Princess Powerful

like a chest of hidden gold      shimmers in the depths below           we are, we are                  treasures that they hide

[vtrystane]

               Well. Vic didn’t want to go on with his life knowing that                he’d been given the chance to have     free donuts and                didn’t take it.                                       ‘          Alright. Only if you promise not to                                                              yell at me again, though. ’

               He grinned at the girl, hoping the gesture was taken as                he’d meant it to be – a friendly jest, a joke.    He didn’t                want to embarrass her, after all, seeing as she’d done a                fine job of that herself in purchasing a dozen donuts too                many. He held out a hand,                ‘ I’m Vic Trystane. ’

[prxncess-powerful]

             Malia let out a relieved sigh, thankful she wouldn’t have to              eat herself into a diabetic coma, and shifted the donuts onto              one arm so she could take his offered hand.

                                           ❝Malia Hammond.                                Please forgive my pre-donut bitchiness.                     It’s kind of a problem I have. I suppose we can at least                                 be thankful it’s not the pre-coffee bitchiness.                                              No one wants to see that. ❞

[freelxncer-blog-blog]

Jace wasn’t quite so annoyed. If there wasn’t anything going on, all the better for him. He kept his fake smile up long enough to not seem suspicious when he finally let it fall. When he was sure he was in the clear, he started scanning again. 

He had initially scanned over the ‘couple,’ grumping over their actions. Why be couple-y here. This wasn’t a couple-y place. Malia, thankfully, drew his attention to what was really happening. He nodded, noting the missing guard and allowing himself to be pulled through, “We’ll need to separate. Close in.” The dance floor was a good as any place to do so. With so many on the floor going this way and that, it would be hard to keep track of them. 

[prxncess-powerful]

Malia completely agreed. She broke away from Jace, intending to  do  as  he  suggested,   and  then  froze, watching the couple disappear through the side door.   That seemed a strange move, if  they  were  here  for  Cardell wouldn’t they need to stay here? She  glanced  around,     making  sure  he  was  where  he  was supposed to be, and felt a brief moment of panic when he wasn’t. If  he  wasn’t in the ballroom, then that meant he was... still in his office.    Which  could  be  accessed - eventually - from  the side door they’d just slipped though.

Oh damn.

She pushed her way quickly through the crowd and burst through the door and into the corridor,    searching for a sign of the couple. She  caught  a  glimpse of the hem of a dress disappear around a corner and groaned.   Yep,    they were heading right for his office. This  corridor  should  have  been  guarded  as  well,      and  was suspiciously quiet. The whole lack of guards thing was beginning  to worry Malia. That’s two down, what were the chances the rest were gone too?   Had they been paid off?   Hurt? Killed? Was this an inside job?

Now was not the time to be speculating. 

                                                   ❝Jace, can you circle round to the back entrance of Siens’ office?                                                        I’m  gonna  follow  them  straight  in.   I  think  almost  the whole                                                        personal security team has been compromised, but let’s try and                                                              keep this as quiet as possible. Don’t want to upset the guests...                                                        or have the police come and ask you too many questions.❞

[elianecasuana]

[ prxncess-powerful​ ]

     ELIANE peeked her head into the flower shop at the address she’d gotten from Malia. There was a thick, humid, green smell to the shop, mixed with the earthy scent of fresh soil. 

     Did she really need another job? No. Certainly not with the kind of money that Jace and Malia were making on that last job. But she’d promised herself she was cutting back on her more illicit activities – the more dangerous aspects at least – and she could use something to fill up time.

     Besides, it didn’t hurt to check the place out, at least. She stepped deeper into the shop, looking for signs of animate life, rather than the more sessile greenery around the space. 

     “Malia? Are you here? It’s Eliane.”

[prxncess-powerful]

   ❝In the back!❞

Malia lifted a hand into the air and waved above the fauna, hoping Eliane could see her signal,  before turning back to her original task.  A big,  beautiful outdoor vase.  That was ten  times  her  size  and  weighed  as  many  tons...    and needed to be moved.   She’d been trying very hard to keep her pewter use to a minimum ever since... well ever since thirteen  years  of  abusing  it  finally  caught  up to her and she’d almost died.   Still...  for something this little it would be alright                                                                        right?

She drunk down a small vial of pewter and began burning it low.  Wrapping her arms around the vase, she attempted to lift it, but even with the pewter, it was still to heavy.  

                                   ❝Damn.❞

She burned harder until she managed to lift the giant thing off the ground,  and with an awkward waddle,  managed to move it into the far corner where it could look pretty without being in the way.       With a grunt,     she set it down and stepped back, dusting off her hands with a satisfied smile.

[spannerboop]

Where were they going? Emalyn hadn’t thought that far ahead, really. She just wanted to see if it would actually work. She slowed as she realised she really had no destination in mind, and she needed to think of an excuse quickly.

“Well, uh…there’s this thing that’s related to the other thing, that’s kind of in conjecture with the thingamajig, but the thingamajig isn’t all too related to the thing, so really we’re doing the other thing.” She eventually slowed down to a walk through her speech, frowning slightly, “So really, it was all just for science, and you can’t really end science exactly, so there’s no actual destination.” She paused thoughtfully, “Unless you know how to break physics.”

[prxncess-powerful]

Malia stared at the girl, trying to follow along her words but  eventually  becoming  completely lost. There were some thingamajigs? And they were related somehow? But actually they weren’t? She did managed to get that they   weren’t   actually  going  anywhere  in  particular though, and laughed.

                                        ❝I can break a lot of things, but I haven’t yet managed                                             to break physics.   But since we have no destination                                             in mind, can I suggest somewhere with coffee? I had                                             my heart set on something way too caramelly for my                                             own good before science interrupted.                                                                                 I’m Malia by the way.❞

[hackerjaxmoved-blog]

                ❝ Uhh…yea!                           No, no, I’m totally good.                                              Yep, I’m fine. ❞           He glanced quickly over his own shoulder before looking         over hers and shrugged with one shoulder, a smile forming.                                 ❝ Better, now, actually. Are you?                                                           Okay, I mean? I uh… ❞         Jax fished into  the pocket of his hoodie and pulled out an apple.                                                       ❝ Hungry? ❞

[prxncess-powerful]

It wasn’t hard for Malia to tell that he was clearly running from something.     She couldn’t tell what, but by the way he  was  glancing  over  his  shoulder  it  was something close by.    All of her protective instincts dialled up to 11, but she managed to hide it with a warm smile.

                                                   ❝I am actually. Hungry I mean. I was just about to grab                                                        lunch from that diner around the corner.                                                                                                                       Care to join me?❞

[spannerboop]

 prxncess-powerful

It’s been awhile since Emalyn has started some trouble. She scoped out for some possible new…friends…There.

Down the street, an unsuspecting Malia stood. Grinning, Emalyn sprinted down the sidewalk, quickly grasping Malia’s hand as she ran by and slowing only slightly, so as not to rip the woman’s arm out of her socket.

“Quick, hold my hand and run! It’s for science!!” 

[prxncess-powerful]

❝For science?❞ Malia managed to ask before being yanked forward.  It seemed best just to go with the girl, especially since she had quite an impressive grip and there was really no other choice.

It took an embarassingly short time for Malia to lose her breath,  but  that  probably had something to do with how hard she was laughing.

                                                  ❝Where are we going?❞

[vtrystane]

               He noticed.                        ‘         Twelve donuts. Ambitious. ’

[prxncess-powerful]

Ambitious was one way of putting it. Insane was another. Sure   she  was  hungry,   but  there  was  no  way  she’d manage  to  eat  all  twelve  donuts.  And while they were certainly delicious, they didn’t exactly keep for very long.

She  shook  her  head  at  her  own  stubbornness as she paid  for all of the donuts. Stupid, stubborn, prideful Malia. What   the   hell   was   she   supposed   to   do  now.  She glanced  at  the  man,  then  back  to the donuts, then back again,  offering  what she hoped  was  an apologetic smile.

                                                                       ❝Help me?❞  

[hackerjaxmoved-blog]

;;prxncess-powerful

                    ❝ Watch ou– shit! ❞         He’d ditched the unis a block back, but he’d turned the corner out of the alley right into          one of the busiest streets and–                                                                       Wow. Nice.                                                       Wait, why am I on the ground?

                   ❝ Uh, sorry ‘bout that but, jeez. ❞           He pushed himself to his feet and dusted off, shoving the hood back off of his head.                   ❝ What are you made of, stone? ❞

[prxncess-powerful]

He came around the corner so fast, Malia barely had time   to   flare  her  pewter  to  brace  for  the  impact. With   a  grunt,   she   slid  her  foot  back,  preventing herself     from     being    knocked    backwards    too.

For a long moment, Malia  was  too  stunned  to reply. 

❝Not     that     I     know     of,❞    she   said    finally.                                                                                                              ❝Are you okay?❞

[vtrystane]

                            ‘ Alright! Sorry, ’           His hands go up in mock surrender, and                  Vic steps to the side to let the woman pass.      ‘ Don’t get between a woman and donuts. Words to live by… ’

[prxncess-powerful]

❝Damn right.❞  

Of course now that she could actually see the donuts, Malia  was  having  trouble  deciding  which  one  she wanted.  She scowled at them,  and then to the side at the  man,  hoping  he  was  still  half  asleep enough to not notice.  Especially  after she had been kind of rude.

Screw it. 

❝One of each, please.❞

[prxncess-powerful]

coinshot​

THE Heavy rain sounded far away from inside the sanctuary of the chapel. Flickering candlelight gave the impression of warmth, despite the cold weather outside and there was no sound besides Malia's own shaky breaths. She was alone.

                                                                                                              Good.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw it happening all over again. The glint of the knife, the blood on her hands, the light leaving his eyes.

                         He'd only been twelve years old. And she had failed him.

Malia gritted her teeth and tried to force the images out of her head. She had never failed before. Not like this. Not a child. Maybe if she had waited for Jace... if she hadn’t been so stubborn. Maybe he’d still be alive.

Her hands were clasped tight together, so tight it almost hurt, her chin resting on top of her knuckles. She looked up at the statue of the Survivor, took in a deep, shuddering breath and whispered:

                                                         ❝What am I supposed to do now?❞

[vtrystane]

prxncess-powerful       

[prxncess-powerful]

              ‘ Yeah, look, I’m gonna be honest with you here…                                         I didn’t hear a word you just said.              I got about three hours of sleep last night, and I’m                        runnin’ on fumes. Can you say that again? ’

                                           Well, that explained the dazed not-moving he was doing, Malia thought                                            as she tried and failed not to roll her eyes.

                          ❝ I said move your butt, you’re blocking the donuts.❞ 

[freelxncer-blog-blog]

He followed her gaze to the cop, but luckily it wasn’t any of the ones he recongised. A slight twinge of annoyance made itself known, but he snuffed it out just as quickly. This wasn’t something Malia had done on purpose. If it was, she wouldn’t of clued him in on it. 

Anything he would have done would’ve aroused suspicion, really, so he offered no resistance as he arm slipped into his. He played the part, offering a small smile of his own as she turned them away. His wasn’t nearly as bright, but it’d do the trick.

He didn’t reply to the compliment verbally, just gave his head a little tilt in a ‘you too’ sort of way, jumping to the real problem, “Nothing.” It was early, but that didn’t mean there shouldn’t be people getting into position. Especially now that it was filled a little more.

[prxncess-powerful]

Malia resisted the urge to let out a loud, frustrated sigh. There was something going on here, she could feel it, and yet her eyes were telling her that everything was fine. Even Jace couldn’t see anything, but surely none of the violent, crazy people who’s letters she had been reading would be good enough to evade both of them?

Wait, what was that?

Something across the room caught her attention. Finally, she thought bitterly as she spotted a couple speaking covertly by the side-door on the other side of the dance floor. At first glance they looked like an ordinary couple sharing a romantic moment, but on closer inspection, it didn’t quite add up.

“There.”  She nodded in their direction, in case Jace had not already spotted them. There should have been a guard at that door, and yet Sien’s crappy private security was no where in sight. No wonder he’d put her in charge.

“Come on,” she said, pulling Jace after her, through the dancing couples.

[freelxncer-blog-blog]

Jace adjusted his suit, feeling very out of place in it. It was an uncomfortable change from his usual clothing. Most of his bodyguard jobs, he’d been allowed to wear less formal clothing. This was…weird. He honestly didn’t even remember the last time he wore a tie, let alone the entire get-up. He supposed he didn’t look all too bad in it, though.

He heard Malia would be the head of security, which worked well in his favour. He didn’t have to deal with police at all if she was in charge. He trusted her to keep them away from him. 

Not taking very long to get ready, this particular tuxedo coming with several hidden inside pockets for vial storing, he’d started his rounds early. He tried to stay out of the way as much as possible, trying not to mingle.

He tugged at the ends of his suit, smoothing it out all over again for the hundredth time as he came down some steps, actively looking around for anything suspicious. There was nothing yet, thankfully. Granted it was still pretty early. 

Instead of finding something suspicious, he found a seeking Malia. He met her gaze, question on his face. Was she seeing something he wasn’t? 

[prxncess-powerful]

Something felt wrong. As the crowd in the ball room grew bigger, Malia couldn't help shake the feeling that something was deeply, deeply, wrong. Maybe she was just being paranoid, reading someone hate mail would do that to you. Everything did seem perfectly fine on the surface. Nothing overtly dangerous jumped out at her, but still... after thirteen years of doing this job Malia had learned to trust her instincts, and right now they were screaming at her.

Finally she met Jace's eyes and breathed a small sigh of relief. She noted the question in his eyes and once again wondered if she was being paranoid. If he didn't sense anything, maybe there was nothing to sense.

Before she really had an opportunity to think more on that, Malia spotted one of the police officers that had been hired to watch the perimeter eyeing Jace suspiciously. First of all, he should not have been in here and second of all, she'd promised she'd keep the cops away from Jace. She hadn't bothered to ask why, but since she technically owed him her life, she'd do her best to keep that promise.

As casually as she could manage she made her way to Jace, looped her arm through his and turned him away from the cop, steering him in the opposite direction.

"Nice suit," she said, her smile still plastered on her face for the benefit of any other wandering police officers. She didn't want them to think anything was wrong. "You haven't seen anything?"

[prxncess-powerful]

freelxncer

​This job was getting more ridiculous as it went on. Sure the money was good... great, actually, but Malia wasn't sure it was worth all this trouble. Cardell had decided that not only would she liase with the police when it came to organising security, she would in fact out rank his own personal bodyguard team. So not only did she have to keep an eye out for the numerous psychotic threats to Sien's life, she also had to watch out for angry, petty bodyguards who didn't like taking orders from girls.

And all of this, in a stupid party dress.

"I can't fight like this," she grumbled, staring at herself in the mirror. She'd had to find creative ways of storing pewter vials in what little fabric she had to work with. And since that time she ran out and almost died, she'd been carrying no fewer than five vials at all times. Malia would have much rather worked in her own clothing, but Cardell had insisted she look inconspicuous since that was what she did. She felt ridiculous, and all her vials were weighing the dress down, making her uncomfortable.

With one last frustrated look in the mirror, Malia exited the dressing room and headed into the main ball room. Her eyes searched the slowly growing crowd. Where was Jace? Grump or not, she could use a semi-friendly face at the moment.

[prxncess-powerful]

freelxncer: Everyone always asked him that whenever he did give a smile. Maybe he had to make a habit of not smiling at all. He just shrugged in response. Maybe he did. Maybe he didn’t.He paused, briefly, taking that information in. He wasn’t a very big fan of Siens, but half a mil was more than enough to make him forget about that.The police part was…the sketchy part. It meant it wasn’t under the table like all of his other jobs. He’d need to find a way around that. For half a mil, he had a feeling he could make it work.  "Find me something away from the police and you have a deal." He had a feeling he still wasn’t on Venture’s good side. It was best she didn’t get any reports of him popping up somewhere she could corner him again.

Malia felt somewhat relieved when Jace agreed. She really needed all the help she could get when it came to this thing. Getting him something away from the cops wouldn't be difficult. Cardell was weird about police presence in his home. Malia didn't ask too many questions but it did make it difficult to guard all the points of potential attack. One more pair of non-police eyes would make it that much easier.

"Deal," she said with a smile. "And thanks. I'm going insane trying to protect this guy from... well, just about the whole city."

[freelxncer-blog-blog]

  Jace decided drinks were definitely not something Malia should ever have if she’s coughing this much over something so…tame. Or maybe she had a cold. This really wasn’t her week, was it? 

He offered a small smile in return. He’s started to pick up on sarcasm. He inclined his head in a way that said he should have known that was coming. 

He thought she was joking with her offer. A smile held back his laugh. It took him a moment to register she was probably serious about this.He leaned in a little closer, letting her know he was intrigued, “Half a mil? Just like that? What’s the catch?” Money like that didn’t come without some sort of snag. Half a mil for a night? There had to be something dirty about it.

[prxncess-powerful]

"I'm sorry, is that a smile? Did I actually get a smile out of you? I didn't even think you could!"

Not exactly her most professional moment, but given that she hadn't even got a smile when she was half-naked in a lake, this felt like a big moment for her. She had seen Grumpy Jace smile, sure it took half a million doxings to get it out of him, but it was a start.

Speaking of which... the catch. Yeah...

"Haha, yeah, about that... the job is protecting Cardell Siens from a bunch of psychopaths on Friday night at his stupid charity function... and there's a police presence." 

[freelxncer-blog-blog]

He noted the bruises, guessing they came from the koloss. He supposed it was a good thing he’d shot him. If he could do this much damage to a pewter user, he didn’t want to think what those hands could have done to a normal person.

He raised his eyebrows as she choked, wondering if it was even possible to falter like that on a drink that light. It didn’t take him long to realise he was in for a social night. He sighed, taking a sip of his own drink—scotch by the looks of it. 

He gave a shrug at her thanks, “You didn’t do anything wrong.” He was sporting a rather nice bruise on his right cheek, though his whole face had hurt for a good bit. In retrospect, he had looked pretty suspicious. She’d reacted in a reasonable way, given the circumstances. Even if he didn’t appreciate it very much.

"Just don’t make it a habit." 

[prxncess-powerful]

She managed not to cough again as she finished her drink, instead just clearing her throat lightly. It still hurt like a bitch but it was much less embarassing. She ordered a water for her next drink.

"I make no promises," she said with a smile so he was fully aware she was kidding. 

The water went down much easier than the fizzy cocktail and was even slightly soothing. Though that might have been the work of the pewter she had on a nice low burn to help her concussion along. She hoped she was all clear to work by Friday. That stupid Siens function was on and with the number of people that hated him she couldn't afford to not be at the top of her game.

Though, that gave her an idea.

"Hey, how do you feel about making half a mil for a single night's work?"