yes you made a little moment and you stirred a little mud

[tearhiseyesout]

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[tearhiseyesout]

[Jaqueline, Luke and Sierra step into the entrance of the FBI building on edge. It's not that she doesn't think that she can control the situation if she has to, but she wouldn't put it past a Parker to have some tricks up their sleeves.

She nudges Luke ahead of them, still looking for any sign of the sister.]

Go. Get on line for security.

[drugdeals]

And, don't look like a hostage, I'm guessing?

( His sardonic Parker wit tumbles off the tongue as he plays with fire but makes an earnest effort at acting "fine," but is unable to hide how out of control everything feels. (9) He put himself in harm's way, this was his idea. He thought he could help. He always thinks he can help - or, he stays out of it completely.

He really needs to do things halfway.

Stepping into line, he takes a step forward when he needs to. )

[pastlives]

["That's the plan, yes."

They slowly inch through, person by person, one by one, but as they reach the part of the gate where they have to announce why they're there and who they're here to see, a voice calls out across the lobby towards them:]

Luke Parker?

[drugdeals]

( Despite the bustle of the lobby in the afternoon, he hears Audrey's voice clear as day (16). He turns toward his name, slightly dumbfounded because this wasn't his doing. Was this his sister's?

His eyes attempt to alert her to be careful. He doesn't need an FBI agent's blood on his hands. At least she reads FBI. Witch FBI? Do they exist? )

... Yes?

[pastlives]

I'm going to need you to come with me.

[Yeah, Jaqueline's not going to allow that. She flashes a thin smile as she steps forward, placing a hand on Audrey's arm as she reaches for Luke, using the same magic she's been using to keep Luke in line. "No, you don't. We're just fine here."

Audrey glances down at the hand on her arm, then looking back at the other woman.]

Ma'am, I'm going to need you to let go of me and take a step back.

[Jaqueline blinks, so startled by the just lack of acknowledgement of her magic entirely that she does take a step back. Audrey gives her another thin smile, before taking Luke's arm.]

Mr. Parker is wanted for questioning involving distribution of illicit substances. So unless either of you are his attorney, I don't think there's anything you can do to stop me.

[She glances to Luke, deliberately asking him the question:]

Are either of these women your attorney?

[drugdeals]

( He shakes his head, knowing in the back of his mind what he's kept up to. He thinks back to his New York network, but couldn't see anyone ratting him out. His drugs are more occult and less 'the FBI wants to take me down,' but nothing surprises him anymore. )

No, no, I don't know this woman ( Indicating who he's in line with and ) and this is Jacqueline. Do I need a lawyer?

[pastlives]

That's up to you.

[Technically the answer is no, because this isn't a real arrest, but she's playing the part in front of the witches that they need to get rid of.]

We can make a call for you once you get upstairs, but unless Jaqueline is your attorney, she's going to have to continue the rest of the way through security and wait elsewhere.

[Jaqueline's eyes look murderous and she tries one more time, her grip tightening on Audrey's arm. "I really would prefer that you didn't take him anywhere."

Audrey meets her eyes again, before shrugging her off.]

As I said, you're going to have to move through security. Now, if you'll excuse us.

[And with that she will steer Luke out of line, leaving Jaqueline fuming in line.]

[ostensively]

( Luke can't believe what's happening, or, how, or who in their right mind would grab an FBI agent like that in a federal building. He's known Jacqueline was bad news, he's had his fair share of bad influences, but he didn't know how deep her mean streak ran. He wouldn't be surprised what she'd do past taking him hostage.

Sierra takes off her sunglasses, pulling a stray earbud out of her ear by its' cord. Her deception roll is a hearty (3), because he's as dismayed and thrown as Jacqueline is - but she's at least trying to not get herself arrested. )

Oh I - what is going on here. Honey. ( She lightly touches Jaq's arm, trying to bring it down. ) I'm so sorry, my girlfriend just has this deep-seated distrust in authority figures and would you believe it, abandonment issues. But, I will explain to her, that just because her friend is being detained, it doesn't mean he's being arrested, right? I'm sure this is all one big misunderstanding?

[pastlives]

We'll see.

[Unlike Danny, Audrey sees right through Sierra's bluster (15). She gestures to the front desk:]

They'll show you to the waiting area once you're checked in.

[And with that she will take Luke off, leaving Liv and company free to intercept the other witches. But once she and Luke are out of earshot of the other two women, she relaxes some from FBI agent mode.]

You're not actually in trouble, by the way. Your sister sent me.

[ostensively]

( Sierra's hand travels downward, past her wrist before entwining Jaq's fingers with hers, giving a saccharine sweet smile to match her previous blunder. She speaks low enough for only Jaqueline to hear her. )

This isn't over.

( Luke, dumbfounded, and still under a compliance spell, feels like he's moving through a muddy swamp but with every step and with Audrey in proximity, he regains his faculties.

"Behold the expanded Mystic Falls network," he quips, not daring look behind them. "They're not going to let this stand. Is she here?" )

[tearhiseyesout]

["She is. And they have a plan, but they needed someone to get you away from the women you were with."

Jaqueline watches as Audrey retreats, and tries to shake off the feeling that she just encountered something that doesn't belong.]

There's something off about her.

But as they pass their way through security, Sweets appears at the door, and gives them a small wave. "Jaqueline Malroux."

Jaqueline nods.]

Let me guess. You're another roadblock to our deal?

[ostensively]

Let's hear him out. Maybe he actually has something to say.

( They don't have the choice. They're past a metal detector in a government building. This wasn't their most thought-out approach.

If asked, Sierra always painted in shades of grey, always walking her morally reprehensible tightrope, but her family - everyone's families - gave them no choice. If this could save Jacqueline, if this led somewhere, then it would all be worth it. That she found a fork in a road to work with old and new allies, well, it's where the chips fell. Stiles was incentive. Luke, a bargaining chip. And now? This guy. In a suit.

Luke quickens his walking pace, hoping his sister is the light at the end of this tunnel. )

[tearhiseyesout]

["Come with me. Your group is waiting for you upstairs."

Jaqueline nods as she follows Sweets lead, but her hackles are up, and she doesn't intend to go quietly. While she can't start an outright witch war in the middle of the FBI, she will wait until the three of them are in the elevator, alone, before she reaches out and grabs Sweet's arm (2 vs. 4). She's not trying very hard to get in, but unlike Audrey, she can tell that he's fighting back against her, rather than letting it run off him the way the FBI agent did.]

Who the hell was that downstairs?

[Sweets is able to push her out, but he still responds: "Not my story to tell."]

[an_honestword]

[Kirsanov's fortress hasn't changed much since Rusty had last seen it, beyond the natural decay of time. The massive tower of stone and mortar looks almost as though someone had ripped a tower and parapet off the side of the castle, or as though the rest of the castle had just gone to ruin around it. The black stone stands in stark contrast against the Siberian snow and if the group hadn't known better, it might just be an abandoned ruin.

Well, that and the two armed guards wrapped in parkas and minding the doors.

They leave Harvey and Alexander in the train station, awaiting their return. With a brief goodbye to the hellhound, the werecoyote shifts and heads off through the snow far enough away that she likely isn't spotted. Before they're in earshot, Rusty glances back to the rest of the group and raises an eyebrow.]

Ready to do this?

[illtempered]

( Nobody is ready to do this, but they have to do this. David and Ezra ensured as much.

Parrish sinks into his own stature, in order to come off more like a prisoner. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Jackson mimics the Buckingham palace guard-like quality the parka-guards are exuding, completing his look with unnecessary sunglasses. Ezra is not family and he is Colony by marriage, so he flanks his husband, but keeps an eye on everyone - especially rusty.

Nobody says anything, but it's clear everyone is as ready as they'll ever be. )

[an_honestword]

[And off they go.

Lydia keeps close to Parrish as they make their way to the front door, and the guards step into place. There's something unsettling about the situation, and as her eyes land on them, her head tips to the side. "Are they ...?"

Rusty turns to get a closer look and raises his eyebrow. Huh. The guards are undead.]

Guess good help is hard to find these days.

[maxxx]

( Max ducks his head down to see if there's any recognition in their features. )

Recycled window dressing.

[an_honestword]

There's a reason this was our first stop.

[The goons straighten and one of the speaks once they're close enough. "State your business." Their words slur just slightly, almost as though their jaw doesn't work the way it used to, but they seem pretty with it, for dead guys.]

Russell DeBrande, here to see your boss.

[The guard seems to recognize the name, and frowns. "Wait here." As the guard retreats inside, Rusty shouts after him:]

Tell him we come bearing gifts!

[nicedemon]

( Parrish keeps his army instincts, staying alert while giving off the subservient vibe.

Jackson takes a hold of Lydia's arm, gripping her lightly, but flexing, to make it look like he's squeezing harder.

Ezra rests his hand on the small of his husband's back supportively and briefly.

"Here we go," he says.

Finally, Max lets Russell take the lead. Spending more time with the paranoid witch has intrigued him more than he's realized, but he also knows Rusty may be the wildcard. He's used to playing both sides of someone's coin. He was raised a Malreaux. One of these days, he should cut his paranoia. )

[an_honestword]

[It takes a while, but eventually the door to the tower reopens, and tall older man steps out, eyeing each of them curiously. His shaggy salt and pepper hair falls around his shoulders and dark eyes take in each person present until they land back on Rusty again, and he speaks with a thick Russian accent.

"Russell. What an unexpected surprise."

Rusty smiles thinly.]

Nikolai. It's been a long time. What ... three rebirths ago?

[Something like that." The older man's eyes wander to Max and David, before turning back to him again. "You said something about gifts?"]

[maxxx]

( Max, playing up the ruse, kicks out from under the back of Parrish's feet, dropping him to his knees. He plays along, but but seethes under a lost murmur. His hair flops over his eyes as he looks up, playing up a cowardice he's never had.

Jackson's other hand rests on Lydia's shoulder, indicating subtly that she is in his possession - or, Rusty's, and Jackson is in Rusty's employ. If that's how they're playing it, he's not treating her like that. They are years out of their relationship in high school and he's never going to return to being that to her. Ever.

Ezra shakes his head in Max's direction, boring a 'why was that necessary' look behind him. )

[an_honestword]

I wasn't sure how your collection was looking these days, but I figured hellhounds are hard come by.

[Lydia does struggle a bit against Jackson's grip, partially to sell the idea of a prisoner, and partially because Max didn't have to do that, but Kirsanov doesn't seem to care.

He slowly crouches down in front of Parrish, tipping her fingers under his chin and meeting his eyes. "You're not wrong. They generally don't like to get themselves caught."

Rusty shrugs.]

It's a bit easier when you have something they want to protect.

[At that, the older man's eyes brighten. "Really? That is a rare find indeed." He glances over at David, Ezra and Max. "And you brought the children along?"]

[nicedemon]

( Parrish sells his insolence, yanking his chin away, but he decides against snarling.

Ezra's gaze stays on Max. As far as he's concerned, Max is a child. But, he supposes everybody is a child to somebody as old as Nikolai.

Max bristles, but does his very best to keep his composure. He lies (19). "They're Colony property, and therefore chain of custody." He stops short of making light of the fact that Nikolai has been off grid, and therefore kept off the email list. )

[an_honestword]

[Nikolai seems to buy it (18), he takes a long time considering the statement, almost as though he's weighing the different layers to the truth. "They did like to keep all the fun toys to themselves."

He then gestures to one of the guards. "Please escort our new gifts to their new rooms." He then turns to the witches and waves for them to follow. "Come. We were just about to have dinner."

The guards step up to take Parrish and Lydia away, while Rusty glances back to those who remains.]

So. Shall we?

[maxxx]

It's all paperwork.

( But go with that.

Without asking, Jackson moves with Lydia, not breaking physical contact, intending to follow behind them.

Ezra links arms with his husband, walking past Rusty, following Nikolai. Nothing is off. This is about chain of custody. )