Private Where have you been? (The Family: an Epica story.)

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀R Ö H R
​

Sliding in a polite wink at Ragos Terrek , she turned to Ivory: "Ta', Boss," she grinned, acknowledging her recommendation and snapping around to face the doctor and his daughter; "If you'd both like to follow me~" she began walking towards a nearby set of stairs that lead upwards, "just up here is the clinic..." her voice would slowly begin to trail off for those left behind.

"Do mind your step," Ily' politely pointed out, bringing the two into a brightly decorated clinic; scrubbed, beige-like stone formed a number of the clinics feature walls while the entire interior was seamlessly blended into modernity, with white wall accents, wood-lined floors and an incredible medical suite similar to those found in expensive, private capital city medical centres.

"As you can see, it's ready to go.." she stopped off to one side to allow the pair to explore a little, "there's a small office at the back, some kind of reception.. area.. thing.. right there," she pointed the walled-off desk by the stairs, "and that main door leads out onto our main street for guests and staff.."

Bringing her attention back into the clinic, she began once more, "we did bring in a consultant to 'kit' the place out, though the matter of how good it is is.. far beyond me," she grinned at all the fancy, expensive equipment- enough was there for the place to run as a small hospital in an emergency, "I'm told it's completely sterilizable, there's emergency beds if needed and the way down to the recovery room is either down those stairs or outside and around the building, through where we came in.."

Ily' would wait a few moments before continuing their tour, "You'll both love this part, come!" she gestured for them to follow her up a more secluded yet easily accessible set of stairs, "we've made the decision to include an apartment on the top floor of the medical facility- to accommodate for a prospective medical specialist, of course.."

Taking out a keycard, she placed it on the small scanner by the door and stood back as it swooped sideways into the wall. "Take a look.." she stood off to the side once more, allowing for the pair to roam freely and opening herself up to questions. Upon entry, the duo would see a beautifully decorated and warmly lit apartment, once again utilising the stone as feature walls while warm white paint covered the others.

Green plants littered most surfaces while warm-coloured wood furnishings were spread around the room in an accurate, nearly symmetrical manner. From the door, a small corridor that shot left would lead into an open plan living room, dining room & gracious kitchen while two spacious bedrooms with bathrooms formed at the opposite end of the apartment. Every single window of the apartment oversaw an area of outstanding beauty from its vantage points, whether it be the nearby Matriscan Mountains or the newly rebuilt Castello Matrisca itself.

"What do you think?"

Ezio Accetta , Ragos Terrek , Ivory Stroud

 

[Ragos Terrek]

"I'm afraid, Ghost, that I can't allow you to do that."

Who the fuxk did she think she was? Who the fuxk did she think he was?

She gestured to the bed he was laying in, and his injured body. "Whether you like it or not, you're tied to us. Your actions reflect on us. On me. Filling the streets with blood like you'd do on Coruscant or Nar Shaddaa simply won't do." She shook her head. "A few well-placed questions, or a handful of credits in the right pocket, will do the job much cleaner and much safer..."

Ragos laughed out loud. It hurt like hell but still he laughed at this woman, who he got the impression didn’t get laughed at much.

Tied to them? What the fuxk did that mean to him?

Not chit.

She raised an eyebrow. "What were you supplying this man? Spice? Guns?"

“Spice to start. See where chit goes.”

normally Ragos would lie or talk around the question but he was fething tired and way over this chit.

“Ives, I appreciate…” his voice trailed off for a moment “…all this, but let’s understand each other. Looks to me like we play the same game, feel me?”

“The Game.” It was really a fuxked up way to look at his life but chit was what it was.

“Looks like we playin at different levels,” he laughed again thinking about the insanity of all this chit. Less than an hour ago he was healing up on the kitchen floor of a one bedroom apartment and with one call he was now laying in the bed of a private hospital over looking the mountains. By The Most High he had his chit fuxked up.

“I don’t think you forgot the rules, doe. Some muthasucka tried to fuxking kill me and they was gotdamn close too. Safe don’t fuxkin play no more. Doing nothing or even looking like I’m doing nothing ain’t an option, you know it, my guys know it, and whoever took a shot at me know it. An answer has to come and it’s gotta be loud, feel me?”

Ivory Stroud Ezio Accetta Iliana Röhr

 

[Ivory Stroud]

Ragos' laughter hadn't seemed to phase her in the slightest. In fact, her facial expression didn't change at all. The mention of appreciation was hollow enough that she, likewise, paid that no mind either.

“I don’t think you forgot the rules, doe. Some muthasucka tried to fuxking kill me and they was gotdamn close too. Safe don’t fuxkin play no more. Doing nothing or even looking like I’m doing nothing ain’t an option, you know it, my guys know it, and whoever took a shot at me know it. An answer has to come and it’s gotta be loud, feel me?”

"Mmm." She hummed, taking a moment to rake her eyes - slowly - across his injured body laying nearly prone on the recovery bed. His bandages would probably need changing soon. She was familiar with the kinds of wounds he'd sustained... it wouldn't take him long to be back on his feet.

"So, you're going to get back on your feet... catch the earliest shuttle, get your people, and ride hard into Epica City like a posse of frontier outlaws, shooting, pillaging, and burning everything in your path until you find the ones responsible for putting you in this hospital bed... angering every gangster, putting fear into every citizen, and causing untold destruction in your wake, just for a dose of revenge, hmm?"

Her eyebrows cocked upward as she settled on his face.

"You don't even know who took a shot at you, or why. They could be off-world, by now - in the Outer Rim, or settling into a spaceport on Correllia, or even dead in a ditch themselves; a loose end tied up by someone with more resources than you can comprehend. You have no description, no motive, and no plan of attack other than 'Make 'em pay"... Am I getting the gist of it down, so far?"

Her eyes were as cold & lifeless as the darkest reaches of space, and her tone was as sharp as a vibro-blade.

Ragos Terrek

 

[Ezio Accetta]

"Come on, Papa! Tour of the Castle! Tour of the Castle!" Bianca let out giggles of childish joy, hopping around just behind Iliana Röhr . Ezio walked behind them both, watching how happy his daughter was just being here.

Iliana showed them around the clinic area. It really was kitted out. Some of the machines were the same as he had used in the hospital. The surfaces were flat and smooth, indeed easy to sterilize. It was clear Iliana was not used to giving tours, but doing her best.

And then came the apartment. While he stood only a few steps within the entrance, Bianca was running around the place, touching every plant and looking out every window. "Wow! Papa look! And over here! What's that?" And so on.

"What do you think?"

Ezio was silent for a long while, taking it all in. He watched Bianca run by, happy as can be and giggling and shrieking with delight. It brought a tear to his eye, after so long of dwindling and dwindling resources. Screw his morals.

He turned to her, fished the token out of his pocket and handed it out for her. Before she could take it he'd close his hand. "One condition." He couldn't believe he was doing this, but... it wasn't for him. Last time he compromised his morals it spelled the end for him, but he did that out of selfishness. This wasn't for him. "My daughter doesn't get mixed up in anything. She doesn't take your drugs, she doesn't help out with whatever you do, from now to ten years from now. She goes to school, she gets an education, and she stays clean. For that, I'll fix up whoever you want, whenever you want. I see her so much as holding a gram of spice, I'm done." He opened his hand again. "Deal?"

 

[Ragos Terrek]

He kissed his teeth sharply, took a pull from his cigarra and exhaled a plume of smoke, obviously frustrated.

"Maybe matriculating in mountainside mansions has made you…more malleable,"

He hadn't raised his voice but there was no hiding his anger. Ragos for the most part played chit cool to the point of seeming dumb, calm to a degree that he might actually know what he was doing, and with enough charm to make people believe it but he didn't have the energy to be that Ragos right now.

"But me?" He said, jabbing a finger hard into his own chest. “There ain't no fuxkin mansions for me. The street ain't just someplace I do business, I fuxkin live that chit! I am that chit!"

His voice was raised now. His anger was no longer just obvious; it was all he had. He was supposed to be the fuxkin 'King of The Undercity' and what the fuxk had that meant? Not chit. Someone took a shot at him and almost finished the job. He lay here weak and looking like chit, needing Iliana to bail him out after relying on the kindness…no, the greed of a stranger only got him so far.

"They tried to fuxking kill me!"

One of his bandages turned red. He popped a stitch.

"The streets don't keep secrets for long. Someone knows something, someone is gonna fuxkin talk and believe me imma find em."

He took another pull from the cigarra.

"May The Most High forgive me for what happens when I do and the same goes for anyone who aides, abeds, or gets in my fuxkin way."

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀R Ö H R
​

The atmosphere suddenly changed as Ezio outlined his terms~ and Ily' couldn't agree more. Leaning in so Bianca couldn't hear the pair converse, she spoke quietly to the doctor, "Mr. Accetta, your daughter will be the safest, most looked after child in this system- you have some idea of what we do- however, there's a code that everyone swears by.."

"She'll have most of the castle and it's grounds to roam, if she meanders out into the fields then our rural enforcement security team will send someone to keep an eye on her. As for her education, that's completely your call, we can either send her to one of the local village schools or have someone come and tutor her here.. neither of you will want for anything again.."

Her face changed, her light and floaty demeanour had dissipated as she considered Bianca's safety- she wasn't in the slightest a violent person, however when children and 'innocents' came into play, she had strong opinions. Moving in even closer now, definitely not wanting Bianca to hear her, she spoke:

"I swear on my life, if anyone even looks, does or brings anything funny to Bianca, you, her- nor anyone else, will see them again.. We both know the environment you're bringing her into, and she's now our responsibility too.. if anyone irks you, you come straight to me, do you understand?"

She was fully serious, and her newly revealed demeanour showed it.

Moving away from Dr. Accetta a little, Ily' took the coin off of the doctor. "We're glad you've decided to stay, then!" she moved around the apartment a little, as if to inspect it, "we'll have supplies brought in by the end of the evening, if you make a list of things you'd like, we'll have them brought to you at any time.."

"You'll be supplied with a speeder, so you may come and go at any time~ though.. just be careful," her demeanour had now reverted back to her cheery and friendly self, "for now, however, let's get you both fed! As the boss said earlier, we've got a canteen which is open to everyone, should you feel like not cooking for yourselves.."

"However they're currently doing inventory in there, so we'll be taking you into the main complex of the villa- which is usually off limits to most people, however I'm sure we can make an exception," she winked at Ezio & Bianca, "we've got this lovely new Epican chef, he does the most.. fascinating things with dough, eggs and veggies- you'll both love it!" Ily' beamed at the pair, excited to show off even more of their new home.

"Any questions before we go?" quizzed the Consigliera as she handed both Ezio & Bianca a keycard, though each different with colours suggesting clearance levels.​

Ezio Accetta , Ragos Terrek , Ivory Stroud

 

[Ivory Stroud]

The Donna remained where she was, leaning against the bed-frame a few feet away, as Ragos' demeanor suddenly fractured. She remained calm; entirely impassive, even as he raised his voice. A stillness overcame her, as her eyes (violet though they remained) became as cold & emotionless as granite, but she didn't respond to his baiting.

What he didn't realize, nor did she feel the need to explain, was that she was born on the streets, too. Her reputation in The Family had been supported by her actions; namely, that she wasn't afraid to do her own dirty work, even when she had people - such as Stardust Solus Skirae & Dominik Borra - who'd gladly pull a trigger themselves. Ivory may have worn the guise of a woman of class & respectability, but she was, first & foremost, a killer who was willing to do whatever it took to see her image of the future come to pass.

And she wouldn't let anyone stand in her way.

"The streets don't keep secrets for long. Someone knows something, someone is gonna fuxkin talk and believe me imma find em."

He took another pull from the cigarra.

"May The Most High forgive me for what happens when I do and the same goes for anyone who aides, abeds, or gets in my fuxkin way."

Ivory let him finish, never taking her eyes from his own; noticing a small spreading patch of blood on his side as his anger caused one of his stitches to tear. As he angrily took a drag from the cigarra she'd given him, she nodded... as-if she were agreeing or understanding his motivations.

What he didn't know, however, was that she'd just received all the confirmation she needed to justify the actions she now had to take.

She said nothing for a few heartbeats, then uncrossed her arms - chafing her palms together in a washing motion. When she spoke, her voice was measured & diplomatic showing aquiesence to his wishes even though she had no intention to do anything of the sort. "I can see your mind is made up. If that's the way it has to be, then I can't stop you."

She reached out again, picking up her cigarra case, opening it, and retrieving one more from within - stepping away from where she'd been leaning and crossing the short space to where Ragos Terrek lay. This cigarra she placed down on the small bedside table while never breaking eye-contact... then, as-if someone had hit a light switch, her attitude brightened. She indicated his injury, and calmly replied: "Before you go starting a war, you'd better get some rest. It's a long way to Epica City from here. Perhaps tomorrow, we can see about getting you a transport... but for now, sleep. You'll need it."

With those parting words, she turned on her heel and began walking out of the bungalow, her boots click-clacking across the tiled floor like pistol shots with every step.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~​

As she stepped out of the hospital building and into the bright afternoon sunlight, a gust of wind blew, forcing her to duck her head to keep her eyes shielded from the breeze. Her wide-brimmed black summer hat fluttered in the wind, but it remained on her head. A deep breath filled her lungs, which she expelled in a sigh... then turned toward the large fortress building and began the short walk to their headquarters. She didn't spot Iliana Röhr , Ezio Accetta , or the man's daughter, so she headed into the 'big house' - as it was lovingly called - on a bee-line for the concealed basement stairs which would lead her into the armored underground sanctum of Castello Matrisca.

When she finally reached the wine cellar and the secure area within The Family used as their main security office, she met with her security team to discuss the events of the past few minutes.

They all agreed that something had to be done.

 

[Ezio Accetta]

He stood still and straight as Iliana Röhr leaned and got closer. He listened to her. For the first time since before his wife left, he thought that maybe everything was going to be ok. He nodded his head, a tear falling to the floor as he opened his hand once more. She took the token. And that was it, the deal was taken. Future sealed. He let out a shaky breath, hoping it was the right path.

Bianca didn't seem to hear anything before the talk of food, and she squealed in that octave that only children can. "Food!"

"Bianca, inside voice please!" Ezio said with a sigh. Bianca took a second to calm herself, looked at Iliana and nodded. "Yes, food please. Papa's really hungry." And she approached, taking her father's hand. It was so much bigger than her own, even though she was eight years old.

They were handed keycards and he noted the different colors. Good, she wouldn't be able to enter just any room she wanted. He made sure to wipe the tears off his face before shaking his head. "Nope, I don't have any. What about you, Bianca?" He wiggled her arm a little.

She looked up at Iliana for a moment with her big dark eyes. They narrowed slightly. "Can you teach me how to make my hair like yours? Papa can only brush and braid."

Ezio chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. "Just lead the way."

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀R Ö H R
​

She melted. Stunned by how adorable Bianca was, she stuttered out only a few words: "Oh- Of uh, of course!"

"Right, uh," she led the group out of the apartment and up the beautifully decorated street with the main complex sat at the end of the alleyway, gazing down the it, towards the northern road out of the Villa.

"This is the home of all out staff accommodation, on the left you have the guest quarters~ should anyone stay with us, then the ones right next to you on the right are staff quarters for all of our on-site staff, the canteen is just around the corner.."

She led the group up a short ramp and deeper within the main complex, through elegantly decorated and brightly lit landings, hallways and corridors, and into a lovely bar-like restaurant adorned with traditional Epican architectural features and a warm, cosy aesthetic.

"Please~ take a seat!" she indicated to a lovely table near the window as she called over to the nearby bartender. While the venue was relatively quiet, a few other suited individuals could be seen milling around, drinking in moderation.

However, Ily's eye was soon caught by a familiar sight by the same entrance the group had used, Ivory Stroud . "Ah! Here's Ms. Stroud, I'm sure she'd like a word with both of you.." her voice sped up as she approached the trio, "she'll help sort some food out for you~ I need to dart off to 'interrogate' our broken friend in your clinic," winked the consigliera to the newcomers.

Turning to Ivory as she approached, "they're all yours- the chef is on his way.. they're in," grinned Ily' as she waltzed around and swiftly meandered behind the bar and into the kitchen, moving to a nearby cooling unit and retrieving a bowl of chicken parmigiana bake, and throwing it in a heater in preparation for the young gangster lying on deaths door in the clinic.

Tracing her steps back, she eventually arrived back at the clinic to find one pissed off gangster ( Ragos Terrek ) lying in his bed, "Hey scoundrel," she placed the bowl on his side table before swinging it around so he didn't have to tear a stitch just to pick it up, "get this down you~ you look like you haven't eaten in weeks.."​

Ezio Accetta , Ragos Terrek , Ivory Stroud

 

[Ragos Terrek]

Ragos’ eyes never left Ivory’s. He knew a predator when he met one, growing up on Haruun Kal had instilled that skill in him, life on the streets of Nar Shaddaa had reinforced it and there was no doubt that this woman was all predator.

Ragos heard her words, watched her smile, and mistrusted every assurance she gave him. He was no Jedi but Ragos Terrek had a deep biological and generational connection to what most of the galaxy called The Force but for those born of Haruun Kal was Pelekotan, the jungle mind. It flowed through his blood, through his very soul and it provided him with insight that normal beings could not access. This connection helped him when he played cards, when he had fought in competition, or when he had to know when he was being played. It was not as simple as reading someone’s mind, no that was a load of grasser chit, there was no mind reading but his Pelekotan provided him focus and understanding, perception and clarity, the ability to see and to know.

She was good, he would not deny that, anyone would have taken her word but Ragos knew better. Ivory was more than just a powerful woman, she was power and there was no way on this world or any other she would just give him what she wanted not when she held all the leverage. He lay in her bed, in her home being saved, by her medicine. She knew it and he knew it just as they both knew it didn’t matter. Her plans for this world didn’t matter, his retribution had to come.

He watched her walk away not once turning back to face him. Whatever she may have said she did not move like someone who had lost. She moved like a predator.

When Ivory had disappeared through the doors of the medbay Ragos stood from his bed, and dug in his pocket for the small glass container within. Rag looked at the container, more specifically at what was inside: the fine powder whiter than snow. Spice. The last of his spice, purest on the market and his ticket to riches, to a life he could hardly imagine.

Ragos carefully poured the spice onto his hand making sure not to spill any. He looked at it for a moment considering…then inhaled the powder up his nose. His focus which had already been high spiked. His vision tunneled and his heart leapt. He looked back at the doors that Ivory had just walked out then down at the side table where she had placed a lone bone-white cigarra.

The reality of his situation decked him in the gut and he could see the woman’s false smiles. Ragos reached through The Force took hold of the little end table and hurled it through the empty medbay where it landed somewhere in the distance with a clatter.

He lay himself back in bed and seethed.

“I’m fine.” Ragos lied, ignoring his pain from his newly bleeding wound and the hunger brought on by the delicious smell of whatever Iliana had brought for him to eat. His tone was probably, no, definitely harsher than it should be considering he was talking to the person who had a part in saving his life.

“Hey, I’m sorry for dragging you into my chit. It wasn’t fair.”

The last thing he wanted to be was dead... but the second to last thing was broke... but the third to last thing was a burden.

Iliana Röhr Ivory Stroud Ezio Accetta

 

[Ezio Accetta]

Iliana Röhr took them for another little tour on the way to the canteen. He took note but hearing the prospect of food, no matter how he denied it, was reawakening the kraken in his stomach. And then they reached it, and the smell of good food was almost enough to fill him. He actually started salivating.

"Ah! Here's Ms. Stroud, I'm sure she'd like a word with both of you.." her voice sped up as she approached the trio, "she'll help sort some food out for you~ I need to dart off to 'interrogate' our broken friend in your clinic," winked the consigliera to the newcomers.

Ms. Ivory Stroud , the boss. Iliana seemed pretty in charge, and Stroud was above her. Was she the top boss of everything going on, or were there even more positions above her? "Euh, Make sure he eats slowly!" He called after Iliana, remembering at the last moment. "And no more spice!"

Bianca stared at Ivory, wide eyes and nervous. She stood behind her papa's leg once Iliana left, peeking out.

Ezio turned back to Ivory, hoping that what he had done wouldn't be taken as rude. Ashlan, the place smelled good. And his stomach rumbled. And it roared. Bianca gave a short giggle and Ezio looked entirely embarrassed. "So, Ms. Stroud. I'm in, yes. I've agreed to be your doctor."