|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 9:41 am
"Just me," Harrison repeated, pushing aside the rolling uneasiness, the dream-like memories of another world, of his own brush at being consumed with power, at how death was as close as walking through a door.
And the other him reveled in it, belonged here, the stacks of money meant just another night's take from their Casino.
When he reached out to enter in his code, it was with a complicated set of hands. His own. B0nez. Theirs. There was no way it would work. The symbol, this place- had to be some kind of chameleon echo. Drawing them here for its own reasons. It wasn't on His Strip. His Kingdom had been destroyed, a few fragment refugees all that was left over.
Harrison hit the last number.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 7:05 pm
There was a moment’s pause when Harrison input the final number into the keypad, and for a moment it seemed like nothing at all might happen. But even the pause was familiar to those other selves as security system after security system powered down. The vibrant blue runes faded in sequence followed with finality by the protection crown in the center.
The door did not so much open as withdraw, various interlocking plates and apertures rolling back with clanks of heavy impenetrable machinery. And following that were the stripes of what appeared to be lazers which disabled at the code. It was a perfect replica of the final vault in blue kingdom, clearly untouched by the demons in the casino at large. It also seemed to be - on closer inspection - entirely empty apart from one solitary object.
What an object it was though, the diadem was old and rusted but set with what looked like one of the largest sapphires in the entire world. It was incredibly familiar and it also felt like an artifact.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 7:38 am
Harrison knew it immediately. He knew it all.
"This is our place," he said, and going further. "The Wee b*****d. Didn't think I'd ever see him again."
The Boss didn't handle the sapphire. It was his, just like everything was his, but it had been a gift. He gave Rep a tight-lipped smile, then brushed Rep's red hair back behind his shoulder. He rested one hand possessively on Tracey's handle. Harrison tilted, giving Rep's throat a close-lipped kiss.
"Your neck's been too bare for my liking."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:36 am
Rep didn't know what he'd expected in the safe, more money, chips or something, but when the door opened and he was faced with the very vault that the queen remembered, down to the shelving, he let go of the last vestiges of skepticism. He took a back seat as his other self moved forward and seized the reigns.
This was his gem. His only by virtue of being given it in another place, another time. He didn't understand why it had pursued him across worlds, but he didn't need to understand, all that mattered was that in defiance of sense it was here. There was a delighted glint in his eyes as he looked from Jordan - his Jordan - as if checking that he saw this too, to Harrison - also his Harrison.
The kiss was electric, freezing him in his tracks the way any contact with his throat always did.
But even with the recognition from the Boss, he made no move to take the diadem. Every decision was a decision made by the three of them in different ways and he made no move to step outside that restriction. It was the only time the Queen stopped for anyone, he was innately very far from the hesitant and insecure creature his other self was. "Can I take it?" he asked, and it was a question to both of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 1:57 pm
Jordan had been certain that it would work, and certain, simultaneously, that the code would fail or call down some further wave of defenders from the depths of the casino that shouldn't exist in this world. The pause should have made him nervous, but his other memories made it reassuring: this was how the vault opened. This was right, this was real. The sounds of heavy machinery and security systems powering down made him smile, slipping further into the mindset of a self from another set of possibilities.
Within, the vault was nearly empty. Empty, except for one familiar object. Of course. There was satisfaction in the thought. This was a treasure worth guarding, a treasure worth giving.
"It's your present," he answered indulgently. The Queen liked ostentatious jewelry, and this had been an extravagant display of affection and favor. He'd have to find it an appropriate setting, he reflected with pleasure; for now, for the moment, the troubles they'd been having in this world were far away and insignificant, belonging to someone else.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 3:32 pm
"Go on," Harrison said, nodding towards the jewel. He was pleased, and it showed. He put a hand around Jordan's waist, yanking him close.
"It's just one night's take too, but hell, that's enough for a start. We could get the old place running again."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 8:15 pm
Rep moved forward to pick up the diadem as soon as he had permission to do so and the very instant his fingertips touched the familiar cool gem there was a jolt of power that slithered through his veins. He did not flinch, instead picking the gem without hesitation or fear. It was his and he knew that undeniably. The metal it was set in would not be salvageable but he had no intention of salvaging it. It belonged in a collar.
He eyed it with a pleased smirk, before turning to the other two men. "Think we can bag and carry all that money out there? I do."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2014 12:19 pm
Jordan leaned on Harrison, smiling a cat-smug smile, and slipped an arm around his shoulders. "We'd run it better than those assholes ever could," he agreed.
"That's gonna look really good on you," he said to Rep, and grinned at the question. "I think we can handle it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 7:39 pm
"Ha-ha," Harrison swept Jordan right off his feet into an enthusiastic and crushing hug. "Boys, I think our money troubles are solved. And we'll get you dripping in diamonds before you know it. There's nothing quite like him, but-"
Still gripping Jordan, Harrison reached to handle the Wee b*****d and observe it in the light, but his fingers stopped short.
"Seems like there is something a little different, huh?" It was nothing Harrison could place, not in the gleam or facet, but in the power coming off it. "But we're all changed, a little. Good to have the b*****d home again." He let Jordan loose, finally, smoothing out the other man's sleeve where it had gotten rumpled. Damn, he'd missed this. He also missed having employees, but hell, it had been a while since he'd had a heist. "Let's Cash and Carry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
