for the rest of us death will be a relief

[praevaricatio]

Comments

[maxxx]

Business?

( Why is nobody reacting, he can't decide this on his own. )

How about this, what kind of business are you looking for? Acclimation? Family history? You mentioned the coven. And our - setbacks. What have you heard, Adrienne?

[veneratia]

Resources, mostly. I'm not expecting us to be chummy, I've been dead too long for that.

[Leaning on the family name was only to get her here, to this conversation. She also doesn't know how much they know about her parentage, so she doesn't need that to be thrown in her face.]

I have a friend who's been helping some with acclimation but I can't have her compel me everything I need forever. That's not sustainable. And from what I have seen, there's very little that doesn't function without liquid funds.

[None of what she has.]

Not much. Simply that there was a large shake up in a powerful coven, and while I am not a lawyer, I can read enough to know that power is changing hands.

[Donna hisses a soft "Shit" behind her. You let her in the office, sorry.]

I don't want standing or rank. I'm willing to pull my own weight and earn my keep. But I need somewhere to go, and anyone else I can ask is four hundred years dead. I'm not blind to my circumstances.

[Jaqueline's face says she doesn't trust anything this woman is saying and it's a bad omen all around, but Max is the one negotiating. Max is the one who was asked for.]

[maxxx]

Nor are we, for the record. One last question.

( "That's not a question, Max," Ezra says, giving him a 'what are you doing?' look. He returns one that says 'putting everything on the table.' Just deciding how to say it.

Connor just sits, also waiting. )

We can't move this face to face without -- ( What does he need to know. ) How do we know your four hundred years old? You could just be saying that. You're reading into our coven's upheaval, you could know Adrienne's name. Can you give us anything else?

[veneratia]

[Adrienne sets her jaw, as she tries to think of what's something that would have been passed down that only she would know. She could take the easy route, reveal her actual father, but that is still something that leaves a bitter taste in her mouth and if she's honest, it may not be something this generation knows.

She also doesn't want to be saying this in front of strangers without being able to see what's happening on the other end of the line.

It's the best option she has though. Her eyes meet Connor's at the desk, and then she turns towards the window to avoid making eye contact.]

My death was probably recorded as a casualty of the Gauntlet. That's only partially true. The actual truth is that my mother killed me in order to curse the man who called it.

[Is that enough? Can they read between the lines and hear the thing she didn't want to say in the first place? She hates how much weakness she is having to show, but she doesn't have much of a choice.]

[maxxx]

( Connor looks away, knowing this moment isn't for him, but he won't leave Donna alone with this 'not old friend' and random woman. Not when Harvey isn't here and they have half the office in. So, he's staying put. As uncomfortable as he is.

He doesn't mean to say it out loud, because the only name that comes to mind as he happens to look at everyone else is:

it's inadvertent, he didn't mean to play this card, it's easy to use a name heard and lie, but, )

Rusty?

[veneratia]

What?

[She blinks, thrown by the random word because as far as she's concerned that isn't a name. And certainly not associated with anyone she knows.

"Russell DeBrande," Donna offers, because of course she wouldn't know Rusty of four hundred years ago as Rusty.]

Oh. Yes, Russell DeBrande was the man she cursed.

[maxxx]

Rusty called the original Gauntlet, I'll be damned.

( That and being cursed would drive a man crazy. )

Sorry. That's his name now. Or, Dave. Or. Wait. Donna, you know --

( Not the point. )

Give me a moment.

( He mutes the call, glancing around at everyone.

"What are the chances," Sierra says, smirking. )

[tearhiseyesout]

I don't like it.

[David wrinkles his nose, because while he knows that things are weird right now. "I'm kind of with your sister on this one."

Jaqueline points to David.]

Ha! Then this means I'm right.

[maxxx]

It means we should be cautious and I don't disagree. Let's go through the scenarios. Say she's who she says she is. She's... back. With someone else Donna thought was dead. She found us through Donna. It feels random, but it doesn't feel sinister.

( "Are you just looking for a reason to pull Rusty back into the proceedings," Ezra asks, out of line. )

Rusty is long gone.

( "But, Adrienne, his long lost whatever, that would send him running back, back into your orbit, when we have more important things. We have Elton. You should be focusing on Elton, not this woman."

He lets that settle, then turns to Sierra.

"Well."

Sierra shrugs, looking at her wife, her former bethrothed and then his.

"Another pair of hands here, especially one with knowledge from four hundred years ago wouldn't be something I'd turn away, but I would also want her vetted," she admits. "Before we bring her here physically and definitely not through David's door." )

So, then what?

[tearhiseyesout]

It'll be hard to do that when right now we can't go to her and again, all her contacts are four hundred years out of date and probably dead.

[David pauses for a moment, before tipping his head to the side. "We could run a DNA test."

Jaqueline's brow furrows.]

Against who's?

["Rusty's." David pauses. "Or yours. But Rusty's would be the most accurate."]

[maxxx]

Rusty bailed.

( Despite being called out, he does sound like Rusty bailed on more than one thing at once. )

Look, what - what harm can she do if we do bring her here. We're on another level now.

[tearhiseyesout]

[David and Jaqueline share a look, as though they're not entirely convinced that this is the best course of action, but still - their choices are limited.]

Did your mom still have that holding room?

[David nods. "I'll make sure the spells are still working." He goes and heads back into the compounds and Jaqueline turns back to her brother.]

We talk to her in the anti-magic room until we figure out if we can trust her.

[maxxx]

( He nods in agreement. They're out of options, they have one very pressing complication, and now they have another, less pressing complication. )

Without Elena's mother?

[tearhiseyesout]

I would assume so given that if she walks into it, she'll spontaneously go back to becoming a corpse again.

[Jaqueline gives a shrug.]

I don't care if she comes here but if she tries to eat us I will shove her in and see what happens.

[maxxx]

I don't care what happens to Elena's mother, but I do want to stay on this woman's good side. Ezra can bide Isobel's time while we figure out Adrienne.

( "I'm not a pawn you can move around the board." )

No, you're the newest addition to the family. Next newest, to my AWOL husband.

[tearhiseyesout]

Someone needs to distract and delay and Max and I are going to be in the room interrogating our new ancestor.

[She will throw Ezra something of a bone.]

You, David and Sierra can figure it out. But let it be known that if my wife dies, it will not end well for you.

[So, basically, do not let Isobel eat Sierra. Also she likes saying her wife, it's fun.]

[maxxx]

( "Why, in this scenario, is your wife dying?" Ezra asks gesturing.

"She just likes saying 'my wife,' Sierra contributes, amusement on her features. )

No one is dying at the hands of this Isobel woman. Or, Adrienne.

( He brings the phone back up. )

Adrienne, I'm sorry for the extended delay, I was discussing things with my family. We will be sending an envoy for the both of you.

[veneratia]

Wonderful. Looking forward to our discussion.

[She glances back to Donna.]

Is it fine for us to wait here? Or should we go back to our lodgings?

[Donna looks past her to the phone. "Depends. Do you want them to know where those lodgings are?"

Adrienne considers carefully.]

It also depends on if they're sending a Gainor or sending one of those ... cars. One takes more time than another.

[maxxx]

We're sending a Gainor. But, he needs to have been where you are in order to get to you, so, please ask Donna nicely for a conference room or somewhere out of the way.

( David will finish up in the warding room. )

[veneratia]

Then yes, we'll stay here.

[She glances back to Donna.]

Wherever you feel will be best.

[Donna nods. "I'll text David the name of the conference room. He's familiar enough with the layout."]

[foreclosures]

You do that.

( Donna. )

Looks like you're going to be granted an audience. Make it count.

[veneratia]

I intend to.

[Adrienne waits until they're settled into the conference room in question and Donna goes back to work before looking over to Isobel.]

What about you? Once things are settled, I mean.

[foreclosures]

Reinvent myself.

( It wouldn't be the first time she'd done it. )

It isn't often you get a second second chance.

[veneratia]

No, I suppose there isn't.

[Adrienne pauses as she watches people move through firm.]

It seems like I have no choice but reinvention. Though I worry that some things are going to follow me no matter what I do.

[foreclosures]

It may be that things left in the past will stay in the past. It's been, by my count, over four hundred years. You can be whatever you want to be, Adrienne.

( Or, whatever they let her be. Or, who. )

My advice. Come from a place of deference. But, keep your eyes open.