everyonelives | as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[There's an eyebrow arch at that deflection from Shipp, before turning back to Jackson because now is not the time.]

You don't have to like or trust him. In fact, that's probably better because you won't fall for his bullshit.

[Kieran is very angry at her brother right now, can you tell? She eyes the file in Alice's hand, before meeting the eyes of the rest of them.]

It's you or it's no one because I don't owe you people shit.

( Jackson can't say no, not by the Underground's code. He lifts his chin, thinks better of saying something, and relents. )

Fine. I'll come.

Great.

[She holds out her hand for the folder, raising an eyebrow at Alice in return.]

The info, please.

( Alice presents it, then, before returning to her desk. Crash turns around at his and opens his laptop. Shipp just picks up a joint and lights the end. They're off duty, now.

Jackson gives Alexander a look before braving the expanse between them and joining her ranks. Scott tries smiling, Jackson pretend he doesn't see.

The folder has a minimal amount of information about his operation, Glimmer of Hope, including the printed front page of Hallewell's website. Persons of interest she doesn't recognize, their drivers' licenses and their addresses. Two attached death certificates. The casino he holds his groups in and the hotel it looked like he'd been staying in, despite here being no name under "Hallewell, Barnet, or Baron." )

What else do you want to know?

( Scott and company finally join her, Kol looking her shoulder at the folder.

"Where to," Scott asks. )

How much recon have you guys done on the casino?

[The fact that there isn't much information isn't disappointing, mostly because she figured if they had more information, she wouldn't have had to take over.

Then she glances over her shoulder at Kol:]

Ever run into a guy named Hallewell?

[Her boyfriend is old, occasionally he knows things.]

( "Several weeks. When he didn't hold his groups, he liked to gamble, liked his... hired help, and liked waffles."

The narration would like to point out that Barnet is squirrelly and old, but go on, judge them for not getting enough information.

Her boyfriend doesn't glean anything, however. (3). )

Sorry, darling. I like my witches less age appropriate.

( And prettier. Men or women, but, prettier. )

I could ask my siblings.

[She nods.]

Worth a shot.

[A beat.]

Elijah, specifically. I'm willing to bet that even if the Originals didn't care enough, Bela definitely has him on her radar.

[But that's item number one. She turns back to Jackson.]

Seems like he's good at putting on a show. How did you get Julian in?

( Kol hangs back then, getting his phone out and stepping aside. )

We staged a breakup in the diner next to Barnet's hotel. ( He liked his waffles. ) He befriended your brother, and when he invited him to group, something shifted. Your brother changed his story up completely when he shared. Caught us all off guard.

Let me guess. Did his tune change to something along the lines of "Someone I love is dying and I don't know how to save them?"

[Because she has a definite hunch.]

( Unfortunately, Elijah, too, is not familiar with a witch such as Barnet, having been more focused regionally, both throughout Europe and more in the South, than in the Northeast. )

How helpless and hopeless he felt. That was the gist.

[Bela, on the other hand, is a little more fruitful with her knowledge, happy to explain the sordid history and rumored connections. Hallewell is certaninly not a good man, but given that no one is entirely sure how the magic works, to be careful with exterminating him if necessary.

He's old, but Kol is older. Having an Original on their side would still be an advantage.

On the other hand, Kieran knows exactly how to throw herself into the fire.]

Well, if he's going to prove himself valuable, he needs me. That should give us an easy in. I don't need him, but I could pretend I do.

( Kol returns to the conversation more knowledgable. )

You want to go in, in search of your brother?

( "Hang on," Kol says. "This Hallewell character has years of murky movements, dead bodies left in his wake and you want to engage?" )

All the more reason we need to get Julian out of there.

[None of this sounds fun.]

I need to know what he was promised, and if I can't talk to Julian, then I need to get information somehow. And besides, the creep from the phone is already expecting me.

I don't like the sound of this phone creep.

( But, he hasn't for some time.

"So, who are we looking for? The Baron? Your creep from the phone?" Jackson wants you to make up your mind, lady.

"She's just trying to find her brother," Scott says, stepping up. )

[To Kol:]

You're more than welcome to have fun making him talk later.

[But that's a later problem. Back to Jackson:]

Scott's right. All I want out of this is Julian. So whichever person gets me there faster is where I'm willing to start. It seems like the phone creep will be easier to find if he's acting as Hallewell's middle man.

Except, we have nothing to go on with phone creep. Only that he's with or has your brother and he was-is affiliated with Hallewell. And he called you.

( Or she called him. He zoned out until he was brought into it.

"Maybe we can flush him out," Kol says. "Give me a look?" Once Kol gets a look, something sparks.

"H," he says. )

[Kieran raises an eyebrow as she turns back to Kol.]

Someone you know?

He deals in witch business, for witches who'd rather contract out for their - projects. I've seen him at gatherings across the world. We have mutuals.

( He almost laughs. )

Never dressed like that.

Guess he's trying to match the wellness guru schtick.

[She tips her head to the side.]

Did you last see him on good or bad terms?

( He considers his answer, but Kieran and he rarely judge one another. )

A rather lively orgy.

[He's right, they don't, and while Davina will give a bit of an eyebrow raise, Kieran laughs.]

Maybe you should be the one to make the approach then. Since you guys got along so well.

( Jackson is much more fastidious than an orgy would let him be, so, he just - takes that in. Also, Davina, you fell in love with a semi-reformed hedonist. )

Their group was held in one of the conference rooms in the hotel, but we lost them in the casino.

[Yes, she accepted Kol for who he was a long time ago, but this is the first time his orgy connections have been relevant to a problem they're trying to solve.]

Sounds like fun. We do a little gambling, get some drinks, and look out for a narcissistic asshole holding my brother hostage.

( Fair. Not to be the buzzkill in the room, but she did choose him. )

So, casino. Not hotel.

If you lost him there, then that's probably where the entrance to the evil lair is.

[Because that's total logic at work here.]

The hotel and casino aren't attached?

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