Archive of Our Own ^beta

For an organization that operates within the darker shades of society, the grayer areas of morality, and general illegal business, they are surprisingly neatly structured, like a corporation. At the top there’s The Boss, and then there’s the second in command Rum, and then there’s the third in command Gin. Then there are people who report to Gin, and the people who report to the people who report to Gin, and so on and so forth. One can draw a diagram illustrating this down to the last detail, if they were so inclined.

The main group of organization agents who work under Gin are mostly snipers and assassins, aside from Vodka whose role is closer to Gin’s personal driver and very own secretary. But aside from that, the scientists at the research center and the hackers at IT department and the mechanics in charge of weapons maintenance and accountants at the financial department, they all report to Gin. It is one of the biggest mysteries in the organization how someone with Gin’s communication skills (read: or lack thereof) landed in such a management role. Aside from Rum’s and The Boss’s bodyguards and butlers and the small crew who work at their houses, everyone else in the organization falls under somewhere in the very organized top-down structure where Gin sits on the metaphorical top of the pyramid.

That is, everyone, except for Vermouth and those who she selects to partner up with.

Bourbon had heard of the infamous Vermouth even before he got a codename. The Boss’s favorite, some say. An ever mysterious figure who no one can figure her out. Lethal and dangerous, can disguise herself as anyone.

Vermouth is an assassin, but her talent in disguise means that she also does a lot of work in intelligence gathering. Perhaps it’s because of her unique skills, or perhaps because she’s rumored to be The Boss’s favorite for some unknown reason, her position in the organization is just as unique as the person she is. She doesn’t fall anywhere under the structure, doesn’t have to answer to anyone, and likes to come and go as she pleases, not caring whatever Gin has to say. She works with Gin occasionally when there is a common interest, but neither of them can command each other.

The understanding around the organization is that if Vermouth takes interest in someone and wants to work with them long term, that organization member becomes her people, like some kind of exclusive membership to a private club. Not those who she gets to do the legwork occasionally (those are just lackeys to her), who are unaware of the actual details of her plans, but the ones she actually is willing to share information with. Once she selects someone, they are essentially pulled out from the chain of reporting upwards to Gin and is allowed to operate with much more freedom and ambiguity.

Naturally, it’s been Bourbon’s goal to get noticed by Vermouth and get selected by her. The promise of freedom and ambiguity allowed is tempting, so is not having to report to follow Gin’s orders. And of course, the lower chance of having blood on one’s hand, in addition to more chances of visiting luxurious places with Vermouth. And unlike most people who covet this (partly due to Vermouth’s beauty), Bourbon actually has the ability to get it.

Bourbon meets Irish through Vermouth.

According to rumors around the organization, Vermouth and Irish work together rather frequently. It’s easy to see why after seeing Irish’s build. While Vermouth is a master of disguise and can pretend to be anyone, there are some limits to people who can disguise herself as, considering the differences in body sizes. Irish, tall and strong, can complement this part rather well. Of course, if it’s simply just that, then Vermouth would only need to request Irish’s assistance occasionally just when she needs it - after all, being The Boss’s favorite, any casual requests from her can almost be as important as an order that came from The Boss.

So for Vermouth and Irish to collaborate often, it has to be more than just because it’s easier for disguise missions.

Before Bourbon meets Irish, he’s already heard that Irish and Gin do not get along. The two had long considered the other a risk and danger to their own position in the organization, trying to climb upwards in the organization, hoping to (metaphorically, probably) kick the other down while doing so. Considering how Gin and Vermouth obviously had a history, it naturally led him to wonder if there’s something going on between Vermouth and Irish.

Actually seeing them interact, though, changed Bourbon’s mind on that. The two function as work partners nice enough, Bourbon observes, but without the sexual chemistry that Gin and Vermouth have between them. Rather, Bourbon’s quick to notice that one reason that Vermouth seems to be able to work with Irish so well is because of his lack of romantic or sexual interest in her, which makes things simpler for her. Their work relationship is mainly built on their mutual usefulness to each other, with a dash of enjoying how this could annoy Gin.

Anyone who works regularly with Vermouth is a goldmine of information, just like Vermouth herself. But Vermouth is forever mysterious and likes to toss around her signature phrase - “a secret makes a woman, woman” so it’s not really easy to get any information out of her.

Irish, though - that’s an opportunity right there.

Irish’s lack of interest in Vermouth - the dangerously beautiful, sexy, and incredibly seductive Vermouth - hints that he’s probably more interested in men than women. If Bourbon passes this chance up, it’s a waste of all the honeytraps training he had back before he was sent to infiltrate the organization.

Even though he knows that this is an opportunity, he has no idea how fast an actual opportunity to set his plan in motion would come so fast, served on a silver platter. At Vermouth’s invitation, the three of them meet up to discuss the matters of dealing with a pharmaceutical company that’s been causing the organization lots of troubles. As with all invitations from Vermouth, an expensive dinner is almost the routine. Candlelit restaurants and red wine are just regular occurrences.

They discuss the next steps with regards to the pharmaceutical company over the meal, and share a few recent gossips of the organization during the desserts. Then, Vermouth says she’s heading for the ladies room, leaving Bourbon and Irish by themselves.

The two continue on the gossip sharing for a while, and just as Bourbon is about to make a move, Irish’s phone buzzes.

It’s a text message from Vermouth.

“She says something urgent came up that she has to leave,” Irish says.

“Is that her way of avoiding paying the bill?” Bourbon asks.

Irish rolls his eyes. “It’s Vermouth . She doesn’t need to do that when she gets the accounting department to reimburse every expense either way. She probably just had something pre-scheduled.”

“Ah, celebrities,” Bourbon says, nodding understandingly. “Very busy indeed. What about you? Got anything after this?”

[a month ago]

Irish flips through the latest mission reports thoughtfully. “Have you heard of Bourbon, the organization’s new up and coming investigator?”

Vermouth tilts her head, “Oh, one of the three new Whiskeys?”

“The other two are snipers,” Irish says dismissively. He never cares for those. Bourbon, though … piques his interest. “What do you think about recruiting Bourbon to work for you?”

Vermouth arches her eyebrow, slow and elegant. “Well, well, well,” she drawls. “Now this is interesting.” She shrugs. “Alright, I’ll think about it.”