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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 9, 2013 22:18:52 GMT -5
Hello all!
This a private roleplay between Pirate and myself.
Feel free to read! |
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 9, 2013 23:04:38 GMT -5
Located high in the Swiss Alps, James Falcon Institute houses the most elite spies in the world. Established one hundred years ago, the Institute is now run by the grandchild of James Falcon, Henry Falcon. The Falcon's have been the top spies in the world and Henry is highly respected. Now retired from the field, Henry is acting president of the Institute. He runs the hall and keeps everything running smoothly. He, and a board of very experienced spies, decide partnerships after thorough discussions. Partners must keep each other alert and safe, and they are chosen so that their weaknesses are filled by the others' strengths. The president and the board also assign cases of high importance.
James Falcon Institute is a large mansion overlooking a precariously steep drop down the side of a snow-covered slope. The Institute has the most advanced equipment, weaponry, and machinery in the world. Fed by the Timothy Academy for Spies, the Institute has some five hundred members at any given time. They cover cases all over the world. The mansion houses each member and has a line-up of chefs to feed the spies. It also has an array of various meeting rooms and lounges as well as a massive dining room for formal events that occur up to twice a year. |
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 9, 2013 23:13:21 GMT -5
Name: Rylan Lark Collins
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Specializes in: Cracking codes and anything with numbers. Rylan is exceptionally good at cracking safes, both digital and manual. She can figure out a code in a matter of moments. Very few combinations are hard for her to determine, and if they are, it only takes her a few minutes rather than seconds. Rylan can also do a great amount of math quickly and efficiently in her head. She is very number-oriented; she's wired for it.
Personality: Rylan has many sides. With most people she doesn't know well or isn't very fond of, she comes off as aloof and indifferent, if not a bit discourteous. With others, though, is normally friendly and happy, with a smile on her lips. She has a delightful laugh, and loves to use it, though being as analytical as she is, some humor is lost on her. Her typical mindset is positive and she is very determined. She believes in working for what you earn as is more rewarding. Once her mind is set on something, she isn't easily deterred. She has the strong notion in finishing what you start and it takes a lot to turn her focus elsewhere. Despite her past, she's optimistic and is always looking forward to what the future has in store. On the other hand, she has a quick temper. It doesn't take much to make her angry. Simple things set her off, like when someone doesn't take her seriously or when she they underestimate her. Despite all of this, she has a sweet, fragile side. If she shows someone this side, they would have had to really touch her heart in a way no one ever has.
History: Rylan was born in Belgium and had a troubled childhood. Her father was typically drunk, and her mother abused her and her younger brother. When she was eleven, her parents were shot and killed by a burglar while her and her brother watched from a linen closet. The police showed up too late and the two men were never caught. From that day on, her and her brother were in the care of their aunt and uncle, who lived in the United States. She was a straight A student and graduated from high school at the top of her class. She was referred to the Timothy Academy for Spies by Henry Falcon himself after the man caught wind of her exceptional math skills. Her family believes her to be going to a college in Germany and planning to move there permanently. Rylan enjoyed the security she felt with becoming a spy, like she would never be able to be hurt again. No one would be able to cause her the pain she had felt when she was eleven. She recently graduated from the Academy and has been assigned to a few small cases for experience.
Appearance: Rylan stands at 5'8" with a slim, toned body and slight curves. She has a pleasant, slightly ovular face with full, small heart-shaped lips and a dazzling smile. She has a dimple on her left cheek and a faint sprinkling of freckles on the bridge of her pixie-like nose. She has elegant cheekbones framed by rosy cheeks. Her eyes are a vivid green with flecks of black and white throughout to give them a marbled effect. She has dark blonde bordering on light brown hair that falls in soft waves from a center part to reach just below her shoulder blades. Her creamy skin is slightly tanned, though still pale. She has long legs, small wrists, and delicate fingers. She still has a faint Belgian accent, and it comes out more when she's tired. Rylan also has a tattoo that says, "It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light." It is in a small, fancy script across her left ribcage.
Name: Heath Carter Henson
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Specializes in: Defense. Heath is great at protecting himself and others. He is skilled in hand-to-hand combat, knowing several types of martial arts, and is also well-versed with weaponry. He knows knows the difference between maiming and killing. He doesn't hesitate to attack when someone threatens him or the person he is working with.
Personality: Heath is quiet and comes across as stand-offish. He has a hard exterior and doesn't let anyone get to him. He prefers keeping to himself and working alone, but he rarely gets that. Though he puts up with others, he can be a bit annoyed simply by their presence. He does not open up easily and sees no need to. However, he is very protective, perhaps from his specific set of skills. He does everything in his power to keep those with him safe and doesn't mind laying down his own life in order to do so. He hates seeing others hurting and does what he can to prevent it. If worked down enough, though, he is actually very friendly and personable. Once a certain trust has been built up with him, he opens up a bit more freely. He can actually be a humorous person and enjoys making others laugh. He has a very secret soft side that is reserved for those that he holds dearest.
History: Heath led a fairly normal childhood living in the United States. He had two older sisters and a loving mother and father that always encouraged him to do his best in school. He was bullied up until high school when he began fighting back. There were several instances where he was suspended, but was never expelled. He got a bad reputation for being a "bad boy" and that was when he officially cut off his emotions, though it had been years in the making. He graduated with good grades. After getting into a bad fight one day when a man tried to mug him, someone referred him to the Academy. His family believes that he is studying overseas with the intent of staying and making a life there. He learned how to hone his skills and can defend himself better than ever. After moving to the Institute, Heath was assigned a partner after a couple months. One thing Heath is haunted by is the fact that he couldn't protect the other man. They were on a case, and his partner was driving when a truck slammed into the driver's side, killing his partner instantly. Though he couldn't have prevented it, Heath still felt extremely guilty, and was disturbed that he couldn't help the man.
Appearance: Heath stands at an ominous 6'5" with a well-muscled body from his years of intensive training. He has a squared chin and firm jawline. His eyes are a deep blue that reflect little of what he is feeling inside. He wears a pair of black-rimmed eyeglasses on occasion, perhaps when he is winding down for the day and they soften his tough appearance. However, he mostly wears contacts so that his glasses don't interfere with his work. When he does smile, it is a sharp and charming feature of his, something to woo many hearts. His dark auburn hair is cut short, with just a bit of length to give it a slightly tousled effect. He has a rich tan despite the the cold white mountains, and has a scar running diagonally over his torso where the seat belt cut through his skin during the car accident. At the top of the scar, on his right peck, Heath has the full date of his partner's death tattooed in a simple font with the phrase, "Gone but not forgotten," below it.
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Post by Pirate on Jul 10, 2013 2:35:22 GMT -5
Name: Sophia Juliette Renoir
Age: Vingt-deux (22)
Gender: Female
Specializes in:Sophie is a master of disguise. Her undercover work is remarkable for she is an extremely good actress and an expert at manipulation.
Personality: It's hard to tell who the real Sophie is. She's spent so many years pretending to be someone else that it's hard to tell what she's really like, even for herself. When not undercover, she's cold and impersonal. She doesn't have friends and she doesn't like making them. It's easier for her just to be emotionally detached. However, she can be a warm and inviting person in an instant. She tends to go through many personality changes over the course of the day, depending on her mood. However, she doesn't have a personality disorder. Soph is just an actress at heart. She likes being different people toward different people and she's never found a personality type that seems to stick. She's more often introverted, though, and a little bookish. She's smart, no doubt about it, and she's also very athletic. She's a bit of a perfectionist and likes to plan out routine days, which doesn't really coincide with the spontaneous life of an international spy. Her personality almost has a routine. Monday's she's grouchy and Friday's she's playful. Every day in between varies. She's ever-changing and always seeking who she really is and wants to be, but can never find the perfect self.
History: Sophia was born in Normandy, France. Her parents were very rich, very aristocratic diplomats who never had time for a child with silly dreams of acting and being in movies. She was shipped of to boarding school for eleven years of her life where she struggled with the best way to get along with the other girls. This is where her personality switching came into place and her quest for perfection. She participated in many sports, including gymnastics, softball, tennis, track and field, and cheerleading. She speaks at least six languages fluently and placed top in her class, claiming valedictorian of her high school class and graduating a year early. She went to Oxford on a full ride but unsure of what she wanted to major in. A contact in the school recommended her for the Academy because of her academic and athletic success and she's mostly covered undercover missions so far, infiltrating various locations with ease.
Appearance: Sophie is ever-changing her appearance. After all, she can never look like the same person. Her hair has been every color of the rainbow but underneath the layers of color, she's a natural golden blonde. Her hair is kept at a medium length, just past her shoulders, for easy manipulation into wigs or extensions. She's got a very pretty face that admittedly has had some work done to it to make it perfectly symmetrical and therefore eye-pleasing. She constantly plays with colored contacts, a favorite habit of hers, but her true eye color is a dazzling blue with flecks of gray and gold. Her lips are plump and constantly glossed and her nose is perfectly sized, shaped, and pointed for her oval shaped face. She has a mole under her right cheek and she often does her make-up differently every day. Her lean body is well muscled and in perfect shape. She reached a whopping five feet, seven inches, most of which is legs, and she weighs exactly 100 pounds, not a pound over or under.
Name: Clark Bruce Miller
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Specializes in: Clark is an expert engineer. He's very good with equipment and tends to give it his own upgrades. He works with transportation often and is one of the best get away drivers in the business.
Personality: Clark is very confident in his abilities. He's very cocky and tends to think he knows everything. It's hard to sway him from a decision after he makes it and he'll act a little childishly when someone forces him to do what they want. He is, however, a very caring person and otherwise easy to get along with. He's extremely loyal to his friends and deep down, very caring and protective, sometimes overly so. He's a bit of a control freak and can become really unpleasant when things don't go his way. He likes getting down and dirty and prefers spending a lot of time with his cars and motorcycle. Girls are a foreign being to him and he's actually kind of awkward around them, which is funny because he has the appearance of a total jock. He can be a little unprofessional at times and make rash decisions. In the moments when he has to choose between his job and another person, he chooses to help the person, which sometimes puts him in precarious situations with the agency.
History: Clark didn't have anything special in his upbringing. He had two very geeky parents that loved Superman more than anything, much to his chagrin. They were delighted when they were granted the gift of a handsome baby with dark hair and blue eyes. They adored their son and raised him on good morals and values, one of the upsides of their scifi obsession. However, he did go to quite a few conventions as a child dressed up in cosplay and the embarrassing pictures are littered all over the house. Growing up surrounded with super heroes gave Clark the ideal man he wanted to be and model himself after. In order to be a hero, he turned to the police academy, where he excelled greatly and eventually was recommended to the Academy. And the rest is history.
Appearance: Clark, to the delight of his parents, actually does kind of look like a generic super man. He has a strong, squared jaw with slightly chiseled features. His jet black hair is kept at a modest length, not too long but not too short, and tousled with a devil-may-care-but-it-still-looks-awesome look. His dark, long lashed eyes are an icy, piercing blue which at times can be hard to read. He stands tall at 6'3'' and weighs a good 212 pounds. He's physique is worked on rigorously and therefore he is well muscled and built for endurance. His smile is adorably dimpled and he has nicely tanned skin. There's always a layer of dirt or grease under his finger nails but otherwise he tends to be well groomed when not in the garage.
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 10, 2013 20:58:13 GMT -5
A deep, dignified voice echoed through the halls as the PA system came to life. "Will Rylan Collins and Clark Miller please come join me in my office," the voice requested before the call system fell silent once more. Rylan paused, conjuring up Clark in her mind and a frown formed on her lips. She had a bad feeling that they would be working together far sooner than she would have hoped, if never was an option. She let out a sigh and continued down the hallway, her hair drawn back in a loose ponytail with wisps falling all around her face. She had just come from a meeting discussing her last case and she was still in a billowy white blouse with long sleeves that she had tucked in to a tight black pencil skirt that reached just below her knees. Her black pumps clicked as she made a left, making her way to the row of main offices that belonged to all the lead spies and one to Henry Falcon himself. She stepped up to the ornate door, and before she was able to knock, a voice called, "Don't bother. Just come in." Rylan eased the door open and stepped into the room, closing the door behind her before standing a few feet before the desk. She smiled at the older man, "Good morning, Mr. Falcon," she said pleasantly. Henry nodded slightly in response, leaning back in his chair slightly once both of the spies had joined him in the office. He cleared his throat and opened a file sitting in front of him. "Andrei Baskov, a Russian dignitary, was abducted two days ago," he said as he pointed to a picture of a dark-haired man. "We suspect a man by the name of Luka Dvorkin may have been involved," he stated, pointing to another picture. "Dvorkin is hosting a formal event tomorrow night. Try and get any information that you can. Find Baskov and bring him home." He closed the file and pushed it toward the edge of the desk before splitting a glance between the two people standing before him. "You two have also been made partners as of this day forward." Rylan's frown only deepened. She and Clark had never gotten along back in the Academy on the few times they had been in training groups together. She felt he was far too over-confident for his own good and would only slow her down. "With all do respect, sir, you cannot possibly place me with him," she emphasized, gesturing toward him with an outstretched arm. "He's too irresponsible and--," she was cut off by Mr. Falcon. "Rylan, please," he said in a tone that bordered threatening. She clamped her mouth shut and folded her arms across her chest, giving a curt nod, "Excuse me, sir," she said by way of apology. She knew he was actually responsible, but she had to come up with some reason to avoid him. Henry appeared unfazed, "You leave tonight. Go get ready," he dismissed them. Rylan grabbed the file off of the desk before turning and heading from the room. She headed a few yards from the door before stopping to read the file, her eyes floating over the pages as she took in all the information quickly. She closed it when she was done and moved toward Clark, pressing the file against his chest, "You might want to study," she muttered pointedly before turning and heading down the hall for her room.
Heath was sleeping off his most recent case when the first announcement of the day rang out through the halls. He groaned softly as he awoke before pushing himself out of bed, his vision blurred more than usual with sleep. He stretched his muscular arms over his head with a deep sigh and then made his way into the bathroom to shower. Just as he was stepping out to dry off, a second announcement was made. "Will Heath Henson and Sophia Renoir report to my office," came that same regal voice. Heath muttered a curse under his breath and dried off quickly before tugging on a pair of dark jeans that hung off his hips pleasantly and a gray long-sleeved thermal. He pulled on a pair of black running shoes and grabbed his glasses, as he had no time for contacts, before jogging out of his room and making his way to Henry's office. He ran a hand through his damp hair and straightened his glasses before stepping inside. "Heath, how kind of you to join us," Mr. Falcon said with what might be perceived as a hint of an amused undertone. Heath folded his arms in front of him, "My apologies, sir." Henry shook his head as he began reading out of a file. "The British Prime Minister was shot and injured this morning. He'll survive as the bullet missed it's mark. He's been receiving death threats, though, from an anonymous man. Sources believe that his name is Joshua Edwards. He is believed to be very dangerous, if not a bit inexperienced. Your job is to bring Edwards down. His location is unknown, though we believe you may be able to get information from people at this address," he informed them as he pointed at it. Henry closed the file then, offering it to them. Heath stepped forward and took it, holding it at his side as he waited for what the rest of Mr. Falcon had to say. Henry smiled at the two, folding his hands on his desk, "You have been assigned as each other's partners. A jet is scheduled for you two in three hours. You're dismissed." Heath felt uncertainty flow through him. He had specifically stated that he wanted to work alone. He couldn't risk letting another partner get hurt or killed. Even if it wasn't his fault that his last partner died, he still felt completely responsible. "Sir, I've stated that I would like to work alone," Heath interjected after they were released. Henry turned his eyes to the man, raising his brows, "Are you questioning our judgement, Henson?" Heath shook his head quickly and approached the desk, speaking in a softer voice. "No, sir, I would never. It's just easier to work if I don't have to...worry about someone else." Henry shook his head, "Heath, you have to get over Steven's death. It was not your fault." Heath stiffened at the mention of his former partner, "Yes, sir." Heath turned and left the office, dreading the trip to come, but vowing that he would protect her no matter what. Still holding the file, he paid no mind to Sophia and began making his way back to his room to pack.
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Post by Pirate on Jul 10, 2013 21:59:13 GMT -5
Clark lifted his head as the PA echoed through the garage, wiping his wrist over his forehead at the sound of his name and managing to unknowingly smear grease there. He lifted a brow at the name mentioned before his and he pushed himself fully out from under the car, getting to his feet. Why did they want him and Rylan there? He shrugged and grabbed a rag, wiping off his hands as best as he could and hitting the button to lower the jack. He swung his plaid flannel shirt over his shoulder and started into the building, walking down the hallways and turning into the office once he reached it. He hesitated slightly as he entered, noticing Rylan's sharp outfit. He looked down at his stained white T-shirt and self-consciously slipped on the shirt over his shoulders, which also had a few grease stains. Not to mention the one on his cheek and his sweaty hair. Whatever, he wasn't phased too much. He listened to what Mr. Falcon was saying, nodding until he announced their new partnership. A frown fell on his lips and he cleared his throat at the rude way Rylan blatantly downed him in front of the boss, but he shrugged it off, letting her make a fool of herself. "Yes, sir," he said as he was dismissed, turning to follow Rylan out of the room. He was curious about the file and was about to ask if he could see it when she shoved it into his chest, her words making him scowl. "Glad to be partners too," he grumbled, getting a better grip on the file and turning down the hall to go to his room. He set the file on his desk and then walked into the bathroom, chuckling at the grease smeared on his face. The boss must've enjoyed that sight. He rubbed at a spot on his chin and then turned the shower on, making sure the water was steaming hot to cut through the layer of dirt.
Sophia was at her vanity, trying on a very red lipstick when her name cut through the air. She sighed and set down her make up, glancing in the mirror one more time and fluffing her newly bleach blonde loose curls with a flourish before exiting the room. She walked down the hall gracefully in her red cashmere sweaterdress and pumps, squaring her exposed shoulders. She smirked at her reflection in a picture frame before stepping into Mr. Falcon's office, offering him a sweet smile. "Bonjour, M. Falcon." She waited for Heath to arrive, glancing over when he stepped in with a smug smile at Mr. Falcon's greeting. She listened with intrigue at the mission being set before them. When he announced their partnership, she looked to Heath, her blue eyes a little more studious. She didn't mind a partnership. However, a scowl replaced her curious look at his dismissal of the idea. "You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself," she said haughtily, crossing her arms. She exited the room angrily before the end of the conversation, waiting outside for her new partner to exit. When he did, she opened her mouth to speak her mind but was cut off as he smoothly walked by. "Excuses-moi!" she said condescendingly. "I think I should see the file as well. It's my mission too, like it or not."
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 10, 2013 22:50:08 GMT -5
That evening, Rylan had everything she needed packed into one neat, black suitcase. She had changed into a pair of dark skinny jeans tucked into brown combat boots and an over-sized gray sweatshirt. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, replaying the meeting in her mind as she idly twirled a strand of her hair that was now loose around her shoulders. Had she been too unkind? Perhaps she had. But as attractive as Clark was, she didn't look forward to working with him. She heaved a sigh and grabbed her suitcase, carrying it down the hall and to the very back of the Institute. There was a large expanse of mountain that had been leveled off for aircraft hangers and long paved runways. A small jet was waiting to take the pair to where they would be located in Russia. The pilot smiled at Rylan as she neared, and she offered one in return. "Hey, Jim, how are things?" They chatted for a few minutes before he took her luggage and she entered the tiny aircraft, taking a seat. She leaned back in her seat and stared out the window. Once they were both on board, the pilot took off. Rylan ignored the other spies' presence, keeping her eyes out the window at the beautiful sight below. She started dozing off, her head lolling to one side before she jerked it up, shifting in her seat to keep awake before it happened again. She had finally fallen asleep, not hearing Jim's call for them to buckle up for the descent.
Heath sighed quietly as he heard Sophia's voice, tempted to ignore her and continue walking. He decided against it and turned, making his way back toward her. He finally got a good look at her, as he hadn't gotten the chance when he was in the office. He eyed her outfit with a raise of his brow as he came to a stop in front of her, extending his hand to offer her the file. He knew she was one of those "Masters of Disguise", so he assumed that was why she was dressed like she was. He shrugged the thought off and turned away from her once he handed her the file, continuing on his way. When he got back to his room, he sat down on the edge of his bed, running his hands through his hair. Could he handle having another partner? He knew, somewhere deep down, that he could. He specialized in defense, so it shouldn't be a problem. It was the things that he couldn't prevent that scared him. The freak accidents. He shook away the thoughts and started to pack. He made his way out to the airfield a few minutes before they were to depart, handing the pilot his suitcase before entering the small aircraft. He took a seat toward the back, as silent and stoic as ever. He stared at the seat ahead of him, no longer wearing his glasses. When the jet took off, he glanced around the cabin and then focused his eyes on the window. It didn't seem to take long for them to touch down. When the small jet was safely on the ground, he got stiffly to his feet and exited as quietly as he had entered. He grabbed his suitcase before turning his eyes to Sophia, "Would you like me to take your suitcase?" he asked politely, though a bit detached.
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Post by Pirate on Jul 11, 2013 0:08:29 GMT -5
A few hours later, Clark straightened his bow tie, turning to inspect his sharp suit at different angles. "Acceptable enough," he said, running a comb through his hair and giving himself a devilish grin. He grabbed his suitcase and another small black case and then walked out of his room, making his way through the halls to the hanger. He found Rylan chatting with Jim the pilot, waiting a few heartbeats until they were done before following his partner onto the aircraft. He sat down and glanced over at her, taking in her outfit as she pointedly avoided looking at him. "Underdressed?" He leaned his head back on the head rest, a small smirk on his lips. He slept part of the way but ended up waking up halfway there. He amused himself by watching out the window, only to look up when the seatbelt call was issued. He put on his own and then glanced over at Rylan to see she was asleep. He undid his buckle and leaned over to secure hers, nudging her awake at the same time. "We're landing." He sat back in his seat and redid his buckle, glancing at her again. "We need to talk a sec." He pulled out the black case and opened it up. With a mechanical whir, it expanded to reveal many mini velvet shelves filled with different gadgets and tools. "I have some gear for us that will make this partnership easier." He reached in and gave her a small, skin colored object that looked like a Lego stud. "It's an earpiece. Don't hit the button just yet but put it in." He carefully picked up a clear contact lens looking object and held it out to her. "Put that in and then hit the button in your earpiece." He put in his own earpiece and contact lens and then hit the button. A holographic screen was visible to his right eye through the contact lens, giving him detailed information of objects he was looking at. "It's like a smart computer that surfs all data bases and gives you needed information. If you press the button twice, you can see what I'm seeing, which'll be useful when we're apart." He reached in again and pulled out a small skin colored band aid looking object, carefully handing it to her. "Put that on your finger." He did so to his own and the patch dissolved into his index finger. "It's a bio-adhesive taser. If you're adrenaline spikes and you touch someone with that finger, it'll send a painful shock through them. For a more intense shock, just extend contact with the target. It can be washed off with lemon juice or wears out in twenty four hours." He closed up the case, putting it down by his feet. "That's all, proceed with ignoring me." He closed his eyes for the descent, returning to his original position.
Sophia stopped when he turned, holding her hand out expectantly. She turned on her heels and left in a huff, strutting back to her room and reading over the file more in depth. Once finished, she began packing her oversized suitcase. She closed up her vanity as it conveniently folded into a large case as well, thanks to Clark's tinkering. Then she changed again, this time into more practical clothing. She put on a long-sleeved black shirt and denim shorts with tights underneath, finishing off with knee high leather boots. Grabbing both her suitcase and make up case, she dragged them behind her to the awaiting jet. She dropped off her heavy luggage and walked on, falling gracefully into her seat. Pulling out a compact from her handbag, she balanced the mirror on her knee and pinned her hair up in a bun, putting away her trinkets and pulling out a magazine. She didn't need to speak to Heath. He was the strong, silent type and she was fine with that after his little show earlier. When they landed, she put her magazine away and got off the jet, moving to get her stuff. She paused when he spoke and offered her reprieve and she just shrugged. "I can handle it, merci," was her reply. She had noticed how his offer wasn't exactly heartfelt. Besides, she didn't build up her figure just to look good. She lifted her cases and moved toward the car they were provided with, stuffing her things in the back and then moving to the passenger side. He could drive. She pulled out the file and waited for him to get in. "Should we visit the address first or get settled?"
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 11, 2013 2:50:31 GMT -5
Rylan jerked awake as she was touched, a reflex that had been ingrained in her when she was young. She blinked a few times, furrowing her brow as she tried to figure out why Clark was leaned toward her. She visibly relaxed into her seat as she realized that he was simply buckling her seatbelt. She offered him a slight smile, mumbling a "thanks". It was probably the only form of gratitude he would receive from her. She raised her brow as he spoke and then pulled out a simple yet all-too-complex box. She straighted in her seat and peered into the box, her eyes flickering across the gadgets he pulled out and handed to her, listening with interest. However, she didn't put any of it on, instead a slight smile toyed with the edges of her lips. She eyed the finger he just placed the taser on before she lifted her eyes to his, amusement flickering in their depths. "If they only lasts for 24-hours, you just wasted one. At 11:03 this morning, had you been paying close enough attention, you would have heard Mr. Falcon inform us that Dvorkin is in fact holding the event tomorrow night, at 7:30 p.m. if I remember correctly. Hence why I'm "underdressed" at the moment." She paused for a beat, "Unless, of course, you wear suits to travel in." She settled into her seat as they began the descent, turning her eyes back out the window. "For the record, I'm not ignoring you. I just would rather not associate with you." She cleared her throat, realizing that she was coming off as rather rough around the edges. If they were going to be working together, they had to at least get along. As they touched down, she unbuckled and stood up, glancing at him momentarily, "But that is some commendable work. It will certainly be useful. They're impressive." She gave a curt nod and headed off of the plane to where Jim was waiting. They shared a chuckle about something before Rylan picked up her bag and carried it to the waiting car, placing it in the trunk before walking toward the driver's side, "I'll drive. If we take my route, we should get there in about 12 minutes and 17 seconds, give or take traffic." She slipped into the driver's side, waiting for him to join her before she headed off toward the main road. "The bow tie's cute," she said with a faint smirk, though she kept her eyes on the road. They reached the hotel, where a room was already booked for them, in about the time she had estimated. She parked the car and opened the center console, pulling out various legal papers and identification. She handed him his, gazing down at her passport, "Abigail Woodrow." She made a face, "I wish we could just use our own names," she said with a small huff as she opened her door and got out, heading around to the trunk to get her suitcase. She waited for him before entering the hotel, and making her way to the front desk. "Hello, do you have a reservation?" the woman behind the counter asked with a heavy Russian accent. Rylan nodded, "Yes. It should be under Woodrow," she stated, assuming that it would be hyphenated under each of their false identities. The woman pulled something up on her computer, nodding before reaching down into a drawer and pulling out a set of key cards. "Here you are. Room 23. Third floor. Have a nice stay. Your luggage will be brought up to you," she stated as a sharply dressed man came over to collect their belongings, "If you have any questions, there is a number to call by the telephone in your room." Rylan smiled warmly at the woman and accepted the keys, "Thank you." As she turned away she handed one of the key cards to Clark, glancing up at him momentarily. She headed over to the elevators, pressing the button. The doors opened and, luckily, it was empty. She stepped in, pressing the button for the third floor as she went. When the doors opened to the hallway, she headed down the hall, skipping their room and heading for the door marked "Stairs". She stood in the doorway momentarily before heading to their room door. "If anything happens and we're in a bind, use the stairs. The elevator takes far too long. There are few enough stairs that if you're going at a quick enough pace, you should reach the bottom before the elevator is even halfway down," she murmured to him as she opened the door, the bellboy heading down the hall at that moment with their luggage.
Heath hid his amusement as Sophia denied his offer and took her things over on her own, watching her with curious eyes. Far too much make-up for such an attractive face, who knows what in that case of hers, and a fashion sense far exceeding him. He shook his head and paced to the car quickly, placing his suitcase in the trunk before getting into the driver's seat. He started the car as she spoke, thinking for a moment, "Let's drop our things off and then we can go check it out." He drove smoothly to the address they would be staying at, coming up to a small apartment complex. Perhaps working with someone who changed their appearance so often had its perks. They wouldn't have to walk through a hotel lobby everyday and have people see her in different outfits. He parked out front of the apartment, shutting off the engine. He leaned across her, opening the glove compartment and pulling out a set of keys. "Let's take everything inside," he murmured, stating the obvious before he slipped out of the car. He headed around and grabbed all three pieces of luggage before she could even protest. He carried them to the door, setting them down to open it before stepping inside the cookie-cutter apartment. He placed their luggage in the small living room, glancing around at the tiny area. A living room leading to a small kitchenette and a hallway that led to a small bathroom and one bedroom. He made a walkthrough of the small space before appearing satisfied and returning to the door. "Ready to go?" He headed back out to the car, waiting for her to join him before he pulled out and began heading toward the address. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye, "When we get there, I would like you to stay behind me. I don't know what kind of situation we're walking in to. I can protect you better if they reach me before they reach you, if there even is a threat." He took a turn and came to a stop just a ways down a dirt road. Through the trees, an old warehouse could be seen. Heath furrowed his brow slightly, not having expected to see a warehouse. He shut off the vehicle and stepped out, making his way toward the building. As he neared it, a man stepped out of a side entrance, aiming a gun at him. Heath held up his hands as he came to a stop in front of the man, taking in his short, overweight frame. "Stop! Who are you and what are you doing here?!" the man growled, eyeing the two. Heath kept a straight face, "We're here to ask about Joshua Edwards." The man frowned and shook his head, cocking the weapon, "You might as well leave because you ain't going to get anything out of us." A smarmy look crossed his face as he glanced at Sophia, "But you can leave that fine piece of a--." Heath frowned at the comment, cutting the man off as he moved faster than he could react. He grabbed, squeezed, and then twisted the man's wrist holding the gun, effectively getting him to release the weapon into his awaiting hand. He jerked the man's upper body hard toward one side while he kicked out with his foot to set him off balance, knocking him off his feet. Heath sighed as he easily pinned the man down, pressing the tip of the gun against his chest. "Sir, really, that's no way to speak to a lady." He cleared his throat, "Now. I'm not interested in you or anyone else who might be lurking. I'm only interested in Edwards. Is there anyone who knows anything about him?" The man, now visibly frightened, nodded his head slowly. Heath smiled, "Good. Can you take us to him?" Once again, the man nodded. Heath emptied the clip of the gun into his hand before slipping it into his back pocket. He hauled the man to his feet before handing him the empty weapon. "Please lead the way." The man nodded and stepped into the warehouse. Heath glanced at Sophia, placing a protective hand on the small of her back and leading her inside rather unconsciously. He glanced around casually as they followed the man, though he was actually very alert for anymore trouble. They were led to several men playing poker in dim light at a fold-out card table. Heath suppressed the urge to laugh at the very cliche appearance. The overweight man walked over to another man dressed in casual clothes with a hard look on his face. The fierce-looking man shooed him off after a moment before getting slowly to his feet. He eyed the couple before gesturing for them to follow him a short distance away to speak. "Edwards, huh? What do you want to know?" he asked with a faint British accent as though he were suppressing it.
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Post by Pirate on Jul 13, 2013 7:57:20 GMT -5
Clark didn't say anything as Rylan smugly tried to one-up him with her obviously superior knowledge. He already knew all of that, he'd read the file and listened to every word Mr. Falcon had said. He would let her think what she wanted because she was obviously the superior in her mind. He said nothing to her compliment, getting off the plane and grabbing his bag, putting it in the trunk of the car. He was about to go over to the drive's seat when Rylan said she was going to drive. He didn't disagree although he'd much rather do it and instead got in the passenger seat. While she was driving, he was still silent, looking out the window as he plotted out exactly what his plans would be when they reached their destination. Upon reaching the hotel, he looked down at his papers, noted that he was to go by Derek Benson for the trip, and exited the vehicle, following his partner inside. He waited patiently as she took care of everything and took the key card from her once she finished everything, following her to the elevator. When they reached their floor, he simply nodded at her instructions to use the stairs, too annoyed with her to point out that he wasn't a rookie and knew that already. He entered the room, waited for the bellboy to deliver their suitcases, and then grabbed his and placed it on the bed, tipping the man before he left. He opened his case to take out a briefcase and put his legal documents inside it. Then he headed for the door, turning back to look at her. "I'm off to the bank. I'll see you later." Without any further explanation, he took the car keys from her and left the hotel. Once he reached the bank, he went up to the counter, giving the woman behind it a very charming smile. "Do you speak English?" he asked innocently. "Yes," she replied. "I'm here to see Mr. Dvorkin." The woman began typing on the computer. "Do you have appointment?" she asked flatly. "No, but I'm a representative of a small American company that would like to extend it's outreach to Russia and I just wanted to see if I could begin making roots here by starting an investment here." The lady raised an eyebrow at him and picked up the phone, speaking a few words in Russian before putting it down. "Mr. Dvorkin is out. I can set you up with different financial advisor, she suggested. He sighed inwardly but this didn't muss up his plans too much. "Do you know when Mr. Dvorkin will be back?" he pressed. "He is very sick. Will not be back for some days." Clark didn't believe that for a moment but gave the woman a smile. "I really wanted to see him. I'll have to come back before I leave and see if he's in. Thank you for all your help." He turned and left the bank, stopping by the driver's side door. He was trying to decide what he wanted to do. He might as well return to the hotel and face Rylan's wrath. A smug smile touched his lips and he got in the car, driving back to the hotel and making his way up to their room, pulling off his suit jacket as he walked in.
Sophia nodded at his decision and sat back as he drove, closing her eyes. When they came to a stop, she opened them and got out of the car, moving to grab her things. She began to protest but stopped herself as he took her things, deciding to just let him be a gentleman. She followed him in, glancing around the place and taking in their temporary home. "It's quaint," she said as he explored it quickly and nodded when he asked if she wanted to go. She got in the car and this time reached into the glove box to look through all of their paperwork. When he spoke, she looked up at him, frowning at his words. "I don't need your protection. I already told you, I can take care of myself." She looked down at the papers and read them, making sure their name on the lease was the same as their passports and immigration records. "You are my fiancée," she told him. "Riley Smith." She made a face before reading her name aloud. "Guinevere Forte? Charlie is going to regret this one," she said grumpily, speaking of the man who makes all of their legal papers. "What kind of name is Guinevere? And last time my name was Gianna. So ugly." She sighed, sitting back and picking at her nails once she put the papers back. When they pulled up to the warehouse, she got out and followed after him, inspecting the shady area. She put her hands on her hips as an armed man appeared, listening to their exchange with a bored expression. Once they were finished with their little tussle, she glanced up at Heath and let him lead her inside. "You seem very concerned with my honor," she said with a smirk, brushing a wrinkle out of his shirt before focusing her attention on the place around them. When they reached the men playing poker, she glanced at her partner with a raised eyebrow but her expression gave nothing more away. She led Heath over to where the man that gestured waited for them, shrugging her shoulders at his question. "What do you want to tell us?" she asked, knowing that with men like this, asking direct questions was less effective. It gave others the power to know what you wanted and less inclination to divulge information.
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 13, 2013 18:24:45 GMT -5
Rylan frowned as Clark stated that he was leaving and plucked the keys from her. She furrowed her brow slightly, but didn't bother opening her mouth to say anything as he departed. She grabbed her suitcase, glaring at the only bed in the room. She drug it around to the right side, setting it down just beside the nightstand. She took her documents and the file on the case and spread it out on the bed. She read through the file again, seeing if she had missed any important information. She then read up on her false identity, making sure she knew the details before she got to her feet and went to her suitcase. She unzipped it, pulling out two different dresses. She held a navy blue floor-length one up to herself in the mirror, and then she held up a shorter black dress. She was eyeing the two dresses when Clark returned. She ignored the intrusion, tilting her head as she decided on one. She then neatly placed the dresses back in her suitcase before heading over to the bed. Gathering the papers that were sprawled out across it, she stacked them neatly and glanced up at Clark momentarily. She raised a brow at him before returning to her suitcase to return the items. She grabbed a change of clothes and headed for the bathroom. Pausing in the doorway, she turned to gaze at him, tilting her head slightly. "Why'd you run off to the bank in such a hurry?" she asked coolly, trying to mask her curiosity.
The man shifted as Sophia answered his question with another one, splitting a glance between the couple. He shrugged nonchalantly, "He's a real weird kid. Somewhere in his twenties. About yay tall," he said as he gestured. Heath let out a sigh and shifted his weight, eyeing the man. The man shrugged again, "Real weird, but real smart. Kid catches on to things quick. He did a few...odd jobs for me. I haven't seen his for about a week, though. Spends his days in his apartment whenever he isn't working. Lives somewhere in the city. Comes out at night, it seems." Heath was expressionless as he spoke, "Do you know where he works?" The man frowned, tilting his head slightly as he studied Heath. "I think he's a cashier at a grocery store. Not a chain, but some family-run business." Heath nodded and the man crossed his arms over his chest. "That's all I know. What's the interest for?" Heath shook his head, "Just some business is all. Thanks. We'll be going." Heath glanced down at Sophia, leading her back toward the way they had come. He felt uneasy with all the men staring at them with dark intentions. He replaced his hand on her lower back, once again not realizing it. He led her outside, and once they were clear of the warehouse, he glanced down, dropping his hand. "Sorry," he murmured as he headed to the car, unlocking it and getting in. He drove them silently back to their apartment before heading inside and holding the door for her. He closed and locked it behind them, glancing around. "I'll sleep on the couch. You can take the bed." He glanced at the kitchen; they probably didn't have any food. He blinked, thinking for a moment. "Maybe we should go get some food. We can see try and find the grocery store Edwards might work at."
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Post by Pirate on Jul 17, 2013 6:07:52 GMT -5
Clark didn't say anything to Rylan, not wanting to start anything if she didn't. He kicked off his shoes, undoing his bow tie and sitting down on the bed. He looked up when she spoke, shrugging at her question. "You read the file. I was making an investment." He said nothing further and began unbuttoning his shirt, waiting for her to go into the bathroom before taking off his pants and pulling on plaid cotton pajama pants. He slid off his dress shirt and pulled on a plain t-shirt. His phone began ringing and the word "mom" began flashing in front of his eye. He pressed the earpiece and sat down on the bed, a smile on his lips. "Hi, mom." "Clark! You finally picked up." He sighed. "I know, sorry. I've been busy." "Saving the world? You should take a break. There's a convention next week and we could use our Superman," she said in a sing-song voice. "Mom," he groaned. "I'll be home in a few months. Promise. It's really late now, I'm gonna go to bed." "Alright, sweetie. Sweet dreams. We love you!" He smiled. "Love you too, ma. Give pa a hug for me." He pressed the earpiece and sighed, rubbing his face. It was hard to be away from his family, no matter how long he'd been doing this.
Sophia listened with interest as the man pretty much splurged everything. Too easy. When they were done, she let Heath lead her out, shrugging when he apologized for touching her. She was quiet in the car and followed him into the apartment, nodding at his statement. She shrugged at his question and glanced at the door. "I could play the good housewife and do it. We shouldn't make contact yet. And yes, I'll change into something more...modest." She smiled at him, gesturing at her outfit.
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 17, 2013 11:32:11 GMT -5
Rylan frowned at his words, narrowing her green eyes into a glare that could shoot daggers. She turned and headed into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her. She started the shower, quickly stripped off her clothes, and got in. When she was finished, she dried off and slipped into a pair of black cotton shorts and a plain gray t-shirt, her hair damp around her shoulders. She gathered her things and stepped out of the bathroom in the middle of Clark's conversation. She kept quiet and put her things away, feeling a pang in her heart. She wished she received calls like that from someone who cared about her. Her aunt called infrequently, always passing it off as being busy. She kept the sorrow off of her face, feeling a bit hollow as turned off the light and climbed into the bed beside him. She turned to her side, her back to him as she mumbled, "Goodnight." She wasnt exactly fond of the idea of sharing a bed with him, but there wasnt really anywhere else to sleep and they were both adults, so she assumed they could be mature about it. It took her a few minutes before she could finally fall asleep. The next morning, Rylan woke up to sun filtering through the sheer curtains, her slim frame pressed against Clark's side, her hand resting almost timidly on the side of his abdomen. As soon as she gathered her wits, her eyes grew wide. She quickly, carefully, extracted herself from the position, hoping that he wasn't awake and didn't notice. She got to her feet, fixing her clothes as she cast a stealthy glance toward him, turning toward her suitcase once she was satisfied in thinking he might not have noticed. She crouched in front of it, shuffling around for something to wear until she had to get ready for the event that night.
Heath nodded at her words, shrugging at her statement about changing clothes. He went to the couch and sat down, folding his arms over his broad chest. He waited for her to swap clothes like that, his eyes staring straight ahead. His expression never changed, and he never grew impatient or annoyed. When she was ready to go, he got stiffly to his feet and headed to the door. He locked it behind them before walking to the car and getting into the driver's side. Once they were both in, he headed into town, glancing at each grocery store they passed. He wasn't sure which one to try, but decided that one looked to be family-run and figured it would be a good place to start. He pulled into the parking lot and angled to car into a spot. He shut off the engine and gazed over at the entrance to the store. They were supposed to be engaged, but he wasn't entirely sure how to portray that. He figured it would be best to ask the expert. He continued gazing out the window, "How do we go about this?" he inquired.
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Post by Pirate on Jul 17, 2013 13:50:06 GMT -5
Clark glanced over when Rylan said goodnight, a little surprised that she said anything. "'Night." He was about to make a make-shift bed on the floor for himself when he realized she left enough room for him on the bed. Well, if she was willing to share, there was no point in him being sore in the morning. He slid under the covers, leaving a good distance between them before easily falling asleep. He was startled awake in the middle of the night by Rylan touching him and his whole body grew tense as he snuggled against him. Realizing that she was still asleep, he let out a slow breath to calm himself and awkwardly moved his arm under his head so he wouldn't touch her anymore. If she woke up to his arm wrapped around her, she might murder him before he woke up. He didn't want to push her away, though. It was kind of...nice. He tried to push it all out of his mind, closing his eyes again and slipping back into sleep. When the morning came, he woke feeling significantly colder. His arm slid to where Rylan had been and when he found empty sheets, he opened his eyes, noticing her in the corner by her case. "Morning," he said, his voice husky from sleep. He slid out of bed and stretched, grabbing a pair of shorts from his suitcase. He threw them on in the bathroom and paused in the doorway before stepping out. "I'm heading to the gym," he told her. He jogged down the stairs to the hotel gym, running through his morning workout. He was done about two hours later and returned to the room, glistening with sweat. He immediately went to the bathroom and took a shower, emerging ten minutes later in just a towel covering his waist, his damp hair a mess. He grabbed jeans and a long-sleeved maroon V-neck, something to pass the rest of the day in. He changed in the bathroom and toweled his hair off, running his fingers through it to tame it only slightly. He stepped back into the room and grabbed the papers with his identity, reading through it carefully. He didn't want to be the wrong person later that night.
Sophia went back to the bedroom and opened her cases, using make up remover to wipe her face fresh and applying minimal subtle, earthy shades and a light pink gloss. She changed into fitted jeans and a quarter-sleeved green blouse that matched her current colored contacts. She redid her hair into a ponytail and slid on a pair of converse. Remembering that they were a couple, she grabbed a diamond ring out of her jewelry box and slid it on her ring finger. She returned to the front room once she was finished. "Okay, allons-y!" she said in a chipper tone. She got into the passenger seat, inspecting the grocery stores lining the narrow streets as they passed them. "Tesco is a chain, so that won't do," she said, making a face at the supermarket. She was quiet as they pulled up to the store he chose, glancing over at him when he made no move to leave. At his question, she chuckled. "Leave it to me. Just look a little happier and smile occasionally." She got out and waited for him to do the same before sliding her hand into his and threading their fingers together. She led him into the store, glancing around once they entered. Her eyes immediately went to the counter when they were greeted and she threw a quick "allo" their way, noting it was a female. She grabbed a shopping basket and led her "fiancée" over to a shelf that gave them a good view of the counter and had items they needed. "You observe, I'll shop," she told him, pulling her hand from his. She shot a discreet glance at the counter a last time in case a male appeared before she started inspecting the merchandise and pulling what they needed off the shelf. Glancing to make sure no other shoppers were near, she looked at her partner. "Absent-minded touches of affection will make you less obvious. Stop being so stiff." She nudged his arm playfully and returned to shopping. "Chocolate chip or peanut butter granola bars, darling?" she asked as another shopper wheeled by.
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 17, 2013 14:48:37 GMT -5
Rylan glanced up at the sound of his voice, trying not to notice how attractive the tenor was. She shoved the thought from her mind, not offering a greeting of her own. She waved him off as he said he was leaving, planning on doing the same. Once he was gone, she pulled on a pair of running shorts and a sports bra before heading downstairs and out of the hotel. She started jogging, taking in the scenery as she headed around the edges of the town. When she figured enough time had elapsed, she headed back to the hotel, entering their room just as Clark stepped out of the bathroom. She eyed the towel and his lack of clothing, feeling her cheeks grow a faint pink. She shook her head, carefully keeping her features neutral. When he was finished, she grabbed a change of clothes and headed into the bathroom to shower. She left her hair down to air-dry, changing into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She headed back out into the hotel room, going about reading over who she was supposed to be. She passed the next few hours idly before she figured it was time to get ready. She perched herself on the bathroom counter and began to meticulously curl her hair. When she was finished, she set the curls into a soft updo, leaving a few tendrils to gently frame her face. Once she was done, she debated over make-up before deciding on a subtle look that inconspicuously accentuated her features. She went back to her suitcase and chose the dress she was going to wear before heading into the bathroom and shutting the door. It was the navy blue one that reaches the floor. The fabric gathered just below her collarbones in the front and draped over her shoulders to plunge down her back, exposing a fair amount of skin. There was also a slit up the side that reached just above her knee. It was made of a soft, light fabric that clung in just the right places. She stepped out of the bathroom and picked up a pair of nude stilettos, placing a hand on the wall to balance herself as she slipped them on. She grabbed a small, nude clutch before turning to Clark as she placed in her earbud and contact lens, blinking at the intrusion. She placed the strange taser on her finger before leveling her eyes on him. "Ready?"
Heath frowned as she instructed him, doing the opposite of what she told him to. He let out a sigh as he got out of the car, stiffening as she grabbed his hand. He forced himself to relax as they headed toward the store, finally returning the gesture and lacing his fingers more firmly with hers. His eyes also went to the front counter as they entered the store, alert to anyone who might match Edwards' description. He allowed her to lead him over to an aisle, glancing around the store at the workers. He nodded at her words, his hand coming to his side as she released it. His eyes drifted around the store casually as he tried to see if perhaps Edwards was there or was working in a different section. His eyes came back to her at her words, not reacting to her nudge. He sighed, "I'm not a very affectionate person, in case you haven't noticed," he muttered under his breath. He forced a rather natural-looking smile as another shopper entered the aisle. He decided to loosely wrap his arm around her waist, glancing at his food options. "Chocolate chip," he murmured, brushing his thumb up and down over her hip. He walked with her father down the aisle, continuing with his glancing about the store. He noticed a man restocking a shelf, eyeing him nonchalantly. After a moment, he sighed, dismissing him. He didn't quite fit the type. Heath led her down the next aisle, forcing his eyes to hers as he remembered he had a part to play. He gave her a soft smile, holding her a little closer. "I'm not seeing him," he whispered for her to hear, lifting his eyes once more. He frowned, wishing he had chosen a different store and made a better decision. "Let's finish shopping," he murmured, moving on to the produce.
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Post by Pirate on Jul 28, 2013 22:17:30 GMT -5
Clark glanced up when Rylan started getting ready. While she was holed up into the bathroom he changed into his formal suit, using a little hair gel to tame his boisterous locks in the reflection of the television. He grinned at himself and then adjusted his cuffs, sitting down on the bed to wait for his date. He pulled out his little case of gadgets and shuffled through it, pulling out a handkerchief and stuffing it in his pocket. It was made out of a special material that absorbed fingerprints and might be useful to them later. He also slid a gun in the holster under his jacket, just in case. He was always prepared. He buttoned up his jacket, making sure he didn't look odd and smoothed down his coat, checking to make sure that his weapons couldn't be felt by dancing. He looked up when his partner finally came out, unable to stop the stunned expression that crossed his face at how different she looked. "You look...pretty," he managed to get out, changing the end before something different came out. He nodded at her question and slid a fresh taser on his finger, rolling his shoulders slightly. He left the hotel room and walked down to their car, opening the passenger door for her and then taking the driver's seat. He followed the directions given to them and eventually they got to the mansion the event was taking place in. He pulled up to the front where a valet was standing and hopped out, handing the keys to him. Offering an arm to his partner, he glanced over at her, taking in her appearance again. "You really do look beautiful," he said, able to speak better now that the initial shock was over.
Sophie couldn't help but tense slightly as he wrapped his arm around her, not used to the touch. She forced herself to relax immediately but the touch still left her feeling...odd. She'd not really been affectionate with a man before believe it or not, even if this was staged. She pushed the thought of their proximity out of her mind and moved down the aisle with him, picking various things off the shelves. She was aware of others around her but trusted Heath to manage observing the employees without her help. She lifted her eyes to his when he moved closer, giggling softly as if he had whispered something funny to her. "We'll try another store next time," she replied. She finished up the shopping and checked out, moving back to the car. She unloaded their purchases in the car and then got in the passenger side, glancing over at Heath once he got in. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You can't expect to get him on the first try. We can map out all of the family-owned stores when we get home." It was odd to speak of going home but that's what the little apartment was for them now. Their temporary home where they'll live as an engaged couple.
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Post by Caebeeb on Jul 28, 2013 23:19:43 GMT -5
Amusement flickered momentarily in Rylan's eyes as she caught the bewildered look he was giving her. She sighed softly, plucking the material at her hip, "Geeze, don't sound so surprised," she snipped, glancing away from him. She followed him out of the room, walking gracefully. She gave him a slight nod as they reached the car and he opened her door, slipping into the passenger seat. She stared out the window as he drove them to the event, taking a deep breath to calm herself. As they came to a stop, she got out, eyeing the beautiful building before her. Sidling up beside him, she snaked her arm through his, walking with him to the intricately carved front doors. "You don't have to fawn over me," she murmured, glancing at him, "You look good in a suit." She gave the butler who opened the door a charming smile, heading into an elaborate foyer. Many well-dressed men and woman were dancing in a large ballroom to the right, while others mingled around food and drinks to the left. Dvorkin was standing just inside, greeting the guests as they came in. Rylan smiled at the middle-aged man, offering her hand. Dvorkin eyed her appreciatively, kissing the back of her hand, "Welcome. You are quite the sight for sore eyes," he said in a deep voice. Rylan's smile broadened, "Thank you," she said softly. Dvorkin pulled his eyes from her to shake Clark's hand, nodding at the man, "Hello and welcome. Make yourselves at home." Rylan led her partner toward the ballroom, glancing over her shoulder to give Dvorkin a shy smile, one that he returned. She turned to face forward as they reached the open area, taking Clark's left hand in her right, and placing her other hand lightly on his shoulder. As they fell into step with the other dancing couples, Rylan glanced around, her heels making her nearly eye-level with him. She let out a sigh, smiling up at him, speaking for only him to hear, "I'll see if I can get him alone. Maybe he'll take me to his office." She leaned forward, her cheek brushing his as she gazed over his shoulder. "It looks like he's done greeting people. Go see if you can find anyone he works with," she paused before adding, "Be careful," as she lightly squeezed his shoulder. She pulled away from him and made her way toward Dvorkin, touching his arm to get his attention. He turned and a smile formed on his lips, "Ah, if it isn't you again," he said in his heavy Russian accent. "Call me Abigail," she chuckled, turning to walk with him as he placed a large hand low on her bare back. "Well, Abigail, would you care to dance?" Rylan gave him a sweet smile, "That would be lovely," she agreed as he led her to the dance floor and pulled her close, his hand resting lower still on her back.
Heath sighed at her words, but quickly smiled down at her, his hand brushing up her side slightly. After they checked out, he helped her put the items into the car, his face in a seemingly permanent mask of a furrowed brow and a frown. He slid into the driver's seat, driving them back to the apartment with one hand at the top of the wheel. He gave a slight nod at her words, still frustrated that he hadn't made a better choice. Once he parked out front of their home, he grabbed the bags and headed to the door before entering and making his way to the kitchen. He put things away in the drawers and cabinets that seemed to make the most sense, still frowning. When that was done, he went to his bag and pulled out a pair of plain black cotton pants and a t-shirt along with things to shower with. "I'm going to go clean up," he stated shortly before disappearing into the bathroom. He emerged a few minutes later, wearing only the pants as he ran a hand through his hair, carrying the shirt in his free hand. He felt better, the warm water having washed away some of his annoyance with himself. He rolled his shoulders, twisting at the waist to loosen up his back before heading into the small kitchen. He grabbed a granola bar, and it was only after he had finished eating it that he seemed to realize his shirtlessness. He pulled on the material before taking a swig of water. He stared out the kitchen window at the parking lot for awhile, his arms folded over his broad chest as he thought. He finally pushed himself away from the counter and headed to the couch, sitting down at an angle that took up a bit more than half. "Sophie?" he called out softly into the small apartment, "Want to make a list of grocery stores in town?"
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Post by Pirate on Aug 1, 2013 16:55:31 GMT -5
Clark smiled at Dvorkin as they approached him, trying to keep it from faltering at the way he greeted Rylan. He didn't want to admit it, but he almost felt possessive of her and he didn't like the way the criminal was looking at her. He shook the man's hand, returning the nod. "Thank you, sir." He followed Rylan to the dance floor, noticing the way she kept Dvorkin's attention. She was good. He placed his right hand lightly on her hip and gripped her right hand gently with his left, swaying softly with her to the music. He let his eyes fall to hers and smiled, easily acting as if they came to this party as dates. "Sounds like a plan," he said. He nodded at her words and released her, moving off of the floor to the refreshments area. He grabbed a glass of champagne and looked around, acting as if he were itching his ear and hitting a button on his earpiece. He sipped at his champagne and watched as little circles moved in front of his eyes, following the faces around him. He focused in on each person, reading the short paragraph of information that his technology provided. He noticed his partner and Dvorkin, his jaw clenching slightly when he saw how close the Russian held her. He forced himself to look away, trying to mentally shake off his emotions. What was wrong with him? Rylan was a prick and she could handle herself. There was no reason to feel that way. He focused on his task and found one of Dvorkin's men standing off to the side like he was. Sidling over, he gestured to the dance floor. "Come alone?" The man glanced at him and then looked forward. Clark cleared his throat, adjusting his bowtie. "English?" The man didn't look at him as he responded. "Yes." Clark blew out a breath. "Alright. Friendly, huh?" He glanced around, trying to seem nonchalant. "So, Dvorkin's a pretty popular guy," he observed. "Yes." Clark could tell the man was growing annoyed. "Are you one of his investors?" The man grunted. "You are nosey American. Why so many questions?" Clark backtracked slowly. "Sorry, just trying to be friendly." He moved away, downing his champagne quickly and setting the glass down on a butler's tray as he walked by. He sighed, glancing around. Hopefully, Rylan was doing better than he was.
Sophia was quiet for the car ride home and got out to grab a bag, not protesting as Heath grabbed the rest. She helped him put the groceries away, moving some of the things he placed into a more appropriate place for them and then leaned against the counter, brushing a few strands out of her face. She nodded at his words and moved to the bedroom, unpacking her clothes. She was in the closet hanging a dress up when Heath stepped out. Glancing over her shoulder, she froze, realizing he hadn't seen her. She couldn't tear her eyes away as he stretched, her eyes following him as he left. She shook her head, returning to what she was doing. Why was she reacting like that? It was just Heath. She tried to push him out of her thoughts as she finished what she was doing, pushing her suitcase into the bottom of the closet. When he called her name, she took a deep breath and grabbed a pen, paper, and her laptop, following his voice to the living room. She noticed he'd finally put a shirt on and pushed the thoughts away, powering on her computer. She pulled up a map of the area, writing down the dozens of stores surrounding them. "There's a lot in the area," she observed.
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Post by Caebeeb on Aug 1, 2013 18:42:29 GMT -5
Rylan carefully hid her discomfort at the lack of space between her and Dvorkin, placing a smile on her lips instead. "You are a lovely American," he said with a smile, watching her with steady eyes. Rylan chuckled, "Thank you," she said softly, casually glancing survey her surroundings. Dvorkin was built as though, before he hit thirty, he had been very in shape. Rylan lifted her eyes back to man, "It's a lovely event," she murmured. Dvorkin smiled, "Why, thank you." Rylan glanced down, feigning shyness. "How about we go somewhere...a little more private to talk?" she murmured, jumping right to the chase. Dvorkin appeared glad she had asked, as though he had been waiting for her to say that for years. He slid his arm around her waist, holding her close as he led her through the crowd. "They will not notice if I am gone for a moment," he said slyly, glancing down at her. Rylan nodded, brushing a strand of hair back, tapping the button on her earpiece twice so that Clark could see where she was headed in case she got herself into a jam. Much to her elation, Dvorkin led her down a long hallway that was scarcely lit, coming to the third door on the right, and into his office. A large, heavy desk was placed to the left of the room, taking up much of the space. A couch sat opposite with a side table that held various liquors and glasses. A bookshelf built into the wall encircled the room, chocked full of every hard-backed book one could imagine. Dvorkin closed the door behind them, at which point Rylan pressed her earpiece again so that Clark was cut off. Rylan perched on the edge of the desk, crossing her legs so that the slit of her dress revealed some skin. She figured anything important would be in the desk. Dvorkin eyed her without restraint before clearing his throat. "Would you like a drink?" he asked in his thick accent. Rylan smiled, "Sure. Scotch." Dvorkin raised a brow, chuckling, "A scotch girl. I like it." He turned his back to her as he fixed the drinks, at which point Rylan quietly got off the desk. She silently opened the drawers to his desk, keeping an eye on him. She caught a glimpse of a safe in the second drawer, but had to promptly stand up as Dvorkin turned back to her. She quietly closed the drawer with her knee, walking around the desk toward him. He handed her the drink and she sat down on the arm of the couch, facing him. He took a drink before leveling his eyes on her. "So, that man you came with, are you two attached?" Rylan chuckled slightly, "No, he's just a friend." Dvorkin seemed pleased as he stepped closer to her. Rylan covered her uneasiness by taking a sip of the hard alcohol. They talked about menial things for a few minutes before Dvorkin moved closer to her, setting down his drink. He brushed his hand over her back before bringing his lips to her shoulder, sidling up beside her. Rylan didn't want to blow her cover, but she also didn't want to have him touch her. She shyly brushed back her hair again, tapping her earpiece twice so that Clark could see what was happening. She hoped he would get the hint that she wanted him to come find her, play it off somehow. She gently pulled away from the man, giving him a small smile. "Ah, playing hard to get are we?" he asked. Rylan tried to change the subject to that of business, but Dvorkin wasn't having it. He stepped forward and caught her by the waist, his lips finding hers, a bit rough with the kiss.
Heath lifted his eyes as Sophie entered the room, shifting his legs so that she had more room to sit down. He watched as she pulled up a map of the area, sighing softly. It was going to take awhile to sift through all of the places. He moved closer to her, gazing over her shoulder to look at her computer screen. He frowned, "Well, at least we can eliminate the chains," he said with little enthusiasm. He glanced at her, hoping that she would see the bright side of things as he obviously couldn't. He absentminded placed his hand on her back as he shifted his weight, pointing at the computer screen. "We ought to try that one," he said quietly, his brow furrowed. It was nearby, as well, at the heart of town. When they were finished with the list, he leaned back against the couch, folding his hands over his chest. He gave her a slight smile, "We ought to get some sleep." He nudged her with his knee, "And you're in my bed." He paused, realizing how that might sound. He frowned, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Uh, yeah, goodnight," he said, glancing away. He waited for her leave before stretching out on the couch. He didn't need pillows or blankets, though they would have been nice. He fell asleep quickly, the same unhappy look still on his face.
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Post by Pirate on Aug 1, 2013 20:44:56 GMT -5
Clark's eyes fell on Rylan again, still growing annoyed with the older man. He noticed them slip away and suddenly a different scene filled his right eye. He took careful notice of where she was going, clenching his jaw in annoyance when she cut him off. He would've liked to know what was happening but that obviously wasn't happening. He downed another glass of champagne, noticing a beautiful blonde woman approaching him. "So you are handsome American all the girls giggle about," she said with a smirk. "I suppose I am," Clark said, a smile slipping onto his lips as he inconspicuously appraised her tight-fitting dress. "Are you going to ask me to dance?" she said, lifting an eyebrow. "Yes, ma'am," he replied with a grin, taking her hand and leading her out on the dance floor. She put her arms around his neck without hesitation and he let his hands rest on her hips, swaying with her to the music. They conversed about various things, though Clark wasn't so absorbed that he wasn't aware of what was around him. "So Vasilisa, what brought you here? Are you an investor or...?" She giggled as if he said something funny. "Dvorkin is my father," she replied. "Oh," Clark said, his eyebrow's rising in surprise. He forgot about that small fact in the file. Suddenly, a different view appeared in front of his right eye and he had to keep himself from grimacing at the lovely view he had. He gave Vasilisa a smile, realizing he'd missed what she said. Trying not to seem too distracted, he glanced in the direction Rylan and Dvorkin had gone. He pulled Vasilisa closer, making it that much more intimate as he leaned down by her ear. "Do you want to go somewhere more private? I'd really like to get to know you better," he whispered, letting his hand drop further down her back. He pulled away slightly to look down at her and found a sly smile on her lips. "My room is in the east wing," she suggested. "That'd be too obvious. Is there an office or somewhere maybe?" he asked, trying to steer her in the right direction. "I know just the place." She took his hand and pulled him through the crowd, leading him the way he wanted to go. He counted the doors and was relieved to see she was going to the one Rylan had gone through. He was disgusted by what he was seeing on Rylan's side and he tried to focus on the beautiful girl in front of him as she turned to face him. He leaned down to capture her lips, pushing the door open and backing in. He broke away from her, feigning surprise and turned to "catch" their host and his partner. "Abigail?" he said in disbelief, hoping it was convincing enough.
Sophie tried not to tense up as Heath moved closer, his bare torso still at the forefront of her mind. She nodded at his words only to freeze when she felt his hand on her back. She forced herself to nod at his suggestion. "We can do that tomorrow morning," she said, closing her laptop as she wrote down the last store and then circled the one he pointed out. She glanced over at him when he spoke and smiled awkwardly, getting to her feet. "Bon nuit," she said before leaving the room. She took a shower and got ready for bed, avoiding looking at her bare face in the mirror. She left her room to grab a glass of water but paused, glancing over at her partner. She noticed his lack of covers and went back to the bedroom to take one off the bed. She returned to the living room and gently spread it over him, a faint smile on her lips at his scowl. She grabbed her glass of water and returned to the bedroom, slipping into her bed and easily falling asleep.
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