Sebastian Sent Me (Calera)

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence was still not entirely sure about what she was going to do in regards to Robert. Take him down, let him be... she just didn't know. Sebastian knew, though. He had one thing in mind, and one thing only; take the fucker down. Cadence couldn't argue with why he felt that way. Even though Sebastian had clearly been in the wrong with what he'd done, Robert had him beaten to nearly an inch of his life. The punishment was cruel considering the girl that Sebastian had abducted was there of her own volition at the masquerade.

When Sebastian called, they spoke briefly about the plot. She didn't want to get into it, not on the phone, and not until she figured things out, but the man asked that she meet with a friend of his to get some tools needed to get his shackles off him. She agreed to do this for him mostly to keep in his good graces. He told her where to meet his friend and when, and Cadence made sure to be there.

So there she sat at the Silent Stone, waiting for a woman with a green purse. There was a cocktail on her table and she sat a little uncomfortably. This was where Gargoyles came to hang out. Robert wouldn't likely be there, but others who recognized her would. Would they think she was up to something? Would it get back to Robert? She reminded herself it was a casual drink with a woman. Who would suspect? She could easily say they were old friends.

A woman with a green purse approached and Cadence looked up, recognizing the woman. Calera Thatcher. She was part of the Gargoyle Guardian elite and was often hired as protection for Robert, not that he needed protecting, but it was always good to have escorts around. She knew how strong this woman was. Strong and beautiful. Was Sebastian intending her to get involved? She wish she knew more of what Sebastian had said to her.

When Calera approached Cadence stood out of respect ushering her to sit. "Calera." She greeted softly, ever polite. She took a seat once the woman did and crossed her legs. "Would you care for a drink?"

[CALERA THATCHER]

Don't owe anyone favors.

It was a simple rule of thumb but one that was sometimes difficult to live by nonetheless. There were rules in life. Guidelines, if you will, that one should set for themselves. Owing favors was one that Calera didn't intend to do. But there had been a few rare occurrences where she'd received help from another and she would be asked to return the favor. She didn't like to, mind you, but she did it. That was exactly why she was at the Silent Stone that night carrying the most hideous green purse.

I told her you would be there with a green bag. You own a purse don't you? The conversation with Sebastian was civil but never had she thought of him as a friend. They'd worked together and their paths had crossed in their earlier Guardian careers before he'd chosen to hole himself up in his luxurious condo as a common manwhore and she'd become more serious in her duties. She had a few purses for when she had to go to special occasions but a green one was not among her selection. So she'd had to go and buy one. One large enough to hold heavy duty bolt cutters along with a few other miscellaneous accessories. How she hated owing favors.

Upon her arrival at the Silent Stone it took her some time to find the other woman that she was meeting there. Cadence is her name. Blond and sexy, Calera had cut him off before he could get to her bust size. There couldn't be that many gargoyles named Cadence, and she had known one from the times that she was employed to watch Robert Snow. She didn't know her well enough and they'd hardly ever said two words to one another but at least when she saw her there would be a hint of recognition in her eyes if anyone had been watching. She knew that Sebastian was set free. A foolish thing to do in her opinion but it wasn't her decision.

When she spotted the woman she had been told to meet she stuck her thumb under the straps of the purse as it rested on her shoulder, distributing some of the weight of the bag. Her strength was nowhere up to its full potential. Not since the darkness swept over the city. She'd managed to get a few hours of shut eye here and there so she didn't look too worn down, refusing to let anyone see her as weak. She watched as Cadence got to her feet when she saw her coming as a polite gesture and nodded at her, offering a small but courteous smile in return. "Calera. Would you care for a drink?"

"Cadence." Calera took her seat opposite the woman and set the bag down on the floor by her feet to keep it out of sight. "Water with lemon would be fine," drinking was the last thing that Calera wanted to do with the overcast and odd weather they'd been having. "Have you been well?" She asked but knew that would probably be the last of the pleasantries. The music that played through the lounge was low enough for them to talk comfortably but loud enough that nobody would hear them unless they were in close proximity of the pair of women. "I hear it is you we have to thank that we haven't lost one of our own kind." Of course she was talking about Sebastian. "As much as I don't condone murder I'm willing to turn my head every now and again." Her Brittish accent was subdued, only ever really coming out when she was angry. But it was true. Would the world be a better place without Sebastian Davenport? It was likely.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

"Cadence. Water with lemon would be fine," The woman held her hand up, catching the eye of the waitress who came over and she offered the drink order, declining her own refill. "Have you been well?" Ah, pleasantries. Cadence was accustomed to them but she didn't care much for them. You needed to be comfortable talking to people when you were the Gargoyle leaders personal slave.

"As well as one can expect given the circumstances." She offered pleasantly. There was no point asking her back. It was clear they were all suffering from this darkness that plagued the city.

"I hear it is you we have to thank that we haven't lost one of our own kind. As much as I don't condone murder I'm willing to turn my head every now and again."

Cadence couldn't help the mild grin that creased her lips. Yes, Davenport was a difficult man, he'd proven that repeatedly over the years. "He is very difficult, isn't he?" She asked rhetorically, sipping her drink as the waitress came back with Calera's. "I suppose I'm more of a philanthropist than originally thought. Also it's good to have favors owed by men like Sebastian." She offered gently, not interested in going into any further detail.

"I'm assuming you have the tools he requested?" She asked gently, crossing her legs under the small cocktail table.

[CALERA THATCHER]

The pleasantries didn't last long between the two women and Calera was glad for it. She wasn't one to enjoy pleasantries much anyway but it was the polite thing to do. After she'd made her remark about Sebastain she watched the slight grin appear on Cadence's face followed by her words, "He is very difficult, isn't he?" Of course he was and there was no need for her to answer that. "I suppose I'm more of a philanthropist than originally thought. Also it's good to have favors owed by men like Sebastian." She would have much rather have been the owed than the ower but this favor was hardly an inconvenience for her. Sure, she had to work that night but with their days free she found herself having more spare time to fill.

"I'm assuming you have the tools he requested?" Calera knocked the lemon into her glass with a finger and watched as the water sloshed around. Picking the glass up she brought it to her lips and took a long sip while a booted foot nudged the purse under the table making the tools inside clink against one another loud enough for the pair of them to hear. When she set the glass back down she looked at the woman across from her. It might have been easier if she would have just used bolt cutters and cut the cuffs in the first place, but Calera also had a metal plate inside that would cause a gap between Sebastian's wrist and the cuff for the cutters to wedge into without doing much damage to him personally. She thought it would be helpful with how weak their bodies were in their current state. It was dreadful.

"It was quite an interesting chat the pair of us had," Calera said and looked across to the blond woman, her eyes studying her as if she was trying to find some sort of flaw. Not in her appearance but in her as a person. Calera hardly cared about a person's appearance, whether they were more beautiful or uglier than Calera was. That was for different women and Calera had lost her vain side a long time ago. "He said you needed assistance with a certain project."

She didn't know if there was anyone around listening. As far as she could tell there wasn't but then again she didn't have eyes on the back of her head and her senses were on hiatus but she was certain that wasn't just her but everyone. It was as if they were nearly human. "I was wondering if I could be of any assistance?"

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

The sounds of clanking in the woman's bag was answer enough. Sebastian would be glad when she showed up with them and he could finally free his wrists. She knew where he was staying now and she was certain the woman who he was with was the one he had gotten into all this trouble over. If he'd truly abducted her, then this human was a complete moron. Who would take in the man who'd kept her against her will? A coward and a sheep. Cadence had no respect for this human girl, whoever she was.

"It was quite an interesting chat the pair of us had," Cadence raised a brow, intrigued. What had Sebastian said? "He said you needed assistance with a certain project." Cadence was quiet. She had not asked for assistance from a woman she didn't trust. Then again she was friends with Sebastian, but that wasn't necessarily a reason to trust her. She was close to Robert. Not close enough to be friends with the man, but close enough that she could ruin things for her in the right situation. Cadence didn't care to lose her life over this, which would surely happen if Snow were to know she was even considering turning on him again.

"I was wondering if I could be of any assistance?"

She silently seethed at the offer. She would need to put Sebastian in his place when she delivered these tools. After she'd gone and saved him, how could he go and turn on her this way? Their conversation was intended to be confidential, which he had clearly breached. "And what reason do you have for wanting to assist me?" She asked sipping her drink and reclining in her seat a little. Her hands rested clutched together in her lap, watching the other woman closely. She still wasn't sure if she knew what she had been considering or not. How much had Sebastian said?

[CALERA THATCHER]

If she had to guess how the blonde woman was feeling she would have said angry mixed with a hint of surprise at Calera's words. But Cadence didn't give away her feelings and Calera instantly found herself liking the woman more. It was hard to keep a good poker face and even Calera slipped on occasion but Cadence didn't show any emotion in her face. "And what reason do you have for wanting to assist me?"

Of course Calera had her own reasons and none of them really dealt with Snow on a personal level, but that didn't mean she couldn't move closer to her own goals by getting a little help on her side. "Because I believe that there are too many corrupt politicians. I see what goes on behind the scenes just like you," she knew that Cadence worked for Snow, and Calera may not know Snow well but she knew other members well enough. "With a little persuasion surely we can put an end to them thinking they're God."

Calera had seen too many people die over the years because they got in the way of the council, or they were framed and rotting away. "What could you possibly lose by having an extra pair of hands on board?" Sebastian told her about how Cadence wanted to get rid of Snow but he didn't go into details over it. "Why do you want to get rid of him if I may ask?"

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

"Because I believe that there are too many corrupt politicians. I see what goes on behind the scenes just like you," There wasn't a single doubt in her mind that Sebastian had gone over whatever they'd spoken about with this woman she barely knew. Granted she had barely known Sebastian, but she knew he would work for her without issue. Calera, on the other hand, she had no idea of her intentions. Sebastian was going to hurt for this, that much she was sure of. Unless this woman before her somehow proved her worth.

"With a little persuasion surely we can put an end to them thinking they're God." Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she considered her words. It seemed she had her own reasons for wanting to attack Snow, but they weren't personal. She didn't like politicians. She didn't like the council. That was reason enough for wanting to attack them, but it didn't go anywhere. What, she didn't like corruption? Did she think that by attacking them they would suddenly disappear? That new ones wouldn't take their place? Power bred corruption, it was an unfortunate side effect of having no consequences for your actions.

"What could you possibly lose by having an extra pair of hands on board?" It was a valid point, but how did Cadence know she wasn't egging her on? Maybe she was working for Snow now. "Why do you want to get rid of him if I may ask?" She raised a brow, "Now, I never said that." She said coolly, sipping her drink. "But, out of curiosity, if I were to need your assistance, for any reason, at what price would it cost me? And what reason do I have to trust you?" She asked, feeling Calera out. She wasn't going to be foolish enough to let on that she would need her for any reason, not until she was certain that she was trustworthy.

[CALERA THATCHER]

"Now, I never said that." Of course she hadn't said it but it was already assumed. Especially since that was what Sebastian had told her. "But, out of curiosity, if I were to need your assistance, for any reason, at what price would it cost me? And what reason do I have to trust you?" Calera chuckled gently and looked down to the glass of water. Her finger found its way to the brim of the glass and she started to move it along the top, making the circle that was the mouth of it.

"There is no price." She told her and met Cadence's gaze once again. It was obvious that Calera knew Sebastian better than Cadence had, even if she didn't actually know the man all that well to begin with. It was just she'd had more experiences with him apparently. She knew that Sebastian would keep a secret well enough until someone else came along with a better offer. Then again that wasn't what he did this time. He knew he could rely on Calera because he knew about her brother. Her and Cadence had enough alike to make them both equally benefit from this plan.

"Snow isn't my problem. He never was. But if he is collateral damage for me to get to who I need then so be it. I have my own enemies in politics who I wouldn't mind seeing take a fall. I've been looking for the right opportunity to take care of my business, and if I have to go through Snow to get assistance of my own then so be it." She would gladly help them take out Snow if it meant they'd help her get to Toby. She couldn't go after him herself because it would be too easy. They'd know it was her and she couldn't have that.

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

"There is no price." No price? Cadence was naturally skeptical. She didn't know Calera well enough to assume she was being sincere when she said that. "Snow isn't my problem. He never was. But if he is collateral damage for me to get to who I need then so be it. I have my own enemies in politics who I wouldn't mind seeing take a fall. I've been looking for the right opportunity to take care of my business, and if I have to go through Snow to get assistance of my own then so be it."

Cadence considered Calera's words carefully. She wanted in return. Now. This would put Cadence in her debt which meant she could call upon her for a favor in the future if she wanted, and cadence would be obligated to fulfill the request. It was something she would certainly consider.

"Well, I'm not currently looking for assistance." She said, not really saying whether her plan to take on Snow was happening or not. "However, if something were to arise and I was in need of someone with your skill set, I would be in touch." She offered pulling money out of her clutch and sliding it onto the table for the drink she had.

"Thank you for bringing me tools for Sebastian. He will certainly be most grateful." Cadence reached for the green back under the table and then stood. "As am I. Enjoy the rest of your evening." She said, her tone cool but kind at the same time. She moved away from the table, knowing she would need to talk to Sebastian about this further.

END THREAD