Family Gathering (Alice, Lani)

[Odion Martins]

Odion wasn't entirely sure how he had gotten to this point in life. Oddly enough, it seemed to be a strange combination of luck, charm, and love. He wasn't about to throw any of what he had with Lani for the sake of a Family that had left him behind before without explanation. If Lani had any reason to believe that this was a terrible idea, and Odion agreed, it wasn't something he had to participate in. He wasn't concerned about the idea because he could take it or leave it. In the end, it was Alice herself that truly intrigued him, and she was the reason he was here today. People were what engaged Odion the most.

Feeling like the third party in this discussion, Odion was doing more listening and observing than anything else. Their server seemed to be avoiding their table as best as he could, though the reason for that could be several. It wasn't that Odion felt useless right now, rather that he didn't have anything witty or knowledgeable to contribute and he wasn't a fan of incessant chatter. As it was, Lani had the information and pull Alice sought, and if Lani was willing, he would realize that Alice wasn't interested in being a puppet master. She was seeking out other individuals who had great power, either in mind or body. She wanted people who could stand their own ground, make intelligent decisions in the face of the public eye, and be sneaky about the whole process. They could all be very great together.

Odion had played this game many times before, but he didn't take an social nuisances for granted. Each game was slightly different than the last, which was what made the game worthy of playing. "Would you? That would be wonderful. I haven't heard from Catherine since last time the Family was together," he said, referencing a couple memories in the back of his head he had once forced himself to forget. Alice didn't seem to hint towards whether they were still seeing each other or not, and if she wasn't willing to supply the information, Odion knew there was no point in prying - he didn't need to know every last detail in this case.

But as time would spin around their table, Alice proved to be least patient of all. Odion steeled his expression so as to not smirk at this finding. Alice knew what she wanted, right now, and if others didn't want to accommodate her requests, then they better know when to fuck off. Odion nodded, yes he had given Lani the gist of what was going on in Alice's world, but even Odion didn't know everything. Hence the reason for this meeting. During Alice's second little speech, Odion was happy to note that he had assumed correctly about her - she didn't want drones, she wanted capable metas. But if she wanted Lani, she was going to have to be willing to pay, whereas Odion couldn't care less about money if the prospect was interesting enough. And it was.

"What did you have in mind for us in terms of roles within the Family?" Odion wasn't agreeing to anything yet, he was asking questions in a way that sounded like more information, but really, he was still buying more time and hopefully at the same time, giving Lani a better idea of how things operated with Alice. Show interest and loyalty, intelligence, and be charming as hell.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani was watching Alice carefully and he couldn’t swallow down the jealous idea that Odion was flirting so carelessly with her. He didn’t think of himself as a jealous person but he couldn’t keep himself from feeling it so strongly. He gave Odion a sidelong look and turned his attention back to the conversation with Alice. His mind only vaguely paid attention to their prattling about someone that he didn’t know. He filed away the name to ask Odion about later but otherwise his mind was far from the present conversation. He didn’t trust Alice and he wasn’t sure he wanted to get pulled back into a world like that. Currently, he ran on the outskirts and when he was in Boston had been asked if he was going to move forward. To be truthful, Lani wasn’t sure. He loved stealing but when more people got involved it always got sticky. Besides he was working on something else, he wasn’t sure what exactly, but he didn’t want to be a thief forever.

The silence seemed to grow and Lani realized he would have to say something now. He sipped at the wine methodically taking his time answering. “You’d be right,” he agreed and he leaned forward on the table locking his gaze on her, giving her his full attention. He raised a brow at her. “Now that’s the question of the year. What is it, Alice, that you can offer me?” She was already calling attention to herself and if she was going to ask Lani to risk possibly angering someone very powerful, then she had damn better have some very deep pockets. “You’re playing a dangerous game,” he added his eyes narrowing as he tried to read her. She wouldn’t be intimidated, of that he was sure, but a healthy amount of fear was not necessarily a bad thing. Right now it seemed like she was confident that she would get out of this with the East coast intact. She would have to prepare to take casualties. And deliver some retribution of her own.

Lani shook his head and shot Odion a look. “I’m not looking to be part of any ‘Family’,” he said firmly. This was going to be a strictly business operation. He didn’t want to get sucked into the group on a personal level. Granted he was already with Odion so that was already a rule broken, but he was going to do this so long as he was paid and he was going to do only that which he was paid for. He was not going to risk his life for this, nor was he going to get in deep with it. He would rather she think of him as an outside worker than an inside one. Normally that would run the risk of betrayal, since anyone on the East Coast, Lani was sure could pay him more, but Alice also had insurance, by way of Odion, against that. The way Lani saw it, he had just gained his freedom from one mob boss he was not going to fall into another. He’d help but he liked the power that he held by being able to say no.

He leaned back a little, never taking his eyes off of Alice. “But Odion does bring up a good point.” He relented and crossed his arms, waiting for her answer. Lani didn’t know exactly what she expected of him, or even if he could deliver. He held onto the information he had on Alice, he had heard a lot about her when he had spoken last to his boss and a few friends had passed on information they had heard. There was also the selfish part of Lani that didn’t want her to have Boston. Let her take it all, but leave Boston alone. Bostonians had and would again band together against an outside force.

[Alice Halifax]

Alice felt a surge of excitement as Lani and Odion took a defensive stance. It was a natural high, all those chemicals being released in her body. Alice had a natural urge to show she was the alpha. Being in charge was just what she always expected to be in any situation. She was like some predator, always ready to snatch up anyone whose scent she caught. With that said, one could see how hard it was for her to resist the urge to lash out at Lani. She was sure she could bend him, manipulate him with just a few words. Lucky for Lani, he was Odion's other half. This afforded Lani with a few opportunities.

Alice could understand Odion's doubts and fears of what she was offering, but Alice hoped to mend that wound. Odion had slipped through the cracks so to speak, but it wasn't because of lazy ignorance. Things had popped up, shaking the Family to its core but Alice rode that wave out and came out on top and now she was trying to mend what she worked so hard to make.

Alice leaned back in the booth, forcing herself to remain calm. It was time to give instead of take and with these two thieves, Alice knew she was going to half to give her soul. With a sigh, Alice let a moment of silence fill the air. With a determined look in her eyes, she stared down Odion. What she was about to offer was a dangerous move for her, but she needed Odion. No, the Family needed Odion. It was time to make a move though and get this game started. "I give you the Family my dear sweet Odion. You will stand on equal ground with me. The both of us will guide the rest. We will decide the course of action for our plan. You'll be in charge sweetheart. With me at your back," she said with that charming smile of hers. Alice tried to put a bit of allure into her voice she spoke. A new trick she had been working on with little success. But, you never know when it might work. Odion was strong willed and could possibly pick up on the hidden suggestion just beneath her words.

"Think about it a minute sweetheart before you answer, its's not as simple as it sounds," Alice said with a little fake laugh. With that said, she leaned over in her seat a bit and stared at Lani now. He wasn't interested in the Family at all and that hurt a bit. However, the Family need those on the outside as well. Lani's kind was predictable to a point. Money, it always came down to money. Simple enough for someone like Alice. The problem was money bought his loyalty and that meant that someone else could buy Lani at the drop of a hat. "You want money, I know. I deal with your kind everyday my little prince. Name your price and I'll pay it," she said, leaning forward now, narrowing her eyes a little. "As for what I want from you, well, that's a little complicated. The payout though will be huge. You stay loyal to the Family, the group your boyfriend here is a part of and you can have your home. Boston, all wrapped up and put under the Christmas tree. It'll be all yours to do with as you see fit. You'll run it, free from Family control just as long as you are loyal," she said, giving a heavy sigh at the end. Everything Alice said sounded like some pipe dream, but she was serious. Alice was going to take the East Coast or die trying.

[Odion Martins]

Odion wasn't sure how this meeting would go exactly, but he did know a few things about both Alice and Lani that might help predict where this could lead. Lani didn't want a crime lord reigning over him again, and while Alice was offering a softer approach, Lani wasn't buying. Alice wanted to have more and be better than her family, she didn't want to simply live off the labors of her father, but wanted to have more power and influence than him. In order to do that she was going to have to spread her trust around, and she seemed very unwilling to do so. Perhaps calling her gang a family helped her spread said trust. But then again, maybe Odion had her all wrong.

He watched with a thoughtful expression as he hid behind his wine glass, Lani drilling Alice with questions and what he would be given for his services. Good as Lani was with the game, he didn't like flaunting or selling himself to anyone. What he took was for his own pleasure, and Alice didn't seem to be interesting him with her offers of family and fame. When Lani made that perfectly clear, Odion smiled into his wine and shrugged. So it would seem there would be no trust or loyalty between Alice and Lani - interesting. Odion didn't much care one way or another, and he wasn't offended by Lani's comment. But he wasn't sure Alice felt the same way. If nothing else, at least Lani knew what was going on in the darker parts of society, and he could put a face to the name.

With Alice cornered, Odion set his glass down as she begun to finally explain exactly what she had in mind. His eyebrows rose in surprise as she verbally entrusted everything she had built and created to him, to share. It wasn't something he expected and had he still been indulging in the wine, it may have been spewed from his mouth. And the way she said it... It was as though words could have sweetness to them that you could taste. She really was trying to sway him. It was an interesting offer and sounded like a lot of fun - and trouble. But he wasn't agreeing to anything yet, he would certainly need a day or two to think about it. And talk to Lani without the watchful gaze of Alice upon them. Tapping his finger against his jaw, Odion glanced at Lani, a lot of playful energy in his eyes. This was exactly the kind of challenge that had been lacking in his life, though he was sure Lani wasn't wanting to play more mind games. But still, freedom for Boston was bound to get some kind of reaction from the blond, not to mention the payout.

"My dear sweet Alice, you are putting quite a bit on the line just to keep us around," Odion said with a light tone. Surely there were plenty of other thieves with unique powers she could more easily sway. Then again, perhaps she didn't quite understand who she was dealing with, thieves were tricky bastards. "You would of course, allow us gentlemen to think on the offer, as you yourself suggested," he said, partly refilling his glass, gesturing towards the other two in case they too wanted more. "I would be happy to decide within a week's time." He looked at Lani and gave a wink. "I speak for myself of course."

[Lani Hunter]

Lani considered Alice for a moment and glance sideways at Odion. They had a lot to talk about. A lot he hadn’t yet told the time turner. A lot he probably should have said before this meeting. He had a feeling that Odion would not be happy that he’d withheld information. There was only the hope that Odion would understand why. It would make itself clear. He leveled his icy gaze at Alice, daring her to use that musical power on him. His own power hummed beneath the surface like a growling dragon. All it need was that one hint of provocation. It wouldn’t be controlled, Lani wouldn’t be controlled. The only reason he was even considering this was because of Odion. If Alice herself had asked him he would have laughed him her face. Obviously she hadn’t done her homework very well.

It seemed he had struck a nerve. His expression remained passive as her attitude shifted minutely. Her reaction gave him all the answer he needed. Any consideration he was giving her was in serious risk. Especially when she made such a bold offer to Odion. From the look on Odion’s face it was a big deal. That seemed dangerous. Dangerous but maybe just alluring enough for Odion to take it. Lani wondered how Odion had gotten mixed up in this all in the first place. Another small part of him wondered how this was different than the situation he had been in. Had he stayed with his boss he could be looking to something more. In fact there was something more. Another thing he hadn’t told Odion. He bit his tongue, he had been keeping a lot of secrets and it weighed on his conscious. He’d told Odion that he spoke to his old boss, he didn’t say what had been said.

Maybe it was the situation, or maybe it was something that Alice represented, but she was not doing a good job of getting on the telekinetic’s good side. He met her gaze with eyes that held the calm gaze of a viper, sparked to life when he gave her an impish grin. As if utterly gleeful at the idea of setting his own price. “The more I know about what is expected, the better I will be able to name a price.” He absently scratched his chin, let her think she had him figured out. He agreed, she was putting a lot on the line. Even Lani’s schooled features crossed with surprise. She was clever, Lani had to give that to her. He could have Boston but only so long as he didn’t defy her. That would mean any number of things. What Alice probably didn’t realize was that Lani already had Boston on his side. He could have Boston if he so wished. “Interesting…” Was all he said.

Lani’s hand nudged Odion’s leg under the table and nodded in agreement. He couldn’t imagine that Odion was actually considering this. This was suicide! He wondered if Odion thought this was really a good idea or if he was playing with Alice. He shook his head at Odion’s offer and took another sip from his barely touched wine. He raised a brow at Odion’s wink and gave the time turner a return “I might need more time. Or less,” Lani shrugged, “I’ll find you when I have an answer,” he said smoothly, not so subtly establishing his own control of the situation. He swirled his wine and took another sip, putting all indications that he was pleased with himself. He still thought Alice was bat shit crazy. There was no other explanation for her willingness to provoke the mobs.

[Alice Halifax]

Alice let her gaze drift to Odion as he spoke, measuring his words carefully. Despite his statement of wanting some time to think things over, she was almost fully sure that she had him. Alice was giving Odion a very important and powerful place within the Family and what she did understand of Odion, it was that the offer was too much too pass up. Odion was a thief after all and thieves loved money and power. Plus, it proved too much fun for someone such as Odion to pass up. Alice didn't claim to fully understand Odion, but she understood him well enough or to better put it, his type. He and Alice weren't too different. Sure, Odion was perhaps a bit more put together emotionally but at end of the day, they shared many traits. Lani would be the one thing which could keep Odion from Alice, hence part of the reason for the personal invitation to join the Family in some fashion or another.

Letting her eyes dart to Lani once more, Alice hardly blinked as the young man blathered on in some attempt to make this moment his own. He was cool and collected, yet in those charming eyes of his lurked a beast Alice almost recognized. There was a wildness there, something almost dangerous if you will. Alice wasn't exactly happy with Lani treating her as he had been, as if she was something common. He was arrogant, but then again so was Alice and Odion. She wouldn't fault him for his, but she would let him know she wasn't to be dismissed easily. Lani was underestimating Alice. She wasn't some upstart off the streets who thought they could climb the ranks of the underworld by playing a game they thought they understood. Alice came from an established family, one who had been manipulating the underworld back on the West Coast for decades. This great game wasn't knew to Alice and despite her young age, she was an accomplished player. Though to his merit, Lani did know a lot about the workings of the Boston families and no doubt knew tricks of his own to get him through the game. This would be fun.

Alice let Lani's words hang there in the air for a minute before saying anything. She knew better than to try her power on him, it would only end poorly. Lani was certainly strong willed and wouldn't be charmed easily, plus she didn't want to test his meta ability. "You've got your time Odion," Alice said keeping her eyes locked with Lani, "and you have until Odion gives me an answer mister Hunter," she added, slowly standing her to her feet at the edge of the table. "Always a pleasure Odion," she casually said, giving him a small smile and a wink before slowly walking off in the direction of the front door.