First Encounters

Pedestals lined the open halls, a thick deep colored red carpet was centered with lows of presine marble as its borders. A nice balance between the harder clicking of shoes mixed with the soft sounds of crunching carpet as people passed. Clicking of metal from armor and weapons rubbing against each other added to the orchestra that came and went, plenty of noises for the current lurking one to take into considerations and he moved through hallways in search of what he came for.

“Hm, I didn't expect it to be so well guarded. A well staffed homestead I see.” The red headed male mused to himself while rubbing his face. He was currently taking his spot amongst the shadows as another guard passed by, already the sixth time as well but he was told to be careful. Stealthy, no injuries or casualties, as unnoticed as he could possibly be, and no one should be the wiser to him coming and going. It wasn’t a problem, and he was informed that it might be the case, but he always hoped it would be a simple job even if he knew it never was. He was given what details he could of the estate he was sneaking through, though his employer wasn’t sure of finer details himself. The lack of information was why it was a higher rate, though still a good one compared to what he’d charge to others.

Moving out of his hiding spot to now a cracked open closet, he supposed all he could do was move through and try and find this ‘Love’ he was looking for. Male, but occasionally female, red headed and red eyed individual who was supposed to be back about a week ago. After the time passed their ‘friend’ became worried and that was where he stepped in. He had a picture as well, but that cute face wasn’t one he’d forget easily.

Hearing footsteps come closer, he sank back into the closet, hoping no curious eyes came looking in.

Fiddling with the device, a soft clicking sound followed by equally gentle ticks started sounding in the silent air. So far, this had been the part that always tripped him up. With agile fingers, he started uncurling the wires spun through like a web. Careful not to jostle any too hard, it unraveled in a timely fashion until the final wire fell to the ground, the ticking going silent. Hells, he was finally free!

Opening a pair of double doors carved with simple patterns, the demon was soon slipping down the hall before it even had time to click softly closed on its own. Not wasting a moment, that last trap had been what was giving him away all week, the alarm weaved with a new type of magic imported from some stupid smart mage he wished hadn't. He was still learning how to undo magic traps in general, throwing something so exotic already was a little overkill in his mind... Then again, perhaps his parents were starting to get desperate, given how he had come home with a couple bruises last time from getting roughed up a smidge. They simply wanted the best for him and he couldn't fault them for that.

What he could fault them for, was how many measures they took to keep him from the hateful world outside. Every turn had him either ducking behind the blinds, posing behind a suit of armor, or slipping into rooms he knew were empty. Coming around towards another hall, he was about halfway to freedom as he dashed.

What he didn't expect was that one of the maids was making an untimely stroll with a tray of snacks, possibly for him that was no longer stuck in his room.

Backtracking slightly he nearly threw himself into a closet that at least should be left alone until they had guests. Pressing his ear up against the door, he listened intently as the soft sound of footsteps passed by the door to continue down the short hall. Thankfully she hadn't spotted him. Breathing a sigh of relief, he turned around to lean his back against the door for a moment just to stiffen back up again. Years of experience taught him not to cry out in surprise seeing someone else's silhouette in the darkness to not give himself away. That didn't mean he didn't grab for the knife in his jacket much like when Juniper had first surprised him, taking up a 'ready' pose. Dealing with unsavory people before, he was glad not to be disguised as the young lady of the house as normal, in his normal adventuring attire, as he whispered at the shadowed stranger, "What are you doing here?" Not even going for a who, he doubted he would get that, just wanting to know if he should leave them be in his house or not.

Waiting for the footsteps to fade away, the red headed male stiffened up as someone else joined him. Pressed against the wall of the closet already he couldn’t move much more without making more noise. His only option was to be still, and still he was as the familiar colored hair and one dark colored horn became visible in the dim lighting. Ah, this must be Love, or a similar look alike that was doing what was described as ‘normal’ in the passing conversations he got. He wanted to see his face to be sure, the thing that couldn’t be changed as easily on whims and wants.

With the footsteps outside the door vanished and they turned to him, it was indeed the one he was looking for. Sadly not dressed up all pretty in that _maybe_ a pretty lady he was told about, though that was just a more hopeful thing as he wanted to see just how cute his target could be when pulling out all the stops. As the knife came out, he grabbed it with his gloved hands, a smirk crossing his lips at the quiet whisper of a question.

“I’m here to collect someone by the name of Love, you wouldn’t so happen to know them would you? My client paid only the best for them to come back alive and into their arms once more.” He expected a no, but he never could drop his guard and assume now in days. People always were being slightly different and showing him just how desperate they were.

He already had plans either way, duct tape was a wonderful invention he knew to never run out of. It muffled stupid and the unwilling so easily, and worked to repair weapons and armor in a tight pinch. He did hope for an easter job, not wanting to have to charge that extra bit for a target who didn’t want to work with his demands. Anselik had always been such a good customer, but he also knew he’d never overcharge because of that.

Panicking slightly when they chose to quickly close the distance, Love nearly pushed his blade into the other's hand. As far as his black and white vision could tell him in such dark quarters, however, they had yet to pull anything back on him. Whether that was from confidence or stupidity, he wasn't sure yet. What he was sure, was that whoever this happened to be was stunning. There was only the dim lighting creeping in through the cracks in the door, but it caught the golden markings, throwing flecks into the darker hair. He might be a little bias considering he had red hair himself, however, he still thought that anyone would be crazy not to think wow after seeing them so close up.

There were more pressing things to do than admire the trespasser sadly. By the way they talked, it sounded like they only knew his nickname and disguised self. That'd make things so much easier for him as he tried to lower the knife without hurting them. "Love? Sure. It'd be weirder if I didn't. The owner of this place's precious daughter." One for surprises, Love took up a more relaxed stance, though still stole suspicious glances at the other in case of any sudden movements. "Also happens to be a redhead, closer to your height than me, though I'd say that's just the heels. Polite thing that I'm sure wouldn't put up much fuss if you're here to bring them to some kinda worried lover."

Of course the last part of the stranger's story was most suspicious to him. There shouldn't be anyone he knew of that wanted him, as they put, 'into their arms once more'. It sounded more like a nice way to say someone wished for him to be locked up for ransom, which, Love just so happened to not be into. "How about this. I happen to know an easy path deeper into the mansion where her room is. You tell me how you got in from here, and I'll help you get deeper in an untrapped path. I'm sure you've noticed there are a lot of those by now."

“Hmmmm, you sure about that.” When told yes once more, he hummed some more, leaning in closer as he gently grasped that cute little face so he could whisper some not so sweet details to him. “I’d have one terrible employer if they didn’t provide a picture, don’t you think?” Letting it set in, he was fond of compliments even at the worst of times. “Much prettier up close though, quite my type if this wasn’t business at this moment. But alas, I can only admire that beauty for now.”

Hearing another set of footsteps rush by, with panicked calls, his pleasant face turned to a frown. He was afraid of this, so worrisome when they found out their precious people were missing and he wasn’t out of the building. The sneaking back was easy enough, but with how the target tried to slip away he was sure it couldn’t be that easy.

“Well, we should get a move on. Someone took notice that the oh so precious Love is missing, and they didn’t pay me for their concerns so it’s not one of mine.” Lifting Love up, he could say he was quite a sight from any angle, but there was business to be done before he could admire any more. “Any peep from you and I have a solution for that, do we have an understanding? It’s quite a walk back to hell and one I hope goes smoothly.”

Tilting his head slightly to at least hear what the other had to say, it only took Love a second before clicking that it wasn't a picture of a pretty human daughter the other had. They were simply playing around with him, knowing the whole time. Having that moment of oh no, of course his first thoughts were of escape, especially in his own home on high alert now. It should be easy if he could find the right moment. "Wha- wait, what're you-" Suddenly being grabbed and hefted, he clung to the other without thinking about it. A noble around the mansion, a demon outside of it, the only reason anyone ever laid a hand on him was to kiss his palm or have him kiss the dirt, being carried was new and unappreciated at the moment. He was at least making sure to stay quiet, whispering close to the kidnapper's ear for now, even if not peepless. "Sorry, couldn't really hear you that well." he feigned, wiggling a bit to try getting as comfortable as he could while hefted. "I -was- interested in getting out. I can still let you know the easiest path if you tell me who hired you and the real reason. Cause there's certainly no loving lover in my love life, waiting for that passionate embrace." Making sure to squirm dramatically, he wasn't told not to hold still as well to make the other's time easier.

“I did get myself into the building undetected, and regardless of if you cooperate or not it'll be just as easy to get out. Just whether you want to go freely or in handcuffs and restraints is up to you.” At least with everyone heading to the room he was once heading for, it was a bit easier to just quickly head down the halls and listen for when to hide deeper into the carved out areas full of shadows instead of having to duck in every crevice he could find. “I was hired to bring you back to someone who spoke of worry for you, and for that is all you will know.” He didn’t have doubts it was a life, Anselik more than happy to admit when things may go unsavory, but with Love trying to talk his way out it seems he had made his fair share of enemies.

“Check the halls!” Hearing a call he was all too familiar with and meant it was time for him to hustle, he could only sigh as he let Love down for a moment as he sank into one of the empty craters in the wall. Meant for a pedestal and art of some sort, he was sure of, but it was missing for one reason or another and he wasn’t curious enough to know details.

“Luckily for you, they paid for quite a high end expensive item to make our trip shorter. Our time together will be shorter lived, but hopefully the journey will be just as memorable.”

"Oh my. I may not mind as long as it's you restraining me." This might not be the time or place, but it was rare for the demon to skip out on spewing flirty retorts that normally have the people of his city disgusted.

Humming after, Love was quiet as he tried to debate if there really was such a person in his life now. Besides his parents only a single one diiiid stick out. They were never worried enough to send someone to fetch him as far as he was aware. He wasn't about to rule out the possibility that everything this person said was simply lies to get him to comply either. Especially now that he knew they were aware of who he was from the start; not even the fact that they need him alive was to be trusted.

Being such a good little hostage so far, he leaned back against the handsome stranger gently to fit into the nook. Glancing up, they were certainly someone that belonged among the artwork, it was too bad he full of suspicion about their real intentions. Waiting until he saw someone pass by the hall to their hiding place, Love inched up on his toes a bit to whisper, "You're as beautiful as a painting," before elbowing them in the side at such a perfect height. "HELP, OVER HERE!!"

Thinking for a moment it would be easy, as he felt the pressure of a jabbing elbow into his side the kinder face turned to one of disappointment. It was a bit of a reaction at first as he took Love's head and smacked it quickly against the wall, his body going limp for a moment as he at least just picked him up to be on his way. "You're lucky you are so cute." Not cute enough he wasn't going to fix this issue, but at the moment he had more pressing matters to attend to.

Making a few careful movements from his hiding spot to a new one in a room he knew was empty, he listened as the commotions came to the call but came up empty handed. It was a saving grace they didn't come towards them, but he did always put things back the way they were when he was scurrying about.

"Blasted child, sending us on a false trail." He heard one of the guards mumbling as Thief was applying a nice layer of duct tape and tying up love who was still conscious but probably a bit dizzy.

"Here I thought we'd be the best of companions on our travels, but I guess you like to play hard to get." He examined the area smacked into the wall, bruised for sure but it should be fine with some ice. "Well, I supposed let's take my precious package away. You're fond of magic, yes?"

Closing the door very carefully, he took on a tear drop shaped bottle and sprinkled out the red powder inside, watching the welcoming flames of hell greet him. "Sadly for my employer, this is just more expenses out of their pocket. Hopefully one they prepared for, for your sake."