Post by No Face on Dec 31, 2019 20:14:45 GMT -5
(Setting takes place back at the Apartment by Arbor House)
Ethan had fallen quiet... He'd gotten still in his chair. If it wasn't for the fact thta his head was held up, it might've looked like he was asleep...
If the twins were awake, they'd hear Tom's voice in their heads just seconds before there was a knock at the door. Avery. Felix. Let me in.
Eddie was out imploring spell-weaving groceries of Henrietta Olkswitch, but by this time Avery was at the window on watch. He saw Tom's shadow and had a gun in his right hand just before the words came in. He perked up, confused, and Felix looked over, concentration broken where he worked with Aurelia, crouched by the sofa.
Avery unlatched the door; the wards disconnected when he did so, and he jerked it open. The storm stayed outside, rain pouring off the awning over the porch, but no doubt Tom would bring some of it with the cold inside with him, just as everyone else all evening had.
Avery looked for Seth. "Keep him out of here, Jefferson. Your dog went after our friend!"
"He's not here," he told Avery. "Let me in. I promise not to kill your pretty lady-friend."
"Not you she's afraid of," Avery muttered, but stepped back. Giving way.
"He's not here," he iterated. "I sent him to go kill Faraday." He clapped his hands together... "So!" It was far too cheerful... "How much did Ethan tell you?"
"No--How did you find us?" Avery said, unwilling to lose control. Such as his control was.
Very well: unwilling to lose his illusion of control.
Tom switched to the psychic channels. Avery... In all seriousness... How much did he tell you?
He had not stepped further in beyond the threshold of the door, and taking off his hat to shake the water off of it. he'd allowed Avery to shut the door, but had not made a move to go further into the home.
Liessel didn't know the Flynns very well, but she knew them well enough. Much of what had happened between Tom and Avery at the doorway had been missed, well that was the exact exchange had been missed. She'd been in another room, fighting her way through fitful spells of sleeping but had been roused and drawn out of the darkened corner she'd sunk in to by the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Liessel was a dark haired woman, young enough to be in her late twenties. She was wrapped in an old faded woolen blanket that had been pulled from somewhere within the house. It smelt of age, the kind of age that came from something clean but unused for a while. She didn't mind that. It was dry, and warm. That's what really mattered. She came into view holding the blanket tightly about her shoulders, having wrapped it to keep the length of her short form from catching a draft from the door that had opened. She didn't know what Tom was saying, but she did understand Avery. His manner was enough to draw Liessel into quiet witness to what was happening between Avery and the new face.
It was an undeniable fact: No matter how bad things were, the world continued. People came and went. Small and large moments still happened – most of them never affecting the small group of people inside that tiny apartment. It would be unrealistic to believe that the world stopped just because of one horrific event that brought five strangers together. The world, for all its good and nastiness had to move on with or without them.
And yet….
The door swung open bringing in the cold wet air like a sharp slap to her skin. Aurelia hadn’t realized someone was at the door until Avery opened it. “Keep him out of here, Jefferson. Your dog went after our friend!” Cold terror hit her. She froze as all the comforts and warmth in the last hour drained away from her. Distantly, she became aware of Isabell's coming from her bedroom. Ethan was still in his chair.
“I promise not to kill your pretty lady-friend.”
“How chivalrous.” That voice was thick and dry with irritation at the casualness of her life. What was with everyone about that? Still, with all her voiced displeasure, there was a thin cold line of fear down her spine. She was weak and hurt – thanks to Jefferson’s off leashed pet. Aurelia turned to look at the man from over the edge of the couch to get a look at the man in the doorway. The movement hadn’t hurt as much as it had a few hours ago. That quick nap had worked wonders.
Jefferson and Avery had gone quiet and the silence hadn’t been lost on her.
“What is happening?” She shot a glance to Felix as her fingers finally released the watch for him to have.
Felix had risen to his feet by that time. His calm had a flat, calculating quality to it, that translated in his posture and on his face into not a lack of tension so much as waiting to be tested. He glanced down at Aurelia when he seemed to realize--two seconds later than another person might--that she was speaking to him, asking a question of him. "I doubt Mister Jefferson would have bothered to come indoors if Seth were able to break the wards, or trying." He cocked his head. "I'd know if he was trying."
A quick glance reaffirmed where everyone was. Liessel, Ethan, Aurelia of course. Felix could get his guns out fast, but for now they were holstered.
Out loud, Avery--squared off with Tomlin--said, "Enough to wonder if you're one of the Frontiersmen who's decided 'to Hell with everybody.' Or if you're wondering that about us. Don't silent-talk me again. This lady is my client. She's under our protection. How are you going to make this right?"
Felix twitched. Avery didn't usually lie about who was a client and who wasn't. The line between client and friend was usually defined by a small mountain of paperwork and a maze of obligation.
Tomlin's expression was sour. "First of all, I knew where you were cuz Seth has been watching this place since before all the shit went down at the Carlington... I sent him here to check on you three days ago when you stopped answering your phone. Eli was worried, I sent Seth." He was shrugging out of his coat, still holding his hat in his hand. He looked tired, having had next to no sleep... He had on the double shoulder holster. One of them was empty... And another holster on his belt in the small of his back. But his body language was relaxed, he had no intention of reaching for a weapon anytime soon... He mostly wanted out of his coat because it was soaked through from the rain.
"Seth has his reasons for questioning your loyalty... I, however, do not. You and your brother are valuable and I understand that." He glanced towards the voices that he heard elsewhere-- primarily Aurelia's. "Seth wouldn't have attacked her without reason... You must understand: That's his job. To hunt down things that are tainted with Dark... If Ethan hadn't been under mine and Gerold's direct protection, he'd have killed Ethan without a second thought... So-- you say she's your client? Let's make sure he can't hurt her."
“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” She snapped back. Green eyes blazing at the stranger.
“I am hurt. Your vampire tried to murder me.”
He pushed past Avery, speaking as he went. "Woman, you're damn lucky he didn't... Seth is an unfeeling machine who's sole purpose is to exterminate things of the Dark... If you weren't tainted with Dark, he wouldn't have come after you. It's not his job to investigate every little thing he comes across. He doesn't care if you're a good person. His job, his existence, is to kill. We're just goddamn lucky he's on our side."
"And you let that thing lose." She seethed.
"You know what he was, what his very existence is, and you let that thing loose on the streets of London." The words were laced with venom.
"He was your responsibility. This is your fault."
Avery didn't let Tom get past him fully, stepping back, remaining a partial wedge between Tomlin and Aurelia. Felix was there in the gap, barely a yard separating him from Tomlin.
Felix turned his head, keeping his eyes on Tomlin, the gesture a warning No.
"I'm in charge," Avery snapped at Tom; "You agreed. He attacked this lady while she was helping Ethan. God knows how Ethan found her, but--"
"Probably demonic synchronicity," Felix blurted out.
"Not helpful," Avery growled.
"Demonic synchronicity," Tom spat. "Lady, I am not his master, I am his partner... He will take direct orders from me, but only in extreme circumstances... I gave him an order to establish contact with the Flynns. When I'm not with him, those orders are a little more loose than they would be otherwise... I would've come with him, except we were establishing how to work something out for Ethan... You want someone to blame, blame Ethan's demon. Seth can and has operated in London for decades here and around the Carlington. Piss poor luck for you that you ran into Ethan. Otherwise, you'd never have encountered him" He bundled up his coat and threw it-- hard-- at Ethan. Who snapped awake.
"TOM!"
But Tom wasn't done talking to Aurelia. "Bottle that shit up, Miss... Its unbecoming," he said lowly. "I came to give you protection from him. And to tell the Flynns some very vital information. If you'd be so kind, I'd like to do that now."
"Only a weak man casts blame on others. You, sir, are weak." She said.
She understood -very- little clearly between Aurelia and this new face. Their tone carried the rest. It was what the Flynns said that made even more than that clear. -This man- was not a friend. Silently, at the mention of demons, and with no understanding of the word 'synchrinocity', she lifted her right hand from beneath her blanket-wrap and touched her fingers to her forehead.
"Ah--" Avery just missed snatching Tomlin's coat out of the air. He was quick, but hadn't expected it, angle wrong; it smacked Ethan awake in a canonball of wet wool. "Can you give her real protection? Or just more lipservice? --" He realized he had his hands out for peace, even if peace was not what he consciously knew he wanted a second before that. "If you can, let's do that first, and insults second."
Felix said, "I don't trust this quasi-religious abracadabra stuff."
"We'll discuss it later," Avery told him without looking at him.
His lip curled at her... He didn't say anything else to her. He glanced at Avery. "Between the oath and a direct order, it'll stop him temporarily... If he's truly determined to take her head, so to speak, he'll go above my head to the Arbiter."
He had been weighed and measured.
Jefferson couldn’t help them. What she had heard about him and his control over the vampire were only embellished words. The man held no more control over what Seth did than Ethan or the Flynn brothers. Even now, his promises of protection thin like paper and could be shredded just as easily.
Her green eyes darted to the brothers. They had said she was a client. A lie. But if that was the story, then she would play along. She was their client. And, as a client, this would be the time for her to stay still and quiet so that they could do their jobs.
"What will the Arbiter say?" To Avery, Tom did not sound very understanding. "Did you miss the part where she was helping Ethan? Ethan was all turned-around, but he implored her and she was--" He frowned, glanced at Aurelia. Looking for permission, suddenly, to say something about her. It was a reflex that cut through the tense need to be part of the wall between her and Tom.
Tom's jaw clenched shut. And the muscle above it flexed. "We don't have enough to help two," he said softly. "Allow me to tell you what all has happened? In private?" he asked.
Aurelia’s eyes narrowed at the older man. For someone who looked capable, he certainly was doing an impressive job of showing just how much he wasn’t. There hadn’t been time to answer Avery’s question because already Tom was trying hard to get the Flynn brothers alone.
This was the second time he tried beseeching them for privacy. She hoped they wouldn’t give it to him.
"She's trying to change her situation." Aurelia hadn't given him the permission, but Avery put that out there. Because all this didn't matter much if she was going to be hunted down by something she feared. Stop that--that had to be the priority, right? Even if she was offended by him saying so. "Just like Ethan."
"Right." He glanced at Felix and Avery. Shut up and listen. This thing we're talking about using to bind Ethan... It's angel's blood. We don't have enough for two.
What? Avery was taken aback. How in the world did someone get, or believe they got--
"What?" Felix asked aloud, blinking. "Is there a recipe book for that? Or a pub ration rule? 'One pint per customer'?"
It was a gift to Seth, delivered via Father Camejo while they were in Mississippi. He gave it to the Arbiter, who is going to use it to help Ethan.
"A recipe for what?" She asked.
It was quiet obvious that they were using some form of telepathy to communicate. Otherwise, why else would the brothers be speaking aloud from a one-sided conversation.
It was a full room in a small apartment. Liessel, Ethan, Aurelia, the twins, and Tom. Nearly everything smelled damp, even with the hearth roaring. Avery looked at Ethan--to Ethan, for his response, to see whether he was included, which in fact Avery did not know.
Felix looked the other way--down--at Aurelia, and then said, "Am I shooting someone or not?"
"No!" Ethan said, standing up. "No, everybody, back off!" he said. He pointed at Aurelia. "She tried to help me when I thought nobody else would!" he said. He pointed at Tom. "My demon tricked me into not trusting him.... Which was a mistake and I regret it! But STOP! Jesus!"
Tom eyed Ethan out of the corner of his eye... "It's legit... Ethan's had a taste of it. Seth took it to the Arbiter a a sign of good faith... And the Arbiter came to look at Ethan herself, personally... Then we sent Seth and Ethan to London to find out about you, and then the shit hit the fan at Carlington."
He paused, then looked to Felix and Avery. "Have you even heard about Higgins dying?"
Tom gestured at Aurelia and the other woman... "Are we just blatantly discussing this stuff in front of people or are you planning on making them members of the Hodge Podge Lodge, too?"
There’d been a quick look to Isabell and where she stood. A check over to make sure the foreign woman was doing okay, or at least managing, during this ordeal. She felt bad for her and suddenly wished the language barrier wasn’t an issue. If she wasn’t, then perhaps stand there gauging the conversation with only tone and body language. The realization hit her, then, that maybe Isabell would have the best read on everyone in the room after all.
It was interesting, also, to see that she wasn’t the only one Tom ignored. Ethan, too, wasn’t paid attention very much even though the conversation centralized around him. She wondered if it was because the man’s attention span was so short, he didn’t possess the brain capacity to tackle multiple things at once. She’d only known him during this short time but… he did act like such at man.
“You’re the one who is discussing names like ‘The Arbiter’, mysterious things Ethan has tasted of, and the death of a man named Higgins. The Flynns are merely responding to the conversation you keep pushing.” She remarked that same dry tone.
Maybe his density was because he was an American – it was his clothing and accent that gave him away. She’d heard they weren’t very bright.
"You're being ridiculous," Avery said--then blinked. "Hodge what?" Squinting now, he had to shake his head as if to clear it. He held up a hand. "I'm as astonished as anyone, but Ethan's right--let's just--calm down...."
"Fidel said we needed a name," he muttered. "That-- that's what I've been calling us... The Hodge Podge Lodge." He looked to Felix, then to Ethan, then back to Avery. "This could've gone very differently... What I do know-- your client ought to be dead and isn't... So lets take that for the blessing it is and start over, shall we?"
To that, Ethan scowled. "No pointing fingers."
Oh dear God. This man was an idiot. Aurelia looked at him, completely flabbergasted at how he had managed to survive as long as he had. But she was quiet. Not for Jefferson. But for dear Avery who continued to push for peace.
"We do need to start over, because you came in here thinking you were being magnanimous talking about mercy," Avery said, "when that should have been the bare minimum! This lady has a name and a path she is following that is difficult and uncertain. Surely that has to merit kindness? Aren't we strong enough? She was the one who was hurt! She hasn't harmed anyone." He pointed to her--then, in a half apology, said, "I won't introduce you. --We won't," he added swiftly to make it clear to Felix that he was included. "That would be your choice. But this is Tomlin Jefferson. A... An associate of ours, on another case."
What did all of this reveal to Liessel? She didn't know much more than she was going to have to be watchful of this Tomlin character. With the way the twins were speaking, and the body language of all involved -- and Aurelia's tone -- this man was someone to be wary of.
Tomlin Jefferson arched a brow at Avery... Then glanced at Aurelia. "So. Seth attacked you. You barely survived. You're probably scared... And you should be. Seth is not easily deterred... I won't ask you to say the oath. You don't have to... But if you don't, do not place blame on me if he comes after you again. Only weak men place blame on others."
She looked at him. That lovely exotic bruised face staring at his unmarred one. "I'd heard Americans were idiots. Never met one until now."
"I guess you haven't met Ethan, then," he said. completely emotionless. To that, Ethan grimaced.
"Do we need to be doing this? Where is Seth? If he's just waiting outside to jump, you didn't come in good faith," Avery said.
Aurelia watched Jefferson for a long moment. Then she looked at Avery who struggled to salvage the conversation despite her sharp words. Her face softened just a bit. She could feel the steel ebb away. "Where is It?" For 'Seth' was not a human. Not a person. But a monstrous creature.
"Doing what I told him to do," he said, not looking at Aurelia. "Three known traitors, Avery... Sir Richard. Darren Rogers. Tyler Faraday... Sir Richard is AWOL, Darren Rogers is dead by my hand, Tyler Faraday's body turned up elsewhere-- I sent Seth to dispose of it properly."
Too many topics. Avery was made for sailing around conversations, but he was struggling to put all of this into an order upon which he could act. There was so much. Sir Richard...
"It is obvious that you are not here to make amends for what your vampire has done. It is also clear that you have no control over the beast despite all you've said. Why are you here, Tomlin Jefferson?" Aurelia spoke. "Unless you have something of merit to say, you've contributed nothing but order and confusion."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly... And finally looked at her directly. "Ma'am." He said. It was clearly said because he did not have something else to call her and he was okay with that. "I didn't come here to make amends because I have done nothing wrong. You want an apology from me and my partner for doing what we are paid for and sworn to do which is hunt things that are Dark. Unless you wish to dispute that you're Dark? Which I can actually prove that he can't attack you if you're not-- It is not in my job description to give you the benefit of a doubt just because you're pretty... I don't owe you a damn thing. I came to offer you the chance to take the oath as a merit of precaution against Seth, but since you're so hell bent on blaming me for him being who and what he is, how about you fend for yourself without it?" he said. He turned back to Avery. "I will order Seth to stay away from her, but if she doesn't say the oath, it won't matter. When you care to get an update from me about this entire situation and the treachery involved, I'll call later. I can't be stationary for too long-- the Arbiter is in danger, Father Camejo has the proof of said treachery, and Ethan--" He glanced at Ethan. "--Ethan needs to decide where he needs to be."
... but if she doesn't say the oath.
"What oath? The one Felix and I neglected to take?" Avery was shaking his head. It was clear to him, suddenly and starkly, how little he knew these people, from Aurelia to Tomlin to Ethan. How had he gotten into this?
Oh yes.
By being one half of Flynn & Flynn. Fires for the fireless.
"Can I--please--say something?" Avery asked. "Without coming off as overly simplistic?"
"Druther 'ave kept this simple from the get-go, but apparently me not being visibly upset wasn't good enough.... But sure."
"Mister Jefferson," Avery said, trying to get to the heart of something--anything at this point--before the madness took over him and Felix, too, "we're working with you on behalf of a very important venture for our friend in common. I haven't lost sight of that. And it's not as if Felix and I are unaware that the lady, here, has some... complications. Despite them, we won't stand for casual cruelty--and we won't allow her to be hurt again. So if you can do something to prevent that--really prevent it--I'd like for you to get that underway.
"And..." He looked at Aurelia, brow tensed. "... it's not balanced. I'm not thinking that it is. But as we're trying to communicate, here... This man hasn't...." Avery frowned. Just what was it that he wanted to convey, actually, about Tomlin Jefferson? "Mister Jefferson has been valiant in our company. I've never seen him to react this way before. If we could just secure the lady's safety..." This, aimed at Tom, but also in general now, "... I'm sure we can find some point of respect from which to work this out?"
Dear Avery. Dear, sweet Avery who fought so hard to find peace among these raging waters. Waves beating against him from all sides like an island lost in the middle of the ocean. Her expression softened. He was desperately trying to keep everyone’s heads above water.
That look went to Jefferson and she could feel the ice still her features.
Tomlin Jefferson… a valiant man. Judging by what she experienced today the idea was laughable. The man had shown his weakness. His inability to both responsibility and command. He showed his lack of compassion, lack of humanity towards others and their plight. He had shown his true colors. If Tomlin Jefferson was an asset to the Flynns then the brothers were in deep, deep trouble.
Aurelia knew now that she wouldn’t be able to rely on Tomlin Jefferson to do the gentlemanly thing – for he was no gentleman. He would not be the bigger person in this moment because he did not possess the vigor to do so. If they were to move forward towards resolution, then she would have to take that leap. Her own outrage towards Jefferson would have to be snuffed out like a candle before bed. It was disgusting thought, but she could do it.
Would do it.
The resolution was clearly on her face. The coldness on her face washed away. She was still lovely even with all her injuries but there was an tiredness that seeped into her unnaturally green eyes.
“My apologies to you for my behavior, Mr. Jefferson. It is unbecoming of a lady such as myself to conduct in the manner that I have this evening.”
That sounded pretty good. Yay for character growth!
“Perhaps if we could truly start over. Working together to find a mutual resolution.”
He took a deep breath, let it out slowly... His body language relaxed some. It drained out some of the tension. He glanced at Aurelia and said, "No."
"No?" Avery asked blankly.
Aurelia raised a brow, waiting to see if there was more to follow that one worded answer.
"No. There will not be starting over... I was trying to be understanding of the circumstances. She's a thing of the Dark. She dismissed me. Pointed fingers. I tried to offer what little I could for protection. She's been hurt. She nearly died... Much to her credit, she didn't. And while I may be cold about the entire thing, I am not being petty and cruel while you make sure she survives even though everything I've ever known for the last 20 years is crashing down around me. To hell with the lot of you." He turned to go.
His tone was remarkably calm. It was not angry.
The anger had been driven out when Avery had asked them to start over.
Avery stared at him for a moment.
Then, with the man's back to him, he said, "You're willing to be the first one to stop listening? You've been here all of three minutes, you face a devastatingly injured woman, Ethan who we sent to you, and us--us, with whom you have mutual cause. You're going to let this chaos best the work?"
Felix's arms were crossed at his chest. It looked relaxed, but mainly it was keeping his hands by his holstered guns.
There wasn’t much surprise in what Jefferson said. Some part of her had expected it. Maybe it had been all the remarks about ‘The Dark’ that brought upon her suspicions. Perhaps he had been valiant towards the Flynn brothers. But they were not like her. And she was not human.
Tomlin Jefferson held a prejudiced against the monsters.
"It is not too late to turn around, Mr. Jefferson." She tried. "It is possible for us to find common ground and work together."
Tom didn't miss that Felix's arms were crossed over his chest... Close to his guns... To Avery, he said, "I came in here knowing Seth will come after her again the first chance he gets... I came here first, I sent him away, so we could give her the chance of that protection... It might not be absolute, but its something... I came here, knowing that Seth attacked her, which means she's one of things I hunt... If that's not willing to work with you, Mister Flynn, I don't know what is... I owe you, with the whole possession thing, but I will not compromise my personal integrity. I will not take responsibility for Seth's actions, but I can help to prevent them going forward... I was willing to work with her, to find said common ground, but when she puts blame where it doesn't belong, makes accusations, insults me... Sincerely, Mister Flynn, to hell with you that you let this stand in your home."
Exasperated, Avery looked for help.
Found none. Aurelia was furious and frightened and injured; Felix stood waiting for direction; Ethan was mute; Liessel was getting one half of the conversation. The "conversation"--ha!
The question surged right up and out of him, bypassing the thread of all of this: "Why do you hunt?"
Aurelia was quiet to let Jefferson answer the question.
"Because somebody has to," he said softly. "Or else all the Rachelles in the world win. All the cucuys of the world win... All of the goddamn Noondays of world win... Because if I don't, if we don't, AUGUSTINE WINS."
"She's not Augustine!" Avery tried to close the distance, reaching out for Tomlin's arm. "She's not Rachelle. She's a victim! Like El--like you, and like Ethan! Even like Seth, damn him!"
He let Avery take his arm... But he looked back at Avery, met his eyes evenly. He wasn't upset... It was an expression of stone. "I didn't say she was. If I truly thought she was, I wouldn't have come here at all, I'd have let Seth have her."
Aurelia got up.
It was slow work forcing her body to move on its own. There was progress in it, the Flynn brothers and Ethan would see that, but it didn’t make any easier. Standing wasn’t easy. It was more of her leaning against the arm of the couch to keep her body upright than anything. But she was up and standing before Jefferson with the blanket pooled at her feet.
With no boots Aurelia was of medium height. She wore only a long-faded cream-colored short sleeved shirt that reached to her mid thighs. What would have been skin the color of milk tea was battered with large bruises with swirling colors of red, black and purple. Her right leg was encased in plaster. Her right wrist and arm as well. The bare skin on her arms were spotted with yellow and brown bruises. Where there were no bruises on her legs and arms, there were nasty cuts from her body hitting the stone.
If the lack of clothing impeded on her modesty, it didn’t show. Aurelia stood there before him as if she were standing in complete formal attire.
“Mr. Jefferson, my name is Aurelia Dumitru.” She said quietly to him. “I do not know what you mean by ‘the Dark’ but I am certain that you would categorize me as so.” She paused.
“I did not ask to be involved in this. I found Ethan in a moment of need and helped him. I helped him because I was concerned for his safety and the safety of others. Seth is apart of your organization. And tonight, he tried to murder me for simply existing. I’m not saying this to place blame but to merely to state what happened. Now he hunts me. He hunts me and the work you’ve built for the past twenty years falls to ruin. Perhaps… we could strike a deal.”
From behind Aurelia, Ethan spoke for the first time... "I haven't had time to explain everything that's happened... I think I gave Avery an aneurysm earlier telling him the vagueness of it all." Tom stopped... It made him pause. Then he glanced at Aurelia and nodded. "Lets all sit and we'll start at the beginning."
Tom watched Aurelia as she spoke... And after she had finished speaking, Ethan spoke up from behind her for the first time. "I haven't had the chance to explain everything, Tom... I think I gave Avery an aneurysm, earlier with just the vague stuff."
Tom watched Aurelia, still, as Ethan spoke. Then he nodded slightly to her, then to Ethan. "Lets all sit and we'll start at the beginning."
When Aurelia roused herself, Avery was the first of the twins to spin around, even though he was over by Tomlin and Felix was literally right next to her. Felix's eyes were on the door, the window, the wards, ready to act if anything managed to get through them; Avery, however, seemed to have a sixth sense about that sort of thing, and the sight of Avery in motion triggered Felix remembering that there were other people in the room.
So Avery reacted first, but Felix was the first to try to stop Aurelia.
Broken bones.
... not broken any longer?
Surprise.
She sounded strong. Even if it was a performance, the performance itself took strength.
The Flynns were left listening rather than aiding her--she did not appear to need it, and at that it might have undermined whatever she was going to say--which Avery prayed would not be a cascade of insults.
Then--
Avery blinked. "Sit? Yes--let's do that. Immediately."
It seemed again her words had fallen on deaf ears to Tomlin Jefferson. He had made no reply when she had spoken… but had become agreeable when Ethan did. How interesting. Was it not because she was a monster and perhaps because she was a woman? Either way, progress was at least progress. And it was more than what they had a few moments ago.
“I agree.”
With the seconds ticking by, she could feel her leg start to tremble beneath the cast. Her grip on the couch tightened a little and she felt herself leaning against it for support. It wasn’t unbearable. Just noticeable. She was healing but not fully healed. Not enough time had passed. A quick look went to Felix – the closer of the two brothers.
“I might need a little help.” She whispered the words. Standing was easy. Maneuvering to get back down might be a small issue.
Ethan had fallen quiet... He'd gotten still in his chair. If it wasn't for the fact thta his head was held up, it might've looked like he was asleep...
If the twins were awake, they'd hear Tom's voice in their heads just seconds before there was a knock at the door. Avery. Felix. Let me in.
Eddie was out imploring spell-weaving groceries of Henrietta Olkswitch, but by this time Avery was at the window on watch. He saw Tom's shadow and had a gun in his right hand just before the words came in. He perked up, confused, and Felix looked over, concentration broken where he worked with Aurelia, crouched by the sofa.
Avery unlatched the door; the wards disconnected when he did so, and he jerked it open. The storm stayed outside, rain pouring off the awning over the porch, but no doubt Tom would bring some of it with the cold inside with him, just as everyone else all evening had.
Avery looked for Seth. "Keep him out of here, Jefferson. Your dog went after our friend!"
"He's not here," he told Avery. "Let me in. I promise not to kill your pretty lady-friend."
"Not you she's afraid of," Avery muttered, but stepped back. Giving way.
"He's not here," he iterated. "I sent him to go kill Faraday." He clapped his hands together... "So!" It was far too cheerful... "How much did Ethan tell you?"
"No--How did you find us?" Avery said, unwilling to lose control. Such as his control was.
Very well: unwilling to lose his illusion of control.
Tom switched to the psychic channels. Avery... In all seriousness... How much did he tell you?
He had not stepped further in beyond the threshold of the door, and taking off his hat to shake the water off of it. he'd allowed Avery to shut the door, but had not made a move to go further into the home.
Liessel didn't know the Flynns very well, but she knew them well enough. Much of what had happened between Tom and Avery at the doorway had been missed, well that was the exact exchange had been missed. She'd been in another room, fighting her way through fitful spells of sleeping but had been roused and drawn out of the darkened corner she'd sunk in to by the sound of an unfamiliar voice. Liessel was a dark haired woman, young enough to be in her late twenties. She was wrapped in an old faded woolen blanket that had been pulled from somewhere within the house. It smelt of age, the kind of age that came from something clean but unused for a while. She didn't mind that. It was dry, and warm. That's what really mattered. She came into view holding the blanket tightly about her shoulders, having wrapped it to keep the length of her short form from catching a draft from the door that had opened. She didn't know what Tom was saying, but she did understand Avery. His manner was enough to draw Liessel into quiet witness to what was happening between Avery and the new face.
It was an undeniable fact: No matter how bad things were, the world continued. People came and went. Small and large moments still happened – most of them never affecting the small group of people inside that tiny apartment. It would be unrealistic to believe that the world stopped just because of one horrific event that brought five strangers together. The world, for all its good and nastiness had to move on with or without them.
And yet….
The door swung open bringing in the cold wet air like a sharp slap to her skin. Aurelia hadn’t realized someone was at the door until Avery opened it. “Keep him out of here, Jefferson. Your dog went after our friend!” Cold terror hit her. She froze as all the comforts and warmth in the last hour drained away from her. Distantly, she became aware of Isabell's coming from her bedroom. Ethan was still in his chair.
“I promise not to kill your pretty lady-friend.”
“How chivalrous.” That voice was thick and dry with irritation at the casualness of her life. What was with everyone about that? Still, with all her voiced displeasure, there was a thin cold line of fear down her spine. She was weak and hurt – thanks to Jefferson’s off leashed pet. Aurelia turned to look at the man from over the edge of the couch to get a look at the man in the doorway. The movement hadn’t hurt as much as it had a few hours ago. That quick nap had worked wonders.
Jefferson and Avery had gone quiet and the silence hadn’t been lost on her.
“What is happening?” She shot a glance to Felix as her fingers finally released the watch for him to have.
Felix had risen to his feet by that time. His calm had a flat, calculating quality to it, that translated in his posture and on his face into not a lack of tension so much as waiting to be tested. He glanced down at Aurelia when he seemed to realize--two seconds later than another person might--that she was speaking to him, asking a question of him. "I doubt Mister Jefferson would have bothered to come indoors if Seth were able to break the wards, or trying." He cocked his head. "I'd know if he was trying."
A quick glance reaffirmed where everyone was. Liessel, Ethan, Aurelia of course. Felix could get his guns out fast, but for now they were holstered.
Out loud, Avery--squared off with Tomlin--said, "Enough to wonder if you're one of the Frontiersmen who's decided 'to Hell with everybody.' Or if you're wondering that about us. Don't silent-talk me again. This lady is my client. She's under our protection. How are you going to make this right?"
Felix twitched. Avery didn't usually lie about who was a client and who wasn't. The line between client and friend was usually defined by a small mountain of paperwork and a maze of obligation.
Tomlin's expression was sour. "First of all, I knew where you were cuz Seth has been watching this place since before all the shit went down at the Carlington... I sent him here to check on you three days ago when you stopped answering your phone. Eli was worried, I sent Seth." He was shrugging out of his coat, still holding his hat in his hand. He looked tired, having had next to no sleep... He had on the double shoulder holster. One of them was empty... And another holster on his belt in the small of his back. But his body language was relaxed, he had no intention of reaching for a weapon anytime soon... He mostly wanted out of his coat because it was soaked through from the rain.
"Seth has his reasons for questioning your loyalty... I, however, do not. You and your brother are valuable and I understand that." He glanced towards the voices that he heard elsewhere-- primarily Aurelia's. "Seth wouldn't have attacked her without reason... You must understand: That's his job. To hunt down things that are tainted with Dark... If Ethan hadn't been under mine and Gerold's direct protection, he'd have killed Ethan without a second thought... So-- you say she's your client? Let's make sure he can't hurt her."
“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?” She snapped back. Green eyes blazing at the stranger.
“I am hurt. Your vampire tried to murder me.”
He pushed past Avery, speaking as he went. "Woman, you're damn lucky he didn't... Seth is an unfeeling machine who's sole purpose is to exterminate things of the Dark... If you weren't tainted with Dark, he wouldn't have come after you. It's not his job to investigate every little thing he comes across. He doesn't care if you're a good person. His job, his existence, is to kill. We're just goddamn lucky he's on our side."
"And you let that thing lose." She seethed.
"You know what he was, what his very existence is, and you let that thing loose on the streets of London." The words were laced with venom.
"He was your responsibility. This is your fault."
Avery didn't let Tom get past him fully, stepping back, remaining a partial wedge between Tomlin and Aurelia. Felix was there in the gap, barely a yard separating him from Tomlin.
Felix turned his head, keeping his eyes on Tomlin, the gesture a warning No.
"I'm in charge," Avery snapped at Tom; "You agreed. He attacked this lady while she was helping Ethan. God knows how Ethan found her, but--"
"Probably demonic synchronicity," Felix blurted out.
"Not helpful," Avery growled.
"Demonic synchronicity," Tom spat. "Lady, I am not his master, I am his partner... He will take direct orders from me, but only in extreme circumstances... I gave him an order to establish contact with the Flynns. When I'm not with him, those orders are a little more loose than they would be otherwise... I would've come with him, except we were establishing how to work something out for Ethan... You want someone to blame, blame Ethan's demon. Seth can and has operated in London for decades here and around the Carlington. Piss poor luck for you that you ran into Ethan. Otherwise, you'd never have encountered him" He bundled up his coat and threw it-- hard-- at Ethan. Who snapped awake.
"TOM!"
But Tom wasn't done talking to Aurelia. "Bottle that shit up, Miss... Its unbecoming," he said lowly. "I came to give you protection from him. And to tell the Flynns some very vital information. If you'd be so kind, I'd like to do that now."
"Only a weak man casts blame on others. You, sir, are weak." She said.
She understood -very- little clearly between Aurelia and this new face. Their tone carried the rest. It was what the Flynns said that made even more than that clear. -This man- was not a friend. Silently, at the mention of demons, and with no understanding of the word 'synchrinocity', she lifted her right hand from beneath her blanket-wrap and touched her fingers to her forehead.
"Ah--" Avery just missed snatching Tomlin's coat out of the air. He was quick, but hadn't expected it, angle wrong; it smacked Ethan awake in a canonball of wet wool. "Can you give her real protection? Or just more lipservice? --" He realized he had his hands out for peace, even if peace was not what he consciously knew he wanted a second before that. "If you can, let's do that first, and insults second."
Felix said, "I don't trust this quasi-religious abracadabra stuff."
"We'll discuss it later," Avery told him without looking at him.
His lip curled at her... He didn't say anything else to her. He glanced at Avery. "Between the oath and a direct order, it'll stop him temporarily... If he's truly determined to take her head, so to speak, he'll go above my head to the Arbiter."
He had been weighed and measured.
Jefferson couldn’t help them. What she had heard about him and his control over the vampire were only embellished words. The man held no more control over what Seth did than Ethan or the Flynn brothers. Even now, his promises of protection thin like paper and could be shredded just as easily.
Her green eyes darted to the brothers. They had said she was a client. A lie. But if that was the story, then she would play along. She was their client. And, as a client, this would be the time for her to stay still and quiet so that they could do their jobs.
"What will the Arbiter say?" To Avery, Tom did not sound very understanding. "Did you miss the part where she was helping Ethan? Ethan was all turned-around, but he implored her and she was--" He frowned, glanced at Aurelia. Looking for permission, suddenly, to say something about her. It was a reflex that cut through the tense need to be part of the wall between her and Tom.
Tom's jaw clenched shut. And the muscle above it flexed. "We don't have enough to help two," he said softly. "Allow me to tell you what all has happened? In private?" he asked.
Aurelia’s eyes narrowed at the older man. For someone who looked capable, he certainly was doing an impressive job of showing just how much he wasn’t. There hadn’t been time to answer Avery’s question because already Tom was trying hard to get the Flynn brothers alone.
This was the second time he tried beseeching them for privacy. She hoped they wouldn’t give it to him.
"She's trying to change her situation." Aurelia hadn't given him the permission, but Avery put that out there. Because all this didn't matter much if she was going to be hunted down by something she feared. Stop that--that had to be the priority, right? Even if she was offended by him saying so. "Just like Ethan."
"Right." He glanced at Felix and Avery. Shut up and listen. This thing we're talking about using to bind Ethan... It's angel's blood. We don't have enough for two.
What? Avery was taken aback. How in the world did someone get, or believe they got--
"What?" Felix asked aloud, blinking. "Is there a recipe book for that? Or a pub ration rule? 'One pint per customer'?"
It was a gift to Seth, delivered via Father Camejo while they were in Mississippi. He gave it to the Arbiter, who is going to use it to help Ethan.
"A recipe for what?" She asked.
It was quiet obvious that they were using some form of telepathy to communicate. Otherwise, why else would the brothers be speaking aloud from a one-sided conversation.
It was a full room in a small apartment. Liessel, Ethan, Aurelia, the twins, and Tom. Nearly everything smelled damp, even with the hearth roaring. Avery looked at Ethan--to Ethan, for his response, to see whether he was included, which in fact Avery did not know.
Felix looked the other way--down--at Aurelia, and then said, "Am I shooting someone or not?"
"No!" Ethan said, standing up. "No, everybody, back off!" he said. He pointed at Aurelia. "She tried to help me when I thought nobody else would!" he said. He pointed at Tom. "My demon tricked me into not trusting him.... Which was a mistake and I regret it! But STOP! Jesus!"
Tom eyed Ethan out of the corner of his eye... "It's legit... Ethan's had a taste of it. Seth took it to the Arbiter a a sign of good faith... And the Arbiter came to look at Ethan herself, personally... Then we sent Seth and Ethan to London to find out about you, and then the shit hit the fan at Carlington."
He paused, then looked to Felix and Avery. "Have you even heard about Higgins dying?"
Tom gestured at Aurelia and the other woman... "Are we just blatantly discussing this stuff in front of people or are you planning on making them members of the Hodge Podge Lodge, too?"
There’d been a quick look to Isabell and where she stood. A check over to make sure the foreign woman was doing okay, or at least managing, during this ordeal. She felt bad for her and suddenly wished the language barrier wasn’t an issue. If she wasn’t, then perhaps stand there gauging the conversation with only tone and body language. The realization hit her, then, that maybe Isabell would have the best read on everyone in the room after all.
It was interesting, also, to see that she wasn’t the only one Tom ignored. Ethan, too, wasn’t paid attention very much even though the conversation centralized around him. She wondered if it was because the man’s attention span was so short, he didn’t possess the brain capacity to tackle multiple things at once. She’d only known him during this short time but… he did act like such at man.
“You’re the one who is discussing names like ‘The Arbiter’, mysterious things Ethan has tasted of, and the death of a man named Higgins. The Flynns are merely responding to the conversation you keep pushing.” She remarked that same dry tone.
Maybe his density was because he was an American – it was his clothing and accent that gave him away. She’d heard they weren’t very bright.
"You're being ridiculous," Avery said--then blinked. "Hodge what?" Squinting now, he had to shake his head as if to clear it. He held up a hand. "I'm as astonished as anyone, but Ethan's right--let's just--calm down...."
"Fidel said we needed a name," he muttered. "That-- that's what I've been calling us... The Hodge Podge Lodge." He looked to Felix, then to Ethan, then back to Avery. "This could've gone very differently... What I do know-- your client ought to be dead and isn't... So lets take that for the blessing it is and start over, shall we?"
To that, Ethan scowled. "No pointing fingers."
Oh dear God. This man was an idiot. Aurelia looked at him, completely flabbergasted at how he had managed to survive as long as he had. But she was quiet. Not for Jefferson. But for dear Avery who continued to push for peace.
"We do need to start over, because you came in here thinking you were being magnanimous talking about mercy," Avery said, "when that should have been the bare minimum! This lady has a name and a path she is following that is difficult and uncertain. Surely that has to merit kindness? Aren't we strong enough? She was the one who was hurt! She hasn't harmed anyone." He pointed to her--then, in a half apology, said, "I won't introduce you. --We won't," he added swiftly to make it clear to Felix that he was included. "That would be your choice. But this is Tomlin Jefferson. A... An associate of ours, on another case."
What did all of this reveal to Liessel? She didn't know much more than she was going to have to be watchful of this Tomlin character. With the way the twins were speaking, and the body language of all involved -- and Aurelia's tone -- this man was someone to be wary of.
Tomlin Jefferson arched a brow at Avery... Then glanced at Aurelia. "So. Seth attacked you. You barely survived. You're probably scared... And you should be. Seth is not easily deterred... I won't ask you to say the oath. You don't have to... But if you don't, do not place blame on me if he comes after you again. Only weak men place blame on others."
She looked at him. That lovely exotic bruised face staring at his unmarred one. "I'd heard Americans were idiots. Never met one until now."
"I guess you haven't met Ethan, then," he said. completely emotionless. To that, Ethan grimaced.
"Do we need to be doing this? Where is Seth? If he's just waiting outside to jump, you didn't come in good faith," Avery said.
Aurelia watched Jefferson for a long moment. Then she looked at Avery who struggled to salvage the conversation despite her sharp words. Her face softened just a bit. She could feel the steel ebb away. "Where is It?" For 'Seth' was not a human. Not a person. But a monstrous creature.
"Doing what I told him to do," he said, not looking at Aurelia. "Three known traitors, Avery... Sir Richard. Darren Rogers. Tyler Faraday... Sir Richard is AWOL, Darren Rogers is dead by my hand, Tyler Faraday's body turned up elsewhere-- I sent Seth to dispose of it properly."
Too many topics. Avery was made for sailing around conversations, but he was struggling to put all of this into an order upon which he could act. There was so much. Sir Richard...
"It is obvious that you are not here to make amends for what your vampire has done. It is also clear that you have no control over the beast despite all you've said. Why are you here, Tomlin Jefferson?" Aurelia spoke. "Unless you have something of merit to say, you've contributed nothing but order and confusion."
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly... And finally looked at her directly. "Ma'am." He said. It was clearly said because he did not have something else to call her and he was okay with that. "I didn't come here to make amends because I have done nothing wrong. You want an apology from me and my partner for doing what we are paid for and sworn to do which is hunt things that are Dark. Unless you wish to dispute that you're Dark? Which I can actually prove that he can't attack you if you're not-- It is not in my job description to give you the benefit of a doubt just because you're pretty... I don't owe you a damn thing. I came to offer you the chance to take the oath as a merit of precaution against Seth, but since you're so hell bent on blaming me for him being who and what he is, how about you fend for yourself without it?" he said. He turned back to Avery. "I will order Seth to stay away from her, but if she doesn't say the oath, it won't matter. When you care to get an update from me about this entire situation and the treachery involved, I'll call later. I can't be stationary for too long-- the Arbiter is in danger, Father Camejo has the proof of said treachery, and Ethan--" He glanced at Ethan. "--Ethan needs to decide where he needs to be."
... but if she doesn't say the oath.
"What oath? The one Felix and I neglected to take?" Avery was shaking his head. It was clear to him, suddenly and starkly, how little he knew these people, from Aurelia to Tomlin to Ethan. How had he gotten into this?
Oh yes.
By being one half of Flynn & Flynn. Fires for the fireless.
"Can I--please--say something?" Avery asked. "Without coming off as overly simplistic?"
"Druther 'ave kept this simple from the get-go, but apparently me not being visibly upset wasn't good enough.... But sure."
"Mister Jefferson," Avery said, trying to get to the heart of something--anything at this point--before the madness took over him and Felix, too, "we're working with you on behalf of a very important venture for our friend in common. I haven't lost sight of that. And it's not as if Felix and I are unaware that the lady, here, has some... complications. Despite them, we won't stand for casual cruelty--and we won't allow her to be hurt again. So if you can do something to prevent that--really prevent it--I'd like for you to get that underway.
"And..." He looked at Aurelia, brow tensed. "... it's not balanced. I'm not thinking that it is. But as we're trying to communicate, here... This man hasn't...." Avery frowned. Just what was it that he wanted to convey, actually, about Tomlin Jefferson? "Mister Jefferson has been valiant in our company. I've never seen him to react this way before. If we could just secure the lady's safety..." This, aimed at Tom, but also in general now, "... I'm sure we can find some point of respect from which to work this out?"
Dear Avery. Dear, sweet Avery who fought so hard to find peace among these raging waters. Waves beating against him from all sides like an island lost in the middle of the ocean. Her expression softened. He was desperately trying to keep everyone’s heads above water.
That look went to Jefferson and she could feel the ice still her features.
Tomlin Jefferson… a valiant man. Judging by what she experienced today the idea was laughable. The man had shown his weakness. His inability to both responsibility and command. He showed his lack of compassion, lack of humanity towards others and their plight. He had shown his true colors. If Tomlin Jefferson was an asset to the Flynns then the brothers were in deep, deep trouble.
Aurelia knew now that she wouldn’t be able to rely on Tomlin Jefferson to do the gentlemanly thing – for he was no gentleman. He would not be the bigger person in this moment because he did not possess the vigor to do so. If they were to move forward towards resolution, then she would have to take that leap. Her own outrage towards Jefferson would have to be snuffed out like a candle before bed. It was disgusting thought, but she could do it.
Would do it.
The resolution was clearly on her face. The coldness on her face washed away. She was still lovely even with all her injuries but there was an tiredness that seeped into her unnaturally green eyes.
“My apologies to you for my behavior, Mr. Jefferson. It is unbecoming of a lady such as myself to conduct in the manner that I have this evening.”
That sounded pretty good. Yay for character growth!
“Perhaps if we could truly start over. Working together to find a mutual resolution.”
He took a deep breath, let it out slowly... His body language relaxed some. It drained out some of the tension. He glanced at Aurelia and said, "No."
"No?" Avery asked blankly.
Aurelia raised a brow, waiting to see if there was more to follow that one worded answer.
"No. There will not be starting over... I was trying to be understanding of the circumstances. She's a thing of the Dark. She dismissed me. Pointed fingers. I tried to offer what little I could for protection. She's been hurt. She nearly died... Much to her credit, she didn't. And while I may be cold about the entire thing, I am not being petty and cruel while you make sure she survives even though everything I've ever known for the last 20 years is crashing down around me. To hell with the lot of you." He turned to go.
His tone was remarkably calm. It was not angry.
The anger had been driven out when Avery had asked them to start over.
Avery stared at him for a moment.
Then, with the man's back to him, he said, "You're willing to be the first one to stop listening? You've been here all of three minutes, you face a devastatingly injured woman, Ethan who we sent to you, and us--us, with whom you have mutual cause. You're going to let this chaos best the work?"
Felix's arms were crossed at his chest. It looked relaxed, but mainly it was keeping his hands by his holstered guns.
There wasn’t much surprise in what Jefferson said. Some part of her had expected it. Maybe it had been all the remarks about ‘The Dark’ that brought upon her suspicions. Perhaps he had been valiant towards the Flynn brothers. But they were not like her. And she was not human.
Tomlin Jefferson held a prejudiced against the monsters.
"It is not too late to turn around, Mr. Jefferson." She tried. "It is possible for us to find common ground and work together."
Tom didn't miss that Felix's arms were crossed over his chest... Close to his guns... To Avery, he said, "I came in here knowing Seth will come after her again the first chance he gets... I came here first, I sent him away, so we could give her the chance of that protection... It might not be absolute, but its something... I came here, knowing that Seth attacked her, which means she's one of things I hunt... If that's not willing to work with you, Mister Flynn, I don't know what is... I owe you, with the whole possession thing, but I will not compromise my personal integrity. I will not take responsibility for Seth's actions, but I can help to prevent them going forward... I was willing to work with her, to find said common ground, but when she puts blame where it doesn't belong, makes accusations, insults me... Sincerely, Mister Flynn, to hell with you that you let this stand in your home."
Exasperated, Avery looked for help.
Found none. Aurelia was furious and frightened and injured; Felix stood waiting for direction; Ethan was mute; Liessel was getting one half of the conversation. The "conversation"--ha!
The question surged right up and out of him, bypassing the thread of all of this: "Why do you hunt?"
Aurelia was quiet to let Jefferson answer the question.
"Because somebody has to," he said softly. "Or else all the Rachelles in the world win. All the cucuys of the world win... All of the goddamn Noondays of world win... Because if I don't, if we don't, AUGUSTINE WINS."
"She's not Augustine!" Avery tried to close the distance, reaching out for Tomlin's arm. "She's not Rachelle. She's a victim! Like El--like you, and like Ethan! Even like Seth, damn him!"
He let Avery take his arm... But he looked back at Avery, met his eyes evenly. He wasn't upset... It was an expression of stone. "I didn't say she was. If I truly thought she was, I wouldn't have come here at all, I'd have let Seth have her."
Aurelia got up.
It was slow work forcing her body to move on its own. There was progress in it, the Flynn brothers and Ethan would see that, but it didn’t make any easier. Standing wasn’t easy. It was more of her leaning against the arm of the couch to keep her body upright than anything. But she was up and standing before Jefferson with the blanket pooled at her feet.
With no boots Aurelia was of medium height. She wore only a long-faded cream-colored short sleeved shirt that reached to her mid thighs. What would have been skin the color of milk tea was battered with large bruises with swirling colors of red, black and purple. Her right leg was encased in plaster. Her right wrist and arm as well. The bare skin on her arms were spotted with yellow and brown bruises. Where there were no bruises on her legs and arms, there were nasty cuts from her body hitting the stone.
If the lack of clothing impeded on her modesty, it didn’t show. Aurelia stood there before him as if she were standing in complete formal attire.
“Mr. Jefferson, my name is Aurelia Dumitru.” She said quietly to him. “I do not know what you mean by ‘the Dark’ but I am certain that you would categorize me as so.” She paused.
“I did not ask to be involved in this. I found Ethan in a moment of need and helped him. I helped him because I was concerned for his safety and the safety of others. Seth is apart of your organization. And tonight, he tried to murder me for simply existing. I’m not saying this to place blame but to merely to state what happened. Now he hunts me. He hunts me and the work you’ve built for the past twenty years falls to ruin. Perhaps… we could strike a deal.”
From behind Aurelia, Ethan spoke for the first time... "I haven't had time to explain everything that's happened... I think I gave Avery an aneurysm earlier telling him the vagueness of it all." Tom stopped... It made him pause. Then he glanced at Aurelia and nodded. "Lets all sit and we'll start at the beginning."
Tom watched Aurelia as she spoke... And after she had finished speaking, Ethan spoke up from behind her for the first time. "I haven't had the chance to explain everything, Tom... I think I gave Avery an aneurysm, earlier with just the vague stuff."
Tom watched Aurelia, still, as Ethan spoke. Then he nodded slightly to her, then to Ethan. "Lets all sit and we'll start at the beginning."
When Aurelia roused herself, Avery was the first of the twins to spin around, even though he was over by Tomlin and Felix was literally right next to her. Felix's eyes were on the door, the window, the wards, ready to act if anything managed to get through them; Avery, however, seemed to have a sixth sense about that sort of thing, and the sight of Avery in motion triggered Felix remembering that there were other people in the room.
So Avery reacted first, but Felix was the first to try to stop Aurelia.
Broken bones.
... not broken any longer?
Surprise.
She sounded strong. Even if it was a performance, the performance itself took strength.
The Flynns were left listening rather than aiding her--she did not appear to need it, and at that it might have undermined whatever she was going to say--which Avery prayed would not be a cascade of insults.
Then--
Avery blinked. "Sit? Yes--let's do that. Immediately."
It seemed again her words had fallen on deaf ears to Tomlin Jefferson. He had made no reply when she had spoken… but had become agreeable when Ethan did. How interesting. Was it not because she was a monster and perhaps because she was a woman? Either way, progress was at least progress. And it was more than what they had a few moments ago.
“I agree.”
With the seconds ticking by, she could feel her leg start to tremble beneath the cast. Her grip on the couch tightened a little and she felt herself leaning against it for support. It wasn’t unbearable. Just noticeable. She was healing but not fully healed. Not enough time had passed. A quick look went to Felix – the closer of the two brothers.
“I might need a little help.” She whispered the words. Standing was easy. Maneuvering to get back down might be a small issue.