if she'd been covered with glitter

[maleficum]

Comments

[thefaxwhisperer]

[She clocks him the moment he comes in to the DA's office. He's clever, putting his daylight jewelry on his tie pin, but he practically smells like new vampire. She doesn't have to linger on him long, only wonder what kinds of connections he has to milk the scenario enough to walk during the day.

Then he walks in to Harvey's conference room and well - Donna can't have that.

She keeps vervain on hand just in case, and she quickly stirs some into his extra strong coffee, keeping him talking long enough for him to drink at least half of it. Then, she sends him in.

It's clear that the lawyer doesn't get the answer he wants. And then he zeroes in on Donna on the way out, and maybe he's a little older than she gives him credit for, because he's waiting for her outside when she goes to lunch.

"You know, I figured it was because you didn't want someone else infringing on your territory, but dosing your meal ticket with vervain doesn't exactly do you much good now does it?"]

You have no idea what you're talking about.

[She keeps walking, and he takes her arm to keep her from walking further.

"I get it, I like my food pretty too. I'm not judging, I'm just saying we could both get what we want."]

I'm going to give you one second to take that hand off me before you regret it.

[rehire]

( Donna always knows how to work Harvey - and always for the better. She knows him inside and out, always has. It makes his job and, frankly, his life, much easier.

The ADA they send is something else, telling Harvey what he's going to do like Harvey's ever let anyone tell him what to do. If he agrees on what to do, he does it, but always his way. And if not, he makes sure he doesn't need to beg for forgiveness afterward. Harvey calls out his cockiness, outplays this lawyer's hand, and knocks him back against the ropes, like he does. )

Hey.

( Harvey only catches the end of the exchange, having walked out only minutes after Donna and who he thought was an overconfident hotshot. He'd remind Harvey of himself if he didn't pull this shit. Now his act is screaming mysoginy. )

I'd listen to her if I were you.

( He's never fought her battles for her, and they are in public, but he is this close to clocking this guy. )

[thefaxwhisperer]

[The vampire gives her a slimy look, like uh-oh, what she's going to do now. Can't out her secret in front of the sheep, and her eyes narrow in return. But he does release her arm, and steps back. "My mistake."

He starts to walk past her, and she turns to call out after him.]

It's Donna, by the way. Donna Paulsen. Ask around and see what you find.

[The vampire blinks, but keeps going, leaving her alone with Harvey. Tomorrow there will be flowers on her desk and a note begging forgiveness, but that's something for future Donna to gloat about. For now, she has Harvey to worry about.]

I'm fine.

[Really. She didn't even break a sweat.]

[rehire]

( Harvey watches the sorry POS retreat before turning his attention back to Donna. )

I'm not worried about how 'fine' you are. Has he done that before? Because I will put a call in to Cameron Dennis.

[thefaxwhisperer]

Oh, do not do that. The last thing this situation needs is Cameron Dennis.

[She waves him off because this does not require that kind of intervention.]

He's never done that before. And he won't do it again. Really, I'm fine.

[rehire]

Donna, what was he saying to you?

( Intervention or not, it doesn't sit well that any lawyer would corner his secretary. It's not professional and like hell is it gentlemanly. )

[thefaxwhisperer]

[She takes a deep breath, then sighs. They've been friends long enough. She should probably just tell him. She reaches for his arm and gestures for him to walk with her.]

We have something in common. But if we're going to talk about that, we need that bottle of scotch I gave you for Christmas.

[rehire]

You want to drink the bottle of scotch you got me.

( But, something tells him it's not about the scotch, even though she should jump at the chance to be the one to drink it. (And, inevitably, it would be her he shares it with.

It's not far to his apartment and the door guy greets Donna warmly.

As she makes herself comfortable, Harvey tears the seal away. )

[thefaxwhisperer]

[She settles into the chair across from him, and looks at the bottle for a moment, before picking up her glass. There are lots of ways to bridge this subject, but instead she goes for the blunt approach.]

What if I told you that I am much older than this very well-aged scotch?

[Which would be impressive, considering that the bottle says it's at least a hundred years old at the start.]

[rehire]

Then I'd say you don't like a day over twenty-seven.

( Clearly he isn't taking this seriously. )

[thefaxwhisperer]

Well, I've been twenty-seven for a long time.

[Honestly, it was closer to twenty-four, but she doesn't mind being nailed as being a little older. She's far past her ingénue days. But, time to get right to the point.]

I'm a vampire, Harvey.

[rehire]

( Harvey doesn't know how to take that, doesn't even know the first step in processing whatever that is, that his hand brushes the glass fully when he tries to grab it, knocking expensive scotch to the carpet (1), the glass shattering as well (4). )

Damn it.

( What a waste. He lets the dropped scotch lie, the shards embed themselves into his rug. )

You're hilarious. For the record.

( She almost had him. He retreats, moving to the kitchen for something that will help scotch not set into his overly-expensive rug. )

[thefaxwhisperer]

[He turns around to head to the kitchen, and she's suddenly there, getting the paper towels to help sop up the mess and then zipping her way back again. She crouches down to try and get up the liquid up before it dries.]

If it leaves a stain, you'll want to use dish soap and water to blot.

[Do you believe her now?]

[rehire]

( He stops halfway there, and in a blink, she's back behind him. )

D - onna.

( He steels himself, preparing to go down this road. )

You're a vampire. And the Flash?

[thefaxwhisperer]

Speed is one of the vampire's bonus powers. It helps with the whole sneaking up on their prey in a dark alley. Which honestly, is a style of feeding I never really vibed with. It just leaves a mess.

[When she does feed from humans, it's always in lush, low lit parlors, not in the middle of a dirty street.]

Personally I prefer a willing donor.

[rehire]

( Because of course she does. )

Why are you telling me now?

[thefaxwhisperer]

Honestly, I would have kept you out of this if I could. This world ... it's a lot to deal with. But more and more vampires are starting to pop up around the work you're doing and I know that Jessica has certain clients that lean more to my side of things than yours.

[She finishes drying the spill and goes to throw away the paper towels.]

You should know what you're getting into. And it's reaching the point where you're going to need more than just me slipping vervain in your coffee.

[rehire]

Jessica know about vampires?

( A sentence he'd never think he'd speak aloud.

They'll get to the vervain. )

[thefaxwhisperer]

Jessica knows about a lot of things.

[Humans aren't the only ones who need lawyers. And creatures like vampires have deep pockets that are great finds for a firm like Pearson Hardman.]

[rehire]

As she should. That's not why she hired me, is it?

( With a vampire for an assistant? )

[thefaxwhisperer]

[She flashes him a look before rolling her eyes.]

No. Jessica did not help put you through law school because she knew in the future you would want to hire the best damn legal secretary in New York who also just so happens to be a vampire.

[Really, Harvey?]

[rehire]

I brought you with me from the DA's office.

( He's not saying she had forethought. Or, that she was psychic. Are psychics real now? His mind spins. )

Jessica represents other vampires.

[thefaxwhisperer]

Mostly in terms of investments and real estate. Most of them don't spend a lot of time actually allowing themselves to get into trouble with the law.

[Compulsion is handy that way.]

There are other supernatural communities in the mix too.

[rehire]

Besides vampires.

( He nods at that. )

[thefaxwhisperer]

Witches, werewolves. Though ... the way werewolves are hunted, it's only really a few packs that could afford Jessica's retainer.

[Depends on the kind of werewolves they are.]

And that's just the scratching the supernatural surface, honestly.