Post by Celina Zabinski on Dec 29, 2021 23:18:53 GMT
Co-Written with the wonderful Riah
“Miss ‘Zabinski’.”
Celina stops dead in the shadows of the alleyway she’s been following the Patriot down, a cold sweat breaking across her brow, heart suddenly pounding.
“What a coincidence to hear your steps following me.”
The fuchsia pink feather in the woman’s hat flutters as she turns around to face the young tiefling woman.
“I must confess, I am… disappointed.”
Her face is cast in shadow but that means nothing to Celina’s darkvision. She sees a hurricane, the carefully contained winds of the Patriot’s umbridge in her white eyes and Celina knows as certain as gravity that she has royally fucked up.
“What possible reason could you have for attempting to spy on me?”
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This was the third time she was in this room and this time definitely had to be the worst. Not only did she get caught tailing the Patriot but Celina had gleaned no information. The woman was an enigma, a terrifying one — and she was pissed.
She did not pace, the Patriot did not have to. There was something in the air that had the taste of sharp steel yet it was not filled with crazed zephyrs. It was still, quiet. The noise from the Red House’s tap room, a distant memory through the floorboards and closed doors. The Patriot sat in her chair, casually eating a red plum, the fruit popping with each bite, like skin splitting under a blunt knife.
Celina swallowed nervously wondering who would break the silence first.
Eventually, she could no longer take the tension of the silence and she caved.
“Look, fine I admit it I was following you. But you want to know why?” Her voice sounds slightly angry, “I have been here one week, one whole week, and I still have learnt jack shit about this gang I’m ‘now working for’ and literally anything else about it. I don’t even know its name, is it even real? So… I took it upon myself to find out more. You can’t blame me for being a curious person.” Celina pauses and softens her tone. “I thought following you might give me those answers. However, I learnt nothing. I will also admit, I didn’t expect you to notice me. Usually people don’t notice me, I am quite sneaky when I want to be. But you’re a tough lady to spy on. Impressively so, might I add.” Celina gives her a cheeky grin.
The Patriot takes another piercing bite of her plum, chewing for a long moment as her white eyes bore into Celina’s grey ones.
Finally, after another long silence the Patriot speaks.
“I don’t blame you for being curious. As I told you when you joined us, I like your ambition and zeal. But what I don’t like, and what the Boss certainly doesn’t appreciate, is that within one week of taking you under my wing, you’re caught spying on me like some filthy gutter rat.”
She doesn’t raise her voice, but the hurricane in her eyes comes out through its tone. Eyes flashing, her short hair flutters as if in some unknown breeze. Then the Patriot takes a deep breath and lets it out on a sigh. Lifting her right hand to the bridge of her nose, she pinches it between third finger and thumb as she closes her eyes.
Celina ignores the insult thrown at her. “Well, how about you tell me about the gang and who the boss is so my curiosity is satisfied and incidents like this… don’t happen again?” Celina grins towards the Patriot. “Or even give me something to when I will find out.”
The Patriot’s eyes open and she just stares at Celina. After a beat she stands up in that same, lithe fluid way that seems like the air has no substance, and she slowly walks towards the tiefling.
“You don’t get to demand things of me just because I take a liking to you, Natalia Petrova,” she says, enunciating Celina’s real name with purpose. She stops right in front of her and points to Celina’s right forearm. “You may have received our Gift, accepted our offer and claimed to have joined us, but you have not proven yourself as being truly part of the familia. Tell me, what have you done for us? Hmm?” The Patriot barely waits a beat before continuing. “You want to be treated with respect? To know things about us? Start by treating others to it. Because it’s earned, not fucking owed.”
The Patriot snaps her fingers and the doors open. Cluq is there, along with probably the last person Celina wanted to see, especially in her current predicament — Sammy. The two walk in, the latter keeping his eyes cast away from Celina. She notices he is wearing the same nice winter coat and matching gloves, but an additional scarf and hat to go with his ensemble like he’s been travelling. Celina avoids looking further at Sammy, he knows if she does it will throw her off.
“Escort Miss Petrova to the tap room,” the Patriot says to Cluq. The goblin girl gives a nod. “Mr. Plumstead, I would speak with you. We have more to discuss than the task you were set to do.”
As she finishes speaking, her eyes fall to Celina once more.
Celina snaps quickly, “Dear lord, stop calling me by my old name. It’s Celina. Celina Zabinski.”
Celina stares at the Patriot. She wants to ask desperately what Sammy is doing, what he else needs to do. But she stays quiet, bites her tongue and glares at the Patriot. Using her real name and bringing in Sammy she’s trying to get under her skin and it’s working. Celina continues staring trying to get a read on the Patriot. However, as per usual Celina still can’t work out this woman, she’s just a mystery. If Celina were to guess, the Patriot appeared to be hurt and possibly offended by Celina’s current disrespect towards her. That seems to unsettle Celina for some reason and suddenly she starts craving this person’s approval, unexpectedly.
“Ok fine, I’ll play nice. I won’t ‘spy’ on you anymore. You want me to prove myself. I will do that. Just you wait. I’ll show you.”
Cluq steps towards Celina, gesturing for her to follow.
“Drop your hand Cluq. I know my damn way out of this place,” Celina says angrily and storms past Cluq out the door.