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

[maxxx]

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[impetere]

[Cora nods, moving slowly and going to open the window to the fire escape, but as she tries to get her fingers around the sash, she notices something on the other side.]

Mountain ash.

[And the witches will wait for three, two one ... knock knock knock. "We just want to talk, Stiles."]

[phonetically]

Seriously?

( Well, he can't pretend he's not here now. He goes to the front closet to retrieve his piece, calling through the door. )

Then let's talk through the door. Or better yet, in a public place with cameras and crowds.

[tearhiseyesout]

Yeah, no, public's not going to work for me. I don't have the time or patience to chase you all over DC today.

[Hence the mountain ash and isolation.]

But if you want to talk through the door, sure. Just know that there is mountain ash on all the exits and so long as you stay put and don't make our lives difficult this will all be quick and painless.

[phonetically]

( Yeah, he was going to run. )

Who is our and why did you surround me with mountain ash?

[tearhiseyesout]

Talk to Lydia today?

[Which is a leading question because she knows he has. She's just going to leave it there and assume that it provides enough context.]

[phonetically]

You already know I did. Did you tap my phone?

( Rude. He checks the magazine on his gun, locks it in, and tucks it behind his waistband.

He holds a finger to his lips to Cora, scanning his apartment. If she goes into another room, they won't know he's not alone. He tips his head indicating Cora should head down his back hallway.

They need the element of surprise. )

[tearhiseyesout]

Kinda. Magically speaking.

[Cora nods and goes to do as he suggested but before they can get too far:]

And if you and your werewolf visitor are trying to come up with some harebrained scheme to ambush the bad guys, don't.

[Jaqueline is just here to ruin your day, Stiles, sorry. And she really doesn't have the patience to do that whole thing where she pretends not to know and then does a grand reveal to show off her power. It's trite and cliche. She'd like to think that the fact that she has the information proves her point well enough.]

[phonetically]

( Stiles stands, at a loss, hand splaying flat, palm downward. So, stay, Cora. Because he has to open the door.

Gun still hidden, he unlocks the door, inhales, exhales, and then reveals a woman he doesn't recognize and -- )

Sierra Harper, or do you prefer Maura.

( "Right now, I prefer cooperation. And for you to listen to my friend." She knows what she's doing. Stiles steps aside, closing the door behind his guests. )

Really, thanks for the surprise hostage situation, it's what I've always wanted, especially on my paid vacation.

[tearhiseyesout]

[Jaqueline's always been pretty, but there's always something just off about her smile. It's a little too sharp at the corners, a little too wide in the eyes. So even when she's attempting to be charming, there's always something a little wrong about it.

All her charisma is in intimidate rather than persuasion.

But she steps delicately over the line of mountain ash to enter the apartment, looking around curiously as she does.]

At least you're getting paid. But honestly, it's the ideal time. The only person expecting you anywhere is right here. Win-win. And honestly, if Lydia follows through on her end of the bargain, then this really doesn't need to get messy.

[With the underlying implication that if you make her, she will make it messy.]

[ostensively]

( Sierra, on the other hand, was always the diplomatic heir. Until she realized there was only so far to rise.

Her plan changed drastically as she regained old allies, but her most important tie remains the same. She is not her girlfriend's leash, or her keeper. In this assignment, she is her partner. Her every man. Stiles Stilinski's life isn't of her concern, past needing Lydia Martin's help.

She cases the apartment, assesses Cora, werewolf. A beta. But doesn't clock the gun (7).

"Persons," Stiles corrects. )

You're right. You have Jaqueline and you have me, and the people we represent. We aren't alone in this. Like you aren't. Like she said, we actually want everyone to come out of this unscathed.

( Well, except for Kirsanov. )

Cora, I know your brother wouldn't want you to get too mixed up in all of this. You're just in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you'd like the out.

[tearhiseyesout]

["I'm good, thanks." Though Cora doesn't sound like she's all that grateful. "And I wouldn't talk about my brother like you know him when you left him behind to rot."

Because yeah. She hasn't forgotten that either.]

Touchy.

[Though Jaqueline doesn't sound like that bothers her.]

I mean, he's still alive right? So no harm, no foul?

[ostensively]

He is. Unscathed. That could be the word of the day.

( She smiles, less sinister. More peacekeeping. )

So do we have a deal? We still have service if you want to order anything. We could make a day of it. Really get to know each other.

[impetere]

Pass.

[Cora isn't in the mood for this bullshit. She glances over at Stiles to see how he wants to play this but she doesn't intend to sit around like they're just friends hanging out.]

[phonetically]

What's the alternative. You stand on the other side of that door until Lydia says 'Yes,' or until Lydia goes through with whatever you need from her?

( He doesn't know yes.

"Yes," Sierra says to both, very matter-of-factly. "Except, we're right next door. We're not going to stand at your door. That would be creepy."

Right? )

[impetere]

It's not like we can go anywhere. Forgive us for not wanting to spend time with our kidnappers.

[Jaqueline shrugs. "Alright, too bad for you. We're a great time."

The look on Cora's face could have killed a person, if she wanted it to.]

[phonetically]

( Sierra drops a card on the little table in 'dining room'.

"If you need anything in the next 24 hours. Blood. Sushi." To Cora. "Punching bag. Call us on that line. It's the only number that will work, but we're not heartless."

They really could've made this a more fun time. But, Scowly over there doesn't like them. )

Thanks for the offer of not starving me out.

( "Stiles, we don't want you dead." )

[impetere]

[Jaqueline nods in agreement. "Defeats the point of hostage negotiation. Anyway. Toodles. You two kids have fun."

The two witches let themselves out and Cora sets her jaw before turning to face him.]

There has to be another way out of this.

[phonetically]

( He hates them both now. He figured had he pulled a gun in a witch fight, he'd regret it. But he at least felt... something. Safer? )

They trapped us with mountain ash and cut us off from outside communication.

( But how far does the spell go is his first thought. )

First thing's first.

( He takes apart his phone, pulling the sim card. )

If this is how they're listening.

( He sighs, the bottom of his palms resting on his forehead. He shakes his head. )

Okay, okay, okay. What can we do.

[impetere]

We need someone to break the ash lines.

[Which is going to be easier said than done when they can't use their phone to call anyone. She drums her fingers against her leg as she looks around.]

How well do you know your neighbors?

[phonetically]

I don't. People know their neighbors?

( In DC and other big cities? Beacon Hills doesn't count. Stiles kept to himself. Everyone knew his dad and who he was as his dad's kid, but nothing past that. He was invisible from preschool to high school and then Scott got bitten.

He kept to himself in college and irritated his FBI recruits.

Neighbors? Never heard of her. )

[impetere]

Some people do.

[She tips her head to the side, curiously.]

Is there anyone in DC who might come if they got a weird phone call?

[They can't move past the threshold, but they can open the door. Maybe they can stick a note to it.]

[phonetically]

My partner, Audrey. My shrink. I don't know anyone else.

( The FBI doesn't encourage you to make outside connections, that is, connections that don't garner results, anyway. )

Are any pack nearby?

[impetere]

[She takes a deep breath, before shaking her head.]

Malia and Derek are in New Orleans, Peter is off doing whatever Peter does, Scott is in Beacon Hills, and Isaac is back overseas.

[She glances around his apartment until she finds a piece of paper and a pen.

Tapping her pen against the paper, she decides to go for the most efficient approach and writes in big block letters:

Knock on the door, get $200.]

People won't say no to free cash.

[And it's not like Cora can't afford it.]

[phonetically]

Now I hope we have freeloading teenagers wandering the halls.

( Or, poor, young, neighbors? It's a plan, though. )

[impetere]

It's at least worth a shot.

[And she will go to stick it to the front of the door, tucking it into the doorknob and closing it, hoping that someone will find it and use it before the witches catch on.]

Now, we wait.

[In the meantime, sitting outside the building and doing his best to be subtle, is Sweets sitting in his car, waiting for his promised backup to arrive while keeping his eyes on the building. He knows he's not usually who Alexander would send in for things like this, but Stiles is his patient and he wants to make sure he's safe.]