01-02-2014, 04:18 PM
Drayson's attempts to meet with the Ascendancy were cut short. In part, the leader of the CCD was not the sort who was allowed a moment alone at this sort of party. There were plenty of folks far higher on the social pecking order to meet with the man in an effort to curry his favor. Of course, there was also the strange incident with that out-of-place fellow. Everything about the man that had somehow managed to run into the Ascendancy screamed he was better suited to the streets. And, if Drayson didn't miss his guess, that was exactly where that fellow usually roamed.
He hadn't the high tech gadgets and gizmos most folks relied on these days, but he did have an excellent memory. He would spend some time looking into the fellow, whom some in the crowd related the name of 'Candyman.' A rather traditional term for the local drug peddler. Made sense then how the fellow had found his way into the party. But why were the city elites relying on what seemed to be a common street peddler in nice clothes? Whatever the case, he had nothing to act on and no real interest to at the moment. Catching the drug dealers was no longer his job. Nor were pick pockets, as he caught of Jaxen making his way around the room again. If he had taken that fool woman's ring again...
Despite Drayson's earlier goading and dangerous hints of knowledge with some folks around the room, there were still those who thought to stop him, to make 'small talk.' They were ever testing the water, so to speak, always eager to make a useful ally of a Chief Inspector. Drayson had little doubt that at least a few of the men and women that held the title throughout the CCD were on someone's payroll other then the tax payers, and these were the sorts of people who saw the world in the light of anything having a price tag.
It was because of one such delay, as Drayson frowned down at a eastern-European businessman who, if he hadn't missed his guess, had one too many. Champagnes and pills both, likely. The man's efforts at subtlety were embarrassing at best, but it proved just delaying enough to make Drayson's day more interesting.
Unsettled by the sudden bang of the doors crashing open earlier, annoyed that his date had spilled her drink on his expensive suit, slighted by Jaxen's interruption, the man who's arm the Tahitian beauty was gracing that night was pushed to the very edge of his patience. The last straw came as he discovered the card his date had tucked away in the palm of her hand.
By the time the rich young man started in Drayson's direction, the Tahitian woman was nursing a sore arm where bruises would likely soon form, and was starting to consider the card she still held.
Drayson turned to meet the fuming young man, and seemed to draw himself taller as the rich man approached. One deep breath and he squared his shoulders, although considering the height difference between the two men, it was entirely unnecessary.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
The man's tone was cold and authoratative; he was the type who was accustomed to people knowing him, respecting him (or fearing), and knowing their own place. All things that Drayson did not.
Drayson folded his arms over his chest, the sleeves tugging up to reveal a decidedly functional and not dreadfully expensive watch, and the buttons of his shirt sleeves straining against thick forearms. Physical prowess meant nothing to the likes of the rich elite; they were well above such simple threats, after all, but the watch was noted with a disdainful eye-roll at such a common brand. "Chief Inspector Drayson McCullough, Custody Domestic Protection Service. And you are...?"
The young man's eyes bulged at the insult. Anyone invited to the party knew who he was. "I am Rurik Alkaev, son of Borislav Alkaev. Privilege Alkaev."
Rurik seemed to think that that alone would put Drayson at his feet begging for forgiveness, but the smug look of victory began to fade quickly.
Drayson's evident lack of interest in Rurik didn't change a hair at the mentioning of the boy's father and position. An awkward silence passed between the two, until Rurik's visage was once more lit with anger, "And?"
Rurik's eyes bulged at the blatant sense of...boredom! in Drayson's tone. "And what?! How dare you give my girl a fucking card? You're not good enough for someone like her."
Drayson's stance didn't change, just staring at Rurik for another long moment as if to let what the man had said sink in. Then he let out a roar of laughter and clapped the smaller man on the shoulder, "HAH! That's a good one. No, I don't have time for that sort of thing. I work for a living, Rurik. No, you misunderstand I fear. I gave her the card, so when you try beating her tonight, she can call me, and I can have a car come by and bring you in for some tea and crumpets."
Drayson continued to smile, as if the whole thing was just a bit of fun, but it just infuriated Rurik further. "You think you can touch me? Arrest me?! You fucking idiot, you really have no idea who my father is! One word from him and you'll be lucky if you're left to beg on the streets!"
Drayson's visage sobered instantly, the smile and humor gone. "No boy. You do not want to be dragging your father's name into this. Don't want to be making promises you can't keep."
Rurik blanched at Drayson's total lack of fear at the threat. No one just brushed him off like that! He glanced around, and realized they had drawn a bit of a crowd, a few other guests standing just close enough to overhear without out being two obvious that they were watching.
Drayson glanced past Rurik as the boy clearly struggled to come to grips with the situation, and spotted the man's date leaving the coat check and heading out the door. "Now I think I've kept you long enough, Rurik. Run along before you get yourself in trouble."
Rurik's face flashed a bright red, and he grabbed Drayson by the lapel as if to try and pull the larger man down to face level. "My father can have you killed you impertinent piece of..."
The first tug barely made Drayson budge, and the second was cut short as he closed a large fist around Rurik's wrist, his own grip slowly tightening.
This time, Drayson's smile was entirely humourless, "Threatening a Chief Inspector? I must have misheard you."
Rurik cursed and tore his hand free of Drayson's grip, entirely oblivious to the fact that he only got it back because Drayson let go. "You damn well heard me, Chief Inspector."
Drayson calmly straightened his suit jacket, and smiled down at Rurik, stepping dangerously close to the man. "I look forward to seeing how your father enjoys visiting the station then."
He pulled his Wallet out, calmly thumbing a few keys before tucking it away. "Your ride will be waiting for you outside, when you're ready to leave, Mr Alkaev."
He then stepped past the smaller man, heading for the door leaving Rurik sputtering in futile anger. He did stop a few strides off to glance back at him, "Unless you're too afraid to walk out the front door, of course. See you soon."
He would let Rurik stew, and continue to make a fool of himself at the party. Let the boy dig his own grave, so to speak.
He hadn't the high tech gadgets and gizmos most folks relied on these days, but he did have an excellent memory. He would spend some time looking into the fellow, whom some in the crowd related the name of 'Candyman.' A rather traditional term for the local drug peddler. Made sense then how the fellow had found his way into the party. But why were the city elites relying on what seemed to be a common street peddler in nice clothes? Whatever the case, he had nothing to act on and no real interest to at the moment. Catching the drug dealers was no longer his job. Nor were pick pockets, as he caught of Jaxen making his way around the room again. If he had taken that fool woman's ring again...
Despite Drayson's earlier goading and dangerous hints of knowledge with some folks around the room, there were still those who thought to stop him, to make 'small talk.' They were ever testing the water, so to speak, always eager to make a useful ally of a Chief Inspector. Drayson had little doubt that at least a few of the men and women that held the title throughout the CCD were on someone's payroll other then the tax payers, and these were the sorts of people who saw the world in the light of anything having a price tag.
It was because of one such delay, as Drayson frowned down at a eastern-European businessman who, if he hadn't missed his guess, had one too many. Champagnes and pills both, likely. The man's efforts at subtlety were embarrassing at best, but it proved just delaying enough to make Drayson's day more interesting.
Unsettled by the sudden bang of the doors crashing open earlier, annoyed that his date had spilled her drink on his expensive suit, slighted by Jaxen's interruption, the man who's arm the Tahitian beauty was gracing that night was pushed to the very edge of his patience. The last straw came as he discovered the card his date had tucked away in the palm of her hand.
By the time the rich young man started in Drayson's direction, the Tahitian woman was nursing a sore arm where bruises would likely soon form, and was starting to consider the card she still held.
Drayson turned to meet the fuming young man, and seemed to draw himself taller as the rich man approached. One deep breath and he squared his shoulders, although considering the height difference between the two men, it was entirely unnecessary.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
The man's tone was cold and authoratative; he was the type who was accustomed to people knowing him, respecting him (or fearing), and knowing their own place. All things that Drayson did not.
Drayson folded his arms over his chest, the sleeves tugging up to reveal a decidedly functional and not dreadfully expensive watch, and the buttons of his shirt sleeves straining against thick forearms. Physical prowess meant nothing to the likes of the rich elite; they were well above such simple threats, after all, but the watch was noted with a disdainful eye-roll at such a common brand. "Chief Inspector Drayson McCullough, Custody Domestic Protection Service. And you are...?"
The young man's eyes bulged at the insult. Anyone invited to the party knew who he was. "I am Rurik Alkaev, son of Borislav Alkaev. Privilege Alkaev."
Rurik seemed to think that that alone would put Drayson at his feet begging for forgiveness, but the smug look of victory began to fade quickly.
Drayson's evident lack of interest in Rurik didn't change a hair at the mentioning of the boy's father and position. An awkward silence passed between the two, until Rurik's visage was once more lit with anger, "And?"
Rurik's eyes bulged at the blatant sense of...boredom! in Drayson's tone. "And what?! How dare you give my girl a fucking card? You're not good enough for someone like her."
Drayson's stance didn't change, just staring at Rurik for another long moment as if to let what the man had said sink in. Then he let out a roar of laughter and clapped the smaller man on the shoulder, "HAH! That's a good one. No, I don't have time for that sort of thing. I work for a living, Rurik. No, you misunderstand I fear. I gave her the card, so when you try beating her tonight, she can call me, and I can have a car come by and bring you in for some tea and crumpets."
Drayson continued to smile, as if the whole thing was just a bit of fun, but it just infuriated Rurik further. "You think you can touch me? Arrest me?! You fucking idiot, you really have no idea who my father is! One word from him and you'll be lucky if you're left to beg on the streets!"
Drayson's visage sobered instantly, the smile and humor gone. "No boy. You do not want to be dragging your father's name into this. Don't want to be making promises you can't keep."
Rurik blanched at Drayson's total lack of fear at the threat. No one just brushed him off like that! He glanced around, and realized they had drawn a bit of a crowd, a few other guests standing just close enough to overhear without out being two obvious that they were watching.
Drayson glanced past Rurik as the boy clearly struggled to come to grips with the situation, and spotted the man's date leaving the coat check and heading out the door. "Now I think I've kept you long enough, Rurik. Run along before you get yourself in trouble."
Rurik's face flashed a bright red, and he grabbed Drayson by the lapel as if to try and pull the larger man down to face level. "My father can have you killed you impertinent piece of..."
The first tug barely made Drayson budge, and the second was cut short as he closed a large fist around Rurik's wrist, his own grip slowly tightening.
This time, Drayson's smile was entirely humourless, "Threatening a Chief Inspector? I must have misheard you."
Rurik cursed and tore his hand free of Drayson's grip, entirely oblivious to the fact that he only got it back because Drayson let go. "You damn well heard me, Chief Inspector."
Drayson calmly straightened his suit jacket, and smiled down at Rurik, stepping dangerously close to the man. "I look forward to seeing how your father enjoys visiting the station then."
He pulled his Wallet out, calmly thumbing a few keys before tucking it away. "Your ride will be waiting for you outside, when you're ready to leave, Mr Alkaev."
He then stepped past the smaller man, heading for the door leaving Rurik sputtering in futile anger. He did stop a few strides off to glance back at him, "Unless you're too afraid to walk out the front door, of course. See you soon."
He would let Rurik stew, and continue to make a fool of himself at the party. Let the boy dig his own grave, so to speak.