An Irrefusable Proposition

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

I had just gotten into quite the verbal fight with someone in the streets and shaken as I was, I did not want to stomp off with nowhere to go and so headed to the one place that was near that I actually enjoyed: the bookstore. It had started eerily familiar to another situation, when I was approached by a pair of rowdy young men, with teenage wiles in their head and richness feeling that they were unstoppable. It really irritated me to no end and before I knew it, with them speaking about how I had serviced as their mother's whipping toy,I found myself barking at them in fury and managed to slip through the crowd before they could rush at me. I had learned the hard way how to get out before it was too dangerous and unfortunately, I had made an enemy of the one who saved me.

A loss, but it wasn't one I was willing to cry over.

I entered the bookstore and headed to the back section as I normally did. For young men my age and younger, they were considered "dirty" novels, as if there was such a thing in Terre D'ange or for an adept at that. I liked them, much to my disdain. They were romantic and that appealed to me in a way that I would never admit. I was leaning on the bookshelf, eerily reminded of a time when a particular Shahrizai had found me here and was glad that this seemed to be a normal day.

Maybe.

[Denis de Rouille]

I was heading to Armand's for something to read when I grew bored at home, which was often the case, when I happened to see quite the row playing out in the street. Two young men were yelling at each other with such vigor I expected to see it come to blows. However, it did not get that far when one of the men stormed off - to Armand's of all places. I frowned slightly ... why was there something familiar about that young man? I was sure I didn't know him, as I never forgot a face, but yet...

I quickened my pace and entered Armand's moments after the man, watching as he headed straight to the back. I followed more slowly, taking up a position where I could get a better look at him. What was it? The feeling nagged at me, until I hit on what was so familiar about him. It wasn't that I knew him, but rather that I'd heard of him. Sandrine had mentioned an incident with a Valerian Adept, and even Guy had said something about it. This man certainly seemed to fit the description, so I decided to throw out a shot in the dark.

"Vincent?"

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

I looked up when I heard that name and though it wasn't mine, I know I had used it on occasions. It was my other persona, if you will, the one that I used when I did not want someone to trace my name back to Valerian House and be able to use Trinette against me. Someone calling it, a voice I didn't recognize, I knew that something was up. Most people that I told that name too probably never wanted to see or hear about me ever again. I closed my book and put it back on the shelf and turned to where the voice came from and was faced with a man who I did not recognize at all. The last time I had used that particular name, I had encountered that obnoxious Orchis and her Cassiline lover. I had surely pushed her enough to want to harm me some and I could only wonder if that was what it was about. Either way, I was not going to piss myself in fear as that would probably only amuse her.

"Yes. What's it to you?" I snapped, striding quickly up to Denis to show him that I was not afraid. "Who are you and what do you want?" With someone not approaching me as Sinclair and instead, my other persona, I could already assume that this was not going to end well.

[Denis de Rouille]

I almost took a step back involuntarily, but I was not the type to be intimidated by some upstart Adept - and a Valerian, no less! Instead, I simply crossed my arms and looked him over for a moment before responding.

"My name is Comte Denis de Rouille." I said, letting a smile play about my lips. This man certainly seemed as brash as described, but where Guy had obviously found him rude and uncouth, I found him interesting. I had been to Valerian often enough in my turns around the Night Court, and this young man seemed atypical of their sort.

"As for what I want, well, nothing more than to make your acquaintance." I said, spreading my hands as if to show I had nothing to hide. "I have heard of you, and wished to see for myself if such tales were accurate."

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

I only scoffed when the man told me his title and his name. What was I supposed to be, impressed? Surely, not. However, there was this smile that played his lips as he said it while a scowl slowly formed around mine. "Do you think your title means anything to me? You're a comte, that could mean a dozen of things, that you were given it, that your parents had it or that you actually worked for it. Any of those things and quite frankly, I could care less."

I laughed in his face when he said that he wanted nothing more than to make an acquaintance. Did he think me a fool? Did he expect me to bite that kind of bait? "Just an acquaintance, indeed. I believe it has been made already, good day," I said curtly, hoping that he would get offended and leave already. "And where, exactly, have you heard of me from?" That I was curious, especially since he knew me as Vincent no Valerian and not my true name, Sinclair.

[Denis de Rouille]

I bristled a bit at his reaction to my title, but then again, his attitude was true to form, and exactly as had been described to me. Perhaps I was jaded, but I found him interesting, so unlike the other Valerians I had known. I decided to let the disparaging remarks he made go, as I had other intentions for this meeting than the fight he was so obviously looking for.

I thought he was going to storm away when he gave me his 'good day', which was obviously less than sincere, but instead he asked a question, and I smiled again, more widely this time. At least I had his interest.

"Oh, a certain adept that we apparently both know." I didn't elaborate, or give Sandrine's name - yet. If he wanted more information, well, he would have to continue our conversation.

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

"The damn Orchis."

The words left my lips before I was able to stop myself. "So, why are you here?" I asked, my face flushed red with fury with the mere thought of her sarcastic, annoying voice and that superiority that she had, engraved under her eyelids. "Are you using the title comte as a jest and are you here to finish what she started? Surely she does not need someone else to fight her battles, but so be it."

Even if Denis was a lot larger than me and by the looks of it, more muscled, I was not willing to go down without a fight and Sandrine I could not hit. She was a female, after all, but oh, I would enjoy hitting anyone that Sandrine sent my way and that was how I saw it. He had to have been sent by her!

[Denis de Rouille]

I chuckled as he hit the nail right on the head, at least about the identity of the person who had given me his name, although he was way off base about everything else.

"True, I heard of you from Sandrine, but she did not send me to 'finish' anything. Do I strike you as the type of person to be sent on errands?" Regardless of my title, I took great pains to make certain one could tell how well off I was - everything about me screamed 'expensive.' It seemed obvious to my mind that I would not be running around at the behest of a mere Adept.

"I see that you have no love for Sandrine, and I assure you that I am not here on her behalf. In fact, it is no more than coincidence that brings us to the same place at the same time."

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

"You strike me as annoying," I retorted when he asked me if he looked like the errand boy type. Everything about him: the luxury of his clothing to the way he held himself spoke about his obnoxious nature. I was not one who adored the rich and extravagant type and one did not have to be a genius to get that from me. "You don't have to be paid, just a friend to want to deck me." Especially after the things that I said. If I were her, I would probably have gotten someone to do the same, except I wasn't and I ran all my revenge on my own accord.

"Alright," I said, trying to take his excuse to why he was still talking to me. "We never met. I assume that I am just really easy to describe and point out." Unless he was a stalker. He could be a stalker. I had to admit that I was a little paranoid, but I never let my guard down when it came to strangers. I had gotten pricked one too many times.

"Well, are you done seeing that my kind of Valerian actually exists?"

I felt like I was an animal in a circus and nothing more.

[Denis de Rouille]

I wondered what had ever happened in this young man's life to give him such a chip on his shoulder. Well, him being a Valerian, I suppose I could imagine some unpleasantness he may have suffered. I shook my head, wondering if the idea Sandrine and Guy had given me was going to be worth all the trouble. Still, if I could pull it off it would help my ailing pocketbook immensely.

"I can see that I have somehow offended you, which was far from my intention. I won't keep you if you've a mind to leave, but if you are interested in a business proposition, I have one that could be lucrative for the both of us."

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

"A business proposition?" I asked incredulously, as that was something that I never thought would come out of his lips. Lucrative for the both of us? The first thing that came to mind was an assignation, and if he had said "profitable" perhaps his description would have worked, but no, lucrative, money. Had I just not had the trip to L'Roche's with Anixiel and she told me about her impossible dreams, I probably would not have considered doing what he was asking. He came to me, only knowing what I had done to Sandrine and surely that was not good at all, and yet here he was, wanting to give me some sort of business deal.

I folded my arms over my chest. "How am I to know that you do not mean to cause harm unto me and what is your proposition?" I asked this, skeptical and wisely so. I had no reasons to trust this man that I had just met, none at all.

[Denis de Rouille]

"I know you have no reason to trust my word, but at least hear me out." I gestured at a table set up for reading near where we stood. "Come, let us sit and I'll give you the basics." It was a bit like dealing with a skittish horse, and I found this exchange to be somewhat exhilirating. One wrong word and he might bolt, losing us both a good bit of gold.

I sat down first, then used my foot to push one of the chairs out across from me. "Don't worry, unlike your patrons, I don't bite." He looked as if he'd swallowed something sour, but he finally came over and sat warily - in the chair next to the one I'd pulled out. I hid a smile, sensing that the time for amusement had passed.

"All right, well, from what I have seen and heard of your somewhat ... brash ... personality, I have a friend who I think would enjoy being a patron of yours. He is quite rich and not given to frequenting the Night Court, but on my reccomendation, I think he would. Now, in addition to what he would pay for your assignations, I would also pay you a small fee to deliver goods to him when you go. He and I do quite a bit of business, and it becomes tiresome for me to be sending my retainers to his house so often. Instead, if you would apprise me of upcoming assignations, I propose to leave said packages with you, and a nice fee for your help of course, and you in turn can simply give them over when you go."

I watched him for signs that he might be amenable to this idea, hoping that it would work out. Not for the reasons I was giving him, as it didn't cost me any less to pay him than it did to pay others, but instead it was the secrecy that I required, and what could be more innocent than an assignation? They happened over and over, every day in this City, nothing of note.

"So, what do you think?"

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

I scoffed a little when he said that he didn't bite like his patrons. He flaunted his wealth and I was sure he was nothing more than a greedy man. He was getting something out of this and as he stated when he said he had a business proposition, I was sure I was not just a "mere acquaintance" and that he sought to benefit from this somehow. However, while money may not have motivated me before, it did now and I could not help but be drawn to the possibility of an under the table side job.

I raised a brow, suspicious as I took a seat and especially when he mentioned recommending me to a patron. Now this really seemed like I would be the only one benefiting. It was more than suspicious in nature, what was wrong with just sending a messenger or delivering the package himself? I wasn't buying it, not one bit.

"Do you take me for a fool because I lie with men and women for a pretty coin, that I will do this for you just because you wave your wealth around?" I asked, disgusted once he had said his piece. I was still interested, however and forced myself to calm a little. "Assignations would happen much less often than you sending your retainer as you put it, "so often". What business are you dealing with." I could already tell it was of the illegal business, but at the same time I didn't want to know, for that would put me at fault for whatever was happening. If I had no knowledge, however and just my suspicions...

I raised my hand to stop him before he could reply to my question. "If I do this for you, you will negotiate a price with me, one that we both agree on and you and I with the knowledge that I already suspect that this is not an entirely innocent package you are going to have me deliver."

The idea of his patron was not particularly appealing ,especially if he LIKED me for what I was.

[Denis de Rouille]

I had expected some reticence, but his suspicious nature took it to another level. His ready insight into the heart of why I was attempting to recruit him told me that he was not just another pretty face and bruised backside; no, this one had a brain in his head. That made him a little more dangerous, but also more useful. I might prefer my women empty-headed, but that did not hold true for business associates.

"No, I do not take you for a fool, but for someone who can see an opportunity and take it. Without asking too many tiresome questions." Whatever I needed him for, I would not put my business at risk by telling him more than he needed to know.

"And I will negotiate fairly for your services." I reached into my vest and pulled forth a small pouch of coin. It never hurt to have a bribe handy, and so I always did. I pushed the bag across the table. "How is this? Consider it an advance."

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

"I don't need to know what you are doing and I don't want to know." If I knew, it would make it all the worse for my conscience and not to mention my personal innocence in the entire matter. I tried justifying what I was already getting myself into by saying that whatever it was, my patron wanted it and he would get it whether or not I assisted. I might as well get paid. I grabbed up the coin pouch casually, though if only he knew that I had never received that much money before, not in my own name. Trinette got much more for an assignation in a contract, but I never got so much in a patron's gift before.

"This works," I said and pocketed it, feeling almost a living thrum coming from it. I owned it. I couldn't save it for my marque nor anyone else. It was just... mine. It was an exhilarating yet odd emotion and I licked my lips a little while I pondered it. "How am I to meet your patron? Will he contact me in Valerian or do I meet him in person, beforehand?"

[Denis de Rouille]

I felt a bit of a thrill when he accepted. No matter how people might deny it, money often speaks where words fail. I considered his words when he asked about his patron, but decided that the best thing to do would be to pass his name along to my 'friend' and let him go to Valerian.

"I'll give him your name, and send him to Valerian." I said with a smile. "Vincent, right?" I was glad to have this business concluded, for all this talk of Valerian House was giving me ideas, and I really hadn't the coin after this little expenditure.

[Sinclair nó Valerian]

Vincent. Elua's ba11s, I had nearly forgotten.

"Sinclair no Valerian," I corrected as I rose, fingering the bag in my pocket and wondering exactly how much this would really cost me. Nothing, I hoped that would put me into harms way and I really needed this. Money spoke, and normally not to me, but it told me all the things that I could do for someone else, if only I had it. With that, I left expectantly. I'd have to prepare myself for an assignation and a not so pleasant one.

[Denis de Rouille]

I watched him go with a small smile on my lips. That had gone well, and I licked my lips at the thought of the money this would bring in. Whatever I was paying Vincent, or Sinclair, whichever was his true name (not that I cared overmuch), I would make back and then some. The patron I was sending him was a collector of things that were hard to find, and I was an expert at supplying such things, though it did tend to be dangerous. The Valerian was the perfect cover, and I had a mind to have Guy be the one to deliver the packages to him. It amused me that Guy obviously disliked this man, and I could also imagine the rumors surrounding his frequent trip to Valerian House. Satisfied with my day's work, I left the book shoppe without buying a thing.