Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Lutetia City: The Den

as written by Knosis and Tiko

Chloe stumbled backwards and half fell, half caught herself against the table directly behind her, causing quite a clash as several chairs clattered to the floor. She quickly regained her balance and waited to see what Julienne did next.

Julienne wasted little time getting back to her feet, and there was murderous intent in her eyes as she circled Chloe. The change was threatening to overtake her right then and there but she kept it at bay with tenuous restraint. The golden hue of her eyes betrayed how perilous that self-control was though.

Chloe's glare matched Julienne's murderous glare with equal fervor. Her eyes were locked on the woman, her body ready to spring at any moment. She still waited for Julienne to make her move.

Julienne moved towards Chloe, overturning the table that was now between them to get at her, seeming for all intents and purposes like she intended to wade in head-on. But her fingers grasped around the back of one of the chairs as she passed it by, and she swung it in a wide arc for Chloe's side.

With gritted teeth, Chloe raised her fists like a boxer as soon as the table was flipped. As soon as she heard the chair scrap against the floor, she started to dash forward, bracing herself for the chair to impact. The chair hit with a loud 'crack', and the wind hissed between her teeth as the chair clattered to the floor. But she was now close enough now to try to deal a strong low punch to Julienne's stomach.

Julienne proved exceptionally spry though as she twisted past Chloe, closing her fingers around her wrist to pull her arm wide while she snaked her own arm around Chloe's throat from behind.
 
as written by Knosis, Tiko, and Script

The pair of woman struggled as Chloe tried to get free from Julienne's lock. The both of them clashed into chairs and tables before eventually Chloe tried to shove Julienne into the counter in an attempt to knock her off, but Julienne's grip stayed true.

Chloe's lungs were aching, and she was growing tired. She gritted her teeth and jerked her head back as hard and as fast as she could, headbutting her captor and dazing her. Chloe then wrapped her arms around the back of Julienne's head, and with a forward motion, pulled Julienne from behind her, over her shoulder and flipped her onto the floor. The red-haired woman didn't waste time to wrap her arms around Julienne's throat, pinning the woman down against her arm and the ground.

Julienne mustered all her strength to throw Chloe free, but Chloe had the advantage of positioning and body weight at this point to maintain pressure on her carotid arteries. Chloe was so absorbed in the scuffle with Julienne though, that she didn't see or hear Marc approaching.

His fingers closed around Chloe's shoulder as he dragged her back from Julienne, but with her iron hold over Julienne's throat it had little effect in actually separating them.

Julienne was fading fast though and went limp in Chloe's grip.

Bastien meanwhile looked quite amused with himself from the pool tables where he was leaning on his pool cue. Marc's intervention meant that he had conceded the bet.

"Fifty dollars!" he called across the bar.

"Eh, shut up," Marc bit back. "Off her," he growled at Chloe still trying to pull her free.

Chloe's eyes were blazing with wolfish fury, even as Marc tried to pull her off. After a moment, she reluctantly backed off, releasing the limp woman from her grasp with a groan. She was close to shifting, but letting go of Julienne showed she was still in control, if only by a margine.

As Chloe released her grip, Snow lowered himself back down onto his chair, having been about to move forwards and intervene himself. He remained alert, but it seemed as though the fight had reached an end.
 
as written by Tiko and Knosis

Julienne was coming around quickly with the pressure off her neck and she pushed herself up with her hands as she shook her head. Marc was quick to release Chloe to help Julienne up, but Julienne would have none of it as she dragged herself back to her own feet.

The volatile woman spat venom with her next words.

"You fucking cunt," she snarled.

Marc barred her way from having another go at Chloe though. He was irritated at how things had turned out, but even he knew the fight was done.

"It's over, Julienne," he told her gruffly.

"It's over when I fucking say it's over," Julienne snarled.

Meanwhile Baron's attention had drifted away from the brawl to a phone call he seemed caught up in.

Chloe's eyes glanced tiredly up at Julienne. The pent up emotion was now gone, and all she was, was weary. "It's over." She muttered. "You've had your fun."

Chloe turned her back to the pair and went looking for her drink. Seeing it was one of the victims in the skirmish, she simply released a sigh and sat down on the stool. "I'll need a new one.." She muttered, passing credit for another drink.
 
as written by Tiko, Script, and Knosis

Baron folded the phone closed as he stood up.

"Bastien, get the rest of the pack here," he ordered as he made his way behind the bar.

The trapdoor he hoisted open was filled with guns - namely those he didn't want Jeanne stumbling across while she was hanging around the place.

One after the other he was setting the weapons out on the bar counter, and even Julienne's temper fell to the wayside of what was going on. Chloe for the time being was forgotten in the wake of Julienne's confusion.

"What's happened?" Snow rose to his feet as Baron opened the trap door, his brow furrowing with concern.

"We got a bead on Jesse's location," Baron explained. "He was just transported to the Rolling Bones Casino."

Chloe perked up at the name of the Casino, but simply listened in on the goings on. She had been aware that this Jesse had been missing since before she had been taken in under Desmond's wing.

Snow's eyes widened briefly at Baron's words, before he nodded his head in understanding. After how long they'd spent trying to find him, waiting around wasn't an option.
 
as written by Tiko

20 minutes later...

Most of the pack had already arrived - at least those combat able. The bar itself had swiftly taken on the appearance of a war-room, though some were less thrilled than others at the prospect of hitting the Casino. It was situated at the heart of Scion territory.

"You're certain about this?" Carlisle asked.

"We're getting our people back," Baron answered. "One way or the other. Bastien, Felix isn't going to be a problem for you, is he?"

Bastien's expression was grim on the matter of his brother while he was feeding rounds into a shotgun before tossing it to Carlisle to join the other guns on the counter.

"That bridge was burned a long time ago," Bastien answered.

Baron nodded as his phone buzzed again and he pulled it out, flipped it open, and put it to his ear. He was silent a moment before speaking.

"Any sign of Jesse with them?" he asked before pausing. "I see. Keep me posted if they move him."

"The door just opened for us," Baron told the pack. "Looks like they're making a play for Cascastel. They're out in force."

"Those fuckers have been wanting to get their teeth into the businesses out the way for years," Julienne growled.

"With Rowan's pack on the move, there won't be much resistance at the Casino. We'll be in and out before they know we were there," Baron explained.

"We'll lose Cascastel," Carlisle noted.

"Cascastel is just territory, Jesse is pack," Baron answered. "We'll need to change plans. Carlisle, Jacques, and Marc, I want you three to head for Cascastel. You'll be outnumbered, and outgunned, don't engage unless you have no other choice. Empty out Renard's, and then get out. We need those guns in there. The rest of us will head to Audrieu."

"What about Desmond?" Julienne asked.

"Heh, it's no use on that one. I already tried to wake him," Bastien noted with a snort. "He's out for the count."

"Well he's sure as fuck not safe here," Julienne growled.

Baron looked to Desmond for a moment before retrieving one of the side arms from the counter and offering it across to where Chloe was still seated silently.

"You're not pack, but if you value his life you won't breathe a word of this to the Ardelean Society," he told her bluntly. "You'll keep the lights out, lock the doors, and shoot anyone who comes through that door that's not us, because they'll kill you all the same just for being here."

"You're trusting that fucking bitch?" Julienne demanded.

"I'm trusting Desmond," Baron growled back.

The warning in the throaty growl of his voice was more than enough to shut Julienne up, but her temper seethed on.

"I'll be outside," she finally bit out before snatching up one of the guns from the counter and stalking out.

Baron meanwhile looked back to Chloe, waiting an answer.
 
as written by Knosis

Chloe's jaw was set as she glanced at the gun, to Baron, to Julienne's retreating form. She had already missed curfew. The Ardelean Society would not appreciate it if they found out she hid this news from them, and been involved with this situation after she had missed her curfew.

Baron knew this.

Still, she didn't hesitate the side arm from Baron's grasp. "One gun isn't going to stop a pack if they decide to come in here." She said, shoving it into her pocket. "By the time you get back, though, I don't know what shape -I'll- be in," She said, before adding, "But Desmond will be safe and the Society won't know from me. I know it doesn't mean much to you, but you have my word on that."
 
as written by Script

Snow had fastened a sidearm on at his hip, and taken up a shotgun from the bar counter. "Albert works out in Cascatel," he remarked, "If he's working late, he'll need picking up. I don't rate his chances highly if any of the Scions catch him alone."

"It seems unlike the Scions to so readily leave their backs exposed," Nieve remarked as she adjusted the strap of the rifle on her back. A vicious looking dagger was sheathed at her side. "We should be wary of a trap. They concealed Jesse's movements thus far without trouble. To slip up just before giving us such an obvious opportunity to reach him... It is suspicious."
 
as written by Tiko

"Take what you need," Baron told Chloe. "Bastien and Carlisle, get the rest of it loaded into my truck."

"We weren't able to get a hold of Albert," Bastien added in response to Snow. "I tried calling him three times."

Nieve's words elicited a shake of Baron's head. "The Scions value status and money over their own blood. They'll expect the same in others and anticipate us making a move to protect our territory, not go after Jesse. If there's a trap, it'll be waiting for us in Cascastel."
 
as written by Script

Nieve nodded her head in acknowledgement of Baron's words. She remained wary, but his assessment of the Scions was on the mark. "Then those that go there should expect one. Their leader is resourceful and patient, if nothing else. If he believes the odds are tilted enough in his favour to launch such an assault, I would suspect he has an ace of some kind."
 
as written by Knosis

Chloe took up a shotgun from the pile and a pair of magazines for the pistol. It was a far cry from what she would really need if any of Rowan's heavy hitters came here, but the chances were low enough that Baron felt that she would be enough to defend Desmond.

"I'll need to hide Desmond somewhere. He's not waking up from that for a while, and if something does happen to me, him being sprawled out on the floor will just be an easy target." Chloe said. It seemed silly, in light of all the other things, but she wanted to use precaution. "Anywhere I can stuff him that won't be obvious?"

Still, the whole situation made her stomach twist. People were going to die tonight. Pack battling for territory always carried innocent victims with it. All she wanted was to be sure her small role saved a life instead of losing it.
 
as written by Tiko

"What you see is what you got," Baron told Chloe.

He fished the keys to the place out of his pocket and tossed them to her before leading the way outside.

A short while later, Baron's truck was pulling out of the lot followed by Julienne and Snow on their bikes. Most of the pack was piled into the back of the truck and got a good jostling as a figure stepped out in front of it and raised a hand to stop it.

As Baron hit the breaks he rolled down the window and Vanessa jogged over.

"In the back," he told her.

No further words were needed and she made her way around the back where she was hoisted up to join the rest.

"Where's Sophia?" Bastien asked.

"With Raquette."

He only nodded as the truck began to move out once more.
 
as written by Knosis

Chloe watched them leave with a clenched jaw. "Be careful.." She muttered. Though the pack hadn't exactly been friendly towards her, she had at least started to get use to them. Even like some of them. She locked the door and turned down the lights. Even with the bar's darkened state, she could see and move around rather easily. She searched for some crack or port hole that she could stuff the stoned werewolf in. She finally gave up and decided the best place for him was the Cellar.

She crossed over to him, bending down to take an arm. "A'ight you.." She muttered. "Up and at'em. Going to get you into bed." She said, hoping he'd at least be able to walk with some assistance.
 
as written by Alara

Chloe managed to get Desmond half out of the chair before his legs went out and he found himself splayed on the floor, half sat up with her holding onto his arm. The abruptness of the movement had left the room spinning around him as he seemed only vaguely aware that something was going on.

From the look of drug paraphernalia set out on the table, he had given himself one hell of a cocktail. Pills, baggies, and a few vials of unknown substance were still sitting out next to the syringe that Julienne had used to administer the concoction.
 
as written by Lialore

Brendan arrived in a huge hurry, paint splattered and dusty, with plaster still in his hair. After trying the front door, only to find it locked, he went round the back to let himself in.

The place was dead, empty except for Chloe and a sack of a body that was slumped on the floor. He knew who it was before he had a proper look.

His eyes had caught the table and all its instruments before they got to his brother.

Brendan’s lips mashed together.

“Might be better off shooting him” he said, voice curiously void of emotion.

He felt like kicking the useless lump that was Desmond.

“What’s happened?”
 
as written by Knosis

The woman grunted as her side complained at the bruise she knew was there as Desmond tumbled to the floor. Her face more than likely sported the bruise from Julienne's punch as well. "'elp me get this lump down to the cellar." She told Brendan.

"Apparently someone's found Jesse." She explained. "In the Rollin' Bones Casino. Rowan's pack's making a move for Cascastel, so Baron's gonna take this opportunity to try to bail Jesse out." She muttered. "He left me behind to watch over your brother." She added with a grunt as she tried to wrap Desmond's arm around her neck.
 
as written by Lialore

As he listened, he stared listlessly at his brother. What a sorry mess. He was contemplating on that very thought whilst Chloe spoke. There was even a few moments silence as he continued to do so after she’d finished.

He let out a big breath and bent down to haul Desmond to his feet and shove him over a shoulder. He was a heavy sorry mess, to say the least. It would've been difficult for her to have gotten him downstairs on her own. Unless she dragged him. That would've been more satisfying.

“They’re long gone so I’ll be better use ‘ere.” He eyed her gun cautiously. Baron had given her that? He frowned a bit, but tried to hide it by turning for the cellar quickly. The motion must’ve been none too pleasing for Desmond.

“We should be doing less watching o’ this state and more protecting o’ this place, probably what he meant” he said, sounding grumpy. He was blaming Desmond on him getting the shitty job of the night. “What happened to you, anyway? It’s not windy enough for you to look that tussled. You and ‘im been at it again?”

He started down the stairs.

"Lock everything."
 
as written by Knosis

As Brendan picked up Desmond, Chloe went to the shotgun and slung it over her shoulder, before going to make sure everything was locked once again. With everything locked, she went to the cellar to join Brendan and Desmond.

"Well er.." She started off, "Julienne sort of punched me, and we got into a scuffle before everything turned chaotic at Jesse's sighting.." She rubbed her neck gently. "I do believe Julienne will want to kill me for knocking her out..." She said more quietly.
 
as written by Lialore

“You got into a fight with Julienne and yer still in one piece? I’m a bit impressed. But yer right, she’ll be after yer forever now. Crazy, that one, I swear" he said in a strange, fond sort of way.

He made his way with some difficulty to the cot that had been folded up and pushed out of the way for fight night. He nodded to it, jerking his head at Chloe, indicating for her to put it up since he was too occupied with balancing Desmond.

It felt odd to be making small talk with the woman he had blamed of late for his brother’s recklessness. Especially with what was going on. With all of the worry blitzing his brain, the worry for his brother wasn’t at the forefront. Maybe that was why, for once, he didn’t have jibes prepared. Brendan looked at her through the dinginess, noting that she was entirely herself. This definitely wasn’t on her.

“I’m sure Des was a massive help.”
 
as written by Knosis

"I think technically she came to swingin' because of Desmond.." She sighed, moving to the cot to unfold it for him. "Seems I'm nothing but trouble no matter what I do." She smiled sadly.

"I also promised Baron I wouldn't call the Society.. I've a feeling my ass is going to be on every wanted poster from here to the next city if they find out I missed curfew -and- was involved with this stuff tonight.." She murmured, rubbing the back her neck. She groaned and started up the stairs again. "What else do you need me to do?" She asked, changing subjects.
 
as written by Lialore

Seems I'm nothing but trouble no matter what I do.' Well, didn't that remind him of someone.

“Aye, seems like nobody happy with you” he said, or more like grumbled. He definitely never was.

As she lingered, he practically dumped Desmond onto the cot. He tumbled off his shoulder and onto the makeshift bed none-too gracefully. Brendan looked down at his lolling brother then nudged his torso – tenderly, this time – to the side. It was all grand to go down in a drug-infused firework, but when the actual cause was choking on your own tongue or vomit, it didn’t sound as fun.

He then straightened up with a tired sigh, dirty hands on hips.

“I don’t think there’s much else we can do. If someone wantin’ to get in, they’re getting’ in. We should keep out o’ the way, make ‘em think it’s empty when they come... Might be no one turns up. But it seems like us two ain’t never granted a lot o’ luck.”

Brendan’s eyes then strayed from the cot and over to the stairs where her outline was slowly fading.

“’Ey” he said quickly, starting some. He called for her to remain.

“Uh. I know I ain’t never been ‘specially nice to you, ain’t never happy with you. Yers did break me table after all… But I’m hoping you know it ain’t meanin’ to be personal. Not really. I know no amount of encouragement or dissuasion is really gonna change him. Just- just don’t be makin’ up excuses for him.

We ain’t gotta be at each other. Not tonight.”
 
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