[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.
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.
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.
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.
[She can be whatever she wants, in this brave new world it seems, but that doesn't mean she ever won't be a traitor's daughter. Will that be something they can trust? Will they allow her the grace of pretending her father is someone he wasn't?]
No, I suppose it doesn't. I take friendship very seriously, Adrienne.
( And with that, she will idly hold her phone in her hand, debating her next move, if she makes any. But she decides to wait for what happens with Adrienne. )
They fall into a comfortable silence for a moment, before Donna and a tall, brunette man appears in the doorway. She knows from the look of him he's a Gainor. They're not hard to spot. The main bloodlines have always bred true, to an extent. She probably should have seen the truth of her own parentage sooner.
"Ladies, this is David Gainor. He'll be taking you to Baltimore." Donna then steps back to leave them to it.
David offers them both a dry smile, before gesturing back to the door. "I'm not one for small talk, so - shall we?"
Adrienne holds up a finger.]
Before we do, what exactly should we expect? I know this likely isn't going to be a homecoming.
( In the back of Isobel's mind, she wonders just how much Adrienne might be of help. She adds to her list of priorities: research around vampire compulsion on vampires. If there's anything she'd want protection against. Besides upping her vervain intake daily, which is something else.
Not that she won't be on guard in front of witches she doesn't know.
She stands back, sizing up the man with a dark outline. She lived with a heart in darkness for longer than she can remember and recognizes it in him.
In the hallway, Connor is idling by the elevator, reading a file but really overhearing. If Robin is Harvey's eyes, usually, when Harvey isn't here, then Connor is Donna's. )
If I may. ( She believes they need her more than she needs them, but she can't say that out loud. ) You're not going alone, and that phone call took an awful long time. Everyone here is dealing in factors they didn't see coming, but the truth remains. You are family. She bares no ill will to your generation.
( From a vampire who heard all sides of the conversation. )
["Family is a bit of a stretch." David tips his head to the side. "Would it help to know where we're starting from? What we know about you?"
Adrienne's face pales for a moment, before nodding. Might as well get it out in the open.]
You know I'm a bastard.
[In the genetic sense, not a colloquial one. David nods. "We do. But we don't really hold that kind of thing against people anymore. And we're not stupid or naive. My mother has a magic-negating room, and when we get there, we'll have a conversation. Provided we can all come to an agreement, everyone walks away happy."
Adrienne nods, because fair enough. In some ways it's comforting that they've got their own precautions. That she's not just simply taking her at her world. She then looks back to Isobel.]
It also separates me from Isobel. Smart.
[David shrugs. "Wouldn't have been able to take over the coven if we were fools. Which we will talk about. You've missed a lot in the last four hundred years." He then looks at Isobel.
"It's nothing personal. Precautions, you understand."]
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everyonelives2025-10-11 07:15 am
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[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."]
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( 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.
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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.
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Without Elena's mother?
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[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.
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( "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.
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[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.]
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"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.
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[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.
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( David will finish up in the warding room. )
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[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."]
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( Donna. )
Looks like you're going to be granted an audience. Make it count.
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[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.
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( It wouldn't be the first time she'd done it. )
It isn't often you get a second second chance.
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[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.
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( Or, whatever they let her be. Or, who. )
My advice. Come from a place of deference. But, keep your eyes open.
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Always. The last time I didn't, it got me killed.
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( Her hubris knows no bounds. )
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[In case she doesn't get the chance to say it while they're back with the coven.]
I would have truly been lost without you.
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( Answers will come. )
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[She was raised with manners, after all.]
Hopefully this will be a relationship well-maintained.
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( And with that, she will idly hold her phone in her hand, debating her next move, if she makes any. But she decides to wait for what happens with Adrienne. )
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They fall into a comfortable silence for a moment, before Donna and a tall, brunette man appears in the doorway. She knows from the look of him he's a Gainor. They're not hard to spot. The main bloodlines have always bred true, to an extent. She probably should have seen the truth of her own parentage sooner.
"Ladies, this is David Gainor. He'll be taking you to Baltimore." Donna then steps back to leave them to it.
David offers them both a dry smile, before gesturing back to the door. "I'm not one for small talk, so - shall we?"
Adrienne holds up a finger.]
Before we do, what exactly should we expect? I know this likely isn't going to be a homecoming.
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Not that she won't be on guard in front of witches she doesn't know.
She stands back, sizing up the man with a dark outline. She lived with a heart in darkness for longer than she can remember and recognizes it in him.
In the hallway, Connor is idling by the elevator, reading a file but really overhearing. If Robin is Harvey's eyes, usually, when Harvey isn't here, then Connor is Donna's. )
If I may. ( She believes they need her more than she needs them, but she can't say that out loud. ) You're not going alone, and that phone call took an awful long time. Everyone here is dealing in factors they didn't see coming, but the truth remains. You are family. She bares no ill will to your generation.
( From a vampire who heard all sides of the conversation. )
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Adrienne's face pales for a moment, before nodding. Might as well get it out in the open.]
You know I'm a bastard.
[In the genetic sense, not a colloquial one. David nods. "We do. But we don't really hold that kind of thing against people anymore. And we're not stupid or naive. My mother has a magic-negating room, and when we get there, we'll have a conversation. Provided we can all come to an agreement, everyone walks away happy."
Adrienne nods, because fair enough. In some ways it's comforting that they've got their own precautions. That she's not just simply taking her at her world. She then looks back to Isobel.]
It also separates me from Isobel. Smart.
[David shrugs. "Wouldn't have been able to take over the coven if we were fools. Which we will talk about. You've missed a lot in the last four hundred years." He then looks at Isobel.
"It's nothing personal. Precautions, you understand."]
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