[David's eyes dart to the new voice and oh. So we're bringing in everyone now then. He starts to take a step closer but the daggers Malia is staring into his skull from where she's standing with him pulls him up short.
David falters and waves a hand.]
David Gainor. Thanks for coming, I realize this has all been a bit of an inconvenience.
["To put it lightly." Lydia is sitting next to Jackson, one leg crossed over the other, and Alexander is perched against the far wall, just observing and keeping himself out of the direct attention.]
( Technically, Harvey shouldn't be here, he represents David Gainor's best interests, but this isn't about their legal dealings, and Harvey's drawn his own line in the sand.
As they do, everything gets messier.
"I'd call it intimidation." Jackson says. )
Blackmail. Extortion.
("Harvey," Ezra says. "We're here.")
You're right. We're all here. We've come to the negotiating table, because make no mistake, that's what this is. You're going to lay it all out, everything you need from Lydia and Jordan Parrish. And then, we're going to counteroffer.
[Jordan Parrish. So the hellhound has a name. Good. David takes a deep breath and gestures to the file in his hand.]
Why don't we start with what we know and need from you all, and then we can go from there?
[Lydia nods. "Do you have the plan I asked for?"]
Best as we can manage from here.
[None of them have traveled to Siberia recently. But he starts laying out the visual aids so everyone can see:]
Kirsanov lives in a stronghold in Siberia that he rarely leaves. It's mostly just him and his collection. His item of choice? Supernatural creatures - the rarer the better. We considered that a banshee would be a good get, considering they have shorter lifespans than most, but when we realized that you were connected to a Cŵn Annwn, we thought that might sweeten the pot considerably to get us inside.
"They're your gesture of good will to get you inside his stronghold? A member of the Inner Circle who has banished himself to the far reaches of Siberia? Does he know who you are?"
Harvey isn't necessarily trying to lead these negotiations, hell, he's playing arbiter at this point, but he's here to sift through the bullshit. )
["Also what's a Cŵn Annwn?" Malia, asking the important questions.
David pauses, but turns his attention to Malia first:]
Great question. So there are two kinds of creatures that are colloquially known as hellhounds. There's actual hellhounds - invisible, murderous, literally drag souls to Hell. And then there's you -
[He gestures to Parrish.]
A person who should have died a heroic death by fire but didn't and now can set themselves on fire and acts as a protector, generally tied to a nematon. Now they got the name hellhounds by fearful Christians because they couldn't see the actual hellhounds, but the Cŵn Annwn are actually part of Welsh mythology and participated in something called the Wild Hunt.
[Lydia grimaces. "That, we're familiar with."]
Great. Specificity in this case is important because I'm willing to bet that Kirsanov already has the invisible variety. They're a lot more common. Which then leads into your question, Harvey.
[See, he can make this work. Look at him sharing all the information.]
No, we don't have a personal relationship with Kirsanov at the moment, because Kirsanov isn't on good terms with the Inner Circle as a whole. That's what makes him the best one to target first. That's where our friend that you met last night comes in.
["The creeper you brought with you to the restaurant," Lydia clarifies and David nods.]
His name is Russell DeBrande and he has his own bone to pick with the Inner Circle and is willing to help us if we help him. He can get us in the door with Kirsanov, or so he claims.
[The name means nothing to Lydia (3) or Malia (8), but Alexander rocks off the wall to look at them with wide eyes (19): "You're shitting me."
He had been trying to stay off the radar, but David's eyes are on him now. Whoops.]
("Or so he claims, that doesn't sound finite," Harvey comments. "What happens if Russel DeBrande's efforts backfire and Kirsanov adds two new pieces to his collection?" One of which he's starting to like in a serious way.
Parrish agreed to hear them out. He doesn't trust any of it. He doesn't hear about any loopholes and he doesn't feel bulletproof.
Or, even, fireproof in this case. )
What does it mean, to be in his collection? Is this like Beauty and the Beast? Do we live in his stronghold? Bolster him up? Or, are we prisoners? Is he bargaining with us as prisoners?
No, Russell DeBrande was mega cursed by the Inner Circle. He has a lot of reasons to want them all dead. I think we can trust at least that much about him. But there's also rumors that he's a little ... insane, though.
[Alexander is sure the Colony folks are already aware of this but he wants to make sure the rest of the group is too.
David does not disagree with Alexander's assessment of Rusty, but: "We're trying to take down the Inner Circle. You kind of have to be a little insane."
As far as Parrish's question: "He'll believe you're prisoners, yes. But we'd be willing to give you whatever advantages you need in order to level the playing field. Honestly, it might be kind of poetic for him to get murdered by his own collection."]
("Why isn't Russell DeBrande doing his own dirty work?" Harvey isn't sure of anything, he needs the ins and outs.
"Russell DeBrande was in hiding. We were tipped off. This is the first domino we need to take them all down." Ezra is trying his best to be persuasive, but his husband is doing a pretty good job if you ask him.
Harvey holds a hand out to keep everything crystal clear.
"And so, you trust the insane, your words, not ours, mega-cursed witch. And you're expecting Lydia and Parrish to take him out for you. Tell me, does killing a member of the Inner Circle curse you, or just torching their original body?")
He's tried. Repeatedly. For more than two centuries at this point. From what I understand, his curse is that unless he can make it to old age and die a natural death, he gets reborn again. He doesn't get to rest. That's what's made him insane. I'm guessing that he assumes he's tried doing it solo - if the next generation wants to help, maybe he stands a better chance.
[David nods in acknowledgement of Alexander's point. "Rusty is looking to try something he hasn't tried before. And we don't want to become meat puppets for our dead ancestors. It's a win-win."
And then he turns to look at Harvey. "And I'm not saying Lydia and Parrish have to kill anyone. The way I see it, they'll be left alone with the collection while Kirsanov tries to figure out why we would bring him such an extravagant gift. If they can figure out how to let the rest of the creatures out, I'm sure that the creatures who have been held by Kirsanov longer will make quick work of him themselves. And from what I understand, his original body has already been salted and burned by our hunter friends, so he won't be able to come back."
There were consequences there, sure, but if Lydia and Parrish are worried about retribution form Kirsanov specifically, they've already cut off that avenue.
"I'm not saying this plan is without risk. Nothing about this is without risk. If you'd like to move on to what would make this worth it for you, I'm ready to negotiate."]
No, what your saying is that you think it's a calculated risk.
( But, he would say otherwise. He hears vague ideas. He hears a semblance of a plan, but he doesn't hear anything foolproof. He hears conjecture. He needs more. Lydia and Parrish need more. )
So, tell me, David. Do you have blueprints? Knowledge of this failsafe that will unleash his poetic justice. Because what it sounds like to me is that you are sending Parrish and Lydia into his crosshairs without an actual plan, but with a vague idea of what might just work out. Do you have a thought-through, foolproof plan or are you sending them into the hornet's nest on a wing, a prayer, and on these negotiations?
[He was planning to get there eventually. But he's not one to put all his cards on the table until everyone's onboard from the overview. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a thumb drive.]
Blueprints. At least from what the Colony currently has on the magical specs of his tower of terrors. His followers are few, and according to Rusty he's susceptible to flattery and looking to get his hooks back into the Inner Circle's good graces again. But nothing is foolproof, Harvey. You should know that.
[So he can't promise that nothing will go wrong, and he won't. He doesn't think anyone should trust me if he did, not with something this huge.]
I think if I came in here promising that everything would be alright and nothing would go wrong, you'd be calling me full of shit.
I would, and I am. The two aren't mutually exclusive. You gave a half-assed rundown and what we needed was a play-by-play. I get it, you can't overplay your hand, but in this case? They're willing, but they needed contingencies.
( They needed to know they David had more than just conjecture. )
So, by all means. Lydia. Jordan. Let's all negotiate.
[David places the thumbdrive with the blueprints down on the table and steps back, indicating that that's for them to peruse when they have the time, and he'll step back, letting them address what they want from their end of the bargain.
Lydia leans back crossing her legs in front of her as she tries to figure out how to phrase this.]
You've been of your word for the most part when dealing with Allison, this instance aside. I'm going to assume that you honor your debts as readily as you expect other people to honor theirs?
["I do my best to, yes."]
Then I won't speak for Parrish, but I want a favor. A blank check, to be determined later, and if I for some reason don't make it out of this, it passes to Jackson.
[She places a hand on Jackson's shoulder because while yes, Allison would probably do the most good with it, Jackson would make them suffer for it, and Lydia can be a little bit petty.]
I'd rather not rack my brain for something now, when this could be more useful down the line.
( the contingency and the hand catch Jackson by surprise, but he sits in solidarity. whatever lydia wants. )
I don't need anything. I'm here to flank Lydia. So, as far as I'm concerned she gets two blank checks. If we do this, and we survive, she gets two favors. Or, she and a friend, or whoever.
( And that's what he wants. )
But, I do have a question. Who all is going to Siberia? Russel DeBrande and you? All three of you? Do you know yet? Because everyone in this room is ready to go.
[Malia thinks that that's a dumb decision on Parrish's part but she doesn't say it. She just waits for David to answer the thing she cares about.]
Another great question. So on our end, it's the two of us, Rusty, and another co-conspirator. But we can't have all of you rolling up to the fortress with us.
[That would cause too many questions and when he sees the werecoyote in the corner start to get her hackles up, he holds up his hands.]
I'm not saying you can't come to Siberia. I'm just saying you can't be seen. Add to the fact that the four of us will be up top playing distraction, I would say spend some time with the blueprints and decide how you want to handle that. Whatever resources you need, I can get.
( Parrish is a simple man with a simple job, and as far as he knows he has everything he needs. Lydia is not a selfish woman and may discuss this with him after the fact, but for now those are his parameters. He has rarely done things for himself by and large. It comes from serving his country, from now knowing his origins, and from serving the great town of Beacon Hills.
Harvey, the big city lawyer nods along, also judging Parrish. )
Parrish reserves the right to call in his chit should he change his mind.
("I won't.")
If he does. ( Contingencies, Parrish. ) Is that it? This is all the information we need to make an informed decision?
[Because he never claims to know everything and he won't work in absolutes. Nothing is one hundred percent, ever. But this is everything they have to go on and it's fairly complete.]
Ezra and I can give you some time to go through things before you give us your final answer if you want. But yeah - favors are fine, with all the contingencies. If I don't make it out of this, I'll make sure that it's followed through on.
I've booked a series of rooms at a hotel in Moscow that I've been to before, so we can leave whenever you're ready. With the time change, we probably won't visit Kirsanov until the next day, once we arrive so there's time.
[The upside of being a Gainor is that travel can be much more loosey goosey. Lydia looks like she's about to question that plan when she remembers what Allison came to David for in the past and shakes it off.
("I know you'll do the right thing, Lydia," Ezra says, following Harvey's ushering him - and his husband - out the door. Harvey closes the door and locks it (knowing full well David can walk back in whether it's locked or not). )
I think the's the best we're going to get and I they're not hanging you out to dry. They may have approached you inelegantly, but they've thought this through.
( Still, he pours over the documents and shares them with everyone else. Unfortunately, his lecture about the folder might fall on deaf ears as he gets a 5 and keeps explanations technical and quick. )
[Lydia's eyes narrow at Ezra's back as he leaves because nothing about this feels like the "right" thing, moralistically speaking. But in going through the plans provided, Lydia leans back in the seat.]
I think our best bet are the things they don't know we have.
[Namely: a kanima.]
If we take some of Jackson's venom, I can use that to neutralize whatever guards there are. I'm immune. After that, we'd just need to figure out how to release the other creatures, provided that Kirsanov doesn't decide to supervise locking us up.
[Malia glances over at Alexander. "You're a witch, right? Can you make the rest of us invisible?"
Alexander shrugs. "Yes, technically, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had anti-magic charms on his entrances and exits. Those will pop a cloaking spell as we're walking in the door."]
If Kirsanov is this paranoid, then there won't be any magic. A man like that walls himself in. And makes it so that anyone who manages is at a severe disadvantage.
( Whatever's safest for him. )
Take the kanima venom. What else can we get in there?
[She's staring down the plans and if they can't get in the obvious way through the front door, she'll make her own way. She turns one of the plans and taps what looks like some of intake spout.]
You could convince Kirsanov Jackson and Alexander are guards in the Colony's employ. After all, we are on the eve of the Gauntlet, and if Kirsanov doesn't have knowledge of that, that puts them further into his good graces. That gets everyone inside.
No offense, but I don't know if I want to get that close, personally. I'm not exactly an unknown quantity where some areas of the Colony are concerned.
[He'll provide whatever support needed before you leave, but he doesn't think him being on the ground is the best play.]
If any of them get away, it could be misinterpreted as the Underground making a move and that's bad for all my people.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
maxxx) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
everyonelives2023-10-16 07:09 pm
no subject
David falters and waves a hand.]
David Gainor. Thanks for coming, I realize this has all been a bit of an inconvenience.
["To put it lightly." Lydia is sitting next to Jackson, one leg crossed over the other, and Alexander is perched against the far wall, just observing and keeping himself out of the direct attention.]
no subject
As they do, everything gets messier.
"I'd call it intimidation." Jackson says. )
Blackmail. Extortion.
( "Harvey," Ezra says. "We're here." )
You're right. We're all here. We've come to the negotiating table, because make no mistake, that's what this is. You're going to lay it all out, everything you need from Lydia and Jordan Parrish. And then, we're going to counteroffer.
( And that's how this is going to go. )
no subject
Why don't we start with what we know and need from you all, and then we can go from there?
[Lydia nods. "Do you have the plan I asked for?"]
Best as we can manage from here.
[None of them have traveled to Siberia recently. But he starts laying out the visual aids so everyone can see:]
Kirsanov lives in a stronghold in Siberia that he rarely leaves. It's mostly just him and his collection. His item of choice? Supernatural creatures - the rarer the better. We considered that a banshee would be a good get, considering they have shorter lifespans than most, but when we realized that you were connected to a Cŵn Annwn, we thought that might sweeten the pot considerably to get us inside.
no subject
( "Croissants," Ezra corrects.
"They're your gesture of good will to get you inside his stronghold? A member of the Inner Circle who has banished himself to the far reaches of Siberia? Does he know who you are?"
Harvey isn't necessarily trying to lead these negotiations, hell, he's playing arbiter at this point, but he's here to sift through the bullshit. )
no subject
David pauses, but turns his attention to Malia first:]
Great question. So there are two kinds of creatures that are colloquially known as hellhounds. There's actual hellhounds - invisible, murderous, literally drag souls to Hell. And then there's you -
[He gestures to Parrish.]
A person who should have died a heroic death by fire but didn't and now can set themselves on fire and acts as a protector, generally tied to a nematon. Now they got the name hellhounds by fearful Christians because they couldn't see the actual hellhounds, but the Cŵn Annwn are actually part of Welsh mythology and participated in something called the Wild Hunt.
[Lydia grimaces. "That, we're familiar with."]
Great. Specificity in this case is important because I'm willing to bet that Kirsanov already has the invisible variety. They're a lot more common. Which then leads into your question, Harvey.
[See, he can make this work. Look at him sharing all the information.]
No, we don't have a personal relationship with Kirsanov at the moment, because Kirsanov isn't on good terms with the Inner Circle as a whole. That's what makes him the best one to target first. That's where our friend that you met last night comes in.
["The creeper you brought with you to the restaurant," Lydia clarifies and David nods.]
His name is Russell DeBrande and he has his own bone to pick with the Inner Circle and is willing to help us if we help him. He can get us in the door with Kirsanov, or so he claims.
[The name means nothing to Lydia (3) or Malia (8), but Alexander rocks off the wall to look at them with wide eyes (19): "You're shitting me."
He had been trying to stay off the radar, but David's eyes are on him now. Whoops.]
no subject
Parrish agreed to hear them out. He doesn't trust any of it. He doesn't hear about any loopholes and he doesn't feel bulletproof.
Or, even, fireproof in this case. )
What does it mean, to be in his collection? Is this like Beauty and the Beast? Do we live in his stronghold? Bolster him up? Or, are we prisoners? Is he bargaining with us as prisoners?
no subject
[Alexander is sure the Colony folks are already aware of this but he wants to make sure the rest of the group is too.
David does not disagree with Alexander's assessment of Rusty, but: "We're trying to take down the Inner Circle. You kind of have to be a little insane."
As far as Parrish's question: "He'll believe you're prisoners, yes. But we'd be willing to give you whatever advantages you need in order to level the playing field. Honestly, it might be kind of poetic for him to get murdered by his own collection."]
no subject
( "Why isn't Russell DeBrande doing his own dirty work?" Harvey isn't sure of anything, he needs the ins and outs.
"Russell DeBrande was in hiding. We were tipped off. This is the first domino we need to take them all down." Ezra is trying his best to be persuasive, but his husband is doing a pretty good job if you ask him.
Harvey holds a hand out to keep everything crystal clear.
"And so, you trust the insane, your words, not ours, mega-cursed witch. And you're expecting Lydia and Parrish to take him out for you. Tell me, does killing a member of the Inner Circle curse you, or just torching their original body?" )
no subject
[David nods in acknowledgement of Alexander's point. "Rusty is looking to try something he hasn't tried before. And we don't want to become meat puppets for our dead ancestors. It's a win-win."
And then he turns to look at Harvey. "And I'm not saying Lydia and Parrish have to kill anyone. The way I see it, they'll be left alone with the collection while Kirsanov tries to figure out why we would bring him such an extravagant gift. If they can figure out how to let the rest of the creatures out, I'm sure that the creatures who have been held by Kirsanov longer will make quick work of him themselves. And from what I understand, his original body has already been salted and burned by our hunter friends, so he won't be able to come back."
There were consequences there, sure, but if Lydia and Parrish are worried about retribution form Kirsanov specifically, they've already cut off that avenue.
"I'm not saying this plan is without risk. Nothing about this is without risk. If you'd like to move on to what would make this worth it for you, I'm ready to negotiate."]
no subject
( But, he would say otherwise. He hears vague ideas. He hears a semblance of a plan, but he doesn't hear anything foolproof. He hears conjecture. He needs more. Lydia and Parrish need more. )
So, tell me, David. Do you have blueprints? Knowledge of this failsafe that will unleash his poetic justice. Because what it sounds like to me is that you are sending Parrish and Lydia into his crosshairs without an actual plan, but with a vague idea of what might just work out. Do you have a thought-through, foolproof plan or are you sending them into the hornet's nest on a wing, a prayer, and on these negotiations?
no subject
[He was planning to get there eventually. But he's not one to put all his cards on the table until everyone's onboard from the overview. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a thumb drive.]
Blueprints. At least from what the Colony currently has on the magical specs of his tower of terrors. His followers are few, and according to Rusty he's susceptible to flattery and looking to get his hooks back into the Inner Circle's good graces again. But nothing is foolproof, Harvey. You should know that.
[So he can't promise that nothing will go wrong, and he won't. He doesn't think anyone should trust me if he did, not with something this huge.]
I think if I came in here promising that everything would be alright and nothing would go wrong, you'd be calling me full of shit.
no subject
( They needed to know they David had more than just conjecture. )
So, by all means. Lydia. Jordan. Let's all negotiate.
no subject
Lydia leans back crossing her legs in front of her as she tries to figure out how to phrase this.]
You've been of your word for the most part when dealing with Allison, this instance aside. I'm going to assume that you honor your debts as readily as you expect other people to honor theirs?
["I do my best to, yes."]
Then I won't speak for Parrish, but I want a favor. A blank check, to be determined later, and if I for some reason don't make it out of this, it passes to Jackson.
[She places a hand on Jackson's shoulder because while yes, Allison would probably do the most good with it, Jackson would make them suffer for it, and Lydia can be a little bit petty.]
I'd rather not rack my brain for something now, when this could be more useful down the line.
no subject
I don't need anything. I'm here to flank Lydia. So, as far as I'm concerned she gets two blank checks. If we do this, and we survive, she gets two favors. Or, she and a friend, or whoever.
( And that's what he wants. )
But, I do have a question. Who all is going to Siberia? Russel DeBrande and you? All three of you? Do you know yet? Because everyone in this room is ready to go.
no subject
Another great question. So on our end, it's the two of us, Rusty, and another co-conspirator. But we can't have all of you rolling up to the fortress with us.
[That would cause too many questions and when he sees the werecoyote in the corner start to get her hackles up, he holds up his hands.]
I'm not saying you can't come to Siberia. I'm just saying you can't be seen. Add to the fact that the four of us will be up top playing distraction, I would say spend some time with the blueprints and decide how you want to handle that. Whatever resources you need, I can get.
no subject
Harvey, the big city lawyer nods along, also judging Parrish. )
Parrish reserves the right to call in his chit should he change his mind.
( "I won't." )
If he does. ( Contingencies, Parrish. ) Is that it? This is all the information we need to make an informed decision?
no subject
[Because he never claims to know everything and he won't work in absolutes. Nothing is one hundred percent, ever. But this is everything they have to go on and it's fairly complete.]
Ezra and I can give you some time to go through things before you give us your final answer if you want. But yeah - favors are fine, with all the contingencies. If I don't make it out of this, I'll make sure that it's followed through on.
no subject
What's your timetable?
no subject
[The upside of being a Gainor is that travel can be much more loosey goosey. Lydia looks like she's about to question that plan when she remembers what Allison came to David for in the past and shakes it off.
"We'll let you know when we're ready."]
no subject
I think the's the best we're going to get and I they're not hanging you out to dry. They may have approached you inelegantly, but they've thought this through.
( Still, he pours over the documents and shares them with everyone else. Unfortunately, his lecture about the folder might fall on deaf ears as he gets a 5 and keeps explanations technical and quick. )
no subject
I think our best bet are the things they don't know we have.
[Namely: a kanima.]
If we take some of Jackson's venom, I can use that to neutralize whatever guards there are. I'm immune. After that, we'd just need to figure out how to release the other creatures, provided that Kirsanov doesn't decide to supervise locking us up.
[Malia glances over at Alexander. "You're a witch, right? Can you make the rest of us invisible?"
Alexander shrugs. "Yes, technically, but I wouldn't be surprised if he had anti-magic charms on his entrances and exits. Those will pop a cloaking spell as we're walking in the door."]
no subject
( Whatever's safest for him. )
Take the kanima venom. What else can we get in there?
no subject
[She's staring down the plans and if they can't get in the obvious way through the front door, she'll make her own way. She turns one of the plans and taps what looks like some of intake spout.]
That looks big enough for a coyote to fit.
no subject
( If they want everyone inside. )
no subject
[He'll provide whatever support needed before you leave, but he doesn't think him being on the ground is the best play.]
If any of them get away, it could be misinterpreted as the Underground making a move and that's bad for all my people.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)