WES&SAB - FINISHED

[Ellie]

O'Ceallaigh Share Co. was not a large business. It held it's humble headquarters in a 3 story shotgun house located right in the midst of downtown. Wesley had purchased the home from an older man who had it in the family for many years. The house was older as well, in a "gently used" condition. It's floors creaked pleasantly as people walked about it's area, and its doors squeaked as a new person entered. The first floor was dedicated to Wesley's investment company, something he had carefully built up from the bottom.

Often, when the rusting bell above the door rung lightly, and a customer entered the pleasantly lit room, the first thing they'd notice was the sweet smell of smoke from cigarettes as all the employees worked diligently. There was a total of three desks in the room up front, which faced various directions, gathering light from small green lamp fixtures, and the two large windows up front, ushering in no light as it was shielded by many a skyscraper.

In the back was Wes's office, a vaguely smaller room separated by a large wall of glass. He sat behind his desk with his feet atop it's smooth wooden surface, slipping through several Manila folders. Each contained a very special prize, something that citizens of this city had entrusted to him, something that he thought was very special. Frowning, Wes leaned forward and pushed a hand through his messy red hair, then quickly typing something with his Underwood noiseless typewriter (an innovation Wesley was very proud to possess) and returned to reading.

Wes smiled, reflecting on his all-too-rare "rags to riches" story. It was, in fact, a miracle that he had made it this far in the game. He smiled, offering a glance at his slightly crooked teeth, and accentuated the crow's feet that had long since begun to form at the edge of his dull green eyes. Wes was at the verge of another significant monetary gain, something that pleased him to no end. Another wealthy customer had come in, selfishly wanted to increase their worth. The nerve. Especially given those who were struggling to get by. And so Wes would enjoy emptying this man's bank account, by extension offering him a view of life at the bottom.

[Wolfy]

The house was peaceful, and Sabrina was enjoying the silence. Her father was downtown, and her stepmom seemed to be off doing something alone. Sabrina was in the living room, reading a book she had found abandoned on the sidewalk downtown. It was small, but it was still a good book. The main character was a Robin Hood type con man who stole from the rich.

She was nearly done when she heard her name shouted loudly from the another room. She let out an aggitated sigh and walked in the direction of her stepmother's voice. She walked into her room to see her holding her fur coat that had been hidden under her bed. "What is the meaning of this?" she asked angrily. Sabrina didn't know what to say, so just stared at her with a slightly open mouth. "I don't care. Just get rid of it, Sabrina! Get some money for it." She threw the coat and left the room, looking annoyed and angry.

Sabrina picked her coat up off the ground and sighed. She didn't want to get rid of her coat. But she also didn't want to get yelled at again, so she had to. She slowly made her way outside with her coat and started toward the downtown businesses. She was about to go to a pawn shop, but then a name caught her eye. O'Ceallaigh Share Company. She smiled and let out a sigh of relief. The door squeaked as she stepped inside.

She smiled as she looked around the pleasant little business. It didn't take long until she saw Wes's office. She walked to the glass wall and waved, hoping he wasn't too busy to see her.

[Ellie]

The silence in this office was abruptly disturbed as the front door creaked open, revealing a younger girl wielding a fur coat. Wes was confused for a moment, not sure how the interpret her financial situation. However, after a moment of observing her appearance, it became obvious that this was all he'd be able to muster from her.

Wesley nodded her her direction, indicating his knowledge of her precense. He held up his large hand, wanting her to hold on one moment. He turned around to face a cabinet and a coffee/tea maker. Blocking the actions with his body, Wes removed a small vial of crimson liquid and mixed it in with a cup of tea he had prepared. Turning to face her again, Wes smiled, beckoning her into his office.

With a small noise, he set the cup down in front of the wooden chair facing his desk. Leaning back against his cushioned green chair, he smiled, prepared to do business. Wes felt only vaguely guilty about what he was about to do, provided the girl's age. "What can I help you wi' today, ma'am?" Wes asked with his rough Irish accent.

[Wolfy]

Sabrina stepped inside the office and sat down in the wooden chair. With a pleasant smile, she set the coat on the desk next to the teacup resting in front of her. "Hello, sir," she said pleasantly. She reached out her hand for a handshake. "I'm Sabrina Matthews."

She picked up the teacup and sat back against the back of the chair. "I would like to make an investment here." She motioned down to her coat with her free hand. "I don't have much, though. I was hoping that you would take my coat and that you could make an investment from that..." She held the cup up to her mouth and smelled deeply. Cherries, one of her favorites.

Before she had any, though, she looked back to Wes. "We bought it for almost a hundred dollars. That could make a good investment, right?" She looked down at her cherished coat and let out a mournful sigh. "We fell on some hard times, and as much as I hate to, I have to sell this coat here."

She paused for a moment, thinking about having to sell the last thing she'd been able to hold on to from her old life. She looked at him and hoped that he'd be able to get an investment ,though. "So, what do you say?" she asked after a moment of hesitation.

[Ellie]

Wesley nodded, returning the girl's smile. She seemed young to be here on such seemingly important business. But he supposed it didn't really matter what the situation was. Profit was profit. Wes stood up to meet her hand, taking it in between his. "I'm Keenan O'Ceallaigh, at your service." Wes smiled his crooked smile, and returned to his lounging position.

Wes nodded, taking in each detail of the coat. Surely he could do something with this quote, however, the monetary value right now was probably minimal at best. He noticed her hesitance to drink the tea, which stirred irritation and a slight amount of worry in the pit of his stomach. "Well, 'ats a very good idea not ta' take it to a pawn shop, aye, they'd ha' cheated you for sure." Wes chuckled to himself, finding humor in the irony of that statement.

"This is for sure a very nice coat, ma'am. I can ver' likely make something happen with this. Is that something you'd like to do?" Wes asked, lifting his tea up for a 'cheers of agreement' sort of deal. Wes was panicking slightly, but he hid it masterfully, remaining entirely cool on the outside. "This is good tea," he murmured to himself as the warm liquid trickled down his tired throat. He was hesitant to commit. She had yet to sake a sip of the damned tea.s

[Wolfy]

Smiling, Sabrina nodded. "I thought so," she said in responce to him telling her she was right not to go to a pawn shop. She smiled and held up the coat to hold it for a little while. "This coat has a lot of sentimental value, and if I have to sell it, I don't want to be cheated out of its value."

She knocked her teacup gently against his. "Yes, that's exactly what I want," she said. "If I can get anything out of your investments, that would be spectacular." She placed the coat back on the table and nudged it toward him with a sad look on her face. As she did so, the gold locket she wore around her neck became visible.

This locket was made of pure gold, and shone brightly. She had gotten it as a gift from her mother. Inside was a picture of the two of them together, before she had died. Sabrina would trade it in for nothing. She felt it slip out of where it was usually tucked in under the collar of her shirt. She quickly fixed it so Wesley wouldn't want to take that as well.

She looked down at the tea and smiled. "It looks wonderful," she said honestly. She lifted the cup to her lips and almost took a sip before stopping short and looking at him. "You won't charge me for this, will you? I really can't afford anything."

[Ellie]

"Luckily for you, you have stumbled upon a most ca'able investment company. While you don't have currency, I can most certainly make somethin' happen here for ya'. What I can suggest, ma'am, is letting me hold on to this so I can talk to any potential buyers. I'll also get an estimated price from an expert so as to get teh best value possible." Wes pursed his lips, motioning to her cup. "You know, they say I make the best cherry tea in town. It's something I'm very proud of. I hope you enjoy it." He grimaced as he took another sip. Damn. He couldn't risk the situation.

"Excuse me fo' a moment," Wes nodded curtly, and slid out of the room. Moving quietly, he navigated to a very small closet adjacent to the office, out of sight from everyone else. Removing a bottle of Rouge from his pocket, he opened the closet to reveal a small chamber. Inside was a small burner with a pan, with the ventilation leading to the room next door. "Ugh," he frowned. Wes hated it when they had to be difficult. Pouring the liquid in, he watched as it simmered, smoke rising. Special smoke. The money smoke. Ha. Wes sealed the door, letting the thin, nearly invisible smoke flood upwards.

Closing the door gently behind him, he slid back into his chair, rummaging through a folder of papers. "Here, if you're interested, would you mind filling out these consent forms? They also would include your address and contact information." Wes took his fingers and started pointing out places where she needed to sign. "With this, I can find you to let you know when I've made your investment. Probably in a flourishing business. And whatever you make, I claim 15 percent, a very fair price." Wes pushed his glasses back to the top of his nose for the umpteenth time that day, irritated that she was taking her time with the goddamn tea. But it didn't matter now as the smoke filled the room, entering her body at this very moment. Oh well. Business is business.

[Wolfy]

Taking a sip of the tea, Sabrina smiled and started signing the papers. Wes seemed trustworthy, and she wasn't worried about anything. "This is good tea," she said. After drinking a little, she was able to smell it in the air. Very nice. Sabrina loved cherries.

After signing the last of the papers, she slid them back over to Wes along with her coat. "Thank you, sir," she said. "I can't wait to get the investment." She laid back and finished drinking her tea. She guessed it was the drink, because she felt very relaxed and happy all of a sudden.

"You're right, Mr. O'Ceallaigh," she said with a smile. "This tea is amazing." She set the empty cup in front of him. "I might just need to ask for your recipe. I love it."

[Ellie]

Wesley couldn't help let a sigh escape his body. Moments like that occurred all the time in this business, and he always knew he could handle them. However, the faint and ever-present feeling of failure was never far behind. But now was the time. She was so under the influence right now, he could very likely to convince her to put a gun to her head. Not really, but you get the gist of it.

"So," Wes began, slowly, "You can just leave your coat here, Ms. Williams." Wes nodded, offering her a firm look. "You can just forget allll about it, and I'll handle business. How does that sound?" Wesley interlaced his fingers and settled them on his lap. This wouldn't be too difficult. She was so young and trusting, after all. Had her father never taught her about con men? No. No, of course not. They never had to worry about needing money. Wes almost felt too badly about her current state to take the coat... but, he had employees to take care of. First he'd take care of himself, then his friends, and he'd worry about her very last. Wes readjusted his suspenders, then let his curiosity get the best of him.

"Tell me Sabrina, what has landed ya' in such a destitute position?"

[Wolfy]

Sabrina gave him an faraway-looking smile, since she was so taken over by the rouge that was both in her tea and in the air. "Thank you, sir," she said and looked away from her coat. She'd already forgotten all about it, even though mere moments ago, she didn't know if she'd be able to give it up.

She sighed and leaned against the back of her chair, having to think about his question for a few moments. She knew her mind was a little fuzzy, but didn't make the connection that it was because of Wes. "Well, I used to live uptown in a really big house," she said softly.

"It was beautiful. It had marble floor in the parlor, and we had our own library and..." She realized she was trailing off topic and let herself drift off to get back to the story. "My father owned his own business. But the stock crashed. Well, the business went under not long afterwards."

She sat back up, looking at Wes intently with her bright green eyes. "So, we were all out helping my dad scout for a new job, but then someone broke in and stole all of our things, so we couldn't sell any of it to pay for the taxes. We lost the house and had to move to the slums..."

"Me and my dad have been looking everywhere for jobs, but there just aren't any..." she finished. "So I hope that the investment will help hold us until one of us gets a job so we don't lose that house, too. So, you're really saving us here, Wesley." She smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

[Ellie]

Wes offered her a satisfactory smile as the Rouge overtook her. He felt a momentary pang of jealousy, as she was able to enjoy the overwhelming sensation of happiness. Wesley had long since lost the ability to experience Rouge's incredible effects. The circus he worked with started employing the potions' use once attendance began to decline. Basically, the amount they used was so significant, Wes eventually developed a damned immunity.

Sabrina's story was truly unfortunate, and for a moment, Wes pitied her. But he knew better than to feel bad for his clients. Getting emotionally involved was a hassle, but often Wes was too curious about the predicament to mind his own rules. This often resulted in Wes having to climb out of the hole he dug.

This world was never fair. There were those in the slums, not far from here, who had no money, no food, nothing. And there were those uptown who lived a life of safe luxury, completely ignorant to the havoc occurring all over the city. But when it came time for retribution, time for the people who struggle on a daily basis to reap some sort of reward, it was those whose lives were okay who took the fall. It seemed that not everyone was allowed to be happy, a concept that Wes didn't think he'd ever be able to grasp.

"That's awfully ambitious. But I'm," Wes swallowed hair, mustering up the dignity (or lack thereof) so say the next thing. "But I'm positive I'll at least be able to do something for your struggling family. It'll all be fine," he offered with mock assurance.

[Wolfy]

Sabrina smiled widely with his assurance. "Well, thank you, sir," she said and for the first time actually looked at his face. The curly red hair, the pale skin, the freckles - everything looked familiar.

She looked at him closely for a moment or two as she thought about where she could have seen him. "Excuse me, Wesley," she said. "I believe I know you from somewhere? Do you recognize me?"

Her mind was too fuzzy to remember where she'd seen him. But she definately remembered something. She couldn't recall the day she'd seen him at the circus, where she had first met him. She didn't recollect the long conversation with him about her life and her wanting to join the circus.

She looked down at the empty cup and pushed it toward him a little. "Is there any more of that tea?" she asked. Little did she knew that he was just trying to get her addicted to rouge to steal everything from her.

[Ellie]

He turned around and placed the tea cup on the saucer in front of Sabrina, readjusted his vest, then settled comfortably into his favorite chair yet again. "I believe I know you from somewhere? Do you recognize me?" Wes pulled a hand to rest his head on and studied her closely. Now that she mentioned it, Sabrina was oddly familiar. Perhaps he had met her in his time on the road. "Ya' know, I used to travel with the Hill Society Circus, aye. I do believe we had talked there before, after a show. Bu' maybe I'm rememberin' wrong..."

Wes stood up, gently reaching forward to retrieve her tea cup. With a quick nod, he smiled, "No problem, there's plenty here for all of us." As the tea fell from the kettle poured steadily into the white porcelain cup, Wes felt better and better. He had been contemplating her previous social status. Uptown people stick together for the most part, so if Sabrina fell to hard times, then she most certainly had some generous friends. Wesley noted to keep an eye on her.

[Wolfy]

Sabrina had to think for a moment, contemplating his face and her memories from the circus carefully. Eventually, the memory clicked in her fuzzy mind. "Oh yeah, that was it!" she said. "I think..." The memory slowly drained back into her mind and she nodded. "Oh, that's right. I think I wanted to join the circus... for some reason."

She shrugged, figuring it must have been some childhood goal to be part of the circus and forgot about it. When she got her new cup of tea, she took a drink and frowned just a little. "Hey, did you forget something?" she asked curiously. She noticed the lack of the cherry taste.

She sighed and set the cup down. "Oh well, I should be getting home anyway," she said. "Thank you for everything, Wes." She got up to leave, since she had already given up her coat and had nothing else to offer him.

[Ellie]

Wesley stood up and walked toward the door, feeling content with today's work. Surely the coat would fetch a hundred or so, or a bit less off the black market. She was so young. Sabrina couldn't have been a day over 15, such a young girl to steal from. But in reparations, he was able to offer her a whole new slice of life, the taste of Rouge,

That taste would stick in her mind forever, as it did with everybody else. But she was ignorant as to what taste actually haunted her mouth. And hopefully, that longing would bring her back with further bounty for Wesley to claim.

The doorknob made a soft squeaking noise as he opened the door for Sabrina. "Yes, ma'am, it actu'ly was no problem whatsoever." And so that was that.

Wes trailed slowly through the front room of the office, and every so often, he couldn't help but to wonder if one day he could lose everything that he had worked for here. One day, would he fail to slip the client enough Rouge, would they take him to the police? Would he lose everything? His life? His livelihood. It was ironic that everything he worked for was entirely based off of stealing what other people spent their life putting together. Oh, Wes was going to hell, but this was something that he'd come to terms with. Kind of.