Stefano and Jean-Luc
Stefano Rossinni eyed the piece of quivering, cowardly filth in front of him. Vindichi Angelo. "Eliminarlo," he ordered coldly.
"No! Per favore!" Vindichi wailed, throwing himself at Stefano's feet. He never made it. One of Stefano's gaurds hauled him out of the room, weeping and begging. Stefano felt no pity.
"Fare la sua morte rallenta e doloroso. Ha rubato mia figlia, elle mia amato poco un e per che la sua morte deve essere una punizione ed un avvertimento," Stefano called out after his guard. (Make his death slow and painful. He stole my daughter, my beloved little one and for that his death must be a punishment and a warning.)
"Per favore!" Vindichi screamed, and then the door of the conference room closed behind him. Stefano massaged his temples. He had his people on it, and he'd found out already that his beloved Vulpe was somewhere in America. He had best contact the Thieves Guild in America. He placed a call to New Orleans.
~*~*~*~
"Allo?" Jean-Luc LeBeau said sleepily into the phone. He looked at the clock; 5:00. Who was calling him at this time of the morning? "Qui est ceci?"
"Jean-Luc? It's Stefano."
Jean-Luc sat up, more alert now. "What's wrong, mon ami?"
"My daughter..."
"What has happened to la petite rouge cela?"
"She has been taken. A man who was in my employ, and now is very, very dead, sold her to someone over the midnight market." Stefano's eyes closed in pain. Jean-Luc frowned and drummed his fingers on his bedside table. "I have been able to find that she went to America, but after that my sources are silent. The man didn't know or care who she went to himself."
"Dis is tres mal..."
"You don't need to tell me that."
"I will start looking."
"Thank you, Jean-Luc."
"Eh, I like la petite fille aussi, tu sais. She's full of fire."
"She's becoming a marvellous Thief." Stefano smiled in pride.
"Just like her pere, non?"
"Si, Jean-Luc. You heard about that job on the Vatican? That was her."
Jean-Luc made an appreciative noise. "She's very good den. Maybe I should try and hire her?"
"She loves her Poppa, I don't think she'd go."
"If I offered her enough, she would."
"Si, she would. She's a mercenary little piece." Stefano rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm sorry for waking you at this hour, mio amico."
"Non, non. I'll get my people on it, tres vite. Maybe, when we find her, she should have a stay here in N'awlins wit me? Learn some different tricks?"
"L'idea buona. She would appreciate that. Thank you again, Jean-Luc."
"For something like this, Stefano, anytime." They said their goodbyes, and Jean-Luc got out of bed, his mind buzzing with the new challenge. And this time it was personal. Vulpe had been a beautiful little girl...he hadn't seen her since she was barely able to walk but Stefano was his friend and ally. He decided to call Remy, and left a message for his adopted son to call him back when he had the chance. He set other wheels in motion as well, and then sat back to let the considerable resources of the Thieves Guild start to work.
Gambit
Gambit had just recieved a message from his adopted father, and was ringing him back. He patted Red absently as the phone rang.
"I wonder what he wants dis time," Gambit said to Red.
Jean-Luc
"Allo?" Jean-Luc said as he picked up the phone. "C'est Jean-Luc LeBeau ici." He tapped his pen as he studied the reports that had startled to trickle in. Where was this girl? Poor petite rouge...
Gambit
"Yo left a message fo' me?" Gambit replied. "Remy 'ere."
Red started up Gambit's arm, tickling him in the process.
Jean-Luc
"Remy, how are you, mon fils?" Jean-Luc asked as he leant back in his chair. "Ouiai, I needed t' talk t' you..."
Gambit
"So I heard," Gambit answered. "I be good. Red go' himself a girlfriend and now she's had kids. But right now I'm working on a li'le somethin'... I heard dat an alien has just been sold. Thought I might check it out."
Jean-Lu
"Merde!" Jean-Luc massaged his temples. "Actuellement, that's part of what I needed t' talk to you about. My friend, Stefano Rossinni, rang me this morning with some very bad news. His daughter was stolen and sold on the midnight market...she's a mutant. P'raps you've heard of her? The Vixen? Stefano wanted me to try and find her. I be very worried, mon fils. The midnight market has started going for les gens who have powers. You watch yo'r back, ouiai?"
Gambit
Gambit gave a low whistle.
"Dis be no good. No good a' all. Don' yo worry. I'll keep an eye on my back as always. An' I'll keep an eye out fo' Vixin too."
Jean-Luc
"I be worried for la petite. Her pere and I be very good friends. She stayed here a few times when she was little...she's a very sweet girl." Jean-Luc bit his lip. "Watch yo'r back, mon fils. She was betrayed by one of her father's men...who is now dead, merci Dieu. Just...be careful. The midnight market is becoming darker. Be careful you don't fall." Jean-Luc's tone turned business-like. "I have some infomation already...as far as I can tell, the gov'men' bough' her. P'raps they bought the alien you're looking for too?"
Gambit
"Dat does seem ta match da info I already had," Gambit confirmed. "Looks like dis is going ta be big. I'll be careful."
Jean-Luc
"I be glad to hear it...and so will tante Mattie. You make sure you stay safe, you hear me, fils? She'd have my hide fo' a thro'rug if something happened to yo. But I trained you better den dat." Jean-Luc smiled slightly. "If I fin' anything else, I'll leave word, ouiai?"
Gambit
"Okay den," Gambit agreed. "Den if dats all, I'd be'er be on my way."
Jean-Luc
"Vrai, Remy." Jean-Luc hesitated for a moment. "Je t'aime, mon fils. Be safe." He hung up the phone carefully and cradled his head in his hands. Sometimes, it just wasn't worth getting out of bed.
Gambit
Gambit hung up and looked at Red, who was curled up on his shoulder.
"Looks like da alien ain't da only one we're lookin' fo' Red," he observed.