"Aww, no need for the formalities when he's gonna die anyway," he grinned. "But don't worry about those shoes. I'm down bad enough to get on my knees and lick them clean."

Topher wasn't ashamed to flash the weapons dealer a wink. His words were cut off when he looked at the man who screamed and begged for his life. Trois felt his smile broaden as he slipped around the chair and placed both hands to keep himself balanced. Eyes twinkled with amusement -- maybe the man would say something. Too bad they were too thorough to let the man walk. He had no qualms to sit there and practically straddle the man's lap as he maintained his balance.

"Go on, speak."

Perhaps Topher was a bit too excited to get any information from this man. But once he was met with spit to the face, the informant brought a hand up to wipe it away in disgust. The same hand was used to offer a firm crack against the man's face. The sudden strike was enough to cause immediate redness to the victim's face. Sure, he deserved it, but Topher wasn't going to tolerate any disrespect.

He slipped off and motioned two fingers against his own throat that he slid with a quick slice-like action as if to signal Onze to get the deed over with. Stubborn to the very end, he supposed he could respect that much. But people who offered no use didn't deserve to walk away.

"Make him suffer," he seethed.

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Camellia Lemaitre

Blood and bubbles bursted from the man's throat as he attempted to gurgle out his dying words. A shame they fell on deaf ears. It wasn't the first time Topher witnessed life leave someone's eyes, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. Though rather than act somber, the extortionist clapped his hands together in an impressed fashion. It seemed Camellia chose to force her victims into fearful submission before she gave the killing blow. He made a mental note of just how she'd work and tucked it away for later. Perhaps it'd do him well not to get on her bad side.

Alas, this was Topher, and he wasn't exactly the best at currying people's favor.

"Oh, come on," he insisted. "You can't tell me the idea of a man getting on his knees and submitting to you wouldn't get you riled up."

To emphasize his point, the man did exactly that. All fours to the floor, he looked up at Camellia as he feigned a pleading expression. It wasn't the first time he'd made a fool of himself to his coworkers (was that the right word?,) and it most certainly wouldn't be the last. Perhaps it fell in a manner that he was comfortable enough with them.

"You can step on me if you'd like," he grinned.

But before she even had the opportunity, Topher stood back up and dusted himself off before he took to the restraints that fastened their victim to the chair. His body was still warm, but he could feel the body heat fading fast. At least when they did dirty work like this in a set location, Topher knew where everything was. Rather than break the body down, he figured he could let it soak for a bit. As if the dead weight was nothing, he flung the corpse into a large basin that seemed more fitting to the size of a small bathtub, and began to dump a mixture of chemicals in. Skin sizzled and bubbled as flesh began to slowly but surely break down.

"Let's give that a moment to ferment. Walk with me, let's get to know each other. Maybe as Onze and Trois, or maybe as Camellia and Topher. It's all up to you."

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Camellia Lemaitre

As soon as the door closed, Topher wasted no time popping the question.

"So if I got on my knees again, would you allow me the privilege?"

The wide grin that accompanied his features showed he was only half-joking. But there was still that part that was half-serious. Onze, Camellia, however you wanted to dissect it -- was stunning. And ever the dog he was, Topher felt himself grow feral. He should have been a bit more conscientious while on the job, but now that the job was over, he was insufferable. But rather than futher that insufferability, he decided to answer her with some serious questions.

"But really, what made you want to join a place like this? For me, Minuit kinda got me out of a rough patch and I guess I kinda owe him my loyalty for that much. And then a follow up question for you."

Though the seriousness didn't last for long. One arm pressed against the wall in an attempt to corner his fellow associate as a smug smirk tugged at his features.

"Question two: are you single?"

The question was followed by a daring wink.

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Camellia Lemaitre

The sudden proverbial firefight that the two found themselves in only heightened his awareness. A shudder crawled up his spine at the sudden force that she chose to match him with. Pupils dilated as a breath he hadn't been aware he'd been holding flared itself out of his nostrils.

"Well goddamn, we have that in common," he breathed out. "And I've gotta admit right now I'm hard enough to cut a fuckin' diamond."

Under normal circumstances, he would have gladly given someone the opportunity to cop a feel, but it felt a bit taboo to mix business with pleasure. Like she'd stated earlier, maybe when they weren't at work. Rather than continue to let the sparks fly as they may, he chose to surrender. At least for now. Topher shoved himself away and allowed a chuckle to ease off the tension that had manifested.

"So you've done this work before," he acknowledged. "It's good to have prior experience. I can't say I've really done anything like this before now. I had some background in forensic pathology, so I guess it really helps with the whole cleaning business."

Idle chatter to further diffuse what he'd started. It was true though, the knowledge he'd garnered helped him figure out ways to dispose of bodies left behind. The cleaning process boiled down to basic chemistry. Though the next question that came seemed to follow came out of left field, especially from someone like Topher.

"What made you choose Runerigus as your partner? I take it a ghost type falls in line with your previous work?"

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Camellia Lemaitre

The hesitance in the way Camellia didn't seem to want him to pull away spoke deafening volumes to Trois. Although he did his best to listen to her, the thought gnawed at the back of his mind. He did his best to distract himself, and dug roughly into the question that was asked: where did his experience come from? A playful smile took to his features as he spoke up on the matter.

"Well it wouldn't be fun if I shared all of my secrets the first time we're paired together. Ask me again another time, I might be willing to share then."

Though once again his mind fell into the gutter again. This time he approached the topic a bit more delicately. No, he genuinely wished to know more than Camellia let on. But as he made his approach, one hand rested delicately under her chin to tilt her head up to face him. The other fell far more rough as he gripped at her waist. Maybe it was his way to show he meant business, or maybe he was a little heavy handed when it came to these sorts of things. (But people always came back for more.)

"Desecration be damned, I want to take the risk to lay my hands on you," Topher practically panted out. "Show me your horrors, I'll meet them with my own."

Maybe he liked the way that she seemed to fight back with him. He wanted that, a game to take part in. But despite how lascivious he was, he didn't dare make a move that she wouldn't agree to.

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Camellia Lemaitre

The moment teeth grazed skin, Topher couldn't help the whimper laced with nothing but need quiver his lips as he felt his knees buckle just ever so slightly. Teeth dug into his bottom lip as his nostrils sucked in air to soothe his burning lungs. She had a point, they needed to get somewhere else, and fast. Most of his flings found themselves in hotel rooms but the distance seemed out of the question. It seemed highly unorthodox, but the closest place was his own room within the complex. Against his better judgment, he chose to allow what he assumed to be a one-time thing become something a lot more intimate.

Hands grazed lithe, toned thighs as he hooked his fingers behind the bend of Camellia's legs to help her hike them up to wrap around his legs. His head tilted down so lips could offer a fervored attack against the hollow of her throat as he spoke obscenities in any language that dared to leave his lips. (He never realized just how soft her skin was. Then again, this had been the first time he'd dared to really touch her.)

"Avec plaisir (with pleasure,)" he offered with a shaky exhale.

To make up for the way he helped her entwine her legs around his waist, all too eager hands gripped at the globes of her ass that were all too modestly hidden behind clothes for his liking. The traverse back to his personal quarters came like second nature. Topher himself became too occupied in the way he scraped his teeth against flesh that he was all too eager to devour. He had no qualms about the way he managed to mar alabaster skin with hickeys. (He'd apologize later, but now he was far too eager to let reason get in the way.)

Once they reached the door to his room, Topher maneuvered a bit to prop it open and slip inside with his partner before he kicked it shut and locked it. He was in desperate need of privacy. Though as he made his way to his bed with Camellia in tow, he broke away long enough to help her out of her clothes and even kick off a few pieces of his own. Though once they reached the bed, that's when he let go of his partner and allowed her back to hit the plush silk covers that accompanied his dissheveled bed. (He didn't think ahead of time to bother to straighten it up.)

Topher himself climbed on top of her as he began to trail delicate kisses against her abdomen as he began to lower himself. With pants already gone, his teeth hooked around the band of her panties as he gave them a playful snap.

"Chante pour moi (sing for me,)" the command came with ease as he used his teeth once more to assist with the removal.

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Camellia Lemaitre