tracker. 

Arrie’s mind flashed through thousands of scenarios that could happen, the worst one among them being some inhibitor cuffs and a walk on the proverbial plank.  In most scenarios though, she knew she’d survive - Arrie had an unfortunate knack for cheating death quite often.

The brunette gave a sigh, and stepped out of the car from her side. She was really walking in to the lion’s den now.

“You’re going through a lot of trouble to keep our conversation between us,” she simply scoffed. If Arrie didn’t know any better, she’d say it was for a good reason.

[minusxne]

“I am.” The woman confirmed, a nod to the captain and another individual who stood attending by the steps to the plane. She cast a look out over her shoulder before she stepped into the plane, walked down to sit at a table, extended a hand to Arelette, motioning for her to sit. 

“I’m sure you have no shortage of questions.” She pursed her lips, cool gaze watching the younger woman for a moment. 

“I’m going to do my best to get those answered for you.” 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The woman gave a nod once the door shut with a click, and the car pulled off ahead down the road, turning east as they made their way closer to the Lincoln tunnel. 

She pulled a crystalline bottle from a compartment on the side of the car’s door, showing little interest in the other until she turned to face her. “Water?” She offered, to pour some into her own glass taken from the compartment, to take a sip first in order to show her that it was all that she had purported it to be. 

Arrie’s gaze kept to the window, doing her best to memorize their route - if she managed to escape, a way back would be good. Her other senses remained vigilant as ever, her head only turning around as the question was posed.

The mutant watched with suspicion as her host took a sip first. As much as Arrie… Appreciated the gesture, she still would rather avoid being fooled. There were other tricks that could be used - a sleight of hand, or a laced glass. And even if neither was the case, well… Better play it safe than sorry.

“No thank you,” Arrie politely declined with a terse smile. She still needed these people to believe that she wasn’t keen on getting caught.

[minusxne]

She gave Arelette a polite nod, a silent ‘suit yourself.’ 

They were making fine time as they proceeded down the tunnel, through the expressway against the beginning flow of the morning commute. It was still very early. 

The drive brought them to the gates at a small, private airport, where waited for them a small jet. The woman opened the door on her side and climbed out. “This won’t be a long trip.” Was her assurance to the vigilante. 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

“Noted.” Came the woman’s terse reply. 

Heels clicked, clicked down the wide open hall before they stepped out into an early day. The sky still a deep blue, lightening off to the east. 

A black car, slick and shining stayed waiting there across the street until the woman’s eyes snapped to it, and it pulled up to them. The woman brushed a gloved hand over her sleeve, a bright red hair falling away. 

She pulled open the car door, and climbed inside with a nod to the driver, and a look outward to Arelette. 

Arrie could practically feel the energy in the air as soon as they stepped out, admittedly flinching a bit at the distant roar of lightening. Great. As if she needed more signs that danger was on its way. 

The mutant’s jaw tensed as the car pulled up, her eyes glancing up for a quick moment at one of the traffic cameras perched above a nearby intersection. God, she hoped Micro could keep up. At least now though he had plates along with a face. 

Arrie’s eyes went back at the car as soon as she heard the handle click open, watching the brief exchange between the woman and her driver. Another deep breath in, another slew of information. It’d be useful, no doubt, but certainly not now. The brunette feigned it all as hesitation before stepping in.

They’re so fucking dead to her if they tried to slap some inhibitors cuffs on her now.

[minusxne]

The woman gave a nod once the door shut with a click, and the car pulled off ahead down the road, turning east as they made their way closer to the Lincoln tunnel. 

She pulled a crystalline bottle from a compartment on the side of the car’s door, showing little interest in the other until she turned to face her. “Water?” She offered, to pour some into her own glass taken from the compartment, to take a sip first in order to show her that it was all that she had purported it to be. 

[minusxne]

AUG 20 2020.

tick tick tick tick.  The clock in the apartment clicks on in silence, a red-haired woman sits at a desk by the window. 

The quiet stillness is deceptive. Everything is going to happen again. Unless a cycle is broken.

Her hand slips into a thin disposable glove, to open a laptop. She begins to type; a simple warning, and direct. 

KNAJ FLJSYX IJFI. YMJWJ FWJ UJTUQJ BMT PSTB. LTAJWS DTZWXJQK FHHTWINSLQD.

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The woman pressed her lips together, with an impatient glance to her watch. Did she have any other choice? Of course. “Not to get what information I can give you.” This was the offer, as presented. Her arms settled to cross together in front of her. 

An expectant look, and the tapping of her shoe to signal she would not be turning her back to the other to walk ahead. 

“With me, if you don’t mind.” She reiterated.

Arrie was paying attention, making every note of every unconscious word this woman’s body communicated to her. What happened to that calm veneer from mere moments ago? 

A huff escaped Arrie’s nose, recognizing what the woman meant. “If I wanted to kill you behind your back, I would’ve done it when your head pressed against that corner.”

Not caring how this stranger took that threat, Arrie still obliged, taking the first few steps forward. How stupid of her to insist on this - the mutant had no clue where they were even going.

[minusxne]

“Noted.” Came the woman’s terse reply. 

Heels clicked, clicked down the wide open hall before they stepped out into an early day. The sky still a deep blue, lightening off to the east. 

A black car, slick and shining stayed waiting there across the street until the woman’s eyes snapped to it, and it pulled up to them. The woman brushed a gloved hand over her sleeve, a bright red hair falling away. 

She pulled open the car door, and climbed inside with a nod to the driver, and a look outward to Arelette. 

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

“With me. There’s a car outside.” 

The woman turned to step away from the wall, and as the crowd from that first train began to disperse more fully, the sound of a pair of heels clicked audibly against the smooth stone tiles of gallery’s floor. 

Blue eyes fixed on the woman speaking into the corner. 

“Coming?” 

A car? Oh, this DEFINITELY didn’t sound good. Were they even aware of how much she HATED those metal death traps? 

Arrie turned around as soon as she heard the clicking of those heels, arms crossed over her chest as she looked the stranger up and down. There was a sharp inhale of annoyance, disguised as another intake of smells - people could hide so much about themselves, but even a talented shapeshifter such as herself could never mask her own scent. 

Even if this woman was wearing a disguise, there was the tracker. There was always the tracker.

“Do I have any other choice?” the brunette huffed. She then dropped her hands and made a quick gesture, inviting this woman to lead the way.

[minusxne]

The woman pressed her lips together, with an impatient glance to her watch. Did she have any other choice? Of course. “Not to get what information I can give you.” This was the offer, as presented. Her arms settled to cross together in front of her. 

An expectant look, and the tapping of her shoe to signal she would not be turning her back to the other to walk ahead. 

“With me, if you don’t mind.” She reiterated.

[gatecoeur]

minusxne​:

The woman was not here to bicker. Wasting words was wasting time. 

It was interesting, however, that Arelette found herself in a position to bargain. She let that sit for just a moment before speaking easily. “I don’t have any stake in whether or not they die.” A glance toward the bustling crowd, neatly manicured nails tapped lightly against the stone archway. 

“I’m not the threat, Arelette. We can talk about who is, but.” 

Another glance outward. 

“Not here.” 

The tapping nails felt like they were grating against her nerves. Her, not the threat? Then how in the hell did she know her name? Arrie could hear them too though, the slowly approaching wave of yet another group of commuters. 

She had the tracker hidden on her. Micro could follow along. This was fine. If this could get her answers, and a face for her friends to find on a database, then so be it.

“Fine,” Arrie huffed after a moment or two of silence. “Do we walk together, or should I just trail behind you?”

[minusxne]

“With me. There’s a car outside.” 

The woman turned to step away from the wall, and as the crowd from that first train began to disperse more fully, the sound of a pair of heels clicked audibly against the smooth stone tiles of gallery’s floor. 

Blue eyes fixed on the woman speaking into the corner. 

“Coming?”