perpetual anticipation is good for the soul but it's bad for the heart

[maxxx]

Comments

[ostensively]

( Max remains on the outside (11), the enforcer for his family, so his ruthless old friend and frenemy take over (13, Ezra and 15, Sierra). It should surprise nobody in the room that Sierra is this locked in. )

She's not the only one. And did. Past tense. In Beacon Hills.

( Ezra nods, agreeing.

"The bond runs deep, but it isn't all encompassing. It's like a signature." he confirms. )

And Nematons draw all sorts. What are you thinking?

[an_honestword]

Oh. That is interesting.

[It's not easy information to come by, but Rusty's had time to build his networks. Making the right connections with the right supernatural creatures. And if there's one thing he knows it's that the Beacon Hills nematon has what one might call an interesting history.]

The nematon in Beacon Hills was defunct for a while. Until a proper sacrifice was made to restore power to it, and when that was done, there are rumors that it attracted a hellhound. A banshee all on her own, that's not worth much, but if it's a banshee and a hellhound in a neat little package, then that's certainly worth something.

[David frowns. "I take it you don't mean the usual invisible kind. You mean something along the line of a Cŵn Annwn."]

Ah, so someone was paying attention in mythology class.

[praevaricatio]

( Everyone (of mine) are up on their Hellhound lore: (15 Ezra, 15 Max, 16 Sierra). Despite being behind in the times, all feel caught up now. )

A banshee and a hellhound.

( "It's almost poetic," Max says, the edges of Max's lips curling upward. He likes forward progress.

"The nematon in Beacon Hills attracted more than just a hellhound, but, it sounds like a hellhound is what we need. Kirsanov won't blink at just a banshee. Greedy," Sierra says, arms uncrossing and coming to her sides. "Not to break our little plan bubble, but are any of us on good enough terms with Lydia Martin the banshee?" )

[an_honestword]

[A long silence stretches out over the line, and Rusty can't help the smirk.]

I take that as a no.

["I have something of a relationship with Allison Argent, but I don't think she's going to approve of us using her best friend as bait," David winces as he leans back in the seat. "And I'm going to guess that going for the hellhound directly isn't really an option."]

Not unless you want there to be a risk of fiery death. Controlling her first would be the easier play.

[praevaricatio]

Or, and I'm just throwing it out here, approaching her honestly. She's on team: keep our parents from literally becoming us. If I have a vote, it's for honesty.

( Sierra rolls her eyes and Max gives Ezra a long, hard look. )

I'd rather have a hellhound and banshee on our side.

[an_honestword]

["Ezra's not wrong." Shocker, David is siding with his husband. "From what I've heard, Lydia's quite pragmatic. She could see the value in what we're trying to do."

"We should still have some kind of leverage," Jaqueline contributes, not actively condemning Ezra's plan. "Just in case. But Ezra's not wrong. Good people usually want to do things for good reasons."

Just because they're in the middle of a messy coven war doesn't mean that they're not, for once, the good guys.]

I agree. Leverage is good for a back up, but your powers of persuasion could be stronger than you think.

[maxxx]

I also vote for diplomacy - with a contingency for leverage.

( Max has always been the guy who does the dirty work, who's acknowledged, the golden child. But, he's the pragmatist. He sees from all angles. )

Do you know anything else about her?

( Ezra makes a face.

"She's an award-winning worldly scholar and mathematician. She owns her own company." He thinks back, not the member of this group that wants the need for leverage, but knowing full well that they may need something. "Her best friend is a vampire. She fell apart before he was officially in transition. I wouldn't bet money on it, but I think their connection goes farther."

And, he's a baby vampire. It's easy.

"Easy," Sierra says. "So, we have our contingency." )

[tearhiseyesout]

Sierra and I can go get eyes on the baby vamp. Who wants to go make our case to the banshee?

[Rusty is going to wait and see how much they want him involved. Because while he very much intends to go to Siberia and stab Kirsanov in the face, he's not going to get too overly invested.

This is their war, and he still isn't sure he trusts them yet.]

[praevaricatio]

She knows me. Personally. I wasn't fully myself, but I was honest where it counted.

( It's the most logical move, to send him in again, even if he's fighting against his adjacent married-into family.

Max, invested in Rusty's part, speaks up dropping his head down.

"We have his familiarity but we need to play on her sympathy and her pragmatism."

Sierra frowns. "We're not Make-A-Wish-ing the banshee."

Max shakes his head, bringing a finger to his lips. Give him a chance to take the floor.

"I think that Rusty should go with you. Ezra. We skipped over introductions. Rusty is on the line. My sister Jaqueline, our friend, Sierra, our family friend David, and his walking contribution Ezra are all on the line. Jaq, me, David, and Sierra are Colony. Ezra is -- affiliated." )

[an_honestword]

In my day, marriage was a bit more than an affiliation.

[Because knowing your enemy is important. And prior to this phone call, they were, in fact, his enemies.]

But sure. I can do that. Do we know where she is?

[maxxx]

( "Max took his sister's jilting personally, but because we're on here for more important purposes, all adults, and on a clock," Ezra says, glossing right over "we should move on from the pointless descriptions. We're all on here for the same reason."

Sierra drops her head, winking at David. She approves officially.

Max did pre-research. )

Her company is in Boston.

( Ezra just gives him a look, how does he manage -- anything.

"She's in Boston. Harvey is now --" He rolls his eyes. "Affiliated." Sorry, David if that was husband confidence. )

[an_honestword]

Who's Harvey?

["Specter. My lawyer." It was slightly in confidence because he doesn't love using his friend's personal life against him. "Would rather not use that angle if we can help it."]

I'm not far from Boston. We can go directly to Lydia first.

[maxxx]

( They need what they can get and Harvey knows what he got himself into, is what Ezra's eyes convey. Along with a crinkle of an apology. But, he's not the heartless dick at the table.

"I just mean we know. That's why we know. I agree. We'll approach Lydia directly. And separately." )

And Sierra and Jaqueline...

[tearhiseyesout]

Will track down the baby vamp. Does he have a name?

["Stilinski, I think?"]

Distinctive enough.

[She pulls out her laptop and starts typing until she eventually comes with (14):]

I've got a Sheriff Stilinski, but he seems too old?

[maxxx]

( "Miecyslaw, his son," Ezra says. "Stiles is what everyone calls him. His friends and family are all very protective," Ezra confirms. )

Stiles Stilinski.

[tearhiseyesout]

Poetic.

[More tapping on her computer.]

Looks like we have a Miecyslaw Stilinski, FBI agent. That's a bit more promising. Looks like he's currently works out of the DC office.

[praevaricatio]

That should be him. Now undead. And - exhausting.

( He's like a vampire Energizer bunny. )

[tearhiseyesout]

Fun.

[That'll be an adventure. But they'll just keep their distance and keep eyes on him for now. No need to engage just yet.]

But at least we're not going to Boston when it's starting to veer towards winter.

[maxxx]

Yes, because what matters is the weather.

( He's cranky. He's spoiled. Shut up. )

[an_honestword]

[To get them back on track:]

I can be there the day after tomorrow. Is there anything else we need to discuss in advance?

[praevaricatio]

We're convincing Lydia - and who she's bonded to - to essentially be bait?

( He just wants everyone on the same page. )

[an_honestword]

In a manner of speaking. We're going to bring them to Kirsanov as a gift. That gets us in the door of his little fortress. Once we're inside, killing him should be easy.

[There are a number of options. He's spent years thinking of them all. Part of him loves the ideas of releasing all of his caged creatures and seeing how they turn on their master. But they have time to discuss all the nitty-gritty details.]

Unlike Hernandez and the others, he doesn't have much in terms of friends or acolytes. It's mostly just him and his monsters.

[maxxx]

That would be sad if it weren't so pathetic. And, simultaneously, your contacts ( to David ) will be going after his original body, so that when it's over, he has nothing to go back to. Their entombed failsafe.

( Sounds like everybody can break here.

A few days later, Harvey takes the train into Boston and hires a car service. He whisks Lydia Martin away, convinces her that even though she's been away, she should take a half day with him. Have that leisurely lunch and if she needs to get back to work, he will be a gentleman and understand. He chooses an upscale corner café for lunch. It's a beautiful fall day, the last vestiges of warmth clinging.

He smiles at her from behind his menu, coy, wondering if she would go so far as to do something out of character for the both of them (?) in the bathroom, but he reminds himself he doesn't know her as well - not as well as he'd like. He knows more than he lets on, it was his job, but he's getting to know Lydia the genius, not Lydia the banshee. )

[beanchaointe]

[He might be surprised. Lydia has been known to take advantage of unconventional opportunities. But since he's not asking, she'll just eye him over her menu, crossing one leg over the other as she weighs her options.]

So how long will you be in town?

[rehire]

End of the weekend. And I didn't bring any work with me.

( Hint. He is here for her and her alone, or so he thinks. )