Chapter 19: Negotiations

Bad guy? Taken care of. First problem? Dealt with. Next step? Negotiating with my ex. Status? A work in progress.

April 8

Elric tinkered with a Calico M950, one which he affectionately called Grendel, waiting to hear from Clitus and Fairbanks who went in to interrogate Celenike. Hoping to learn what became of the parchment they took from Richter.

Mordred watched as he did so, like a curious lion. Gilgamesh was off, seeing if there was some wine to savor, with Enkidu in tow. And Trish and Luvia were waiting across from the freelancer as he continued to toy with the weapon.

As they waited quietly, there was a sudden loud sound from the room where Celenike was being detained.

The door eventually opened and when it did they saw Clitus stepping out backwards, restraining Liliana who was flailing, screaming "Let me go! I'll make her crack if you'd just give me a few more minutes." Looking as if she was ready and willing to tear someone's arms off and beat them like a drum. A somewhat adorable display, reminding him of a certain Saber.

"Yeesh." Elric exclaimed lowly, before looking to Mordred and saying "And I thought you have a bad temper." earning him a punch to the shoulder from his partner as she told him where to stuff his comment.

Liliana was quick to bark at him "Zip it, Belmont!" as she continued to try and liberate herself from Stark's vice grip. It did little to disway Elric's enjoyment—finding her to be rather adorable (slightly more than usual) when she's angry. Reminding the freelancer of Trish when they first met nearly six years ago.

"No luck, huh?" Trish asked.

Liliana continued to fire off a series of angry comments but seemed to be calming herself as Clitus locked the door shut.

The elder Iscariot regrettably replied, "Afraid not." Placing himself before the door to prevent his protege from re-entering. "She refuses to answer any question we provide; only responding with vague insults."

"So it was about as productive as an atheist visiting the Vatican."

"Essentially." Clitus responded professionally. In the beginning of a journey into contemplation as the others exchanged ideas of what to do about this inconvenience. Elric found the matter tedious as he continued to toy with the gun. It was then that a look of I have an idea overcame the Judas Priest; and then cast his gaze to his rival to say "Unless…perhaps you could try your hand at this…?"

"...Say what, now?"

"You have a history with the Russian, perhaps you could use that to compel some answers from her."

Elric cringed at the thought. The idea of being back in the same room as her made Elric uneasy. Luvia seemed to have something of a similar response, Mordred seemed to be in agreement with the idea; and Trish smiled at the idea. "Sounds like a good idea to me."

Causing Elric to ask "Are you outta your mind?" wondering if they had suffered a recent head injury.

Liliana was the only one present to fail at seeing the logic in this argument, but maintaining silence.

Luvia eventually came around to the idea, but still did not favor the suggestion. Elric was more so annoyed as he found himself gradually outvoted on the matter and ultimately relented on his refusal (score one for peer pressure) before finding himself entering to find Celeinke reclining back in a chair with a seductive smile on one side of the table.

Looking at her inspired a mixture of emotions. Disgust was certainly one of the first which came to mind. Recalling how she attempted to have her way with him when he was her prisoner, and was willing to do so in front of Luvia. While, at the same time, he also felt lust. This, he assumed, was a byproduct of what that Argosax fellow had attempted to do to him in that vile ritual. Recalling the various times Celenike used him in the bed for her own personal amusement. How she would dominate him, aggressively kissing his lips. Elric felt a distant urge to do the same to her, over and over.

The fact he felt such urges disgusted Elric further.

"Celi…" Elric began to speak. Putting on a facade of professionalism, attempting to conceal his true emotions from showing. "What did-"

"Let me guess, dear." Celinike interrupted him. "You want to know about that piece of cloth we confiscated from your uncle?" Every ounce of her tone was haughty and rife with a sense of arrogance—as if to say I have all the leverage here without a word—and Elric despised every second of it, wanting to make her squirm.

He hated her so much. Celenike's arrogance and delusions of superiority did not even scratch the surface.

"What do you want with it? It's of little use to you."

"Perhaps my colleagues will be greatly interested in seeing it for themselves." Celenike retorted. "Darnic and the others have been eager to get their hands on many objects connected to the Alagaddans—what would interest them more than something which may lead them to eventually entering the city."

"Take it from someone who just had a little one-on-one time with them and has learned more about them then I ever wanted to, you people wouldn't like meeting them for very long. They're everything bad about the Rheons turned up to eleven."

"That does very little to sway me." Celenike told him. "You are a Rheon and I remember our time together being very satisfying in different respects." with a suggestive ton. So much so that it was obvious what she wanted. If she were to have things her way Elric would not only let her keep the parchment they confiscated from Richter but would have had him return to being her plaything (both as a freelancer and a lover).

"You know what I mean." Elric said, attempting to direct the conversation as well their respective focus to the matter at hand. "Even you have to see how reprehensible my family can be at times, if not in general, so do you really want to risk running into anyone that is worse than them? Who will do things to you that will scar you for the rest of the time you have left with your life?"

"What manner of "things" are you referring to?"

"The kind even I would never do."

"That is not saying much, dear, given your proclivity for more…noble choices."

"You obviously don't know me that well, Celi." Elric scoffed. "Then again I never let you see the real me that often."

Celenike smirked halfly, making her face look more attractive than usual. "Oh, really?" seeming to be less than convinced by Elric's words. "I recall much of your conduct when in my employ. How you would, on occasion, defy my orders. Providing aid to that Iscariot a year ago. You are far from the cold and callous mercenary you prefer to fancy yourself as."

Elric did not know how to respond to that. Aside from partially suspecting it of being adulation on some level. From Celenike he expected nothing but encouragement for the worst of him, remembering usually bringing out the worst side of him strongly when she was in his life. But he did not have much time to dwell on that, and instead opted to focus on how to use that to his advantage.

"If I am, as you say, then you know I would not mislead you on this."

"Perhaps." Celinike could at least agree. "But why should I, dear? Even if I were to return the parchment, what would you promise me in return?"

Elric knew he was going to regret asking, but… "What do you want?"

Placing her fingers on the table, Celinke began to lift herself up. "So many things, darling; so many." before traversing around the table. Elric could have stopped her, threatened her with Knall or something of the sort, but he allowed her to have some agency in the moment out of respect for what she had once been to him. Watching as she half-circled the table to seat herself on his legs—making their waists inches from one-another.

She listed off some examples: having him return to her employ and turning on his allies were among them. But she was quick to admit awareness to the fact he would never do such a thing. She mentioned desiring an heir for her family but was aware enough of his condition to know that it would be more than difficult.

So she settled on a better arrangement: "Bring me with you back to Clock Tower."

"What?" It was a strange request.

Scoffing she explained "When my colleagues learn that you were within these walls and escaped they will, naturally, cast their collective gaze on yours truly as well as place the blame on myself; and believe me, lover, when I say you do not wish to be the subject of their ire." Stroking her hand down his shirted chest. "Therefore I will be safer in the care of your people back in Britain."

"Even if I could convince the others to do that, what makes you think that Clock Tower would even agree to this arrangement?"

"I can offer them a great deal of information on my colleagues as well as their knowledge of Alagadda." Celenike assured him with a smile. I will also return to you the parchment Wolf Pack procured from your uncle."

Elric fell silent. It was all Celinke required to see she had somewhat of the edge in this negotiation. Causing her to continue smiling.

"I'll tell the others." Elric eventually relented.

"Good." Celenike said before taking advantage of the private moment, suddenly grabbing Elric by the collar of his jacket and pulled him closer to her. Kissing him on the lips aggressively. Elric kissed her back. Engaging in an intense kiss, passionately embracing as they pressed themselves close.


In Celenike's Office Luvia was breezing through the pages of the journals left by the man who had used the keystone before Elric, attempting to distract herself from the idea of what could be going on in that room by losing herself in the gibberish of the journals.

She agreed to the plan of having Elric go in and question Icecolle, but, still, she did not fancy the possibility of what could happen. He had been suggested to do anything to get the information out of her and that 'anything' was eating away at Edelfelt to her core.

Could they be…NO, I mustn't think of it, she told herself mentally. It was critical that they get the parchment back but by the same token she could not help but feel as if she was at risk of losing him.

The new rivalry with Trish she could tolerate, but Celenike was more than she could stomach on a certain level.

The very idea of him and her together, let alone intimate for even the briefest of moments, made her skin crawl. She would let it slide if he did so to get information out of her or the situation escalated beyond his control, but she questioned how far he would let things go.

The King of Heroes seemed amused for some reason, this did not inspire Luvia with much confidence. Indicating to her that Elric had indeed performed the deed with the woman or something close to the nature of it to coax information out of her lips. It also caused Mordred to go into a what are you smirking about tirade before she and the First Hero proceeded to exchange insults.


Elric continued to kiss Celenike, losing all semblance of self-control, and Celenike did so just as aggressively, and as they kissed Elric was inundated with a sense of self-loathing that seemed unyielding. This, he now knew with some certainty of deduction, had to be the aftermath of what that Argosax had attempted to do to him. Those images he saw of what he would have done had the Alagaddan sorcerer succeeded—the kind of "man" they would have reshaped him into mentally—made him more susceptible to performing acts without little thought. He had some control but it seemed the impulse which on some level was already present was amplified to almost incorrigible degree. Not that Celenike would have been aware or care, only concerned with the indulging of her own carnal urge.

He knew, with every fiber of his being, though struggling to form a cocherent thought in the moment, the I-I need to…to stop myself part of his mind was in the right but he could not bring himself to part from Celenike's lips with the intention of not going all the way.

Finally, Celenike seemed to be satisfied with the moment and broke away. Much to Elric's relief, certain that he would have gone all the way. Looking to him she then said as she pulled herself off Elric "As always, a pleasure, Belmont." Looking to the door. "But as much as I would love to share a moment of carnal bliss once again, I believe you should go to your allies, now."

Thank Christ.

"Right." Elric muttered, "Stay here and try not to make someone crossed," grateful for the excuse to finally leave the room and put some distance between her and him. Moving toward the door without an additional word.

Leaving a smirking Celinkie to recline back in her chair with a satisfied look on her face.


Liliana was impatiently pacing down the halls, left to guard the path leading to the interrogation room where Elric was supposed to be gaining critical information out of the freak Russian.

She was less than pleased with the assignment but was still to put aside her own personal annoyance to follow Clitus' order. Though the time she spent pacing often gave her mind ample motivation to wander—seeking to distract itself from the boredom of the moment she was mentally slogging through. Recalling how the half-breed saved her a few times, but she quickly moved to suppress those memories, hoping to bury them in the recess of her mind.

That was NOTHING, she told herself. Not wishing to think of her prey in such a humanized manner.

Suddenly she heard a noise from down the hall, then quickly faced the source with her bayonet in hand. Even when she saw that it was Elric she did not loosen up.

Asking as he approached "Learn anything useful?" still gripping her weapon tightly.

"Yeah. Where are my friends?"

"In the office where you had your little episode, half-breed."

"Good..." Elric retorted. Seeming if he wasn't there completely in the moment, not even deigning fit to even meet her gaze. If he could help Elric would make sure their eyes did not connect, feeling as if she would see an aspect of his character he would prefer never to be known, that she could expose this new—more perverted—element of him if they met at the peepers.

He could not let her meet his eyes. He just continued to walk down the hall and never once stopped, even as he was being bombarded with a myriad of questions.

By the time Elric found the others, Luvia was still sifting through the journals, Mordred and Gilgamesh were still exchanging insults, and Trish was reclined back in a chair gazing up at the ceiling, and the rest were simply relaxing.

"Everything well, Elric?" Luvia asked, her words dripping with tension and eyes filled with suspicion

Powering through, feeling pathetic and remorseful under the weight of her gaze, Elric answered "Yes…" Trying to not let his feelings show too strongly through his visage. Despite not going all the way, he could feel himself close to following that course and he hated it, hated himself, more than any word could describe.

"What happened?" his uncle asked, seeking to help his nephew—seeing that he was clearly disturbed by something, despite Elric's attempts to conceal it he was able to tell rather easily.

"Yes, did some good come of this?" Clitus also asked, curious if this little venture of his had been for something.

Shrugging his shoulders, still reeling from the maelstorm of emotions he was dealing with, Elric answered "She has agreed to return the parchment to us."

"I sense a but coming." Trish said calmly, temporarily putting aside her own concerns about Elric's time with Celenike. "The not fun kind, at that."

With a sigh, Elric pinched the bridge of his nose to say "In return she wants to be escorted back to Clock Tower."

"What?!" Luvia was obviously less than enthused. Almost indignant toward the idea. "Please tell me you did not agree to this. It's outrageous, to say the least."

"I told her that I would present her deal to all of you and discuss it."

"What's the problem?" Liliana asked. Though not particularly fond of Elric and creeped out by the Russian, she could not see why there was an issue to be had there.

"The problem is Icecolle is crazy." Luvia retorted. "How do we know she will not try something while we are on our way back? For God's sake she nearly…" becoming seconds away from bringing up what their captive had tried to do before they arrived but managed to stop herself. "My point is she cannot be trusted."

"She has a point, kid." Kairi said.

Trish then said "But we need to get that parchment back to Clock Tower, and it's not as if you'll be alone with her for most of the trip back. Sissigou and I will be accompanying you until we reach France."

"But-" Luvia wanted to argue more but could also see the logic in Trish's argument, despite her personal reservations.

Elric looked to Clitus for some input, the older Iscariot raised his hands up "Sorry, cannot help you here, Belmont." Much to the freelancer's aggravation.

The Servants were also divided. Mordred sided with Luvia here, Gilgamesh sided with Elric, and Enkidu was neutral on the matter.

The conversation then dragged on, but eventually Elric was able to convince them: Celenike would go with them. Thankfully the promise of further knowledge on Alagadda and the other members of Celenike's organization was good incentive.

A half hour later, Elric then found himself watching with Clitus as Celenike was put into a car at gunpoint by Kairi.

"You okay with this, Belmont?"

"Not really." Elric felt uneasy all the while. "But I didn't exactly have much of a choice."

"We culd have always tortured it out of her."

"Maybe…but I really don't feel like putting myself through that. I have enough regrets already. And for all we know it wouldn't have accomplished anything."

"Perhaps…" Clitus agreed. He had been both the conductor as well as the receiver of such barborous acts in the past, thus he recognized the truth in his rival's words. "I certainly won't complain on the excuse to finally leave behind this wretched castle."

"You don't like it?"

"It reminds of the one you liberated me from after our first encounter."

"Oh…so we are even now."

"Yes. So know the next time we should meet-"

"We'll be opposing players as before, I know." Elric said wearily. "Still appreicate the help." Before looking at Clitus' subordinate who had been watching them talk "You as well, doll face."

"Doll…" Liliana's cheeks flushed from embarrassment and anger at the comment. "I was merely aiding Clitus. Your rescue was an unfortunate by-product."

"If you say so."

With that the Iscariots departed, then Elric soon joined Luvia and Mordred in one of the other vehicles. After a few minutes separated them from the castle "Now then," Edelfelt finally was ready to say what was on her mind. "Since when have you ever been a homunculus?"

Mordred's ears perked up at that. "You're a homunculus, Master?"

"Oh, right, you were there to hear that part." Elric suddenly remembered, looking awkwardly at Luvia, then to Mordred "Oh, and you weren't." Then he looked back to the road ahead with a sigh. "Was kinda hoping to keep that under wraps a little longer."

"Talk." Luvia pressed him further.

"Half. I'm a half-homunculus." Elric begrudgingly clarified. "If you're gonna be that way, at least get the make and model correct." Explaining "My mother was a homunculus."

Luvia only had more questions from there. Chief among them: "How are you still alive?" and "How did you keep it a secret for so long?"

"Rheon was pretty good at keeping it under wraps." Elric explained. "As for how I'm alive, Emil found a way."

That only caused Mordred to have a hundred questions of her own. Elric was willing to answer most of them but was mum when it came to the secret of his continued living past the age of twenty.