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

[maxxx]

Comments

[beanchaointe]

["Jeff and I are in town for business. We always have dinner here when we're in town."

Jeff waves to Harvey from their table. His face is apologetic.

Jessica turns to Lydia with a thin smile. "Jessica Pearson."]

Lydia Martin.

[Jessica's eyebrow goes up. "I've heard of you. You work in sound energy, no?"]

I do. My offices aren't too far from here.

[rehire]

And Jessica's are in Manhattan.

( But she is here, on this corner, for business. )

Is this business need to know, or you'll give me the rundown back at Pearson Specter?

[beanchaointe]

["I won't take away from your downtime. We'll chat later." She sees the pleading look Jeff is giving her, and sighs as she steps away. "Enjoy your dinner."

Lydia watches her walk away before resting her chin in her hand, leaning in to whisper.]

This is killing the vibe slightly, isn't it?

[Trying to have a date when they know his boss is watching.]

[rehire]

What do you mean, you don't flirt egregiously in front of your investors?

( His smile widens. )

Jessica will tune us out. She's also in her own relationship. And we're both adults.

[beanchaointe]

No, not all of my investors appreciate that.

[Some do, and those are generally the ones she doesn't want seeing her that way. But if he's comfortable, then fine. It's his boss. She'll follow his lead.]

Does she make a habit of showing up in your personal time?

[Her roundabout way of asking if they're close.]

[rehire]

She would say in coincidences, and I would say when she needs me to know something.

( And insists on either pointing him in a direction, chastising him or reminding him of some hard truths.

A few feet away, thanks to his specialty, David holds the small cafe's door open for his husband who steps through, scanning for his brother in arms' connection, Rusty. )

[an_honestword]

[Rusty gives a bit of wave from the table he's perched at, with a glass of wine and halfway through his steak. He's been sitting, observing the couple from a distance (12), and Lydia at least hasn't noticed (8). She's been enjoying her company, which has worked out for Rusty.

As the husbands move to join them, he holds up a finger.]

Ezra and David, I take it? Have a seat. I'll find the waiter.

[praevaricatio]

Rusty.

( He holds the chair for his husband, before taking a seat himself. When the server approaches: )

Just coffee for me.

[an_honestword]

["Same. Thank you."

Rusty nods as he asks orders the coffee from the waitress, and once she's gone, Rusty gestures over to where the couple is sitting with his fork.]

They seem to be having a lovely time.

[Too bad they have to crash their date.]

[praevaricatio]

Let's make it lovelier, then. How are we approaching?

( Harvey's back is to them, or he'd recognize the husbands. Does Lydia? )

[beanchaointe]

[At first, no. She's having a good time on her date, so her attention isn't wandering (3). But during a pause where Harvey talks to the server about the dessert menu, her eyes do wander over and meet Ezra's across the way (20).

Yes, she recognizes him. It's hard to forget Ezra's face, given it's part of one of her more recent traumatic memories. But she also knows what's going on with the coven, and therefore it's rather concerning that he's here.

Is he here for her? Or is he here for Harvey?]

[praevaricatio]

I guess like this.

( "Lydia?" Harvey asks, as the server leaves them. He follows her gaze. "The Gainors?"

This can't be good. )

[beanchaointe]

[David gives Harvey an apologetic wave over Ezra's shoulder, before getting up and making his way closer. Harvey is his lawyer, of the three of them he's the one with the most plausible reason to go over and talk to them.

"Hi. Would the two of you like to join us? Possibly somewhere more private?"

Lydia meets his eyes then looks back at the other table, her eyes glancing from Ezra to Rusty as he stares at her with an intensity that she doesn't like. It's giving Peter Hale vibes, and she would very much like to say no.]

Do we have a choice? You're phrasing it like a question, but your friend doesn't feel like he's asking.

[rehire]

Are tracking her down or me, Gainor?

( He will step away if needed, especially to keep Lydia out of this. Say him. SAY HIM. )

[beanchaointe]

[David is unfortunately going to have to disappoint you, Harvey. His eyes hold his for a moment, before he turns away and puts his attention back on Lydia.

"I'm sorry about the imposition. But we could really use your help."

Lydia exhales slowly, before reaching for her glass of wine.]

In that case, I think privacy would be better.

[David nods. "I'll see if the restaurant has somewhere more private we can talk then." And he'll step away to go speak with the hostess.]

[rehire]

We don't have to stay. Only I owe them anything.

( He pauses. )

Do you want me to find out what they want and report back?

[beanchaointe]

We're all here. I don't think it's worth playing telephone.

[She leaves out the "when I can just tell them no to their faces." Because Lydia isn't necessarily inclined to say yes, exactly, but ...]

David and Allison have some kind of alliance. I don't want to disrupt that.

[rehire]

I'll be right beside you.

( A few minutes later, absurdly, they are all crammed into the back storage room among racks of wine, boxes of liquor, and a bag of spilled sugar. )

You were saying you need Lydia's help?

[an_honestword]

The member of the Inner Circle we're currently targeting is a bit of a collector. Specifically, of rare supernaturals.

[Lydia already doesn't like where this is going. "You want to use me as bait." Yep, she feels justified in her Peter Hale vibes from that one.]

Yes and no.

[Lydia raises an eyebrow, waiting for him to elaborate.]

We also need your hellhound.

[praevaricatio]

We need Kirsanov to let his guard down. We would infiltrate. You wouldn't be his captives, only his Trojan horse.

( Harvey understands, not liking it.

"And Lydia isn't enough." Harvey says. "Why is Lydia in the conversation at all, what with a former mud pit of fictional creatures to track down?" )

[an_honestword]

Banshees aren't as rare as some, but they're fragile. If you're going to keep a collection, you'll have to replace it every so often. And they can provide an interesting chaser if they happen to have bound themselves to another supernatural creature for their protection.

["Like a hellhound." So it's not her she's really after, it's Parrish. She doesn't really want to put her friend in their crosshairs, mostly because she knows he won't say no. He's too good a guy for that.

But Parrish's involvement brings Malia, and it could give her an opportunity to keep someone like Jackson in their periphery as a back up plan. She would need to think this through.

"I want the full details of the plan before I even ask them. And if they say no, I say no."]

I'll see if I can draw something up. I could get it to you based on the information we already have by tomorrow morning.

[praevaricatio]

We're moving fast. After we take down one member of the Inner Circle, we're moving on to the next. And the next. We need this up on its' feet within 48 hours.

( His husband has the door that can help get a certain Hellhound to them.

The flight and everything else will be -- just that, everything else. But, there's step one. They made contact. )

Do you have any other questions before we adjourn?

[beanchaointe]

If I say no, is that the end of it?

[Because while she knows they're technically allies, she doesn't trust them. She certainly doesn't trust the new person. And she wants to know the risks before she steps in the pool.]

[praevaricatio]

If you say no, we find another way.

( But the narration assumes Rusty is not giving off the same sentiment.

"David. Call me when everything is ready. We'll meet in -- less close quarters." )

[beanchaointe]

[Nope, he's definitely not. But he doesn't elaborate either. Trying to explain that they have eyes on one of her best friends is not going to endear him to her any further.

David nods. "We'll be in touch."

Lydia presses her lips into a thin smile before nodding.]

Good. Now, if you'll excuse me.

[and she will push past the three very tall men blocking her way out of the closet and will head out of the restaurant, just to get some air. She assumes Harvey is not far behind her.]