["I'll send you the details after the party." Donna's about to say more when her attention is drawn to an uninvited guest making his way off the elevators. Her eyes narrow, narrowing her focus as she tries to figure out what could have brought him here, today?
"What are you doing here?" she asks when Rusty is close enough and he takes a breath.]
( That is, forced murder. He understands the cause, stood for it, had plans, but he really turned everything on its' head. )
Not here.
( Harvey would normally close the conference room door behind them, but all the walls are glass, so they end up in one of the back rooms, by the copier and a shelf of office supplies. It's not glamorous but subterfuge isn't glamorous. )
[Donna almost leaves them to it, assuming that she isn't meant to be a part of this conversation, but he catches her wrist before Harvey gets too far ahead of him.]
I'm actually here for you, not him.
[Donna's eyes narrow in confusion, but moves to fall in step to Harvey's destination. Once they're all inside, Rusty glances back to Harvey.]
Are you sure you don't want more privacy?
["Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Harvey."
Rusty nods, because fine. Might as well. He'll start with the big news that might impact her the most.]
Brannigan's dead.
[Donna blinks, before shaking her head. "No he's not." It's only when Rusty's gaze doesn't waver the that the shock begins to set in.]
( Harvey takes offense to that, considering he was in the middle of his last clandestine operation. Donna gives him permission, so he stays.
Give him a second, two seconds. No, no recognition, because he didn't involve himself deeply with Donna's past, only the future he embroiled himself into. )
[Donna blinks, and the musical reference snaps her out of her shock.]
No, he's ... a vampire. A very old, very powerful vampire who was pretty high up in the Tower. We shared the same sire.
[The difference being Brannigan actually wanted what the old man was offering him, and Donna had less of a choice.]
You're sure he's dead.
["Heard it from the person who did it. Apparently, Wallace and Corsair decided that the Slayers had to be involved in picking off the members of the Inner Circle, so they bombed their headquarters in Scotland."]
Jesus Christ.
["There were a lot of casualties, but Buffy Summers survived. And she's intending to make that Wallace and Corsair's problem, which is bad for them but good for us. But that's not why I'm here. I just wanted to let you know - "]
I'll call Aalis. If you're hitting the Riverboat, then ... things are about to get messy.
( In playing catch up, he now realizes Donna knows Rusty DeBrande - and that The Ivory Tower is back in play. )
Buffy loved that.
( Not. He probably put a target on everyone's backs. And Buffy has friends. And while she's mellowed out, much like Klaus in different ways, she still holds a hell of a grudge. )
The Riverboat is where the ... rowdier members of the Tower spend their time. They run the business to funnel in people to feed on, and it's just ... a swinging good time.
[Not Donna's speed, obviously. She knows how to have fun but that's too much fun.]
Wallace and Corsair tend to spend their time there.
["I wasn't sure how we were going to get aboard, but fortunately some vampires who have ties to the Tower are willing to help us, as they're looking for a little vengeance themselves."
Donna raises an eyebrow, but Rusty shakes his head. "Better you don't know until after it's done."]
Just paying forward a warning. We'll have plenty of manpower for this one.
[And after a pause, he turns to Harvey.]
After this, the Gauntlet is likely going to escalate. Ezra is probably going to be recalled back to the Colony. He's valuable, and they likely don't want him getting damaged in the process. I'll be reaching out to him myself but ... we're moving into the end game. Whatever next moves you make, be careful. I would fly under the radar if possible.
[Rusty nods, before stepping away. He's intruded on their evening enough. "Stay safe." And with that, he'll head out the door and disappear around the corner.
Once he's gone, Donna sags some, letting some of shields down because if it's just Harvey, he's proved he can handle it.]
This is bad, Harvey. Brannigan ... he isn't no one. Moves are going to be made based on this.
It sounds like he made a move of his own, Donna. And it backfired. Besides, if there are no survivors, nobody knows just yet. Let's focus on our clients' safety.
( He realizes this could also destabilize the The Tower, but she's always kept him separate. )
[She nods and heads off to make calls, that will pick up in the Underground threads! But for now we will jump back out to the front where Carroll has arrived, eyeing the two actual attorneys who are chatting and a teenage girl she doesn't know.
And also his brother at the bar. Sigh.
But he'll make his way over and give the group a wave.]
( His brother resents that sigh, but he's not surprised by it. Yes, the job keeps his eyes on his younger brother (he has older brothers with their eyes on him), but, everyone has to eat, Carr, and he contributes to rent and to cooking. He's not Barrie Jr., but he can hold his own. And this way, it's not just repurposed ramen. Not that he doesn't do a mean ramen.
As Cormac refills another lawyer's red wine, he glances in his brother's direction, smirks, and winks. Hey buddy.
Connor and the group have commandeered Gretchen's desk because it's just out of earshot of the other associates, and so they don't have to hold their glasses the entire time.
Connor is not a Thanksgiving person. There was a time he liked all the holidays with his big, loud midwestern family, but then he became a member of the Keating 5, a national news headline, and a colossal disappointment. His mother and father try. But, they have their opinions. And continue to disparage Ollie any time he manages to get them on the phone.
They need to realize, it's over. It's not a trick. He's moving on. He has a respectable job at a prodigious firm.
And right now that respectable job scores him and his new friends an open bar. )
Happy Thanksgiving. ( The alcohol and the company is enough to wash the stain of his decisions off of this holiday. His family is back home as he speaks. Maybe he'll go back for Christmas.
Carroll is an interesting one. He's lithe, long limbs and great hair, but he mostly keeps to himself. He does the work in a record amount of time but delivers it with very little fanfare. Most paralegals like to take the credit (like they should), but he seems disinterested. ) Maude, this is Carroll. He's a paralegal, and one of our best, but don't call him that to his face, or else he'll deny it. He's also very Irish. Welcome to American thanksgiving, lawyer-style. There's a buffet, an open bar, and a hot bartender, but I don't think he plays for our team. I didn't see him on Humpr.
( What a waste of an accent. Or, right, sympathetic and apologetic feelings kicking in... now. )
Oh. Sorry. I'd never imply -- ( He'd be surprised how much incest came up in Annalise's clinic, and then trial. Not something he needed to think back to, or accidentally implicate. ) I'll downgrade him to cute.
( For Carroll. Because, deep down and quietly, he has his own designs. And the old Connor wouldn't be stopped by someone playing for the other team. Not really. But, he's no longer pursuing dead ends. Because everything feels like a dead end. At least until he joined the firm. )
Or, nobody gangs up on anyone. And we just have a great time, and change the subject. Like, Carroll. Welcome to the dark side. Nice to finally see you at one of these things.
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everyonelives2025-03-12 08:39 pm
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( He sips from his drink and then gives her his full attention. )
So, who bought you theatre tickets?
( Is that what they were talking about? Catch him up. His associate can handle himself. )
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[She will use them, because she's not about to let that go to waste, but she will not be taking him as her date.]
Who's going to be very disappointed when I decide he's not going to be my date.
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( And all will be right with the world. )
So, what are we seeing?
( It's bold to assume she'd take him. (He doesn't even think she will.) But, he's feeling cheeky and a tad tipsy. )
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Aren't you spending time with another redhead?
[Just teasing - she likes Lydia. She thinks she'll be good for Harvey in the long run.]
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( She'll come back. )
I'll let you know if I can't make your ticket work.
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"What are you doing here?" she asks when Rusty is close enough and he takes a breath.]
I need to talk to you.
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( That is, forced murder. He understands the cause, stood for it, had plans, but he really turned everything on its' head. )
Not here.
( Harvey would normally close the conference room door behind them, but all the walls are glass, so they end up in one of the back rooms, by the copier and a shelf of office supplies. It's not glamorous but subterfuge isn't glamorous. )
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I'm actually here for you, not him.
[Donna's eyes narrow in confusion, but moves to fall in step to Harvey's destination. Once they're all inside, Rusty glances back to Harvey.]
Are you sure you don't want more privacy?
["Anything you want to say to me, you can say in front of Harvey."
Rusty nods, because fine. Might as well. He'll start with the big news that might impact her the most.]
Brannigan's dead.
[Donna blinks, before shaking her head. "No he's not." It's only when Rusty's gaze doesn't waver the that the shock begins to set in.]
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Give him a second, two seconds. No, no recognition, because he didn't involve himself deeply with Donna's past, only the future he embroiled himself into. )
... Guys and Dolls?
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No, he's ... a vampire. A very old, very powerful vampire who was pretty high up in the Tower. We shared the same sire.
[The difference being Brannigan actually wanted what the old man was offering him, and Donna had less of a choice.]
You're sure he's dead.
["Heard it from the person who did it. Apparently, Wallace and Corsair decided that the Slayers had to be involved in picking off the members of the Inner Circle, so they bombed their headquarters in Scotland."]
Jesus Christ.
["There were a lot of casualties, but Buffy Summers survived. And she's intending to make that Wallace and Corsair's problem, which is bad for them but good for us. But that's not why I'm here. I just wanted to let you know - "]
I'll call Aalis. If you're hitting the Riverboat, then ... things are about to get messy.
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Buffy loved that.
( Not. He probably put a target on everyone's backs. And Buffy has friends. And while she's mellowed out, much like Klaus in different ways, she still holds a hell of a grudge. )
There's a Riverboat?
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[Not Donna's speed, obviously. She knows how to have fun but that's too much fun.]
Wallace and Corsair tend to spend their time there.
["I wasn't sure how we were going to get aboard, but fortunately some vampires who have ties to the Tower are willing to help us, as they're looking for a little vengeance themselves."
Donna raises an eyebrow, but Rusty shakes his head. "Better you don't know until after it's done."]
Fair enough.
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( Or, was this just about information? )
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[And after a pause, he turns to Harvey.]
After this, the Gauntlet is likely going to escalate. Ezra is probably going to be recalled back to the Colony. He's valuable, and they likely don't want him getting damaged in the process. I'll be reaching out to him myself but ... we're moving into the end game. Whatever next moves you make, be careful. I would fly under the radar if possible.
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We'll reach out to our other witch clients. Get them to go to ground.
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[Rusty nods, before stepping away. He's intruded on their evening enough. "Stay safe." And with that, he'll head out the door and disappear around the corner.
Once he's gone, Donna sags some, letting some of shields down because if it's just Harvey, he's proved he can handle it.]
This is bad, Harvey. Brannigan ... he isn't no one. Moves are going to be made based on this.
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( He realizes this could also destabilize the The Tower, but she's always kept him separate. )
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I'll head back to my office to make some calls. I'll be back out in a bit.
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( the associates )
When it dies down, I'll join you. If you have to leave a voicemail be vague. We just want to touch base. It's gonna' be okay.
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And also his brother at the bar. Sigh.
But he'll make his way over and give the group a wave.]
Happy Thanksgiving.
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As Cormac refills another lawyer's red wine, he glances in his brother's direction, smirks, and winks. Hey buddy.
Connor and the group have commandeered Gretchen's desk because it's just out of earshot of the other associates, and so they don't have to hold their glasses the entire time.
Connor is not a Thanksgiving person. There was a time he liked all the holidays with his big, loud midwestern family, but then he became a member of the Keating 5, a national news headline, and a colossal disappointment. His mother and father try. But, they have their opinions. And continue to disparage Ollie any time he manages to get them on the phone.
They need to realize, it's over. It's not a trick. He's moving on. He has a respectable job at a prodigious firm.
And right now that respectable job scores him and his new friends an open bar. )
Happy Thanksgiving. ( The alcohol and the company is enough to wash the stain of his decisions off of this holiday. His family is back home as he speaks. Maybe he'll go back for Christmas.
Carroll is an interesting one. He's lithe, long limbs and great hair, but he mostly keeps to himself. He does the work in a record amount of time but delivers it with very little fanfare. Most paralegals like to take the credit (like they should), but he seems disinterested. ) Maude, this is Carroll. He's a paralegal, and one of our best, but don't call him that to his face, or else he'll deny it. He's also very Irish. Welcome to American thanksgiving, lawyer-style. There's a buffet, an open bar, and a hot bartender, but I don't think he plays for our team. I didn't see him on Humpr.
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Carroll flashes her a smile.]
I won't hold it against you that you're English then.
[She laughs. "I appreciate it. Much better to gang up on the Americans instead."
He grins, before nodding at Connor's assessment.]
You're right, he doesn't. Sorry to disappoint.
[He will not be giving more context about how he knows that unless you ask. He probably should, but he's not thinking that far ahead.]
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( He missed it because of research for a case, but heard stories. Apparently, the bartender runs very hot and cold. But, to Connor, that's hot.
He sips from his cup, disappointed, but over it for the time being.
Hey, what a minute! )
Does the American get a vote?
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That's my brother.
[So no, he hasn't tried. That would be gross. And illegal. Robin smirks as he takes another sip of his drink.
"Well, you did fight a revolution for it. Would be a shame if we didn't give it to him."
Maude shakes her head at her brother. "Don't bring up revolutions. They might realize they have reason to band together against us."]
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Oh. Sorry. I'd never imply -- ( He'd be surprised how much incest came up in Annalise's clinic, and then trial. Not something he needed to think back to, or accidentally implicate. ) I'll downgrade him to cute.
( For Carroll. Because, deep down and quietly, he has his own designs. And the old Connor wouldn't be stopped by someone playing for the other team. Not really. But, he's no longer pursuing dead ends. Because everything feels like a dead end. At least until he joined the firm. )
Or, nobody gangs up on anyone. And we just have a great time, and change the subject. Like, Carroll. Welcome to the dark side. Nice to finally see you at one of these things.
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