[Locked to Elashte] It's in your eyes, what's on your mind...

[fightyourfoes]

Shepard's waiting for a certain Neqa'el near those apartments that are supposed to be housing the city's demon population. She rarely smokes but she's doing so today, mostly because she's anxious and the frustration is growing inside her.

Need to get back or the fucking Reapers will-She cuts the train of thought off before it gets any farther.

Comments

[elashte]

Elashte's own apartment is in a totally different part of the city--he's grown quite fond of it, actually--but these days, he's going to be in and out of the Main Gauche much more often. He's bringing in a set of plans for the basement rooms--not nearly so infinite an array as the Conrad's, but still quite useful in a pinch.

He pauses with one hand on the gate, just before unlocking it. "I know I'm being watched," he says, just loud enough.

[fightyourfoes]

Shepard had lit another cigarette while she was waiting. She stands at Elashte's remark and says, "Good. That means you've got some wits about you, at least," before taking another pull from it.

[elashte]

"Wits, a history of being hunted, and my own senses," he says, turning to look her over. "Your reputation proceeds you. I'm going to go out on a limb, and assume that you would be the late Calisto's lieutenant."

[fightyourfoes]

Shepard nods, with a smirk. "Yes, that would be me. Commander Shepard. And you would be the new Neqa'el in town." She tosses the cigarette to the ground and stomps on it, putting it out. "I didn't really care for Calisto. She was cruel-which I like-but senseless. Which I don't like."

[elashte]

"I would. Just recently attained the status." He steps up to a respectful distance, not offering his hand. He does, however, offer a polite nod. "Calisto was rash and foolhardy. Powerful because she was a Neqa'el, not of her own skill. I preferred to keep myself removed from her company." He inclines his head. "But I doubt you've come for a social business. Would you prefer to discuss that directly, or to come inside?"

[fightyourfoes]

Shepard eyes him warily, then nods. "Alright, we'll go inside. I don't trust you just yet, but I have ways of defending myself if our business goes... sour."

[elashte]

"I have no intention of harming you," Elashte says. "Such an action would be self-defeating at best. I don't go out of my way to make enemies." He unlocks the gate, holding it open--a proper gentleman. But I have the feeling that this is best discussed in a more private setting."

[fightyourfoes]

"Good." She steps through the gate with a small nod. "Lead the way."

[elashte]

he leads her into one of the (as-yet) uninhabited buildings, up a floor, and over to one of the trapezoidal sun rooms at the end of the hall. Pulls out a chair for her--a heavy, leather-padded reading affair--and everything, before taking a seat himself.

He's not entirely comfortable being alone with her, but if she had designs on his life, they would have manifested before now. Probably in the form of a bullet.

"So," he says, sitting and folding his hands. "How can I help the inheritor of Calisto's forces?"

[fightyourfoes]

Elashte would be correct in that assumption. If she'd been out to kill him, she would've done it already. Shepard sits in the chair he pulled out for her and leans back. "You tell me. Word's been getting around that you were looking for me."

She pauses, then states, "And I also wonder if you know anything about the Rift. Possibly finding a way to reverse it. I have a mission I need to return to in my own time period."

[elashte]

"Ah." He nods. "You have a good ear. I'd thought my intentions more subtle in the community at large

[fightyourfoes]

"It would be giving her too much credit, yes. She was much too focused on her own desires and pleasures. My goal is to find a way to reverse the Rift, hopefully take it out so the Angels and their ilk won't keep getting their rather steady supply of Wanderers." She grins a little. "I rather like that you used the term in reference to me, however." She steeples her fingers and crosses one leg over the other. "As long as you don't attempt to boss me around, we're fine. I prefer being in charge of myself. I have no problem sharing the city, or sharing forces if it comes to it

[elashte]

Elashte nods. "It seems to me that each of us have information and resources the other could use. As our goals seem, if not similar, at least not mutually exclusive, I think a functional alliance might be in order." He lets a smile tug at his lips. "You will, of course, maintain your autonomy. It would be a relationship of equals--to try to lead those perfectly capable of leading themselves is a wasted effort, assuming a common goal.

"An my own goals are simple. Well. For the moment," he says. "I wish to see the Angelic control of this city crumble. Human. Demon. Whatever the resultant power structure is, I've had three hundred and fifty years of skulking in shadows, hunted for a mere fact of blood. It's a new age, a new sort of politics, and Chicago seems like a prime epicentre for our liberation."

He watches her face, taking in every hint of expression.

"So can we do business?"

[fightyourfoes]

Shepard nods with a smile. "We can do business." She offers a hand to Elashte. "And if you don't mind, perhaps me and my...cohorts... could stay here in the Main Gauche? I believe Torchwood might be making a push for the warehouse Calisto was using and I'd rather stay in the shadows for now."

[elashte]

"Of course."

He takes her hand, giving it a resolute shake. Shaking hands in agreement is a different circumstance than shaking them in greeting, or it registers as one to him.

"So long as you don't bring trouble home with you, you and your cohorts are welcome to whatever rooms aren't already occupied. The outer walls of the compound are reinforced to riot standards, as are all the external doors, and the basement beneath the facility is shared between the three buildings--we have an indoor means of passing from one to the other. I expect you'll want to make additional security arrangements. Again, so long as they don't interfere with life here, you're welcome and in fact encouraged to."

Easiest alliance he's ever made.

Oh, he's going to be watching her. Just as she's going to be watching him. But he likes this kind of ally--upfront, honest, no-nonsense. They both know the rules, and he doubts the opportunity will arise for either of them to break those. Not soon, in any case.