It's time for another Good Idea, Bad Idea

[soaringeverhigher]

[After Game 6]

A couple nights after the whole angel incident — once most of the initial panic dies down — Shawn turns up at Helen's brothel. He's alone: no Jeffs, no Dani, no Buck. Alone, and a little unsteady on his feet. Sauntering in like he's definitely not here on official business.

"Ladies," he greets the girls who are lounging around in the common area. Then, a sideways afterthought to the men: "...gents."

Comments

[soaringeverhigher]

"Thought you were more of a Madam." Ha. Ha ha. It's a really bad joke, and she's probably heard it before, and he doesn't care.

"Does it matter?" He offers the bottle back to her.

[helen_troy]

She'll give a tight lipped smile. Yes, she's heard that dozens of times before. But keeping the customer happy is something she's perfected over the years, learning with Cole especially. His jokes were terrible.

Taking the bottle, she sets it to the side, leaning closer. "No, it doesn't. I simply enjoy talking about you."

[soaringeverhigher]

He doesn't move much in response — but his head turns a little more toward her, his shoulders shifting back.

"Bet you do."

Hell has something to do with why he's here. Fear, too. Getting into the details is not something he's eager to do.

He raises a hand, aiming to caress the side of her neck.

[helen_troy]

Her hand rested lightly over his shoulder, gently cupping the back of his neck as she toyed with his hair. Don't mind her, this is something she's pictured more than once over the years. "You might be surprised." About a number of things, Hell included.

She leans into his touch. "We've been at this dance for centuries. Who knew it took the threat of damnation to bring you here?" It's almost worth it, now that she's got him where she wants him.

"I should tell you though, you have no reason to worry about Hell."

[soaringeverhigher]

He gives a short, wry laugh. "Yeah, well. The Lance might have somethin' to say about that." Destined to be damned, and all that.

[helen_troy]

"The Lance can say what they want, but I know a way to walk right out of the pit of fiery torment. Quite literally darling. You don't have to stay in Hell."

[soaringeverhigher]

His eyebrows pull together in a skeptical look — just at the same time his hand starts traveling downward, past her shoulder.

"Bullshit."

[helen_troy]

"Would I lie to you?" She said sweetly, nestling her head on the crook of his shoulder. Plump lips brushing against the tender spaces of his neck. "Ah! I mean about something serious."

She enjoys being the bearer of glad tidings, and she gets the sense Shawn is in need of it. Maybe she has a soft spot for him after all? Why else would she feel so generous. All without having first received what she wanted. It really was a cold day in Hell...so to speak.

"We don't have to be locked up in Hell. We can stroll right out."

[soaringeverhigher]

The thought drifts through Shawn's mind that he's either not sober enough or not drunk enough for this conversation. And possibly a little bit too horny.

But he can't hear something like that and not talk about it. He pushes back at her just enough that he can look her in the face again.

"How?" It's firm, insistent. But then, before she can speak: "If the answer includes the words 'deal' and 'demon,' I'm done talking."

[helen_troy]

She gives a small growl of frustration, put off from the end goal too soon. It's been centuries since her interest first began, what was a few more minutes? "Not demon or deal." She said simply. "A tear between our two planes. Something called 'a hellmouth.'"

If she knew pop culture better, she'd make a Buffy quip, but she doesn't, and even if she did, she's too amorous to care. "If and when the city is pulled down to Hell, it's possible for us to walk right out. As though it were a leisurely stroll. Once that demon in a jar gets loose, and he will, that's what he will do. He'll crawl right back out of Hell." Kill Father Christopher, but that's not her problem.

She leans in, placing a gently kiss on the corner of his mouth. "I so hope you aren't a 'go down with the ship' sort of man. You are far too yummy to be kept in the underworld."

[soaringeverhigher]

When she puts it that way, it sounds obvious. And very simple.

Too simple, he thinks. Back-up plan comes next, although back-up plan to what is still up in the air. Defying the angel? Resigning himself to Hell?

"Mm." He strokes the line of her throat with his thumb, savoring the anticipation for a moment. Helen Troy, who was look-but-don't-touch for so many years because of Cole (although, ew, don't think too much about Darius right now). And then because of their professional connections. And then because Dani didn't trust her.

Yeah. The threat of damnation was pretty much what did it.

"Anyone else in on this field trip?" Or is he just that special?

[helen_troy]

She's fully aware others might want to fight. There would be a battle between Heaven and Hell in the cards. It was pretty obvious this war now had two fronts. The probability of success had become astronomical.

Somehow, she wasn't worried. Damnation, it didn't scare her. Not in the way that some more personal and closely guarded weaknesses did. So long as Shawn never saw them, she would be happy. Hell, it was the reason for most of her bravado.

She could be nothing again. That was worse than eternal torment.

Her fingers ghost over his cheeks in a gentle caress. Her eyes closing against his touch. Tenderness wasn't something she was used to in her life. Not with Cole and not with...anyone else. She always assumed Shawn wouldn't extend her that courtesy. For all of her play and flirtations, she had been genuinely curious about him.

He didn't fit her usual type. So yes, that did make him special.

"I imagine that the Privy Council will be told by next court. I informed Kitty, Mercy and Palmer shortly before the sun rose after the angel chaos. Though I can't say if they would leave the city behind. Most of them sound as though they are going the noble route."

[soaringeverhigher]

So it really might wind up being some grand escape plan. A last ditch. How about that.

This encounter isn't exactly going the way he'd expected, either. Helen had always come off as more than a little predatory behind all the glamour. Despite the fact she's not a Gangrel, he'd half expected her to sink some actual claws into him once they were behind closed doors.

Distractions aside, if they're not about to get down, he's not sure what he's doing here. And Shawn is sick of not being sure what he's doing.

"Dunno about the others, but if you can trust Kitty to do anything..." It's what's best for Kitty. Same when it comes to Helen, actually. "Anyway. Think that's enough talk about them."

His hand moves from her neck to her knee, and he leans in, closing the distance for a kiss.

[helen_troy]

He didn't need to question why he was at the brothel, she had every intention of clearing that up for him. As well as chasing away whatever thoughts he was trying to escape. Whatever her hidden depths, she was a Daeva and could never escape her passionate nature.

She kisses him in return, snaking an arm about his shoulders and drawing him closer. She's usually the lead in this particular dance, and she suspects that Shawn would appreciate a woman who takes what she wants.

That was what it had all be leading up to between them.

Her hands roam over him, exploring the length of his chest and arms. Her head dipping in for another kiss, once the last had been broken. "Nothing but us tonight."