for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[foreclosures]

Judging by the sounds outside, and the faint yelling on the corner, it could be New York. But, cities are all the same. If you've been in one, you've been in them all. That's my best guess. You were in Virginia and I was in Virginia.

( That's something. )

That's an awful lot of blood you brought with you.

[veneratia]

[Adrienne doesn't want to talk about that.

But drawing attention to her clothes does remind her that she can't move about the world like this, especially when she doesn't understand the fashions and she has no money. She needs a guide, as reluctant as she is to rely on someone right now. She needs to leverage this opportunity. She scans Isobel's unfamiliar clothes, and doesn't see any glimpse of lapis lazuli.

She can be useful to Isobel. So long as Isobel could be useful to Adrienne.]

You understand this world better than I do. Perhaps we can come to a bargain.

[She moves towards the jewelry counters, scanning the pieces as she waits for Isobel to respond.]

[foreclosures]

And what would we be bargaining over?

( She doesn't know she's sitting in the presence of a witch and she doesn't see a lapis lazuli on her person, either.

The woman gets up, a luxury she should really appreciate, and Isobel can't afford. )

Are you looking for a stylist?

[veneratia]

And a guide. If my coven is still a coven, then I should be able to access their resources, but I would need to find them. Presuming we both have returned from the dead, I assume that neither of us have any money, so to get me new clothes, it may require a bit of compulsion.

[Which she clearly doesn't have a problem with. She finds the piece of jewelry she's looking for and waves a hand, summoning the lapis lazuli pendant from the cushion in the display case into her waiting hand.]

But in order for us to do any of that, you need to be able to walk in the sun. So what do you say? Quid pro quo?

[foreclosures]

( Coven. Compulsion. She tilts her head, looking up at her companion. She watches her conjuring. She's powerful, she'll give her that. )

I say, call me Rachel Zoe. I die.

( She smiles, still disaffected. Still Isobel.

She shifts her position, still under the beams of sunlight, awaiting the spell performed so she can keep up her end of the bargain. )

[veneratia]

[Adrienne doesn't know who Rachel Zoe is, but she moves on, focusing on casting the daylight jewelry spell. It's easy enough - it's one of the first spells she learned. And once it's done, she turns to hand off the jewelry to Isobel.

But before the other woman can take it, she pulls it back ever so slightly.]

If you betray me, I will remove the spell and you will be left to burn.

[She's not naive and she's aware that she's giving Isobel the upper hand. They have no reason to trust each other, but placing herself in Isobel's hands is an act of trust all the same.]

[foreclosures]

( She goes to grab the jewelry before it's moved further away. Sending mixed signals, are we. But, threats are nothing new. Until she has a reason to betray her, if she ever does, Adrienne is safe. And if her walking in sunlight means she has a real friend - or, partner for the time being - it's not a bad trade-off.

You're not the only one who doesn't have the answers. And I like answers. My life is in your hands. I won't betray that. Now. Please.

[veneratia]

[Adrienne nods, before passing over the necklace. She still feels a little reluctant, but she made her choice and now she has to stick with it. Then she steps back and takes a breath, looking out over the city again.]

So. Where do we begin? Clothing?

[To her, it seems to be the most immediate.]

[foreclosures]

( She undoes the clasp, reaches behind and then refastens it. Bracing herself against one of the display cases, she finally comes to a standing position again. )

First, we leave this store. Then we find you clothing. And find me an outfit that doesn't smell like burning vampire. Then we'll go from there. How does that sound?

[veneratia]

[She nods in agreement.]

That sounds perfect. Lead the way.

[She doesn't know what stores would be best. She doesn't even know what her style would be. This may be a long shopping trip as she finds what works best for her, but give the level of style they're dealing with, they'll certainly have fun.

They find a designer shop that provides champagne for the high rollers, and with a little compulsion, of course they're high rollers. Adrienne tries on a number of different types of things, contemplating what she likes. She finds she prefers pantsuits over A-line dresses, though she could come into those. She likes high heels, though they take some maneuvering to walk in - thankfully years of dance lessons make it easy to remain on her toes.

She feels a little more herself than she always had in heavy skirts and lacings, and maybe this era won't be too bad.]

What do you think?

[She asks as she turns from the mirror, wearing wide-legged black trousers, and a vest jacket combo that's form-fitting enough to remind her of the bodices she's accustomed to, but the jacket allows her to not feel too exposed.]

[foreclosures]

( Isobel sips from her champagne, having made several selections, herself. This has been a successful "shopping trip." )

I think you've made what's old new again. And you're pairing well. You could. You also look comfortable, which is the most important thing. I did like the A-line dress. I think you should keep that, too.

[veneratia]

[She wrinkles her nose briefly, but it's one of those instances where her style sensibilities have not caught up yet.]

It's more leg than I'm used to.

[But she'll take the advice. She reaches to remove the tags on the suits she's wearing, but leaves the dress on the collection of things they'd gathered.]

Do you think they have some kind of travel trunk for the rest?

[foreclosures]

Probably bags. But, we could leave them here until we find a place to rest our heads and then get someone to bring everything. How does that sound?

( Compulsion really works wonders. )

[veneratia]

Perfect.

[She takes a sip of her champagne, glancing around at the different shoppers before she catches a bored husband scrolling on his phone. It's not the first strange box she's seen, but she's in a better frame of mind now to be curious about it.]

What is that box?

[And she'll point to the man waiting.]

[foreclosures]

That is how everyone communicates these days over long distances. Some people are more attached to them than others, and from what I can see, the phones now are smaller and flatter. That's what they're called. Phones. We can also hire someone to give you a rundown. You'll want one.

( A pretty case to match, too. )

That should be our next stop. We won't get far without them.

[veneratia]

[She nods, trusting her guide to point her in the right direction.]

It's amazing how much things change. The lights, the transportation, the clothes. It's like humanity never stops trying to change.

[She's not sure if that's a good or bad thing, in the end. She thinks she has to do more exploring.]

[foreclosures]

Humanity vacillates between trying to work together and trying to put one another in the ground. Progress, ultimately, moves forward.

( But that is the definition of progress.

The compelled attendant nicely keeps their purchases and directs Isobel to the nearest Apple store, which isn't helpful when you don't have providers, and then T-mobile. Much more helpful.

Phone in hand, she then does take Adrienne to the Apple store and compels her a nice seminar on Apple technology, phones, and the basics. Her helper is compelled to not blink and take into account that Adrienne is very old and was dead for some time. So, teach her like a novice.

In the meantime, Isobel realizes she only has one number memorized: Katherine's. So, she tries dialing what may be a defunct number, and someone may be by the phone so I am not talking to myself. )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

[Yes, yes, that's fine. They'll say Katherine is in the shower or something. What pops up is an unknown number, and Damian answers because it might be a case.]

Hello?

[Which is not the person you were expecting, sorry Isobel.]

[foreclosures]

( She takes a second, checking the number she's dialed. It is the one she remembers. She brings the phone back to her ear, trying. )

I'm looking for Katherine.

[gambled_ourmistakes]

You have come to the right place, but unfortunately she's indisposed at the moment. Can I take a message?

[He's very good at taking messages. He would have been a great secretary in another life.]

[foreclosures]

It's Isobel. She'll know who I am. And, you will want to convince her it's me. Because, despite what she believes, I'm the one calling, though not with a moonstone in my possession.

( A simple mention that might let her know it really is Isobel. )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

[Moonstone? That sounds familiar. The name Isobel also rings a faint bell but that could mean a lot of things. He looks back at the phone and nods.]

Right. And she can call you back at this number?

[He knows better than to interrupt her pampering time unless he intends to do something sexy about it. This does not feel sexy.]

[foreclosures]

She should.

( That is, she has no choice in the matter. )

[gambled_ourmistakes]

Right. I'll be sure to pass the message along.

[And with that he will say his goodbyes and hang up, waiting for Katherine to get out of the shower. He can't say he loves her tone, but it's not his decision to make whether or not Katherine calls her back. It's Katherine's.

Which is why when she emerges, he glances up at her with a frown.]

Do you know someone named Isobel?

[shreds]

( "You do that," she says, ending the call before waiting patiently for Adrienne's one-on-one Apple class to end.

Katherine emerges, drying her hair, the steam coming out of the bathroom from behind her. She was going to broach the subject of what's next and what that looks like. It feels like things have changed and the scales have tipped in their favor. How long do they keep needing to be these hunters. She's feeling her age and he clearly is, too.

But, then. That.

She moves to her phone to scan for any group text updates. No mentions of Isobel on there. And then she sees the phone in Damian's hand. She's always had the same instincts. )

She called, didn't she.

( If this is about Elena's blood, or originated from it considering she bled on Matty Blue-Blue in the liminal space -- then why wouldn't her mother be brought back, too. This feels like a complication that doesn't have to be a complication. )