TAGPuck Frisk NOTES N/A
He'd heard about the Hearts Gang's change in leadership through the grape vine. The Infected had always considered himself a rather loyal patron of the gang's establishments — they were safe places for him to find something to fill his appetite, whether that be pure hunger or something a little more carnal. It helped that the previous Ace had been one of his kin, someone that understood the need for Patient Zeroes to be kept a secret. Yet after the previous Ace had scurried off somewhere and disappeared, someone else took his place — someone North knew nothing about.
And that bothered him.
A man of power, North liked knowing what was going on around him. But it wasn't exactly easy for him to slip out of the Inner Citadel and make his way to a known gang headquarters without someone recognizing him. He had to be careful about it, which is why only now was he able to find himself in the Red Light District, blue eyes staring up at a familiar red & pink sign that indicated the main headquarters for the gang. While on the outside it was nothing more than a slightly-more upscale brothel — behind the scenes, it was known to house Hearts business. Or at least, North knew that much. But considering the last relationship he had with the Ace, he never saw the reason to make such knowledge public information for the Military.
The man stares at the sign for another second before he finally opens the front door and invites himself inside. The dark, red lighting doesn't bother him at all — Infected eyesight made it easy to navigate his way to where he wanted to go. A smooth, criminal grin graces his face as eyes land on a familiar face. At least there hadn't been a turnover after the change.
"Mr. Sigurd!" a young man calls out happily in greeting, rushing over to greet the Military Major.
“Axel, a pleasure as always,” North greets the sex worker with a smile that clearly makes the human swoon. “Unfortunately I'm not here for pleasure today — strictly business. I've heard you got a new boss... And I'd love to meet him,” North continues, a feather-light touch to the young man's shoulder to coerce him into getting his way. A strange expression flashes briefly over the human's face, but it's gone as quickly as it appeared.
Disappointment, perhaps?
"Of course, anything for you. I'll go see if he's available," Axel replies with a quick bow, before he's off and heading to the private area of the brothel. North nods his head in thanks, before he settles himself into a brilliant red couch in the waiting area of the brothel. North of course notices the sultry glances thrown his way — he knew many of them intimately — but he reminds himself he's not there for pleasure today. Well, maybe after, if things went well, he'd invite himself to... Partake.
The transition to a new leader was going… mostly well for Puck. The old leader had obviously been a little lax in certain areas, seeming content to be tugged around by others by the proverbial cock and sometimes his litearl one. That was, apparently, all well and good for the man. But that wasn’t Puck’s style. Sure, he liked everyone to mistake him for a dumb himbo to focused on the physical side of pleasure to be all that good at running things. But that was pretty damn far from the reality of it. He might be on the young side at only 29 years old but he was damned freaking smart. He’d grown up in this rough world and mostly on his own, a fact that had made him grow up right quick just to survive. From that he’d learned pretty quickly that it was much easier to appear the asy fool so others would underestimate you and you could get them later than to come out swinging. Besides… It was a hell of a lot more fun too.
So far this plan of being underestimated had been working pretty damn well for him. He was making progress in a lot of ways and he was getting things back under his control, not the control of others who thought he’d be easily persuaded into things like the last Ace had been. Not that the guy had been a bad Ace… just an easily persuaded one. And Puck much preferred to consolidate the power, make it clear he was the last word on things, and then give people the freedom to do their jobs to the very best of their abilities. After all, micromanaging was sooo boring.
So, as it happened that night, he had just finished up his business when young Axel had come to find him. Young being relatively since they were actually fairly close in age but Puck was still the man’s senior by a few years. And he was most certainly still the man’s boss! A fact that Axel was pretty respectful of even if he seemed a little reluctant to tell him what was up tonight. Being told a typically VIP sort of client had walked in, someone the previous Ace had dealings with from the military, was not what Puck had expected. Well this should prove to be quite interesting!
Puck’s fingers slid across the buttons of his black dress shirt, undoing nearly all of them. No reason not to use his looks and see just what kind of reaction he’d get out of this Mister Sigurd. Besides, who did wan’t to look at a nicely toned chest and stomach covered in tattoos? Only the criminally insane. Still, he kept the shirt firmly tucked into the equally black dress pants he wore, even if he did have the sleeves rolled up. He did like to at least dress the part at times and he liked to think the dark color looked good on him.
Restless fingers came up and combed back through his blonde hair, creating a bit of a mess but it suited the youthful face of his. And the swagger he put on as he walked towards the table that Axel had indicated to him.
”Mister Sigurd.” His voice was smooth and his smile bright, radiating a sort of eager puppy energy that often disarmed those around him. ”I heard you wanted to talk to me?” He stood squarely in front of the man and extended his hand. ”Names Puck Frisk and it is a, distinct, pleasure to meet you.”
TAGPuck Frisk NOTES N/A
North's gaze is hot and hungry as he observes the brothel's workers as they lounge about, waiting for their next client. Eyes meet — promises are silently made. They do not approach him, as word of his request to meet the new Ace of the gang flits about like gossip on the wind. That worked just fine for him — North was a rather gluttenous creature after all, and he would be on his death bed before he refused someone that came on to him. Yet much as he allowed himself to be driven by his carnal desires, he still was able to put on a professional face when it was required...
Not that it necessarily lasted long.
Blue eyes swivel to take in the appearance of a man that breaks from the norm and approaches him, shirt swept wide to expose nicely toned pecs and abs. Soft flesh, broken by the myriad of tattoos that adorn the man's body like paint upon a canvas. Puck had counted upon his revealing attire to catch the attention of the man he was meeting — and he had been correct. It certainly did catch North's attention, and a smooth grin spreads across his lips as he tears his gaze away to focus it on the man's face instead.
North's nostrils flare ever so slightly — human. Interesting that a Level V had been outed from his position as Ace by a mere human, but then again the previous Ace had always been somewhat weak. North's allegiance with the man had only gone as far as it had, due to being allowed to feed in peace within the Hearts' many brothels.
His gaze doesn't waver for a second, not even as the man finally draws into his personal space to introduce himself, a hand extending as a formal greeting. North eyes the invitation — used to greeting by saluting rather than touching another person. But he's not so far gone from humanity that it fazes him. No, he reacts quickly enough by clasping the Ace's hand in his own, a grin nearly matching Puck's lighting up his own face — his smile, however, doesn't quite meet his eyes the way the other man's does.
“Please, call me North,” he purrs. While normally he didn't like giving his identity away, especially to some common thugs, he knew it was the best way to get a footing into the gang once more.
“I'd heard about management switching hands, and I wanted to come down and meet the boss—” a pause, a flash of his eyes as he licks his lower lip, “face to face. I had rather comfortable dealings with the previous boss, after all, and I was curious whether or not that would continue to benefit me under your leadership.” Getting straight to the point.
Puck was rather gratified to see that his strateg had worked as he wandered over to this Mister Sigurd. He did not miss the fact that the man was happy to take him in, obviously seeing what was on display for what it was. An invitation to look and take it all in. And it certainly seemed that this stranger who’d asked for him liked or at least could admit that what he saw was appealing. That was a point for Puck and something for him to remember. And the moments that this Mister Sigurd had taken to look him over were ones he had also used to do the same. Anything he could gather about this man would be to his advantage but he didn’t have much. He had seen the way that Axel had been acting so it was obvious this Mister Sigurd was a frequent visitor to his establishments and he was a handsome man. There was an air of confidence and control about him too, likely someone important.
And he was not entirely focused himself given what he saw. The man was handsome enough to distract even him! Though it was only minorly and he was quick to get his own libedo under control. There was no denying that he did enjoy his sexual pursuits and pleasures but he was first and foremost The Ace of Hearts, particularly right now. And he needed to keep his mind on task… though damn he was going to enjoy the eye candy before him while he did so! Nothing wrong with that.
Oh this man was proving to be more and more interesting! It seemed they were both eying each other as Puck made his way over, both taking the measure of the other. Like two wary felines circling and sizing the other up to see who would be coming out on top in the situation or if they could both settle their ruffled fur. Certainly Puck wasn’t looking for a fight but he wasn’t about to be the pushover that his predecessor had been. He had no desire to find himself under the heel of someone else, not when he’d worked so damned hard to get himself to the fucking top as it was. No he wore the crown here now and he would happily remind anyone else of that singular fact. So while he was coming to this meeting without the intention of causing problems he wasn’t exactly coming in subservient and eager to please. That was one major distinction between him and the previous Ace… he was not weak.
The hand that clasped his own though suggested that neither was Mister Sigurd. He was quick to note the strength in that grasp and one eyebrow arched ever so slightly. Just as the lack of that rather charming smile reaching the man’s stunning eyes was not overlooked. That was fine. Puck was a perpetually cheerful individual after all, something that was both a reality and a wonderful cover for the devious mind behind it all.
The offer of a first name had his eyebrow arching up and his smile widening ever so slightly. Ah, North Sigurd. Well now that was a name he would be remembering he was sure of it. ”Mm, North Sigurd.” He rolled the name across his tongue as if tasting it as much as saying it, his voice a mimicked purr to the other’s.
That slowly arching eyebrow raised further as North spoke, cocking his head slowly to the side as he looked at him. So this was a man who had made a deal with the previous Ace… interesting. He had, of course, been dealing with many such people. Most of them were not the kind that Puck cared to keep around. They were those who’d been quick to try to take advantage of him when they saw only the exterior that he provided for the world, seeming to assume that he’d be just as easily manipulated into doing what others wished as his predecessor had been. Was this man to be the same? To assume that he could get what he wanted from Puck just by saying it had been so before?
”Ah, well now that seems like a conversation we should have in my office.” No need to speak here where their words had to be more guarded and careful. Better to go somewhere where they could speak a bit more openly. ”After all, I'm always happy to speak to someone my predecessor worked with. No doubt you had quite the… mutually beneficial agreement.” It was his subtle way of stating that he had no issue providing aid given that something was gained in return. He smiled and waved a hand towards the back, starting that way himself a moment later.
Friend or Foe?
Posted 09-25-2021, 04:05 PM
