Chloe doesn't mean to be so pissed off - she doesn't have a right to be, she realizes, in some part of her logical brain, but she is. Watching Lance and Max hang all over one another, hearing Max call her pet names, talking about really kissing him, it all made her want to put her fist through a wall.
So she'd decided to go to the one person she knew could usually handle her at her most petty and furious. She didn't bother knocking on Ashe's door, simply letting herself in, giving B.O.B. a small salute when she sees him standing near the basement door, pointing down to ask if that's where she was. He nods, and she doesn't notice him going to try and tell her to wait as she starts to head down the stairs, because why should she?
If there was one thing that Ashe was, it was cautious about her business. Oh, she could appear to throw caution to the wind, but time and experience had turned her into a careful master of crime. She hadn't climbed to the top by being careless. So as worked with her product in the basement, she was quickly aware of a presence on the steps. She had no idea who it was and the footsteps were not Shades or B.O.B. and she was not expecting anyone else. Killing wouldn't be her first choice, but she was not above it to protect her investments.
Viper was pulled and Ashe aimed quickly to hold up whoever was invading her personal space. Anger was quickly replaced with shock and the cocked weapon lowered as she saw who it was. She let out a frustrated sigh and hissed at her. "You lookin' to get yourself shot? Because that is how you get yourself shot." Oh wait, the girl had been shot a lot already. She rolled her eyes and set Viper back down. "Nevermind...it's startin' to make sense in my head."
She looked past her up towards the stairs. "SOMEONE AIN'T DOIN' THEIR JOB UP THERE!" A whir of noise came echoing back down the stairs. "DON'T YOU SWEAR AT ME!" She hollered back before turning back to Chloe.
There was something to be said about the fact that Chloe hadn't even shown a moment of panic when she'd had a gun set on her. Something that a few months ago would have sent her spiraling in an anxiety attack seemed to roll off her shoulders when she was sure the other person wasn't actually going to shoot her in the end. She'd given her a look at the comment, because that's just rude, Ashe, before glancing back up the stairs as she shouts.
"He saw it was me," she said with a wave of her hand, like this wasn't what mattered at the moment, and there was a huff in her voice that came with being a disgruntled teenager.
But there's more important things to talk about at the moment, like uh - "What the fuck is all this?"
Well, she had never told Chloe she was polite. She shrugs the look off, giving her one back that shows that she isn't wrong about what she had said. She hadn't necessarily been trying to keep this from Chloe, but neither had she been sure that she wanted to bring her into it. The girl had a raw talent that could be shaped into crime. With her background and skills, it would have been easy to guide her right to the top. The type, she could have passed her throne on to. She wasn't sure that was what she wanted though, and so it remained to be seen how far she could trust her with this kind of information.
The cat was somewhat out of the bag though, and she would give Chloe the chance. The girl had earned that much. However, she may still have been more guarded and professional than Chloe had seen her before.
She made her way towards the crates, sliding one hand along the wood. "This here? This is business." She gave her a pointed look, as much as she liked Chloe, she hoped she wouldn't have to figure out a way to keep her quiet about it. There was a certain edge to the way she spoke that Chloe had maybe only seen before when they'd been walking away from McCree's body, and this was more dangerous. "I don't think I have to tell you that it's in your best interests to keep what's in here between us, right?" Whether she liked her or not, there were assets to protect. As well as her own ass.
Business. Chloe knew full well the sorts of things Ashe did back home, so her forehead wrinkled with curiosity, head tilting to the side as she watches her move her hand over the crate. Interesting.
Everyone had always told her she could amount to so much, had so much potential to be a good person, to do the right thing. That she had just been led astray and she wasn't really someone who wanted to be a criminal at the end of the day. A part of her believed it - maybe if her dad hadn't died, if Max hadn't left, if she'd never met Rachel. Maybe it would have all been different. But he was dead and she had left and she did meet her and that had all played a part in shaping her into who she was.
No matter how much Chloe tried to fit the good girl role, she just never could seem to really make it her.
"I can't believe you think I'd ever narc," she said with a mock offense, hand going over her heart. She knew she had to do it for her own safety, that it was a precaution and not just a personal thing. It said as much on her face, even if she did joke. The hand stayed over her chest and she lifted the other with two fingers raised. "Scouts honor, I won't breathe a word."
She was never a Scout, but that's not the point, is it?
The good girl role had never suited Ashe. The brief moment in her childhood where she may have tried it on for size to earn the respect and love of her parents had failed her and life had taken her by the hand and kept directing her down its darker path. She'd never looked back, and her bitterness and anger had been further pushed by the knowledge that the world was full of crime and war. What was the point in being good when the bad could just step on you. The powerful and rich made the rules, and she preferred that to following those set up by others.
It was that potential she saw in Chloe. A girl who may have tried to be good, but couldn't quite get the taste of adrenaline out of her mouth. Ashe would use that if she could.
The sternness softened on her face into a smirk. "I was a girl scout once. Top cookie seller." She cracked the lid on one of the crates to give her a peek. "Let's just say, I prefer a different kind of mint these days." Her smile broadened, Chloe would definitely be an asset to her and this new gang she was growing if she wanted to be. The girl had talent, and in Ashe's opinion it was being wasted on teaching in a place that could send you into hell one minute or the next.
Chloe had snorted at the cookie comment, before leaning in to look at the crate, glad that Ashe had decided to trust her after all. The amusement she'd been showing a second ago fades, something on her face a little turning a little more serious, almost wary as she sees the stacks of guns and ammunition inside. She knows how hard it is to get those sorts of things here in the town - how had she...?
All her work at the Hair of the Dog suddenly made sense. The times she'd seen her signing papers, ordering people around, muttering in short and quiet undertones for people to get their shit together. Her eyes widen just slightly as she looks up at her. She'd known she had dealt in weapons at home, it shouldn't surprise her so much that she'd have them here.
While there was truth to the fact that Ashe had been drinking herself into quite the state each night, that didn't mean that she was not functioning. The work she had been doing had been keeping her busy and the same tactics she used back home were working here. She was performing a service as far as she had known. However, she had not paid a dime for anything that was in that basement, or at least not much save for a small investment.
"Yup. That, ammunition, explosives. Where do you think I got those fireworks? This isn't even everythin'." She saw Chloe's eyes and the look she gave reminded her that Chloe had such a talent for this kind of business. "When I said that people have to start takin' into consideration that we might be doin' battle I was serious about that. Every month this place throws somethin' new at us and yet they aren't very givin' when it comes to the protection." The Deer weren't exactly the best protectors.
Ashe took a seat on one of the crates. "It's important work, and yet you gotta tread a line to make sure you don't get caught." Now it was just putting distribution into place.
Chloe bit her lip, looking back to the weapons, reaching one of her hands in to trail it over the butt of a gun. She swallows a little more roughly than necessary, her fear around them easing for certain, but a part of her couldn't help but wonder what these would do if they got put into the wrong hands. Who might get hurt during the wrong sort of craziness in this place. People like McCree.
But that would happen anyway, wouldn't it? With or without Ashe, this place would find ways to make them kill one another. This just gave them a means of maybe keeping themselves safer than they would have otherwise.
Trafficking weapons did come with that one potential downside. The fact was that maybe not all the sleepers did have the best interests of everyone in mind. Ashe, on one hand, might actually be considered one that wasn't looking out for everyone's best interests. The truth was that she really didn't care about anyone's interests, unless it suited her or brought in a profit. She saw herself as neutral really, though she knew she wasn't the good guy and she knew she was likely the bad guy. However, she didn't see good and bad in the same way that the law did, or that other more moral characters might. Ashe cared about what was in her own best interests and she saw everyone else as doing the same. Life, to her, was about enjoyment and she enjoyed the rush of a good score. She also enjoyed the profit that built her empire back home. She liked doing the wrong thing and she liked breaking the rules because she hated rules that weren't her own.
Those were all things that made her a brilliant criminal and helped her navigate and survive the world of crime. She didn't necessarily put weapons into the hands of evil people on purpose, but it wasn't like she was going out of her way to avoid it either. She turned a blind eye to where the money was coming from, mostly. The knowledge of it didn't suit her and once they were marketed out and she was counting the bills, her mind was on the next score.
She also saw what was happening here as a war, and they were under attack constantly. Better to run the risk of putting the weapons into the wrong hands, than prevent people from having them. People were always going to find a way to hurt each other and in her mind that was on them. It was selfish and it was cold, but life had hardened her up and made her selfish. She was never given what she needed and so she took what she could until she believed it was what she needed and wanted.
Here at least, there was really only one side to be on, and that was one that most would agree needed the weapons and other supplies she would offer. It wasn't a stretch when she said she was providing a necessary service. In the end she was doing all she knew how to do and the business kept her own demons at bay.
"I got a little bit of help." She looked Chloe up and down. "Why? You interested in being my girl?"
Under normal circumstances, Chloe's entire face would have burned brighter than a stop light at that sort of question from Ashe. For once, her mind didn't immediately jump to the idea of how flirtatious that all could be, or how she should be more embarrassed at having someone like her look her over.
Instead, Chloe was caught off guard by the question. No one had ever called her their girl in any context, not since her father had died anyway, and she had forgotten how it made her feel to hear it, to even have someone think of her in such a way. Maybe it wasn't quite the same context, but it was a position that would mean that Ashe relied on her in some way, took her in, made her... some kind of family. If there was one thing she could never say no to, it was the idea of being wanted.
So she nods, quickly and with full certainty, not a glimmer of hesitation in her eye. "Yeah. I am."
A crooked smile grew on her face. "I was kinda hopin' you'd say that." Being wanted was one of the traits that she and Chloe shared. Chloe had dealt with her own neglect and abandonment, along with a lot of other things and felt like she might have been staring into her own eyes as she considers. Deadlock was family. While gangs could always feel like a family, Ashe stood by having created a family. Which might have been why they were better at surviving. She hadn't realized how much she was hoping that Chloe would say yes, until a wave of relief washed over her. She didn't overtly show it, but the smile on her lips matched the smile on her eyes. "I was hopin' you'd say that." She walked towards her. "I'm gonna skip all the silly initiation because I'm not a teenager anymore and we're real small right now anyway. Stick with us though and we're gonna grow."
She went towards her desk and picked up a notebook before making a couple of notes in it. Realization dawned on her. "McCree is gonna give me hell for this, so try not to make a big deal out of it." Not that he could judge, he had his own toes dipped in the water of her budding business. "Oh, and keep your day job. That whole schoolin' thing is a great cover."
Hoping. Chloe can’t stop the grin that spreads on her face at those words. The confirmation that she’d really wanted her to say yes, that Ashe wanted Chloe on her team, brought her too much joy and excitement for her to actually keep it contained. She would be embarrassed for it later, maybe, but right now, she feels like a kid who just got told she was going to get to emulate her hero.
Following her towards her desk, she bit her lip at the mention of McCree, glancing to the side as she thought that over. Keeping secrets was something she was used to, even from people she cared about, but she knew McCree had a tendency to be around her at her weakest moments, especially ones involving alcohol, and she can’t help but wonder if she’ll be dumb enough to let it slip after too many shots. She likes to think she won’t, though, and so she nods. It shouldn’t be too hard.
“Okay.” To both. Her day job and not making a big deal of anything she’d ask her to do. “I kinda like teaching anyway.” It wasn’t a lie. She hated the hours, but she enjoyed the kids, and getting to see people express themselves. It made her feel like she was actually helping someone.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
8/10ish
So she'd decided to go to the one person she knew could usually handle her at her most petty and furious. She didn't bother knocking on Ashe's door, simply letting herself in, giving B.O.B. a small salute when she sees him standing near the basement door, pointing down to ask if that's where she was. He nods, and she doesn't notice him going to try and tell her to wait as she starts to head down the stairs, because why should she?
This is totally gonna turn out fine.
no subject
Viper was pulled and Ashe aimed quickly to hold up whoever was invading her personal space. Anger was quickly replaced with shock and the cocked weapon lowered as she saw who it was. She let out a frustrated sigh and hissed at her. "You lookin' to get yourself shot? Because that is how you get yourself shot." Oh wait, the girl had been shot a lot already. She rolled her eyes and set Viper back down. "Nevermind...it's startin' to make sense in my head."
She looked past her up towards the stairs. "SOMEONE AIN'T DOIN' THEIR JOB UP THERE!" A whir of noise came echoing back down the stairs. "DON'T YOU SWEAR AT ME!" She hollered back before turning back to Chloe.
no subject
"He saw it was me," she said with a wave of her hand, like this wasn't what mattered at the moment, and there was a huff in her voice that came with being a disgruntled teenager.
But there's more important things to talk about at the moment, like uh - "What the fuck is all this?"
no subject
The cat was somewhat out of the bag though, and she would give Chloe the chance. The girl had earned that much. However, she may still have been more guarded and professional than Chloe had seen her before.
She made her way towards the crates, sliding one hand along the wood. "This here? This is business." She gave her a pointed look, as much as she liked Chloe, she hoped she wouldn't have to figure out a way to keep her quiet about it. There was a certain edge to the way she spoke that Chloe had maybe only seen before when they'd been walking away from McCree's body, and this was more dangerous. "I don't think I have to tell you that it's in your best interests to keep what's in here between us, right?" Whether she liked her or not, there were assets to protect. As well as her own ass.
no subject
Everyone had always told her she could amount to so much, had so much potential to be a good person, to do the right thing. That she had just been led astray and she wasn't really someone who wanted to be a criminal at the end of the day. A part of her believed it - maybe if her dad hadn't died, if Max hadn't left, if she'd never met Rachel. Maybe it would have all been different. But he was dead and she had left and she did meet her and that had all played a part in shaping her into who she was.
No matter how much Chloe tried to fit the good girl role, she just never could seem to really make it her.
"I can't believe you think I'd ever narc," she said with a mock offense, hand going over her heart. She knew she had to do it for her own safety, that it was a precaution and not just a personal thing. It said as much on her face, even if she did joke. The hand stayed over her chest and she lifted the other with two fingers raised. "Scouts honor, I won't breathe a word."
She was never a Scout, but that's not the point, is it?
no subject
It was that potential she saw in Chloe. A girl who may have tried to be good, but couldn't quite get the taste of adrenaline out of her mouth. Ashe would use that if she could.
The sternness softened on her face into a smirk. "I was a girl scout once. Top cookie seller." She cracked the lid on one of the crates to give her a peek. "Let's just say, I prefer a different kind of mint these days." Her smile broadened, Chloe would definitely be an asset to her and this new gang she was growing if she wanted to be. The girl had talent, and in Ashe's opinion it was being wasted on teaching in a place that could send you into hell one minute or the next.
no subject
All her work at the Hair of the Dog suddenly made sense. The times she'd seen her signing papers, ordering people around, muttering in short and quiet undertones for people to get their shit together. Her eyes widen just slightly as she looks up at her. She'd known she had dealt in weapons at home, it shouldn't surprise her so much that she'd have them here.
"Is that what's in all these crates?"
no subject
"Yup. That, ammunition, explosives. Where do you think I got those fireworks? This isn't even everythin'." She saw Chloe's eyes and the look she gave reminded her that Chloe had such a talent for this kind of business. "When I said that people have to start takin' into consideration that we might be doin' battle I was serious about that. Every month this place throws somethin' new at us and yet they aren't very givin' when it comes to the protection." The Deer weren't exactly the best protectors.
Ashe took a seat on one of the crates. "It's important work, and yet you gotta tread a line to make sure you don't get caught." Now it was just putting distribution into place.
no subject
But that would happen anyway, wouldn't it? With or without Ashe, this place would find ways to make them kill one another. This just gave them a means of maybe keeping themselves safer than they would have otherwise.
"Do you have help?"
no subject
Those were all things that made her a brilliant criminal and helped her navigate and survive the world of crime. She didn't necessarily put weapons into the hands of evil people on purpose, but it wasn't like she was going out of her way to avoid it either. She turned a blind eye to where the money was coming from, mostly. The knowledge of it didn't suit her and once they were marketed out and she was counting the bills, her mind was on the next score.
She also saw what was happening here as a war, and they were under attack constantly. Better to run the risk of putting the weapons into the wrong hands, than prevent people from having them. People were always going to find a way to hurt each other and in her mind that was on them. It was selfish and it was cold, but life had hardened her up and made her selfish. She was never given what she needed and so she took what she could until she believed it was what she needed and wanted.
Here at least, there was really only one side to be on, and that was one that most would agree needed the weapons and other supplies she would offer. It wasn't a stretch when she said she was providing a necessary service. In the end she was doing all she knew how to do and the business kept her own demons at bay.
"I got a little bit of help." She looked Chloe up and down. "Why? You interested in being my girl?"
no subject
Instead, Chloe was caught off guard by the question. No one had ever called her their girl in any context, not since her father had died anyway, and she had forgotten how it made her feel to hear it, to even have someone think of her in such a way. Maybe it wasn't quite the same context, but it was a position that would mean that Ashe relied on her in some way, took her in, made her... some kind of family. If there was one thing she could never say no to, it was the idea of being wanted.
So she nods, quickly and with full certainty, not a glimmer of hesitation in her eye. "Yeah. I am."
no subject
She went towards her desk and picked up a notebook before making a couple of notes in it. Realization dawned on her. "McCree is gonna give me hell for this, so try not to make a big deal out of it." Not that he could judge, he had his own toes dipped in the water of her budding business. "Oh, and keep your day job. That whole schoolin' thing is a great cover."
no subject
Following her towards her desk, she bit her lip at the mention of McCree, glancing to the side as she thought that over. Keeping secrets was something she was used to, even from people she cared about, but she knew McCree had a tendency to be around her at her weakest moments, especially ones involving alcohol, and she can’t help but wonder if she’ll be dumb enough to let it slip after too many shots. She likes to think she won’t, though, and so she nods. It shouldn’t be too hard.
“Okay.” To both. Her day job and not making a big deal of anything she’d ask her to do. “I kinda like teaching anyway.” It wasn’t a lie. She hated the hours, but she enjoyed the kids, and getting to see people express themselves. It made her feel like she was actually helping someone.