Chase
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Post by Chase on Jan 26, 2009 1:33:51 GMT -5
It was new, as the Followers' meeting points went. A dilapidated old pub recently bought out by the Company, and converted into an exclusive bar that could only be accessed by members of the Cult and their guests. The outside world simply saw yet another A-list establishment that only the rich and powerful could enter... and in a way, they were right. The Followers of Amazarak had a demon backing their efforts - they were possibly the most powerful people on earth.
Of all of their meeting points, this might have been Chase's least favorite. Oh, it was nice enough - a self-serve bar always seemed stocked with whatever he could possibly crave, and a jukebox played just loudly enough to block out hushed voices from hungry ears. There were tables for pool playing during casual meetings, and a back room for more serious discussions and doling out of secret assignments. The couch against one wall had acted as Chase's bed on more than one occasion.
Still, there was something about this particular place...
He caught sight of the sign staring him down as he approached the building, and sent a sneer right back at it. The irony of it, "The Seventh Circle," wasn't lost on him, and he had no doubt whatsoever that this meeting point had been named just for him. In his honor. Or to remind him what the bosses had on him, should he ever try to defect.
You'd think such important cult leaders as the Seven would have better things to do than to make personal jokes at an employee's expense.
Chase entered the bar and sent a cursory glance around. He'd received word in a coded text message to come here immediately - though whether They had a job for him or just wanted to reprimand him for his recent run-ins with the Winchesters, he wasn't sure. The choice in locale suggested that They weren't overly happy with him, but what did he know. Maybe They just knew he was in the area.
Whatever. At least he knew his day was sure to be interesting...
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Evan Hallowed
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Post by Evan Hallowed on Aug 5, 2009 15:55:50 GMT -5
It was hardly his favorite place to go to have a quiet drink. The place was pretty new, and usually was not packed with other members of the cult, but usually he preferred drinking out of his own cups and his own drinks... that way it was less likely of being poisoned...
Evan entered the Seventh Circle, smirking at the sign. With only a quick glance around he caught sight of Chase. He hadn't had much opportunity to see the young man in action, but he had heard rumors about the boy... and not all of them what one would call "positive."
Calmly, Evan strode past the young man to a booth toward the back, making no sign for him to join him, but not denying it either. Janin, who had been lurking behind Evan like a shadow slipped into the next booth without a word.
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Chase
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Post by Chase on Aug 21, 2009 23:55:05 GMT -5
Chase had been sitting at the bar for about half an hour, and was absently swirling the last dregs of a watery coke when he felt, more than saw, one of the Seven enter the bar behind him. There was a certain energy around them - he didn't know if anyone besides the Followers could sense it, but it hit Chase like a torrent of ice water whenever they walked too close.
He tilted his head slightly, subtly, to see which of them had hopped off their pedestals for a drink with the commoners, and gritted his teeth as the chill came closer, and none other than Number Six walked by. Chase kept track of the Seven by a numbering system rather than their own names, based on nothing more significant than the order in which he'd first seen them. Still, he'd made a point to address them by their proper names aloud - numbering the Seven could easily be something that was taken the wrong way, and he didn't want to end up losing his head over the mistaken impression that he thought less of one than the others.
Number Six, or Mr. Hallowed (and what kind of a last name was that, anyway? It had to be an alias... right?) was one of the Seven Chase had had the least contact with, and he was more than a little surprised to see him now. Had he been the one to have called Chase here?
As he saw Six take a seat alone in a back booth, he decided that he must have been. After all, how likely was it for two of the big bosses to show up in the same meeting point on the same day? Sighing, Chase finished his drink in a quick swig and left his glass at the bar, standing up and moving off toward the back table with purposeful strides. No need to seem nervous, after all.
The worst thing to do when facing a feral creature was to show fear.
He reached the booth and stopped, inclining his head in a quick gesture of respect.
"Would you like some company, sir?"
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Evan Hallowed
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Post by Evan Hallowed on Aug 27, 2009 20:43:49 GMT -5
Evan didn't even bother to look up from examining the small list of "Munchies" (did they really have to call them such a grotesquely cutesy name?) on the table.
"Feel free."
He waited a few moments before speaking again, allowing the boy to stew in his own thoughts. Then, again without raising his head, said
"Do you know why you have been called here?" He hoped the boy would lose his temper. He was known for being volitile, and it would be a treat to teach the boy his place.... though, Evan thought to himself, that wasn't really why he was here.
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Chase
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Post by Chase on Aug 31, 2009 22:42:15 GMT -5
Chase slid into the booth across from Six, trying not to feel the eyes of the bodyguard drilling into his back as he did. He wasn't one to be intimidated by... well... much of anything, but there was something about this bodyguard that disturbed him, that seemed almost hungry. Like a starved wolf just waiting for its prey flinch, to give away its position so it could dive forward for the kill.
And Hallowed was worse. The bodyguard was at least obviously dangerous, but he... like a wolf in a well-to-do businessman's clothing, you couldn't quite get the sense of how dangerous he was until it was too late.
He didn't so much as look at Chase, as he sat. He didn't like that. Coming all the way here, waiting half an hour after the proposed meeting time, and now the menu list seemed to be more important than whatever business had dragged him here.
"Do you know why you have been called here?"
He gritted his teeth. Such a casual tone, still not looking up at him... Chase couldn't get a read on him at all. Did he mean why he was called here, or why he was called here? Why the Seventh Circle, specifically, or why to meet with one of the Bosses in general? Chase only liked games if he was the one pulling the strings. Fingers clenching over one knee, he replied tightly,
"The message was nonspecific, sir. Do you have a new assignment for me?"
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Evan Hallowed
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Post by Evan Hallowed on Sept 1, 2009 23:08:00 GMT -5
Deciding there was little of edible quality on the menu, Evan placed it down and allowed his eyes to meet with the boy's, to delve deep into those depths and peer into the spirit of his prey.
And he smiled.
"What is it you desire? There must be more to your existence than acting as a puppet for those who, lets face it, are oftentimes not even half as clever as you can be with your playthings." He let this sink in for a moment before continuing, "I must admit I admire your work. The massacre of those fools in Chestertown was particularly entertaining to watch."
Evan was expanding his Charisma, opening the boy's trust to him, but at the same time wanted to make sure he didn't believe him to be a pushover. He had in fact watched the said Chestertown job, from a safe distance of course. You could never be sure what would happen when Chase went after a target, especially hunters.
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Chase
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Post by Chase on Sept 9, 2009 13:31:21 GMT -5
He felt himself relaxing slowly as Six spoke - his hand loosening its death grip on his knee. A hint of a smile started forming on his lips in answer to the boss's own, but he caught it just in time. No sense in letting his guard completely down right away, right?
Or... at all. Guard down equaled nothing good, at any time, under any circumstances. Still, he had to admit that what Hallowed was saying sounded pretty decent. The grin crept back along his face at the mention of Chestertown - one of his favorite marks in recent memory.
He leaned back a little in his seat, the gaze of the bodyguard on his back suddenly seeming a trivial threat.
"Oh, that? That was a pretty basic job, actually. Wouldn't mind it if you guys gave me something a little tougher next time."
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Evan Hallowed
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My name is Death and the End is Near
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Post by Evan Hallowed on Sept 10, 2009 0:07:59 GMT -5
Evan smiled genially. "Yes, well we don't often have problems so dangerous that they would prove a challenge for someone like you."
That wasn't particularly true. The Cult did operate for the most part above the notice of anyone, but a few of the Seven were only too eager to test their might against some supposedly powerful opponent. When they could not be restrained by the more cultured members of the Cult, they would send Puppets to give them amusement.
One of the many reasons Evan wished to rid himself of those fools.
On the bright side, they had managed to remain generally secret for this long...
"I'm glad you came over to meet with me so promptly. I do in fact have a job for you; one that I would not trust to a lesser Puppet... they certainly would not be able to handle the complexities of the job effectively..." (He made sure to enhance the Charisma slightly at this. Also, letting the compliment sink in, he ordered Chase a drink, and asked for his own regular drink.)
"I would just like to know something before I tell you the details," The bartender promptly laid their drinks on the table, a light beer for Chase and an apple-lemon-tea mixture for himself, looking like alcohol but was certainly not. He took a swig of it before deciding to go on with his plan.
Evan continued to smile, as though talking to a close, close friend, then asked,"What do you think of Aleksei of the Seven? Feel free to tell me the truth; I promise I won't tell him a thing."
Evan wasn't sure how much of his hatred of Aleksei was known. Aleksei was the member of the Cult that knew him the longest, and the one who had learned early on that Evan was not as trustworthy and naive as many of the other members believed. Aleksei was more cautious with Evan than with the rest of the cult, and Evan did not like having him looking over his shoulder... But where did the boy stand? Did he feel any loyalty to Aleksei? Did he even feel loyalty to any of the Cult?
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Chase
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Post by Chase on Oct 1, 2009 23:14:23 GMT -5
Some measure of Chase's pleasant haze was jolted away by the question. His brows furrowed, too off-balance by the strange juxtaposition of Evan's friendly mood and confiding demeanor, and the clearly dangerous words coming out of his mouth, to conceal his emotions.
Was he trying to catch Chase as a traitor - getting him to say something bad about another one of the Seven? But no... Evan wouldn't do that, would he? No... Chase's gut was telling him to trust Evan, and if there was anything in the world that Chase trusted, it was his own intuition.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop - a nervous habit, he supposed, though he couldn't remember the last time he'd displayed any kind of behavior when nervous. Not that he could remember the last time he'd properly been nervous.
"Aleksei..." That was Number Three, he remembered vaguely. Not his official recruiter, and not one of the Seven he had the most dealings with, but certainly better known to him than Evan. He'd done a few deals for him in the past, but that didn't mean he had any warm fuzzies for the guy. "He's sharp - I guess all you guys are, or you wouldn't have gotten as far as you have, huh?" His hand slid forward to wrap around the beer bottle the waiter had just brought him, and glanced down at it contemplatively. He didn't drink much in general, and never on duty, but why not...
He shook his head slightly and slid his eyes back up to meet Evan's. What was with all the nervous habits he'd suddenly picked up? Tapping fingers, breaking eye contact, and contemplating a drink while chatting with one of the Seven? He didn't feel nervous. In fact, he felt more at ease than he had any right to. Maybe that, in itself, was enough to put him on edge.
Wait, what had he been talking about?
Right... Number Three. Evan wanted to know his "feelings" about him. And before he could consider stopping himself, he was back to spilling his guts without remorse.
"A little paranoid, though. He's into this whole hyper-intense debriefing thing after every single little assignment you do for him, needing to know what kind of knife you used or whether you stopped at any point to tie your shoe before he's satisfied. Frankly I prefer working with someone who gives me a little more leeway to get the job done on my own terms."
His eyes flicked absently to the beer bottle again, and caught sight of a motionless figure in the next booth reflected in the dark glass. Chase's fingers tapped sharply over wooden table top as he remembered the presence of Evan's bodyguard. No... Hallowed, not Evan. Number Six. When had he gotten on a first name basis with one of the Seven, especially in his own head? And worse, when had he gotten relaxed enough to start badmouthing one of his bosses around another one? If this was some sort of a joint test of loyalty then Chase could be as good as dead right now.
He kept his eyes on the reflection in the glass while fixing the bulk of his attention on the unfocused form of Hallowed across the table, waiting for some kind of signal that would send the bodyguard into motion against him.
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Evan Hallowed
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My name is Death and the End is Near
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Post by Evan Hallowed on Oct 9, 2009 15:48:15 GMT -5
The boy was opening up nicely. Though even as Evan watched, small twitches started becoming apparent, tapping the table, and eyes flickering between a glazed, trusting look and an alert, suspicion. He eased up slightly on his Charisma. If the boy started acting too much unlike himself, he would be even more suspicious of Evan in the future, and allow less subtle influence by Evan's powers...
Evan leaned back in his seat, offering a more relaxed posture which would be less business-like and intimidating. In truth, Evan was grinning like a devil on the inside. Hearing someone insult Aleksei was entertainment, and enlightening. He hadn't been aware how paranoid his rival was about missions...
But he needed to get to the point before...
He noticed Chase's sudden intense stare on his beer and laughed. "Don't worry, Chase. I'm not going to rat you out to him. My meetings are always completely confidential, unless I am acting as a mediator for one of the others..." He chuckled, "They do like to keep their own hides safe while they send me to face the real world."
He took another gulp of his drink, measuring Chase's emotions, trying to determine if he would aid him... But there was no time to make certain. He had to get this done quickly, and if the boy refused... he would need time to make sure he would spoil things...
"So, I was wondering, as another man who lives on the front lines, would you be willing to do me a large service? It would be dangerous, but very rewarding in the end, let me assure you."
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Chase
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Post by Chase on Nov 6, 2009 16:57:26 GMT -5
A smile quirked Chase's lips before he could help it. What could he say? "Dangerous" and "rewarding" were two of his very favorite words.
He raised his eyes slowly from the beer bottle, deciding that if the bodyguard was planning on knocking him off there wouldn't be much warning coming from that hint of a reflection. The guy probably had a high-caliber gun aimed at Chase's back from beneath his table, anyway.
Evan had leaned back in his seat and Chase drew himself in closer, leaning his elbow against the table top. He wasn't sure if the gesture was an automatic attempt to prove that he wasn't worried, and he was offended Six would suggest that he was... or if it was just because the prospect of starting a dangerous mission had gotten him more excited than he even realized.
"Care to lay down some specifics, boss, or am I expected to agree based on a few vague promises?"
But of course the sharp line was just a formality. Just to show he couldn't be played or goaded. But whatever Hallowed had in store, Chase had known he'd be in on it from the second he'd entered the pub.
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Evan Hallowed
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My name is Death and the End is Near
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Post by Evan Hallowed on Nov 21, 2009 21:50:20 GMT -5
Evan grinned; the boy was going to agree, he could tell. Leaning back in toward the table, Evan lowered his voice, glancing around furtively (pure acting, as Janin would stop anyone from getting too close).
"I need to gain more information about Aleksei, and I want you to be my spy."
Chase may have surmised as much from his question about the man, but Evan still paused to gauge his response to the straightforward statement.
"I believe Aleksei's surname is Dekanozov, but I can not be sure. He is a skilled witch, and so you would have to be very careful around him. He also has a deep mistrust of me, and so you must not be seen speaking to me too often. But most important, you must not consider him incompetant. Aleksei is a major player in this cult, and he has been around for longer than I can even say for certain. He is clever, and will eradicate any perceived threat without a thought..."
"Are you up to the task? If you do not wish to come between two of the Seven, it is understandable. But know this; those who aid me against my enemies will be rewarded beyond any power in this mortal world. Those who stand against me.... will meet a most unpleasant end..."
As he said this, images of some former nuisances came to mind, bringing a cruel grin to his face... The fun that he had with the last one... dear Jake Toth... oh, how the scalpel truly seemed to be passing through water.... gently..... Raising his eyes to Chase again, he added offhandedly,
"Plus your salary will be quadrupled."
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Chase
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Post by Chase on Nov 23, 2009 1:01:54 GMT -5
"...I want you to be my spy."
His eyebrows raked up about half a foot in the air, before drifting casually back down again. Selling information was one thing, but being a literal spy... going back and forth between two of the most powerful men on earth... playing one in order to ally with another...
Oh, this was so very much better.
"...a most unpleasant end..."
Chase didn't usually pay much attention to threats. In his experience, the more a man boasted his strength, the less he actually had. The way Hallowed spoke was different, though. It was anything but empty bluster. It was just fact. Almost as if Hallowed wouldn't particularly mind a betrayal, as long as he would get a chance to properly punish Chase for it. It left him wondering... if Aleksei came him to the next day, offering the same bargain, if Chase would actually risk a double-deal after all.
"Plus, your salary will be quadrupled."
His lips twitched and he leaned back again in the seat, allowing the smile to form unhindered. It would be a serious understatement to say that he "got by" on what the Cult paid him. He didn't exactly have his own private jet or anything, but let's just say the only reason he would ever stay in run-down motels was because more interesting things tended to go down there. He'd never come across the term "salary" before; in fact, he'd always really just thought of it as an allowance. He did a few chores here and there for the 'rents, and they gave him enough money for room, board, and play. And now this... four times what he got already...
"Alright, this is one undercover mission that I can't see myself getting bored with. I think you just might've sold me." He paused for a moment - thoughtful, considering. "Gonna need to think up a good code name, though. You know, to pass back and forth the intel. 'Brimstone,' 'Acheron' maybe or... hey, would Judas be just way too obvious?"
Maybe it was the thought of the money that was making him giddy, or anticipation of the new mission. If he stopped to think about it, he'd been a touch too relaxed since the conversation had started... but then, being as relaxed as he was, he didn't really take the time to care.
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Evan Hallowed
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Post by Evan Hallowed on Dec 23, 2009 23:13:36 GMT -5
To think, some of Evan's cohorts didn't like working on the outside, with real people... But to watch peoples' reactions was certainly priceless! Especially when they were falling into your hands....
"Alright, this is one undercover mission that I can't see myself getting bored with."
Evan smirked. The boy's personality was somewhat like his own. He would be in constant danger, sneaking between two of the Seven, and was thinking of his boredom... Evan would need to keep the boy busy in case he decided to 'liven things up' by leaking information. But at the same time, it might be interesting.....
No. This was too important to play with. Though... once he stood victorious over Aleksei, it would be time to have fun. There was even a room reserved for him in the basement, kept sparkling clean, the silver knives all sharp and polished.... Evan could hardly wait to use them on Aleksei.
"Gonna need to think up a good code name, though. You know, to pass back and forth the intel. 'Brimstone,' 'Acheron' maybe or... hey, would Judas be just way too obvious?"
"Perhaps. Though more appropriate, perhaps, would be "Legatee." I am not Judas, betraying an overbearing Son of God, but more of a beneficiary who deserves to get what is rightfully his."
Evan felt his eyes narrow as he thought of the times Aleksei had blocked his actions, stepping in with 'support' of the cult to veto a decision that would give him an advantage over the others... The others would have allowed him to take the power from under their noses! If only Aleksei was not so wary of Evan, he would be at the top of the Cult, commanding the others as his servants, not acting as if they existed on par with one another!
He took a sip of his drink and let the roiling emotions drain away.
"You will be dealing with Janin, many times in place of myself, for we can not be seen together too often, or it would raise questions. Though I must admit, I will have some amusement losing my tail every once in a while to chat."
Placing his glass down, he gave Chase a big grin and stretched out his hand, giving an extra surge of Charisma to add to the excitement.
"It is going to be a pleasure working with you, Mr. Anders."
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