Post by Alain Merrick on Jan 13, 2018 11:17:57 GMT -5
Exercising a healthy dose of caution, Elle stood at a safe distance from the Shinigami. She held one hand on her hip and the other behind her back. Merrick suspected that she was hiding something in case he failed to live up to his word, but as long as she didn’t attack, it wouldn’t be necessary. As the silence began to mount following his question, it was clear that the woman was pondering how to answer appropriately to his simple question. After a minute or two, she resigned herself to Alain’s arrangement.
“That’s all you want to know?” The woman clearly doubted that was the extent of the Shinigami’s query.
“As I said, I may wish to pursue follow up, but otherwise, that is it.”
She responded after a heavy sigh. “Fine. We've met, but I wouldn't say I know her. Tough little cookie though, if I had to guess.”
Alain was taken a bit by surprise by her quick acknowledgement and it could almost make the trip worthwhile on its own, but simply finding an associate of Amara wasn’t enough to discern a location. “I see.” Alain raised one hand and began tapping an index finger lightly upon his lips. “And would you happen to know where she can be found?”
This question posed more of a dilemma. Amara wasn’t someone that you willingly chose to cross, but then she wasn’t here and the Shinigami was. Likewise, she didn’t know her whereabouts with certainty. Thus, she didn’t know how the man would react to less than perfect intelligence. Either way, risk couldn't be involved. “Possibly, but if I steer you in the right direction, we’re finished here?”
As he dissected her words, he was less than pleased. “Right direction” implied an uncomfortable uncertainty, but any information would be welcome since his leads from the lists were drying up. “Well, we could go our separate ways for today at least. And should the information pan out, you would never see me again.”
“Realize this can't blow back on me. She absolutely cannot know about my involvement. I don’t need a second Shinigami breathing down my neck.” Especially, when both of them were stronger than her.
“Obviously, a guarantee is impossible, but if events proceed according to plan, then she will not be a problem for anyone.” He stopped short of saying he was intending to put her to the sword because a conversation still had to occur. Who knew what could arise from that conversation. Nevertheless, the most likely outcome was her death at his hands.
Elle was no fool and could read between the lines. So that’s how it is. Her lips parted slightly as an amused expression settled upon her face. “Then I guess you’re in luck because I know where she has been most recently.” More accurately, her husband, but who cared about the semantics. “Azabu residential district in Tokyo. From what I hear, she has a taste for the local music. Has an apartment someewhere in Nishi-Azabu, but shouldn’t be too hard for someone like you to find.” Convinced that a potential confrontation had been avoided, she returned the ginto tube to the pouch resting against her lower back.
“And you part with such information freely?” Merrick was a believer in nothing being free. A price was always exacted, even if it was small one.
It was hardly free when she believed that the Shinigami was giving her no other choice. Still, she was hoping for some good to result from this encounter. “Adrian may have pulled the trigger, and he will be dealt with, but Alistair’s business dealings were equally at fault. So if there’s a reckoning coming for them as well . . .” She shrugged.
Merrick offered a slight nod because he knew the feeling. Those responsible for Josephine’s death had to pay. The only difference between him and the Quincy, she was willing to delegate the deliverance of her retribution. Though of course none of this would have mattered if Elle had been trying to play him. Fortunately, he had been focusing on the woman intently during the conversation and had sensed no deception. “Then our business is concluded.” True to his word that talk was his only objective, he vanished in a burst of reiryoku.
As the man departed, the woman tried her best to follow his movement. Glancing to the sky, she returned the small nod. “Good luck Shinigami, for both our sakes, you’re going to need it.”
745/5010
-end-
“That’s all you want to know?” The woman clearly doubted that was the extent of the Shinigami’s query.
“As I said, I may wish to pursue follow up, but otherwise, that is it.”
She responded after a heavy sigh. “Fine. We've met, but I wouldn't say I know her. Tough little cookie though, if I had to guess.”
Alain was taken a bit by surprise by her quick acknowledgement and it could almost make the trip worthwhile on its own, but simply finding an associate of Amara wasn’t enough to discern a location. “I see.” Alain raised one hand and began tapping an index finger lightly upon his lips. “And would you happen to know where she can be found?”
This question posed more of a dilemma. Amara wasn’t someone that you willingly chose to cross, but then she wasn’t here and the Shinigami was. Likewise, she didn’t know her whereabouts with certainty. Thus, she didn’t know how the man would react to less than perfect intelligence. Either way, risk couldn't be involved. “Possibly, but if I steer you in the right direction, we’re finished here?”
As he dissected her words, he was less than pleased. “Right direction” implied an uncomfortable uncertainty, but any information would be welcome since his leads from the lists were drying up. “Well, we could go our separate ways for today at least. And should the information pan out, you would never see me again.”
“Realize this can't blow back on me. She absolutely cannot know about my involvement. I don’t need a second Shinigami breathing down my neck.” Especially, when both of them were stronger than her.
“Obviously, a guarantee is impossible, but if events proceed according to plan, then she will not be a problem for anyone.” He stopped short of saying he was intending to put her to the sword because a conversation still had to occur. Who knew what could arise from that conversation. Nevertheless, the most likely outcome was her death at his hands.
Elle was no fool and could read between the lines. So that’s how it is. Her lips parted slightly as an amused expression settled upon her face. “Then I guess you’re in luck because I know where she has been most recently.” More accurately, her husband, but who cared about the semantics. “Azabu residential district in Tokyo. From what I hear, she has a taste for the local music. Has an apartment someewhere in Nishi-Azabu, but shouldn’t be too hard for someone like you to find.” Convinced that a potential confrontation had been avoided, she returned the ginto tube to the pouch resting against her lower back.
“And you part with such information freely?” Merrick was a believer in nothing being free. A price was always exacted, even if it was small one.
It was hardly free when she believed that the Shinigami was giving her no other choice. Still, she was hoping for some good to result from this encounter. “Adrian may have pulled the trigger, and he will be dealt with, but Alistair’s business dealings were equally at fault. So if there’s a reckoning coming for them as well . . .” She shrugged.
Merrick offered a slight nod because he knew the feeling. Those responsible for Josephine’s death had to pay. The only difference between him and the Quincy, she was willing to delegate the deliverance of her retribution. Though of course none of this would have mattered if Elle had been trying to play him. Fortunately, he had been focusing on the woman intently during the conversation and had sensed no deception. “Then our business is concluded.” True to his word that talk was his only objective, he vanished in a burst of reiryoku.
As the man departed, the woman tried her best to follow his movement. Glancing to the sky, she returned the small nod. “Good luck Shinigami, for both our sakes, you’re going to need it.”
745/5010
-end-