The night that Molly Carpenter was sentenced to Warlock Games, my brother got so drunk that he'd hallucinated John Marcone was sitting beside him. Now I wasn't so sure it had been a hallucination.
"Mr. Raith," he smiled affably. "Can I offer you a lift home? You are still living with Mr. Dresden, are you not?" I nodded genially, drawing years of pretending to be a rich fool around me like a shield.
We traveled in silence for a few blocks. "Your father killed all his other sons. You survived because he thinks of you as useless. A year ago, he disowned you and cut off your funds. You then moved into Mr. Dresden's apartment where you have lived ever since, apparently in a relationship. You have been fired from a series of menial jobs for sexual harassment; almost every night you bring a different young woman home.
"I can think of half a dozen scenarios that fit these facts. All of them are the result of you wishing to manipulate Dresden for your own ends."
I smiled enigmatically. "What's the matter, Marcone? Did you never learn to share your toys? You have your Valkyrie now. Let me have Harry. A pet wizard is practically tradition in my family." I opened a bottle of water that was beside me and drank.
"Speaking of family; is Mr. Dresden aware that you are his brother?" I choked. "I beg your pardon, half brother. You share a mother."
"How..." I coughed.
"I do have full dossiers on both of you as well as the history of House Raith. Even if I didn't, there is a strong family resemblance. But I wasn't sure until now." I winced. I was getting sloppy if I was giving away information through my reactions like that.
"I was sure before I said anything," he reassured me. "There is only one other person who reacts as you did to the simplest of conversations. Your mother must have been quite an extraordinary woman."
"Is there a point to this conversation?"
"I have hired a large number of supernatural contractors for mid-December. I would rather Mr. Dresden didn't discover their presence before the opportune moment. If you can give him something else to consider during the holiday season, I will be suitably grateful."
"What am I distracting him from?"
Marcone inclined his head and steepled his fingers. "The White Council plans to hold their next Warlock Games in my city. I plan to persuade them to abandon the practice. Permanently."
"You'd need a small army to... Aah."
"Thus; my need for a distraction. However, I will not object if the minor practitioners in the city became aware of the need to keep their heads down during that time."
"You want me to give Harry a happy Christmas, so he doesn't notice a bunch of mercenaries roaming Chicago and in return..."
"I will enable you to find employment that pays more than $7.50 an hour. In any field you are inclined to pursue. In exchange I ask that Mr. Dresden be able to maintain plausible deniability in regards to my plans for December and January and that you answer the question I asked you earlier. Does Dresden know you are brothers?"
"He knows. That's why he let's me stay with him. If he finds out about your 'contractors', it won't be because I didn't try to stop him finding out." I said quietly
I slid out of the car when it pulled up in front of the apartment block. Once the car turned the corner I took my first deep breath since I noticed Hendricks following me.
I think he suspects in canon but doesn't have enough info to say yes or no. Thomas' reaction to him here was the extra information he needed.
That's probably why he hasn't said anything to Harry. "I know that your boyfriend/ex is actually your brother. Wanna go out some time?" isn't going to get you a second chance if you're wrong.
Has this been moved elsewhere? Have you stopped writing? Cause that would really suck. This is shaping up to be an epic Dresden fic. Can't wait for more.
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Warlock Games 4/10
The night that Molly Carpenter was sentenced to Warlock Games, my brother got so drunk that he'd hallucinated John Marcone was sitting beside him. Now I wasn't so sure it had been a hallucination.
"Mr. Raith," he smiled affably. "Can I offer you a lift home? You are still living with Mr. Dresden, are you not?" I nodded genially, drawing years of pretending to be a rich fool around me like a shield.
We traveled in silence for a few blocks. "Your father killed all his other sons. You survived because he thinks of you as useless. A year ago, he disowned you and cut off your funds. You then moved into Mr. Dresden's apartment where you have lived ever since, apparently in a relationship. You have been fired from a series of menial jobs for sexual harassment; almost every night you bring a different young woman home.
"I can think of half a dozen scenarios that fit these facts. All of them are the result of you wishing to manipulate Dresden for your own ends."
I smiled enigmatically. "What's the matter, Marcone? Did you never learn to share your toys? You have your Valkyrie now. Let me have Harry. A pet wizard is practically tradition in my family." I opened a bottle of water that was beside me and drank.
"Speaking of family; is Mr. Dresden aware that you are his brother?" I choked. "I beg your pardon, half brother. You share a mother."
"How..." I coughed.
"I do have full dossiers on both of you as well as the history of House Raith. Even if I didn't, there is a strong family resemblance. But I wasn't sure until now." I winced. I was getting sloppy if I was giving away information through my reactions like that.
"I was sure before I said anything," he reassured me. "There is only one other person who reacts as you did to the simplest of conversations. Your mother must have been quite an extraordinary woman."
"Is there a point to this conversation?"
"I have hired a large number of supernatural contractors for mid-December. I would rather Mr. Dresden didn't discover their presence before the opportune moment. If you can give him something else to consider during the holiday season, I will be suitably grateful."
"What am I distracting him from?"
Marcone inclined his head and steepled his fingers. "The White Council plans to hold their next Warlock Games in my city. I plan to persuade them to abandon the practice. Permanently."
"You'd need a small army to... Aah."
"Thus; my need for a distraction. However, I will not object if the minor practitioners in the city became aware of the need to keep their heads down during that time."
"You want me to give Harry a happy Christmas, so he doesn't notice a bunch of mercenaries roaming Chicago and in return..."
"I will enable you to find employment that pays more than $7.50 an hour. In any field you are inclined to pursue. In exchange I ask that Mr. Dresden be able to maintain plausible deniability in regards to my plans for December and January and that you answer the question I asked you earlier. Does Dresden know you are brothers?"
"He knows. That's why he let's me stay with him. If he finds out about your 'contractors', it won't be because I didn't try to stop him finding out." I said quietly
I slid out of the car when it pulled up in front of the apartment block. Once the car turned the corner I took my first deep breath since I noticed Hendricks following me.
Empty Night, I needed a drink.
Re: Warlock Games 4/10
(Anonymous) 2011-03-19 09:00 pm (UTC)(link)Also,
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Re: Warlock Games 4/10
That's probably why he hasn't said anything to Harry. "I know that your boyfriend/ex is actually your brother. Wanna go out some time?" isn't going to get you a second chance if you're wrong.
Re: Warlock Games 4/10
Love ya
Re: Warlock Games 4/10