Seahaven Mafia

There was nowhere in the city Æsv couldn't get into, if he wanted to. He could slip into any home, past any guards or pets or sleeping owner, and steal whatever he pleased - be it shiny jewels, food, or secrets.

That was what Æsc was on the prowl for right now. The Markins were hardly unknown to him, but as he stalked various members of the family through the city, he picked up much more information than he'd ever cared to think about - including secrets he'd really rather not know.

The thing was, Æsc had an agenda. All-out war between the families could be great for him, or it could be terrible. It would upset the status quo that he was so used to; it would put people on higher alert and make them more guarded against those they didn't know so well - and even against people they thought they could trust.
On the other hand, the boy thrived on chaos. Chaos shadowed him; no-one was going to pay attention to a child in the midst of a knife-fight.

As he trailed family members - at one point even interacting with one, who recognised him after he approached her as the charming young man who helped out the family once in a while - he wasn't sure what he wanted to hear. That they'd had a hand in Nick's death, or that they were none-the-wiser.

It's been about a few hours since the meeting at Ralph's. The sun was still high in the sky, but it was starting to get tired. There were people walking around but not enough to even be vaguely populated, but that's because this place was a tourist central. It would be weirder if there wasn't anybody at all.

On a bridge, staring out at the line where the sky meets the sea, leaning against the railings, was Kaine. He was all by his lonesome; okay, maybe there was one bodyguard. His name was Donald. A rather big fella who was no short of muscle.

Donald was smoking a cigarette beside his boss. He made sure to smoke where the wind wouldn't blow teh smoke into Kaine's face. The boss hated smoke. He hated smoking, too, but honestly, he didn't care if other people did it.

"Donald," Kaine began, "you're a simple man. What do you think about the game that we're in?"

Donald glanced at Kaine and shrugged his massive shoulders. "I don't know, boss. Honestly I just think it's stupid that there's even a game in the first place. Too much sneakiness and not enough action. Just go up to a guy and punch if he said something bad about you. That's how I deal with it."

Kaine couldn't help but to chuckle a little. "Of course you would say that. We've been fighting together since we were tots, but you still haven't grown out of the brawn mindset. When you grow up, everything turns into a game where if you lose, you're dead. If not physically? Mentally, emotionally, socially. Shame really. Why can't we just live our lives without having to worry?"

"I think you just worry too much, sir." Donald piped up. Kaine chuckled again.

"You say that, but my father worried too little and guess where that got him. I think I'm worrying just the right amount. Ah, but I digress. I talk like I'm old enough to recall when having a few nickels made you rich!"

This was not Lu’s idea of a great time. They always disliked being away from their home city, and not even being in England - gosh, not even being within Britain?

At least Pluto was with them, though. Lu wasn’t sure they’d cope without their loyal bodyguard with them, an ever present warmth over their shoulder. He was something like a father to them - in fact, they often pretended he was. Passing as a teenager, and then a young adult, travelling with their father invited less questions than admitting he was their bodyguard.
The plan for this visit was simple enough: go in, finalise the trade deal, shake hands, and leave. Nothing too serious, and nothing that should necessitate Pluto’s presence, but it always helped Lu’s nerves to have him nearby.

Although they’d done their research on the area, it looked different in person than it had online, and they really felt a little strange, at odds with a city they weren’t completely familiar with. It barely showed, of course - Lu was well-practised at hiding their discomfort - but their grip on their cane was just a little tighter than usual, their stride just a little shorter.
To an onlooker, they would look as steadfast, well-dressed, and intimidating as ever, but Pluto noticed everything about Lu. It was his job, and he was good at it.
“You okay, Lucien?” Pluto asked, voice low. Lu nodded.
“Yes, thank you, darling.”
Pluto let it drop, but Lu knew he’d be watching them like a hawk.

They strode along the seafront, to the place they were supposed to meet with Kaine.
“After this meeting,” Pluto was saying. “We’ll go for lunch. There’s a café nearby that sells a pasta dish you’ll be able to eat. You can’t just have tea today.”
Lu sighed dramatically, but they nodded. “Alright, if we must.”
“Good. Is that him, up ahead?”
“Mm, I think so.” Lu could just make out the figure of Kaine and a man they assumed to be his bodyguard up ahead. “How delightful - he has a guard too. Do you think he’s as much of a father as you?”
“I’d imagine Kaine doesn’t need as many reminders to eat and sleep as you do.”
“No need to be rude,” Lu pouted, before they drew themself up and straightened their expression, hardening it as they stepped into business-mode. Their young age meant they often had to demand respect, and part of that was appearing serious.

“Mr. St. Luce, I take it,” Lucien greeted him, as they approached. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

As the two approached, Kaine and Donald's conversation fell silent. Donald straightened up and got ready to jump into action. Kaine on the other hand simply glanced in their direction and grinned. With a quick wave of his hand hello, Kaine shoved himself off from the railing and stood there with his hands opened outward in a welcoming gesture.

"Ah! Hello there! You must be from out of town! No, no, my name is Jumpy Santiago!" Kaine laughed and put his hands down before looking Lu straight in the eye, grinning.

"A joke. Though I would have liked to have ran with it a little bit longer, you don't seem to be in the mood for them." Kaine nodded. "Yes, I am he, but just call me Kaine. It's easier and won't give my entire name to randoms who might be listening for god-knows why."

"I'm glad that you came. I was worried I'd be staring out at the ocean long enough that my long departed sailor husband would finally return from the war. So, now that you're here we can discuss our business. Unless you'd like to move somewhere more... private, yes?"

If anything, Lu just appeared utterly bewildered by Kaine's joke. They assumed it was a reference to something to something they didn't recognise; that was usually the explanation for jokes they didn't understand. Their lips twitched in a humouring smile, and they nodded in agreement.

"Kaine, then," they repeated. He was certainly much friendlier than the people they usually worked with; Lucien had been in this game long enough to know that friendliness was often a good tactic to get people to let their guard down. It wasn't that they didn't trust him, it was just that they didn't trust him in the slightest.

"I'm afraid I've found that, no matter how long I stare out to sea, it appears my long-departed sailor husband is never returning," Lu sighed, and it had rather a hint of a joke to it. "I'm quite content to remain here, if you're content to, darling. It's delightful to take in the ocean air. I'm afraid we don't get much of the ocean in London, and the Thames just isn't quite the same."

"Really now? The island nation doesn't get to see the ocean often? Now that's just positively terrible. Tut tut. And I don't mind either way, so we'll stay here and chat it up."

"Have you heard the news, by the way? About Nick Minella? What a surprise that he was shot and killed right in front of his home. New head of the family is Natalie Minella. It seems she's a bit tied to the idea that our families should come together and raise the city higher like they did in the past. Though it makes it easier for our plans to bear fruit, right?"

"So, business, business. Now, we're both aware of the costs for each of us. You protect mine and I protect yours, no surprises and no backstabbing. And with you helping me get the territory from the Minellas, I'll give you what you want from that warehouse of theirs. Everything: The tomes, the treasures, the foundation it's built on. This is correct?"

"Mm, I did hear. It is a terrible tragedy, and my deepest condolences are with the Minellas," Lu nodded, bowing their head a little in respect. They'd done their research, after all, and it would have been hard to miss such big news. "I imagine it will make it considerably easier for us, though, and we should be grateful for that. Perhaps I should make acquaintances with the Minellas, if you'll be working closely with them from now on?"

"You're correct on our deal, and I hope you find it agreeable? Are there any other elements you wish to negotiate on, perhaps in light of the Minella's recent... tragedy?" Lu asked, leaning on their cane as they spoke. "Otherwise, I'm perfectly content to sign on our previously agreed terms."

"You should save the condolences for if you ever meet the Minellas. I'm sure they would appreciate it, depending on why your meeting them in the first place, that is. You're free to meet them whenever."

"And our deal is plenty agreeable! I only have one request that you keep our little deal on the down-low? The Minellas are suspicious of everybody and anybody at the moment. If they know about the deal we made they might assume something ridiculous, like I was going to take over or some shit like that because of the extra manpower I had from the deal." Kaine scoffed and rolled his eyes at the thought. He thought for a moment and peered back at Lu.

"Say, where are you going to stay now that you're here? You can't tell me that you came all the way from London just to shake hands with me. Or if you did then I feel so flattered. If you would like, you can stay at my residence while you're here checking out the sights and whatnot that Seahaven has to offer?"

Natalie left the mansion to walk her three dogs, Dobermans, all loyal to her and with them she feared little. However, a bodyguard still tailed her just in case. They all needed the fresh air after all.

"Well, speak of the Devil and he appears - well, she in this case." Kaine glanced over in Natalie's direction. "Not the most average looking lady, am I right? She sticks out like a sore thumb, especially with those hounds of hers. Why don't we say hello?" Kaine didn't wait for an answer as he walked towards the Minella.

Lucien nodded in response to Kaine's request to keep the deal on the down-low; they certainly had no desire to advertise their loyalty to one side or the other, not when they were on unfamiliar territory.

"I have a place rented, but we certainly wouldn't mind the security of residing with you for a few days instead, if it wouldn't be too much trouble," Lu agreed, before Natalie appeared.

They followed after Kaine, quite pleased to be able to greet a Minella member for themself - and to observe how she and Kaine interacted. Once they'd reached her, they kept quiet, politely waiting for an introduction from Kaine.

"Mrs. Minella! It's so good to see you again! It's been forever - well, a few hours or so anyways. How are you? Ah, pardon my manners, but this is Lucien Grey. A friend of mine from online. So far not a catfish, so that's pretty good so far."

Kaine looked at the dogs at Natalie's heels. "Queen and her hounds, huh? Cute little pups."

" Hello again. Yes I walk them on the waterfront every day. My niece ordinarily would join me with her puppy, but she's not doing well considering that she just lost her father." Natalie said. " Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr. Grey." One of the dogs, Roxie stepped in front of Natalie protectively as she didn't know either man.

"Mx. or Ser, not Mr.," Lu corrected - not rudely, since Natalie surely meant no offence by it, but firmly. If there was one thing they wouldn't abide, it was being misgendered, and they'd rather not start a war on foreign territory. "It's a delight to make your acquaintance, too. I was just commenting to Kaine that I should offer my condolences for your recent loss." They inclined their head to her, in polite respect, before continuing on,
"It's also delightful to meet your dogs - they're beautiful. You must take excellent care of them."

Lu was rather fond of dogs; they had their own - a large, white Samoyed named Pep, who was Lu's greatest love in the world. They would do anything for her, and she might well be one of the most spoilt dogs to have ever lived.

" I do take excellent care of my dogs. These are Roxy, my female, Gunner, her brother, and Striker, unrelated to them. I've had them since they were pups. My brother owned Gunner and Roxy's parents, whom like him have sadly passed. They'd be devastated if they were still alive right now." Natalie said as she started petting her dogs. " My apologies, if I offended you." She quickly apologized to Lucien, she didn't mean to misgender them.

"Makes me wish hounds and me got along! Would love a cute little pup." Kaine said staring at the Minella dogs. "Nah, the most of a pet that I have a the stray cats that prowl around. Maybe I should stop feeding them... But I fear that they might revolt against me if I ever stopped!" He laughed aloud nudging his bodyguard in the side of his arm. Donald just stared at the dogs with curiosity.

"They're ever so sweet," Lucien smiled, spinning their cane in their hand absentmindedly. They would ask to pet them, but Lu disliked touching unfamiliar animals, and although they were wearing gloves for this meeting, they had little desire to risk spiking their anxieties.

Lu could feel Pluto shift behind them; he was clearly wary of the dogs and Natalie. Against one man and one bodyguard, Pluto wasn't terribly outnumbered, but now he was. If anything were to happen, his first response would have to be to grab Lucien and run, rather than stand their ground, and that made him uncomfortable. It was hardly an unusual situation, though, and he said nothing; even his slight shift would be nigh unnoticeable to anyone who wasn't stood directly in front of him, as Lu was.

"I must say, although I do love standing out in the open by the waterside as the day passes by, I think it will be my turn to retire. Well, not retire but more go home and relax. If any of my men hear any new juicy gossip pertaining to your brother's murder, I'll be sure to tell you, my dear." Kaine glanced at Lucien.

"If you need anything, I'll be home. You should have my number? Just give it a call and I'll probably answer. Come along, Donald. We're done here for now." And Kaine stepped away.

Donald, still staring at the dogs, nodded in acknowledgement before scampering after his boss.

Natalie continued on with her walk once Kaine left.