LUC FOURNIER
Dragon
Posts: 61
Age:
354
Occupation:
Security Operative/Businessman
Status:
It's Complicated
Partner:
Ingrid Nilsen
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Jun 16, 2024 19:00:09 GMT
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Post by LUC FOURNIER on Apr 12, 2023 19:58:38 GMT
One glass was safe in the place. As long as he kept a hold on it. Luc had curled his hand protectively around it earlier, drawing it towards himself with a pleasant enough smile for the girl. His other hand had fluttered in the air, warding off any sort of offer to take it and its dregs of the beer he’d poured for himself when he’d arrived. There were only a few specks of foam left clinging to the sides now, maybe a couple of drops left in the bottom if he wanted to chase them down for the last of the Dutch courage he needed to do what Hector couldn’t.
It had been so much easier when all you had to do was draw a blade or gun, or set the tips of your fingers to burning as you jabbed them in the small of some asshole’s back and ordered him to walk the plank. Most of their own people they’d sent off that way would survived – there weren’t many of things you could kill with such human means on board Hector’s boat – but there’d been plenty they’d boarded who wouldn’t have been found floating and pissed off days later. Still, he hadn’t felt half as guilty about them as he would Ayla.
With polite little smiles he’d played off the idea that he was watching her, monitoring her work. The books – those that listed transactions that had never gone through the cash registers – spread out in front of him. Neat rows of figures, the details of each exchange with Manny written in his own hand, his own code. With the police sniffing around Hector’s heels here he wasn’t about to leave it all spelled out in black and white for them, but he was too fastidious to go without making some note of how their business was going. Luc flipped it shut finally, setting his pen down on top. It wasn’t like Ayla would’ve been able to figure any of it out either, from what he’d heard she barely spoke English. What had spilled from her lips in his company had been broken at best – just like her heart was gonna be when he plucked that tub from her hands and told her that she was done … permanently.
He propped his forearms on the edge of the bar, watching as she made her way along it, probably with a list of orders from the werewolf rolling in her head. Maybe if the only trouble she was causing was the constant destruction of glasses and bottles Hector would’ve caved and let her stay, but oh, Ayla was capable of far more than dropping every single glass she ever touched.
Cool, appraising eyes studied her profile as she worked, bold when she wasn’t looking right at him. Anybody else maybe, any other face she could possible have chosen, and it wouldn’t have been half the problem it was. Ayla had put her finger right on the only one that could tear out Hector’s gut – or the heart that most of his employees likely would’ve said he didn’t possess. He might’ve strutted around this place like the Tin Man, hollow inside and not the least bit bothered about it. It was all an act though, shields slapped up over the devastation Evelyn’s death had caused, welded into place without a single crack showing. Without meaning it, Ayla had wedged those butter fingers into one of them, prying the seam apart, letting the softer parts of Hector show just long enough.
Luc let out a long breath as he finally gestured Ayla towards him. That was why he’d ended up the one with the odious task here. Hector was still too soft and vulnerable to do this himself – especially if Ayla happened to switch as her emotions swung wild from the news that she wasn’t working here anymore – and any of the others would’ve asked why, not taking ‘none of your business, just do what you’re told’ as a satisfying reason why.
His smile grew, all soft charm – the sort that would’ve had Ingrid hissing out a sign – as he tilted his head towards the stool next to him. ”Do you want to pour yourself a drink? I need a word … to talk to you…” Luc adjusted as he realised that ‘a word’ was probably only going to have her lips pursing in confusion, her eyes going hazy as she tried to work out what the boss’ partner had said to her. ”You can take a seat.” He set his glass aside, out of what he thought was likely the danger zone, then patted the stool next to him. His gaze cut to the stack of cocktail napkins, in reach, just in case he suddenly had a crying woman on his hands. If the water works started Hector was going to owe far more than he already did.
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AYLA KIRAZ
Shapeshifter
Posts: 41
Played by:
Julia
Last seen Oct 30, 2024 19:44:40 GMT
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Post by AYLA KIRAZ on May 10, 2023 17:35:07 GMT
 ━ kadınlar beğenince değil, güvenince âşık olur ━
Ayla bustled happily up and down the length of the bar, mentally ticking off all the things Kit had told her to do. She smiled politely at Mr. Fournier and thought of asking when Hector would be in, but decided against it. It wasn’t that she thought of Hector in any way other than professional… well, maybe they were friends. And she had a fiance, after all. She just liked helping Hector with what he was going through, and she appreciated seeing another side of him━one that was far softer than what he presented to the rest of his staff. Ayla felt like they were best friends.
Though she would definitely say the person she was closest to here was Raik. And perhaps that was wrong, as the person who should’ve held that title was Remzi, but her future husband didn’t want to let himself be known yet. Raik was… vulnerable, in a way. And he was sweet, perhaps the nicest man she’d ever known, while still being… nope, nope. She was not going there.
While heat flared in her belly at the thought, Ayla nearly dropped the bin full of warm soapy water in her hands. She supposed it wouldn’t have been that bad if she had, as it would’ve cleaned the floor as she mopped it up, but still. She didn’t want to do that in front of Mr. Fournier.
Thankfully, she didn’t. Ayla began wiping down the counters before she saw Mr. Fournier start waving her over, and then she abandoned the wet cloth and happily marched over, beaming. She didn’t get a sense of impending doom from his words, and only nodded. “Thank you!” Ayla chimed, pouring herself a glass of water (and only spilling a bit over the side, look at that! That was an improvement!) and left it on the counter as she walked around to take a seat next to him.
“How are you, Mr. Foreign-a?” She asked, priding herself on figuring out the proper English phrase and (what she thought) was the correct pronunciation of his name. Ayla reached out to sip her water and carefully set the glass back down, wondering what he had to talk to her about. Perhaps they wanted her to work more shifts! Oh, that would be nice! She loved contributing to her wedding fund!
LUC FOURNIER | no notes. |
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LUC FOURNIER
Dragon
Posts: 61
Age:
354
Occupation:
Security Operative/Businessman
Status:
It's Complicated
Partner:
Ingrid Nilsen
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Jun 16, 2024 19:00:09 GMT
|
Post by LUC FOURNIER on Jun 5, 2023 20:05:06 GMT
Hector wouldn’t have had a problem kicking any other puppy – so to speak - who ended up working here (if any of them were insane enough to do it willingly). His first experience of him had been a bitter one. There was no heart to the thing that had cut his father’s throat, or stopped him from incinerating the men who had taken Giselle, before she too had been left so still and bloodied on the boat. He couldn’t have said he’d seen a glimpse of one in Hector even as he was dragged away to join his crew on the Bachelor’s Delight. The man hadn’t taken a boy on board because he cared, he was just useful. Luc had felt the bitterness of that stick in his throat for years afterwards as he’d plotted time and again to find a way to leave Hector in the same state his family had been.
When had hatred softened to tolerance? When had that tolerance left the captain and his crew feeling as though they were his replacement family? There was no day to pinpoint it to, but soften he had eventually, like a sheer cliff face, footed with the razor sharp rocks of his temper (just waiting for the unwary to fall upon them finally), growing handholds, its unforgiving edges disappearing under the fresh growth of some new life. If he hadn’t softened, then Hector would’ve been putting on his big boy pants to do this himself.
Luc tilted his head as Ayla started towards him with that beaming smile on his face, his lips thinning for a moment where she couldn’t seen them. They parted with a sigh, his hand covering his face for a moment. He’d watched her for a time this afternoon and it was obvious her only crime had been what she could do to that near non-existent heart of Hector’s. The bitter rancid little nutshell of it had started to crack to reveal something soft and tender within and he couldn’t had that, even if that vulnerable meat of it could withstand having his dead love standing right before him every time the girl decided to be helpful in a different way. He couldn’t swear he could’ve taken it if it had been him in Hector’s footsteps, watching Ayla’s hair turn blonde, tumbling down her back as those softly pretty features hardened, the full lips pinching in distaste the way Ingrid’s often did. Ingrid hadn’t meant half as much to him as Evelyn had to Hector, and it still would’ve been a sting.
He turned towards Ayla as she chirped out a ‘thank you’ like he was doing her a favour here and poured herself a sink. Were the books far enough out of the way? Luc glanced down to check, pushing them another inch aside as he saw the tiny runnels of water making their way down the side of the glass to pool on the bar top. At least she didn’t pick it up to walk around the bar. As she walked around, he plucked a napkin from the holder and lifted her glass to slip it underneath.
”Luc, please,” he told her automatically, managing not to goggle at her as she turned the usual soft, French pronunciation of his surname into something he couldn’t argue he wasn’t, but still, what on earth. Luc surely couldn’t be garbled the same way. Luc’s lips curved back into that pleasant smile, the one that had once managed to melt the most frozen heart he’d ever met – a little at least. ”I’m fine, thank you. How are you, Ayla? Hector’s told me you’ve been settling in here, trying very hard with the work. It’s been appreciated.” Her effort had been at least, even if it usually resulted in a crash and a panicked clean up.
Sighing slightly, he reached for his own glass, taking a sip as he darted another glance at her. Hector owed him. ”I’m sure you know it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. There’ve been lots of …” He made the sound of a glass smashing, his hands spreading open in the air like he was miming the fall out. ”Accidents. Yes? Lots to clean up.” He swallowed hard, letting his gaze drift along the bar again. Hector wouldn’t hesitate to finally break up a friendship if he let anybody else in here hear what had been going on between their well-meaning little ball of chaos and the boss who kept himself up on an ivory pedestal, all the better not to let anybody get too good a look at the emotional scars he carried beneath those expensive suits.
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AYLA KIRAZ
Shapeshifter
Posts: 41
Played by:
Julia
Last seen Oct 30, 2024 19:44:40 GMT
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Post by AYLA KIRAZ on Jun 19, 2023 18:57:34 GMT
━ kadınlar beğenince değil, güvenince âşık olur ━
And she wasn’t sure why all the men in charge insisted on being called by their first names, but Ayla would have to just accept and respect it. She was in a new country, after all, and if they chose to be strange and invite disrespect, then she would have to adapt. It was the only way she’d survive in this place.
“Yes!” She beamed, gathering her hands in her lap like it would contain her excitement. Ayla rocked in her chair slightly, so happy that Hector had given her a glowing review. How wonderful! She was so happy to have met him! He was so kind and generous, and she hoped they would be even better friends after what’d happened in his office. “I doing really good here━in club, not in States. More harder than Turkey. So much rules in English,” She laughed, then shook her head, “I trying very hard, though, yes!” Ayla matched his phrase, knowing she had to say it right if she was copying him.
She sipped her water, too, though she felt the slow shift in Luc’s words. Ayla began to frown, then sipped her water again to buy more time. She watched him mime… a bomb going off? Or a glass breaking? Luc wasn’t very good at charades. “Oh, oh… yes…” Ayla nodded twice slowly, letting her head hang. “Well… I clean every time.” She stated proudly, and made an extra effort to set her glass down slowly and carefully, pausing to watch it as she did. Finally, her focus was back on Luc. Perhaps he was just reminding her of the things she had to work on before giving her more responsibility? Yes, that had to be it. “And I drop less! Not as many as before! I am clumsy, but I have responsible… responsibility.” She nodded sharply, almost a panicked expression on her face now.
LUC FOURNIER | no notes. |
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LUC FOURNIER
Dragon
Posts: 61
Age:
354
Occupation:
Security Operative/Businessman
Status:
It's Complicated
Partner:
Ingrid Nilsen
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Jun 16, 2024 19:00:09 GMT
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Post by LUC FOURNIER on Jul 10, 2023 17:15:16 GMT
Ingrid wasn’t the sort who gave away any sort of emotion. She could’ve been the inspiration for the term ice queen – although if you managed to crack that frigid shell the heat that sizzled beneath it rapidly became obvious. Tears probably dried up in that heat before they had a chance of making it to her eyes. Even when he’d told her he was leaving, Luc had barely seen a chink to that shell. Ayla was the absolute opposite. She was practically transparent, the innate sweetness that Hector couldn’t bear to see snuffed out shining through her. If it was just the glasses he’d probably have left her to it, but that sweetness had left her making the only mistake that’d get her fired. Ayla had proven that the big man himself had a heart and that wouldn’t do.
Luc felt the bounds of his own in his chest, wishing he could temporarily flip off his emotions the same way a vampire could. It’d make all of this far easier than a pasted on smile and the prickle of a conscience that hadn’t been eroded the same way Hector’s had. If she started crying he wasn’t quite sure what he’d do – other than wad up a handful of the napkins and pat her awkwardly on the back. Ingrid had ruined him there, leaving him half craving women who didn’t let their emotions bubble up with every breath. Her being locked down, insisting on handling everything herself on board her ship, had saved him from having to deal with all of this before. With Hector it was different and would remain so as long as he was the only one really aware of what had happened in his past.
No, wait, what about Magnus? Luc cursed mentally. He wasn’t the only one Hector was close to here, but Magnus hadn’t been drawn into this mess. The kindly, lined face might have come in handy. It would’ve been almost fatherly then, probably less of a sting when it came with that soft accent. He could try, but it wasn’t going to be the same coming with the lingering mingled hint of French and Dutch – a European muddle as some had called it.
That twinge was back as Ayla beamed at her, energy practically sparking off of her like fireworks. He’d snuff them in a minute, leaving that pall of smoke behind. His lips twitched, his smile more genuine for a moment. ”It’s not an easy language to learn, but you’re doing so well with it. You have tried.” The emphasis should’ve been there on have, pushing the idea that it would soon be a thing of the past. ”You’ll get used to it here, eventually. Especially when you’re working so hard to settle in. Have you got family here? Friends?” People who would help mop the tears up later, so that he didn’t have to. He’d drive her home if he really had to, the extra pay packet he squeezed in on top of whatever Hector considered severance pressed into her palm like an apology.
He had to cut that wound into her first, the anticipation of it leaving him dancing away from the edge of the revelation again. She was suspecting something though, something in what he’d said penetrating far enough to have Ayla frowning. Luc shifted like he had indigestion, that uncomfortable feeling rising in the pit of his stomach. He lifted his glass, trying to wash it away, but it wasn’t working. ”You do,” he agreed, looking back at her. ”You do clean it up very well.” And she’d been working hard at trying to cut the clumsiness, but when it was that innate, it was a losing game to believe you could rid yourself of something like that. One slip in attention and the entire lot would come crashing down – one sneeze and you were wearing a dead lover’s face again.
Panic was settling in and Luc reached out to lay his hand on her arm. He squeezed lightly, dipping his head to try and meet her eye. A quick twist of the blade to make it quicker. ”Hector knows that you’ve been doing better – and yes, you’re very responsible. He can’t keep paying for new glasses though, it’s … expensive and disruptive. You understand, don’t you? We can’t keep on like this.” She would’ve tried though, probably shaking like a whipped dog every time an accident happened. This was kinder, wasn’t it? ”I’m sorry, Ayla. We have to let you go.” That was the softest way of putting it. The ‘you’re fired’ would’ve been a cannonball to the gut, stealing whatever breath was likely to sob out of her in a second.
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AYLA KIRAZ
Shapeshifter
Posts: 41
Played by:
Julia
Last seen Oct 30, 2024 19:44:40 GMT
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Post by AYLA KIRAZ on Jul 26, 2023 18:12:13 GMT
━ kadınlar beğenince değil, güvenince âşık olur ━
She would eventually get used to it here, he said━another point for her likely being here for a while. “Yes,” Ayla bobbed her head in a happy nod, though she paused and turned it to the side partway through. “Well… only my fiancé’s brother. And my fiancé. Oh, and I have Hannya here! She is good friend. She helped me with interview… for Hector.” Ayla nodded happily once more.
Unfortunately, he brought up her… accidents. Ayla frowned and nodded, though she was sure her response was a great one. She was trying to do better. She was doing better! Even Luc agreed, which meant she was right; he was only bringing it up to tell her what to work on before giving her more responsibility.
“Thank you!” Ayla bobbed her head again, though it was filled with anxiety this time, a low thrum throughout her body. Something else was coming; this was not a promotion of sorts. He’d gone into too much detail about her clumsiness, and as Ayla’s eyes darted to the hand on her arm and back up to Luc’s face, she was almost sure of it. Her stomach sank.
Hector knows. Hector can’t keep paying for new glasses.
This was about more than her clumsiness. Hannya’s good word had perhaps gotten her farther than most other jobs, but it was about time that she was let go. Like clockwork. However, she couldn’t escape the idea that he wanted her gone for another reason, too.
“But… but… no,” She sniffled, tears gathering in her eyes quickly, soon streaming down her cheeks. She didn’t want to lay down and just take this without a fight, but she also knew it wasn’t easy for Hector. “I have been doing better! You said it! I can do more better. Even more. I just need chance. I need… I need to have job in this country,” Ayla began to sob, and she took a shaky sip of water, managing to drink it and lay it down again without incident. “Hector is mad at me? That is why he did not do this?” She motioned between them, referring to how Hector was nowhere to be found even though she’d mostly dealt with him. She wasn’t going to break Hector’s trust and ask Luc if he knew, but that had to be the reason. He seemed willing to be patient with her before.
LUC FOURNIER | no notes. |
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LUC FOURNIER
Dragon
Posts: 61
Age:
354
Occupation:
Security Operative/Businessman
Status:
It's Complicated
Partner:
Ingrid Nilsen
Played by:
Ange
Last seen Jun 16, 2024 19:00:09 GMT
|
Post by LUC FOURNIER on Aug 20, 2023 15:29:40 GMT
Undoubtedly Ayla had tried very hard – and that included doing what she thought would make Hector smile in the way she did now. In that regard she’d been too successful for her own good. This was going to be like crushing a flower in the palm of his hand, the perfect petals crumpled, the life stolen from it, the lush scent turning sour. Fuck Hector for making him do it.
She hadn’t seen how he was trying to prop her up yet, trying to ease support into place for when he pulled out the linchpin of the job. Maybe Ayla wouldn’t notice it at all, crumpling without trying to hold onto one of those supports to get herself through a trying time in a country that she was so new to. Luc hadn’t expected one of them to be Hannya. At Ayla’s mention of her his brain shot straight past the talk of a fiancé’s brother (there was probably something telling in him being mentioned before the fiancé himself), to the very demon in their midst. ”Hannya?” he spluttered. Shaking his head faintly, Luc reached for his drink and took a gulp. ”That was very good of her. I’m sure she saw that Hector had a need.” Perhaps not the sort that Hector had considered when he’d hired her. What painful little memories had Hannya been able to drag out of Hector’s mind to manipulate?
A shudder had run down his spine before he’d turned the conversation back to the nefarious deed he had to do. A simple explanation for letting her go – one that wouldn’t have held up with anybody who had more of a backbone. Luc saw the other shoe start to fall for Ayla, her pretty, open face starting to crumple inwards with that frown. Feeling his stomach go with it, looking to avoid Ayla’s anxiety turning into sobbing – which he wouldn’t have been able to handle – Luc settled his hand on her arm and immediately regretted it.
Her eyes darted down to it, then rose to his face. Luc tried to push more of an apology into his eyes, his head starting to shake lightly as though it would soften the blow somehow. Ayla might not have been able to recite the Pledge of Allegiance yet, or go a full day without smashing a glass, but she could see what was happening.
”Yes, I’m so sorry Ayla. I know it’s not what you wanted. We appreciate how hard you’ve tried to change things, but sometimes just better isn’t enough and this is one of those times.” If it had been just the glasses Hector might have waited it out, teeth gritted, a rolling order with his supplier to have new glasses delivered on an almost daily basis. It wasn’t though. Hector had been given a taste of what he had lost and the grief that had been reawakened with it was just too much.
Luc dipped his chin, slowly letting his hand slip from her arm. Ingrid would probably be a hard sell, but perhaps office work would be more suited to Ayla’s talents. Putting her in the field would likely be messy, perhaps there were ways to use the opportunity of someone who could change their appearance on a whim. ”We won’t let you get in trouble with your permits. I’m sure we’ll be able to help you find something else if you need us to.” Even if it meant putting her on a rolling schedule of jobs. Something had to stick eventually, didn’t it?
The sobs had started and, yep, he hated them as much as he thought he would. Luc laid a hand gently on the back of her shoulder, rubbing lightly the way he would have done with one of his sisters when they were upset. It stilled as Ayla almost hit the nail on the head. He stiffened, glancing sideways at her. ”Not mad, no,” he assured her, his words suddenly feeling weighty as lead on his tongue. Luc drew in a deep breath, his face pinching.
”He thought that perhaps the news would be better coming from me. He can be … sharp, yes? A little abrupt sometimes.” Apparently Hector could also be broken hearted, the soft spot at the centre of him reopened with reminders of a past he would rather forget, and that soft spot hadn’t healed over enough yet to face Ayla again. If she’d turned into Evelyn mid-way through Hector would have crumbled instantly. ”You can stay for the rest of the shift,” Luc offered. ”Perhaps I can drive you back home afterwards, if you need a ride.” Likely not given that he’d just been the one to fire her.
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AYLA KIRAZ
Shapeshifter
Posts: 41
Played by:
Julia
Last seen Oct 30, 2024 19:44:40 GMT
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Post by AYLA KIRAZ on Sept 11, 2023 22:29:42 GMT
━ kadınlar beğenince değil, güvenince âşık olur ━
She felt so low. Ayla normally already felt this way━most people disregarded her as soon as they knew she was clumsy or couldn’t speak the language, but this was worse. Hector couldn’t even do it himself.
Maybe he wasn’t mad,but he was certainly uncomfortable. Ayla barely felt Luc rubbing her back, and when she noticed he was doing it, she didn’t bother to push him away. It was nice━she didn’t get much physical contact anymore, and though it didn’t mean the same as it would if it was someone like… say, Raik, it was still nice.
“No,” Ayla protested, shaking her head. Hector had never been sharp or abrupt; he was always kind and patient with her. Very caring. Until now, it seemed.
And she didn’t want their help with another job━it was embarrassing enough going through this, but what would they say to her potential future employer? “Just try to give her a chance”? “She’ll break all your glasses and traumatize you”?
The idea of staying here any longer was worse. The only person she thought might’ve still wanted her there━might’ve had her back━didn’t, and that pain was perhaps the worst she’d ever felt. “No, please. I will go.” She almost said that they didn’t have to pay her for today, but Ayla already had a lot less money than she needed, and that just wasn’t possible. So, she’d go, and they could pay her whatever crumbs she’d earned today. She just wanted to get out of here.
Ayla slipped off the stool and stumbled into Luc’s knees, knocking the wind out of her before she stumbled backwards and shook her head. “I am… sorry.” She sniffled, “I go now.” And she did, so distraught that she forgot her bag in the back room. She’d just ask Hannya to pick it up for her━there was no way Ayla could show her face in that place again.
LUC FOURNIER | zee end! |
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hope to see you in the discord! 
