[He approves in his own way. They're both too blunt. He ignores the wine and that she has two glasses. This is business after all. He might regularly mix business with pleasure. Just not today.
He also doesn't sit. He won't let himself be put in a less defencable position. He's no idea how she'll react and he needs to be ready for anything.
He still is mindful to keep his hands visible. No gloves. It's not a threat. Not yet. It's just a less than subtle self-defense.]
Jonathan Sims. I understand you went and cursed him. Why?
( of course it's him. of course. everything keeps coming back to that pest and she is not appreciative of that.
nor the question even if it is gently done, asking for reasons rather than condemnation )
His actions warranted it. His statements-- ( there's a brief pause to check for recognition ) Are dangerous. Harmful. He takes them without thought or care. Or permission. The curse prevents that.
( not that that was what had prompted her to curse him but it was true. one specific statement had made her act )
[He scowls at her and makes a sharp sound. It's not to interrupt. It's just to let her know he's not happy about this.]
His Statements are necessary. You don't blame a tiger for eating meat. All you've done is starve the tiger enough that he'll be forced to become a man eater. Your curse hurts him.
[He pauses] And I want you to remove it, Lilith. I want you to take whatever sorcery you've place on him off him. And I'm willing to negotiate terms. I know this will not be cheap for me.
( just the power that takes away the free will of them. it was a very specific curse and it didn't stop him from doing what he needed to, even if lilith believed him a fool for even being host to this thing )
He can take a statement. From someone willing. But he cannot forcibly take them.
( thought she hadn't actually addressed what he'd said. for the most part )
[Another frown.] I saw that. He tried to take one from me that way. To demonstrate. You know it doesn't work on me. He can press and ask, but unless I choose to, he can't make me tell him anything. That, Lilith, I give you for free, to let you know what I'm willing to discuss terms.
Because it needs to come off. This is not something he can help. He's not mad with power. He doesn't enjoy this. He doesn't like doing it. He's not doing it to torture anyone. I think it hurts him more than it hurts anyone else. But if he felt he needed to take a statement, there's a reason for it. I don't think he'd just force someone to tell him something. I don't think he wants people to suffer. I don't think he wants to watch that. And all your curse does it hurt him more. And in hurting him, he needs more to eat. I can feed him. I have a lifetime of horror to give, but even I'll run dry eventually.
Think about how much more dangerous he will be, cornered like an animal and unable to get what he needs when he needs it most.
Have you seen his aftermath? Those he forces statements from?
( because she had. there'd been one particular statement that had pressed this curse. before she'd been unaware and he'd been able to feed as he'd pleased. but then he'd run into the wrong person, forced a statement and she'd gotten involved )
If you wish to feed him you can. Willing participant. But only those that offer it will give it. He's already proven that he cannot be trusted with that freedom. He has other methods, Mr Tarabotti-- he's admitted that.
No. But that's on them, if they aren't strong enough to handle their own issues. [Sorry, Lilith. Meet the true nature of Alessandro. Empathy is not an emotion he has most of the time]
Forcing anyone is not something I particularly have any taste for. His is a special case. And he's proven to me he can be trusted. He has things from me, knows things about me that only one other person here knows. He hasn't told anyone. These things he's taken. These statements. No one else knows. Only him. I'll never see them. His assistants will never see them. It's never seeing the light of day.
I believe secrets are safe with him. And I also believe that doing this to him only makes things worse for everyone involved. And whatever other methods he has, I honestly could care less. What I care about is that he's throwing up blood. That's what I care about, Lilith.
He may not have shared the secrets but it does not mean that he should have them, that this-- man should be allowed to take what he pleases.
( and there's a particular distaste at how lilith says the word man as if it's some terrible thing. but to her it is. she spent the first part of her life only knowing the pain of men and since then-- there may be some parts that she enjoys but on the whole men are very disagreeable to her. particularly when they wrong her )
He knows how to avoid the curse. ( and in itself it was a kindness ) It remains.
( and in her voice there's a new level, a command that shouldn't be argued with. it's not stubbornness but that directive of a queen, someone that's made their choice and wills it )
[She decrees like a queen and Alessandro frowns. He hadn't bowed to Victoria. He's not about to bow to her. Not about this. He steps forward. Closer to her. It's not a threat. Not yet. He still hopes to reason with her. He likes her, after all, despite this, and he doesn't want to have to show her how the Templars negotiate.]
He wouldn't have to avoid the curse if you lifted it. I know you feel this is a lesson that needs learned. But I think he has leaned it. What it is now is cruelty. It's torture. No secret is worth it. Not when you know he won't do anything with that secret. No one will ever know. It's excessive. You've made your point.
So tell me. What must I do. Curses can be lifted. How. How do I lift this from him. What do I need to do for you to make it so. To remove this cruelty from him.
( and lilith doesn't doubt that his feelings may be in the right place even if they're backing the wrong person )
This is not yours to contest. ( though she also wouldn't remove it even if the archivist came begging himself.
alessandro was right about one thing -- the curse could be lifted. she was capable of doing so, nick had the next best attempt given he'd heard her curse but her magic was powerful, so far unmatched by anyone she'd met. he might be able to nullify her power through touch but it wouldn't remove the curse. even if she died )
He tried to use his power to demonstrate the curse. If he still uses it, cannot control it he hasn't learned.
( she also doesn't contest whether it's cruel or torturous. because she doesn't care about that. certainly not with this man )
Oh, but it is mine to contest. As much as we both agree that this place and it's contracts are utterly rediculous, he still did it while I held his contract. As my valet, his actions reflect on me and it's only proper I seek to right the issue.
[He approaches her. There's no gile here. No subterfuge. He simply dares to place his bare hand on hers.] If this was five years ago, I'd have gone to you with knives drawn and demanded you do as I asked. I have not.
I have not because I know you won't allow a man to force you to do anything. Which is why I'm asking. Which is why I'm offering compensation. Which is why I haven't stabbed you and taken Jon to the Repair Shop and gotten it removed that way, just to spite you.
So I ask you again. Remove it. Or change it. Or put it on me. I don't care. Just so I don't have to watch one of mine hurt and so that I don't also have to hurt one of mine.
[He knows that sounds possessive but she must understand, he doesn't really understand how normal people think and emote. He likes Jon. Jon is one of his. He likes Lilith. Lilith is one of his. He'll do whatever he must to protect what is his.]
( she sees it coming with how he moves towards her, wonders whether he'll dare in this threat but she doesn't need to question it, isn't surprised by it. even as her power fades away, leaving her temporarily mortal lilith refuses to pull her hand away. oh, he'll see in her expression that she's more than a little irritated but she won't give him the satisfaction of responding to it.
but it isn't the only thing that she hates. alessandro makes a good point and though whilst lilith thinks very little of the contract system she would take responsibility for him or harry should they do wrong.
so she sighs, more for show than anything else, pretending that she's being reasonable )
I can adjust the curse. ( though there's a definite but to her tone, as he would expect ) For a favour owed.
( simple terms even if she won't define them further. take it or leave it )
[He'd touched her for a reason. He'd touched her to show that all this time, he had been capable of doing as he'd done in the past and just killing her. He could have done it at any time. Instead, he had tried to attempt proper negotiations. It'd been so hard for him. It's exhausting, being peaceful.
There's a near ironic smile when she finally agrees to at least adjust the curse. There's a little tilt of the head with the price attatched. There's almost a laugh. As if it would be anything else. Manuscripts like Faust always talk about it, deals with devils.
He pulls his hand away and there's a brassy laugh.] I suppose you couldn't ask for my soul and all, so I can agree to this price. I have a condition. Randolph Lyall. You cannot ever ask me to do anything that does harm to him. I won't do it. Any other favor is on the table. Can we agree on that as well?
I'm not interested in souls. ( just so that was clear, whether or not he had one. but she wasn't interested in the soul of anyone else. not anyone here ) But we can.
( though whilst he continues to hold onto her makes her stare harden, looking more angry than irritated now )
[He laughs at that. An honest to god laugh. Then he leans forward. It's not a kiss, but a soft awkward phrase against her ear. It's hard for him to say. It's something he's still learning to voice. But he's getting there, year by year.] Thank you.
[He pulls away. Steps back from her and in her clear line of sight pulls on a set of familiar white gloves.]
( her hands come by her sides, fingers stretching out as her power flows back through her, back straightening as she watches him.
and the gloves are a slight relief. lilith waits until they're on before moving, stepping towards the cubby in the wall that dips into a tiny room filled with shelves and potion ingredients. and she removes the poppet from it, the one dressed like the archivist, the one that lilith originally used as she cursed him.
she brings it back to him, resting it on the table, keeping her hand on it as she lets alessandro witness her altering the curse.
she's quiet only for a few seconds, eyes on the poppet as she considers her spell before she chants it. though the original spell that she had cast had been in latin this one isn't, lilith dipping into a far older magic, using a language that no one alive could possibly know.
her head raises once her spell is complete, a small nod to him to let him know that it's done. though he likely still won't like the result of it )
[He stands back and watches. There's a lifting of his eyebrows at the appearance of the little doll. He wonders what might happen if he got a hold of it. He's never really touched magical items. It would be interesting to find out, though he doubts it would do anything. It's still an interesting thought. He's love to do some experiments.
He won't ask her though. He won't touch this doll. Instead, he'll just mark it's existence and it's current location and hum a soft.] Cute. You even got the abysmal fashion sense.
[But after that, he falls quiet and watches. It's fascinating. He has no idea what it is she says but it's nothing he's heard before. Nothing he's really seen before. He waits until she's done and gives her a nod back.]
Then the deal is done. It was a pleasure. Doing business with you, [There's a pause and then a near playful smile.] Mary.
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He also doesn't sit. He won't let himself be put in a less defencable position. He's no idea how she'll react and he needs to be ready for anything.
He still is mindful to keep his hands visible. No gloves. It's not a threat. Not yet. It's just a less than subtle self-defense.]
Jonathan Sims. I understand you went and cursed him. Why?
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nor the question even if it is gently done, asking for reasons rather than condemnation )
His actions warranted it. His statements-- ( there's a brief pause to check for recognition ) Are dangerous. Harmful. He takes them without thought or care. Or permission. The curse prevents that.
( not that that was what had prompted her to curse him but it was true. one specific statement had made her act )
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His Statements are necessary. You don't blame a tiger for eating meat. All you've done is starve the tiger enough that he'll be forced to become a man eater. Your curse hurts him.
[He pauses] And I want you to remove it, Lilith. I want you to take whatever sorcery you've place on him off him. And I'm willing to negotiate terms. I know this will not be cheap for me.
no subject
( just the power that takes away the free will of them. it was a very specific curse and it didn't stop him from doing what he needed to, even if lilith believed him a fool for even being host to this thing )
He can take a statement. From someone willing. But he cannot forcibly take them.
( thought she hadn't actually addressed what he'd said. for the most part )
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Because it needs to come off. This is not something he can help. He's not mad with power. He doesn't enjoy this. He doesn't like doing it. He's not doing it to torture anyone. I think it hurts him more than it hurts anyone else. But if he felt he needed to take a statement, there's a reason for it. I don't think he'd just force someone to tell him something. I don't think he wants people to suffer. I don't think he wants to watch that. And all your curse does it hurt him more. And in hurting him, he needs more to eat. I can feed him. I have a lifetime of horror to give, but even I'll run dry eventually.
Think about how much more dangerous he will be, cornered like an animal and unable to get what he needs when he needs it most.
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( because she had. there'd been one particular statement that had pressed this curse. before she'd been unaware and he'd been able to feed as he'd pleased. but then he'd run into the wrong person, forced a statement and she'd gotten involved )
If you wish to feed him you can. Willing participant. But only those that offer it will give it. He's already proven that he cannot be trusted with that freedom. He has other methods, Mr Tarabotti-- he's admitted that.
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Forcing anyone is not something I particularly have any taste for. His is a special case. And he's proven to me he can be trusted. He has things from me, knows things about me that only one other person here knows. He hasn't told anyone. These things he's taken. These statements. No one else knows. Only him. I'll never see them. His assistants will never see them. It's never seeing the light of day.
I believe secrets are safe with him. And I also believe that doing this to him only makes things worse for everyone involved. And whatever other methods he has, I honestly could care less. What I care about is that he's throwing up blood. That's what I care about, Lilith.
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( and there's a particular distaste at how lilith says the word man as if it's some terrible thing. but to her it is. she spent the first part of her life only knowing the pain of men and since then-- there may be some parts that she enjoys but on the whole men are very disagreeable to her. particularly when they wrong her )
He knows how to avoid the curse. ( and in itself it was a kindness ) It remains.
( and in her voice there's a new level, a command that shouldn't be argued with. it's not stubbornness but that directive of a queen, someone that's made their choice and wills it )
For them. He must learn.
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He wouldn't have to avoid the curse if you lifted it. I know you feel this is a lesson that needs learned. But I think he has leaned it. What it is now is cruelty. It's torture. No secret is worth it. Not when you know he won't do anything with that secret. No one will ever know. It's excessive. You've made your point.
So tell me. What must I do. Curses can be lifted. How. How do I lift this from him. What do I need to do for you to make it so. To remove this cruelty from him.
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( and lilith doesn't doubt that his feelings may be in the right place even if they're backing the wrong person )
This is not yours to contest. ( though she also wouldn't remove it even if the archivist came begging himself.
alessandro was right about one thing -- the curse could be lifted. she was capable of doing so, nick had the next best attempt given he'd heard her curse but her magic was powerful, so far unmatched by anyone she'd met. he might be able to nullify her power through touch but it wouldn't remove the curse. even if she died )
He tried to use his power to demonstrate the curse. If he still uses it, cannot control it he hasn't learned.
( she also doesn't contest whether it's cruel or torturous. because she doesn't care about that. certainly not with this man )
Nor do you seem to.
( and she'd thought him intelligent )
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[He approaches her. There's no gile here. No subterfuge. He simply dares to place his bare hand on hers.] If this was five years ago, I'd have gone to you with knives drawn and demanded you do as I asked. I have not.
I have not because I know you won't allow a man to force you to do anything. Which is why I'm asking. Which is why I'm offering compensation. Which is why I haven't stabbed you and taken Jon to the Repair Shop and gotten it removed that way, just to spite you.
So I ask you again. Remove it. Or change it. Or put it on me. I don't care. Just so I don't have to watch one of mine hurt and so that I don't also have to hurt one of mine.
[He knows that sounds possessive but she must understand, he doesn't really understand how normal people think and emote. He likes Jon. Jon is one of his. He likes Lilith. Lilith is one of his. He'll do whatever he must to protect what is his.]
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but it isn't the only thing that she hates. alessandro makes a good point and though whilst lilith thinks very little of the contract system she would take responsibility for him or harry should they do wrong.
so she sighs, more for show than anything else, pretending that she's being reasonable )
I can adjust the curse. ( though there's a definite but to her tone, as he would expect ) For a favour owed.
( simple terms even if she won't define them further. take it or leave it )
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There's a near ironic smile when she finally agrees to at least adjust the curse. There's a little tilt of the head with the price attatched. There's almost a laugh. As if it would be anything else. Manuscripts like Faust always talk about it, deals with devils.
He pulls his hand away and there's a brassy laugh.] I suppose you couldn't ask for my soul and all, so I can agree to this price. I have a condition. Randolph Lyall. You cannot ever ask me to do anything that does harm to him. I won't do it. Any other favor is on the table. Can we agree on that as well?
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( though whilst he continues to hold onto her makes her stare harden, looking more angry than irritated now )
Though none of it I can currently do.
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[He pulls away. Steps back from her and in her clear line of sight pulls on a set of familiar white gloves.]
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and the gloves are a slight relief. lilith waits until they're on before moving, stepping towards the cubby in the wall that dips into a tiny room filled with shelves and potion ingredients. and she removes the poppet from it, the one dressed like the archivist, the one that lilith originally used as she cursed him.
she brings it back to him, resting it on the table, keeping her hand on it as she lets alessandro witness her altering the curse.
she's quiet only for a few seconds, eyes on the poppet as she considers her spell before she chants it. though the original spell that she had cast had been in latin this one isn't, lilith dipping into a far older magic, using a language that no one alive could possibly know.
her head raises once her spell is complete, a small nod to him to let him know that it's done. though he likely still won't like the result of it )
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He won't ask her though. He won't touch this doll. Instead, he'll just mark it's existence and it's current location and hum a soft.] Cute. You even got the abysmal fashion sense.
[But after that, he falls quiet and watches. It's fascinating. He has no idea what it is she says but it's nothing he's heard before. Nothing he's really seen before. He waits until she's done and gives her a nod back.]
Then the deal is done. It was a pleasure. Doing business with you, [There's a pause and then a near playful smile.] Mary.