; roman holiday

[pearlfacades-blog]

undercovergunn:

“You have to know something.“ Jasper was desperate. Detective Burnell was breathing down his neck, threatening to pull him out of this undercover operation if he didn’t bring him some evidence or new information on George or James soon. Jasper wasn’t ready to give up on this case, he was in this for the long ride. No matter what it took. He just needed to prove to his supervising officer that he should believe in it as much as he did.

“Well, I don’t.” 

Hallie took a seat on the edge of her bed, never one to part with information easily, especially to someone she didn’t particularly trust. "Everything I know is just rumors, nothing more. That works in my line of business, not yours.” 

[pearlfacades-blog]

undercovergunn:

“I wasn’t followed.“ Jasper said, unsure of who he was trying to convince more— him or her. Jasper had been careful when crossing the border, circling the block several times before he actually made the trip into jolly roger territory. Jasper wasn’t as stealthy as Dylan was though, he could only hope that he had observed her enough to be as half as a ghost as she was. 

“A man died the other day, Hallie. Two other people are in hospital. I know James Hook had something to do with it.“ James Hook was the only threat to Dante Blackwell, the only one currently in Neverland, at least. “I need to find evidence that he’s connected to this.“ Maybe if he found something on Hook connecting him to Dante’s death then he would be able to connect him to Chuck Sinclair’s death too.

“That knowledge and a dollar bill will get you a coke.” Hallie rolled her eyes as she spoke in hushed tones. She had come to expect that she was always being listened to. 

“Sadly, I have nothing else to give you. I believe you know where the door is.” 

[pearlfacades-blog]

cptnhook:

Hook chuckled, looking every bit proud as the fire in the distance raged on. Perhaps it was sadism to take such pleasure from something so grim, but it wasn’t the act itself that was tickling him, but rather the win. 

“Nothing like a little fireworks to elevate the mood.”

“If you say so.” 

Maybe it should have horrified Hallie, but she was a far cry from the girl she had been years ago. It was impossible to stay naive and foolish forever. “I think this is the first time you’ve smiled in months. Almost hard to recognize the expression.” 

[undercovergunn-blog]

@pearlfacades

With his hood pulled up, Jasper kept his head low as he crossed over the border into Jolly Roger territory. Coming here was dangerous, now more than ever after the death of Dante Blackwell but it was a risk that Jasper was willing to take. He needed to speak to her, find out what she knew about the attack on Dante Blackwell and how much more she would be able to find out for him. 

“Hallie,” He whispered through her door, eyes scanning the corridor of the mermaids living quarters nervously. “Hallie, open up. It’s Ry — It’s Jasper. I need to talk with you.”

[pearlfacades-blog]

“What the hell?” 

Hallie whispered sharply as she opened her door and dragged him inside quickly. Unlike Sadie, she did not have the luxury of letting people traipse in and out of their home so easily. Jasper’s unfortunate knowledge of her situation meant that he got information from her, but it was on her schedule of it. 

“You cannot be here. Muss up your hair, do twenty jumping jacks and then get out.” 

[pearlfacades-blog]

vapidsiren:

“I’ll call.” She decided, glancing down toward her bag wondering what the hell she was going to say. Gigi glanced back at Hallie. “Thanks.” 

“You can repay me with an appropriate gift at another time.” Hallie waved off the gratitude, it was unnecessary. Much as the girls competed, Hallie had never seen a need for the rivalry. Their lives were difficult enough without adding to it. 

[pearlfacades-blog]

vapidsiren:

“Would you want to hear from me after your father just died?” It was a vulnerable question, she’d left herself open for attack. The mermaids would be the first to tell you exactly everything wrong with Gigi. They had witnessed every rough edge and cutting remark. Not exactly the prime source of comfort or compassion. 

The last time she’d spoken to Emmett was the night she met Renee, and she doubted the timing was accidental. Now she was not only the girl who pissed off his sister, she was also from the side that killed his father. 

Hallie frowned at Gigi’s question, unsure if she was really meant to answer. “When a tragedy happens, you want to hear from people who are close to you. It seems like you two are close.” 

[pearlfacades-blog]

vapidsiren:

“Yeah,” She doesn’t try to dodge the fact he was here, there was no point in it. But it’s the next question that has her pausing again. He’s my...Now was definitely not the time to be trying to figure it out, let alone explain it to anyone else. “I know him.” Knew him? 

“Well, not to step out of bounds, but you might want to give him a call.” Hallie didn’t know what the Blackwell boy was to Gigi, but she could tell in her expression that there was something that went beyond how Gigi treated clients. 

[pearlfacades-blog]

vapidsiren:

It was the moment Georgia knew she had a heart, if only because she could feel it slither from her casam of a chest into the pit of her something and ball up like a python. She knew nothing good would come from seeing them on this side of the border. She knew something could come of it, but not this. Her expression dropped to a full stop, frozen in a state of pause. 

“Just Dante?” Gigi asked before she even thought through whether she wanted the answer. It would be received as any other tactless question from the girl no one saw as wise enough to know better. But she needed to know, if she had lost out on saying goodbye a second time. 

“One or two Lost Boys were injured.” Hallie hadn’t gotten the chance to verify the facts yet, but from the sounds of things it had been Dante who sustained the worst of things. 

“His son is the one who drops by occasionally, isn’t he? I’m sorry, Gigi, did you know him well?” 

[vapidsiren-blog]

“Did anyone end up finding out what happened last night?” Gigi asked, stuffing a candied peanut into her mouth. She’d fallen asleep watching E! when it happened, and had only woken up enough to notice the shake then fall back asleep. She thought it was just an earthquake or a very big train. Unaware that she had literally slept through a hellmouth opening up in Neverland. “Do you think a train derailed or something?” 

[pearlfacades-blog]

“Dante Blackwell was killed in an explosion.” Hallie raised her eyebrows at Gigi, surprised she wasn’t tuned into this piece of information. “We’re meant to stay close to home until the aggravation dies down.” 

[cptnhook-blog1]

Feet planted on his side of the border, Hook looked every part smug as he watched and heard the blast. Josh had done beautifully, as he trusted he would. The only thing that would have made the moment sweeter for the Captain would have been to be there to see his former father’s face when he realised who’s body was being incinerated in a car paid for by the gains of the empire they built. 

He had more restraint than that, too smart to cross the border on a whim. When his feet did touch Lost Boy soil, it would come with a consequence. For them. 

If not for Sadie’s unfortunately timed trip across enemy lines, Hook would have regarded it as a damn near perfect strike. However, worry didn’t touch him on the matter. Both Chase and Smee knew better than to return to him empty handed. 

He flicked the butt of his cigarette to the other side. This was only the beginning, he already anticipated they would strike back, and when they did he would be ready. 

[pearlfacades-blog]

“Holy shit.” 

It was crass but it suited the moment as Hallie looked between the fire and the man who was undoubtedly responsible. While she had spent enough time in town to know what happened when retribution was called on, this took things to a level she had not yet seen. 

“You certainly don’t do things in half-measures.” 

[pearlfacades-blog]

“Thank you, but no.” Hallie didn’t like the idea of accepting gifts from her clients, despite being viewed as an outsider by the other girls for that opinion. She found that when she had accepted, they thought that she owed them something or that this was something more than it was. 

“A bit too gaudy for my taste.” She patted the man lightly on his chest before excusing herself. 

[pearlfacades-blog]

vapidsiren:

“You should have seen my sixth year showcase.” Gigi had given a girl a nose bleed after she pulled her hair during bridge of their class song. And her parents were furious the whole ride home. It wasn’t an advertised skill of hers, but when you had people wanting to rip your hair out as long as Gigi had you picked up a few things. That, and the nuggets of wisdom bestowed on her from a very special friend. “She’s to sloshed to notice her drink is missing anyway, she walked in posh and is now full  cockney.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Hallie would be hard pressed to be shocked by anything anymore. Those she counted as friends were definitely unlike anyone she had met in school or even the rest of the world. She supposed that was what made them so fascinating.

[pearlfacades-blog]

vapidsiren:

“He’ll never stay, they never do.” Gigi sang along under her breathe, a bittersweet smile claiming her expression before she noticed she and the girl next to her were drinking the same thing with one difference: Gigi’s was empty. And then suddenly after a quick switch of the glasses, it wasn’t anymore. Gigi had been walking across to the other side when Hallie’s voice caught her off guard. Blue eyes settling on the other mermaid with a playful smile. “What are you going to do, tell on me?”

“I have always wanted to see you end up in an actual fight.” Hallie smiled at the thought of anyone actually being able to go toe to toe with Gigi and making it out whole. “But at most, she would probably try to toss a drink at you only to remember her glass was empty, making the whole affair a bit pointless. So no, no tattling.” 

[oldfashionedvillain-deactivated]

Gaby’s working for you, isn’t she?

[pearlfacades-blog]

“I saw that.” 

Hallie’s voice was teasing as she took another sip of her drink. When it came to the people who inhabited this town, it was always best to air on the side of caution. There had been enough stories of people who vanished for offending the wrong person.

[pearlfacades-blog]

chaseinflames:

Chase had a perplexed look on his face for a moment, he’d never really thought of it that way but he supposed she was right. He gave an agreeable shrug.  “I guess so.”

“But I think in this case doing nothing wouldn’t be half as fun as it might sound.”

“Are you turning into a people pleaser, Chase?” Hallie smiled at the concept; Chase was many things but amenable to pleasing people did not seem like one of them. “Color me shocked.” 

[pearlfacades-blog]

hcydensinclairs:

“If you say so.“ Hayden smiled, returning the lighter to his jacket pocket. He didn’t know Monique personally, what he knew about her was only what he had heard or from what he had seen during his hours spent with her various girls. Hallie included. “Is this a smoke break or are you off the clock?“

“That depends. Would my answer change what your next question is?” Hallie smiled playfully, exhaling a thin line of smoke from between her lips.