Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Mar 27, 2011 20:50:42 GMT
Élodie was quiet for a moment as she watched Chris turn his gaze out towards the hotel through the blinds, wondering what it was he was thinking. "Your sense of adventure that doesn't involve being shot at, then," she amended with a wave of her hand which she then settled on his arm reassuringly.
"Honestly, Chris. You worry too much, I'm not going to get in trouble unless you plan on arresting me. You can relax, nothing bad is going to happen." And that was that, really. Elle might have been expected to live her life as though she expected something horrible to waiting around the corner and for a while she might have felt that way, but now that she was back on her feet she tackled life from a different angle; life was short and she intended to enjoy whatever time she had left, she wanted to act on impulse sometimes, to be unpredictable and yes, adventurous. It wasn't as though she was jumping out of planes or going white water rafting, though. Her idea of excitement was confined to where her feet stayed on solid ground mostly. She smiled and pointed to the top of the cabinet nearby, where the flashlights were stacked, thanking him in advance; "Merci."
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Chris
Human
LAPD Sergeant: Narcotics
And I won't let you drown when the water's pulling you in; I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.
Posts: 407
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Post by Chris on Mar 27, 2011 21:46:20 GMT
In his own way Chris supposed he couldn't help but worry about Elle, whether it was in regards to her personal safety or her health or when it surrounded her job and her reputation. Chris wasn't sure if he really believed any genuine trouble could come of her showing him the site of her latest personal project. He was likely being silly by worrying at all but in a way it was in his nature, as much a part of him as his devotion to his job and his resentment towards those with addictions and no drive or will to overcome them.
After offering Elle an almost apologetic sort of smile he turned and retrieved the flashlights from where they had been stored. Taking two he turned back to Elle, lifting the flashlights a little into her view, he said, "Boots, hats, flashlights and plans. Is that everything we need?" Again he was deferring to her on her own territory so to speak, as he would continue to do for the duration of the time they spent on her property and in her area of expertise.
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Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Mar 29, 2011 21:43:17 GMT
It was nice, though, to have someone looking out for her like that and Élodie appreciated it a lot; Chris was easily one of her closest friends, someone she cared about a great deal and more than she could really say after everything that she had been through with him at her side providing support and reassurance. Elle didn't need to be looked after, just like Chris didn't need that, they were both fully functioning adults, but it was still nice at the end of the day to know there was someone in her corner at the end of the day.
"I think so," she said, giving the room a final glance before she gathered up the plans and the paper bag from the restaurant and led the way towards the door and outside again. Elle locked the office up again, the light out and then started down the steps, looking back over her shoulder as Chris as she went. "This is exciting, I haven't shown anyone who isn't involved what I'm planning to do here."
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Chris
Human
LAPD Sergeant: Narcotics
And I won't let you drown when the water's pulling you in; I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.
Posts: 407
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Post by Chris on Mar 29, 2011 22:28:25 GMT
Chris was a highly protective individual, he had been since childhood really. His friends and most of all his cousin had never had to worry about having someone to support or protect them if they got into any kind of trouble and Chris was selfless about it; he never expected it in return. He knew he took after his father in that way, that Duncan Tyler had been exactly the same when it came to looking out for others, those he cared about, and valuing their safety above his own at all times.
He couldn't help but smile as she scooped up the paper bag among the other bits and pieces she had seen fit to gather before they headed inside. Following her down the steps and towards the hotel itself, he held the hard hat in one hand; it swung slightly with the motion of his arm as he walked, catching up to her easily with his longer stride and falling into step with her. "You haven't?" His face turned to hers and there was a curious edge to his expression, soft though it was. "Why is that?"
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Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Aug 14, 2011 16:38:14 GMT
As usual in Los Angeles is was a warm night and Elle led the way towards the hotel over rolling sand banks of what had once been the front gardens of the hotel, separating it from the road, through a wet kind of coastal heat that told them they were close to an airless beach. As usual the sight of the hotel with its crumpled face and weeping windows made her stomach clench with anticipation and she realised anew how sad it looked, like a wizened old woman hunched up on the beach, washed ashore after some terrible storm. To be the person to care for it and put it back together after long years of loneliness and despair was something special to Elle. It was something sacred.
"I suppose I haven't gotten around to it yet," Elle said, eyes on the hotel ahead of them. "Hannah's been getting this-- look in her eyes since I told her about it. I think most of my friends feel as though I'm taking on too much. Which is fine. They're entitled to feel that way, but I don't know." For a few places she was quiet in thought, though she was clearly still in the middle of dissecting the reactions of her friends. "Everyone wants to leave their mark on the world, this might be mine. It's not their choice."
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Chris
Human
LAPD Sergeant: Narcotics
And I won't let you drown when the water's pulling you in; I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.
Posts: 407
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Post by Chris on Sept 18, 2011 22:37:45 GMT
Chris couldn't help but smile when she said that. Elle claimed she wasn't organised, Chris believed she was, but it was all a matter of opinion he supposed. She certainly seemed more organised and structured than he did in his day to day life, strange as it might seem for an officer of the law not to be on top of everything, but here she was admitting she hadn't gotten around to something she had been meaning to do. Sometimes he just didn't know what to think of her, while at others he thought he had her all figured out. She certainly kept things interesting.
As they walked and Elle told him about her friends, Chris paid attention to the path they were taking but a good deal of his attention was on his companion. There was a passion in her voice when she talked about her work and he admired that. Elle clearly cared, she lived for architecture and everything else that made up her career, but it was the buildings themselves that really held a special place in her heart, he could tell. "If it makes you happy and it's what you want to do, then ultimately it's your decision," he told her with a smile. "It's your life, not theirs."
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Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Sept 18, 2011 23:14:04 GMT
In that respect at least the feeling was mutual; Elodié often thought she had a comprehensive understanding of Chris only to have the figurative rug pulled out from under her feet, she had come to the realisation, multiple times, that thinking she knew what he was thinking or even where she stood with him often came right before she was surprised by something coming out of the blue and changing things or making her rethink her assessment of the Sergeant and that she ought to just stop expecting to know what to expect. Besides, trying to summarise people was always ridiculous and never accurate, condensing people down never did them justice.
"Exactly," Elle returned. "That is exactly my point." For a moment she considered Chris from beneath the brim of her yellow hat, wearing a pseudo-serious expression as they moved closer to the hotel. "Maybe I should hire you to do my PR from now on."
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Chris
Human
LAPD Sergeant: Narcotics
And I won't let you drown when the water's pulling you in; I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.
Posts: 407
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Post by Chris on Sept 19, 2011 20:10:08 GMT
Chris did his best to keep the people he worked with on a day to day basis guessing when it came to how he ticked, not the other officers he relied upon or looked up to him for leadership and guidance, but the men and women he questioned and scrutinised, those he put under the microscope when it came to the crimes he had dedicated his life to bringing to an end. The less they understood about him the better, the more he kept them off guard and ill at ease, the more control he had in any situation. Chris liked that they didn't understand him and couldn't keep things straight, but there had been times in the past when he had come close to crossing a line. He knew he had too much in the way of personal feelings when it came to his work sometimes but if there was no passion then there was no real drive and determination to find an end. Chris kept his personal feelings in check as much as possible and he used them if he could. When he could no longer keep himself in line, that was when he would step back and say he was done, but until then he would press forward and keep doing what he was doing.
"PR?" he echoed. "Me?" Chris had to laugh at that, shaking his head. "That might be the worst idea you've ever had. Could you imagine me doing that job?" Another shake of his head and another laugh broke the silence before he went on to add, "I like to think I'm pretty good at what I do. I'm much better suited to chasing the bad guys and putting them behind bars. I think I should just stick to that."
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Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Oct 3, 2011 21:03:46 GMT
"How about acting as a character witness whenever I need one instead?" Elle laughed. "I could use someone to back me up on these things, you know. Who better than to testify on my behalf than an upstanding bad-guy-catcher?"
They reached the building and Elle let them into the intact part of the foyer through the front door. It was gloomy inside, it was dark, a strange green-blue colour as if they were underwater but beyond that it was a magnificent looking room. Underneath the peeled wallpaper, the scent of mildew mixed with charcoal, the charred wood and the tattered, sodden carpet it was plain to see that once it had been a beautiful building. At least she certainly seemed to think so as she pointed out the chandelier overhead, telling Chris that it was coming out in the morning to be fully restored off site, a friend was going to take care of it for her. Then she led him, flashlights cutting a swathe through the eerie darkness, out of the foyer and towards the back of the building. At least the floor was solid where they walked.
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Chris
Human
LAPD Sergeant: Narcotics
And I won't let you drown when the water's pulling you in; I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.
Posts: 407
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Post by Chris on Oct 3, 2011 21:14:15 GMT
"That I can do," he told her, glancing her way and granting her another smile instead of nodding his head. Unlikely as it was, he didn't want to dislodge the hard hat she had given him. "Here's hoping you won't need me, but if you do, I'm there." He would be, as well, without hesitation. Chris was deeply loyal to his friends, he had been since he was a child; his father had taught him the value of loyalty and friendship and when the two were combined, Duncan Tyler had always said, it was a thing to be treasured.
It was not unlike stepping onto the set of a movie, or at least what Chris thought it might be like, when they were inside the foyer. The colours, the atmosphere, the scale: it would have made a good background for one of those thrillers or horror movies that were always in production, not just in Hollywood but all across the country. Chris had never been much of a fan of horrors; he saw enough terrible things in his line of work to last him the rest of his life. He didn't need to see the fictional sort as well.
"So has anybody ever seen anything in here?" It was obvious he was talking about the stories, the belief that the building was haunted. It was curiosity on his part as opposed to any sort of faith in the stories themselves. Chris generally believed what he could see, what was put right in front of him.
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Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Oct 3, 2011 21:23:45 GMT
It was certainly an atmospheric building, that had been part of what had drawn Élodie to it in the first place if she was honest, the hint of the macabre struck her as a challenge more than anything else. This building had once been beautiful, no doubt a happy place full of happy memories of families on vacation, honeymoons and summer loves. Those memories, she felt, were equally, if not more important than those of murder and tragedy.
"Supposedly this is where the woman is seen a lot," Élodie told him, pausing to turn around and look at the hallway they were walking down. "Guests in the hey-day would see her running up this corridor and sometimes they heard her crying on the upper floors, too." She had been smiling when she stated but she gave a sigh as she finished. "It's sad to think about, I guess. It's all a bit ghoulish, but that's hardly the building's fault."
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Chris
Human
LAPD Sergeant: Narcotics
And I won't let you drown when the water's pulling you in; I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.
Posts: 407
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Post by Chris on Oct 3, 2011 21:35:51 GMT
Chris had been inside some atmospheric buildings in his time, places that carried the oppressive, heavy feel of death and misery, places steeped in years of violence and bloodshed. Some nights he saw them in his dreams, sometimes his mind managed to convince itself he was still within those walls when he woke and he felt anxious and uncomfortable in those first few seconds after sleep had tumbled away. This was different, though. This was a place rich in history and memory, he could feel it as they walked, his eyes roaming over all the small details, his mind committing this and that to memory of its own accord.
"You've never seen anything?" he asked her as they stood in the hallway, his eyes turning from the length they had just walked to her face in profile. "No movement out of the corner of your eye? Nothing like that?"
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Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Oct 3, 2011 21:49:52 GMT
"Not really," Elle answered. She looked at him side-long for a moment, making a face before she shrugged her shoulders. "I get kind of a tingly feeling sometimes. You know, like the hairs on the back of your neck standing up, that kind of thing. But I've never really seen anything. Just--" She waved a hand and started moving forwards again, heading for stairs at the end of the hall; he main staircase was unusable but this one had escaped fire damage and had been deemed perfectly structurally sound.
After a few moments she seemed to rethink her conclusion. "When I first came to view this place it was dark, during that big thunderstorm? Anyway I was exploring the room that are still intact and, just for a second, I could have sworn I saw someone dart into one of them. It was just a second, just a flash of white skirt but-- by that point I'd read all the history I could get my hands on about this hotel and it was probably just my imagination," she looked at Chris. "It spooked me though. I got out as quickly as I could."
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Chris
Human
LAPD Sergeant: Narcotics
And I won't let you drown when the water's pulling you in; I'll keep fighting, I'll keep fighting.
Posts: 407
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Post by Chris on Oct 3, 2011 21:58:33 GMT
Chris watched her as she spoke, trusting her to warn him about anything he might trip or stumble over, and he wondered just how much she believed her own conclusion. Had it been her imagination, or had she actually seen something? There was no telling, there was no solid scientific proof one way or another, was there? Chris couldn't recall any as they walked, approaching the steps and then beginning their ascent, Elle in front with him following behind.
"There are guys on the Force," he began as they went, "some guys in my team, even, who swear they've seen things." He had listened to the stories as they were swapped over cups of coffee in the break room at the station, he had even heard a few being passed from desk to desk in the offices. "We had one guy, a new detective, a couple of years back, he swore blind he saw an entire family once, just watching him while he made an arrest." He shrugged his shoulders. "No one else saw anything though. Not many people believed him."
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Elle
Human
Architect, Author & Presenter
Suddenly my eyes are open, everything comes into focus.
Posts: 119
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Post by Elle on Oct 5, 2011 21:04:15 GMT
It was one of those things that was probably better not to dwell on overly; if Elle thought about what she'd seen that night too hard she just freaked herself out because every explanation she could think of had a reason for why it couldn't have been something commonplace and every day. It had been a sheltered part of the building, no drafts blowing garbage about, and there were no curtains to get caught on a door hinge or anything like that. It was just a little bit too creepy for her, easier to put it out of her head and think about the walls and the carpets and how she was going to choose door handles and number plates and sconces for the walls.
"Mon Dieu," Élodie said shaking her head. "That's so chilling." For a few moments she climbed the steps in silence then she turned to speak to him again. "I suppose in your line of work it's not something people would readily admit to, believing in things other than what they can see and hear and feel."
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