SHADOW BANKER.

[parieur]

# PARIEUR. ━━ An independent and headcanon guided portrayal of Le Chiffre, main antagonist of 2006's Casino Royale. Exploring themes of grey morality, double lives, hedonism, sadism as a choice, playing the long game, perfectionism as tool of survival, intelligence harnessed for self-advancement & the pursuit of power and wealth. This blog contain mature  themes:  sexual content, gambling, violence,  crim*nal activities   &    more. Do not follow or interact if under 21. A retelling carved by Spades [ Lesbian | Brazilian | 29 ]. Est. 2020.

Affiliated with : @thefixer, @flmed, @rivhers, @sealure, @ionzhar, @per6e , @valheys & @2pistols . * Mutuals in common who would like to mention those muses in starters, answers and replies are welcome, even encouraged, to do so. I strongly believe that roleplay is about community.

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* Please read at least my rules before following or interacting. Information on verses can be found at my carrd. Any doubts regarding expanded lore, headcanons or locations can be clarified through dm's.

ɪ. CARRD ɪɪ. LORE.  ɪɪɪ. USFW.   ɪᴠ. PINTEREST.

[parieur]

This blog is officially under a Restructuring: New Graphics, new Carrd, new lore points. If you would like to speak about future interactions do message me :3 All threads will be kept, and all non-rp content will be cleared out later today!

[ortums]

┃┃ #ortums :      low - activity / selective roleplay blog for james bond ,   CANON & . HEADCANON BASED ──      from io interactive's videogame : first light .   basic edequitte and roleplay rules applied ,   21+ only !

[parieur]

❛ i see it in your eyes . ❜

V.05 ━━━━ If there was one mistake that Le Chiffre knew to avoid, it was underestimating women, a common flaw among his peers [ and one he took advantage of often ]. He had serious doubts that a woman who had put herself near a man such as Luthor was merely a ditzy blonde with a smartphone... Even more so given the leaks published by mainstream press. He turned toward her, expression unchanged. ❛❛ What is it that you see, Ms. Teschmacher? ❜❜ He was dying to know.

[flmed]

#FLMED : you were moulded, with vigour, noise &. fits of rage · ࣪ 𓍝   ཻུ۪𖠄:   *   ind. priv. sel. original character. criminal + law + spy / fandomless. major suicide attempt mention, death, murder, etc. minors dni. his reign ends， 𝖐𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊𝖗.

[thefixer]

┃┃ ⟢ .ᐟ    thefixer ;      woman on fire .      fandomless &. original character ﹙²⁰¹³﹚ꜝ   basic roleplay etiquette applies ,   MINORS DNI .   

[ohisms]

𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑺 𝑰𝑺 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑮𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑻𝑬𝑺𝑻 𝑺𝑯𝑶𝑾 .    (   sentence  starters  originating  from  the   2017  film   the  greatest  showman  .   change  phrasing  as  necessary !   )

❛  it  was  my  fault .  ❜ ❛  well ,  thank  you  for  your  honesty .  ❜ ❛  how  did  you  get  out ?  ❜ ❛  i  don’t  know  what  my  future  will  be .  ❜ ❛  i  think  of  what  the  world  could  be .  ❜ ❛  a  million  dreams  are  keeping  me  awake .  ❜ ❛  sooner  or  later ,  she’ll  tire  of  your  life .  ❜ ❛  this  isn’t  the  life  i  promised  you .  ❜ ❛  i  have  everything  i  want .  ❜ ❛  what  are  you  looking  at ?  ❜ ❛  this  venture  you  propose  is  risky  and  …  somewhat  bizarre .  ❜ ❛  they’re  all  the  rage  in  europe !  ❜ ❛  you  don’t  look  like  a  magician .  ❜ ❛  i’m  a  thief .  ❜ ❛  i  know  how  it  looks .  ❜ ❛  you  need  something  …  sensational .  ❜ ❛  [ name ] ,  at  your  service .  ❜ ❛  you  want  people  to  laugh  at  me .  ❜ ❛  you  are  so  talented ,  blessed ,  extraordinary  …  ❜ ❛  please  leave  me  alone .  ❜ ❛  they  don’t  understand ,  but  they  will .  ❜ ❛  you’re  just  a  dead  man  walking .  ❜ ❛  you  can  flip  the  switch  &  brighten  up  your  darkest  days .  ❜ ❛  you  know  you  can’t  go  back  again  to  the  world  you  were  living  in .  ❜ ❛  they’re  waiting .  ❜ ❛  they  are  gonna  love  you .   trust  me .  ❜ ❛  i  see  it  in  your  eyes .  ❜ ❛  you  believe  that  lie ,  that  you  need  to  hide  your  face .  ❜ ❛  once  you  see  it ,  you’ll  never  be  the  same .  ❜ ❛  you  cannot  be  afraid .  ❜ ❛  nothing  more  to  look  at .  ❜ ❛  does  it  bother  you  that  everything  you’re  selling  is  fake ?  ❜ ❛  the  creed  of  a  true  fraud .  ❜ ❛  when  was  the  last  time  you  smiled  or  had  a  laugh ?  ❜ ❛  this  is  the  life  i  promised  you .  ❜ ❛  welcome  home ,  [ name ] .  ❜ ❛  i  started  too  late ,  i’ll  never  catch  up .  ❜ ❛  what ,  you  think  i  can’t  spot  talent ?  ❜ ❛  you  can’t  just  fake  it .  ❜ ❛  this  isn’t  about  me .  ❜ ❛  i’m  selling  virtue .  ❜ ❛  you  clearly  have  a  flair  for  showbusiness .  ❜ ❛  sounds  thrilling ,  doesn’t  it ?  ❜ ❛  comfort ,  the  enemy  of  progress .  ❜ ❛  you  understand  just  associating  with  you  could  cost  me  my  inheritance ?  ❜ ❛  i  don’t  want  to  chase  you  down ,  i  know  you  see  it .  ❜ ❛  i  can  cut  you  free .  ❜ ❛  if  it’s  crazy ,  live  a  little  crazy .  ❜ ❛  don’t  you  want  to  get  away  from  the  same  old  part  you’ve  got  to  play ?  ❜ ❛  i’ve  got  what  you  need .  ❜ ❛  i  hate  to  tell  you ,  but  it  just  won’t  happen .  ❜ ❛  i  quite  enjoy  the  life  you  say  i’m  trapped  in .  ❜ ❛  so  thanks ,  but  no .  ❜ ❛  is  this  really  how  you  like  to  spend  your  days ?  ❜ ❛  that’s  a  deal  that  seems  worth  taking ,  but  i  guess  i’ll  leave  that  up  to  you .  ❜ ❛  i  wasn’t  born  this  morning .  ❜ ❛  who  was  that ?  ❜ ❛  everyone’s  got  an  act .  ❜ ❛  you’d  better  come  see  this .  ❜ ❛  ‘ offensive  &  indecent ’ ,  i’m  blushing .  ❜ ❛  what  ever  happened  to  thriving  off  controversy ?  ❜ ❛  are  we  all  invited ?  ❜ ❛  we’re  the  entertainment .  ❜ ❛  i  don’t  see  you  in  a  costume .  ❜ ❛  the  honor  is  mine ,  [ name ] .  ❜ ❛  you’re  not  exactly  reaching  the  top  shelf ,  yourself ,  sweetheart .  ❜ ❛  i  believe  those  are  the  words  of  a  scoundrel .  ❜ ❛  like  me ,  your  reputation  precedes  you .  ❜ ❛  i  trust  your  reputation  more  than  my  own  taste .  ❜ ❛  take  my  hand  …  will  you  share  this  with  me ?  ❜ ❛  these  hands  could  hold  the  world ,   &  it  would  never  be  enough .  ❜ ❛  you  look  like  a  princess ,  ma’am .  ❜ ❛  it’s  hard  to  understand  wealth  &  privilege  when  you’re  born  into  it .  ❜ ❛  i  sometimes  feel  i  don’t  belong  here .  ❜ ❛  i’ve  learned  to  be  ashamed  of  all  my  scars .  ❜ ❛  no  one  will  love  you  as  you  are .  ❜ ❛  i  know  that  there’s  a  place  for  us .  ❜ ❛  i’m  not  scared  to  be  seen .  ❜ ❛  i  am  brave ,  i  am  bruised ,  i  am  who  i’m  meant  to  be .  ❜ ❛  i  know  that  i  deserve  your  love .  ❜ ❛  there’s  nothing  i’m  not  worthy  of .  ❜ ❛  you’re  risking  everything  you’ve  built ,  here .  ❜ ❛  ain’t  that  a  sight  for  sore  eyes ?  ❜ ❛  oh ,  pull  yourself  together .  ❜ ❛  i  wasn’t  sure  you’d  come  if  i  asked .  ❜ ❛  i’ve  always  wanted  to  go  to  the  theater .  ❜ ❛  you  forget  your  place ,  [ name ] .  ❜ ❛  if  this  is  my  place ,  i  don’t  want  any  part  of  it .  ❜ ❛  they’re  small - minded  people .  ❜ ❛  you  know  i  want  you ,  it’s  not  a  secret  i  try  to  hide .  ❜ ❛  who  can  stop  me  if  i  decide  that  you’re  my  destiny ?  ❜ ❛  what  if  we  rewrite  the  stars ?  ❜ ❛  nothing  could  keep  us  apart .  ❜ ❛  it’s  up  to  you ,  &  it’s  up  to  me .  nobody  can  say  what  we  get  to  be .  ❜ ❛  you  think  it’s  easy ?  you  think  i  don’t  want  to  run  to  you ?  ❜ ❛  no  one  can  rewrite  the  stars .  ❜ ❛  how  can  you  say  you’ll  be  mine  when  everything  keeps  us  apart ?  ❜ ❛  give  me  all  of  you .  ❜ ❛  say  that  it’s  possible .  ❜ ❛  you  know  i  want  you ,  it’s  not  a  secret  i  try  to  hide .  but  i  can’t  have  you .  ❜ ❛  we’re  bound  to  break ,  &  my  hands  are  tied .  ❜ ❛  you  don’t  understand .  ❜ ❛  i  was  treated  like  dirt .  my  children  will  not  be .  ❜ ❛  you  don’t  need  everyone  to  love  you .  just  a  few  good  people .  ❜ ❛  some  people  won’t  sail  the  sea  because  they’re  safer  on  land .  ❜ ❛  i’d  follow  you  to  the  great  unknown .  ❜ ❛  i’d  risk  it  all  just  to  be  with  you .  ❜ ❛  it’s  all  an  adventure  that  comes  with  a  breathtaking  view .  ❜ ❛  i’ve  given  you  the  world ,  haven’t  i ?  ❜ ❛  you’re  leaving ?  ❜ ❛  when  you’re  careless  with  other  people  you  ruin  yourself .  ❜ ❛  that  was  goodbye .  ❜ ❛  if  you’ve  come  to  gloat ,  i  wouldn’t .  ❜ ❛  i  thought  you’d  like  to  know .  ❜ ❛  i’m  not  in  love  with  her !  ❜ ❛  this  is  your  home .  ❜ ❛  i  never  minded  the  risk ,  but  we  always  did  it  together .  ❜ ❛  i  figured  you’d  end  up  here ,  feeling  sorry  for  yourself .  ❜ ❛  shut  up ,  [ name ] .  you  just  don’t  get  it .  ❜ ❛  a  man  remembers  who  was  there  for  him  when  the  glitter  fades  &  the  walls  won’t  hold .  ❜ ❛  if  all  was  lost ,  there’s  more  i  gained  …  ‘cause  it  led  me  back  to  you .  ❜ ❛  when  i  stop  &  see  you  here ,  i  remember  who  all  this  was  for .  ❜ ❛  from  now  on ,  these  eyes  will  not  be  blinded  by  the  lights .  ❜ ❛  what’s  waited  ‘til  tomorrow  starts  tonight .  ❜ ❛  i’m  really  sorry  to  disappoint  you  all .  ❜ ❛  don’t  turn  sensible  on  us ,  now .  ❜ ❛  partners .  50 / 50 .  ❜ ❛  what  will  you  be  doing ?  ❜

[thefixer]

❛   dressed .   help  my  muse  put  on  an  article  of  clothing .

there are times ,   every once in a blue moon ... there is a dress code .   there's a party ,   AN AUCTION ──     a time and place where the wealthy one percent of the world like to show off .   A FUCKING DRESS CODE ,   god must have such a sense of humor ,   because it is torture wearing a dress .   the lack of movement while the impairment is doubled down by the size of her heel .   if the fashion wasn't an issue ,   it was the company .   the crowd of people who are too far up their own asses ,   and when they're not ?   they're kissing someone else's ass instead .   a pathetic group of circle - jerking fuckwads who don't view the world outside of their own ...   the only salvation was her employer ,   and even then he usually had something work related to do .   

despite her discomfort in the very idea of dressing up .   she is dressed as expected ,   brand name at all   ( though vintage mugler ,   from the 1996 spring / summer collection ) .   WHITE FABRIC ,   a choice that was in contrast to the usual deep ,   and dark hues that chooses .   alas it was a neutral tone that she preferred and whether she liked it or not .   mia always knew how to dress herself .   

she had been waiting in the center room with the other men for some time now .   as much as she adores the thought of talking about sports teams or whose gun is bigger   ( a whole fucking metaphor for their dicks of course ) ,   she walked to marcel's bedroom in the hotel .   kratt who has always had an eye on her since she's been back within chiffre's circle ──      THOUGH WITH REASON .   gave her a nod after he was given the okay to allow her to pass .   so this is the the professional respect that she is given at this time .   " hey , "   a question poses as she steps through the door .   stopping close to the center of the room as she notices some movement in the bathroom .   

head tilts to the side in an attempt to get a better view .   " you asked for me , "   she poses the question before she notes his dinner jacket is still laying on the bed .   her back straightens and another beat passes before she takes it , opening the front up slightly as she walks to the bathroom .   " hope it's not because you need help dressin' yourself , "   stated as holds it up for him to place his arm through one of the sleeves .   " YOU'RE A BIG BOY , "   then the other one ,   " unless you're nervous about somethin' else ? "   mia steps back for a moment after making sure the shoulder's are smoothed out .   " what's on your mind ? "

[parieur]

V.02 ━━ The night hadn't even started, the clock still marking half an hour to eight, and Le Chiffre already wanted to set sail to anywhere else. Every now and then, Quantum had their hands on something that held more value sold than kept for themselves: sometimes it was technology, other times it was a unique artifact or art piece taken from some museum decades prior. This time it was both. The sale of those 'once-in-a-lifetime' findings always brought in people working for the powers that be, those against them and everyone in between, a menagerie of risk that forced him to work non-stop and remain closer to other branches that had the access he lacked, all to ensure no mistakes were made. He was exhausted, and that brought the elephant in the room: Were the other branches aware of their roles and willing to fulfill them? Were there any scenarios he was unprepared for? Should he ignore the others' will and do what he thought to be better for the long term and, more importantly, for himself?

Some point between putting on his cufflinks, answering yet another chain of texts regarding the night's preparations and finishing to tying his silk bow tie, Marcel decided to finally cave in and ask for the woman he was still learning to trust again [ what really was so bad about what she had done? He did the same, often ]. There was no protest from Kratt after the text, despite the man having laid out his concerns just a few hours prior to her arrival. He preferred it that way.

❛❛ I did, yes. ❜❜ He glanced at her through the bathroom mirror, taking but a blink to understand, and accept, the offered help. There was something unexpected, but unmistakably familiar, about the gesture of holding the jacket for him [ save for a different hair and name ]. A smirk was his immediate reaction to her tease, hands busy for an instant, adjusting the dinner jacket's lapels before turning to her with a quiet, but obvious, request for her approval.

The lightness lasted only a moment, Mia's questioning bringing his expression back to its sobriety. His faithful right hand had told him not to readily trust her, but she had came clean hadn't she? And if she wanted him dead, he would be so by now. Fuck it, he would follow with his own plans. ❛❛ We will have some birdwatchers today. The other organizers don't want any occurrences, but I rather not let any of them leave alive today. ❜❜ He finally turned to face her directly, a smile breaking across his expression again. ❛❛ You look gorgeous in that dress. ❜❜

[venimiss]

she  waits  with  a  feigned  patience  as  the  bartender  prepares  their  drinks.  the  man  orders  for  the  both  of  them.  not  surprising.  most  men  his  type  don  the  gentleman  persona,  she  thinks.  she  didn’t  like  the  thought  of  paying  for  a  man,  anyway.  her  easy  smile  did  not  reach  her  eyes  which,  to  the  trained  eye,  might  reveal  the  growing  boredom  she  felt.  she  was  very  easy  to  bore.  with  her  own  personal  objective  complete  and  payment  in  hand,  she  was  growing  tired  of  the  ‘  job  ’.  this  better  be  worth  my  time.  she  did  like  his  answer,  however.  who  needs  a  reason  to  celebrate?  the  concept  very  much  aligned  with  ‘  noémie  ’,  but  perhaps  not  '  amélie  '.  ❛  𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔  𝑤𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑔  𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ  𝑐𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔  𝑎  𝑠𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒  𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘,  𝑛𝑜.ᐣ  𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦  𝑎𝑟𝑒  𝑓𝑒𝑤  𝑎𝑛𝑑  𝑓𝑎𝑟  𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛  𝑓𝑜𝑟  𝑚𝑜𝑠𝑡.  ❜ 

her  eyes  move  to  watch  the  bartender  as  he  presents  their  drinks.  she  offers  a  brief,  but  ‘  polite  ’  smile  as  thanks.  slow  as  fuck  dip-shit.  she  slides  her  drink  closer,  a  finger  gently  gliding  along  the  rim  as  her  attention  turns  back  to  the  man.  truthfully,  she  would  have  preferred  the  old  fashioned  but  it  didn’t  quite  fit  her  cover.  she  lifts  her  drink  to  her  lips,  hiding  a  growing  smile  in  favor  of  immediately  satiating  his  curiosity.  ❛  𝑠𝑜  𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒.  𝑎𝑛𝑑  𝑦𝑒𝑡  𝑖  𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤  𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛  𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠  𝑜𝑓  𝑦𝑜𝑢.  ❜  she  states,  not  nearly  as  bored  as  a  moment  ago.  ❛  𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠,  𝑖𝑠  𝑖𝑡  𝑛𝑜𝑡  𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑟  𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒  𝑡𝑜  𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒  𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓  𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡.ᐣ  ❜  she  asks,  feigning  disappointment  with  a  sigh  before  clicking  her  tongue.  ❛  𝑎𝑛𝑑  𝑦𝑜𝑢  𝘩𝑎𝑣𝑒  𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛  𝑠𝑜  𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑛-𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒  𝑠𝑜  𝑓𝑎𝑟…  ❜  the  disappointment  persists  only  a  moment  longer  before  it  is  broken  by  a  sly  smile,  making  clear  the  tease.

[parieur]

V.01 ━━ Her answers should've been expected, the deflection wrapped in the same brand of curiosity as his own [ the kind that seeks to learn more for the sake of self-preservation rather than pure interest ], which was something he could respect. ❛❛ << That might be true... But can you blame a man for being cautious, given your line of work? >> ❜❜ He couldn't help the humorous huff at her tease. If anything, part of him had already settled on the idea he would die not as a consequence of his arrogance, but betrayed by his appetites. A feigned sigh of resignation, followed immediately by a smile. ❛❛ << If you insist. Nicolas. >> ❜❜ Not entirely a lie, he was Nicolas on one of his passports.

The glass was left on the counter with the drink unfinished [ drinking anything alcoholic, however little, with a stranger was already an indulgence he rarely allowed himself ], both hands slipping into his pockets. ❛❛ << Now, indulge me for an instant. Was the job hard? >> ❜❜ Judging by the paycheck, he could've guessed the answer... But where's the fun in that?

[thefixer]

❛   nurse .   give  my  muse  company  in  the  hospital .

HOSPITAL'S WERE NEVER MIA'S FAVORITE PLACE TO BE .   the bright lights and the cold laminated floors .   the beeps of machines with doctors and nurses constantly talking .   it's been a very long time since she herself has been admitted to one .   though she hardly remembers it ,   she stuffed down those memories until they became nothing more than a fleeting thought .   nothing more than a feeling of discomfort and pain ...   A MOTHER AND FATHER ,   their deaths and the little girl who was left alone .   a fear in every sense of the word ,   one that she refuses to acknowledge .   

now once again she finds herself uncomfortable ,   PACING THE FLOOR SO MUCH THERE COULD HAVE BEEN TRACKS LEFT BEHIND .   she arrived as soon as kratt had told her what happened .   the whole time she traveled to the hospital ,   she hated herself for not being present during the job .   it's an easy drop off he said :   no one but a few people will attend the meeting .   because mia wasn't marcel's wife nor a family member she wasn't allowed upstairs to his hospital room when he came out of surgery .   having to respect the rules of the hospital ──      LEAST SHE GET DETAINED BY A SECURITY GUARD .   

mia was given twenty minutes ...  if that even was allowed .  she regarded marcel as he slept ,  watching how his chest went up and down .  STEADILY AS IT WENT .  a heart that still beats within his body and is she greatful ?  of course she is ,  but that doesn't mean she doesn't feel part to blame for not being around .  bottom lip pokes out a little more as she frowns at the thought of marcel dying .  " fuck , "  she mutters as she then looks outside of the room and knows there's two of his men standing outside of it .  it's going to be a very long night ...

[parieur]

V.02 ━━ A man like Le Chiffre didn't have the time nor the right to be traumatized, that was a privilege for people who lived their lives in the lawful, socially expected way, for the ones who had a soul. That was what he told himself, but no matter the strength of the mask [ which had had other owners before ], underneath it Marcel was still human, still made of flesh and blood... and that human had his veiled fears, unacknowledged trauma that was the collateral damage of his many years working for the unseen, dangerous side of the world. Anyone who knew so much about the gears behind it all, who moved as much money as he did, was bound to be a target simply for existing.

His consciousness came and went in waves, and in the moments he was alert, very little was recalled: generalized pain, an annoying ringing in his ears, harsh white lights, voices that spoke of medication and supplies he didn't recognize, relief over being taken for care rather than capture and the metallic taste of blood. His mind felt uncommonly slow, and memories of what happened prior to the loud 'BOOM!' and the debris that followed were just as blurry. It had been supposed to be a drop-off to ensure the safety of the bars [ or was it diamonds? How much did the suitcase held? ], and then they had lingered for a conversation about... something. Were those men the target? Was he supposed to still be there? He couldn't tell now, but the uncertainty made him curious, if only for the sake of retribution. Targeted or not, tonight marked the fourteenth time he had escaped death. Luck remained on his side.

It was a faint floral scent that drew him into opening his eyes, at first merely staring at the white, diffusely illuminated ceiling. Was he even asleep? He couldn't tell anymore. Even beneath the sterile, chemical smell that all hospitals seemed to carry, Marcel would know that scent anywhere. He searched the room, limited by what his right eye could see, finding no one there and yet still aware of a presence. ❛❛ Mia? ❜❜ The name scraped out of his throat, coarser than usual, and made him aware of how dry his mouth felt. Uncomfortable as he was, her presence there still brought warmth amidst the chaos he was experiencing.

[valheys-deactivated20260227]

❝ i think that's the version of the story that places you on the pedestal, but i digress. ❞ whether it's an unfair summary of the events by his deduction or hers remains largely unspoken. HIS, by her claim. HERS, by his claim, or so madeline would imagine. this song and dance of theirs is so familiar that when her arms outstretch over the arms of the chair in a loose shake to say goodbye to the tension homing itself in her bones — THEY ALSO SAY HELLO TO ITS ARRIVAL. it has a certain romance to it, she thinks. the consistency welcomed. kindled like a poke to the fire, and they are both known to breed a flame or two somewhere in the swells of their core. even if history has proven they show it quite, quite differently. like an age old tale of the times. behind closed doors it's more prominent than ever. AFTER ALL, IT'S WHERE THEY LIVE THESE DAYS. a full room knows their shared looks. an empty one knows their shared years. told true by the beat of her tongue as it airs his name.

with a nod of thanks, madeline hovers the drink close to her lips. the cool glass against her bottom lip concealing the answer she knows he awaits. this dance, IS A DANCE, as much as it is a game. they both are already well aware of the answer no matter how many times she attempts to force it back down her throat. raw, crimsoned and trembling. though she ( also knows ) that his asking isn't framed as a courtesy to her. over narrowed green eyes, her brows furrow at him, and she swipes her thumb across the rim of her glass. tongue presses against the back of her teeth. no, not a courtesy, RATHER A WAY OF PLUCKING WHAT IT IS HE WANTS FROM HER. as she is here to pluck what she desires from him. ❝ because i don't trust anybody else. ❞ the truth in all of its glory sits between them. marked with an upward turn of her eyes, nearly a roll but she's trying to be sweet — in hopes of the guignolet offering him a sweet tooth in its venture past his lips. he should really, reaaallyyyy thank her for being so considerate.

❝ or maybe you would have preferred if i asked the guy i passed on the street corner while grabbing my lunch this afternoon. he doesn't have your particular skill set AND he might've ratted my ass out to the first beat cop who looked at him the wrong way, but hey — if it can't be you ... it might as well have been him. or i could just drain the stock myself and hope i don't get caught with a name like mine. ❞ she can't, because she doesn't even know how to do that. CLEARLY THOUGH, she hasn't learned the art of tampering down the dramatics. but fear comes in many forms. hers flairs especially well when coupled with a side dish of rambling. madeline sighs. shoulders hunch a little in defeat and her back, no longer poised and bristled like its ready for attack, falls back into the chair. she hangs her head off the back for a few moments as she lets a silence settle. only when she feels the dust grow a little wearied in its stillness does she lift her head so her eyes can gaze back at him. eyes softer. ❝ i fucked up. ❞

[parieur]

V.01 ━━ @valheys ━━ He couldn't [ or wouldn't ] avoid the smirk that kept growing closer and closer to a full smile as she went on with her performance of poorly veiled despair. Marcel Le Chiffre would help her either way, but he might as well take the most out of it [ and he never said no to the chance to humble members who kept cleaner hands, they had to be reminded every now and then that their organization wasn't an S&P 500 component, it was bloody business with far higher stakes ]. People in their organization didn't have the luxury of failure, and yet both of them had known its taste before and lived to tell the tale... And to remember the weight of its consequences. He recognized the fear, the understanding of how unlikely it was that they would ever be allowed to fail again without paying in blood. All five liters of it.

❛❛ Yes, you did. ❜❜ His drink was finished in one large gulp, followed by a satisfied sigh as the glass tapped on the desk. He was pleased enough with her weird brand of sharp-tongued groveling, assuming it was all the bruising her ego would take for the day... And he had to reward her display of vulnerability somehow [ holding back his tongue seemed good enough ]. He leaned against the desk, fingers loosely intertwined in his lap while he stared ahead at the screens behind her, analyzing the stock movements on the screen and pondering the ways he could help her. A frown settled across his brow, furrowing it lightly in contemplation. This round of their game had come to an end and she would get what she wanted, as always. But not for free, not this time.

The tips of his index fingers met, and he finally brought his attention back to her. ❛❛ There is more I need to know before doing anything. No half answers, Maddie. ❜❜ His voice was stern, not unlike a teacher's they had shared in the 90s. ❛❛ What is the current loss? What is your deadline? How and from where did you fund those stocks? And do you want me to drain them or to reverse the market? ❜❜ The questions were listed as if he expected her to memorize them somehow. He did.

[rivhersbye]

_ ( # ) * keen eyes watch their surroundings carefully, her grip on her reins still comfortably loose- there is no tension in her body beyond the straight posture of her spine as she sits upright in her saddle. it wouldn't do to give away to whoever's in the vicinity that they've been so PATHETICALLY made. "any ideas who?" she asks lowly, head turning toward him as he moves to settle at her side ... if she looks unbothered, she isn't- she's listening just as carefully as marcel, glancing around in case it's not a lone trespasser but rather a team- it could go either way. she watched from the corner of her eye as he retrieved a blade, a SMALL SMIRK gracing her mouth when he enquires about her own state of armed- kendra nodded. of course she brought a gun. the southern blood in her veins all but DEMAND she have one within reach at any given moment. she cocked her head to her left and down. "knife'n my boot too." and another concealed in her saddle, if he needs a spare. kenz pulled on the reins, turning her trusted companion back toward the west- "y'want me to check it out?" she asks with a risen brow, tipping her hat up to loosely sit 'pon her blonde crown, her forefinger absentmindedly rubbing up and down the leather strap in the palm of her hand.

[parieur]

V.04 ━━ It didn't take him more than an instant to decide that she would be more useful at a distance. Kendra was by far a better shot than he ever was, and if one of them were to need cover, it was best that the one who could hit a bullseye be the one behind, with more time to react. ❛❛ I'll go. ❜❜ He directed a last glance at the trees before dismounting the horse. A frown appeared on his brows, followed by a short, humorous huff, an unconscious reaction to the thought that popped into his head, and how it would be the most natural and logical reason for his horse's state of alert. ❛❛ I'm starting to think it might be a bear, or an elk. Otherwise we would've been shot already. ❜❜ He patted the horse's neck a few times and left, quietly walking to the trees [ mentally cursing what he considered a steep hill ] until he could see anything see anything ahead. It didn't took long to have a better view of the trees, and the black bear climbing on one. Marcel smiled, retreating without withdrawing his eye from the animal until he could no longer see it, sometimes things are that simple. He quickly made his way back, smiling still. ❛❛ Bear. ❜❜

[parieur]

❝ wasn’t sure i’d see you again. ❞   [ + from madeline ]

V.01 ━━ @valheys ━━ It had been nearly a year since he was forced to swallow his hubris and deal with its consequences, and over a year since he had last saw her. Their organization dealt out heavy punishment for failure, with many members never even given the chance to correct their shortcomings, paying for those mistakes with their lives. His luck [ the only goddess he believed in ] had granted him survival, but not without a hefty price to be paid [ "there'll be hell to pay" had never been an exaggeration when it came to Spectre's draconian ways ].

The past year of his life was spent on an exhausting project of recovery and damage control, with the absurd goals of recouping over 143 million dollars [ an amount composed of his expired puts compounded with 42% interest ] in less than a year, under the threat of losing his life.

The work itself hadn't been the worst part. No... That distinction belonged to the damage done to his reputation within the upper echelons of the organization, which was carefully withheld from clients to preserve the illusion of a perfectly working machine, and save face for the entire enterprise. But that soon would come to an end too. Le Chiffre could finally breathe without feeling a blade against his neck, having recovered just enough standing to appear in their gatherings once more. It was time to be seen again.

His attention was returned to the reconstruction of his reputation: to prove himself not merely trustworthy, but unmatched in his field of expertise. If finance was the wheel that made their shadow world move, he had to be the axle that made it turn.

The voice was easily recognized, though not immediately acknowledged. He took a sip of his drink [ a well-made boulevardier ] before looking at her, a dry chuckle serving as the first response to her. ❛❛ Delightful to know you had so much faith in me. ❜❜ He straightened his posture, now fully facing her, one hand tucked away into his pocket. ❛❛ I don't die that easily, Madeline. And I don't lose. You should know that by now. ❜❜ His voice carried a hint of humor, his lips curling into a smirk.

[parieur]

❝ how am i part of this? ❞  

V.05 ━━ His brand of financial management has always been insidious, but it yielded unquestionable results, with profit margins large enough to strengthen his own coffers and place him permanently within Quantum's power structure. Success aside, Le Chiffre knew too well that standing at the top didn't stop the fall, only caution and usefulness could prevent it, and he worked to make sure both remained in his favor. No one could do his job with the same level of efficacy, and he intended to keep it that way.

His financial pet project, a bank designed to serve the Hellfire Club's members and bypass any legitimate networks that could eventually seize their funds, was on the eve of its deployment. The details of its architecture and available services were kept well hidden [ for the same reasons he kept his methods under lock and key ], at least until he could put the system to the test. Le Chiffre couldn't hide it from all of them, not when a telepath was always in the room.

His active train of thought [ the complex web of shell companies, SPEs and the layering that held their financing structure ] wasn't ciphered, as he often tried to make it whenever Frost was around. Instead, it ran on a linear logic as he reviewed his own creation with the caution it deserved, knowing that the powers that be wouldn't look kindly on their efforts to render banks and government regulations useless to sanction their kind [ and especially to themselves ].

His mental assessment was cut abruptly by her words, his eyes shifting to the source, a polite half-smile appearing as a form of greeting that veiled the discomfort. He never knew when she could see within his mind, that was enough to make a man like himself disturbed. ❛❛ You could provide some risk capital to our efforts, Ms. Frost. ❜❜ His hand waved through the air, a vague gesture. ❛❛ I am planning to formalize a proposal soon, but ideally, everyone contributes. ❜❜

[parieur]

❝ we all have our scars. ❞

V.01 ━━ Mornings had become his favorite part of the day. The air always filled with the excited chatter between the two curly-haired girls, their mother [ absent for the week, on a business trip ] and the newest addition to their domestic environment: Violet. Marcel kept half an ear tuned to their conversation, lifting his gaze from the newspaper's article on another tech merger only when the children's questions strayed from some random animation movie toward a subject he knew, through his own experience, could stir some unpleasant memories. The woman's answer was brief and gentle, but the phrasing didn't slip past him.

He folded the newspaper and set it aside, rising from his seat with the cup still in hand. One last sip of his latte, and then two sharp snaps his fingers toward the girls. A small , crooked smile appeared on his mouth as his voice followed with the accented french reserved for his family. ❛❛ << That's enough from you two, go get changed. >> ❜❜ As expected, the girls whined at the reprimand, but disappeared down the hallway toward their rooms. When the footsteps were far enough, he turned to the pink haired woman. ❛❛ Don't be afraid to tell them you'd rather not talk about something. They will pout, of course, but we've raised them to respect boundaries. And they really like you, they wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable. ❜❜ There was a pride in his voice only revealed when speaking of his daughters, something that softened his usual neutrality.

[arkehtype]

— [ the haunting of hill house ] , @parieur : > I'VE GOT YOUR BACK, BUT I ALSO HAVE MY LIMITS.

the words come with claw marks— RAW & BLOODY, and the taste of copper is acrid on her tongue. madeline sits across the desk from him. arms folded, unblinking. nothing but fifty some odd inches of wood between them. she hears what he's saying but she's not really listening. the urge to sharpen her teeth with glass and bite back threatens to crawl up her throat. around every corner of her memory, there was marcel. even if she doesn't want to admit it, hell, even if she won't ... (some truths are only meant to be held in palms with dripping crescent moons and nails with skin under them) ... IT STINGS.

'so it would seem our shadows have reached a precipice.' madeline muses instead. mulls each syllable in her mouth like she's waiting for his stance to change. as if somehow, if she takes longer to voice her opinion, the silence will eat her dismay and serve it back to him on a plate worthy of second guessing. IT'S A TACTIC SHE USES OFTEN, just not on him. desperate times call for desperate measures. her nail finds a home between her teeth. is it a nervous habit or is it a way to protect her own vulnerability? 'i'll admit,' one leg unravels from the other, flat - flooted on the ground now, and maddie leans forward with her elbows on either arm of the chair : 'i didn't factor your limits into my schedule so i'm going to need you to be a little loosey goosey with those today. you think you haven't surpassed any of my limits? well, allow me to inform you that YOU HAVE - ASTRONOMICALLY SO. so save me the you've-gone-too-far-this-time-madeline speech, marcel.'

[parieur]

V.01 ━━ He listened to her impatience with a faint, personal amusement, something that he'd long grown used to [ and learned to look past ] over the last couple decades. A capped meisterstück twirled between his fingers, the idle motion sharpening his focus as he weighed the little he knew of her predicament and the most efficient way to drag her out of it. His help was never free. ❛❛ No, you've reached a precipice. I'm the one who has to pull you away from it. ❜❜ His voice remained even, but it carried some sharpness to their edges, hinting the claws kept beneath his façade. He couldn't help it, she had earned it.

Marcel rose from the chair as she continued on to brush off the line he had drawn in the sand, the line that kept her mostly legitimate dealings from the bloodstained coffers of his work. A few steps took him to the bar tucked at the corner of the office. They both needed a drink if this conversation was to be anything less than tiresome for both sides. ❛❛ You could have gone to your own division for help. Why come all the way to me? ❜❜ Deep down, he already knew the answer: they had walked so much of this road side by side [ hers paved and cleaner, not like his at all ], close enough that Madeleine dared using his birth name. But he wanted to hear that from her mouth. Ice clinked against crystal as he poured, soon floating in guignolet. Getting back to the desk, this time closer, leaning back against it, he brought his own drink to his lips and then extended toward her the other glass, a quiet offering. ❛❛ And more importantly: if I'm to 'surpass my limits' and meddle in your territory, that comes with a price, with consequences. I don't play on your side of the fence, and you know it. ❜❜ He frowned, only then gazing back into her eyes. ❛❛ What really happened? ❜❜

[per6e-deactivated20260117]

“You  were  looking  for  me?”

SHE  PLACES  HER  KNIFE  ON  THE  HOTEL  BATHROOM  COUNTER.  The  trials  had  unfolded  better  than  she  could  have  hoped,  and  Persephone  felt  the  victory  sit  warm  and  bright  beneath  her  ribs.  Second  place  suited  her;  she  had  won  enough  in  her  lifetime  to  know  when  the  spotlight  wasn’t  meant  for  her.  This  time,  her  eyes  had  been  on  her  girls.  She  wanted  one  of  them  at  the  very  top,  polished  and  radiant  for  the  potential  buyer  she  was  trying  to  charm  into  loyalty.  It  was  strategy,  the  kind  woven  from  quiet  pride  and  sharper  ambition.

Even  so,  her  attention  wasn’t  entirely  on  the  celebration.  Flickers  of  earlier  stare-offs  with  Le  Chiffre  replayed  in  her  mind,  vivid  enough  to  make  her  pulse  tighten.  When  she  glanced  across  the  room  and  found  him  already  watching  her,  something  in  her  settled  and  stirred  all  at  once.

Their  relationship  had  always  been  professional  and  careful,  measured,  built  on  mutual  respect  and  the  understanding  that  neither  of  them  could  afford  unnecessary  missteps.  Yet  the  air  between  them  carried  a  tension  that  had  never  quite  dissolved.  The  trials  were  the  beginning  of  her  newly  discovered  empire.  The  black  ledger  pressed  pressure  on  her  neck.  The  stress  was  something  that  felt  as  if  it  could  swallow  her  whole.  While  she  appreciated  the  man  she  was  so  curious  about;  she  was  strictly  interested  in  his  money  (  or  so  she  told  herself  ) 

It  was  the  third  night,  and  Persephone  knew  it  might  be  the  last  time  she  would  see  him  for  a  while.  The  thought  bothered  her  more  than  she  wanted  to  admit,  enough  that  she  frowned  at  her  reflection  in  the  darkened  windows  as  she  walked  the  long  hallway  toward  the  private  meeting  room  Jade  had  arranged.  She  was  dressed  head  to  toe  in  a  custom  blue  Dolce  and  Gabbana  silk  dress  which  was  light,  something  that  was  short  enough  to  press  onto  an  obvious  desire  for  attention.  yet  her  curls  were  still  a  little  wild  from  the  chaos  of  the  day.  The  small  cuts  and  scratches  from  the  trials  had  been  cleaned,  though  the  bruise  on  her  neck  from  that  heated  exchange  was  hidden  beneath  the  fall  of  her  hair.

When  she  stepped  into  the  room  and  heard  his  voice,  she  stopped  for  just  a  breath.  Something  warm  tugged  at  her  chest,  and  a  soft  smile  eased  across  her  nude  lips  before  she  let  herself  fully  enter.

“Si,”  she  said  gently,  hands  folding  behind  her  back  in  an  almost  shy  habit  she  rarely  displayed.  “I  wanted  to  check  in  on  your  experience  before  you  leave  tomorrow.”  Her  eyes  lifted  to  him,  steady  and  warm  despite  the  exhaustion  beneath  them.  “Thank  you  for  coming,  truly.  And  I  heard  your  fighter  won.”  A  faint  spark  of  playfulness  touched  her  smile.  “suppongo che dovrei congratularmi con il vincitore. ”

finally  in  the  flirting  stage  featuring  @parieur

[parieur]

V.03 ━━ From the Capote's Black and White Party and the Rothschild's Surrealist Ball to the Bohemian Club's gatherings, the elite always had a penchant for the theatrical and the ritualistic. Those events were more than just parties and reunions, they had an intrinsic role in the way the upper class flaunted their power, be it through proving nothing was out of reach, or by tightening their network to allow in only those who mattered. The underworld's elite worked the same way, but even for them Le Chiffre remained a mysterious figure who held more importance than most knew [ and he preferred it that way, the spotlight wasn't safe for men in his line of work ].

The Trials were a novelty to the already existing social calendar for those who stayed beneath shadows, and in his opinion, a welcome romanesque addition that offered way more enjoyment than the galas, auctions and gatherings. While being invited to such events was part of the dynamic between Le Chiffre and his clients, Persephone wasn't a client long enough to fully appreciate his work and deem it worthy of the flattery those invitations offered. He couldn't help but wonder about the motive behind her invitation.

Regardless of motivation, he attended. The past three nights were marked by short hours of sleep [ part caution, part enjoyment of the given environment ], potential business partnerships and gladiatorial entertainment. Le Chiffre considered it a celebration of indulgence, and, fully honoring such incentive, he planned to get better acquainted with the few exceptional creatures he got to meet during his stay.

He prided himself on being better at reading people than most men, and Persephone wasn't an exception to that. He had noticed some interest, and deemed this a good occasion to gauge just how correct his reading had been. His eyes weren't discreet, and he allowed himself to further study the exotic bird that was the Heiress during the earlier portion of the night, only to eventually stray to conversation with other players, something that lasted a mere quarter of hour.

With the dissolution of the group, his attention turned inward, recapping the conversations and episodes of the past days. The crystal snifter held between his middle and ring fingers, the liquid inside swirling in a gentle motion, a means to disconnect him further from the room's babble. His thoughts were mostly focused on his host, whom he had to admit looked formidable in a fight. Unlike most organizers of those ritualistic spectacles, she partook in it, something he held in her favor, it showed she wasn't above using her nails to rip someone's throat if push came to shove. She would need that ferocity to survive in their world as a member of the higher echelons.

A spot of blue appeared on the periphery of his right side [ the one eye that could see ], interrupting his thoughts with the sudden splash of color against the muted tones most guests wore. He recognized the fabric's hue and the voice, a polite smile curving his lips before he turned to her. ❛❛ It was a scintillating event, Ms. Larke. ❜❜ He took the liberty of stepping closer, keeping the conversation from any prying ears. The veiled fatigue she bore on her face made him follow her linguistic change. ❛❛ << Yes, she was a good bet. Your fight wasn't any less of a show. Rest assured that I had a delightful experience with it all. >> ❜❜