Private Tales A Silver Tongue Turned Gold

[Tal]

Marcus stared at Inara like a man who had just found something he'd lost. Something that he'd never thought he would see again.

Tal was leaning against the table when the man stepped through the door, simply waiting idle. As one of the triumvirates that had lead his life seemed to linger in the doorway, utterly encapsulated by the sight before him, Tal stepped forward.

He walked towards Marcus, who seemed still utterly trapped in his owned world, and then suddenly snatched the circular carrier the man was holding. "I kept my word."

Tal said, uncapping the tube and drawing the map within out.

"And I see you kept yours." He commented idly.

"She's...?"​

Marcus looked to Tal, then to Inara. "Yes, your daughter."

 

[Inara Irren]

The world around Inara crumbled. The cabin was no longer there around her. She just stared at Marcus with her mouth hanging open like an idiot.

"No, that's not true..." She finally stammered out. It was a lie. Not in her mind. "He had me killed all those years ago..."

It felt like she couldn't even complete a sentence as she stood and tipped the chair back onto the floor.

"This is fucked up, Tal, even for you!"

 

[Tal]

"No he didn't." Tal said with a shrug of his shoulders, rolling up the map once again and sticking it into the tube.

He had gotten what he wanted, and in a less violent way than he had assumed. Perhaps the weakness of a man like Marcus was the connections that he had made. A fact that he could have exploited earlier had he known. Not that it mattered much now. "The men sent after you weren't meant to kill you."

Tal said, glancing at Marcus who was equally speechless.

"They were meant to find you, which they did." He looked back to Inara. "Everything else? That little curse and your missing memory? No fucking idea there."

But that wasn't his problem. "Anyway, happy reunion."

Tal waved, slung the tube over his shoulder then took half a step before he added. "Oh and you can consider yourself free. Don't really need someone who spits at me for helping her."

With that he moved to walk outside.

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara just stared at Marcus for a second more and then rushed outside after Tal.

"Hey, Tal," once he had turned back to her she smiled a half smile that was probably the first genuine one she had given him. "Thank you. I don't know how you figured it out but it means a lot that you have a fuck...even if it was to help you with whatever your quest is."

"I owe you one...or two..." Inara smiled again and then walked back into the cabin to get to know the man who was her father.

 

[Tal]

Tal glanced back, notably not walking towards the wagon which still sat just a few feet away from the entrance. "Sure."

All his life he had only ever really cared much about one thing; himself.

He was a selfish, entirely narcissistic and self absorbed man. That didn't stop now. He didn't care about Marcus' plight of a lost daughter. He didn't care about Inara's lost memories or even that perhaps he had now done a good deed for the both of them.

All that he cared about was that he had gotten his. Another step in the right direction, another day closer to getting back his true self. Nothing else mattered to him, nothing.

"See you in the next life." Tal said with a wave of his hand, signalling his intent to never see her again. She was Marcus' problem now, and although he was sure the Boss would want his revenge, there was not much he could do.

Not with Vora at Tal's back.

So he fully expected never to see Inara again, never having to worry about it. Alliria was a city of a million people after all. Even in close circles like theirs, a lifetime could be spent without ever encountering one another a second time.

Thus, it was to his surprise that a knock sounded on the door of his office just a few short weeks later.

 

[Inara Irren]

The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of craziness. Marcus had immediately moved her into his home and he had made her one of his Underbosses. There had been an opening that had mysteriously appeared and Inara was able to fill it. A miracle, really.

She and Marcus had spent many hours togethers. She told him about her life and he told her about him, her mother, and what had happened that led her to living on the streets. It was a pretty sad story and she felt a little bad that he had gone all of these extra years without her after he had found her once. He also taught her the workings of his part of the Syndicate and what exactly she would be doing.

It had been a long few weeks.

Inara had perfectly fine with never seeing Tal again but she needed him. How appropriate. She had been an ungrateful bitch and now she needed his help.

She had been escorted to his office by a couple of his henchman and it made her chuckle at the parallel to how she had originally been shown in to this very room. One of the henchman knocked and waited for the okay to enter.

 

[Tal]

Tal slowly drew a tablecloth over the maps that he had laid out in front of him, lips thinning to a frown as he turned back towards the door. "Open."

He called out.

Seconds later the door to his office protruded inside, the thug beyond motioning towards Inara so that she could step through the doorway. Tal's eyebrow raised slightly as she slipped into the room, a 'click' echoing from his tongue.

"Ah, if it isn't the Princess of Crime herself." Tal said, leaning back against his desk. "I hear business is doing well."

He of course knew of Inara's new role within her father's enterprise. She had done well, enough so that it was surprising to see her here. "Come to copy some of my ideas?"

Tal asked, drawing a cigar from his coat pocket.

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara chuckled and threw herself into the chair that was opposite Tal's desk. "Princess of Crime does have a nice sound to it," she said with a smile. She was really afraid he would flat out refuse her but at the same time there would be something in it for him.

"I think the cigar burning is a good idea to copy but I don't smoke," she leaned forward and clasped her hands together.

"No, I need your help. I am having a problem and if I go to my father about it...it won't look good. I need an outside opinion, I think."

 

[Tal]

"It works well enough." Tal said with a nod of approval. "Though it helps to have the right atmosphere."

Interrogation was it's own sort of art form, a lesson that Tal had picked up from his brother.

He frowned for a breif moment as she wandered over to him, throwing herself down in the chair opposite his desk. The Tyrian watched her carefully, but didn't make a single move as she began to speak. He listened, carefully, and then smiled. "Outside opinion, huh?"

Tal mused.

"And why, pray tell." He trailed off. "Should I help you?"

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara knew this question would come and she had prepared for it. She couldn't blame him for not wanting to help her after the way she had been to him.

"Because I am very sorry for being a raging bitch and I was wrong and you were right and knowing I am coming to you instead of my dad brings you great pleasure." She recited. All the truth. She was sorry for how she had treated him.

"I was a con woman, Tal. I do not know how to run this shit and do what needs to be done but, fuck, I cannot let Marcus down." Truth. She was terrified of the father she just met putting her out on the street because she is a failure.

 

[Tal]

The words rung in the air like a song.

In any other moment he might have thrown the entire conversation away. Sent her away, thrown her to the wolves and just let it be, but Tal was always one to take advantage when he could. There was always something to be done.

Always something to be gained.

Fingers tightened for a moment as he considered, and then a long dragging sigh escaped from his throat. "Well."

He shook his head.

"I've never been able to resist a woman on her knees." Tal remarked, even though it might not have been the truth. "What's the problem?"

The Tyrian asked. "I'll help how I can."

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara threw Tal the look before she commented on his little remark, "if you want me on my knees, Tal...you just have to ask." She winked at him before sitting back in the chair and crossing her right leg over her left.

"I have an employee who has decided to go rogue. He is turning in orders for forged papers that aren't Syndicate orders. He is selling our services on the side and pocketing the profits. I have already dealt with the forger herself. If the order doesn't come from myself or Marcus, she will not fulfil it."

She paused and took a breath before continuing. It was a little embarrassing that she felt this useless about how to punish someone.

"I can obviously just kill him but I think he is working with someone else within the Syndicate...I am not really a torturer." She gave a small smile, "I have never done it before."

 

[Tal]

"I rarely ask for anything." Tal said with a smile, leaving the cryptic words in the air before he plucked a cigar from his coat pocket.

The expression on his face turned to a frown however as she spoke of her problem.

In most operations, the Syndicate worked in three separate branches. Tal's own was focused upon smuggling and particularly the drug trade. It was profitable, and most often ignored due to the general lack of interest from the City Watch. Least most of the time.

Forgery was not exactly his forte, but that didn't matter much here. "Ah."

Tal said with a slight frown.

"That is a problem." He told her. "But...starts with the fact that you don't need a torturer, Inara. You need an interrogator."

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara frowned at Tal. Maybe that is what she meant? She really was terrible at this. She rubbed her forehead as she spoke again.

"That's probably what I meant. I have no fucking idea what I'm doing, Tal," she admitted.

She really hated to admit it but it was true. She had been a petty criminal and now she was pretty high up in a huge organization. She was wholly unqualified and the only person she trusted was Tal.

Well...Trusted.

 

[Tal]

He chuckled. "Clearly."

In all truth, Tal couldn't really blame her. This sort of thing didn't come naturally to many people at all. He himself had been prepared for it back home. His fathers hand having taught more lessons than even he would have admitted to.

Still.

There was one question that had yet to be asked. The most important one in all of this really.

"But." He mused. "What exactly is in it for me?"

Inara was the one who needed help after all. The one who had come crawling and needed that hook to be baited. He could help her, he knew that he could, but everything had a price. Whether it be magic or even a favor.

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara knew she would regret this. She had already promised the man two favors and she hated to owe him another one but she needed him. It hurt to admit that she needed him.

"What do you want?"

She knew the open ended question was not great for her but she hoped it would be enough to hook him in.

 

[Tal]

Tal sighed. "What a boring method of negotiation."

He said with a shake of his head, though he couldn't really blame her. It was clear that she didn't want to screw this up, more so that she wanted to stay on her fathers good side. The feeling was one that he could understand.

For a moment more he considered.

"I'll think of something." Tal said. "Something fun."

Things were going good. Business was booming, and he was only two steps away from what he needed. Perhaps it was time to cut loose. Least for a little while. "Let's go fix your problem."

He told her with a gallant wave of his hand.

 

[Inara Irren]

It may be a boring method of negotiation but it was an effective one. People liked it much better when they got to set their terms. A small smile curved her lips when he said he would think of something fun. She had no doubt that it would somehow include making her do something terrible for his amusement.

Inara stood after Tal waved her hand. "Yes, please!" She said before starting her way out of the office. "The other problem is that I have no idea where he has disappeared to. I was thinking of setting a trap."

 

[Tal]

Tal let out a long sigh, his head dipping for a moment as Inara admitted that she had no idea where the man actually was. Fingers came up to pinch the bridge of his nose, a long breath dragging into his lungs as he shook his head. "Alright."

He said quietly.

"Where did you see him last?" Well, more like where did anyone see him last. "And does he had any...preferences?"

Tal asked. "Women, men? Vessk or Elves?"

If there was anything Tal had learned over the years, it was that men most often ran into the nearest pair of breasts or...buns that they had last favored. A terrible trait that plagued all of them.

"Oh, by the way." He added. "How do you feel about lace?"

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara gave him a tiny guilty smile. She knew he was frustrated with her already and she felt bad. She had warned him that she was terrible at this shit.

"Last he was seen was last night at The Tally Ho." It was a terribly seedy bar that sat near one of the busiest ports in Alliria. The name was even terrible. "And I think he likes women? We have never spoken about what he likes to put his dick into," she shrugged.

Tal's last question earned him a glare. She was very worried about what this man was thinking right now. "I think it looks great on my bare skin," she smirked at him as they walked.

 

[Tal]

"Oh good, something to show off to everyone then." Tal told Inara as he continued out the door and swept onto the Docks.

He glanced briefly around, as if searching for something, then began to speak before Inara could comment on 'showing off'. "We'll head to the Tally then."

Tal had been there more than once, though not out of choice.

"Someone there will know him, and then we follow the trail until we find him." He half turned to Inara, looking her up and down. "I'll have Arrel make draw something up. He's a wonderful tailor."

Tal mused, then immediately switched tacks again. As though he were simply dropping small teasing hints for what he had in store. "We'll use your guys, not mine. Will look better to your crew if it's your men grabbing him up."

 

[Inara Irren]

Inara could tell that Tal was having way too much fun teasing her about whatever he had in his mind for her. The only attention she gave his quips was to smile and roll her eyes. Yes, he was having fun and she thought it was pretty cute. Although, she was a little afraid of what he was cooking up in his evil mind.

The Tally Ho was one of those places that people would think of as condemned if they didn't know better. The outside needed new windows and by new windows...she meant...it needed windows. Currently they were all boarded up. It could also use some fresh paint and a sign. None of that would happen though because the Tally didn't want attention from outsiders aka criminals.

The two Underbosses entered the club and Inara scrunched up her nose. This place was disgusting. The tables and chairs were mismatched in the worst way, the waitresses and dancers looked like they had a chance of dying at any second from malnutrition, and the bartender was an asshole. Jeddy.

 

[Tal]

Tal didn't linger long in the doorway. A place like this wasn't his idea of a good time. Even during his street days in Tyre he didn't like jaunting about in the dregs. Sure there was something to be said about the lower reaches, but this?

This place was a fucking gutter.

"Jeddy!" Tal said as he approached the bar with arms up. "How are you my friend!?"

"Oh shit!"​

Almost as soon as Jeddy's attention landed on Tal the man's face contorted into a mask of utter panic and shock. As if the thought of the Underboss walking into the tavern was something which had seemed utterly out of possibility.

"I swear to god Tal I didn't know!"​

Tal raised an eyebrow. "Didn't know?"

"Yeah the table was run by you and I know I said I'd pay last week but Viktor said..."​

"Vikor doesn't say shit." His hand slammed down onto the bar in front of Jeddy, silencing his vaunted list of excuses and thrown out nonsense with a shake of his head. The tiefling was a fucking mute. "I don't care about that."

"Well, I do, we'll circle back, but I'm not here for that." Not right now anyway.

 

[Inara Irren]

Was everyone in this city afraid of Tal? She needed that kind of fear in her own people. Perhaps stabbing a few people would bring that about...hopefully.

She had no idea about running stuff except that this shit gave her a headache. Life was much easier when she planned her own cons and did shit on her own. Inara strangely did not want to go back to that life though. She had a father and that is one thing she had always wanted. She was loved and she was cared for the first time in her life.

Her attention was snapped back to Jeddy and Tal's conversation when Tal slammed his hand onto the bar. Inara took the chance to speak up.

"We are looking for Fillian. He was seen here last night and we need to know where he might be now..." She let the words hand in the air waiting for his answer.

 

[Tal]

The Bar tender flickered for a moment, his gaze shifting from Inara to Tal. There was a panic in his face, as though he wasn't entirely sure what he should say. For a brief moment his tongue seemed utterly tied, and then finally he spoke.

"He...he has a girl. Well...two girls. They're twins.​

Tal raised an eyebrow. "Wow, nice."

A brief nod tipped Jeddy's head as well as a brief smile, but as he looked over towards Inara it quickly disappeared. The bartender cleared his throat, and then quickly continued on.

"Twins they is. Pair of sisters. They live in the Vaudelay."​

Tal let out a loud sigh.

"Fuck me." The Vaudelay was a substrate of the Shallows, a portion of the town controlled by the Vaud, a group of cast out witches, crones, and rogue spellthieves. It wasn't a gang, so to speak, but they functioned in the same way. Keeping others, including the Syndicate, out of their neighborhood. "They're witches?"

He asked Jeddy, who only responded with a slow...almost painful nod.

"Mama Leveau's girls."​

Tal slammed the bar again. "Double fuck me."