Assassinate the younger son of the Remington family.
Politics are always a messy thing. The underhandedness and dirtiness that happens behind the scene. Politics between mages were exceptionally dirty. It was all about the status of one's blood and upbringing and ancestry. The oldest and purest were considered the strongest and worthiest. It truly was who you married and how strong their magic was and insuring that your children carried that legacy.
It was all so very cruel and loveless.
The strongest and most popular currently though was that of the Remington family. The current couple was a very powerful mage and the most celebrated seer. They had two sons. The older son had made his mark by going into law enforcement. The younger son, following his father's footsteps.
The younger one was a prodigy though. His talent was unrivaled by anyone. A prime target for his enemies.
It was a lavish dinner party at the Remington estate. The ballroom was filled with the elite of the elite. Everyone was dressed in glamorous dresses and lavish suits.
It was all so very boring for Abel.
The youngest of the Remington family. Abel, sat in his chair as he watched people chatter with each other with fake enthusiasm and pleasantry. He could hear so clearly the vitriol of others as they chattered with those they would rather see dead. Disgusting. Abel was dressed just as beautifully. Rings adorned his fingers and a priceless watch sat on his wrist. The vest he wore was adorned with gorgeous, detailed stitching and gems inlaid. The dress shirt a delicately woven silk. His hair, carefully styled with precious gems entangled with his locks.
How absolutely boring.
Abel got to his feet and took his cloak from the back of his chair before carefully leaving to the garden. He grew tired of listening to this prattle.
To be given an assassination assignment was very rare for Jonathan. Surely someone more qualified should be sent for this and yet, a client picked him out specifically, paid the price tag, gave the intructions and his superiors sent him on a field trip.
Perhaps they thought he would be best for a long standing assignment; make him earn his keep, gain their trust and make the final move. Or maybe they thought Jonathan would make a gruesome mess of it. Whether or not, he could escape the scene after the fact without raising suspicion or getting caught in the long run was another matter.
All that he was given as a warning was to keep any wayward thoughts in check, whatever that meant. Mages were unpredictable, they said. Jonathan didn't know much about possible powers the more magically inclined could possess so he simply brushed the warning off for the time being.
Lavish dinner parties like this one were far out of his comfort zone. These were people that he'd never interact with on a daily basis but rather ones who would pay his paycheck and order him to be some obedient dog without any questions. He played the part easy enough.
He wasn't adorned in some fancy suit like the array of guests, blending easily with the walls as he stood watch over the room. He gaze does linger over the impressive detail on everyone's clothes though. They were all rather stunning, really.
Jonathan does perk up when he spots Abel grab his cloak and leave the room. It was rather hard to miss the other given how lavishly dressed he was. There's a few long moments of hesitation before he chimes into the earpiece and follows slowly behind, making sure to keep some distance.
The other clearly wanted the space for whatever reason, Jonathan just needed to keep an eye out per his father's instructions should anything happen that wasn't his own hand.
Abel digs his box of cigarettes out from his back pocket and shakes one out. A flame appears from the tips of his fingers as he lights his cigarette before he waves the flame to float near him to illuminate the area around him.
It's a bit nippy, as expected of England's weather. The garden was an impressive sight. Meticulously taken care of by the staff. Extravagant to the well trimmed rose bushes to the ornate statues and fountains.
He keeps his cloak folded over his arm as he makes his way through the garden and towards the hedge maze. Once in awhile, he'll stop for a moment before continuing to walk. Odd, but perhaps the man was just mulling over thoughts or maybe some sounds from animals grabbed his attention.
The Brit pauses again and lingers at the entrance of the maze before going into it. Perhaps he just wants to get away from people for a moment and getting lost in a maze seemed like a good way of doing so.
Though, perhaps risky, given how dark it is and the only light seems to be from the flame that follows the man.
The weather doesn't bother him too much, though it would get a bit uncomfortable if he's out here for an extended amount of time. Jonathan stares out at the garden with wide eyes, the closest he'd ever really been to something so impressive was the botanical gardens that he visited rarely. He's sure the gardens look lovely during the daylight in comparison.
He seems easily distracted as he makes an effort to trail after Abel, stopping on occasion himself to look at some of the flowers, which would look rather strange given the low visibility in the dark. Glancing over at the other, Abel's own behavior was rather odd itself.
Thinking nothing of it, he keeps up, only to stop at a rose bush when Abel idles in front of the maze before walking into it.
Jonathan walks over after a few long moments, standing at the entrance of the maze, once he knew the other had gone on ahead. The glow of the flame that followed him no longer visible due to the height of the hedges. It wasn't going to be difficult to follow the other, he can easily follow the lingering scent of Abel's cigarette.
He wasn't exactly fond of mazes after dark and weighs his option of just waiting at the entrance, even going as far as to pace back and forth before letting out a sigh and following the trail. There was something a little unsettling about not seeing past a certain corner, it was rather silly but Jonathan keeps his hands at his side as he keeps glancing up when a breeze hits the leaves.
"Has my father hired me a babysitter has he?" The smell probably hits the other first before Abel speaks up. Jonathan will find the voice coming from behind him instead. It was impossible to tail a man who could teleport, really.
Of course, Jonathan probably didn't know that Abel had known the other was following him this entire time.
"So what's the occasion? Usually he doesn't need someone tailing me while in the safety of the estate. I like to think that my behavior has been rather exemplary," Abel says easily enough. He wasn't even looking at the other, but seemed to be examining his nails rather disinterestedly. As though he didn't actually care for whatever Jonathan's answer would be to his question. "Also, you really should wear something thicker. It's getting quite chilly and I can't imagine that offering much against the elements. Hmm?"
Jonathan tenses up at the voice behind him despite the familiar scent hitting him first. Hedge mazes plus sudden voices in the dark aren't his favorite things at all. He's slow to turn towards Abel, back towards the hedge as he stares at the other in the dim light of his floating little flame.
Mages are unpredictable. A truer sentence had never been spoken to him but that means the other caught on to his trailing attempt? If that's the case then, he really isn't that great at this. This might prove to be more difficult than he initially thought.
"I'm sure it was. I'm just following the orders given to me. To keep an eye on you and all that, I wasn't given detailed specifics." He certainly hasn't been here long enough to really determine what counted as exemplary behavior by his father's standards. Judging by the other's stance, he probably just wasted his breath answering.
He gives a little wave at the concern with a light-hearted smile, "I'll be fine. A little cold never hurt anyone," he does regret not bringing a coat to this event, though he likely would have overheated inside.
Abel doesn't say anything in response. Just a little hum of acknowledgement before he finally speaks again. "But you aren't actually here to follow my father's orders," Abel finally replies. "Though, I suppose I'm surprised. A hedge maze at night and away from all the festivities. I would think this would be an opportune time if anything." He laughs softly. "What do I know though, I suppose."
He just laughs softly as he moves passed the other to start walking through the maze again. Seemingly find it funny to speak about such a grim topic like it were a normal conversation.
"Come now. Keep up or you'll surely get lost. You wouldn't want that, I'm sure."
The more Abel speaks, the slow twitch of a brow furrow crosses his features in confusion, careful not to let it really be known from him. The other's choice of words almost make it sound like he knew his true intentions but surely that wasn't possible, right?
A hedge maze would be a perfect location, the perfect time, like he said, it was easy to make the hit and disappear with no one really noticing and being long gone by the time they realize something was amiss. He can't help but feel alarmed by the possibility of his cover being blown so quickly. It just reinforces his self-doubt that he really wasn't cut out for assassination roles. Hearing the other laugh about it though, that throws him for a loop.
Jonathan almost wants to reach out for Abel's wrist to stop him as he crosses in front of him but he's frozen in place. Until the other tells him to follow or risk being lost to wonder the maze, which wouldn't really be possible when he can backtrack but he doesn't test his luck with that.
Turning heel to closely follow behind Abel as he leads them further in like it was the most routine thing to do, his thoughts an obvious jumbled mess now.
Abel lets out an airy laugh as he continues to walk through the maze. "Oh don't be so glum. No one else would have figured it out, honestly."
They make it to the heart of the maze. It opens up to a clearing with some intricate pond designs that surround a gazebo. He waves his hand lazily and lights the place up. It was rather beautiful.
He casually makes his way to sit at the gazebo, resting his chin on his hand before smiling. "It isn't as though my family's enemies could tell you that I can read minds. It really isn't your fault or theirs even. It's a very well kept secret." The smile turns more into a smirk; though there isn't any amusement in his eyes. As though that he didn't care about any of this at all despite his life apparently was in danger.
Somehow, he finds some reassurance in Cain's words as he follows him deeper into the maze. Jonathan hangs back for a moment before Cain illuminated the area as if taking in the sight before he made his way over to one of the ponds in Cain's line of sight and plopped himself on the ground. This was just a mess.
"I was really left in the dark with that one. On both sides, really. Its my fault for not asking about the possible powers for mages but I guess, its sort of limitless with your lot." He lets out a huff as he stared up at the night sky, "You know everything by now, so there's no real use in repeating any of it but this sort of thing is usually not in my job description." He turns his head towards Cain's direction, a pause.
"If you don't mind me asking though, what benefit does someone have in talking out someone like you from the board?" He asks. High society dealings and feuds were out of his area of expertise. He wasn't raised in such a class and he only listened to their conversations and observed their interactions when he was working. It was an entirely different world than what he was used to on a day to day basis.
He lets out a yawn. Honestly, Abel was tired. Socializing took quite a toll on him and he was exhausted. His headache was getting worse and he knew his control was starting to slip slightly. He isn't sure why his father always pushes him to entertain guests the entire time. The man knew that he was essentially a ticking time bomb, but whatever. He imagines his father just did it because he was too unruly towards him.
"Even if you asked, it wouldn't have mattered. Being psychic isn't a common skill even for mages. It's not even something that's really passed down through blood. Completely irregular and unique. It merely manifests in particularly gifted individuals. The same for seers and being able to see the future. My mother was born with it as I was born with my own gift. Nothing in her bloodline had shown any sign of it, but she is considered the most celebrated seer of England," Abel explains. "I'm particularly gifted, but I won't bore you with the dreary details." He also hated his "gift" and was more than happy to avoid utilizing any of it if he could avoid it.
Abel takes a drag from his cigarette before speaking again. "Purebloods do love to squabble I suppose. My family is the most influential and powerful on this side of the pond. They wish to cripple that." He was all too aware about the inner workings of pureblood society. The underhanded and dark dealings involved with the power struggles between families. "If I were to marry with another prestigious family; it would be very troublesome for those that oppose my father. Even more so that if I were to have a child."
He shrugs though. "They're really missing their mark there though. Women really don't do it for me."
He perks up at the new wave of information, propping himself onto his elbows as he tilted his head back a bit, brows furrowed. It was almost like the winning the magical lottery, so to speak. When Cain mentions his mother and her reputation, it sparks a thought. "If your mother is such a celebrated seer, surely she must've seen this and its outcome?"
Jonathan is still clueless on such matters, noting that after this assignment, whatever its conclusion, he should spend time researching on anything he can find. He wasn't one to question assignments and the rare occasions that they held a target; keeping his line of work strictly on a need to know basis. It limited the risks if he was ever caught and questioned, though there was a certain level of procedure to follow if it ever came to that.
As Cain speaks again, he listens. It seemed like a never ending chess game by the sound of it. Purebloods hitting blows to each other that could either weaken their stance or strengthen it and with Remington family, it could be a rather effective blow if successful. A family's legacy seemed to be very important to these sort of people.
And it all rested on whether he followed through on orders.
Jonathan sits up fully, "If you were forced to marry, your father would force that sort of thing with little regard to you, right?" Arranged marriages and forcing a kid from such a union all for the sake of potential didn't sit well with him. If anything it made him feel for Cain's situation.
Abel shrugs a little at that. "The thing about seers is that nothing she will do will change the outcome. She can see the future, not change it. I already know she outlives me," Abel replies. He knew that his life was going to be tragic with the way she looks so sadly at him. He just wasn't curious enough about it to ask the exacts, nor did he think she would tell him. "But I don't expect you to kill me tonight." It's said without a doubt in his mind.
He wouldn't be dying tonight.
"Yes, but that man is so much of a perfectionist that I can't imagine him finding a suitable woman for me to marry. It's not as though I'm going to be his heir or have a son that will be a heir to follow me. My brother is fairly healthy and is married." And his father had currently not been impressed by anyone to match Abel. Though, there's something rather disgusting at the idea that the only thing that mattered was that she could offer good genes for a truly gifted child.
Abel speaks of his father almost like a stranger and not as his parent. He seemed much fonder in tone when he spoke about his mother.
Perhaps it was his naive way of thinking, that somehow Abel would change his fate had he known what was coming to him but then he realizes it would just be some endless loop until someone actually completed the job and ended his life for whatever personal gain could be had.
"What makes you say that?" There's a curious tilt of his head, almost like he wanted to prove Abel wrong. He knows the consequences of not completing an assignment; a lecture by the world's most unpleasant boss and whatever punishment he can possibly cook up for the fun of it. But there was the matter of Abel's ability to read his thoughts as well as ones he didn't know about and there was no way to hide from the other his choice of killing him tonight or not.
Abel already knows what he was going to do.
Jonathan moves to his feet, brushing off bits of dirt from his clothes, "I mean no disrespect but your father sounds like an ass." In his mind, if he had been his father's position and from what it sounds like, he would aim for the perfectly gifted woman to pair with Abel because the results of such a union would only boost the family name, he guesses. Anything to stay above everyone else, right?
"Is your brother just as gifted as you or did you draw the short straw for that one?" He says as he slowly makes his way towards the gazebo Abel was sitting under.
"My mother would not look so distraught," Abel replies. The way she looks at him or the days where she can't even look at him. "I can only assume that whatever happens to me is terribly tragic. Assassinations is not unheard of and fairly common." While saddening, their family has had plenty of familial deaths. Cousins and such. He doesn't make guesses as to the how. He doesn't need to really consider those things. "Me dying in our garden maze at night because I wandered off isn't tragic. Just idiotic." Well, idiotic for most others. Abel doesn't really feel like he's in danger.
He laughs though. "Well, you aren't wrong. That man is a right awful being." He waves his hand dismissively. Whatever insults are thrown at his father, he thinks is warranted.
"My brother would be a suitable heir that many would look proudly upon. He's adored," Abel replies. He takes a drag from his cigarette. "I could run circles around him magic wise though."
What Jonathan is getting from this conversation thus far is, Abel's mother has long come to terms with her son's fate and his father could likely care less what happens to Abel as long as he was kept on his leash. It does have him wondering if anyone has ever placed a hit on the man himself or did they want to watch the man slowly falter by kicking all the pieces from under him?
There's a small huff that leaves him. Never really putting into perspective how much of a dog eat dog world for the rich and powerful it was. He shouldn't be so surprised by it though. With the hefty price tags that come with the professionals in that division, he wouldn't expect less than perfection if he was a paying client.
It really was a shame that he got picked instead. Buyer's fault there if he's honest.
He can't imagine assassinations being the norm in someone's life though. It made it seem like a ticking time bomb of a life, like any second could be one's last. A near constant need to keep an eye over one's shoulder.
"Let me guess, your father prefers the adored son and wishes he was just as gifted as you because it would make everything so much easier for him, wouldn't it?" He doesn't know why he's even asking when he can already guess the answer. Abel's brother likely would hit every check mark a father like his would want except for one.
Jonathan takes a seat next to Abel, leaving a reasonable amount of space between them. Quiet for longer than he has been thus far, "If I did kill you tonight, would you prefer it to be as quick and painless as possible or agonizingly slow?" He asks as he stares at his own hands. He's never given anyone the option before and likely would never again. He's simply curious as to which one would be picked.
"I'm quite fond of my brother," Abel replies. "He's easy to get along with. Terribly good team player and attracts people. In a good way. It's nothing against me in that regard, actually. Consider it like how royalty was. The first born is the one who takes the throne if the king dies. It's about the same in these social circles. My father put all his chips on my brother because he is the eldest and the one who would be succeeding him if he were to die." He speaks of the matter in almost a detached manner. It was just pureblood politics. "He changed his tune merely because I suddenly offered something new. "
A natural and powerful psychic. Abel was a rarity and one that offered a lot when it came to power and politics.
A game that Abel had no interest in being part of, but was basically dragged into it anyways. "He has the best of both worlds. His favored son is safe, after all. He's painted the target on my back." Which really just meant that Abel has only ever gotten the shortest end of the stick.
He doesn't answer the other for a moment before he gets up and tosses his cigarette; putting it out under his shoe. "It doesn't matter to me, actually. Quick and painless is probably convenient. There is nothing you could do that I would think as agonizingly slow though." There's something very unsettling about such a comment if one thought about it. For Abel though, life had been nothing but that, so a death like it would be no different he thinks.
Ah. Jonathan doesn't comment in return on the matter, choosing to stay silent as he processed everything and filling in any blanks. He is taken aback by Abel's response to his options though.
It takes him a moment to process the comment fully. Making it sound like he would welcome death with open arms and that was certainly a first for him. He gets up from his spot, reaching for Abel's wrist. His grip tight, almost bone-breaking as he stared at him with pain in his expression.
"Killing you here would be a mercy and you know I'm not going to but I also can't leave without leaving a mark that I tried." Abel can probably feel the beginnings of claws digging through the fabric of his dress shirt and eventually into the skin. "It may only buy you a day or a week or even a month. It may not be me the second time and maybe they will give you the quickest option... maybe not."
His cover was blown so he can't imagine he'd be sent back. "I can lie on the report... that you got away." He lets out a deep sigh, it would certainly be easy to play off thanks to the minuscule amount of information from the client.
"This is going to hurt and I apologize in advance for it..." Jonathan makes a quick twisting sort of motion that breaks the bone. Before he lets go of the other's wrist, he drags his claws around, ruining a portion of Abel's shirt further and giving a set of wounds that would be deep enough to make it look like the other pulled away to escape.
"I wish you a better life, Abel Remington. If its not in this life, I do hope its in the next. You truly deserve better." There's a sad smile as he finally lets go of the other's wrist, offering him a handkerchief from inside his jacket as if it would help with the bleeding before he started to walk away from him and the gazebo.
Abel grits his teeth and there's a choked sound of pain that accompanies the sound of bones breaking. Despite that, he's surprisingly quiet about the whole ordeal. Either Abel had incredibly high pain tolerance or he merely had trained himself to be quiet.
The quiet laugh that comes out of his mouth is mixed with pain and almost seems hysterical. As though the other had said something genuinely hilarious. "Deserve better? What naive and pure words to offer to your kill target you know." Abel had accepted the cards he had been dealt long ago. The world of the elite was far different than the average rift raft. It really wasn't about what people deserved, he thinks. Just the lengths people were willing to take to get what they want.
Though- "Wait. Why don't you play a game with me? It'll keep me entertained in the interim. He rubs his fingertips of his good hand against the material of the handkerchief. Not using it for why it was offered, but most likely just to ignore the pain in his wrist.
"I like games. A bit of cat and mouse and I see no reason why it wouldn't benefit you. You manage to catch me unawares and you can kill me. No strings attached. Limitless attempts. You win in the end." Was Abel really just offering his life up to a game he'd ultimately lose? Absolutely. "You're positively fascinating, so I would appreciate your company for a little longer." Abel, after all, was still an aristocrat by all means and so the world outside his bubble was still something he knew very little of.
He wanted to understand why the other seemed to pity him. Sympathize. It was queer. Odd. He had no reason to feel for him, yet he did. He could taste it on his tongue. Hear it in his words. His brother also showed compassion to him, but that was his brother. Why would a stranger who was hired to kill him offer it without rhyme or reason?
Normally, when he breaks someone's bones, whether on purpose or on accident, they scream out in pain, maybe thrash around to get away from him. And yet, Abel is on the quieter side and for that reason it leaves a red flag in the back of Jonathan's mind. That there might be more to his father's leash than what he was told.
Doing an assassin's job was never in his blood. People always told him he cared too much and too easily. Being a natural predator by nature, he should have the drive but he could never have the detachment of emotion that he's seen people have in this specific line of work. Clenching his fists for a brief moment before relaxing his grip was a near reply to the other's words.
Jonathan hesitantly stops in his tracks as Abel tells him to wait, not expecting to be stopped after just breaking the other's wrist and wounding him for borrowed time. He slowly turns to face him and the longer Abel proposes his game, the more he finds it a little hard to believe.
How was he supposed to catch a psychic off guard enough to get close? He doesn't see how he could possibly win. Yes, it offered the benefit that the job would be done but surely the other must be joking.
"You can't be serious? You want to gamble your life on basically a game of red light green light?" He shook his head in disbelief, trying to wrap his thoughts around this. Jonathan knew if he accepted this little game that it wouldn't be easy to win.
His thoughts were too loud and he could very easily see himself getting frustrated with this after some time despite the limitless attempts. He doesn't have anything to lose by playing so why shouldn't he take it?
Jonathan stares at the ground at his feet, silent before he speaks again with a sad little huff of a defeated laugh, an almost sad smile, "If I win, you'll give me the chance to kill you despite trying to spare your life?" Lifting his head, its seems like he's searching Abel's expression for an answer that he already knows before he simply sighs, "Fine... I'll bite. Where do you want me to start from?"
There needed to be some distance between them for this to work properly, he's just not sure how much.
Abel can't help but laugh. The other was so surprised. Incredulous that he would offer such a ridiculous proposition. "No, no. A game of cat and mouse. Red light green light is far less exciting and I would like to make at least the next few days somewhat entertaining.
He merely makes his way over to the other to place his good hand against Jonathan's cheek. "We'll just pretend you saved me. It'll put you in my father's good graces and it'll confuse your contractor who could possibly have tried to take me out simultaneously, but ultimately an in into my household would surely benefit them." It was like a game of chess. Carefully laying out all your pieces onto the board and making careful decisions to get that checkmate.
Though, they both knew that Abel was playing a long game that would eventually lose.
"You catch me unawares at some point and you'll get to kill me. No string attached. I am a man of my word," Abel says casually.
Perhaps he should be more caring about his life, but it has always been presented to him as something more expendable. it was less something precious and more like a piece that his father played on his own board. And really, this meant he got to at least have some fun while eventually ruining his father's plans to some extent.
"Certainly, that sounds like a bit of fun. Don't you think? There's still a few hours left of the party and it would be unfortunate if you had to leave early because you attempted to see me dead," Abel says with a small smile.
It seems this was meant to be a days-long affair instead of a game he originally thought was to be concluded before the party ended. His comparison of red light green light was also wrong; thinking if he got caught by the other, he'd simply be told to start again from a set point, which lined up more with his first thought than anything.
Jonathan can't help but lean a little against Abel's touch, even if the action itself surprises him. Dropping his gaze, he can see the benefits of this playing out, it wouldn't necessarily blow his cover to anyone else other than Abel which works in his favor. Technically giving him a second chance and as the other had pointed out, it would throw his contractor for a loop.
"What will be our story then?" He asks, surely, someone will question as to what attacked Abel in order for their cover to be that Jonathan saved him.
He trusts that Abel will keep his word. He has no reason to doubt that he wouldn't.
"I think you'll get more fun out of it than me..." Jonathan gives a little shake of his head with a smile all the same. He still feels bad for breaking the other's wrist even more now. "Here..." He shrugs off his suit jacket before draping it over his arm, unbuttoning the sleeve buttons on his free arm before tearing the fabric.
It would look better than Abel's half attempt to use the handkerchief and would be less of a scene for everyone to try to see. He's gentle when he rolls the shredded fabric of Abel's shirt above the wounds before tying the fabric around it. Blood already straining once pristine white. A temporary fix until they get Abel properly tended to.
Edited (Lol i forgot to pick an icon like a scrub) 2019-12-29 13:39 (UTC)
"I was attacked by an unknown assailant while wandering the maze," Abel replies. "I come here often on my own that it wouldn't be so odd for me to had. You happen to notice my disappearance from the party and sought me out and was my savior from them. My father will certainly be pleased and likely to think you suitable to keep an eye on me. People will talk about who would have sent someone after me for days. It'll certainly be entertaining to see everyone question each other." At least, he'll find it amusing to hear the whispers going about.
Abel lets his hand drop and watches the other try and help with his injuries. How odd.
Why the other puts so much care into this all. The man was very curious indeed. So gentle. Kind. It puzzles him.
He tries not to think about it and starts leading the other back out of the garden maze. "You'll have to carry me back in to make it more convincing, but seeing as you broke my wrist so easily-" He doesn't think it'll be that much of an issue.
The cover story felt pretty sound to him. If his contactor was a part of the social circle that was regularly invited to these events, which he believes they are, Abel would put a face to a thought. He, of course, has never met the person who ordered the hit so he hasn't been able to track them by scent as he might've.
It was a bit of a client protection measure for the organization in which he was employed.
He pulls his jacket back on, hiding the torn sleeve as he adjusts it and follows alongside Abel on his good side through the maze. Jonathan can guess that the other would practically weigh as much as a bag of feathers which wouldn't be too difficult to carry, "That wouldn't be a problem."
"Sorry... again for breaking your wrist. I..." He pauses, keeping his gaze down at the ground as he walks, "I honestly wasn't expecting you to wager a game. I was rather hoping you would've just let me disappear into the night never to be seen again." Had he known, he wouldn't have wished unnecessary suffering onto the other and the inconvenience it caused as a result.
He didn't have much interest in who was putting a target on him. It wasn't as though he lacked enemies, so it really wasn't all that concerning to him.
Abel does laugh though. Jonathan really wasn't fit to be doing this in the first place. Apologizing for breaking his wrist? Really. He was supposed to kill him. How silly. "Where would the fun be in that if I just let you off. I've been terribly bored so this will occupy my time for a bit. Besides, I've had worse in terms of injuries. This is really nothing. Though, if you are so apologetic-" Abel stops for a moment before yanking the other forward by the front of his shirt to press his mouth against Jonathan's. "I'll take that as payment."
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Politics are always a messy thing. The underhandedness and dirtiness that happens behind the scene. Politics between mages were exceptionally dirty. It was all about the status of one's blood and upbringing and ancestry. The oldest and purest were considered the strongest and worthiest. It truly was who you married and how strong their magic was and insuring that your children carried that legacy.
It was all so very cruel and loveless.
The strongest and most popular currently though was that of the Remington family. The current couple was a very powerful mage and the most celebrated seer. They had two sons. The older son had made his mark by going into law enforcement. The younger son, following his father's footsteps.
The younger one was a prodigy though. His talent was unrivaled by anyone. A prime target for his enemies.
It was a lavish dinner party at the Remington estate. The ballroom was filled with the elite of the elite. Everyone was dressed in glamorous dresses and lavish suits.
It was all so very boring for Abel.
The youngest of the Remington family. Abel, sat in his chair as he watched people chatter with each other with fake enthusiasm and pleasantry. He could hear so clearly the vitriol of others as they chattered with those they would rather see dead. Disgusting. Abel was dressed just as beautifully. Rings adorned his fingers and a priceless watch sat on his wrist. The vest he wore was adorned with gorgeous, detailed stitching and gems inlaid. The dress shirt a delicately woven silk. His hair, carefully styled with precious gems entangled with his locks.
How absolutely boring.
Abel got to his feet and took his cloak from the back of his chair before carefully leaving to the garden. He grew tired of listening to this prattle.
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Perhaps they thought he would be best for a long standing assignment; make him earn his keep, gain their trust and make the final move. Or maybe they thought Jonathan would make a gruesome mess of it. Whether or not, he could escape the scene after the fact without raising suspicion or getting caught in the long run was another matter.
All that he was given as a warning was to keep any wayward thoughts in check, whatever that meant. Mages were unpredictable, they said. Jonathan didn't know much about possible powers the more magically inclined could possess so he simply brushed the warning off for the time being.
Lavish dinner parties like this one were far out of his comfort zone. These were people that he'd never interact with on a daily basis but rather ones who would pay his paycheck and order him to be some obedient dog without any questions. He played the part easy enough.
He wasn't adorned in some fancy suit like the array of guests, blending easily with the walls as he stood watch over the room. He gaze does linger over the impressive detail on everyone's clothes though. They were all rather stunning, really.
Jonathan does perk up when he spots Abel grab his cloak and leave the room. It was rather hard to miss the other given how lavishly dressed he was. There's a few long moments of hesitation before he chimes into the earpiece and follows slowly behind, making sure to keep some distance.
The other clearly wanted the space for whatever reason, Jonathan just needed to keep an eye out per his father's instructions should anything happen that wasn't his own hand.
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It's a bit nippy, as expected of England's weather. The garden was an impressive sight. Meticulously taken care of by the staff. Extravagant to the well trimmed rose bushes to the ornate statues and fountains.
He keeps his cloak folded over his arm as he makes his way through the garden and towards the hedge maze. Once in awhile, he'll stop for a moment before continuing to walk. Odd, but perhaps the man was just mulling over thoughts or maybe some sounds from animals grabbed his attention.
The Brit pauses again and lingers at the entrance of the maze before going into it. Perhaps he just wants to get away from people for a moment and getting lost in a maze seemed like a good way of doing so.
Though, perhaps risky, given how dark it is and the only light seems to be from the flame that follows the man.
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He seems easily distracted as he makes an effort to trail after Abel, stopping on occasion himself to look at some of the flowers, which would look rather strange given the low visibility in the dark. Glancing over at the other, Abel's own behavior was rather odd itself.
Thinking nothing of it, he keeps up, only to stop at a rose bush when Abel idles in front of the maze before walking into it.
Jonathan walks over after a few long moments, standing at the entrance of the maze, once he knew the other had gone on ahead. The glow of the flame that followed him no longer visible due to the height of the hedges. It wasn't going to be difficult to follow the other, he can easily follow the lingering scent of Abel's cigarette.
He wasn't exactly fond of mazes after dark and weighs his option of just waiting at the entrance, even going as far as to pace back and forth before letting out a sigh and following the trail. There was something a little unsettling about not seeing past a certain corner, it was rather silly but Jonathan keeps his hands at his side as he keeps glancing up when a breeze hits the leaves.
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Of course, Jonathan probably didn't know that Abel had known the other was following him this entire time.
"So what's the occasion? Usually he doesn't need someone tailing me while in the safety of the estate. I like to think that my behavior has been rather exemplary," Abel says easily enough. He wasn't even looking at the other, but seemed to be examining his nails rather disinterestedly. As though he didn't actually care for whatever Jonathan's answer would be to his question. "Also, you really should wear something thicker. It's getting quite chilly and I can't imagine that offering much against the elements. Hmm?"
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Mages are unpredictable. A truer sentence had never been spoken to him but that means the other caught on to his trailing attempt? If that's the case then, he really isn't that great at this. This might prove to be more difficult than he initially thought.
"I'm sure it was. I'm just following the orders given to me. To keep an eye on you and all that, I wasn't given detailed specifics." He certainly hasn't been here long enough to really determine what counted as exemplary behavior by his father's standards. Judging by the other's stance, he probably just wasted his breath answering.
He gives a little wave at the concern with a light-hearted smile, "I'll be fine. A little cold never hurt anyone," he does regret not bringing a coat to this event, though he likely would have overheated inside.
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He just laughs softly as he moves passed the other to start walking through the maze again. Seemingly find it funny to speak about such a grim topic like it were a normal conversation.
"Come now. Keep up or you'll surely get lost. You wouldn't want that, I'm sure."
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A hedge maze would be a perfect location, the perfect time, like he said, it was easy to make the hit and disappear with no one really noticing and being long gone by the time they realize something was amiss. He can't help but feel alarmed by the possibility of his cover being blown so quickly. It just reinforces his self-doubt that he really wasn't cut out for assassination roles. Hearing the other laugh about it though, that throws him for a loop.
Jonathan almost wants to reach out for Abel's wrist to stop him as he crosses in front of him but he's frozen in place. Until the other tells him to follow or risk being lost to wonder the maze, which wouldn't really be possible when he can backtrack but he doesn't test his luck with that.
Turning heel to closely follow behind Abel as he leads them further in like it was the most routine thing to do, his thoughts an obvious jumbled mess now.
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They make it to the heart of the maze. It opens up to a clearing with some intricate pond designs that surround a gazebo. He waves his hand lazily and lights the place up. It was rather beautiful.
He casually makes his way to sit at the gazebo, resting his chin on his hand before smiling. "It isn't as though my family's enemies could tell you that I can read minds. It really isn't your fault or theirs even. It's a very well kept secret." The smile turns more into a smirk; though there isn't any amusement in his eyes. As though that he didn't care about any of this at all despite his life apparently was in danger.
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"I was really left in the dark with that one. On both sides, really. Its my fault for not asking about the possible powers for mages but I guess, its sort of limitless with your lot." He lets out a huff as he stared up at the night sky, "You know everything by now, so there's no real use in repeating any of it but this sort of thing is usually not in my job description." He turns his head towards Cain's direction, a pause.
"If you don't mind me asking though, what benefit does someone have in talking out someone like you from the board?" He asks. High society dealings and feuds were out of his area of expertise. He wasn't raised in such a class and he only listened to their conversations and observed their interactions when he was working. It was an entirely different world than what he was used to on a day to day basis.
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"Even if you asked, it wouldn't have mattered. Being psychic isn't a common skill even for mages. It's not even something that's really passed down through blood. Completely irregular and unique. It merely manifests in particularly gifted individuals. The same for seers and being able to see the future. My mother was born with it as I was born with my own gift. Nothing in her bloodline had shown any sign of it, but she is considered the most celebrated seer of England," Abel explains. "I'm particularly gifted, but I won't bore you with the dreary details." He also hated his "gift" and was more than happy to avoid utilizing any of it if he could avoid it.
Abel takes a drag from his cigarette before speaking again. "Purebloods do love to squabble I suppose. My family is the most influential and powerful on this side of the pond. They wish to cripple that." He was all too aware about the inner workings of pureblood society. The underhanded and dark dealings involved with the power struggles between families. "If I were to marry with another prestigious family; it would be very troublesome for those that oppose my father. Even more so that if I were to have a child."
He shrugs though. "They're really missing their mark there though. Women really don't do it for me."
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Jonathan is still clueless on such matters, noting that after this assignment, whatever its conclusion, he should spend time researching on anything he can find. He wasn't one to question assignments and the rare occasions that they held a target; keeping his line of work strictly on a need to know basis. It limited the risks if he was ever caught and questioned, though there was a certain level of procedure to follow if it ever came to that.
As Cain speaks again, he listens. It seemed like a never ending chess game by the sound of it. Purebloods hitting blows to each other that could either weaken their stance or strengthen it and with Remington family, it could be a rather effective blow if successful. A family's legacy seemed to be very important to these sort of people.
And it all rested on whether he followed through on orders.
Jonathan sits up fully, "If you were forced to marry, your father would force that sort of thing with little regard to you, right?" Arranged marriages and forcing a kid from such a union all for the sake of potential didn't sit well with him. If anything it made him feel for Cain's situation.
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He wouldn't be dying tonight.
"Yes, but that man is so much of a perfectionist that I can't imagine him finding a suitable woman for me to marry. It's not as though I'm going to be his heir or have a son that will be a heir to follow me. My brother is fairly healthy and is married." And his father had currently not been impressed by anyone to match Abel. Though, there's something rather disgusting at the idea that the only thing that mattered was that she could offer good genes for a truly gifted child.
Abel speaks of his father almost like a stranger and not as his parent. He seemed much fonder in tone when he spoke about his mother.
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"What makes you say that?" There's a curious tilt of his head, almost like he wanted to prove Abel wrong. He knows the consequences of not completing an assignment; a lecture by the world's most unpleasant boss and whatever punishment he can possibly cook up for the fun of it. But there was the matter of Abel's ability to read his thoughts as well as ones he didn't know about and there was no way to hide from the other his choice of killing him tonight or not.
Abel already knows what he was going to do.
Jonathan moves to his feet, brushing off bits of dirt from his clothes, "I mean no disrespect but your father sounds like an ass." In his mind, if he had been his father's position and from what it sounds like, he would aim for the perfectly gifted woman to pair with Abel because the results of such a union would only boost the family name, he guesses. Anything to stay above everyone else, right?
"Is your brother just as gifted as you or did you draw the short straw for that one?" He says as he slowly makes his way towards the gazebo Abel was sitting under.
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He laughs though. "Well, you aren't wrong. That man is a right awful being." He waves his hand dismissively. Whatever insults are thrown at his father, he thinks is warranted.
"My brother would be a suitable heir that many would look proudly upon. He's adored," Abel replies. He takes a drag from his cigarette. "I could run circles around him magic wise though."
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There's a small huff that leaves him. Never really putting into perspective how much of a dog eat dog world for the rich and powerful it was. He shouldn't be so surprised by it though. With the hefty price tags that come with the professionals in that division, he wouldn't expect less than perfection if he was a paying client.
It really was a shame that he got picked instead. Buyer's fault there if he's honest.
He can't imagine assassinations being the norm in someone's life though. It made it seem like a ticking time bomb of a life, like any second could be one's last. A near constant need to keep an eye over one's shoulder.
"Let me guess, your father prefers the adored son and wishes he was just as gifted as you because it would make everything so much easier for him, wouldn't it?" He doesn't know why he's even asking when he can already guess the answer. Abel's brother likely would hit every check mark a father like his would want except for one.
Jonathan takes a seat next to Abel, leaving a reasonable amount of space between them. Quiet for longer than he has been thus far, "If I did kill you tonight, would you prefer it to be as quick and painless as possible or agonizingly slow?" He asks as he stares at his own hands. He's never given anyone the option before and likely would never again. He's simply curious as to which one would be picked.
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A natural and powerful psychic. Abel was a rarity and one that offered a lot when it came to power and politics.
A game that Abel had no interest in being part of, but was basically dragged into it anyways. "He has the best of both worlds. His favored son is safe, after all. He's painted the target on my back." Which really just meant that Abel has only ever gotten the shortest end of the stick.
He doesn't answer the other for a moment before he gets up and tosses his cigarette; putting it out under his shoe. "It doesn't matter to me, actually. Quick and painless is probably convenient. There is nothing you could do that I would think as agonizingly slow though." There's something very unsettling about such a comment if one thought about it. For Abel though, life had been nothing but that, so a death like it would be no different he thinks.
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It takes him a moment to process the comment fully. Making it sound like he would welcome death with open arms and that was certainly a first for him. He gets up from his spot, reaching for Abel's wrist. His grip tight, almost bone-breaking as he stared at him with pain in his expression.
"Killing you here would be a mercy and you know I'm not going to but I also can't leave without leaving a mark that I tried." Abel can probably feel the beginnings of claws digging through the fabric of his dress shirt and eventually into the skin. "It may only buy you a day or a week or even a month. It may not be me the second time and maybe they will give you the quickest option... maybe not."
His cover was blown so he can't imagine he'd be sent back. "I can lie on the report... that you got away." He lets out a deep sigh, it would certainly be easy to play off thanks to the minuscule amount of information from the client.
"This is going to hurt and I apologize in advance for it..." Jonathan makes a quick twisting sort of motion that breaks the bone. Before he lets go of the other's wrist, he drags his claws around, ruining a portion of Abel's shirt further and giving a set of wounds that would be deep enough to make it look like the other pulled away to escape.
"I wish you a better life, Abel Remington. If its not in this life, I do hope its in the next. You truly deserve better." There's a sad smile as he finally lets go of the other's wrist, offering him a handkerchief from inside his jacket as if it would help with the bleeding before he started to walk away from him and the gazebo.
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The quiet laugh that comes out of his mouth is mixed with pain and almost seems hysterical. As though the other had said something genuinely hilarious. "Deserve better? What naive and pure words to offer to your kill target you know." Abel had accepted the cards he had been dealt long ago. The world of the elite was far different than the average rift raft. It really wasn't about what people deserved, he thinks. Just the lengths people were willing to take to get what they want.
Though- "Wait. Why don't you play a game with me? It'll keep me entertained in the interim. He rubs his fingertips of his good hand against the material of the handkerchief. Not using it for why it was offered, but most likely just to ignore the pain in his wrist.
"I like games. A bit of cat and mouse and I see no reason why it wouldn't benefit you. You manage to catch me unawares and you can kill me. No strings attached. Limitless attempts. You win in the end." Was Abel really just offering his life up to a game he'd ultimately lose? Absolutely. "You're positively fascinating, so I would appreciate your company for a little longer." Abel, after all, was still an aristocrat by all means and so the world outside his bubble was still something he knew very little of.
He wanted to understand why the other seemed to pity him. Sympathize. It was queer. Odd. He had no reason to feel for him, yet he did. He could taste it on his tongue. Hear it in his words. His brother also showed compassion to him, but that was his brother. Why would a stranger who was hired to kill him offer it without rhyme or reason?
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Doing an assassin's job was never in his blood. People always told him he cared too much and too easily. Being a natural predator by nature, he should have the drive but he could never have the detachment of emotion that he's seen people have in this specific line of work. Clenching his fists for a brief moment before relaxing his grip was a near reply to the other's words.
Jonathan hesitantly stops in his tracks as Abel tells him to wait, not expecting to be stopped after just breaking the other's wrist and wounding him for borrowed time. He slowly turns to face him and the longer Abel proposes his game, the more he finds it a little hard to believe.
How was he supposed to catch a psychic off guard enough to get close? He doesn't see how he could possibly win. Yes, it offered the benefit that the job would be done but surely the other must be joking.
"You can't be serious? You want to gamble your life on basically a game of red light green light?" He shook his head in disbelief, trying to wrap his thoughts around this. Jonathan knew if he accepted this little game that it wouldn't be easy to win.
His thoughts were too loud and he could very easily see himself getting frustrated with this after some time despite the limitless attempts. He doesn't have anything to lose by playing so why shouldn't he take it?
Jonathan stares at the ground at his feet, silent before he speaks again with a sad little huff of a defeated laugh, an almost sad smile, "If I win, you'll give me the chance to kill you despite trying to spare your life?" Lifting his head, its seems like he's searching Abel's expression for an answer that he already knows before he simply sighs, "Fine... I'll bite. Where do you want me to start from?"
There needed to be some distance between them for this to work properly, he's just not sure how much.
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He merely makes his way over to the other to place his good hand against Jonathan's cheek. "We'll just pretend you saved me. It'll put you in my father's good graces and it'll confuse your contractor who could possibly have tried to take me out simultaneously, but ultimately an in into my household would surely benefit them." It was like a game of chess. Carefully laying out all your pieces onto the board and making careful decisions to get that checkmate.
Though, they both knew that Abel was playing a long game that would eventually lose.
"You catch me unawares at some point and you'll get to kill me. No string attached. I am a man of my word," Abel says casually.
Perhaps he should be more caring about his life, but it has always been presented to him as something more expendable. it was less something precious and more like a piece that his father played on his own board. And really, this meant he got to at least have some fun while eventually ruining his father's plans to some extent.
"Certainly, that sounds like a bit of fun. Don't you think? There's still a few hours left of the party and it would be unfortunate if you had to leave early because you attempted to see me dead," Abel says with a small smile.
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Jonathan can't help but lean a little against Abel's touch, even if the action itself surprises him. Dropping his gaze, he can see the benefits of this playing out, it wouldn't necessarily blow his cover to anyone else other than Abel which works in his favor. Technically giving him a second chance and as the other had pointed out, it would throw his contractor for a loop.
"What will be our story then?" He asks, surely, someone will question as to what attacked Abel in order for their cover to be that Jonathan saved him.
He trusts that Abel will keep his word. He has no reason to doubt that he wouldn't.
"I think you'll get more fun out of it than me..." Jonathan gives a little shake of his head with a smile all the same. He still feels bad for breaking the other's wrist even more now. "Here..." He shrugs off his suit jacket before draping it over his arm, unbuttoning the sleeve buttons on his free arm before tearing the fabric.
It would look better than Abel's half attempt to use the handkerchief and would be less of a scene for everyone to try to see. He's gentle when he rolls the shredded fabric of Abel's shirt above the wounds before tying the fabric around it. Blood already straining once pristine white. A temporary fix until they get Abel properly tended to.
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Abel lets his hand drop and watches the other try and help with his injuries. How odd.
Why the other puts so much care into this all. The man was very curious indeed. So gentle. Kind. It puzzles him.
He tries not to think about it and starts leading the other back out of the garden maze. "You'll have to carry me back in to make it more convincing, but seeing as you broke my wrist so easily-" He doesn't think it'll be that much of an issue.
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It was a bit of a client protection measure for the organization in which he was employed.
He pulls his jacket back on, hiding the torn sleeve as he adjusts it and follows alongside Abel on his good side through the maze. Jonathan can guess that the other would practically weigh as much as a bag of feathers which wouldn't be too difficult to carry, "That wouldn't be a problem."
"Sorry... again for breaking your wrist. I..." He pauses, keeping his gaze down at the ground as he walks, "I honestly wasn't expecting you to wager a game. I was rather hoping you would've just let me disappear into the night never to be seen again." Had he known, he wouldn't have wished unnecessary suffering onto the other and the inconvenience it caused as a result.
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Abel does laugh though. Jonathan really wasn't fit to be doing this in the first place. Apologizing for breaking his wrist? Really. He was supposed to kill him. How silly. "Where would the fun be in that if I just let you off. I've been terribly bored so this will occupy my time for a bit. Besides, I've had worse in terms of injuries. This is really nothing. Though, if you are so apologetic-" Abel stops for a moment before yanking the other forward by the front of his shirt to press his mouth against Jonathan's. "I'll take that as payment."
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Idk why i have this one lol
we made the new thread so we can suffer sooner.
ah
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