Why do you think I wanted to take your place in the Gauntlet in the first place? Before we knew what it was really about?
[She's trying to see if she needs to be worried about him, so might as well lay all her cards on the table.]
Because I knew that if this was going to play out, it was going to be you, David and Sierra, and fuck David, but I was going to have to sit there and watch either you kill her or her kill you and I would rather have her slit my throat than have to live with either of those scenarios.
[Better to die by the hand of someone who cared enough to make it quick. Better to know that her brother could use this to get out rather than live with half of herself gone. It doesn't matter which half it is, either one would break her.]
They've been using us against each other since we were kids, Max. Plausible deniability protects you.
( That death wish she sported as a teenager rears its ugly head. She was always the volatile sibling, the ruthless sibling, the one that would get her hands dirtiest, especially if she could spare her brother the same. This makes sense, this has him back on his heels, because the last thing he wants is either him or his sister dead. )
Fuck.
( His frustration rolls through his entire body. )
This is what they want. They want us at each other's throats. They expect us to have contingency plans. They expect you to betray them. Or, me. They're fucking ready for it. You should have given me a choice.
( But, now he's just as implicated.
She has Sierra. David has Ezra. Who does he have in his pocket? )
If Sierra does anything to you, I don't fucking care if she had to, even if it was written and baked into some God damn prophecy, I will kill her.
[What does she care if he kills Sierra after she's gone? She's already dead. Not like she's going to see it.
But that's not the point. She takes the threat for what it is, and doesn't feel the need to reciprocate because obviously she feels the same. But she leans back in her desk, crossing one leg over the other and raises an eyebrow.]
[Jaqueline's nose wrinkles because she doesn't want to work with Hallewell - he's gross - but desperate times, desperate measures. Her objection is mostly to Hallewell getting what he wants, more so than the dark nature of what Max may have to do.]
If you think you can convince him, I say it's worth a shot.
[And honestly, Max might do better on his own. Ezra was driving a lot of the conversation last time, and as effective as he can be at times, he's a transplant. Max was trained by their parents, and he'll figure out the buttons to push.]
But don't forget - he doesn't get what he wants until we get what we want.
[She knows she doesn't need to remind him - it isn't about that. She just wants Hallewell to keep suffering for as long as possible.]
( There are things he can say, things he would say on his own, that he wouldn't bring up in front of Ezra. Ezra didn't know what questions to ask and he was working half-cocked. He came in overconfident and snarky, but had nothing to back it up.
He nods, confirming Hallewell will get what's coming. )
[And with that, she will get back to work, and he can head out to see their man Hallewell, who is still lounging comfortably in his room/cell. He's managed to conjure himself a stack of books to read, and is paging through, marking anything of interest with a highlighter.]
( He does his research first, his preparation with the leverage he needs to come in hand with. It's a tragic story, really, a young man in his prime, an athlete in his early twenties now kept on life support. He judges that choice, that anyone would drag someone else's human soul through something like it, but it gives him the leverage he needs.
It's not as sophisticated as Hallewell's approach, nor is it as sinister. It's not draining, but it is a very intricate linking, specifically to Arthur "Artie" Panzirelli's life force. His youth.
Artie's vitals are stable, but he has so low brain activity that the doctors don't know what will happen.
Max acquires three pieces of jewelry (all part quartz), an earring, a necklace and a ring. If he's going to bargain with the devil and he doesn't know the devil's style, he has contingencies.
He carries the black velvet box with him, asking for the room. Once he's left alone, he takes in the sight.
He pulls up a chair, the box sitting in Max's lap. )
[He twists so that Max can see the spine of his book, and it's not a text book. In fact, it is a fairly new copy of Naked in Death by JD Robb, aka Nora Roberts. "Say what you want about Nora, but she is both prolific and entertaining."
Besides, he's been alive long enough that what does he need to study for?]
["See, you got there on your own. She uses this when she wants to have a little mystery with her romance." Hallewell sticks a bookmark in his place before leaning back and capping his highlighter. "But you didn't come here to check up on my TBR."]
We're making a play. All of the heirs, hand in hand. ( He may exaggerate the extent of communication between parties, but they all want the same thing. Their parents (or whomever they are) dead and gone. Buried. Done for. Now's the painful part, but no one ever got anywhere easy. ) We need your help.
["You must have quite the hand to play." Hallewell tips his head to the side. "Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a shake up in the ranks, but what makes you think that you can succeed?"]
( His fingers tap along the black box in hand like he's questioning his decision. He reached back into his dad's store of (now, he guesses, ancient) magic he doesn't do, but desperate times. He carved out a minute percentage of his soul in the process (everything this dark has to be bound somehow), not privy to how that will affect him and maybe that's a part of how hard he went in on his sister, but either way they're all reaching a point of no return. They all are.
[He studies the box like he's trying to see the rest of the board, wondering what to make of Max's move here. He's certain he's not working alone, but he's also not sure he wants to give them what he has just yet.
"Not exactly. David Gainor broke my current bond - rather efficiently, actually - but close enough. Your sister was there."
He leans back on his couch. "Are you going to give it back?"]
["I don't need to open it to sense that that's a pretty powerful piece of witchcraft. Rather impressive, actually, for someone who's never made one before."
He's not going to touch it until he knows all the strings (18). And while he can feel the ties that stretch out to Max himself and someone else in the distance, it's hard to say that there isn't a sword of Damocles waiting to fall somewhere. This isn't his first day at the rodeo.
You hinted - unsubtly that you could turn the tide. That you know something. But, we had no leverage. Hallewell, meet leverage.
( He leans forward. )
Help us take down the asshole possessors, we won't round you up like the Colony tried to. And. ( He sits back, straightening out the cuff on his sleeves. ) You'll be free. You'll need to make it look convincing, I already have the alibi in mind - who knows about the Gauntlet better than a witch who survived the last one. Hell, admit it. Did you throw it?
( He's grandstanding now, talking to hear himself talk, standing up in all his bravado and everything his dad taught him. All his "wasted" yes-man potential. At least he's going rogue with his sister's benefit. )
I don't care about the Gaybands and as far as I'm concerned, Sierra is always out for Sierra, but whatever happens, you leave me and my sister out of it, we're square. I'd say that's a pretty airtight offer.
["I'm not interested in going anywhere. My freedom is pretty much assured one way or the other."
He had said that the first time they met, and the same reasoning holds true now - especially if they're going to start murdering the Inner Circle. Honestly, part of him is intrigued, wanting to see if they could actually do it. In order to stand any chance of success, they do need his leverage.
But Hallewell isn't just going to give it away for free.
"This is a lovely little present, and I'm quite tempted to take it. But what's to stop you from slitting my throat when all of this is said and done? I was born yesterday, Max. If you're going to take me down with you, I need to make sure you're invested in keeping me alive as well." Meaning if Hallewell gets caught in the crossfire, there are going to be consequences.]
( That sustaining magic - that thricefold connection - it connects everyone involved. )
I didn't even hunt you down. You were an op. You won't be after this. If the heirs and I come out on top. I don't know what our lying ancestors will do. Or why. I do know you're here and not dead for a reason. But, something tells me if we're all wiped out that reason won't be a reason at all. And like this? You have what? Ten years? Tell me who will bring you a better bargain. Deal with a devil. Whatever you want to call it. You want to negotiate? Let's talk terms.
( Ever the diplomat, he folds aqain, taking what he feels like is power and bending it to whatever is needed. )
["I'm only here until the Gauntlet ends and the Inner Circle decides they want use of my leverage." Hallewell leans back and looks at him carefully. "See, here's the thing you young kids never seem to get. You want to make a deal with someone, everyone has to walk away a little uncomfortable. Mutually assured destruction is a thing for a reason."
Hallewell eyes the box again, before glancing back to him. "I will acknowledge that this box of yours is a rather large gesture. And you want to make sure my skin is in the game. All well and good. And honestly, part of me wants to give you what I have, and see what happens. But I'm not that careless. You want me to say yes? Show that you're as interested in covering my back as you seem to want me to cover yours."]
I give you indifference, it's not enough. You want me to care? Let's do this all over again. You cover my back, I cover yours. Say we're both actively - what - protecting the other party? ( He runs his palm along his lips, head tilting. ) I can throw in a witchness protection spell. Keep you literally off the board. Attached to me - mutually assured. How does that sound?
( Kids or ancients or not, when does something give. He used to be better at this, not giving the cow and milk away but he's there. When did he get there?)
He reaches forward and pushes the box back towards him, allowing him to get to work while he speaks.
"While you do that, I'm going to tell you a little story. You see, there weren't eleven members of the Inner Circle when we first began. There were twelve."]
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everyonelives2023-03-16 09:07 pm
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[But not in the way he's thinking.]
Why do you think I wanted to take your place in the Gauntlet in the first place? Before we knew what it was really about?
[She's trying to see if she needs to be worried about him, so might as well lay all her cards on the table.]
Because I knew that if this was going to play out, it was going to be you, David and Sierra, and fuck David, but I was going to have to sit there and watch either you kill her or her kill you and I would rather have her slit my throat than have to live with either of those scenarios.
[Better to die by the hand of someone who cared enough to make it quick. Better to know that her brother could use this to get out rather than live with half of herself gone. It doesn't matter which half it is, either one would break her.]
They've been using us against each other since we were kids, Max. Plausible deniability protects you.
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Fuck.
( His frustration rolls through his entire body. )
This is what they want. They want us at each other's throats. They expect us to have contingency plans. They expect you to betray them. Or, me. They're fucking ready for it. You should have given me a choice.
( But, now he's just as implicated.
She has Sierra. David has Ezra. Who does he have in his pocket? )
If Sierra does anything to you, I don't fucking care if she had to, even if it was written and baked into some God damn prophecy, I will kill her.
( And David, and Ezra and whoever else. )
We need to get the upperhand.
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But that's not the point. She takes the threat for what it is, and doesn't feel the need to reciprocate because obviously she feels the same. But she leans back in her desk, crossing one leg over the other and raises an eyebrow.]
Do you have something in mind?
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Hallewell held back. He thinks we have nothing his wants, but we know more now.
( He chews on the inside of his lip, deciding whether or not to share his own secret. )
I can make him young again. It's dark but it's doable. I do that, he could give us leverage we need.
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If you think you can convince him, I say it's worth a shot.
[And honestly, Max might do better on his own. Ezra was driving a lot of the conversation last time, and as effective as he can be at times, he's a transplant. Max was trained by their parents, and he'll figure out the buttons to push.]
But don't forget - he doesn't get what he wants until we get what we want.
[She knows she doesn't need to remind him - it isn't about that. She just wants Hallewell to keep suffering for as long as possible.]
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( There are things he can say, things he would say on his own, that he wouldn't bring up in front of Ezra. Ezra didn't know what questions to ask and he was working half-cocked. He came in overconfident and snarky, but had nothing to back it up.
He nods, confirming Hallewell will get what's coming. )
I love you.
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[And with that, she will get back to work, and he can head out to see their man Hallewell, who is still lounging comfortably in his room/cell. He's managed to conjure himself a stack of books to read, and is paging through, marking anything of interest with a highlighter.]
no subject
It's not as sophisticated as Hallewell's approach, nor is it as sinister. It's not draining, but it is a very intricate linking, specifically to Arthur "Artie" Panzirelli's life force. His youth.
Artie's vitals are stable, but he has so low brain activity that the doctors don't know what will happen.
Max acquires three pieces of jewelry (all part quartz), an earring, a necklace and a ring. If he's going to bargain with the devil and he doesn't know the devil's style, he has contingencies.
He carries the black velvet box with him, asking for the room. Once he's left alone, he takes in the sight.
He pulls up a chair, the box sitting in Max's lap. )
What are you studying?
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Besides, he's been alive long enough that what does he need to study for?]
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Never heard of him.
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"Have you heard of Nora Roberts?"]
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( Why is he wasting time. Right, he has to play the game. Fine, he can. He listens, mildly curious. )
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( Not even close. )
We're making a play. All of the heirs, hand in hand. ( He may exaggerate the extent of communication between parties, but they all want the same thing. Their parents (or whomever they are) dead and gone. Buried. Done for. Now's the painful part, but no one ever got anywhere easy. ) We need your help.
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( His fingers tap along the black box in hand like he's questioning his decision. He reached back into his dad's store of (now, he guesses, ancient) magic he doesn't do, but desperate times. He carved out a minute percentage of his soul in the process (everything this dark has to be bound somehow), not privy to how that will affect him and maybe that's a part of how hard he went in on his sister, but either way they're all reaching a point of no return. They all are.
He holds the box out. )
My sister drained your life force.
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"Not exactly. David Gainor broke my current bond - rather efficiently, actually - but close enough. Your sister was there."
He leans back on his couch. "Are you going to give it back?"]
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( And that's enough for him. )
No. I did give it back. Open the box. ( he leans forward. ) Don't worry, it isn't Gwyneth Paltrow's head.
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He's not going to touch it until he knows all the strings (18). And while he can feel the ties that stretch out to Max himself and someone else in the distance, it's hard to say that there isn't a sword of Damocles waiting to fall somewhere. This isn't his first day at the rodeo.
"What do you want, Max?"]
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( He leans forward. )
Help us take down the asshole possessors, we won't round you up like the Colony tried to. And. ( He sits back, straightening out the cuff on his sleeves. ) You'll be free. You'll need to make it look convincing, I already have the alibi in mind - who knows about the Gauntlet better than a witch who survived the last one. Hell, admit it. Did you throw it?
( He's grandstanding now, talking to hear himself talk, standing up in all his bravado and everything his dad taught him. All his "wasted" yes-man potential. At least he's going rogue with his sister's benefit. )
I don't care about the Gaybands and as far as I'm concerned, Sierra is always out for Sierra, but whatever happens, you leave me and my sister out of it, we're square. I'd say that's a pretty airtight offer.
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He had said that the first time they met, and the same reasoning holds true now - especially if they're going to start murdering the Inner Circle. Honestly, part of him is intrigued, wanting to see if they could actually do it. In order to stand any chance of success, they do need his leverage.
But Hallewell isn't just going to give it away for free.
"This is a lovely little present, and I'm quite tempted to take it. But what's to stop you from slitting my throat when all of this is said and done? I was born yesterday, Max. If you're going to take me down with you, I need to make sure you're invested in keeping me alive as well." Meaning if Hallewell gets caught in the crossfire, there are going to be consequences.]
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( That sustaining magic - that thricefold connection - it connects everyone involved. )
I didn't even hunt you down. You were an op. You won't be after this. If the heirs and I come out on top. I don't know what our lying ancestors will do. Or why. I do know you're here and not dead for a reason. But, something tells me if we're all wiped out that reason won't be a reason at all. And like this? You have what? Ten years? Tell me who will bring you a better bargain. Deal with a devil. Whatever you want to call it. You want to negotiate? Let's talk terms.
( Ever the diplomat, he folds aqain, taking what he feels like is power and bending it to whatever is needed. )
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Hallewell eyes the box again, before glancing back to him. "I will acknowledge that this box of yours is a rather large gesture. And you want to make sure my skin is in the game. All well and good. And honestly, part of me wants to give you what I have, and see what happens. But I'm not that careless. You want me to say yes? Show that you're as interested in covering my back as you seem to want me to cover yours."]
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( Kids or ancients or not, when does something give. He used to be better at this, not giving the cow and milk away but he's there. When did he get there? )
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He reaches forward and pushes the box back towards him, allowing him to get to work while he speaks.
"While you do that, I'm going to tell you a little story. You see, there weren't eleven members of the Inner Circle when we first began. There were twelve."]
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