there are prizes all around you if you're wise enough to see

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[maxxx]

They. We've been told to stand down until this hunter, Lucas arrives in person.

( He's not acknowledging the elephant. Yes, he would agree. )

[an_honestword]

[Rusty takes a deep breath because he doesn't like this by any means.]

At least one of them is a hunter.

[If they were dealing with someone completely hopeless, Rusty would advocate killing them and cutting their losses.]

[maxxx]

And he's motivated. Doesn't want to just be dead again.

( So, you're caught up. )

Did you do any recon?

[an_honestword]

[He shrugs.]

Some. She's got her sycophants floating around her so you can't really get that close. And her security is pretty tight.

[maxxx]

Have you seen her. Actually seen her go in or out. Anything we can use. Any kind of personal routine.

( Hm? )

[an_honestword]

Oh, I've seen her. She wouldn't have put herself in successful actress if she didn't want to be seen.

[She loves to hold court with her fans after all.]

But I couldn't get close enough for much that was distinctive. Probably for the best if we need to reconfigure our plan for this new person anyway.

[maxxx]

Successful actress. Have you been holding out on us?

( This is what working with Rusty is like. )

Promise us this. Mission three, you stop keeping everything need to know. That would help. ( Wouldn't it? ) Something to work off from at least.

[an_honestword]

[Rusty raises an eyebrow.]

Don't worry. By the time we get to your parents, you'll be the experts. They don't leave me a lot of options to get close to them. And Corsairs and Wallace make enough splash that it won't be hard to find them.

[He's not holding back information on purpose. You're just not asking the right questions.]

Hernandez's latest host is Rosalyn Sanchez.

[Jaqueline's brow furrows. "Seriously?"]

[maxxx]

...Devious Maids?

( he got a (15) )

[an_honestword]

[Rusty shrugs.]

I didn't pay too close attention to her career. I just wanted to know the face she was wearing.

["Kind of a shame." What a waste of a good face.]

[maxxx]

She's talented. And broke through into the mainstream.

( Does Rusty care? )

But, we have a face to the name that we apparently already had.

[an_honestword]

I never said I didn't.

[Again, asking the right questions. Jaqueline sighs, before holding up her hand to flag down a waiter.

"Well, since we have to wait for Ezra, we now have time to kill. So, drink?"

She doesn't think that anyone will argue.]

[maxxx]

Multiple, please.

( He's so frustrating, sis. )

[an_honestword]

[Yes, yes, she knows, your crush is apparent. But they will drink and wait the few days for Ezra and Lucas to arrive. Rusty will slip away on occasion to make sure that Hernandez continues to be unaware of their presence - more specifically his presence - but eventually Ezra arrives, and Rusty appraises this recently resurrected hunter with a frown.]

You do know there was an easier way to resolve this.

[He's referring to Ezra and yes he will say it right in front of Lucas because see how much he doesn't care.]

[praevaricatio]

( the five of them hole up in one of the suites as they finally come together.

ezra puts his foot down, stepping right up to rusty. )

There wasn't, because we're not taking the easy way out. Lucas is formidable and capable of doing this. He and the Gilberts deserve the chance to stay alive. You don't get to dictate whose life is more worthy.

[an_honestword]

I'm sorry, I thought this was a war.

[Rusty thinks resting on your ideals is all well and good, and in some ways he's pushing Ezra because he wants to make sure he's really set on this path. That he knows what he's risking by being soft.]

I thought you all wanted to ensure that your bodies didn't wind up meat suits for your in laws. Because you do realize that it's you, right? Marrying in means marrying into all of it.

[Does he also realize that he's left two ticking time bombs with the Petrova doppelganger if they fail?]

[praevaricatio]

I know what I married into. But, it's not just about me. Or, David. Or the other heirs. We dragged other people in and now everybody gets a say. Maybe that's not their call. Or, ours, but that's what we're doing.

( He will kill his husband if his body becomes his father's. Make no mistake. )

Things go south with Lucas then they will make the hard decisions. We have a loop hole and we have the time. There isn't only one way to skin a cat.

[an_honestword]

[Is he prepared for what will happen if his becomes Helena's?

Rusty appraises him for a moment, then looks over at Lucas and shakes his head.]

I hope you're good.

[Lucas snorts. "Nice to meet you too."]

[maxxx]

Gentlemen to your corners.

( he jokes under his breath, tapping his sister's leg with his, shaking his own head. )

Let's talk all things Roslyn Sanchez. She's obviously in town.

[an_honestword]

She is. She and her family are staying at a local hotel-resort-situation.

[He moves to a map they've blown up of the area for planning purposes.]

Not quite sure yet what floor she's on, but I know how we can find out.

[Jaqueline leans forward. "How? Color me intrigued."]

Has the Colony caught word of Kirsanov's death yet? You can get yourselves sent as an envoy. The three of you, obviously.

[He gestures to Jaqueline, Max and Ezra.]

[praevaricatio]

( Max looks at his sister, not sure how that information has trickled down, or if it has.

"We should check in with the parentals?" he asks. )

I can find out if David's heard anything. He brought Sierra back to the compound in Maryland. If our timing's right, we should make our move before the Gauntlet is unleashed. For all our sakes.

[tearhiseyesout]

I don't think we should reach out and volunteer until we know for sure what they know.

[Let's not incriminate themselves if they don't have to.]

So yes. Let's have David and Sierra check on that. But not get themselves killed.

[praevaricatio]

( "A nice, tall order for the morning," Max says, resigning himself back to his sarcasm in the wake of, yes, being spurned. )

Perhaps, we should come at everything with a little more hope and perseverance?

( Max shrugs that off as Ezra messages his husband.

Any chance word of Kirsanov's downfall has made it back home?" )

[maleficum]

They've sent people out to investigate, but no word yet. Probably because they're sorting through the rubble.

[And because he's concerned that this is now hinging on a traumatized hunter:]

How's our secret weapon doing?

[praevaricatio]

We're holding off Rusty going scorched earth on everything, including Lucas. But, he, being Lucas, is up for this.

Also, Hernandez is in Rosalyn Sanchez's body...