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

[maxxx]

Comments

[illtempered]

( Harvey, antennae up, answers the door. To Alexander:

"Jackson?" )

Jackson. Alexander. You're Lydia's friend.

( And what a friend he is... )

Can we come in?

( Harvey looks back at Lydia, since it's not his place. )

[swillpot]

[Lydia turns and waves for them to come in, before pointing to her phone and mouthing "Stiles." She'll be off the phone in a second.

Alexander takes that as a cue to come in and flashes Harvey a smile.]

Anything new happen?

[illtempered]

( "We figured out their leverage. Now we're awaiting their plan. It should be coming tomorrow morning. We were just brainstorming what Lydia could get out of this. If she goes through with it."

Jackson's not super enthusiastic.

If she goes through with being bait in Siberia.

[beanchaointe]

Allison is on it too. She was pissed.

[As she should be, honestly.]

But I want to have some things in my back pocket that they might not be aware of, hence me calling my favorite kanima. If I could take some venom with me, that would be helpful.

[Because no one is prepared for surprise paralysis.]

Also it would be good to have you and Malia in the wings just in case. I don't think Malia's going to want to be too far from the action.

[illtempered]

( Malia has no filter, like Jackson, he actually likes working beside her. )

Alexander is coming, too. ( Introductions are also in order. ) Alexander, this is Lydia.

[beanchaointe]

["Yes," Alexander nods. "We've met. Nice to see you again."

Lydia nods.]

You too. Let's ... get you guys caught up with everything that's happened.

[And she and Harvey will tag team a recap of where things are at including the witches' arrival, their demands, how Parrish feels about things and what they figured out about Stiles' potential involvement.]

[illtempered]

Right. Well. I like showing you off.

( So, there. )

So, they... pulled everyone in. Haphazardly. ( This is a really disorganized effort. ) Where is Allison?

[beanchaointe]

She's on a job with her dad. But she said she was going to reach out to Sam for more information and talk to David.

[So she's farming information while she's on the road.]

I don't think she's going to be able to get directly involved but she's keeping in contact.

[illtempered]

Are she and Sam -- over?

( He's missing a lot since linking up with the Underground.

"Let's keep our priorities in check," Harvey says. "We should focus on what Lydia will get out of this if she helps them."

And not on gossip. )

[beanchaointe]

[They can have one last bit of gossip:]

No, they're fine. But if Allison was going to be stuck any longer with Dean underground she was going to kill him.

[But back to business:]

Do you think they'll give me a blank check favor? Or will they use that as an opportunity to use their leverage.

[illtempered]

( "They ask for blank checks, they would take yours. Allison paid hers before all this started," he says, thinking about it.

One track selfish mind does offer his colorful commentary. )

Dean's hot, but - I wouldn't want to be stuck underground with either Winchester.

[beanchaointe]

[She's going to ignore that comment for now, but be sure that wine and gossip will come later.]

I could make asks for information. The Colony probably has a lot of information on banshees, hellhounds, all the things that we've been trying to figure out on our own for years and not getting very far. But I'm not sure if that's the most useful option for this.

[illtempered]

( Later.

"And it is your option," Harvey reminds her. )

If they sign blank checks, you might as well ask for the IOU, until you're sure of what you want. If you're leaning toward the Siberian sojourn.

[beanchaointe]

We'll see what Parrish wants to do.

[He's in this as much as she is, and she knows there's a lot of questions he still has about what he is.]

But for now, we're in a bit of a holding pattern until they give us their plan.

[illtempered]

And we pack more people into your apartment.

( Harvey's by her counter, while Jackson's leaning against free wall space by her couch. )

Lydia, can we talk somewhere privately?

[beanchaointe]

Yeah, of course. Let's get you settled in the guest room.

[Alexander glances down at his messages and moves to settle on the couch. "My dad has some updates. I'll be out here."]

[illtempered]

( He follows Lydia into the guest room as Harvey checks his own, sifting through firm emails to see if there's anything that needs to be prioritized.

Jackson once again does his signature lean, this time against a dresser. )

I don't like that you're being used. Is there any way you can get out of this.

[beanchaointe]

Harvey thinks they intend to use Stiles as leverage. They seem aimable enough but they also mentioned they were on a time table, so I don't think they intend to purse other options unless someone volunteers one.

[And she's not expecting anyone to do that in advance.]

And Parrish won't let anything happen to me.

[illtempered]

Parrish isn't omnipotent, Lydia. You're offering yourself up to be captured, all for a crusade for an unaffiliated coven. And they're holding your friend - or considering him as leverage. They're strong-arming you.

( Well, this isn't going to be fun, but )

Isn't Harvey on their payroll?

[beanchaointe]

I'm aware, Jackson.

[She knows how complicated this is. In fact, she's aware of all of these things. But getting a very powerful witch off the board could be worth they effort, if they negotiate things in their favor.]

Harvey is on my side. He wasn't part of it until I brought him into it.

[illtempered]

He was a part of it in Beacon Hills.

( He deflates, his point hanging between them. Then he relents, trusting her instincts. )

I'm worried about you. And pissed as Allison is.

[beanchaointe]

[She can't just go say no, this is different, but she also knows how her track record looks.]

I'm not doing anything without a plan. But these people that they're going after are also causing real harm and Allison was already helping them in some ways. As much as their approach could use some work, this ... might be something worth considering if they're willing to give me the IOU.

[illtempered]

Do you think Stiles is actually in danger?

( Are they willing to go that far? )

[beanchaointe]

He's got Cora with him. I think he'll be fine. The point of leverage is that everyone gets what they want when they're done.

[So he'll be unhappy and have his day ruined, but he'll live to complain about it another day.]

[illtempered]

By force.

( He doesn't have to like it. )

I trust you. We're not going anywhere.