Lara and Madison 2

[Lara]

((Lol, I was just reading this again. Ellis and Chase are so similar and yet so different… we're going to have some fantastic drama between them. And same with Lexi and Felix. Lexi can tend to be bossy, and that should cause strife XP ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Oh yes, I definitely agree! This is going to get interesting soon I think!))

Ellis could see that he was thinking about something, and she honestly didn't know what it was, for she thought that she had been very clear. She didn't believe in wasting her precious time in a fantasy land pretending tone someone that there was no hope in ever becoming; it was as simple as that. It wasn't because she didn't like to have fun, or because she was running from something. It was just that she preferred to spare herself the conflict and the pain of reality. It was much better to embrace it than to be ignorant to it.

When he finally spoke, she was truly surprised by his words. Where on earth had he gotten that idea in his head? "Why are you putting words in my mouth? I never even implied that you weren't happy with yourself," she corrected his somewhat harshly, for she truly hated being told she had said something when shahada is no such thing. Perhaps he really didn't listen as well as she had thought that he did. She didn't say anything as he spoke, and she was quite for a long time even after he had finished. Finally, for his benefit, she muttered, "Darcy could kick your arse at poker without even trying," a small half smile appearing on her lips that could've been described as not playful, but simply amused. Still, it was a rarity and was gone as soon as it had appeared, probably only appearing in the first place because he had called her out on being boring and not knowing how to have fun.

She took the last sip of her beer, setting the empty bottle down on the bar with unnecessary force, implying in no uncertain terms to the bartender that she wanted another one. After all, she always felt a bit better with some alcohol in her system, even though it did take a lot to get her drunk, not that this was currently her goal. "You'll just have to trust me when I say that I do have hobbies and contrary to popular belief, I do know how to have fun," she added at last, letting that be the end of their conversation which she was getting rather sick of at this point. Her comment was kind of like an invitation to him in disguise. Hardly anyone ever got to see that side of Ellis, even for a second, and the fact that she was even telling him it existed definitely meant something.

-----

By the way that she began trying to fix her hair, Felix could tell that Lexi was at least somewhat embarrassed for him to see her like this. Leaders of rebellions weren't supposed to be falling apart after only about ten hours in a prison cell, though he didn't judge her too harshly. After all, she had thought that she was going to die after all. "I had to bribe him," he said, responding to her question and leaving it at that. He knew that she hadn't been expecting a rescue, since she had specifically told the general not to send anyone after her, but here he was anyway.

When she started firing questions at him, asking if they could get out of here, Felix sighed, almost wishing that she didn't jump to this topic so quickly because he knew that she wouldn't like the answer. "I only just got here. I managed to get a job as a cleaning servant, and that's how I snuck in. I haven't had much of a chance to investigate things yet or come up with a plan of how to sneak you out of here, so you'll just have to wait in here for another day or two, alright? I think it's better to be safe than sorry, don't you?" he asked her.

Knowing that she wouldn't like this news, he quickly added, "But I do have some good news for you. As far as I know, your wolf is still alive. I found him dying in an alley, and that's how I knew to come looking for you. Let me guess, the Phoenix did that, right? The daggers had little phoenixes carved into the hilts...." He pulled the one that he had taken out of the wolf's neck out of his pocket where he had hidden it just in case he needed it. Felix didn't hand it to her, but simply showed her the small carving and then put it away to prove that all of his words were true.

((I had an idea that maybe in the morning Ellis could see some footage off of the security camera and see Felix breaking into Lexi's cell while she was at the bar with Chase. Maybe then she can find him still pretending to be a servant and she can torture him in front of Lexi to try and get information out of her???))

[Lara]

((Sorry this took so long! School got really busy but it's looking good again :) Anyways, I think that is a great idea, but I also think that while she finds Felix in Lexi's cell, and uses him against her, I also think that his identity as a rebel should remain a secret, so that he can still sneak in and visit sometimes, or maybe Ellis will decide he can still visit when she deems him harmless. (thinks he's only a tool for getting information out of Lexi?) Idk, lol. I just don't think we should reveal him if that makes sense. So Ellis would think that maybe one of the staff had just taken pity on Lexi?))

Chase raised an eyebrow immediately at her retort. Apparently this was a touchy subject for her to get all flustered so quickly. No matter. He would be careful to skirt around it when talking next time. He raised his hands in surrender, not really feeling like a fight. "Hey… it's ok. I'm sorry… I didn't mean to offend you, or accuse you of thinking something you don't. I'm sorry if I assumed wrongly." His words sounded sincere enough, though Chase didn't usually put real feeling into his interactions. In fact, this discussion had probably been the most interesting thing to happen to him in the past couple of weeks. Most of the time it was just fake niceties and false pretences, all for the sake of winning people over. Politics.

He laughed softly then, amusement, real amusement, glimmering behind his eyes. "Could she now?" he asked, not really denying it, though by the way he replied, it was clear that he really thought she couldn't beat him. "You may be quick with knives, hunter, but I'm a mean opponent at poker." He said, winking at her as he downed his glass and pushed the empty think across the bar counter, waiting as she did to get seconds, which they were both promptly provided with. He sipped it before smiling at her over the rim of his glass. "You and I will have to play sometime, and we can discover which of us is the better player. And who knows, maybe you can show me just how much you like to have fun."

A soft beeping sound interrupted his lazy smile, and he immediately looked down to his wrist, flicking back his sleeve and frowning at the silver watch there. His frown only deepened as he discovered the reason for the alarm. He looked up at Ellis then, a mask of grim determination on his features. "It would seem that our latest prisoner has an unauthorized visitor." he said softly, knowing she could quickly pull up a holopad and see the footage if she wanted. He was already up and leaving the bar, needing to catch the perpetrator before he left.

…..

Lexi waited in anticipation and silence for Felix to tell her whether she could leave or not. She wasn't sure how long she would be able to stand this confined space, with too close walls, and too low ceiling, and no way to tell the time of day. It was going to drive her mad. Though she was pleasantly surprised by Felix's comment about having to bribe the General. Gave him trouble, did he? Good. Lexi nearly smiled, remembering her dear friend, and realizing that here was a man who was so clearly devoted enough to come on his own. Gratitude filled her, and she knew she would be forever in his debt.

That is… when she got out of here. Apparently she couldn't leave just yet. Of course she understood, as there was no point trying unless they had a set plan, and he had enough time to scout out the place. Until then, she knew she would have to sit tight and hope she didn't wither away too badly. But man was it hard to school the disappointment off her features. "Yeah, no it's ok, I totally get it." She said seriously. "Don't worry about it, I'm just thrilled you came at all." she insisted, smiling lightly.

Her smile grew a little more hopeful when he mentioned that he had some good news. Well at least good news was something to look forwards too. And then he said what his news was, and Lexi's eyes immediately burned with tears. "Oh thank God!" She exclaimed, not sure if she should jump up and hug him right then and there. He had saved Silver… he had… "You don't know how much this means to me." she insisted. She reached up her hand and quickly swiped away her tears, as she knew they would do her no good now. She had to hang tight, and know that Silver was in the hands of the healers, and she had someone who could get her out. Really, life couldn't look more optimistic. "Yes, it was the Phoenix that nearly killed Silver. She's a government bounty hunter." Something in the way she said it, sounded bitter and sad, almost nostalgic.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((That's okay :) Sorry for my late-ish post, it been a busy weekend for me, but this week will be better! And I agree that he shouldn't be revealed yet, but I'm not entirely sure what she's going to do with him once she's decided that she's finished with him. Logically she'd probably lock him up to, but I'm sense that you want him to still be able to come visit Lexi and come up with a plan and such, right?))

Ellis watched him as he spoke, seeing how comfortable and care free he seemed to be. She didn't know if this was just an act, or if this was who he truly was, but she convinced herself that she shouldn't care and continued to sip her beer. What did it matter if he was himself around her? After all, he really had no reason to be, but after all, there was something very different about this version of him and the all business version that she normally saw. So, which one was the real one?

As he suggested that they play poker some time, Ellis knew that that was never going to happen, though she knew better than to say so. She had said that Darcy was good at poker for a reason. Ellis hadn't played in years, not ever since she's given up her alias, but apparently Chase hadn't taken the hint. It seemed as though he simply wanted her to have fun, and no matter how many times she told him that she did have fun, he wouldn't believe her.

When he got the notification that there had been a security breech in Lexi's cell, Ellis was instantly alert. No more joking around, no more worrying about emotions because now they were all gone again, as sh knew that they should be. She jumped up from her seat and followed him as he ran off. "Hey! This isn't your job, it's mine!" she called after him, preferring that he not come along in case things got bad fast. "There's no way that anyone could have gotten into her cell without hacking it, so we're dealing with someone professional here who's probably also a rebel. It's my job to keep you and you're father safe, so stay here," she instructed harshly, shoving him aside as she passed him and headed down to where Lexi's cell was.

She quickly typed in the code, seeing that the intruder was still there. It didn't appear that he was trying to break her out or anything like that, he was just talking to her, which struck Ellis as strange. Still, she didn't let it show as she smirked at the guy, who looked pretty terrified at his point. "Well, well, well, who do we have here?" she said, noticing that he was holding a knife in his hand that was clenched tightly around it. Little did she know that it was one of her own. "You really don't want to go there with me, so drop it," she ordered, all manipulative playfulness gone from her voice, and on command the intruder dropped the knife, causing it to clatter on the ground.

-----

Felix could see that she was disappointed, but there wasn't much that he could do about that. However, when he saw her beginning to cry as he told her about her wolf, it caught him off guard a bit, since she had always seemed so tough before. He knew now though how much she really did care for that wolf, and therefore he was especially happy that he had been able to save it. At least he hoped that he had survived it's surgeries and such, but he preferred not to think about that now.

As Lexi spoke now of the Phoenix, he nodded. "I think that the entire world knows who she is," he pointed out. Of course he knew who the Phoenix was, and the fact that she was the one who had been sent after Lexi showed how much the government truly wanted her back, and that couldn't be a good thing at all.

Felix was going to say more, but he was interrupted by the doors of the cell sliding open to reveal the Phoenix herself. Felix froze, knowing that he had been caught. When she ordered him to drop the knife, he silently obeyed, knowing that it wasn't much use to him anyway. Guns were his specialty, and he had one hidden in his jacket that he could still grab if he needed it.

He didn't think that he could take the Phoenix, even on his best day, but he saw that it seemed as though her wrist was broken, judging by the cast on it, and maybe if he managed to quickly shoot her in that exact spot, then maybe it would catch her off guard long enough for him to simply take Lexi and run. But as for right now, he simply stayed still and watched her.

[Lara]

((No problem, I understand! :) And yeah, I get what you're saying. I suppose if it's more likely she'd lock him up, then just have her lock him up, but if there's any way out of that, it would make it easier for Lexi to escape. However, her escape doesn't have to happen right away. So Elise could imprison Felix for a while just as a punishment and then let him go back to work or something like that, idk. It's up to you. :) ))

Chase was walking down the halls with a mission when Ellis suddenly spun on him and said that this was her job, and she didn't want her help. Part of Chase was a little irritated that she thought she could just boss him around. In the end, he had the right to say that this was not her job anymore, and that he'd take it from here. But obviously she thought this was still her prisoner, and she still wanted to be involved. Fine. Chase was feeling forgiving. As long as she realized that there was no way he wasn't going to be involved as well. After all, this was his girl he had been waiting for, and he had plans for her.

So he just kept walking, allowing her to stay in front. "No way am I just standing back." he said simply when they reached the cell. "I'll watch from outside, if you'd prefer, but this is my captive, and I intend to be involved." He said firmly, and that was that. He watched as she disappeared into the cell, and then decided it would be amusing to see how she dealt with this worker, so he leaned against the door and watched.

…..

Lexi nodded, rolling her eyes. Well yeah duh, most of the world knew about the Phoenix. "But not many know that she was my friend." She said, looking rather sad as the words left her mouth. Was. Not is. Was, her friend. As in the past. No longer the present. Lexi was hit by the nostalgia and loss, but she hid it from her expression well.

And that was when Ellis walked in. "Well speak of the devil." She muttered under her breath, immediately on her feet and alert. All plans for escape were gone, and Lexi now knew she just had to get Felix out alive and unharmed. She would blame herself if any wrong befell him. After all, she should have shooed him out earlier. This was precisely the reason she said no one should follow her.

She wasn't just going to let them both die. Squaring her shoulders and levelling a disinterested gaze at Ellis, she shook her head, as if surprised that Ellis was so uptight about one man. "He's staff here in the palace." She answered, knowing Ellis would wonder who the intruder was. "And he came to see if I was the real deal." She lifted her chin a little, looking as if she was proud that someone had marvelled over her at all. Even though it was all an act, and a very good one too.

"Really, gossip does travel around this place fast. Either that or you don't really keep who you have in your dungeons a secret." One of her eyebrows quirked up slightly. It was better for her to act as if she had just met Felix a moment ago. Better to act as if he was a stranger, as if he meant nothing to her, and was merely a curious worker. Then his punishment would be light, and he would not be used against her. Then they could both get out of this safe.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Yeah we'll just see how it goes! Although, I do find it amusing how you think that Ellis is just going to let him go free. Especially now that Chase is watching her, she's going to want to show her skills even more))

Ellis could believe that Chase had said that. His captive? What had he done to capture her? Ellis had done all the work, and therefore she believed that she was entitled to deal with Lexi and her unauthorized visitor however she wished to. However, she still knew that Chase was technically still above her in the chain of command, and if he told her to stand down, she would have no choice but to listen to him. Thankfully though, it was he who stepped down, deciding that he would simply watch. Ellis didn't know why he didn't just leave if he was going to let her handle things after all, but she figured that he wanted to stay and assess her. She truly didn't know how she felt about that, so she just pretended like he wasn't even there.

She looked at Lexi as she spoke, saying that this man was apart of the palace staff. Ellis highly doubted this, for if he was, she would have seen him here before, and she was positive of that. She knew that gossip would also travel quickly amongst whoever Lexi had rounded up to support her little cause, and they would no doubt notice that their leader was gone by now. This guy could easily be one of her little minions, but since Ellis had no proof, she decided that she would just play along with what Lexi was saying.

"Well, if that's so, he should know very well that he is not supposed be in this area of the building, no less breaking into a holding cell of a most wanted traitor just to see if she's 'the real deal' as you say," she said, sounding manipulative on purpose, like she knew more than she was letting on. Then, extremely quickly and without warning she grabbed the intruding man's arm and pulled him off of his feet, flipping him and sending him slamming on to the ground on his back. "Yes, the consequences for his actions will be quite harsh," she said, picking up where she had left off as she placed her boot on the man's chest to keep him from trying to get up, "But that's no matter to you, I'm sure. I will just take him away and leave you as you were."

Ellis was testing Lexi now. Had the former assassin gone soft enough to offer Ellis an ultimatum in order for her to not hurt this man? Lexi knew that She wanted information out of her. Would she be willing to give some in order to save this man? Ellis was sure that Lexi remembered what she liked to do to people who had violated the rules so drastically as this man had. She still didn't even know how he had managed to hack the security systems, but she had every intention of finding out. By violent means or not, she had no preference. That was Lexi's choice now.

-----

Felix listened as Lexi tried to protect him, but he knew that her argument abut him simply being a curious palace worker was weak, and that the Phoenix was smarter than that. Before he even knew that it was coming, she had grabbed his arm and flipped down onto the ground hard, knocking the wind out of him and causing him to involuntarily groan in pain. He stayed on the ground though, not trying to get up because he knew that she would only beat him back down again.

Staying quite, he listened as the Phoenix threatened to take him away, and he knew that that would not be a fun experience at all. It would probably be very painful, or torturous in some other way. She didn't seem the type to simply lock him up without teaching him his lesson first, especially since his crime was so severe.

Still, he knew what Ellis was trying to do, and he didn't want Lexi to give out information just so that he didn't get hurt. This was his own fault after all. The General had tried to keep him from coming here, and he had insisted upon it anyway. Now he would have to face the consequences of getting caught. He looked up at Lexi, hoping that the expression on his face would clearly tell her not to sacrifice anything to save him.

[Lara]

((Lol! yeah? I know Ellis would not let him off easy. I just figured she wouldn't want to guard him forever after either. Figured she'd probs grow bored of him and let him go once he was no longer useful. I might be wrong though, I guess we'll see :P Chase's part will be shorter, as he's just watching…))

Chase leaned his shoulder against the door, watching as Ellis confronted her old friend. All the Ellis he had just seen was gone in an instant, replaced by a manipulative, knowing, and cruel person. A person that Chase wasn't entirely sure what to think of. She might be the real one, or the more open, slightly hesitant Ellis might be. He couldn't tell, and he wasn't sure how much he wanted to find out. Especially if this cold hearted killer think wasn't an act. However… he didn't flinch when she threw the offender to the ground without so much as a thought. Chase had seen violence before, and it didn't bother him anymore. At least… that was what he told himself.

…..

Lexi kept her ground, standing firmly planted in her space of the room. This was her cell now, and she still had some dignity. She was going to stand firm, and not cave, not for anything. Yes, she was going to defend Felix as best as she could. She didn't want to see him hurt, and she definitely didn't want to see him killed. But if it came down to it, hundreds of other rebels and their safety was more important than one single rebel, and his momentary pain. Lexi knew this, so the cold in her eyes was not faked as she stared at Ellis. "My my my…." She sneered. "Is it really so shocking to you that someone would actually break the rules regardless of knowing the consequences? Not that I expected different…." She looked Ellis over in a disapproving way. "After all, you are still wearing the uniform… aren't you…" She crooned.

Yes, it probably wasn't a good idea to get Ellis mad, but that was a good way to get her to also see her folly. Who was she to say that just because a worker knew the consequences, they would not risk them to come see a famous figure head? Lexi knew that many people would break the rules, granted, and probably think themselves smart enough to outfox Ellis and get back safely, but still, they would try it. So why was it so hard to believe that that was what had happened in Felix's case?

Lexi didn't look at him, not once. Not even after Ellis flipped him and landed him on his back. Not after he groaned, not once. She was strong enough to mask her emotions, and shove them deep away when there was a job that needed to be done. And right now was one of those times. She kept her eyes locked on Ellis, a challenge, and a clear announcement that she wasn't going to cower. "And to think that you've resorted to using your hired men to try and trick me into giving away my secrets? Surely Ellis… you haven't become that desperate, have you?" she raised on eyebrow up, very well aware of how she was mocking her former friend. The part of her that cringed and just wished they could be friends again, she quickly pushed away. No emotion. No feeling. Get the job done.

And then Ellis had the audacity to say that it was no matter to her whether he was tortured or not. And then true and burning rage kindled inside her. "You know me well enough, Pheonix, to know that the very reason I risked my own demise was to save the innocents who are dealt such injustice as you are about to give this man." she hissed, her voice low and even. "Do not insinuate that it does not matter, that I am as cold hearted as you. I never was as blind, nor as obedient as you, because I could see that this was not right." She shook her head. "And now you have the nerve to say I would not care? I do not know this man, but that does not matter, he has just as many rights as you or I, and he does not deserve to be your little plaything, to be tortured for your enjoyment as you satisfy your own sick need to feel bigger and better than everyone else." Lexi's eyes narrowed then. "Grow up Ellis. One day you'll stop dreaming and realize that you do not matter. You are not special, nor important, not some glorified reaper as you like to call yourself. You are just another girl, who gains enjoyment from other people's pain." Lexi hadn't even realized that her hands had tensed up into taught fists of bone and muscle, ready to pounce on Ellis should the need arise. Who cared if she got hurt? She was going to die anyways. Might as well go down fighting… right? And maybe she could bring her friend down with her.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Yep we'll just have to see! I didn't write anything for Felix because I just didn't really know what to write... :/ ))

Ellis ignored Lexi's remarks at first, knowing that she was only trying to get under her skin, but it wasn't working. She was proud to wear her uniform, for it was proof that she was worth something, and she had put time and energy into something, and now was being rewarded for her achievements. Of course, her achievements included tracking, kidnapping, and killing people, but Lexi's accomplishments were very similar of not almost entirely the same.

As Lexi insinuated that the man on the ground was a man that she had hired to get information out of her, Ellis looked at her, smirking a bit because she knew that Lexi shouldn't have changed her false argument like that, because it only proved it false even more. "I thought that you said that he was a palace worker," she mused, knowing that Lexi must know now that she didn't believe that argument to be true. Obviously Lexi still didn't like the way that Ellis was treating this man, but Ellis didn't want her to forget that she used to be the exact same way. "Injustice? This is not injustice. This is punishment for breaking the established rules. I am not doing this unjustly at all," she explained, pushing her boot harder into the mans back.

"If people stayed in line and did what they knew that they were supposed to, then we wouldn't need people like me around, or people like you for that matter. If we could all coexist peacefully, the world would be a much better place, but sadly for you, the world doesn't work that way, and you're the cause of that just as much as I am." She gave the man a good kick in his side, making him groan in pain again, to prove her point. "If you stick to your argument that this man broke the rules and came down here to see you because of your newfound status, then technically, this is your fault. Now he must pay for breaking the rules."

Ellis knew that she had hit a nerve for Lexi as she began insisting that she did care about this man, and people in general. Ellis had made Lexi mad first, though Ellis' neutrality wouldn't last long. As it turned out, her old friend knew exactly what to say to finally get under her skin. As she went on about Ellis being worthless, Ellis knew that she was right. No one cared about her, no one wanted her. They never had and never would. She was truly alone in this world, and the pain of knowing that was this worst kind of pain that anyone could ever feel. Ellis hardly ever acknowledged it though, for she covered it up by trying to make herself at least feel important and trying to convince herself that she was worth something. Just for a moment, something flashed in her eyes, a certain kind of pain that was never there, and it was gone as soon as it had come.

Fortunately for Ellis, she also knew how to get at Lexi. "Do not ever pretend that you are nothing like me. You've always wanted to be on top, ever since I've known you. I was always better than you at our job, and you couldn't handle being second best. Couldn't handle that you didn't really matter. But instead of working and training to prove your worth the way that I did, what did you do? You ran off and took advantage of desperate people, promising that you would deliver them from the evil that you used to be, if only the would blindly follow you," she said coldly, glaring hard at her used to be friend, "Even though I may not know how large your following is, I do know that you have built yourself a little empire and put yourself on top. You love all the attention you get, flaunting your stupid little wolf around to make people fear you. You are not all that different from me, so don't you ever put yourself above me."

[Lara]

((no problem, I'll be writing something for Chase here though :) ))

Thought she said he was a palace worker? That was exactly what she had said. What part of what she said was unclear to Ellis? She called him a palace worker, and then a hired man. Same thing… was it not? Maybe Ellis thought she meant that the man actually worked for Ellis. Well. Wouldn't that make this more interesting? That Ellis actually believed Lexi might have caught on to that? Was Ellis hiring palace men now? Lexi raised her eyebrow. "I did say that. Isn't that what you call a worker? Hired?" She asked, shaking her head as if Ellis was somehow comical.

And her raised eyebrow kept its arched position as Ellis went on to say that all this was her fault some how. Lexi almost laughed. "So now I'm responsible for his decisions?" She nodded at Felix on the floor, inwardly feeling badly for the poor guy, who was still under Ellis's boot. She shook her head. "For someone so unwilling to admit to their own wrongs… you're pretty quick to lay blame." She pointed out, her eyes shifting back to Ellis. The chips inside them where whirring on overtime as she analyzed what weapons her friend had, as well as the bandage on her hand, and the room, and any other assets, should it come to be a fight. Her fists rolled and flexed as she bided her time, bantering with her old friend and waiting for the opportune time to attack.

She tipped her head to the side as Ellis started her little fury rant about how Lexi was so similar to her, and oh so jealous. I must have hit a nerve… She mused, figuring that was the reason Ellis was suddenly so spicy. "You think I was jealous of you?" she asked incredulously. "You may have been better with a knife in your hands, Ellis, but I could have outfoxed you any day. We are evenly matched, and you know it." She said, her brows lowering over her eyes. It was true, what she said. It was the reason they had been such good friends in the first place. And then her anger stirred in her and she frowned more deeply.

"You think I left because I was jealous?" She whispered, her voice dangerously quiet. "You think I started the rebellion? Wanted people following me?" that was just about as far from the truth as anyone could get. Lexi often caved under all the stress and pressure from leading. It was never something she asked for, but something she had agreed to, once she found out about who she was actually working for in the government. "Do you really think I started such a massive scale revolution just because I felt insecure? Far from it." she hissed. "A leader needs to be confident in their abilities to lead. I left…. I left because I was the smart one." She was practically trembling with rage. "I left because I was the one who asked questions. I was the one who asked too many questions. Questions that made me no longer useful." Pain flickered across her vision as she remembered the night… the fateful night that had changed the course of her future. "And… and then they no longer wanted me around anymore. They decided they could make do with their obedient little drone. I begged you to come with me. I begged you. And you turned your shoulder. And that night… that night they came and they-" Lexi was cut off as the door slammed open and Chase stormed into the room.

This was the first time Lexi had seen him up close and personal, and his presence nearly dwarfed the room. Assassins tended to suck the warmth out of a room, and she was used to getting that feeling around Ellis, and when she was alone. But the raw power that seemed to emanate from this boy who was obviously used to getting what he wanted was something quite frightening.

…..

Chase had been listening to their banter in light amusement. He was actually smiling as he watched Ellis slam the man to the floor, and then proceeded to make their little prisoner very very uncomfortable. He found it quite funny how the two could get under each other's skin so easily. The mark of a friendship gone sour.

And then that stupid girl had to go to far. Had to start spitting out information that was not public, not for Ellis, nor the worker to hear. Rage clouded his features at her audacity to even begin to say what she had planned to tell the Phoenix, and he stormed in, slamming his fist into Lexi's jaw and sending her reeling backwards. "How dare you." he hissed, his eyes tight cold slits.

"I was merely stating the truth… prince." Lexi mocked, her eyes equally as cold as she straightened and faced him.

"Slander against your country is no truth to share." he growled, flicking a switch on the cuff around his wrist, activating the small pin that flicked out of it, crackling with voltage. A cautionary weapon. And a useful one.

"My country no longer." Lexi shot back, showing no fear.

And that was when Chase jabbed the pin into her neck, nothing but cold fury in his features as he watched her tense up and scream in agony as the electricity tore through her system. He had set the device to high voltage, just so he could see the look of terror that now graced her features. He hated this girl with a passion. Exposing long buried secrets about the republic, about his family. Secrets and mistakes that he hated were made, but was trying to move on from, was trying to forget about. And here she was, bringing them up again. He was going to murder her. He swore to himself he would murder her once the plan was complete. But for now, listening to her scream was a good close second.

He held onto the charge for a moment longer just for good measure before deactivating the cuff and pulling it away from her neck, watching in satisfaction as she gasped and crumpled to the floor, her body shaking with the after effects of the voltage. "It would be wise never to try something so stupid again… Wolf." He said, tipping his head to the side. "You'll find that you don't wish to be on bad terms with me. Especially for the next little while." He hoisted her up by her wrists, snapping cuffs around them as he carried her out of the cell like a sack of potatoes. "I think you'll like this next bit." he crooned to Lexi as he hauled her down the hallway. "This is where you get to meet some of the toys that are used specifically for interrogation."

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Oops, I misinterpreted that part about Felix working for Ellis and such :/ ))

[Lara]

((Lol no problem, it worked well within their arguing, as Ellis could very well have misinterpreted Lexi as well :) ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((True. This has definitely gotten interesting fast.... I'm responding now :) ))

[Lara]

((lol yeah… had to add in more drama. Hope it works ok. Can't wait for your reply! :) ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

Ellis could sense that Lexi was going to attack her, but she was ready. Just like Lexi had said, Ellis was better with a knife, and with just about any other kind of weapon, than she was. She could tell that while Lexi had hit a nerve of hers, she had also hit one of Lexi's, or maybe she had just made her so angry that she was beginning to lose it. Either way, that had been the idea.

As she started talking about how she had asked questions and about the day that she had left, Ellis couldn't believe that she was dating to speak of that day. Even though they were purposely trying to get under each other's skin, she had thought that there had been an unspoken agreement between them not to speak of the day that Lexi had left, the day that everything had changed. Lexi had always been too curious, and hadn't been able to just be happy with he status and just do her job the way that Ellis could. Then one day she had decided that she didn't want to be apart of the government anymore. She'd asked Ellis to run away with her, and Ellis had refused, thinking that she was crazy to through her life away like that. That was the night that their friendship had been ruined. That much Ellis knew.

But as Lexi kept talking, making it sound like there was more to the story, Ellis was visibly intrigued. However, before she could finish, Chase suddenly burst into the cell, and Ellis quickly looked at him, her eyes on fire with anger. She had thought that she had made it very clear that this was her job to do, not his. Why couldn't he just go off and speak to the people, or whatever it was that he was supposed to be doing as the prince? Why did he think that he could take over her job? Why did he want to?!

Ellis had never see him so angry before, and she didn't know why he was so angry at first, but then it hit her. Lexi had been about to tell her things that Chase didn't want her to hear. He had been keeping secrets from her. That enraged Ellis more than anything else that had happened so far. She trusted Chase as her commander, and she expected him to tell her everything and anything that she needed to know.

She was about to call him out on this when suddenly, he jammed the cuff on his wrist into Lexi's neck. Ellis could only watch for a moment or two as the strong electrical pulses shocked Lexi, causing her to scream in agony. She was too shocked at seeing him to this to know how to act in that moment. First of all, she had never in a million years expected him to do something like this, and second of all, seeing her old friend in such agonizing pain still hurt her, much to Ellis' displeasure, but there wasn't much that she could about that.

Felix's eyes widened when the prince suddenly appeared and used his strange bracelet thing to shock Lexi was far more force that was necessary. He hadn't really understood much of the argument that had just been going on, but apparently the prince had had enough of it for one reason or another. Felix didn't understand that he didn't want Lexi to say whatever she had been about to say.

As Chase finally stopped and hoisted Lexi up to take her away, Ellis had gotten over her temporary surprise and was completely livid. He was taking Lexi off to her interrogation, and that was Ellis' job. He was acting like her now, and she didn't like that at all. At this point in her life, she was pretty much programmed to strike down all competition, and even though she now was unsure of whether or not she would actually be able to torture her old friend in order to interrogate her, she was never in a million years going tiler Chase do it.

That, and the fact that she now knew that he had been keeping secrets from her, had been being two faced this entire time, made her want her revenge on him and made her want it now. She had never seen him blow up in this violent rage before, and she wondered if this was the real him, not the calm and cool guy at the bar who liked to pretend he was someone else.

Without really thinking, she kicked the man who was still on the ground in the head to hopefully knock him out and keep him there while she quickly ran after Chase, unsure of what she was going to do, but knowing that she would probably regret it later.

As soon as the Phoenix's boot was off of his back Felix quickly got up, though it hurt to do so due to the fact that he had just been kicked I the head, and he could feel a bruise forming where Ellis had kicked him in the side. He couldn't let this happen to Lexi, he just couldn't. He had come all this way to save her, and ever since he had arrived things had only gotten worse. Acting completely on impulse, he pulled his gun from where he had been hiding it in the pocket on the inside of his jacket. He wasn't thinking clearly at the moment, and all that was really on his mind was saving Lexi. So, he aimed his gun at Ellis as she was running, and fired.

Upon hearing the sound of a gun going off, Ellis instinctively dove to the ground, knowing by the sound of it that the shot had been aimed at her. She watched as the bullet soared over her, knowing that it would have hit her in the back of the head had she not gotten out of the way fast enough. However, with nothing to stop the bullet, it continued onwards before it finally struck its target, which was Chase. Since he was taller that Ellis, it hit him in his back, right below his shoulder blade. Ellis looked just in time to see it happen, and she hadn't had time to warn him to get out of the way, it had all happened so fast.

Felix froze, realizing that he had just accidentally shot he majesty, the prince.

[Lara]

Chase was hauling Lexi's limp form down the hallway, intent on getting her to the interrogation room where he would thoroughly enjoy putting her in her place, before he explained to her his plans. And he would love to see her reaction to those as well. Right now, he was still seeing red, and that only stopped when a sharp pain flared in his side.

Then the world slowed, and he heard his heartbeat in his ears. He let out a soft huff of air and Lexi thumped to the ground, as she slipped from his grasp. He turned, dabbing his thumb into the wound, and then looked at his bloody finger. He realized then, what had happened. He had been shot. Well. This wouldn't be the first time, which would probably surprise most. Chase wasn't an posh pampered prince. He was directly involved with the safety and running of his city. And that meant that he acquired scars. If you wanted something done right, you do it yourself.

He swore softly and tapped a nearby wall, thumbing up a holopad, and directions. A slot in the wall opened up, and a trauma kit rolled out, which Chase caught with ease. "Ellis." He said then, his voice every bit authority. "Lock up that man in Lexi's cell. Make sure to search him for other weapons, and cuff him before you leave him. I've changed my mind. I think he'd be wonderful company for Lexi." Chase knew that they could easily tap into Lexi and this man's conversation. If they talked friendly with each other, then that would be valuable information to them. This was a tactic Chase was hoping to use.

But for now… He lifted Lexi again, who was still limp as a noodle from when the electricity had temporarily fried her nerves, and he unlocked the nearest cell, tossing her inside and watching the steel door whoosh shut again. That would have to do until he was healed and could deal with her later. "Don't think I've forgotten about you." he hissed at her through the door, well aware the the crumpled form on the floor could hear him just fine.

The shock was starting to set in, and he had to take a couple deep breaths to make sure his bloodpressure didn't spike enough to send him crashing to the floor unconscious. Fainting was nothing dignified at all, and he wanted to avoid it. That being said, the wound was already numb, and shock was a dangerous thing if not treated. Sinking to the floor on his knees, he stared at the tiles below him, breathing slowly in and out, in and out…. The trauma kit was still in his hand, but there was no way he'd be able to see to this wound himself. Yeah, he could call one of the meds, but he didn't really want to be tended to by them. "And Ellis…?" he added again, no trace of the previous anger in his voice. "Once you're done that… can you pull the bullet out please?" Chase didn't know why he had added the please. He never said please, he just demanded. But with Ellis… with Ellis it was different… because Ellis was an equal in his eyes, not his inferior.

…..

((sorry, forgot to add in Lexi's part :P ))

Lexi lay slumped against the cool slate of the floor of her cell and tried to calm her trembling body. She had never, not in all her life, experienced such agony as that. She had, in fact, felt the sting of the defence cuffs on occasion, but never one turned that high. Obviously the prince cared very much about Ellis not ever learning what she had discovered, and the reason why she left the agency. Could it be that the prince wanted his little bounty hunter to stay around? But why?

As Lexi lay there, still unable to move, an answer came to her so suddenly, she would have laughed if she had any control over her body. Well, well, well. So the prince had finally found someone that he found favour in. Wasn't that cute? The two of them… best of friends, maybe even more than that with time. It was fitting, really, that the ruler of such a cold empire, would find favour in a bounty hunter, and part time assassin. Lexi knew, deep down, that they would be perfect for each other. Still, she hated the prince with a passion, and even more now that she had met him in person. And she still cared for Ellis, even though their relationship was obviously a little rocky at the moment. But should her former friend decide to show some semblance of regret, or even care for Lexi at all, she knew she would immediately be roped into caring for her again, regardless of whether or not it was sincere.

Still, though she knew she would get it later, and probably be tortured to near death, she also was intrigued by the newfound knowledge that the prince actually cared about how he was portrayed in front of Ellis. Interesting…

But who she was most worried about, was Felix. He had shot the prince. Yes, by what she had seen, not on purpose. But it was still a very serious crime, palace worker or not, and now his life was in the hands of said malevolent prince. Lexi could only hope he would be smart about his interactions hence forth, and that the prince by some mercy, would let him live.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

By the time that the prince instructed Ellis to lock up he man, she was already half way through the process. As soon as the bullet had hit Chase, she had quickly gotten up from the ground and attacked the man who had she him. He had had his gun aimed at her, but he looked far too shocked and terrified to do anything but simply stand there. So it was very easy for Ellis to knock him to the ground and take his gun, as well as two other knives that she found hidden in the pockets of his jacket. He didn't even try to fight her. Probably because he knew what was best for him. He would be in even more trouble now if he put up a fight after shooting the prince.

She didn't say a word to him as she cuffed his hands and forcefully threw him into the same cell that Lexi's limp body was already in. She made a point not to look at her as the metal door slammed shut and she locked the prisoners in. Normally, she would have spent more time inflicting punishment on the man for what he had done, but she knew that he would get plenty of that later, and plus, after all that had happened, she simply had no motivation anymore, which was very rare for her.

With that, she looked over at Chase, who was now practically on the ground, and she could tell that he was putting a lot of his focus into now passing out. After everything that had just happened, and because of how angry she was with him, she didn't want to help him at all. She truly wanted to leave him here on his own, and she knew that she could, but something stopped her when it really shouldn't have. He had called her by her name, not once, but twice, and he had never done that before. For some reason, Ellis felt like that meant something, even though it didn't make any of her anger towards him go away.

Finally she approached him and sat down on the ground, not knowing why he wanted to do this here, but she didn't argue. "Take your shirt off. After that, don't move," she said coldly as she dug into the trauma kit for what she would need. That was the only thing that she said to him, even when there was more that needed to be said.

She had treated her own wounds so many times before that she knew how to treat him better than most doctors probably did. Ellis took a syringe full of pain killing drugs out of the pack and shoved the needle into his arm as she injected it, not taking too much care to be extremely gentle, just because she was still furious with him, for more reasons than one. Ellis was only doing this because she had to, but she was still careful enough to not cause him any more pain than he needed to experience.

-----

When the Phoenix came to cuff him, Felix knew better than to try and fight her. He had no chance against her in hand to hand combat anyway, since she had already taken away all of his weapons. Besides, he knew that he would already be in so much trouble for shooting the prince, and there was mined to make things worse.

As she literally threw him into the cell, his body ached even more as he forcefully hit the hard ground. He tried to sit up, but as soon as he did, the combination of the pain in his side from being kicked, and the fact that he probably had a concussion from being kicked in the head made it too hard and he half sat, half slouched against the cell wall. Honestly, the Phoenix hadn't really done much to hurt him, but he wasn't accustomed to pain, and the shock from what he had just done was still strong.

However, as soon as he realized that Lexi was in this cell with him, he remembered that she must be in far worse pain that he was in after what the prince had done to her. Unsure of what to do to help her, because there wasn't anything that he could do from inside of this cell, he simply reached out and gently touched her arm to let her know that she wasn't alone.

[Lara]

Chase's muscles were trembling, not from exhaustion, or weakness, but from shock as his body turned on its coping mechanisms to deal with trauma. His head was swimming, but he could still hear Ellis dealing with his assailant as she searched and cuffed him, tossing him in the cell with Lexi. Well at least she listened to his instructions, which had come off as something more like advice.

Chase was confused by all this. Was he becoming soft? Offering advice to one below him when he should just be demanding what he wanted? Or could it be that this was what it was like to have a friend, someone you trusted and confided in, someone you treated as equal? After only a short time, Chase was already seeing Ellis as more than just a person who worked for him. She was an individual with a personality, and secrets, and a sense of humour, spirit, will, and something else he couldn't put a finger on. She was intriguing, as much as he tried to deny it, and he found himself wanting to please her, to look good in her eyes, to come across as prestigious, and strong, and mighty.

Which he knew he was off to a bad start at. As he had just narrowly missed having his family's dark secrets spilled out in front of her, as well as the fact that she now knew he hadn't been completely honest, which he hadn't been, for her own sake. And here he was, gasping on the floor, his shirt soaking in blood as she stood there, apparently deciding whether or not to help him. In the end, he could call a med, but this would probably be the end of their friendship. His request was a silent plea, a question, a 'will you help me?'

And when she bent, taking the trauma kit, he let out a soft huff of air in relief. So they were still on ok terms, even if she was mad at him for having secrets. Ok.

She asked him to take his shirt off, and a coy smile graced his features. He had a million innuendo filled remarks swimming through his head that he was just dying to use, but given the situation, and the fact that she was still mad at him, he figured that now was not the opportune time to try teasing her. So he settled for a light smirk as he reached down and unbuttoned his shirt, slipping it off his shoulders, and then peeling his blood soaked tank off as well, tossing them both to the side. Now, of course, he wasn't wearing anything, belt up, but he didn't mind in the slightest. Chase wasn't insecure about his figure. He had naturally inherited good looks and a nice body from his father.

Lowering himself to his stomach, he lay flat on the floor and let his cheek rest on the cool tiles, relaxing his back. He knew if he was tense, it would make it harder and more painful to get the bullet out, and he wanted to avoid that. Then Ellis jabbed a needle into his arm, and he couldn't stop the soft grunt in pain. "Vicious." he commented, raising an eyebrow. Was she really still that mad? That had been a purposeful jab… but maybe he deserved it. Either way, she was about to start pulling out a bullet, so he willed himself to relax and stay as still as possible. Really, this was stupid, laying so vulnerably at the feet of someone who could kill him. But… but some part of him trusted her.

….

Lexi heard rather than saw the door whoosh open again, and then the sick thud of someone crumpling to the floor not too far from her. Given the circumstances, and who was out in the hallway, she had a pretty good guess as to who had just been dumped in her cell. And what she couldn't get was why they were in the same cell. She guessed the prince or Ellis wanted to catch them talking secrets together, which meant that this cell had video surveillance. Well. She wasn't going to give them that satisfaction. But it would be a useful opportunity to feed them false information. Throw them off the trail for a while, maybe even frustrate them a little.

She could have fun with that. But for now, she couldn't think past the sizzling that still singed through her body, and her fried nerves. She winced when something brushed her shoulder, and then she realized what it was. Felix. She closed her eyes, letting herself soak into the feeling of another being there with her, of the fact that she was not alone any longer, before she carefully moved her hands beneath herself and pushed up slowly, her whole body quaking as she managed to get up into a sitting position against the wall.

The effects of the electricity were taking a while to wear off, as it had been such high voltage, but she could live through a little pain, she had before. Being an assassin was a dangerous job.

She turned then, and managed a small smile at Felix, not able to move much more. "Nice shot." she whispered, wincing as pain jolted through her system again, before returning to just the constant buzzing.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

Ellis waited impatiently for him to take off his shirt and peel the blood soaked tank from his skin, for he was taking too long for her liking, and she certainly wasn't going to do it for him. She could only imagine what he would say if she did.

Once that was done, she took out some old fashioned cloth bandages and used them to begin soaking up the blood by pressing them firmly against his back. When he commented on the force she had used when she had stabbed the needle into his arm, she simply responded with, "Shut up." It wasn't the light hearted, sarcastic kind of remark that it was usually used as, but rather, she said it coldly, truly wanting him to shut his mouth and let her work. She wasn't in the mood for his teasing and jokes. Still, Ellis knew that he wasn't supposed to talk to him like that, but after all that had happened, she was past the point of caring, and with Chase in such a condition, she doubted that he'd call her out on it.

Ellis could visibly see the muscles in his back and arms tensing, and relaxing, and trembling, and she knew that they were in shock still, even if he was getting over it. She tried to keep her eyes anywhere but there for multiple reasons.

As she put pressure on the wound, she noticed how unorthodox this all was. He was literally laying on the floor as she was about to rip a bullet out of his back, however, as long as he didn't seem to mind it, Ellis didn't care either. She just wanted to get this over with so that she could question him about everything that had just happened. What Lexi had meant, and why he had lost it in a furious rage. Obviously it was because Lexi was going to say something that she wasn't supposed to hear, but Chase shocking her like that and dragging her off made Ellis feel like there was more to it than that.

Once the blood was more or less cleared away, she grabbed the small set of metal pliers, being more gentle now as she clamped them around the bullet and slowly pulled it from his flesh, giving it a good tank at the end to pull it out quickly to minimize the pain, similar to quickly ripping a band-aid off just to get it over with. At least the worst was now over for him, or so he thought.

-----

Felix watched her as she struggled to sit up, almost wishing that she wouldn't, but he knew that he couldn't stop her from trying. Once she was up, he looked at her, hoping that she would be okay after the amount that the prince had shocked her.

When she complimented his shot, he only shook his head, even though it only hurt it more. "I was aiming for Ellis," he muttered, not having the energy to say much more. He knew that Lexi could figure out the details on her own, that the Phoenix had gotten out of the way fast enough, and that was why he had hit the prince instead.

After a long silence, he finally voiced the thought that had been playing over and over in his mind. "They're going to kill me for what I've done," he whispered, looking afraid for the first time since Lexi had ever met him. He knew that they might let Lexi live for one reason or another, or someone else might be successful in saving her, but the prince and the Phoenix had no reason to keep him alive. He was going to die very soon, or so he thought, and that scared him very much.

However, he knew that it was better not to think of that now. Instead, he focused his attention on Lexi again. "Do you....do you need anything? Is there anything I can do?" he asked, doubting that there was, but he asked just in case because he wanted to help her however he could. He had come to rescue her, but now he had only gotten her deeper into this mess, therefore he figured that he owed her big time.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((This may seem like a random question but what kind of music do you like?))

[Lara]

((lol. no it's cool. I like all sorts actually. Mostly seventies like music. Like 'let her go' and 'if i die young' and 'he aint heavy' and 'people help the people', anything by lana del rey or Birdy… etc. if that gives you a bit of an idea…. lol. Writing a reply here really soon :) ))

[Lara]

Sure, her retort was rather cold, but it told Chase something about this interaction. While Ellis was mad, it seemed to have actually meant something to her that he had kept secrets from her. And the only reason that would have have meant anything, cutting as deep as it had, would be if she had not expected it. If she had initially trusted him to confide in her. So maybe the mutual respect went both ways. Maybe she had seen a friend in him like he had in her. And somehow, even though her snappy response was meant to cut him, he found himself smiling lightly, pleased by this new revelation.

And then she pressed something against his wound and he let out a pained hiss of air. She wasn't even really pressing hard, but that still stung bad. The pain meds were slowly starting to kick in, however, and he felt more peaceful with each minute as the pain lessened.

His relief was short lived however, when she gave him no warning and she went ahead and slid the pliers into his wound, searing fire through his shoulder and he grit his teeth, concentrating on breathing as the pain just continued, and then intensified as she started to draw the bullet out. His hands were balled into fists, but he was still working hard at not tensing his back, so that she could pull it out. He was managing the pain alright… until she yanked on the bullet and he swore violently, groaning, and then swearing again. Though he was panting, the pain had gone down considerably, now that the bullet was gone, and he sighed, relaxing again. "Hurry up and bandage it…" he complained, wanting to be done with this business and off the floor again. If anyone came in and saw this… neither he nor she would hear the end of it.

…..

Lexi managed to shrug lightly when he said he was aiming for Ellis. She had figured that much. And though it caused a twisting in her gut when she thought about her old friend possibly shot or dead, she didn't blame Felix for trying, and understood his reasons. Still, she knew well enough that Ellis could dodge a bullet. "It's not your fault she's good at what she does." She said simply, not wanting him to beat himself up over not hitting his intended target. "Besides, you still hit someone, which was a bonus. Lucky for you, the prince is still alive, or you'd be dead on the spot." She said honestly, not buttering up that fact… after all, it was true.

At least this way, the prince got to choose what happened to Felix, and there was more of a chance for just punishment, or imprisonment, than death. After all, though the empire did some pretty barbaric things, they weren't a barbaric country, and were known to put their captives to some good use, instead of just killing them all off. "Don't count on dying yet." she said, letting her gaze swoop over to him. He looked pained, and he had a right to be, after being slammed on the ground and kicked around. "The prince might find other use for you than just as a corpse." She said, her smile light, as she was trying to help him relax a little. As she could easily see all the signs that he was fearing, and imagining his death. And right now, that would do him no good.

What did surprise her though, was when he asked if she needed anything. Well… She wanted a lot of things. "I'd love a hot bath right now." She said honestly, imagining it. "Or a nice piece of fudge. Do you think they'll feed us fudge? After all, it's so common here they probably feed it to their criminals." She joked, shaking her head. Quips about how well the rich were taken care of while the poor suffered were common in the slums. "And I'd love to see Silver again." She said honestly, meaning that from the depths of her being. "But none of those things I can have right now… so no. Thanks for asking but I'm alright." She leaned away from the wall, rolling her shoulders in a slow circle. "Still feeling a little fried, but the effects are wearing away now."

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Oh that's cool. I listen to some Lana Del Rey but not a lot, although I do really like Birdy :) The reason I was asking was because I recently have been enjoying making playlists for things I'm writing, and I kinda wanted to make a playlist for this rp because I thought that it would be interesting. I was thinking that I could somehow share it with you when I was done, so I wanted to include some things that you hopefully would like :) You can even like, suggest things if you'd like to help!))

"Relax," Ellis commanded the when he reacted to her pressing the cloth into his back to soak up the blood. She knew that he would be experiencing much more intense pain than this in just a few moments, so he'd better prepare himself. Ellis had been shot many times in her life, even though she was now good at dodging bullets. She hadn't always been good at it though. Her body was littered with the little circular scars, though they were in places that she normally had covered. Her thigh, her stomach, just above her collar bone, and her lower back. The one in her stomach had almost killed her, so she knew very well what Chase was going through and she had obviously been through worse.

When she thrust the pliers into the wound, she knew that it would hurt him very much, but there was no other way to get that bullet out of there. Ellis didn't necessarily feel anything as she worked, though she knew that she might have felt bad for hurting him so much if she wasn't still furious with him. However, she knew that she could think about that later.

As she tried to clamp the pliers around the bullet, Ellis saw that his hands were balled into fists, proof that he was trying to fight the pain. Without really thinking about it, she placed her bad hand with the broken wrist gently on his back away from the wound, seeing as is was useless to her. She might as well get it out of the way since she couldn't use it, or at least that was what she told herself, not even bothering to question why else she might have placed her hand on his back like that.

When she finally pulled the bullet out, she took her hand away from him, not reacting as he swore and groaned in pain. However, she did react when he complained. "I don't think that you have any right to order me around right now," she said sternly as she injected another needle into him, this time into his back. It was full of medicine to keep the wound from getting infected. With that, she got out the special bandages and began to bandage the wound which had finally stopped bleeding.

-----

Felix sighed as she spoke, not comforted much by her words. He realized that it wasn't really death that he was afraid of, but rather it was the fear of not being free. He was used to going wherever he wanted, for the most part, and doing whatever he wanted. He didn't want to be someone's prisoner, or someone's slave. Honestly, that was a fat almost worse than death in his eyes. Felix wanted to make art again, and see his puppy, and just see the light of day, but he doubted that any of those things would ever happen to him again.

As Lexi spoke, and if turned out that she wanted the same simple things that he did, Felix was happy that he wasn't the only one. Still, he knew that she had a better chance of getting out of this place than he did. "The General might change his mind and send someone else to come and get you," he said, though he knew that the chances of that were slim. "He'll probably figure that I'm dead when I don't come back in a few days. He said he'd watch my pup until I got back, but when I don't come back, who knows what will happen to him.... I certainly hope that the General doesn't try to give him away. He's a runt, no true soldier will see any value in him... No one will want him...."

Knowing that saddened Felix more than just about anything else. He knew that he shouldn't be so concerned with his puppy right now, but it was really all that he could seem to think about. Besides, he had no one else who cared about him that he would be leaving behind if the prince did in fact decide to kill him. However, when Lexi said that she was feeling a bit better, here focused his attention on her, knowing that she was probably more important. "That's good," he said, managing a small smile, unsure of what else to say.

[Lara]

((Wow that's cool!! I like that idea. I'll let you know if I can think of any good songs to add. But it would be cool to see what you come up with!))

Chase was surprised when she offered him a somewhat comforting touch on his back, and somehow, this helped him relax as she worked, and stabbed him with a needle again. However, all happy, calm feelings disappeared when she said he had no right to order her around. Was she serious? He had every right. He was the prince. She was a hired worker, and he could easily make her life harder if he wished to. And yet she had the audacity to say something like that? He grit his teeth, waiting as she bound up the wound, before he hoisted himself onto his knees, taking a few deep breaths before he rolled his shoulders and got his mind back on track.

Things to do. Right. Yes, the wound still throbbed dully, but it was not as bad now, and he could definitely bear it. He had dealt with worse, and now that the shock had diminished, his head was clearing again, and the cold, calculated Chase returned. "I have every right to give you orders." he stated simply, not in a cold way, just in a matter of fact manner. "I am the prince, and that gives me the right to tell you what to do." he stood, slipping his shirt over his arms, but not buttoning it up. He looked over at her again. "That does not mean I will take advantage of that power and order you to do my bidding. But do not forget that I have the power to do so, should the need arise."

He walked to the cell door then, and peered in at the boy and the wolf. He had much planned for them both. And he wished to start interrogation immediately. However, he had seen how well Ellis had reacted to his plans of overseeing the interrogation, and he figured he should at least let her help, to appease her in some manner. However, he had no intention of turning over the full responsibility to her. "I will be interrogating Lexi here in a few minutes. Would you like to help?" he raised an eyebrow. This time his request was a clear question, not a demand. This displayed just how much he saw her as more of an equal then below him. He knew he had power over her he could use if the need arose, but he preferred not to, at least in Ellis's case.

….

Lexi sighed softly. He was still hopeful that the general would send someone. He wouldn't. She knew that. The general had made a promise, and he always kept his promises. A fact that was good. Lexi didn't want anymore life wasted, when she and Felix were already doomed to die or be locked up forever. But she didn't tell him that. Rather, she focused on the fact that he sounded so worried for his dog. And that truly was cute.

"I'm sure the general will make sure he's well cared for, no matter who he ends up with." She promised, knowing that if the general vowed to take care of the dog, then he would keep that promise as well, just like he kept his promises to her. "the general is very reliable, and always keeps his promises." She explained, smiling lightly at him. "I don't think you have to worry."

She leaned her head back against the wall and let a soft sigh escape her lips. She knew what her fate would be soon. The prince would recover quite quickly thanks to the high tech drugs and healthcare in the capital, and then he would be back to torture information out of her. She would never give it, but she hoped she retained her sanity, and was not damaged beyond repair. But she had to warn Felix, so that he was not shocked when she came back again. "They're going to interrogate me soon." She said softly. "I… I don't want pity, ok? I've been through a lot, I can handle their torture… and when I come back, if they let me in here with you again, I'll just want a friend… not pity, ok?" She said softly, needing him to understand what she was asking for.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Omg to that's what you look like? You're so pretty! Lol I just saw that you changed your profile pic as I was reading this :) I'll have a response up in a few hours I think))

[Lara]

((lol. I actually didn't change it, I just used to have a pic for my user profile, and a different one for my author profile, and goodreads just changed it so that they were the same…. but lol. thank you! And no problem. I won't be able to reply until later today, but I'll look forward to seeing yours :) ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

Ellis finished bandaging his wound and watched as he got up, seeing that he was struggling at first, but he quickly seemed to be okay again, even though he was clearly still in pain. As he spoke, she ore r less ignored him, but when he said that she could help in the interrogation, she couldn't believe it. He was going to still go on with the interrogation?! Now?! And he'd had the audacity to ask if she wanted to help?! She should be making that offer to him, not the other way around.

Ellis was glad to see that he already seemed to be feeling better, because she knew that she wouldn't feel bad doing what she was about to do. She grabbed him firmly by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall, holding him there so that he was forced to look at her as she glared back at him. At this point she was beyond furious with him, and she couldn't believe that he didn't seem to notice, or care. Now she was going to make that clear in no uncertain terms. "You may technically be able to order me around, but you are going to listen to me now, and you are going to listen well," she said firmly, everything about her in that moment screaming that she was dangerous.

"I work alone. I do not 'help' people, I do things for them. That is my job, and it always has been. You tell me who to capture, or kill, or interrogate, and I do it for you. If you've suddenly decided that you want to take my job, that's you telling me that you no longer require my services. Is that true?"

Ellis showed no sign of wavering or releasing him from her hold. She wanted an answer from him and she wanted it now, because him going on a wild, anger filled rampage and attacking Lexi was something that she was not okay with. He was supposed to simply stand there and give her orders, or watch her work, and she didn't know why he suddenly wanted to upset the balance of how things had always been. On top of that, now that Ellis knew that he had been keeping things from her, she had every reason to question his faith in her, and his need of her. If he didn't value her enough to respect her, what was the use in her sticking around?

-----

As Lexi went on talking, Felix quickly found that she wasn't very comforting at all, even though he could tell that he was trying. Officially affirming the fact that his beloved puppy would be given away to someone else only made him feel worse, even though at the same time she claimed that the General would keep his promise and look after him.

However, when she suddenly changed the subject, his mind was off of his dog and back on to the situation that they were both in. He quickly found that he would rather go back to thinking about his dog, but it was too late for that now.

As she spoke, he tried not to think about what they would do to her, and probably to him eventually as well, just on a less intense scale. When she asked for a friend instead of pity, he wasn't entirely sure that he understood the difference, but still, he simply nodded and said, "I can do that," because he knew that was what she wanted to hear, and he knew that he should at least grant her that now.

[Lara]

Chase saw Ellis coming before she slammed him into the wall, and he made no move to step out of the way or stop her, he just looked down at her in slight interest as she seemed to fume and spit fire in his face. She wanted to have a tantrum? Fine. He could deal with tantrums. Every politician had them once in a while, and as the prince, he had to deal with that often. So he just regarded her cooly, aware suddenly, of how much taller than her he was. He stood nearly a full head over her, and yet she showed no fear and intimidation as she slammed him, a much larger person, and the prince, into a wall.

He let her rant, and then let the silence set between them for a few seconds, so she had a bit of a chance to cool down and start thinking again. He knew what this was about, and he had known for a while now. He had seen her fuming, he had just chosen to ignore her. The secrets he wanted to keep were secrets that no one outside of the family knew of, besides Lexi, and he wasn't about to tell Ellis, no matter how mad she became. And as for the working together thing? Really? Did she honestly want to pass up a chance on interrogating her old friend, just because she was too proud to work with someone else? Well then, maybe Ellis was more shallow than he had first assumed.

"I know you think I'm some spectator prince… a highly pedicured politician who is only good for ordering people around." he raised an eyebrow. "And don't bother denying it, you may not have said it, but I can see it clearly in your eyes." He shook his head, as if amused by her antics like he would be amused by a five-year old caught doing something naughty. "But let me tell you right now, so that there is no further misunderstanding… I am not my father." his eyes gained a quality that had not been there before, a sort of cold determination, the same sort of look that had been there when he had shocked Lexi.

"I believe that if you want something done right, you do it yourself. I prefer to run this country by my own hand, my own deeds and decisions, rather than relying on others to do the work for me. But being such a busy man, I require others help, like yours, in bringing back Lexi for me, which I thank you for." He inclined his head slightly in a light bow. "However, do not mistake my request for you to get her, to mean that I could not have retrieved her myself." he said, meaning every single word. And he wasn't exaggerating either. This was the real prince Chase, and he was a much deeper layered person than just a simple prince.

"You and I are more similar than you might realize. I like to work alone just as much as you do." he smiled then, but it was a completely polite smile, with not an ounce of warmth in it. "And I intent to take care of the criminal that has been tearing down my hard work. I would love to do it myself, but in interest for staying on good terms with you, I decided to offer that you join me, which trust me, hunter, took a great deal of sacrifice. If you'd rather not help, I will be relieved and quite pleased to do it on my own." His eyes, which were all ice and scrutiny, portrayed that he spoke the truth.

He gestured between them. "If you plan on spending even a moment longer around me, Ellis, you should get used to the fact that I am not someone to be pushed around, nor am I an open cozy type of person." He kept his eyes trained on her, not bothering to move. She thought she could dwarf a room… well if he really wanted to, he could command that sort of power as well, and he didn't feel at all in a compromising position against a wall, staring down at her. "Fume all you want, but know that I have secrets that I intend to keep, either for the better of this country, for the better of my family, or just because I do not wish to tell them. And no amount of anger from you will scare me into indulging you with them. I like you, Ellis. You're quick, and have got a spirit of your own, quite lacking in the people I am often around. I think we could become friends, should you chose to go down that road. But the sort of interaction between us from here on forwards, will be entirely up to you." he finished, keeping his gaze locked on her. Should she choose to trust him, regardless of his sometimes cold personality and secrets, then he would be more than happy to have a friend. If she didn't, and stayed childishly mad, then he would be no different than he was yesterday. It wasn't the end of the world, and certainly nothing to get worked up over.

…..

Lexi knew as soon as she had spoken, that she had said something wrong, and Felix's face seemed to fall and he looked considerably put out. She shook her head quickly, hoping she could remedy whatever she had done to upset him. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean that the general would immediately give your dog away, Felix… I just meant that no matter where he ends up, he'll be well cared for." She insisted. "The general is a good man, he'll most likely keep the dog by his side, and let that old hound of his watch over the pup." She promised, hoping this would make him feel better.

For she knew by his reply, that he also didn't really agree with her request, nor mean his words in entirety. But what did it matter? There was nothing she could change now. Whether he just comforted her, or looked at her in sympathy and pity, there was nothing she could do to change it. She would be tortured and that was that.

She just hoped they wouldn't use Felix against her, and that he would either be dealt a quick death, or given a forgiving alternative, and not tortured. Lexi knew, really, that there was no hope for wishful thinking in a place like this, where they were surrounded by unforgiving walls of metal, and killers prowled the halls. But… hope had a funny way of overpowering fear, and blossoming even though the darkness seemed to strangle it. And Lexi couldn't help but cling to the hope that they would get out of this alive and alright somehow. "When I come back." She said softly. "I have some important things to tell you. They might help us get out of here." She said softly, and talking through her teeth so the cameras wouldn't pick it up.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

As he ranted about how he could do everything that she did on his own, that felt like a slap in the face to Ellis more than anything else that he had said. It proved that he didn't value her at all, that he didn't think that she was worth anything. It was just like Lexi had said, no one saw value in her, and no one ever would. She was nothing, she was worthless. All of her life, she had poured everything that she had into her career, trying to be the best that she could be because it was all that she had in life. She had no family, no friends, no future, no real purpose. So she had given herself a purpose, to serve the government, to do something that very few other people could do, but was something that was very important. Now here Chase was, taking that away from her and claiming that he could easily replace her, and that the only reason that she was employed was because he didn't have enough time to do her job himself.

Ellis noticed that as he spoke, he kept making little comments that seemed to be compliments, such as he was thankful to her for capturing Lexi, or that he was impressed by her, but each one was followed by a remark stating his indifference to her. He claimed to like her, and to want a friend, but then he seemed to change his mind and say that he honestly didn't care either way. She knew that that was certainly true. He couldn't care less about her, and he couldn't even make himself pretend like he did to save what little self esteem she had left. Sure, Ellis talked big and seemed to think highly of herself, but that was all just a fragile illusion, and it was moments like these when she was reminded of how worthless she really was.

Honestly, she couldn't believe that she had ever seen anything in Chase. She couldn't believe that she had enjoyed their time together at the bar, or that she had shared personal things about herself with him. He was truly just an arrogant, selfish jerk, just like everyone else seemed to think that he was. Finally, after not speaking for the entire time, Ellis finally opened her mouth again. "You're right. You're not like your father; you're much worse," she said, her voice icy. Though she was still glaring at him, it was clear in her eyes that he had deeply hurt her. There was no way that she could hide it. Since she was far too beaten down to argue with him anymore, she simply said, "If I'm so worthless and replaceable, then go ahead and replace me. There's nothing that I can do about that, but don't expect to find me here come morning."

With that, she removed her hands from his shoulders and stepped back, truly defeated for the first time in her life. She hadn't wanted to give in, but the feeling of worthlessness and purposelessness was a strong one that could break even the strongest of person. Ellis didn't know what to do with herself now, but she knew that she couldn't stay here. She had no place here anymore. She wasn't the Phoenix, and honestly, she never had been. That had all just been a huge lie, and she finally admitted that to herself for the first time in her life. Ellis had never been anything special, and she never would be. "Congratulations Chase, you win, so enjoy it," she said, as she headed for the exit of the room, knowing that was what he wanted to hear. She was planning to pack her things and get out of this awful place as soon as she could. No one would even care when she left, and that she was sure of.

--------

Felix sighed as she tried to clarify about what she has meant about his dog. "It's okay, it doesn't really matter anyway, I guess," he said, even though it did matter very much to him. It simply wasn't something that he preferred to think about now, so he wished that she would just drop the conversation.

He sighed and closed his eyes, wishing that the pounding in his head would stop. He could feel the welt that has formed where Ellis had kicked him, and he only hoped that it didn't get any worse, for he had to be focused now. Lexi was essentially asking for a friend, someone to comfort her, and he new that he had to be there for her. He couldn't be distracted.

As she finally spoke again, saying that she had important things to tell him when she returned, he knew that he knew that she might not be in any shape to be discussing plans with him, but he simply nodded slightly in understanding. Felix also didn't know how she planned to have that conversation with him, since he highly doubted that she intended to speak through her teeth like that the entire time, but he knew that he would just have to wait and see what happened when the time came.

[Lara]

Chase watched the fire turn to ice in Ellis's gaze… and then he saw something he had not expected… hurt. Had he seriously wounded her with his words? He had merely explained that he was as capable as she was, and that he didn't like to be pushed around. He even admitted that he had the tendency to be cold. And yet here she was, acting all hurt. Like he had wounded her by not backing down immediately when she showed the first sign of being threatening. He raised an eyebrow and watched her back off. "What's that supposed to mean?" he asked, wondering if her comment was just a bite at him, or if it had any real merit.

But… if she really was wounded, then something of what he had said must have hit close to home… and if he wanted to keep her around, then he obviously had to work on making it better, and fast. "You know… I say one comment about me being as good as you, and that's all it does to hurt you?" he asked, his voice soft. It wasn't mocking at all, it was wondrous… almost questioning, as if not believing that that could be so. "For such a coldhearted killer that you portray yourself to be… you're rather soft under that shell of yours." he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. His eyes were thoughtful, their previous anger as he defended himself, gone.

He had gotten angry for the same reasons she had. He had gotten angry in defence of his family, which Lexi had been about to slander against, and then in defence of himself, whom Ellis had been trying to push around, and prove worthless. And here he did the same thing to her, apparently making her angry, and then hurting her. "My goal was never to win anything, Ellis." he said calmly, going to the door to Lexi's cell. He opened it, and pulled Lexi out, locking the door after him. "My only point was to say that I am just as capable as you are." he injected Lexi with something, and immediately her struggling ceased and she slumped unconscious.

"That… however, does not make you any less capable, as you might have thought." He tipped his head slightly. "Just because two doctors are equally skilled, does not mean that we only have use for one of them, and fire the other. Rather, we need them both dearly, to help along the hospital, and the medicare, and even train others below them." He looked down at Lexi, the corner of his mouth quirking up as he looked back to Ellis again. "We need more people in the world like us, Ellis. You and I are very alike. And that was only my point from the beginning. I'm sorry if I wounded you by saying that. If it was offensive, then it was miscommunicated, as it was not meant to be so." His eyes, as they usually did, portrayed if he was telling the truth, and currently, he was clearly every bit sincere.

"Yes I know… you used to be the only assassin after Lexi left. But when you worked with her, was it all that bad to have two of you? Yes, I believe I could do your job just fine. I'm quite capable at killing select targets, or cleanly detaining them. That doesn't mean I think you incapable, or secondary." he insisted, stepping closer to her. "And I certainly am not going to fire you just because I can do the job well. My original point, was that I am capable too. I am not some wimp prince who will sit back and watch his prize captives be tortured. Like you, I like to work alone. But… seeing that we are so alike… and you did such a fantastic job at bringing Lexi back for me, I figured I would invite you to join me in interrogating her."

He looked down at Lexi again, who was starting to stir as the sedatives wore off. "So I'll put out the invitation again. No. I am not going to let you interrogate her yourself. I am going to be a part of that, but whether or not you are a part as well, is up to you. And please make your decision within the next couple of seconds, as she is going to wake up again soon."

((I'm leaving Lexi out of this one because she's unconscious :P ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Sorry for the delay, I've been super busy again :( I'll have a reply up tomorrow for sure! :) ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

Ellis turned her head back to look at him, rage flaring up inside of her again when he spoke. "That is what you think that this is about?!" she exclaimed, "You think that I don't like the fact that you think you're as good as me? I could care less about that, you idiot!" Well, that wasn't entirely true, but there were certain moe pressing things in her mind now. She could tell that he didn't really mean what he was saying, and his soft tone sickened her. He realized that he had made a mistake by hurting and angering her, and he was trying to patch things up fast. Well, she wasn't going to let him. He couldn't step so completely out of line and then expect her to forgive him just like that. Things didn't work that way in Ellis' world.

As he grabbed Lexi and sedated her as he continued to speak to her, trying to appeal to her logically, Ellis grew even more angry. Who did he think that he was to act like this? "In case you haven't noticed, this is my entire life. You were right earlier, I don't have hobbies, and I'm sure that my definition fun is much different than yours. It's sad, but it's true." She knew that this was how things had always been for her. Ellis had had no childhood at all, no fun, and that had followed her into her adult life. She's been forced into a brutal military academy when she was very young, and when she said that she'd been working her entire life for her position, she truly meant it. Whether Chase knew about her past or not, Ellis had no idea.

"Now, if you're going to stand here and imply that I'm not worth anything, I'm not going to stick around and listen to you. You've never shown any interest in doing my job for me before, and there are many other ways that you can prove yourself to your father." Ellis had a feeling that that was what this was really about. Chase didn't want to be a puny little prince, he wanted to be strong like his father, and he saw being ruthless like Ellis as the way to do that. But didn't he know that he was making a mistake? That people didn't want a ruthless killer as their ruler. That was why Ellis was never in politics, because they way that she did things, and her skill set was not one that was popular among the public. Of course she didn't care, but Chase certainly should of he was going to model himself like that. Really, by Ellis refusing to work with him, she was actually saving him from himself.

"I already have proven myself. I've worked my entire life for this. This is my turf, and I will not work with you. I will wok for you, just like I have for years," she stated, not offering him another option at first, but then she continued by saying, "I am not implying that I think you're going to fire me and replace me, I'm saying that if you don't need me, then I quit, and I will work against you." She glared at him, all signs of the hurt that had just been in her eyes gone. That was simply how Ellis worked. She could change emotions and personalities at the blink of an eye, and right now, she knew that she couldn't let on to how much his words had hurt her and hit her pride. How dare he say that she was worthless! Well, of course Ellis knew, but that was why it offended her so much. She always tried to convince herself that she was worth something. That was why she had built up this name and this reputation for herself. Why she liked to be respected and feared. Why she was being so defensive of her position now. All to save herself from accepting the truth. That Lexi and Chase were right. She was nothing special at all. Worthless and meaningless, and no one wanted to feel that way. "It's your choice," she finished, indicating that this wasn't open for discussion anymore. He was going to make his choice and make it now.

[Lara]

((No problem! Writing a reply now :) ))

[Lara]

Chase raised an eyebrow slowly. She sure seemed to be conflicted. On one hand, she said she'd leave, quit, because he said she was worthless - which he didn't. On the other hand, she started spewing on about how this wasn't about him saying he was as good as her. Ok. So which statement did she actually mean, and which was the lie? Because they were clearly contradicting. He huffed out the air he had been holding in one long blow. He was growing tired of her tantrums. He had offered to include her after she had been angry that he had not. Then he had defended himself when she tried to act all high and mighty. And then he had apologized and offered for her to help again, explaining why she mattered, after she freaked out about being 'worthless'. He had put much effort into being on good terms with him, and yet she seemed to find ways to twist his words and make it out like he was the bad guy.

Well he was tired of it.

He shook his head slowly, no longer angry, or upset, or sad, just tired and slightly annoyed. "Look. I never said you were worthless." he said seriously, not an ounce of falseness in his words, he meant what he said. "I merely said that I was not worthless either, and probably just as skilled as you. But I don't want to explain myself all over again. My only comment was that you are not worthless, and I am growing extremely tired of you twisting my words." he said honestly. What about that did she not understand? It was like he had to spell it out for her. Maybe he should get a banner and hang it up somewhere, stating clearly 'you are not worthless'. But seeing how she was clearly hearing only what she wanted to hear, it was likely she would ignore the banner as well.

He let Lexi slump to the floor in a heap. He didn't want to keep holding her up by her arm, as humans were heavy things, and she wasn't going anywhere for the next couple of minutes. He folded his arms across his chest, growing defensive when she said he was only trying to impress his father. Ok, so now trying to be a good son equals sucking up to Daddy? What sort of morally lacking world did this bounty hunter come from. "That was a low blow Ellis." He said simply, his expression not changed. "I get that I hurt you. I get it. I said I was sorry, and I'm saying it again now. But honestly, there is no need for such comments as those. Even if they hold no truth, they are still offensive and I don't appreciate it." he said, stating straight out how he felt about her just mouthing off comments like that about him, his character, and his family. If Chase was anything, it was honest when it came to his feelings. And he hated how she still didn't believe what he said about her being worth something, and him wanting to work with her.

And then she started spewing nonsense about quitting and working against him. He knew then, that she must care about him to some extent.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, right? Ellis was a smart girl. If she truly wanted to hurt him, truly wanted to work against him, she would stay here and get as close as possible to him, not leave. By leaving, she was protecting him. And that meant that she was just acting out because she had been hurt. Chase was somewhat relieved, and somewhat annoyed. Because he had already apologized for hurting her, and explained that it was clearly not his intent.

"Ellis, you can believe what you want. But I am saying this honestly when I tell you that I never meant to hurt you." he insisted. Whether she believed that or not, was her choice. It was her own belief after all. But he was telling the truth, and she would be believing a lie if she still thought that he thought she was worthless.

He scooped up Lexi again, throwing her over his shoulder. "I don't want to see you quit, Ellis. I want you to keep working for me. And I even offered for you to work with me on this project. But since you turned that offer down, then the offer for just working for me is still open." he walked back towards the interrogation room. "I certainly won't fire you. But I don't keep my employees hostage. If you want to leave, then that is your choice." And it was. He wasn't going to chain her here, no matter how much he wanted her to stay. Without another word or glance in her direction, he shoved open the door to the interrogation room, and strapped Lexi down in the metal chair that sat in the centre, bolted to the floor. Now that all the arguing was over, the fun part could begin.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Okay, so random pause here because I honestly don't know how much more of Ellis I can take. I actually created her for a writing challenge where you have to create and consecutively write a character that you hate, and honestly, I've gotten to the point where I hate writing her so much that I just really want to kill her off. I failed the challenge lol. But see, this is an rp and not one of my own writings (so it was probably stupid to try this challenge here) and that means that I can't just kill her off because her existence is so much more depended on here. I know it's considered bad writing to kill off a character just to get rid of them, but I've honestly reached that point with her. Like it isn't even fun for me to do this rp anymore because I have to write his argument that she's having with Chase that I totally don't even side with her on. She's literally destroying the fun of this rp for me, and I don't know what to do, and I need help! DX ))

[Lara]

((Oh no!!!!! I had no idea you were tired of writing her :/ Well. People aren't always set in their ways. You could have her see that he's not trying to be mean to her or anything, and have her slowly start to change, if you wanted. That might make it easier to rp her. Don't rp her so much anymore, and just start to transition into who you want her to be? Lol, the rp shouldn't be boring or not fun! And the characters don't have to stay the same way you planned them. Chase certainly has become something I never expected! :P))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Ugh, but see, I've made her into this super stubborn character who is very set in her ways and she will not change her mind on anything. And it isn't even the argument with Chase that's irritating me, it's everything about her, and the argument with Chase is kinda the breaking point. I really don't like extremely badass characters, so I decided to try writing one (that was stupid) and now I can't even keep that part of her consistent. She's some sort of weird over dramatic, multi-personality mess and I really hate how she turned out. Like, I get that characters don't always turn out how they are intended to, believe me, it's happened to me a lot, but usually they still grow on me over time, but with Ellis I just hate her more and more as we progress...))

[Lara]

((hmmmmm…………………………….. *long pause* I'm sure there's some way to either change her enough that she's on the way to the right path. Maybe even something like memory loss etc etc. But if we can't come up with anything, we could get rid of her too, and bring in a new charrie. Problem with that, is that Ellis is probably the only thing standing between Chase and Lexi right now, if she still cares about her, and lol, Chase alone with Lexi could end in disaster…. idk. What are your thoughts/ideas?))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Hmmm I enjoy the idea of memory loss. Then she wouldn't have any idea who she used to be and could start fresh. I kinda want to do that right now because you're right, she's the only thing standing in between Chase and Lexi. I don't understand how he suddenly became so blood thirsty, but that's another thing entirely I suppose.... Idk maybe she could've climbing up into the rafters like she does, but she somehow slips and hits her head on the ground really hard or something? Ad maybe that either distracts Chase right before he's about to do something terrible to Lexi, or Ellis its comes wandering into the interrogation room having no idea what's going on? Idk DX But okay, do you hate her too, or is it just me?))

[Lara]

((Lol. I don't hate Ellis, and up until this argument I definitely thought she had her strengths. I just feel like she's gotten moody all of a sudden. I think partial memory loss is probably better than full memory loss, that way you have room to make some adjustments to her character, but can also make sure she still remembers Lexi and will protect her, lol. Because Chase doesn't know her well enough to stop an interrogation just because she gets injured, and if she doesn't know Lexi anymore, then she won't likely stop an interrogation either :P But lol, its up to you. But lol, memory loss is only one option. And lol, Chase has his own issues. His character hasn't changed at all, actually, he's just starting to show other parts of himself ;) ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Yeah I fee like that argument was a mistake because it kind of ruined everything..... Maybe she loses memory of everything that has happened recently and losses memory of the rebellion. So maybe she just goes into the interrogation room for some reason and sees Chase (who she knows even less now and is really nothing more to her than her boss) torturing Lexi (who she still thinks she's friends with because she doesn't remember her running away and doesn't feel betrayed by her) and kinda freaks out a bit because she has no idea what's going on or why he's doing that. I feel like if she loses that much memory, it'll help her reform bonds with Lexi, as well as form better bounds with Chase. And yes, I agree, he'd for some issues, but I like him, so it's different that Ellis and it's okay :) ))

[Lara]

((Yeah… oh well. And yeah sure, that would work well :) That way she gets relationships with both of them again, and it'll be drama with Chase trying to fill her in. And maybe she can still be a talented bounty hunter, but in those days she was less bitter and stubborn because Lexi hadn't left yet? Just some thoughts. Looking forward to your reply! :) ))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

((Yeah I agree that we should do things that way. She'll still have all of her skills and such, she just won't have any memory of the rebellion or anything after it started. Replying now!))

[Lara]

((Awesome. Can't wait!))

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

Ellis made a point not to listen to him then, for she had thought that she'd made herself very clear, and there was no need for this argument to continue any longer. However, Chase didn't stop, though he seemed to be sick of it as well. He kept insisting that he never meant to hurt her, and that she was putting words in his mouth, but Ellis didn't really agree with any of that. What reason did he have to care about her at all? Maybe he hadn't said that she was worthless, but Lexi had, and he had certainly implied it, which had only driven the dagger further into her. But for now, she simply continued to ignore him, glaring, but doing nothing else.

As he finally seemed to give up and picked up Lexi, Ellis convinced herself that she didn't care what he did to her. She just didn't want to be anywhere near him right now. She didn't know if that meant that she would leave completely and quit her job like she had said, but she just knew that she had to get away from him. As he turned to leave, Ellis turned and went the other way, knowing where she was going. The Phoenix always returned to her nest after all, even though the title of Phoenix hardly meant anything to her anymore, not after being talked down so many times. Ellis hadn't created the name Phoenix for herself, it had been given to her by the people. It had made her feel important and feared, but she realized now that that was all just an illusion. She felt like she had been living a lie, and as she looked down at the black winged tattoos on her arms, she truly hated them.

Grabbing on to the metal column that she always climbed up to get up into the rafters, or her "nest" as some liked to call it, Ellis began to pull herself up. She kept going, faster and faster until she got to the top at which point she swung her leg over on to the beam of the rafters, beginning to straddle it. As she was about to swing her other leg over, her foot hit the metal bar inside of swinging over it, setting her off balance. She jumped slightly, not used to making a mistake like that because she was never clumsy. However, that little jump shifted her a bit too far to the right, where there was no more of the metal rafter for her to sit on. There was nothing there at all.

Before she knew it, Ellis could feel herself falling and began reaching for something to grab on to to stop herself, but she had already fallen too far and there was nothing there. She continues to fall until she finally hit the ground, but since she had been too focused on trying to grab on to, she hadn't prepared herself to fall in the proper position. Instead, she fell on her side, her head slamming forcefully into the ground.

((I'm giving Chase a bit of time to get started))

[Lara]

Fire and Ice woke Lexi. Fire that seared through her skin and her face, making it feel like it was falling off, and the chill of knowing that her whole head was near freezing. Freezing to the point that it burned. And her lungs… her lungs burned with a dull ache as they cried out for air. But the second she would suck in for air, she would also get a lung full of the frigid ice water, so she screwed her eyes shut, kept her lips sealed, and fought with all the strength and spirit of a tigress.

When the hand in her hair finally allowed her head up and out of the bucket, she gasped, her face stinging with the sudden sensation of warm air on it again. Ice cold water ran in rivulets from her hair down her cheeks and in her eyes to drip on her collar and soak her shirt until she couldn't help but shiver. And there was Chase, staring at her with no emotion on his features, non of the earlier anger, no glee, or satisfaction. Just blank determination. Lexi hissed: "I'm not telling you any th-" And then her head was back under the water again, this time for longer until she saw red and black spots flashing before her eyes. She nearly passed out when she came up the second time, and this time she was sure her face was falling off. Or at least severely damaged by frostbite.

Chase didn't look in the least bit phased by her soaked hair and shirt, and her cold red skin. "Where is the rebellion hideout?"

Lexi mustered her best glare, giving him a silence that clearly said, 'not telling'. her hands were bound behind her, and chained to her chair, just like her ankles. But if she hadn't been restrained, he would be so dead right now… or that's what Lexi thought. She believed she could take him on.

Chase cocked his head to the side, as if contemplating how to deal with her, as if she was some sort of naughty child. "Well, I guess we can move onto stage two then. I was rather hoping you'd be uncooperative. There are so many tools in here I'm only allowed to use if preliminary methods don't work." he pulled out a small scalpel with a razor sharp blade that glinted in the light. "Method number two." he said, moving to walk around behind her. Lexi jerked and wrestled, not liking having the knife behind her where she couldn't see it, and a soft growl emanated from her throat.

Chase chuckled, picking up a strand of her thick hair in his hand. "Funny, you sound like you've really taken this whole 'wolf' thing quite seriously." Placing the scalpel at the edge of her neck, he sliced up and through a hunk of her hair, letting it fall to the floor.

Lexi immediately jerked away, her heart thumping. But the movement only caused the scalpel to dig cruelly into her scalp, leaving a searing pain, and a hot trickling sensation from the wound. "Careful…" Chase crooned, running his hands through her hair. "I wouldn't move too much if I were you." he said, easily slicing through more of her hair.

Lexi was forced to sit still, during what was probably the most humiliating twenty minutes of her life, in which Chase made sure to keep her uncomfortable under his gentle caressing of her hair and cheek and neck as he sheared away all her hair, mocking her, and telling her to divulge her secrets. She didn't cave. Not even after all of her hair had been close shaven, she felt thoroughly disgraced, and she was shivering violently from the cold water.

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

Ellis awoke several minutes after her fall, though she had no recollection of it. Therefore, she was extremely confused when she woke up on the floor, one of her wrists wrapped on bandages and throbbing (she hadn't remembered breaking it), but not nearly as badly as her head was throbbing. She was also extremely dizzy and unable to see or think straight. Ellis truly had no idea what was going on, or how she had gotten here, but she heard noises coming from the interrogation room and frowned, knowing that she was really the only one that went in there, since Lexi was strictly an assassin. This of course mean that she never had any prisoners to bring back to the castle to be interrogated in the first place.

Feeling extremely dizzy, Ellis forced herself up off the floor in search of answers as she began to head towards the interrogation room. She put the entry code into the key pad and walked into the room once the door opened. What she saw made her want to throw up. Sure, she saw and preformed basic interrogations all the time, but it wasn't just any old criminal in the interrogation chair; it was Lexi. She was soaking wet, and shivering, as well as bald and bleeding from her head in more than one place. What confused Ellis the most was that the prince was the one performing the interrogation. Even if Lexi had done something wrong, this was not how palace employees were to be punished, especially not by the prince.

Ellis felt rage boil up inside of her, having no idea why her friend was being treated this way. "What the hell do you think that you're doing?!" she exclaimed, drawing her gun and aiming it at Chase, "You are going to tell me what's going on right now!" She stepped towards him, her eyes never leaving his head, but her steps were shaky and tipsy due to her dizziness. It almost seemed as if she were drunk, but the small drops of blood dripping from her head that she had yet to notice, suggested otherwise.

((Sorry it's kinda short :/))

[Lara]

((no problem! It's perfect given what's happening. There's a time for long descriptions, and there's a time to keep it concise :) I'll get my reply up asap.))

[Lara]

Chase and Lexi both looked up, their expressions nearly exactly the same as they surveyed a clearly wounded Ellis storm into the interrogation room. Chase was shocked to see her back here again, and Lexi… well she was surprised to see her at all, let alone shouting at Chase and demanding what he was doing.

And both of them seemed to come to the same conclusion at the same time. Either she really didn't know what was going on anymore, because of some sort of brain damage through the bloody wound on her head, or she was no longer thinking clearly, again because of the wound on her head.

Deciding that she really couldn't do anything in this, Lexi let her chin fall back against her chest as she let out a soft sigh. She was still trembling violently from the cold water, and her head was really starting to sting, but she wasn't reacting. She knew how to manage pain, and she wasn't going to give in, not yet. But for now, this little mishap with Ellis… well. She'd let Chase figure that one out himself.

Chase eyed the gun in Ellis's hand, slowly stepping away from Lexi and towards Ellis, his hands out and open in a show of peace. He had no weapons. He had dropped the scalpel on the table, knowing that holding it around a crazed person was probably not the best idea. So he slowly approached her, his eyes on hers, stopping when he was a good distance from her to talk. "Ellis, you hit your head. You're bleeding. Your forehead looks like it sustained quite the nasty bump." he said gently, in a soothing low voice so as not to excite or startle her. He felt like he was trying to calm down a hissing tabby without getting scratched. He knew if Ellis was in her right mind, she wouldn't shoot him. But there was no telling how much damage that hit could have done, so he had to be careful.

"I am currently in the middle of interrogating Alexis." He explained, again, slow and soft. "A job that only a few minutes ago, you begged to have yourself." he added, hoping this comment might trigger her memory, or at least question her actions to stop him. If she trusted her own judgement, she might decide that regardless of not being able to understand it, at some point she had wanted to interrogate Lexi, so maybe she should let him finish the job. At least, that was what he hoped. As a last chance resort, he could also just call security and have her escorted away for nurses to deal with.

But he wanted to try and get her to see reason himself first. So as fast as a viper, he snatched up the gun, pointing it at the ceiling in case she shot at the last second as he wrenched it from her grasp and tossed it across the floor, steadying her at the same time. She clearly was not well, she seemed hardly able to stand. "Ellis… you really should sit down." he added a little softer, and more concerned. How much damage had this hit actually done?

[ϻαđίѕσи ~ I'm gonna be free, and I'm gonna be fine, but maybe not tonight]

Ellis didn't like the way that the prince was speaking to her. He never spoke to her softly like this and it sounded fake and forced. It most certainly didn't make her put the gun away, or even check to see if the pain in her head really was caused by a wound. Sure, it made sense, but the thing was, that Ellis didn't ever remember sustaining an injury. Just like the bandages wrapped around her aching wrist. Where had those come from? Ellis was never careless enough to get herself hurt this badly, and none of it made sense to her.

When the prince really didn't give her any answers, Ellis got more specific. "But why? Why is she being interrogated like a criminal? What has she ever done wrong?" she demanded through clenched teeth, particularly because of the anger she was feeling and particularly because of the pain.

Then, Chase went on to explain that she had just been demanding to do the interrogation herself, and that was probably the most ridiculous thing that she had heard yet. Everyone knew that she and Lexi shared a special bond, though Ellis would never come right out and say that they were friends. "Why would I want to hurt her?" she asked him, then louder and angrier, "Why are you lying to me?!"

She cocked the gun then, hearing the little click that meant that it was ready to be fired. All she had to do was pull the trigger, and the prince better believe that she would. For being as cold hearted as she was, Ellis always defended those who she cared about, though those people were very, very few. Cocking the gun was her sign to the prince that this was his last chance to say something that was halfway believable. Ellis was sick of dealing with him, and she wasn't thinking clearly.

Just then, he was running at her,and before Ellis could react, he had snatched the gun from her grasp and fired it at the ceiling. She tried to grab him, tried to punch him, but her movements were extremely discombobulated and only made her head spin even more. She could feel the prince steady her, and she was enraged, mostly at herself. What was wrong with her?

He then told her to sit down, his voice sounding more concerned and genuine as he used her first name, now for the second time. Since when did he do that? Ellis tried to ignore him as best as she could, because she wasn't going to stop fighting, not until she was given answers as to why her friend was being tortured. "Let her go," she demanded, "Or I'll do it myself." Ellis took two steps towards Lexi, ready to release her, but that was as far as she got before she got hit with a strong wave of dizziness and nearly collapsed.

[Lara]

Chase's jaw was clenched, mostly in worry. Ellis was clearly suffering severe brain damage, and that could only go one way. She needed medical attention now. And he had to get it for her, before she hurt herself, or others. Naturally, he understood why she was frustrated by what she saw, if she didn't remember much from the past couple of months. So he knew he had to tread carefully around this subject. And he was ready to take the risks to make sure Ellis was properly cared for, and didn't suffer any permanent damage. "I'm not lying to you." he insisted, completely sincere.

Being only a few paces away from her, when she stalked towards Lexi, looking completely unstable on her feet, he was there in time to steady her when she wobbled and started toppling towards the floor. He made sure she wasn't going to keel over again, before he lead her to the nearest thing to sit on, a bench, and gently pushed her down onto it. She was so weak at the moment, she could hardly stand, so he figured it would be good to get her to sit down and take a few breaths. Lexi, still shivering in her chair, would have to wait. "Ellis… you need to relax. You sustained a pretty bad head injury, and we have to get you to the doctors to make sure there wasn't any severe damage, like a brain bleed, or permanent control loss." he said, dead serious. Head injuries were serious and complicated things, and he wasn't taking any chances.

He also knew that the only way to make sure she stayed calm, would be to explain this to her. "Ellis… I don't know how much you remember, but Lexi quit the government and became a rogue a few months ago." he said simply, keeping his tone straight and unstressed. "She's been the leader of a rebellion against our good causes, trying to start a war and carnage, and ruin the peace we have. You caught her yesterday, and brought her in. And now I was preforming a standard interrogation, when you apparently hit your head and stormed in here…" he said, placing his hand on her forehead to check her temperature. His hand came away sticky with blood. "I'll answer more questions later, but for now, I need to call the meds for you." he said, pressing the distress button. "They'll be here to care for you soon." he assured her gently, with a sort of tenderness that surprised even him. Could it be that he was being more soft with her than he was with usual people?