What's Up, Danger? [Every/Caligrace]

[Noah]

Noah did not believe in luck, but rather the crafting of his own. Thus the name of his first business in Harper Rock was decided, The Lucksmith's Inn and Casino. He took out an ad in the newspaper the same day the doors opened, offering the following full-page advertisement:

The Lucksmith`s Inn and Casino can be found just off the highway.

Featuring discounted room rates for regular casino players, each of our rooms features air conditioning, walk-in showers, free WiFi, and includes a continental breakfast bar.

Our casino side offers slot machines, card tables, roulette, and the finest steaks and wine in Harper Rock. And for every hour spent on the casino floor, you will receive a complimentary voucher for a drink at one of our many bars!

Thus far it was not a front. He had made the Wanted list too many times already in his first month and, he knew from experience, it was always best to begin with legitimacy and have your footing beneath you before stretching too far.

That did not mean his time spent in the city had been saintly, though. If anything, the ability to open a business so soon after his arrival spurred his ambitions. While some might call it lucky that his sire and her adoptive sire, Caligrace and Every respectively, were also wading waist-deep in the same shady waters as Noah himself, he would scoff at the notion. He had sought his sire out. Not her specifically, but her ilk - and his own. It was at least fortunate that the pair had taken to him so quickly and their efforts could be combined.

Though he had not fully settled into the city yet, he had already secured a shipping line through his new business. The same line he had used with all the other businesses in Montreal, in fact. While it was true many in the Canadian mafia still resented how quickly Noah had risen through the ranks, there were several more still who were happy to keep on his good side. And while smuggling goods in under his own name was certainly a risk, it was better him than his business - at the least, if he was caught, he could pass that to one of the twins.

Most of the shipments were simple enough packages: building materials, first aid supplies, and more, all sent under the pretense of humanitarianism for his new home. But buried in small caches in each shipment were parts for weapons. While not technically illegal in its own right, it would certainly raise enough eyebrows to put the spotlight on Noah. But once the parts were here, well...

Noah sent a text to Every as he approached the docks just as the sun dove beneath the horizon, the night sky welcoming the moonlight.

DOCK #5. SHIPMENT INCOMING.

Tucking the newly jailbroken phone into his pocket, he brushed his thumb over the point of the spear that he had kept at his side since his first day in the city, keeping his attention alert and cautious.

[Every]

“It’ll be easy, Shadowcat. You’ve managed my club and the strip club. You’re smart, intellige-.”

“And, not a club owner. I’m a dancer. Difference.”

Caligrace had scoffed at her and shoved the briefcase into her hands. Their decision to go into business together was a good one, Every knew as much, and she had four heavily business inclined family members. She wasn’t clueless on the front, either, but the idea of it made her reluctant. It was different taking over Mercy’s body, her businesses, she had all of the girl’s information at her fingertips as she was a methodical note taker. But, nonetheless, she continued. The idea was simple. Take over the club, remove one of her competitors. If it were up to Every, she would have just burnt it down but the clientele were important. At least, the clientele were important to Caligrace. For Every, it just gave her another place to enjoy herself at and hunt without concern of being shot by a soldier.

The main issue had been the owner not wanting to sell, but coercion wasn’t too difficult of a task. Fear was often a strong motivator - it hadn’t been hard to make the suggestion of the building being haunted, not in Harper Rock. Not when one was a shadow, capable of making oneself invisible. He had shown up in her office for Devereux Bonds, LLC almost one month after she had made her offer with the deed in hand, and after signing it over, the building renovations had gone underway. Reverie would be opened in early September, late August if she pushed it hard enough.

When her phone pinged at her, the subtle notes drawing her attention from the swatches of paint that were taped to the walls of what would eventually transform into a VIP lounge. Stepping back, Every pivoted on her foot and walked to the makeshift table before picking it up. Noah’s name showed up, a sigh falling from her lips as she considered Caligrace’s newest childe. Already, the man had gotten himself on the list more times than she could count and if he didn’t stop, Every was going to stab him. As it was, she had already expressed the same remark to Caligrace herself being the man’s sire. Her hair fell over her shoulder as she closed a few extra applications on her phone before the messages became her priority. As his interest in illegal activities had become clear, Every has pointedly said I told you so about the too clean image that the hacking had provided, not that either of the women had much roomk to speak.

I’ll be there in five.

She sent the text and stood up, sending a telepathic to Caligrace as she went, collecting her hunters knife and sliding it into her boot. Double checking that her Sccy was still in its holster, Every collected her tome before returning to the Andras homestead and slipped through a fadeportal to Bullwood. By the time she made it to River Rock and to their meeting place, she traced Noah’s aura and said, “You’re still enjoying the primitive use of a spear, I see.”

[Caligrace]

“Roman, be a dear and shut up.”

Her thrall scoffed as she interrupted his tangent about the newest dealer in town, his dark eyes glaring into her back as she hopped from the ladder and tossed the empty cardboard box across the backroom. Turning, she flashed him a bright smile and blew a kiss, her lips parting to say something further before Every’s voice entered her thoughts. Her nose wrinkled for a moment, and she tossed her braid over her shoulder, hands placed on her hips as she considered her options. It wouldn’t take her long at all to head to the location.

The question, truly, was if she wanted to.

Ever since she had turned Noah, it had been one thing after the other. As each event unfolded, she found herself spiraling deeper and deeper into the hole. Every time his name appeared on the wanted list - or that of his family - she had to endure that look from Every. As it was, she hadn’t even mentioned him to anyone else. No one knew of his existence, and she was beginning to think that it was a good thing. Of course, keeping such a large secret had begun to weigh on her. “****,” she groaned, earning a laugh from Roman. “Troubles, sweething?” When she peeked from between her fingers to glare at him and his sarcastic smile, she thought of the ways she could kill the man.

Not that she would, but he was edging so very close to the end of her nerves.

“I told you to stop calling me that. Finish up here and make the truck order. I have to meet Every. I’ll be sure to tell her you said hello,” she called over her shoulder, the sound of boxes falling and his grunt of anger disappearing as the door to the storage building slammed closed behind her. Laughing beneath her breath, she patted down her pockets to ensure that she had everything she need - namely, her weapons - and made her way to the location, careful to follow the exact directions Every had given her.

[Noah]

Coping with his new Allurist nature had proven more difficult than Noah could have imagined. He had always turned heads, of course, but this kind of attention was beginning to weigh on him. He had underestimated Caligrace's warnings to his own detriment, not realizing just how deep-seated the problem actually was. As a human, he had slipped in and out of a hundred buildings and picked a thousand pockets without ever being noticed. As an Allurist, people were paying him far too much attention for the activities to continue.

Were it not for the grace of his sires (despite Caligrace turning him, both she and Every had guided him and his family, and he was already mentally referring to them both as such), he had the distinct impression his time here would have been much more problematic.

It was at that point he swore off breaking and entering and petty theft. The truth was he had not needed to personally engage in either activity for some time, but he had always enjoyed the adrenaline rush and keep himself sharp. The vice was no longer worth the risk, though. Between his business endeavors and the income pouring in from shipments such as these, he had no need of the petty cashflow. Leave such matters to those who could hide in the shadows. A grin formed idly on his features as he considered that Junebug might already be doing that exact thing.

Just as he was forming the though, Every appeared out of nowhere beside him. It was all he could do to not jump at the sight of her. He made a mental note to figure out how she always knew where he was and learn how to return the favor.

"Think of Shadows and they shall appear," he muttered sarcastically. He twirled the spear, tossed it from one hand to the other, and offered a shrug. "Does a better job than I ever expected. Something thrilling about using such a primitive weapon, isn't there? It's..."

His tongue clicked as he tried to find the word.

"Simpler," he finally decided.