Plucking a Lilly

[Roni]

September 9th - Friday - 9:53 PM

Roni was following another lead. One of a missing half elf girl. She was a pretty thing, couldn't be much older than teenage years. Her human mother had come to her concerned about the fact that she hadn't come home from school. Called the number off the sign that Roni had left as the construction crew did their thing. Roni's lead had led her to a club. One that really didn't quite make sense for a pregnant lady to be in, but she had word that the big guy in charge wouldn't be there. Which meant that she could most definitely be nosy and see what was happening.

For the most part, she just kinda wandered around, appreciating the views of dancers, and entertainers, and just kinda listening as music played, giving the place the air of a classy establishment, not just your average joe came here to watch the titties bounce. Most of them were businessmen, mingling both business and pleasure. She finally decided to set her attention on the bartender. An older woman with a pretty face. It's not long before Roni's called her attention over to ask for juice. It's when she approaches the bar, that Roni places a picture of the girl she was searching for on the bar. "M'lookin' fer my cousin. She left a note sayin' she was runnin' away. And Uh. I dunno. Places like this are good fer people not wantin' ta be found n'ta make decent money, specially a pretty face like 'er."

The woman shakes her head, "'ell 'ah sweetheart," A southern accent to her voice, "no kids that young would be welcome in here, ya see, she woulda been ca'ded at the door, bosses ord'rs." She giggles a little, "Would'a like some juice ma'am?"

At a table near the back of the bar, a man would be found watching, a glass of whiskey in his hand, a girl on each side giving him attention. A black pinstriped suit custom tailored to fit his slender build, this man meant business.

"Uh-huh." There's a beat, and a frown, that conveyed more disappointment than the disbelief she felt. Places like this were shady as hell. Something that could almost be tasted on the air. "Juice, Soda, somethin without alcohol, yeah? M'not gunna hurt m'bean." There's a warm smile and a hand that dropped down to her swollen stomach. "Really. I shouldn't even be out lookin' fer 'er. I'm just so worried n'all." A heavy sigh follows her words. "This is like the third place I've tried."

The man tilts his head back at the table, a quick signal with his hand before the woman speaks again, "'Scuse me miss, may I see your ID? I just remembered we're s'pposed to check anyone under 25 who comes through dat doo'." She smiles pleasantly, the boss shifting up from his seat, to anyone unfamiliar, he was just a patron, a skeazy rich guy looking for pretty women.

"Even though I just want juice?" There's a beat, and a feigned frown. Even still, she was already dragging her purse up onto the bartop, before she started digging. "I know my wallet's 'ere somewhere." Scrounge, scratch. Change spilled from somewhere and she muttered a curse, then produced a well loved cat wallet. Everything about the ID she hands over is legit.... But the name reads Dahlia Wilcox, and proudly displays her picture. She never carried accurate identification when she was being nosey. That's how things like friends and family getting dragged into bad situations happened.

"Well Miss Wilcox, is der a numba we chould call if we see your sister? Such a sweet young thang, shouldn't be out on her own," The woman pours her a glass of juice, "Have ya call da cops?"

The man raises an eyebrow at the name, not one he knew, even though the woman was familiar, he shoos away his companions moving to walk over. Another club, another time, and most definitely, he had known her under another name. "Well Lilly how about you make this lovely ladies drink on the house, bosses orders." he voice sounded like a man used to getting what he wanted, even as the woman opened her mouth to correct him on her name, she instead just silently closes it

She was about to say something in response.... but whatever it was croaked to silence at the man's voice behind her, using a name that she's used... elsewhere. A long while ago. She whirled around to face him as he made his approach, surprise bleeding quickly across her features. He kinda looked vaguely familiar. Some Skeeziod that had pawed at her expectantly when she had been Lilly, most likely. She took half a step back, and abruptly came to a stop as she hit the bar. "I'm Dahlia. I think ya have me mistaken fer someone else, Mister."

"I was referring to my tender, though perhaps... ah yes you do look like a Lilly I met, perhaps a nickname?" He smiles, the tender going silent, "Or a stage name?"

"Uh." There's a beat. She's picked up rather quickly that this guy's probably the owner. Especially after he said my tender. "I really do think yer mistaken Mister." And Now she's sliiiding along, back against the bar, hopefully away from him. The last thing she wanted to do was be trapped. The weight of that pretty little gun she got from Coydog against her thigh was reassuring. She did have a weapon, and she'd use it if need be. She just liked things a little less messy.

: He shrugs, "You said you were looking for someone." His gaze watching her intently, noticing the baby bump, "Rather late to be out with a little one."

"M'lookin fer my cousin. But yer tender lady said she hasn't seen 'er, and ya don't let girls in that young cuz ya card 'em, so really. I don't gotta stay n'prolly drag business down n'all." Her nose scrunched a little. "Plus, like ya said it's late n'm'tired n'my partner's prolly worried 'bout me. Didn't even really want me comin' ta look, but now's when places like this is open, so."

There's a face and a hand dropping to rub at her stomach as Lily decided that now was the perfect time to stretch her feet riiiight on up in her ribs.


The man grins a little, "Well Miss Dahlia, our doors are always open, should you wish to come by once you find your sister, We'd love to know when the child has been found safe," a glass of juice set in front of her

"My cousin." She corrected gently, and offered him a smile. "I already talked ta the watch. They said they're lookin' but y'know what they say 'bout them." There's a soft snort, before her attention turns to the juice, then the tender. Soon enough, she's producing a pen, and pulling a napkin close to scrawl a number to one of her burner phones she had on hand. "If ya do see 'er, 'eres my number."

He takes the number from her, a small smirk on his lips, "Do make it home safe."

"Always." There's an easy flutter of a smile that masked everything she felt on the inside... The juice is most decidedly left behind on the bar. Not a chance she'd drink it. Her hurried footsteps seemed like they couldn't get her out of the establishment fast enough.

She's sure he was on to her. He knew something was up. And she was positive that he'd have someone follow her tonight. That's simply just how men like him were. She's been around them almost her whole entire existence, and knows.

It's almost in an instant that Zagan's there, before her, very much in her space and face. There's a sputtered curse, before she skittered back a couple of steps. He was grinning widely at her, with that smug know it all look. This was now the *second* time he's appeared to her... and not that she was aware of it, but no one could see him. As far as anyone else was aware, the woman was walking alone... and maybe looking perplexed as she spoke to herself.

"Hey Doll. You sure know how to royally fuck things over, don't you?"

"Yer dead." The look she gives him says they've been over such topic before.

"We went over this last time. Dead yes. But I'm still here. You will never be able to get rid of me, Ronixi. You were mine, and you will always be mine."

"Ya thought I was yers. Funny thing is, M'still havin' Jeremy's baby n'not yers."

"Funny thing is, you're still consistently fucking up, Doll. Tonight was such a careless mistake. Even risking Lily's life. You should know, no field work right now." He tutted disappointedly in her direction, and was grinning wide when she whirled around to face him.

"Leave me alone." She hissed the words with a nasty snarl, and a scowl in his direction.

"You know I'm right. You simply fail everyone around you. You always failed me. You failed Jeremy, and Sam. Maybe they'd still be alive, if you'd been able to do something. I mean, Jeremy alone, you're the one that drove the blade into his heart until he stopped breathing." As he spoke, he circled closer, he invaded her space.

And she wanted nothing more than to kill him all over again. "I was merely a tool. Yer the one who wielded me."

"And ultimately it was still your hands that killed him. It'll be your hands that kill that wretched little half-breed incubating in your womb as well. And the girl you're trying to find. Her mother signed her child's death warrant when she came to you."

"Stop. Stop." Her voice cracked, and for a moment, she looked like she was lost.

"Roni. You're like poison. You taint everything around you. And eventually, when broken down to the barest roots, everyone you lose is because of your choices. Nick died because of Siobhan. Who he met through you. Jeremy died because he stuck his nose in the affairs of fae, because he met you and fell in love, or some sappy shit. Sam in more or less words told you he was dying, and you let him walk away."

It was here, that Roni let out a roar of irritation. "Yer dead. Yer dead, n'I hate everything ta do with yer stupid fuckin' face."

Zagan cackled.

Roni swung wildly at him with her purse.

The stranger woman ambling along behind Roni stopped for a moment to cautiously watch Roni as she spoke to empty air, then tried to attack it with her purse. And she clutched her pepper spray a little tighter, and walked a little faster as she scooted around her.

And just as quickly as the man had arrived, he was gone, leaving the fae reeling and unsteady on her feet. Full of so much rage. And underlying that rage was anxiety, living in her heart as it tried to pound it's way out of her birdcage ribs, in the rapid shallow breaths that seemed to be all she could inhale, and in the way her stomach twisted and worked its way to doing full on flops and leaps.

She didn't want to fall apart right there on the street... so she just moves. Anywhere, and nowhere all in the same. The faerie has no plans, her wander is simply aimless and she has places where she could fall apart in private and other things to worry about... which at this moment is not what she's focused on...

There's even a paranoid glance over her shoulder to see if anyone was following.... Too bad the car tailing her was smart enough to hang back far enough.

[Roni]

September 18th - Friday - 11:56 PM

At some point, she had wandered off from the duels, long after she had faded into the background of all conversation, and those she had cared for had wandered off. She really hadn't a plan as to where she was going, so she was honestly pleasantly surprised when she realized that she was just outside her apartment building.... Which in a few short months, her and Siobhan would most likely be moved all out of, and tucked into one of a couple pretty little houses here in Rhy'din she had been considering hard in the past month. She's pretty sure she's settled on one, she just actually had to call and make an offer.

Tired, and not really in the mood to seriously fight with going anywhere else, she had just turned to start heading for the porch and door, when something shiny caught her attention on the windshield of her pretty orange '67 Firebird. It's enough to give her pause, and pull her away from the porch she had just started approaching. She might be getting to the point of rather pregnant, but so far, it hasn't slowed her much. The faerie reached her vehicle, and with caution, shuffled her way long to where there was a gift box nestled on the windshield of her car. It was wrapped in matte black, with a shiny blood red ribbon. In plain sight is a small name tag with her name written on it in looping script.

Roni can't help the way she stares at the present with apprehension. She had no lover really, Freddy wasn't one for gifts like that, plus he's been busy the past few weeks. It was definitely not her birthday... and for a brief moment, she wondered if Sam had set up something that was another gift for Lily or something... But she didn't even recognize the handwriting on the present. It takes a couple more moments, before Roni's reaching out to collect the package. Deft fingers have the ribbon sliding off and to the ground in seconds, and it's not long before it's joined by the paper it was wrapped in. That done, there's a little wiggle of the top, before it's sliding free of the bottom.... To reveal a small note card with more looping script, and a rich purple colored hair bow, bedazzled with lilac gems on the edges.

A single sentence, followed by a few extra words.

To tame that pretty red hair.

Your new Friend.

It's been a while since so little has filled her with so much panic. Almost immediately her thoughts went to her sister. Amaris. The only person in her life that she knew to currently have untameable red hair. A wild child mane. Her new friend... she had a sinking feeling, could only be the creep of a man she had encountered the week before. She's pretty sure now that he's well aware of who she was.... And she has a very sneaking suspicion that this was only the beginning of a long fight with the dick head.

"Shit."

"Shit's one word for it, Doll." Very suddenly, Zagan simply existed for her, and did so right behind.

"Jesus fuckin' christ." The words were hissed as she whirled around, abyssal hues wide, and full of too many emotions to just pin one. "Of course yer fuckin' just here." That's snarled finally, displeasure souring her features, before her attention dropped to the note and bow in her hands.

"You have managed to get yourself into it this time, haven't you?" He whistled softly, and leered her way, attention settling on the items in hand. "To tame that pretty red hair. Man. It's only been a week. He already knows about Amaris. Obviously knows how to do his homework thoroughly."

"Yeah. I fucked up. I get it. I need ta cover my ass juuuust a lil better next time. Now please." A scowl bled across her face. "Kindly fuck off."

It's a good thing it's late out. There's not many people around to see her arguing with herself, if any.

Zagan's voice rumbled off in a gravel filled laugh with her words. "Ah, still pissy as ever. Good." He grinned, then took a moment to eye her. "Tell me Doll, do you see the subtle threat that's there? He knows who your people are, and most likely isn't afraid to hurt them if you don't back off. I've done similar before."

There's a smug look on Zagan's face that Roni would love nothing more than to smack off. "M'not fuckin stupid, Zagan. I know what he's doing. And it's not gunna work."

"And still here ya are." As he spoke, he circled around so that he was standing before her. A gentle hand reached out to tilt Roni's head up so they made eye contact.

"As I said, love, you are poison." His hand dropped to touch the gem hairbow in her hands. "And it's spreading to everything you hold dear. How long, Ronixi, how long until someone else dies? Will it be three people this year, four? Will you care more when it's someone closer to you? Like Amaris? Or what about Mist? He might have magic, but he is still very killable. Being strong does not make someone invincible. Even you know that."

The smile on Zagan's face is still smug as he takes a step back, leaving Roni to stew with his words. "Even Siobhan has a weakness. Someone can always find out. If you make enough people mad, especially, among the courts, they will come after you in any way they can."

He spoke, and Roni... well, listened. Both hands came to rest at her sides, the note crunched as she made a fist, and sighed. "I know. Everyone's told me Zagan. Ya. Siobhan. Mist. I can't control everything. It's not my fault that I am such a fuck up though, is it?" There's a bitter laugh.

"I was a child when my parents sold me to ya. So ultimately, whose job was it to make sure I turned out halfway decent? My parents did a shit job up till ya came along, n'ya just cemented it. So Fuck ya, Zagan. N'especially fuckin' fuck them. M'figurin' this shit out on my own." There's a hiss of breath, before the crumpled note is tossed in his direction.

Then, before the Figment that is Zagan can say anything else, She's spinning on her heels, wobbling just a touch, and stalking her way on up the porch steps, and into her apartment building. It's not until the door swings shut, and she checks to make sure that he's not following, that she relaxes... And Unbidden, halfway up her stairs, she starts crying.

The bow she had been gifted finds the trash once she's inside her apartment, then she promptly finds her bed... curls up, and lets herself come unglued under the safety of her covers... And of course, the company of Lacey, who simply let her do her thing and demanded pets while she was at it.

Being cute and keeping Roni distracted was her job, and she was good at it.