[Alain]

Alain flipped another page, his eyes and mind devouring the text through another read. It was simply impossible. There was so much blackmail possibility in a simple diary, which was entrusted to Alain by none other than Chief Magistrate Thanatos. The book contained accusations about Casimiro Thanatos himself, which Alain had been forced to have in safe keeping before the trial. Each page unraveled pieces of the puzzle that was the Thirteeen, albiet not completely. Usually, Alain had to bore himself with mere groundless gossip or mentions of Ismelda's secret lover, or the current trend of one, anyway. As Alain knew well, it was almost customary for high members of society to have one hidden lover, or several of them, not always at different times. But this...

Alain's eyes ached reading the passage.

"At least there is one who appreciates me. Sometimes we've gone out together, and other times met in my very own bed. That has been the most fun, with Richard and I, moreso than with my husband. It's all his fault anyway. If he hadn't spent all his spare time and money on his silly politics, we might still be close...

I'd told him long ago, but he hardly seems to care anymore. I wonder if he even cares about himself, at this rate. I was prepared to go through a lot with him; but I never prepared for coming second. I know he has commitments to the people, but he just needs to be there for me. He'd been all over me years before. But things were different then. He was so funny back then. He could have probably make even a funeral a bit brighter for me. Now he spends most of his time brooding in his study. At least I have Richard now. Tall, dark, handsome, and wonderfully innocent. I wonder if I should pull my dress down another inch, next time, to see how red he can get..."

Alain flipped through a couple of pages, as Ismelda had made particular drawings and designs that accentuated her point. He turned the pages until he found what he was looking for, knowing this specific page by heart, but still had to scan for the right passage. The diary tended to go on ad nauseam.

Magistrates...foolish Marshals...Cassy.

Alain's eyes flickered to the passage. Ismelda was particularly fond of nicknames, Thanatos, humorously enough, was this "Cassy."

"It's hard to tell what Cassy is thinking, especially when he knows what you're thinking. All just a part of his little game. His visit to my husband was on business, as usual, but he did pay me a visit. Always so polite. I wonder how he would react if he took the time to bypass my own mental shields, and found out the dirt I have on him. His reaction would be so priceless! There are so few things I'd like to see more of. He runs his little "lawful" order to keep the city organized, though, and I respect that so...maybe another time."

Alain knew the end of that story. Ismelda was no longer among the living, after all. He knew all too well that the Chief Magistrate had his hands dirty, as even Alain had his own dealings...

He had to give the book back soon, unless Thanatos wished his aide for some unknown reason using it. Sullivan and Roy hadn't come to their trial, either, although their bounty had yet to be re-approved. They still had a bit of time. Alain scoffed at the thought. Honestly, he had little hope for the pair. For whatever reason, Thanatos himself wanted Alain on this trial, with every bit of knowledge to possibly help them. Likely a test of his "loyalty", as if he had such a thing. In truth, he'd probably be another target, as Thanatos would never leave such an opening, with a counter for every bit of evidence the book might bring to light. Unless the accused pair from the Vanguard came soon, that test would prove unnecessary, with Alain likely gaining his superior's trust by not contacting the other Vanguard members beyond a simple warning.

A tap on his shoulder brought him out of his brooding, and he jumped as he turned to face the source. He hadn't even heard the door open. The uneasiness faded as he noticed a warm smile greeting him, and passion filled the soon forgotten dread in Alain's body.

"Should I be getting my handsome bookworm a personal study?" Clara chipped, using her advantage to the best of use.

"Only if it has very, very expensive erotica," Alain joked, hoping to shrug off his embarassment with laughter. Luckily for him, he succeeded. Neither side spoke for a few moments as Alain closed the diary.

"So, you find any new dirt to help the others?" Clara asked tentatively. The two had discussed the book previously, and Clara was of the opinion that were he to work with them, but try not to point fingers at Thanatos all the while. That way, both sides remained relatively neutral.

Alain sighed. There was also the "point 'fingers' at Thanatos option", but Alain was hardly approving of that notion either. If someone practically ran an operation like Thanatos's without getting caught for as many years as he had, his final thoughts before losing the job are unlikely going to be oh no, my retribution is finally here. In fact, it was far more likely that person would think of how they'd lived like a miniature god while it lasted. That was how Alain felt before he suddenly gained some sort of fame and his duties began piling up, after all.

He sighed once more. People adoring you seemed to only make things worse.

"Double sigh. Not good."

"I was just thinking about how nice it'd be to hole myself in a shack in the middle of nowhere, where all this would just go away."

Clara shot him a look of faux-awe. "And miss out on all the pleasures of city life? Forget the study, we're getting a cellar, you old wet blanket."

Alain laughed, feeling perhaps the same as Ismelda had, albiet much older and prepared for the matter, should it ever come to that. The mask that one's lover put on the world, where everything seems just a little less bleaker, was just starting to come on.

"We'll worry about all of that when the time comes, I suppose. I'm probably a lot better off without this thing." Alain said, getting up and moving toward the couple's safe. He'd just been glad it hadn't been damaged in the earthquake, as some of their belongings had been. "Now, at the mention of that cellar...I happen to have a present in here for you."