if she'd been covered with glitter

[maleficum]

Comments

[an_honestword]

[His eyes dart around to the various customers that are still present. At the moment, it's only the one regular, so he offers her an apologetic smile.]

Hey, Angie - we're going to have to close up early today. Do you mind?

["Oh, no problem, doll. I'll see you tomorrow."

He makes his way out from behind the bar and follows her to the door, locking it behind her. He then turns back to face Max, eyeing him curiously.]

I like Dave. It's a good, salt of the earth kind of name. No one looks twice at a Dave. Rusty, on the other hand? Nobody really gets named Rusty anymore. People take notice. And as for why I'm behind the bar - after the morning rush, days aren't usually that busy. Later in the afternoon, I have employees to help handle the rush but most of them are teenagers at school, so I cover the morning shift.

[maxxx]

( He watches Angie gather her bag, head on out, a sweet goodbye follows and then it's just the two of them. )

Wholesome. To play devil's advocate, everyone gets named everything these days. Like, anything. But, going by Rusty wouldn't make it easy to lay low. Here. Or anywhere so I get it.

( So, this is the guy. )

I got the cliff notes version and it actually made me angry on your behalf. I like a punishment to fit the crime. Granted, I keep my disagreements to myself, but that was before I found out I was disagreeing with someone who possessed my parents - for all intents and purposes anyway. Permanently. I guess possess assumes it's temporary. There was a ritual, me and my sister and our - friends - are still playing catch-up.

[an_honestword]

So you've had the curtain pulled back and didn't like what you saw. Been there.

[It's refreshing, to have this be the conversation and not something much more dire.]

But that doesn't exactly make it clear in terms of what you want with me. If you're not here to kill me to prove your worth, then why are you here?

[maxxx]

We want to take them down. All of them. We know it reaches further than our parents. And you're the only one alive who knows enough to help us get the whole job done. Aren't you?

( And, he has a horse in the race. )

[an_honestword]

[There's a part of Rusty that wants to believe him, but as much as he trusts his own instincts (14), he knows that he needs to be careful. This could very well be a trap. But is it a trap worth walking into? He'll die, start the cycle all over again if it is. But if it isn't ... if this is actually a way out?

That certainly would be worth at least a little bit of exploration. Maybe a bit of a test run.]

Probably. I won't say your wrong in that respect. But I'm not going to do all your work for you. If we're doing this, you're going to get your hands dirty just as much as me.

[maxxx]

We're not asking you to take care of it for us. We are folding you into the proceedings. Dirty hands and all.

( And all, Rusty. It's not just him. It's their detente. And their network beyond that. )

[an_honestword]

Really?

[That is interesting. So there's a whole coalition who didn't like what they found on the other side of the rainbow. Maybe the Inner Circle really was losing their handle on their heirs.]

And who is this "we," exactly?

[maxxx]

The other heirs. Pawns in a Gauntlet we don't want thrown.

( Never mind that they will be the ones to throw it officially and knock everyone on their asses. )

I had it on good authority you wanted to ice the Inner Circle. Was I given bad intel?

[an_honestword]

Oh, no, I very much want them dead.

[He tips his head to the side.]

But this also isn't the first time I've been conned by an heir trying to cut their teeth and suck up to the Inner Circle. So forgive me if I'm not quick to trust that you're actually here for the reason you say.

[maxxx]

Suck up to - what - give my body away? I like my body. I like autonomy. We all do. If there's anything to prove to the people we thought were our parents, it's that we've been underestimated. And lied to. And we don't like either.

( But, talk is cheap, isn't it? )

This happened before? Heirs learning about their parentage? Because I can't see another outcome.

[an_honestword]

Oh, no. The ones who came before had no idea what was waiting for them on the other side. Which is the reason why we're having this nice conversation and no one's gotten stabbed yet.

[Rusty takes a deep breath, and shifts to lean back against the front counter.]

But tell you what. I'll help you take out Kirsanov. He's a member that no one will miss. If we make it through that without you stabbing me in the back, then we'll talk about the rest.

[maxxx]

( Is that a threat? And is that a threat. )

Is this where we exchange friendship bracelets?

[an_honestword]

[Assume that if you turn on him, everything is a threat.]

No. This is the part where you try and find a supernatural creature rare and powerful enough for us to use as a boon to get in Kirsanov's front door.

[maxxx]

( No friendship bracelets. )

You're giving us homework.

[an_honestword]

No, I'm giving you a strategy.

[Because there's a difference.]

Kirsanov is a collector, and his schtick of choice is rare and interesting supernatural creatures. Show up to his front door empty handed, and you'll have a hell of a time getting in. Show up with a gift, on the other hand ...

[And he'll leave Max to fill in the blanks.]

[maxxx]

Are you coming with me?

( Now he needs to bring it to his people. )

[an_honestword]

To see the other heirs? No. I don't trust you enough to walk into that hornet's nest.

[He'll put that up front.]

But when you guys decide you're in, I will go with you to see Kirsanov.

[maxxx]

The paranoia's warranted, but a little much. Once we have what we need - do you prefer semaphore? Carrier pigeon?

( How does he get back in touch with you, Rusty? )

[an_honestword]

You try getting murdered roughly every thirty years for the last four-hundred and see how you feel.

[Their curse means he always remembers so yeah - as far as he's concerned, no paranoia is too much paranoia. He pulls a napkin off a nearby table, clicks a pen and scribbles down a number.]

But I do know how to use a smartphone.

[maxxx]

You don't look a day over twenty-five.

( He looks older, that must be the aging thing, or whatever spell was cast all those years ago. )

[an_honestword]

The secret is sunscreen.

[Are they going to quip all day or does Max have everything he needs?]

Anything else you want to know?

[maxxx]

Anything else we need to know?

( Are are they need to know until he holds his end of the bargain. )

[an_honestword]

Where we're heading is cold. Pack for winter.

[And that's about all he'll give from his end, because he's already said trust is earned.]

[maxxx]

Winter is coming. Got it. Thanks, GOT. We'll be in touch.

( Only so many times he can hit his head against the wall until he starts to bleed. But at least he has a goal and a first step. He sticks the napkin in his back pocket and leaves Rusty to his own devices.

Thanks, Rusty! )