tampered | log; closed; and everything changes

log; closed; and everything changes

When; Friday afternoon
Rating; PG
Characters;

allinhishands
Summary; Riff gets sick. Alexis and co. decide to... help him.
Log;

Despite Sakura's healing, and despite the fact that his body was no longer wounded and physically should have been fine, Riff had found himself in the last few weeks only getting weaker. It was a slow, tiring process, aching limbs one day and coughing up blood the next, trying to take care of himself and visiting the pharmacy and the healer and most importantly trying not to worry Cain.

Before Alexis's arrival, he might have considered going to that Doctor Disraeli again; the man had helped him before, he had to grudgingly admit, and for whatever reason that had been, he might just help him again. But with Alexis in the City and Jezebel once more surely under his control, that option had become even more risky than it inherently was. He could not trust them.

And so he was left with trips to healers who didn't know what was wrong with him and medicines that only stalled symptoms without treating anything. It wasn't pneumonia. It wasn't any disease anyone seemed to be able to recognize. It frightened him-- but Cain needn't know that, Cain needn't worry. He would patch himself up and keep going; it was simply what one did in such situations.

Leaving the pharmacy with a fresh bag of cough medicines and fever reducers--at least drugs in the City were impressively advanced--Riff turned onto the street to head back to the Opera House.

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It would be unfortunate for something to happen to Riffael when he could provide him with aid. Of course it would also be unfortunate to lose a valuable tool. So he'd been keeping track of the manservant's movements, deciding that today would be an opportune moment to...collect him.

Lingering in the shadows with Jezebel, Alexis watched the young man heading back for the Opera House. He was weak in this moment. It would be the perfect time to strike.

"Just knock him out, Jezebel. We can take care of him once we have him somewhere safe."

Jezebel nodded, pulling a small jar of chloroform and a rag from the pocket of his coat. "As you wish," he said, dousing the rag heavily.

He moved quickly while staying in the shadows, keeping his footsteps light enough that Riff shouldn't hear anything suspicious. If he caught Riff off-guard, this would be incredibly easy. And even if Riff decided to fight back, he doubted there was any chance that Cain's manservant would prevail -- the weakness in his body was telegraphed clearly through his movements.

He didn't hear it immediately, but after a time, the constant repetition of his own footsteps became clear. Riff paused, eyes narrowing, and glanced around. There were other people on the street, but none were looking at him. He did not see the man in the shadows, but instinct told him to be wary. Tense and suspicious now, the weight of his purchase balanced in his weaker arm so he would have the other to fight with if it became necessary, Riff walked faster.

A dark and dangerous smile curled his lips as he watched his eldest son move like the predator he was. Slipping through shadows to get to his prey. It was beautiful in its own way. He'd raised him well. Alexis couldn't be more proud of how perfect his son had become over the years. When he was obedient like this, when he was the monster of the shadows.

Pulling out his pipe, he lit it so he could enjoy the smell of it while he waited for Jezebel to finish his task.

Following Riff was easy enough; even with his increased pace, Jezebel kept up easily. No passers-by seemed to think anything strange of him walking down the street, always staying the same distance from his target. They were all too preoccupied in their own affairs to think the soaked rag in his hand strange.

For the moment, he had to wait for Riffael to move to a less populated street. One or two witnesses might be manageable, but a crowd would be less so.

He paused again, uneasy, and this time, Riff caught just a glimpse of that long, pale hair before Jezebel could step out of sight. It was immediately recognizable.

Riff froze, eyes narrowing, and turned to look right at him.

Oh dear. Jezebel had been seen. Just what was he going to do now? This was proving to be entertaining enough. A prelude to the first act of this grand production he was putting on. Smirking, Alexis moved through the crowd, blending in perfectly. An easy enough task since his son was the one with the features that stood out.

When Riff realized he was there, there was a moment where Jezebel simply stood there, returning his gaze. All the while, a smirk slowly crept across his face.

And then he dashed, moving quickly through the street towards him. There was no use in hiding his presence any longer, but giving chase would still serve him well -- Riff was weaker and unlikely to run as well as he could in full health. And giving chase might panic him into running somewhere more advantageous.

Riff had no intention of running. He dropped his purchases immediately, reaching into his coat instead for the revolver he kept on him now. It was always best to be prepared, knowing the sorts of dangerous people the City harbored now.

Pointing the gun calmly at Jezebel, he only raised his voice enough to be heard. "What do you want, Doctor Disraeli?"

A gun. How quaint. Alexis wove his way through the crowds until he was behind Riff. There he removed his glasses so he could clean them with a cloth from his pocket. The manservant was just as prepared as he expected him to be.

"Just to talk," he said, announcing his presence. Of course shooting him would mean that Riff would be the one in trouble, caught by the police. There were conveniences to being an unarmed man.

Pity that Riff had brought the gun, but nothing insurmountable. Especially with so many witnesses around, while Riff faced two men who seemed to carry no weapons. He idly wondered if that might attract a bit of attention.

"From what we understand," he said slowly, watching Riff all the while. "You have not been faring well, Riffael."

That voice--too familiar, too close sent a chill down his spine. Riff whirled immediately, hiding the wince that came with the sudden motion, and cocked his gun. It didn't matter to him right now what the passes-by thought. He was aware of what these men were capable of.

"Your concern is truly touching." For a man who was usually mild and polite, his tone was downright venomous.

"However, I have more important things to attend to than conversation with you, so if you'll excuse me." When neither of them made a move immediately, he lowered the gun just slightly. People were beginning to gather. Surely Alexis and Jezebel would not do anything overt right in the middle of a crowd.

"You need a doctor," Alexis announced so that way people around them could hear it. It would soothe their nerves and they would probably think Riff was insane from something. It would explain why the two were trying to calm down a man with a gun.

"As you know, Jezebel here is a highly trained physician. He can see that you are taken care of."

It was amazing how quickly he could get a crowd to side with him. Even the murmurs had turned to hoping these two men would be able to take care of the one with the gun. The one who was clearly the most dangerous of the three.

Jezebel tilted his head, his voice as calm and reassuring as possible. Not that it would fool Riff for an instant, but it would certain help the image being built for those listening in -- by all appearances, it was one lone madmen against two unarmed Good Samaritans.

"I've helped you before, Riff," he said, his voice the right volume to be overheard. "When you were ill months ago, who was it that put you right? I know how to treat you."

"Things have changed, Doctor," he replied frigidly, the obvious implication being Alexis's arrival. "I do not desire your aid."

He did not want to involve the passers-by, but he wanted to be cornered by these men even less. He was not well enough to run, not effectively, but the weapon-- He would chance it. He aimed the gun at the former Earl of Hargreaves' forehead.

"I'm afraid I am not in the mood for idle chat tonight. Please get out of my way, Lord Hargreaves."

((OOC: SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY. D: RL happened. is happening. I might be slowish, just to let you guys know. ♥ ))

"It's really a shame that you had to force my hand. And when I only wished to help you."

Alexis didn't move away, not at all afraid of the gun being pointed directly at his head. He was far too calm about the situation. However, with the tale he'd spun, it was clear that the people thought this insane man simply did things like this. Often.

"Jezebel, if you would," Alexis instructed, telling his son to make his move now.

Jezebel was moving before the words had fully left his father's lips. It was a split second before Jezebel was on him, nearly leaping on Riff as he moved towards the other man and clapped the chloroform rag onto his face, smothering his mouth and nostrils. His free hand jerked Riff's arm up at the elbow, pulling it so that if Riff squeezed the trigger the shot would sail safely above the crowd.

Knowing what was coming didn't make it any easier to avoid, especially not when every movement had to be forced from his aching body. Riff didn't try to pull the trigger, but he did fight, moving even as he was grabbed in an attempt to slam the metal weapon into Jezebel. His other elbow jerked backward, again in an attempt to strike the doctor, while he twisted his head away forcefully.

It wasn't working, and one could only hold one's breath for so long. He gasped, and as the blackness began to close around, Riff could only be content with the fact he'd at least fought. Jezebel would at least have a few nasty bruises, in the end.

But his only real thought as he lost consciousness was of Cain, and how Cain would wait, and how Cain would worry, and how he'd utterly failed his master for putting him through this.

Once Riffael was secured, Alexis turned to the crowd and bowed to them. "I do apologize for his behavior. If you will excuse us, we will take him somewhere that he can get the treatment he requires."

A charming smile and he went over to take the gun from the man, slipping it into his jacket. That was better. "Jezebel, if you would help me carry him, we'll take him home."

Jezebel nodded. "Of course." Despite his illness, Riff had managed to get a few good hits on him. Jezebel was not the best of fighters without some element of surprise; there would be some interesting bruises blossoming on his chest and shoulders later.

For now, there was the matter of getting Riffael back to Alexis' penthouse. Jezebel grabbed him by the arms, lifting him beneath his shoulders off of the ground.

Alexis moved in front of his son to make sure that no one got in the way. He didn't want anyone slowing their progress. Fortunately it seemed that the crowd wanted to aid them. It was a perfect opportunity really.

So they moved through the streets to his building then to the elevator. "We will take him to the private room I had you in when Cassian killed you."

There was the slightest of winces at that particular memory, but Jezebel nodded, carting Riff in the direction of the room he'd awoken in after the curse. When they reached it, he managed to hoist Riff onto a laboratory table with some difficulty. When he was done, Riff was still unconscious and limp, sprawled on the flat surface helplessly.

Once Riff was on the table, Alexis moved over to draw his son into his arms for an embrace. "You've done well, my son. You are giving me every reason to be proud of you." Releasing him, he smiled before looking over at the other man.

"Now we must find a way to awaken our friend. But first, take care of his body. It wouldn't do to wake him up to a body that is fading from existence."

The embrace threw him, and for half a second he did not respond. But then there was a surge of pride -- his father was proud of him. He was pleased with his performance in this. The words made him grin slightly, feeling a rise of confidence in his actions.

"I'll see that he's restored," Jezebel said with a nod before turning to handle Riffael. He needed blood, mainly, to keep his doll body from decaying utterly. There was an IV line on a pole in the room that he quickly pulled alongside the table. Jezebel had had the foresight to plan for this and retrieved blood he'd collected that would suit Riffael's requirements, inserting the line into the bag of blood before preparing Riff's arm and sliding a needle under his skin.

"Very good. I will be in the next room. Make sure he rests until we can properly wake him up."

That was all that was necessary. Now it was just a matter of finding a way to bring Riffael out. He wanted a little visit.

"I shall," Jezebel said as he hooked Riffael up to the IV and letting blood flow through the line and into his arm.

As a precaution for later, Jezebel found a rope in the laboratory. When the blood had drained fully from the IV and the line had been removed, he tied Riffael's hands together above his head before attached the knot to a fixture in the wall. They didn't want Riff to get unruly and cause issues once he was awake, after all.

He injected Riff with a low dosage of drugs that would clear any lingering effects of the chloroform once he awoke. After that, it was a matter of waiting.

He would have to wait for some time. Riff awoke hours later, still feeling groggy and weak and entirely lost. He groaned, trying to move-- and found himself on his back on a hard surface, hands going numb where they were tied above his head. It took a few moments longer to get his bearings past the dizziness, and then there was panic and anger all at once.

Riff gasped, eyes widening as realization snapped back into place, and began to pull at his restraints frantically, barely even noticing that he felt stronger now and simply attributing it to the adrenaline rush.

Jez had been distracted, having gone to work on other things while Riff lay unconscious. But the gasp snapped his attention back, and he strode over from the other side of the room, discarding his surgical gloves as he walked.

"Ah, welcome back to the waking world," Jezebel said serenely, looking over Riff as he struggled. He seemed to be a healthier color now that the blood had been reintroduced to his system. Good. "And how are you feeling now?"

There was no reason to hide that he was the one responsible for this. Riff was already very well aware of the situation. So when Alexis heard Jezebel speaking to the man in the secret room, he left his study to enter it, shutting the door behind him. It wouldn't do to have Cassian interrupt this.

"Has our patient woken up, Jezebel?" he asked, already aware of the answer. He had the pipe in hand and it was already lit. A sure sign of his satisfaction with the situation.

Seeing Jezebel and Alexis only made him struggle more. For once, despite the lingering unpleasant feelings left by the chloroform and the ache in his arms, Riff looked absolutely furious.

"Release me immediately!" he demanded, ignoring Jezebel's question. "How long have you detained me here? Untie me this instant!"

"You seem stronger than you were before," Jezebel said mildly, still observing Riff while ignoring his demands. He certainly flailed with much more energy than he would have been able to possess without the renewed blood. "Good to see you return to health."

Turning to Alexis, he said, "He's just woken up and should be restored. Except for a few symptoms from the chloform, he should be all well."

"Then he is ready for the next step as soon as I find method that I am satisfied with." Walking closer, he looked down at the young man chained down to the table, just observing the struggles. It brought about a certain level of pleasure to know that Cain would have no idea where this young man was.

"Was the struggle in the street really necessary? The crowd there now thinks you are mad."

He stopped struggling as Alexis approached, eyes cold and angry.

"I'm afraid I care not a whit what the crowd there thought," he replied venomously.

"I was hardly about to simply let you do as you wish." The fact that it had happened anyway was irrelevant.

"For what reason did you bring me here? You are behind this, not the doctor, so I would appreciate not being lied to with stories of the fact it was to 'help' me."

Jezebel had turned away, lining up jars and vials of full of unmarked medicines and substances on the laboratory table. He also lay out several hypodermic syringes, checking each before placing them down.

"Oh, but it will help you," Jezebel said, his voice still light and unconcerned. "You're already healing from your illness. Your stay with us, shall we say, restore you to how you were."

"It is as Jezebel says. This is helping you. After all, I'm sure you tried to go to another doctor of some kind and they failed." Alexis didn't bother to look in the direction of his son. There was never anything that he had to fear from him. He'd guaranteed his loyalty long ago.

"I should also tell you that no one can hear you in this room and I have your device in my pocket at all times. There is no leaving until we've finished making you well again."

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