"The Leanansidhe?" Marcone caught my arm, starting to move us forward into the house. I wasn't dragging my feet. Really. I was just tired.
"She's the only one I've got, yeah." My head hurt. It had nothing to do with the baby, or any actual physical illness and I knew it. I did not really want to see Lea. The sidhe woman was...well, the last time I'd seen her she'd been locked up in Mab's tower and crazier than a bedbug. I was going to assume she was 'better', or Mab wouldn't have let her out, but even before she'd slipped a cog she hadn't been the most stable creature I'd ever met.
And she was still the closest thing to family I'd had for years before I found Thomas. As weird as that made some things, it was true.
Right. So maybe I was a little nervous about seeing her.
"Mr. Hendricks, if you could fetch the gift?" I shrugged off Marcone's arm and started walking ahead of him. Gift? What gift? "Harry and I will be entertaining her godmother."
"You can't give her a gift, Marcone. She's sidhe. I thought you knew this stuff. Haven't you been paying attention?"
"I am not supposed to give her a gift that she cannot immediately return a like value for because the sidhe do not like to owe others. However, as she is your godmother and this is my first meeting with her, it is appropriate that I give her a token of appreciation.
"The token must be worthy of her, and display my seriousness in courting you as well as my ability to provide for you. As such, it is not a gift so much as it is something that is owed to her already." He caught up to me, catching my arm again to try and slow me down. "I have been paying attention."
Marcone somehow managed to get in front of me just in time to grab the door and beat me to opening it. I gave him a small frown, but didn't fight him for the door like I usually would have. We were playing it old school I guess.
Gard rose and turned to greet us, nodding to Marcone and giving me a quick smile and a pat on the shoulder. She retreated into the background, not leaving the room but giving us the illusion of privacy.
Lea looked the same as always, perfect. Her dress looked like something out of the Lord of the Rings, sea green and so light that it looked like it might float off on its own any second. I guess she was playing the 'elf' thing to the hilt, in spite of her delicately rounded little ears and the fact that she wasn't an elf at all. Her long red hair was like fire flowing over the dress, beautiful and impractical. There were streaks of white in it now, accents more than something that hinted at age or frailty.
Her golden cat's eyes lit with an inner fire as she rose from her place, setting a little china cup down on the table as she did so.
"Harry! My dear child!" Lea came forward, all grace and power and I moved away from Marcone, let her hug me. It was strangely comfortable, in spite of the sensation of being enveloped in a low level electrical field. I found myself leaning into her, hugging her back and the realization startled me. I didn't do anything stupid like jerk away or scream imprecations at her, I just slowly eased back, ending the hug. Lea was smiling, her sharp little teeth denting her lower lip just slightly. "It is such a pleasure to see you again, my goddaughter."
"And you, godmother. Are you well?" She patted my hand and stepped away, one hand rising to the largest streak of white in her hair.
"Better and better, dear child. My queen has healed me, and what little price I had to pay for it is well worth it. I am able to resume my duties and obligations once more." Her eyes went past me to Marcone. "Especially my duties to you, my sweet." I shifted so that I could see Marcone as well. Time to play hostess. Crap. I sucked at playing hostess.
"Godmother, may I introduce the Freeholding Lord, Baron John Marcone?" Lea's smile got broader, and her teeth seemed to get a little bit longer. I kept a good grip on her arm. If she'd been human, I would have been leaving bruises. As it was, she gave me an indulgent look out of the corner of her eye as Marcone gave her a short bow. "Baron, may I present my godmother, the Leanansidhe." Lea gave Marcone a shallow nod and their eyes never left one another. Stars and stones, it was like watching Murphy and an opponent circling each other on the mat.
"Lady Leanansidhe, it is a great honor to meet you." Marcone had his politician smile on, and it matched Lea's for sincerity. Jungle cats, the both of them. "Harry has told me so very much about you." Like how she tried to turn me into one of her hounds. And the whole sanctuary thing after Justin. Which had pissed Marcone off something fierce, for some reason. "I trust you have found my hospitality to your liking? I apologize for not being here to greet you myself, but we were not informed of your visit before hand."
"Baron. I have been hearing tales of you, as well. Though my goddaughter had not seen fit to mention you at all." Words innocuous, voice purring and it still made me worry. But maybe I was just being paranoid again?
"Hey, maybe we all want to go have a seat? I could use some tea. Yeah." I tugged at Lea, leading her back over to the chairs. Marcone pulled my chair out for me, and we struggled to do the sit and scoot in thing without embarrassment. Lea managed it with feline grace, as she did everything else. I poured some tea and sipped at it, watching the two of them. No one was saying anything, but I didn't doubt there was some sort of communication going on between them. Pheromone scenting or whatever. I wouldn't put it past Marcone.
The door didn't squeak when it swung open, but the click of the handle turning alerted us to Hendricks' entrance. He crossed the room, silent and graceful in spite of his size, a large flat jewelry box held in his hands.
"Sir." He leaned down, handed the box to Marcone and then backed away to join Gard against the wall.
"Lady Leanansidhe, as I said, my Harry has told me much about you." I resisted the urge to kick him under the table, but it was close. "Including the aid you have given her in the past and the great care you showed her when she was young." Marcone had thrown things when he'd first heard about her method of care. I still didn't get it, and he'd stopped trying to explain because it just pissed him off again. But you couldn't see any hint of that in him now. My word, the man was slick. I felt a little fire of appreciation for him in my heart. "It is not much, but I would like to repay your kindnesses to her with a small token. I understand how valuable the gift of your guardianship is to Harry and how much you must care for her, as I do."
Marcone put the box down and slid it across the table toward Lea. She licked her lips, highlighting her teeth once more and then reached for the flat box, placing it in front of her. A genuine smile curled her lips as she opened the box and I leaned around, trying to get a look. Lea chuckled and turned the box so I could see.
"Holy crap!" I was a necklace, a huge gold thing, darkened slightly with age, giving it a pleasant patina. The filigree work was studded with diamonds, just a little hint of sparkle in the darkened metal. But what made it spectacular were the twelve opals set in it. The smallest one was maybe half the size of my thumb. I didn't even really do jewelry, or at least nothing so heavy as this looked, but even I knew it was something special.
"Very nice, Baron, very nice. It is good to see my goddaughter has chosen someone who observes the proprieties. I've long despaired of her habits, but I see perhaps some of my lessons have sunk in." She ran her fingers over the jewels and then shut the case, leaning over to stage whisper at me. "You've chosen well, dear. At least he has an estate and understands your worth. And he is...what is the modern term..." She snapped her fingers idly in the air. It was all a show. Lea knew exactly what she wanted to say. I rolled my eyes, groaning. "A crimelord?"
"I prefer to think of myself as an entrepreneur. 'Crimelord' seems so crass."
"As you like. A robber baron at the least, though. I have heard many, many things about you." Lea settled back in her chair. Her teeth seemed to have gone back to normal. Sharp, but no longer quite so large, though they had never seemed strange on her face. "For the most part, I approve of what I hear. You are clever. That much is clear, to have won your way into the Accords. The first mortal ever to do so. Very nice. You don't lack for courage, and you understand the obligations of a lord to his people. So refreshing. Fierce." Lea was purring, a low rumble that resonated in my chest. "An excellent choice for a mate, my love." Lea trailed the tip of one finger along the top of the table.
"Lea, godmother, I didn't-"
"Hush. I came to see him for myself, and to judge his worthiness. You'll forgive me for saying so, but your judgment is not always the best, around men. You underestimate them all the time. Perhaps it's my fault, though I did the best I could." She sighed, sounding very put upon. "You understand, Baron, that I do love my goddaughter. She is precious to me. Precious for the sake of her mother, with whom I made my bargain, and precious in her own right. I would take it ill, should you not take great care with her." Lea flexed her fingers, idly, and the room's temperature dropped by several degrees.
"I understand, of course. And I agree that Harry is precious. I would give much to be able to protect her from everything. But then I would have to be wary of Harry's retribution. She is...herself."
"Too true. She hardly lets one do a thing for her. And to do otherwise would make her unhappy. We can't have that, can we? It is a delicate line those who love her must walk." Lea leaned forward, eager. "We are family now, are we not? Perhaps one day you will come and see my kennels. I am quite proud of my hounds, Baron. They are keen and swift, and never miss their prey. It's very impressive, watching them bring down their prey. Though perhaps the screaming will disturb you. Those who offend me often seem to lack the strength to remain silent during the hunt. But you wouldn't, would you? Seeing their bright eyes glinting after you, hearing the howls, I think you'd remain silent, wouldn't you?" Her eyes were bright, eager as she met Marcone's gaze. I stared at them, trying to decide whether or not yelling at one or the other would do any good. And which one I should yell at.
"Maybe some day we can come see your kennels. They sound...exciting." Marcone leaned back in his chair, every line at ease and made a small gesture in Hendricks' direction. "We have already eaten, I'm sorry. But perhaps you'd care to join us for desert?"
Lea grinned, delighted. Crap. I think she liked him.
I was the anon who commented that Lea would be implying to Marcone that "My hounds, they dine on flesh" on another prompt. Lea's little speech here fills me with much sadistic glee. She's wonderfully scary and you show that well.
And she approves of John! Of course, he's nearly as scary as she is. I think, if John were given an extended lifetime, he would rise up in the ranks of the supernatural world like some kind of deity.
Honest to god, your comment was the only thing I could remember about that prompt. And I couldn't find it again when I tried, so that's what I was aiming for! :)
I'm glad you approve of Lea. I love her, but I find it hard to write her. I don't think I have enough sneaky in me!
Yes! If Marcone ever gains a longer than human lifetime he will totally take the place over.
Harry's still mostly Harry, no matter what. Which, yeah. Oblivious and not quite in touch with so many, many concepts. The fact that she doesn't get why he should even be mad in the first place makes it so much worse.
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timeasmymeasure
Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-28 06:27 pm (UTC)"She's the only one I've got, yeah." My head hurt. It had nothing to do with the baby, or any actual physical illness and I knew it. I did not really want to see Lea. The sidhe woman was...well, the last time I'd seen her she'd been locked up in Mab's tower and crazier than a bedbug. I was going to assume she was 'better', or Mab wouldn't have let her out, but even before she'd slipped a cog she hadn't been the most stable creature I'd ever met.
And she was still the closest thing to family I'd had for years before I found Thomas. As weird as that made some things, it was true.
Right. So maybe I was a little nervous about seeing her.
"Mr. Hendricks, if you could fetch the gift?" I shrugged off Marcone's arm and started walking ahead of him. Gift? What gift? "Harry and I will be entertaining her godmother."
"You can't give her a gift, Marcone. She's sidhe. I thought you knew this stuff. Haven't you been paying attention?"
"I am not supposed to give her a gift that she cannot immediately return a like value for because the sidhe do not like to owe others. However, as she is your godmother and this is my first meeting with her, it is appropriate that I give her a token of appreciation.
"The token must be worthy of her, and display my seriousness in courting you as well as my ability to provide for you. As such, it is not a gift so much as it is something that is owed to her already." He caught up to me, catching my arm again to try and slow me down. "I have been paying attention."
Marcone somehow managed to get in front of me just in time to grab the door and beat me to opening it. I gave him a small frown, but didn't fight him for the door like I usually would have. We were playing it old school I guess.
Gard rose and turned to greet us, nodding to Marcone and giving me a quick smile and a pat on the shoulder. She retreated into the background, not leaving the room but giving us the illusion of privacy.
Lea looked the same as always, perfect. Her dress looked like something out of the Lord of the Rings, sea green and so light that it looked like it might float off on its own any second. I guess she was playing the 'elf' thing to the hilt, in spite of her delicately rounded little ears and the fact that she wasn't an elf at all. Her long red hair was like fire flowing over the dress, beautiful and impractical. There were streaks of white in it now, accents more than something that hinted at age or frailty.
Her golden cat's eyes lit with an inner fire as she rose from her place, setting a little china cup down on the table as she did so.
"Harry! My dear child!" Lea came forward, all grace and power and I moved away from Marcone, let her hug me. It was strangely comfortable, in spite of the sensation of being enveloped in a low level electrical field. I found myself leaning into her, hugging her back and the realization startled me. I didn't do anything stupid like jerk away or scream imprecations at her, I just slowly eased back, ending the hug. Lea was smiling, her sharp little teeth denting her lower lip just slightly. "It is such a pleasure to see you again, my goddaughter."
"And you, godmother. Are you well?" She patted my hand and stepped away, one hand rising to the largest streak of white in her hair.
"Better and better, dear child. My queen has healed me, and what little price I had to pay for it is well worth it. I am able to resume my duties and obligations once more." Her eyes went past me to Marcone. "Especially my duties to you, my sweet." I shifted so that I could see Marcone as well. Time to play hostess. Crap. I sucked at playing hostess.
"Godmother, may I introduce the Freeholding Lord, Baron John Marcone?" Lea's smile got broader, and her teeth seemed to get a little bit longer. I kept a good grip on her arm. If she'd been human, I would have been leaving bruises. As it was, she gave me an indulgent look out of the corner of her eye as Marcone gave her a short bow. "Baron, may I present my godmother, the Leanansidhe." Lea gave Marcone a shallow nod and their eyes never left one another. Stars and stones, it was like watching Murphy and an opponent circling each other on the mat.
"Lady Leanansidhe, it is a great honor to meet you." Marcone had his politician smile on, and it matched Lea's for sincerity. Jungle cats, the both of them. "Harry has told me so very much about you." Like how she tried to turn me into one of her hounds. And the whole sanctuary thing after Justin. Which had pissed Marcone off something fierce, for some reason. "I trust you have found my hospitality to your liking? I apologize for not being here to greet you myself, but we were not informed of your visit before hand."
"Baron. I have been hearing tales of you, as well. Though my goddaughter had not seen fit to mention you at all." Words innocuous, voice purring and it still made me worry. But maybe I was just being paranoid again?
"Hey, maybe we all want to go have a seat? I could use some tea. Yeah." I tugged at Lea, leading her back over to the chairs. Marcone pulled my chair out for me, and we struggled to do the sit and scoot in thing without embarrassment. Lea managed it with feline grace, as she did everything else. I poured some tea and sipped at it, watching the two of them. No one was saying anything, but I didn't doubt there was some sort of communication going on between them. Pheromone scenting or whatever. I wouldn't put it past Marcone.
The door didn't squeak when it swung open, but the click of the handle turning alerted us to Hendricks' entrance. He crossed the room, silent and graceful in spite of his size, a large flat jewelry box held in his hands.
"Sir." He leaned down, handed the box to Marcone and then backed away to join Gard against the wall.
"Lady Leanansidhe, as I said, my Harry has told me much about you." I resisted the urge to kick him under the table, but it was close. "Including the aid you have given her in the past and the great care you showed her when she was young." Marcone had thrown things when he'd first heard about her method of care. I still didn't get it, and he'd stopped trying to explain because it just pissed him off again. But you couldn't see any hint of that in him now. My word, the man was slick. I felt a little fire of appreciation for him in my heart. "It is not much, but I would like to repay your kindnesses to her with a small token. I understand how valuable the gift of your guardianship is to Harry and how much you must care for her, as I do."
Marcone put the box down and slid it across the table toward Lea. She licked her lips, highlighting her teeth once more and then reached for the flat box, placing it in front of her. A genuine smile curled her lips as she opened the box and I leaned around, trying to get a look. Lea chuckled and turned the box so I could see.
"Holy crap!" I was a necklace, a huge gold thing, darkened slightly with age, giving it a pleasant patina. The filigree work was studded with diamonds, just a little hint of sparkle in the darkened metal. But what made it spectacular were the twelve opals set in it. The smallest one was maybe half the size of my thumb. I didn't even really do jewelry, or at least nothing so heavy as this looked, but even I knew it was something special.
"Very nice, Baron, very nice. It is good to see my goddaughter has chosen someone who observes the proprieties. I've long despaired of her habits, but I see perhaps some of my lessons have sunk in." She ran her fingers over the jewels and then shut the case, leaning over to stage whisper at me. "You've chosen well, dear. At least he has an estate and understands your worth. And he is...what is the modern term..." She snapped her fingers idly in the air. It was all a show. Lea knew exactly what she wanted to say. I rolled my eyes, groaning. "A crimelord?"
"I prefer to think of myself as an entrepreneur. 'Crimelord' seems so crass."
"As you like. A robber baron at the least, though. I have heard many, many things about you." Lea settled back in her chair. Her teeth seemed to have gone back to normal. Sharp, but no longer quite so large, though they had never seemed strange on her face. "For the most part, I approve of what I hear. You are clever. That much is clear, to have won your way into the Accords. The first mortal ever to do so. Very nice. You don't lack for courage, and you understand the obligations of a lord to his people. So refreshing. Fierce." Lea was purring, a low rumble that resonated in my chest. "An excellent choice for a mate, my love." Lea trailed the tip of one finger along the top of the table.
"Lea, godmother, I didn't-"
"Hush. I came to see him for myself, and to judge his worthiness. You'll forgive me for saying so, but your judgment is not always the best, around men. You underestimate them all the time. Perhaps it's my fault, though I did the best I could." She sighed, sounding very put upon. "You understand, Baron, that I do love my goddaughter. She is precious to me. Precious for the sake of her mother, with whom I made my bargain, and precious in her own right. I would take it ill, should you not take great care with her." Lea flexed her fingers, idly, and the room's temperature dropped by several degrees.
"I understand, of course. And I agree that Harry is precious. I would give much to be able to protect her from everything. But then I would have to be wary of Harry's retribution. She is...herself."
"Too true. She hardly lets one do a thing for her. And to do otherwise would make her unhappy. We can't have that, can we? It is a delicate line those who love her must walk." Lea leaned forward, eager. "We are family now, are we not? Perhaps one day you will come and see my kennels. I am quite proud of my hounds, Baron. They are keen and swift, and never miss their prey. It's very impressive, watching them bring down their prey. Though perhaps the screaming will disturb you. Those who offend me often seem to lack the strength to remain silent during the hunt. But you wouldn't, would you? Seeing their bright eyes glinting after you, hearing the howls, I think you'd remain silent, wouldn't you?" Her eyes were bright, eager as she met Marcone's gaze. I stared at them, trying to decide whether or not yelling at one or the other would do any good. And which one I should yell at.
"Maybe some day we can come see your kennels. They sound...exciting." Marcone leaned back in his chair, every line at ease and made a small gesture in Hendricks' direction. "We have already eaten, I'm sorry. But perhaps you'd care to join us for desert?"
Lea grinned, delighted. Crap. I think she liked him.
OP Re: Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-28 07:07 pm (UTC)And she approves of John! Of course, he's nearly as scary as she is. I think, if John were given an extended lifetime, he would rise up in the ranks of the supernatural world like some kind of deity.
Re: OP Re: Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-29 02:44 am (UTC)Re: OP Re: Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-29 06:39 pm (UTC)I'm glad you approve of Lea. I love her, but I find it hard to write her. I don't think I have enough sneaky in me!
Yes! If Marcone ever gains a longer than human lifetime he will totally take the place over.
Re: Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-28 09:52 pm (UTC)Loved the
subtlethreats :DRe: Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-29 06:41 pm (UTC)She doesn't get it.
:D It was far more subtle than the shovel talk I gave when my best friend got engaged!
Re: Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-29 02:47 am (UTC)And his conversation with Lea just makes me wriggle with glee. Lea does the Shovel Talk. Mere words cannot encompass this kind of awesome.
Re: Fill: Fortuitus Familia 11/?
Date: 2011-03-29 06:45 pm (UTC):D Thanks!