everyonelives | if she'd been covered with glitter

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.

( Because of course she does. )

Why are you telling me now?

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.

Jessica know about vampires?

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

They'll get to the vervain. )

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.]

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

( With a vampire for an assistant? )

[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?]

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.

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.

Besides vampires.

( He nods at that. )

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.

Why do I feel like this is the beginning of something.

( It's going to change his life, only in the way that could be eclipsed by hiring Mike Ross at all. )

... No, it is not.

[As much as Harvey needs to know this information with the people she has around him, she can see the wheels spinning in his mind, and she wants to try to bring them to a hault.]

Trust me, Harvey, you don't want to get involved in this any further than you have to.

Want to get involved. My oldest employee is literally my oldest employee, the boss I'm trying to impress knows, and you think this doesn't involve me.

( Help him do the math, Donna. Or, don't. Because this is an in, a real in. He's not going to spring it on her and use it as leverage, but when the time is right, he could be a real asset. )

This stuff is dangerous, Harvey. And if you start digging into it, it's going to be really hard to get out.

[Once you dip below the surface, there's no going back to shore.]

If I could walk away from this life, I would have.

I don't walk away.

( Except when he should for a case. Or a friendship. Or a lost love. )

I know.

[Which is one of the things she finds most frustrating about him, if she's honest.]

Will you listen to me, at least? If I tell you a client isn't worth your time?

[She has a feeling the answer is actually no, but she'll give him a chance to say that he will. She wants to protect him, even if she doesn't think he should be doing this at all.]

I'll keep it under advisement and meet with them myself. Then, you and I can sit down and you can tell me what it is that will change my mind about representing them or their case. ( A beat. ) And then, I'll do what I want to do.

[gdi Harvey, she's trying to protect you. And also, maybe, protect herself a little, because there's certain lines she has to draw. So:]

Fine. But there are certain people that I won't deal with, even if it's just as your secretary. So if you decide to take one of those people on as a client, then I walk.

[Letting him know the stakes, if nothing else.]

Edited 2023-10-16 02:23 (UTC)

( That he can't have. )

I'll run them by you. And if they go through Jessica, you and I have lunch. I'll listen, Donna.

( Until Jessica presses and forces him. )

Good. Just ... be careful, okay? I know this side of the world can have ... allure.

[She sighs.]

But some deals aren't worth the reward.

Like becoming a vampire?

( He wants to ask how it happened, but it's not his place. He thought it was, he thought he knew mostly everything, but she has always kept her private life separate from her work. And from him. )

[Maybe it wouldn't have been, if she had actually wanted to become a vampire. But that's a conversation for another time - maybe once she's felt out how far he's actually going to dive into things.]

It's not as glamorous as they make it out to be.

I'm not into vampire movies.

( Well, From Dusk till Dawn. )

Thank you. For stepping in in case things got really dangerous. I promise not to dive head first into all of this. But, I will be talking to Jessica.

Fair enough.

[She finishes her drink and gets to her feet.]

I should get going. But I'll see you at work tomorrow?

(no subject)

rehire - 2023-10-17 00:13 (UTC) - Expand