Shay sat in the office's waiting room. At this point in her young life, she was way too familiar with this place. It was the one a child was sent to when they were being taken home -- when they were in trouble. Idly, she wondered if Cecily would be picking her up again. It could have been anyone on any given day.
Shay sighed and rested her head on her hand. Being a bodyguard for Eroshay was equal parts babysitting and guarding. Shay had always found it strange, because, by all rights, she'd have liked to say she was a good kid. Why did she need babysitters? Maybe it was just because her parents worried, or maybe she wasn't as good as she thought she was.
It was pretty standard for Rosales gang members to pick her up, so Shay wasn't put off when someone she didn't know had shown up. Well, that wasn't entirely accurate. Shay knew plenty of the members, but she didn't know this man, which did make her antsy. He was for her, right? The girl made a show of looking around. No other kid was here.
Jericho was informed of the child's misdemeanor once he'd came into the office. It was as it always was: a fight. Only, this time, Shay didn't have the evidence of a bloody nose, bruised eye, or busted lip. Some redness and grass stains, but nothing else was visible.
Shay slid further into her chair, knowing she'd be in trouble. Vito had told her he didn't want to hear about her starting this shit anymore, but in fairness, she hadn't started it -- she'd finished it.
Jericho's first day on the job and already he was going to be dealing with problems.
♠♠♠
You want me to do what? Jericho had deadpanned when first approached with his new assignment. He had been on several raids of rival gangs. Played a pivotal role in Rosales operations. Performed admirably. But now he was going to become a bodyguard, away from the action. It was a line of work that Jericho didn't consider himself suited for. It was associated with boredom. However, he might be able to kick back and relax more than he did before, and not get in trouble for it. That seemed worthwhile. Yet this job was different. He was approached directly by Klaus and Vito. Together. A sight to set off anyone's alarm bells.
Jericho thought he was going to be asked to go on a very important op. If there was something that both of the leaders of the gang wanted done, it was of the highest importance. It was a meeting with a load of buildup. As if they were preparing him for something great. Jericho's face was brimming with excitement. Until they asked him to essentially babysit. But, you never refused a direct request from Klaus. Once he accepted, Jericho was given a short list with some simple guidelines.
"Yes, yes, I'll make sure her parents know," he said as he filled out the proper paperwork to check her out from school. Once finished, Jericho turned to regard her. "So," he said to her with an amused smirk, "a fight, eh? Come on, let's go." Jericho motioned out from the office.
Jericho thought he was going to be asked to go on a very important op. If there was something that both of the leaders of the gang wanted done, it was of the highest importance. It was a meeting with a load of buildup. As if they were preparing him for something great. Jericho's face was brimming with excitement. Until they asked him to essentially babysit. But, you never refused a direct request from Klaus. Once he accepted, Jericho was given a short list with some simple guidelines.
- Give Klaus and Vito hourly updates or if something comes up.
- Don't let Shay talk to specific criminals. (List included)
- Take her home.
- Get her meals when it's time.
- Make sure she's home before 10.
- Take her to and from school.
- Stay near campus during school.
"Yes, yes, I'll make sure her parents know," he said as he filled out the proper paperwork to check her out from school. Once finished, Jericho turned to regard her. "So," he said to her with an amused smirk, "a fight, eh? Come on, let's go." Jericho motioned out from the office.
Shay wasn't in trouble? That God. She took her backpack, slinging it over her shoulder, and followed. Shay didn't bother to say anything until they were in his car. "So, you're my new bodyguard, huh? More of a babysitter gig, I guess, until I misbehave... Um... are you.... Jericho, I think your name was? Eliana called you hot, and I've heard you talked about a little."
She was trying to hide how uncomfortable she was feeling at it all. She switched out bodyguards like daily clothing. Hopefully, this one would stick. Shay peered out the window at passing shops and pointed to some fancy tea cafe with those little finger sandwiches.
"I'm hungry, mind if we pull over there and talk or something? You can text Klaus and Vito -- or I can --, and we can tell them we're getting something to eat, and we'll be home a little later."
Shay figured she needed to know how stern Jericho was going to be. Was he a stickler for the rules? And what exactly where Vito and Klaus' rules in regards to who she was allowed to speak to? Where was she authorized to go? Shay was big on her freedom, but there wasn't much she could do if Vito or Klaus said no.
♠♠♠
Jericho raised an eyebrow after they had entered his car. "Eliana would say that about anyone. She is a lust demon after all. But, yes, I'm Jericho and I'll be your bodyguard for the foreseeable future." Jericho gave Shay a friendly smile. He turned his attention toward driving and chuckled, "I don't know what you've heard about me from others. But I'm sure that the rumor mill has a bunch of things." Jericho didn't keep up with the gossip in the gang. He probably should, given that it helps to know the goings-on around the place, but that was work he wasn't willing to put in.
Jericho drove them along further until Shay stated she was hungry and pointed at a place she wanted to go. "Not at all, I don't mind." Jericho nodded and pulled the car over. This would be a great way to get to know Shay more, and hopefully for her to know him. He knew that the more comfortable the person you guarded was with you, the better. "I'll let them know what we're doing," Jericho said in response to Shay's comment about letting Klaus and Vito know.
When they pulled over, Jericho got out from his car. He was a little uncertain as to how much work he needed to do to make sure that Shay was comfortable, so he walked quickly around the car to open the door for her. "If you have any preferences on how I can better help you, then let me know." He just hoped that she didn't expect to be treated like a princess. However, seeing as he was picking her up from school because she got into a fight, he felt he could safely rule that out.
Jericho drove them along further until Shay stated she was hungry and pointed at a place she wanted to go. "Not at all, I don't mind." Jericho nodded and pulled the car over. This would be a great way to get to know Shay more, and hopefully for her to know him. He knew that the more comfortable the person you guarded was with you, the better. "I'll let them know what we're doing," Jericho said in response to Shay's comment about letting Klaus and Vito know.
When they pulled over, Jericho got out from his car. He was a little uncertain as to how much work he needed to do to make sure that Shay was comfortable, so he walked quickly around the car to open the door for her. "If you have any preferences on how I can better help you, then let me know." He just hoped that she didn't expect to be treated like a princess. However, seeing as he was picking her up from school because she got into a fight, he felt he could safely rule that out.
He was more easygoing than Shay had expected. It was a pleasant surprise, though, she didn't tell him so. The girl was even more shocked when Jericho circled the car and opened the door for her. She was stuck in the position of having been about to open it herself. She stared at him, unblinking, before dropping her hand and getting out.
"Thank you. I don't think I have any preferences -- Well, actually. There is one thing, but we can talk about it when we're inside." With that, Shay glanced around, as if she were looking for someone.
She led them inside and got them a table somewhere in the middle of the room. It wasn't even five minutes before they were given cucumber sandwiches (gross) and a fresh pot of tea with milk and sugar.
Shay poured them each a glass and settled back in her seat. She'd been watching Jericho the entire time, committing every detail about him to memory. "The only thing I want is to be kept in the loop. I'm sure my dads gave you plenty of rules; I know most of them. They don't like me talking to certain people, but I kind of have to. It's in me to find danger and to help others." She paused, letting him take that in before continuing. "So, who's on the list? Who can't I talk to?"
♠♠♠
((OOC: btw, Jericho is immortal, from reading over Shay's profile that's significant i believe. he just doesn't know about the ageless part about it yet. give it a few decades. 
))
IC:
Jericho took Shay's hand and escorted her out of the car. He then walked beside her until they were inside and got their own table. Shay then unexpectedly asked him who she was supposed to avoid. Jericho would have figured that she would already know who. After her last comment Jericho said, "I know that you may want to help others, but the fact that Klaus and Vito want me to protect you is a testament to how much danger they can be. Unless you have some sort of invulnerability of your own, which I doubt, you need to stay as far away from them as possible." Jericho then went briefly down the list of people she was to avoid. He didn't want to come off as mean, he also didn't want to give an overly strict impression, but Jericho didn't know just yet just how much leeway they both had.
"Other than that, there's not much else." Jericho put the slip of paper away in his jacket. "You're pretty much free to do whatever, unless it violates those terms." He leaned back in his chair. He noted the absence of people and took that as more of a reason to relax and be himself. "And you'll find that I'm a pretty chill guy."
Soon, Jericho shifted his attention to the tea and sandwiches that were brought out. After thanking Shay for pouring his tea. Jericho brightened up. Cucumber sandwiches, yum! He then set to devouring their crunchy garlicky goodness, not in the least bit looking refined as he did so. Certainly he was violating some sort of tea shop etiquette, but he didn't really care. Taking it easy was simply what he did.
"Everything to your liking?" A smiling waitress said to Jericho's side. Jericho already had a heaping bite in his his mouth. He gave a warm smile back with his cheeks filled with sandwich. "Good, then this will be much easier."
Huh? Jericho thought as the waitress pulled out a large handgun and shot Jericho square between the eyes. Viscera sprayed behind Jericho as his eyes immediately went blank. He fell backward and lay on the ground, motionless. Several people came out from nowhere and surrounded their table. A large bald man in a suit who appeared to be the leader stated commands and pointed at Jericho's limp body. "Get the body and tie it up." He turned his attention to Shay. "Eroshay Rosales, would you kindly come with us?" Men moved closely behind her to block her escape.
((OOC: Okay, so I don't know in detail any rival gangs of the Rosales family, so I just came up with generic mooks.))
))IC:
Jericho took Shay's hand and escorted her out of the car. He then walked beside her until they were inside and got their own table. Shay then unexpectedly asked him who she was supposed to avoid. Jericho would have figured that she would already know who. After her last comment Jericho said, "I know that you may want to help others, but the fact that Klaus and Vito want me to protect you is a testament to how much danger they can be. Unless you have some sort of invulnerability of your own, which I doubt, you need to stay as far away from them as possible." Jericho then went briefly down the list of people she was to avoid. He didn't want to come off as mean, he also didn't want to give an overly strict impression, but Jericho didn't know just yet just how much leeway they both had.
"Other than that, there's not much else." Jericho put the slip of paper away in his jacket. "You're pretty much free to do whatever, unless it violates those terms." He leaned back in his chair. He noted the absence of people and took that as more of a reason to relax and be himself. "And you'll find that I'm a pretty chill guy."
Soon, Jericho shifted his attention to the tea and sandwiches that were brought out. After thanking Shay for pouring his tea. Jericho brightened up. Cucumber sandwiches, yum! He then set to devouring their crunchy garlicky goodness, not in the least bit looking refined as he did so. Certainly he was violating some sort of tea shop etiquette, but he didn't really care. Taking it easy was simply what he did.
"Everything to your liking?" A smiling waitress said to Jericho's side. Jericho already had a heaping bite in his his mouth. He gave a warm smile back with his cheeks filled with sandwich. "Good, then this will be much easier."
Huh? Jericho thought as the waitress pulled out a large handgun and shot Jericho square between the eyes. Viscera sprayed behind Jericho as his eyes immediately went blank. He fell backward and lay on the ground, motionless. Several people came out from nowhere and surrounded their table. A large bald man in a suit who appeared to be the leader stated commands and pointed at Jericho's limp body. "Get the body and tie it up." He turned his attention to Shay. "Eroshay Rosales, would you kindly come with us?" Men moved closely behind her to block her escape.
((OOC: Okay, so I don't know in detail any rival gangs of the Rosales family, so I just came up with generic mooks.))
They said to always expect the unexpected -- well, Shay hadn't expected any of that. She drowned out the sound of people screaming and crying. This would be on the news. Vito and Klaus would hear about it -- so would Angelo. But, then, she might be dead by that point. Shay figured if they wanted to kill her, they would have already.
The strangest part was Shay couldn't even find it in herself to be terrified. Too in shock, perhaps, but mostly she was just thinking of a way out. She'd liked Jericho, and now she'd have to mourn him. But that would be at a later date.
The little girl smiled excessively sweet at the large bald man. Man, did she have a choice? "At least you're a polite criminal. Because let me tell you, with Tuesdays that always turn out like this, the Saturday morning cartoon assholes can get real old."
It was stupid to use sarcasm on your captors, and no one should have ever taken Shay's advice on what to do in a situation like this, but again, she figured they wouldn't be killing her. The girl supposed there were worse things than death, but she tried hard not to think about those.
Okay, the fun was over, though, now she had to think. Shay picked up her backpack (tracked phone hidden in one of its many compartments) and stood to follow them. Great. She should start carrying her knife to school, maybe her gun -- rules be damned.
She so desperately wanted to ask what they had planned, but she wasn't sure she wanted to know. Information was power. Smart people ruled the world. She had to suck in that fear and harden it with anger because that was the only way she was getting out of this.
"Do I get to know where we're going? Your name, maybe? Easier than calling you Mr. Bubbles."
And of course, it was a black sedan with tinted windows. Wasn't that what it was in the movies, too? That looked like a sedan. Shay didn't even have time to hesitate to get into the car before the door was opened and her head was pushed down until she was inside.
Shay made an aggravated sound when she was squished between two large men. The woman took the front seat, gun still looking loaded and ready. She said something in a low voice to the driver, who glanced at Shay in the rearview mirror.
What had Shay said about not being afraid? The shock was wearing off.
♠♠♠
A couple of the other gang members immediately moved over to Jericho's body and set to work tying him up. After ropes were placed around his joints and his arms secured behind his back, they placed a sack over his head and then put him in the trunk of the sedan. They stuffed him securely inside and closed the trunk over him. When they were finished they moved back to their leader and Shay, helping him escort her to the car.
"Do I get to know where we're going? Your name, maybe? Easier than calling you Mr. Bubbles."
The big bald leader raised an eyebrow under his sunglasses before having Shay shoved aggressively inside the car. After a gang member was on either side, the sedan accelerated quickly and rounded a corner.
Jericho was tumbled around in the trunk with how the car was being driven. He let out a grunt after hitting the side. Why did it have to be the face? he groaned inwardly. Jericho wriggled around a little to get a bearing on his situation. His head had healed, but he now had a sack over it. His arms were tied at the elbows behind him and his legs were tied at the knees and ankles. Jericho cursed, he knew that he couldn't get out from being tied like this.
The car went over a bump, jostling his head, causing it to hit the bottom. Ouch! It only made his tender head hurt more. Jericho pursed his lips and waited. There wasn't much he could do yet until the car stopped and he knew where they were being taken.
"Do I get to know where we're going? Your name, maybe? Easier than calling you Mr. Bubbles."
The big bald leader raised an eyebrow under his sunglasses before having Shay shoved aggressively inside the car. After a gang member was on either side, the sedan accelerated quickly and rounded a corner.
Jericho was tumbled around in the trunk with how the car was being driven. He let out a grunt after hitting the side. Why did it have to be the face? he groaned inwardly. Jericho wriggled around a little to get a bearing on his situation. His head had healed, but he now had a sack over it. His arms were tied at the elbows behind him and his legs were tied at the knees and ankles. Jericho cursed, he knew that he couldn't get out from being tied like this.
The car went over a bump, jostling his head, causing it to hit the bottom. Ouch! It only made his tender head hurt more. Jericho pursed his lips and waited. There wasn't much he could do yet until the car stopped and he knew where they were being taken.
Shay had to breathe; she just had to breathe and calm down. A mixture of the anxiety of the unknown and panic had her chest swelling with pure, unbridled rage. But she couldn't have that -- things like that led to mistakes. Shay was quiet the rest of the way to where ever they were heading, squished between two large men.
One of the men in question had taken her backpack and looked through it, when he found her phone he smashed it several times against the car door before tossing it out the window into the street. He had gotten rid of her pencils -- anything that could have been used as a weapon.
The place the car stopped wasn't one of comfort (unsurprisingly). The car had traveled along a bumpy, beaten trail until they had reached a small compound. It was a reinforced stone cottage of some sort. Shay was yanked out of the car and steered to the door with a strong, callused hand at the back of her neck.
Shay was always mentioned to be a sharp, brave, and sometimes stupid girl -- she was true to each of those traits when terror had her unpinning the Rosales crest from her school uniform and stabbing it into the man's leg.
Newsflash, it didn't do much except make him growl in pain and throw her to the ground. She imagined, he would have hit her hand he not already been grabbing her neck. She rubbed the tender skin at the base of her neck and quickly scurried to look at him at the other three (there was three, right? Was she forgetting one.)
Eroshay got to her feet as quickly as she could manage and the little voice in her head that was always there, calm as ever, when she was in trouble, whispered for her to run and she did so without a second thought. She darted immediately for the treeline of the forest. She'd sooner have braved the Forbidden Forest than men who may or may not have planned on killing her.
♠♠♠
Feel free to decide whether or not this attempt is scucessful. >=)C
And now the car was going off-roading! Not too slowly either. Jericho huddled himself into a fetal position on his side to alleviate some of the jarring movements the car took. He would be thinking about the terrible trouble that he'd be in with Klaus after this ordeal. He would also be thinking about the hell he'd be getting from other Rosales members if he did make it out of Klaus' wrath unscathed. He would be thinking that, if the car didn't go over another large bump/corner combo which tossed him around like a ragdoll. Jericho winced in pain as the jostling receded slightly.
Grimacing, he knew that he didn't have much time left in the trunk before it became too hard to breathe, and he didn't know if he could survive suffocation yet. The loss of his ability to move his arms about freely was beginning to make him claustrophobic along with his face being smothered. Jericho had to think quickly and calmly so he didn't end up panicking. He didn't know how long he'd been out before he woke up, so they could be any distance away from the tea shop. He focused his attention on his pockets, hoping for some good news. Jericho's phone wasn't there. He squirmed a little more, feeling for his handgun. Of course, it wasn't there either. Jericho pouted a little at the loss of his firearm.
At last the car stopped, and so did the bumping. Jericho was left to wonder where they were now. Contextual clues from the road didn't yield any evidence to him, but he could safely assume they were out from the city and near the mountains. A perfect place to ditch a pair of bodies, he thought. The car rustled as the minions were exiting. A moment later, Jericho heard one of the men yelp in pain before he heard what he assumed was Shay's running footsteps away from the vehicle. Jericho had to smirk at her tenacity, she was doing the right thing, albeit a little late.
Outside the car the bald leader barked orders quickly as Shay ran. Men came from nowhere in front of Shay to block and restrain her. "I suggest you do as we say kid, or we'll have to make this much more unpleasant for you." He snapped his fingers and other gang members opened the trunk and got Jericho out. Jericho put up a fight as he was taken out roughly, but the ropes around him prevented much movement. They dropped him on his knees out where Shay could see. "I think you understand that there are things worse than death?" the leader said to Shay, "Especially in his case." He nodded to them. One of them pulled the slide on a gun and immediately shot Jericho in the leg. Jericho let out a howl of pain for a few moments before he quieted down.
"Oh man! Could you get any worse, my friend, I haven't had my daily dose of masochism today," Jericho said loud and clear, sarcasm heavy in his tone.
The leader was not impressed. Nonverbally cued, the henchman shot Jericho again, prompting another howl of pain. The leader looked back at Shay, his face serious.
Grimacing, he knew that he didn't have much time left in the trunk before it became too hard to breathe, and he didn't know if he could survive suffocation yet. The loss of his ability to move his arms about freely was beginning to make him claustrophobic along with his face being smothered. Jericho had to think quickly and calmly so he didn't end up panicking. He didn't know how long he'd been out before he woke up, so they could be any distance away from the tea shop. He focused his attention on his pockets, hoping for some good news. Jericho's phone wasn't there. He squirmed a little more, feeling for his handgun. Of course, it wasn't there either. Jericho pouted a little at the loss of his firearm.
At last the car stopped, and so did the bumping. Jericho was left to wonder where they were now. Contextual clues from the road didn't yield any evidence to him, but he could safely assume they were out from the city and near the mountains. A perfect place to ditch a pair of bodies, he thought. The car rustled as the minions were exiting. A moment later, Jericho heard one of the men yelp in pain before he heard what he assumed was Shay's running footsteps away from the vehicle. Jericho had to smirk at her tenacity, she was doing the right thing, albeit a little late.
* * *
Outside the car the bald leader barked orders quickly as Shay ran. Men came from nowhere in front of Shay to block and restrain her. "I suggest you do as we say kid, or we'll have to make this much more unpleasant for you." He snapped his fingers and other gang members opened the trunk and got Jericho out. Jericho put up a fight as he was taken out roughly, but the ropes around him prevented much movement. They dropped him on his knees out where Shay could see. "I think you understand that there are things worse than death?" the leader said to Shay, "Especially in his case." He nodded to them. One of them pulled the slide on a gun and immediately shot Jericho in the leg. Jericho let out a howl of pain for a few moments before he quieted down.
"Oh man! Could you get any worse, my friend, I haven't had my daily dose of masochism today," Jericho said loud and clear, sarcasm heavy in his tone.
The leader was not impressed. Nonverbally cued, the henchman shot Jericho again, prompting another howl of pain. The leader looked back at Shay, his face serious.