What's better than money

(power) (and naps)

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Five

[lourdesvillasisniega]

"Don’t get used to it, but every once in a while…” She traced patterns against the top of his hand. She didn’t want to think about what would happen to him, the way his future was partially written when they rest of theirs weren’t. It was too cruel. But she’d been too close to death lately and it had solidified that who was there in the aftermath mattered. Raleigh would give him the care he deserved.

Lou’s laughter was sharp and loud. “Rumi? Rumi? Her idea of a revenge dress involves being covered from wrist to ankle. I love her dearly and her ability to look like Grace Kelly with all of those restrictions is immaculate, but I can’t ask her to do that. It needs to be my version of revenge, not hers.” Although she was certain that Rumi’s idea of revenge would be more along the lines of forgiveness and inviting Tal to her future wedding or something.

She took a quick swig after him and nearly choked as he agreed that Tal wasn’t just anyone. This was turning into a very brave new world. She wiped her lips with the back of hand and took another sip. “Without a doubt and the security would be very over the top so everyone who wasn’t invited would be all too aware of it.”

The idea of laughing had felt impossible an hour ago, but she could feel her lips softening into genuine happiness. It was rough around the edges, but it was real. “It’s okay, if we have to be stuck here, I’m glad we’re not alone.”

[christiandumotier]

Christian watched Lou's perfectly painted nail rove over the nearly translucent lines of his hand, conjuring the breezy, over confident tone that had likely doomed his ancestors to the guillotine. "I think I will get used to it. This is a new world, after all. It's what we make of it. And it's not like I can become any more insufferable to you."

"I didn't say let Rumi design it." He let out a small sniff, mildly annoyed. "I said mobilize her little drama club. What is a theater kid without a production? A catfish waiting to happen. Obvio."

He took the bottle back with his free hand, letting the cool glass rest against his cheek. "A full honor guard, of course. Not to mention the ninjas we'd contract to wait on the roof so that when he inevitably figures out his mistake, he needn't trouble you."

"Well, I'm a little alone."

That leonine smile appeared again. "But only when you aren't here."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Seven

[thekhoolest]

“I saw the aftermath, though, and it’ll haunt me for the rest of my life.” He looked down. There was a part of him that was angry at the situation, but mostly he was furious that he couldn’t get these images out of his head. It lived in him now and he didn’t get why everyone else got to just go on like it had never happened.

He nodded his head, “And the aristocracy, too.” It gave Christian character. Everyone should have an eccentric former nobleman for a friend. His own father’s title had been lost several generations ago for money, but he did have a knighted great grandfather so things evened out.

Branch out? Reg hadn’t realized the situation was that dire. “I know they’ve taken steps in the bread and circuses directions. But you’re right. I don’t know how long that will hold. You can only go to so many parties and hook up with so many people before it all starts to feel,” Meaningless. “Boring.”

Where were they supposed to go? Tony had offered protection, but if the tides turned against him… well, Reg’s family didn’t amass their wealth by being paragons of virtue. They saw the writing on the wall and made a smarter choice.

And then Christian gave him reason to pause. “Huh? Didn’t realize he had that in him. All those genteel manners really lead your head towards the trafficking direction, but good to know. I can be… politic around him.”

[christiandumotier]

Christian didn't know what to say to Reg that hadn't already been said. Or that he would accept in his usual 'elite bro' way. "I'm sorry, mon complice. Consider founding an art movement. It worked for Tzara."

He sighed. "I thought I said that already." Pretentiousness and aristocracy went hand in hand. "Posh pretension, then."

"You've always had far more..." endurance "...tolerance for those things than me." A severe understatement, even with the correction. "We'll have to try, you know, meaningful connection. And not just with pretty girls." He gave Reg a small elbow. "Pretty people, excuse me. But that is the trouble. I think you may have to be seen doing it."

Christian groaned, letting his frustration fully out for once. "You'd think, but he actually encouraged them to form a union. Naive little psychopath. You might think you can control that shit with goodwill, but you can't." He shook his head at Reg's caution. "No, no, he offed his dad. Seems like the org is happy about it though. They're on their way to IPO."

[morganlittle]

“We think so,” Morgan replied, nodding at Drew. She wanted to believe Christian was operating in good faith. Did she give him a chance to prove her right or wrong? She’d changed since this all began. Was it so hard to believe he had too? Apparently the answer was yes because Morgan struggled to view this as entirely genuine. She was sure parts were, but she didn’t know which.

She looked at Drew, searching for anything in his expression that told her what he was thinking. Morgan could interpret a silent signal but she wasn’t too practiced at reading him better than that yet. “That is why we’re considering this,” she admitted. “Less danger.” The alternative was a lot riskier, especially for them. Was it enough reason to go this route or would it be selfish?

“If this happens, we will be sending someone with you. It won’t be someone from CM, only because we think our presence will make things a lot more fraught for everybody.”

[drewrogersqb]

“Why can’t you? Tell us I mean.” Drew gave Christian an aw shucks half smile, willfully ignoring the social cue to join him in comfortable white boy town. He was very good at needing things explained to him. It was kind of his hobby at this point.

Drew nodded, confirming Morgan’s assessment. “That’s the point, man. The, like, duties we owe each other. But you’re being like… super vague. It feels kinda weird, you know? Are you going to talk to Tony this way?”

The idea that Christian seemed to be truly claiming Raleigh’s endorsement gave Drew just a little bit of pause. He seemed like the kind of guy who might actually know that Drew and Raleigh talked more than acquaintances did. (Not that they would ever have been acquaintances if not for Del. Drew was not an Honors kid.)

He watched Christian closely as Morgan brought up the idea of him having company. If they had any hope of knowing Christian’s true motives, this would have to be the hint.

@christiandumotier

[christiandumotier]

Christian leaned on all of his aquiline stoicism to avoid wrinkling his nose at Drew's complete rejection of his social cues. And, Christian was surprised to acknowledge, it was willfully so.

So he tried to pretend he was teaching Shannon rather than this infant. "Because secrets have no power when they're told." He gave Drew a slightly pitying look. "Beyond their initial fallout, I should say."

Luckily, he could focus instead on their newly shared interest in community responsibility. He gave Morgan a noble nod, as if to say, yet another thing on which we agree, mademoiselle.

He was quickly realizing that Morgan and Drew were attempting the 'good cop, stupid cop' routine. Disappointing. But he would have to play at patience. He was well practiced in that. "I will be talking to Tony and Anu this way, yes. I know it may be difficult to understand, but omertà wasn't just a device invented to sell mafia games. People like the Alessis prefer understatement when it comes to the things that truly matter. It reassures them that you can be discrete." He paused. "I know neither of them are particularly understated, but I can lend you some movies to give you an idea of the context. There's a little film called Goodfellas. You'll love it."

Christian adjusted his position a little, telling him the ebbing the pain medication was only in his mind. "Send someone with me? Who did you have in mind?"

@morganlittle

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[shannonquilter]

Shannon wanted to ask if you could revisit something that you’d never visited in the first place. But she recognised she’d be, well, not poking the bear per se, she had already done that several times. Shoving the bear? He was a bit too stick-like to be compared to a bear. Lots to consider. “No I don’t. I don’t think that’s the most relevant part of the story.” Shannon sighed. “I decided not to publish it because I do see how it could backfire. It already has,” she said, waving a hand in his direction. “Too little too late, apparently.” As if losing her best friend wasn’t punishment enough.

He was saying a lot of quite rude things, but Shannon could see the underlying give-a-fuck in his words. It was strange. She couldn’t figure out what reason he’d have for that. He didn’t know her, but she could do something with that. She was growing more certain that was her key to getting out of this situation relatively unscathed.

“Being identified would not be ideal,” she admitted. It always lived in the back of her mind. What happened here had solidified Shannon’s decision to never tell people she was Alice again.

“Well. You clearly have a lot of thoughts on what I do, how I could improve. Teach me what you know. And you’ll have access to more information. Secrets, that’s what you value yes? I can help with that.”

[christiandumotier]

Christian rolled his eyes. " 'Not the most relevant part of the story'? Consider this lesson one from me: Never use a secret if you don't have all the facts. You might as well not have it if you can't control it. You need to know who has a stake, how much they care, and why. Every. Single. Person. Imagine, if, when you fucked up with Tali Montes, you could have offered up Angela Nixon on a silver platter. Always have an exit strategy."

"I don't want to teach you." Christian huffed, as if he hadn't just given her advice for at least forty-five seconds before adding. "If you're going to be this reckless."

"Besides, we have completely different interests. It's to my benefit to keep secrets contained. You want to hold onto them just long enough to release them into the world. You'd need to practice that 'too little too late' self control."

And yet... his mind was starting to purr with the possibilities. He'd already been using Tea Time as another source of unspoken pressure on clients. To think that he could actually control the column made it hard to suppress a smile, but he managed. He was French after all. "Think you can manage that?"

[morganlittle]

“Thank you,” Morgan said in response to Christian’s apology. It was more than most would give.

Morgan was conflicted. There was a little nagging voice in her head telling her that this was a risky path to take. She struggled to believe that Christian would do this out of the good of his heart. “Why do you feel it’s your obligation?” she asked him. Morgan wished they had thought to ask Fern if she had agreed to some kind of payment for this. Her instincts told her she must have, Christian was not someone who did things for free historically. It seemed far fetched that he’d change his ways now. What did she agree to give him? And would she tell them if she did?

She knew asking what information he had on the Alessi’s was going to be pointless. They were Community Maintenance. Enough said. “This information you have. Is there a risk of others being hurt?” Morgan wasn’t sure about her wording. “I’m sure you can appreciate why we’re feeling some reluctance. We won’t want to go ahead if this could result in any harm coming to somebody else.”

@drewrogersqb

[drewrogersqb]

Lucky fucking you. Drew thought, before adding another Sorry Mom to his inner monologue. It must be nice to not have to think about Tony Alessi at all. He wasn’t sure he could recall a time when he’d been able to avoid that while he lived in West Ham. Art had seen to that.

“That’s a dark metaphor.” He thanked Del internally for the ability to even recognize the technique. “Where’d you get the bombs?” He wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but he needed to.

He just nodded as Morgan asked the most important question. He knew Dante was harping big on obligation and duty, but he couldn’t believe that was what got through to Christian du Motier.

“Exactly.” He echoed Morgan’s sum up of the potential impact. “You think Raleigh would approve of this?” He genuinely didn’t know, and perhaps he was looking for yet another cheatsheet from people who were smarter than him. He knew Morgan was going to ask his opinion because she was kind like that, but he’d never been anything other than reactive in these situations, deciding how to handle others’ positions as best he could.

@christiandumotier

[christiandumotier]

Christian was impressed that Drew knew the word metaphor. He'd need to tell Reg that the boy was getting closer to Winthrop-Khoo dating material bit by bit. "You know I can't tell you that."

"It's all of our obligation, isn't it? I just have more means than most. For now, I should say." He lifted an eyebrow. "From what I hear, things are about to be leveled. But I'll be honest." (No, he wouldn't.) "I can acknowledge I didn't make things better before all this started. I wasn't interested in it. I can't help but worry that that inaction has contributed to this." Perhaps there was a grain of truth to that. Just enough to hide the actual contribution. Hopefully.

This was a delicate question. A good one, even. He hadn't expected them to think so globally, which was perhaps his own arrogance. "There is no action that is 100% without risk. But I truly believe the net danger is less." He barely swallowed the notion that anyone who will be harmed deserves it, but he wasn't allowed to say shit like that, was he? Even if it was true. "And Raleigh agrees that something needs to be done. She knows I can take care of myself. And other people." And would say I'm being a pretentious dick, but that runs in the family.

@morganlittle

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[shannonquilter]

Shannon squinted in response, opening her mouth to say what she thought about that and then decided for the first time since this began to think before she spoke. At least for a moment. “I do consider that,” she told him. She wasn’t about to tell him about the literal chest of secrets in her bedroom. The next thing she knew she’d be handing them over to protect her identity. “There are many things I know that haven’t ended up in Tea Time. More than those that have. But that is my main method, I’m not sure what others I would use.”

Shannon waved her hand between them like yeah, duh. Did he not know how this was coming across? Odd. “Excu–” She began to continue defending herself, but he kept going. She did so hate being interrupted. “Banality?” And to insult her! Incredible. There was no cure for bad taste, she didn’t see how that was her problem though.

Next move? Did he mean in this situation with him? With Tali? She doubted he cared about what happened with Tali. Not in any other way than how this happening benefited him. But what if she could get something for herself too?

“What if you and I were to strike a mutually beneficial deal?”

[christiandumotier]

Christian didn't bother hiding his eyeroll. "And of all of these options, you decided to revisit the car crash that is the Montes family? Even if Tali had told you to spread it, do you really not see how badly that would go for you? Do you even know who the affair partner is?"

He gave her a warning look (mostly borrowed from Fi, if he was honest), an I'm not done gaze as he cut her off. "Yes. Banality. Your details aren't really obfuscated, and you haven't pulled yourself away from easy comparisons, like Gossip Girl. Is it because you don't want to be identified? You're saving your best for some college essay that isn't going to actually matter five years from now?"

A smile spread over Christian's face, somehow both feline and fox-like as he saw he start to compose herself. Partly. "Good instinct. But what are you offering?"

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[shannonquilter]

Shannon feigned a confidence she did not feel. “Okay, but errant comma aside. My use of dipstick was pretty good, no?” She had been proud of that one, Nell hadn’t even read it before Shannon had a change of heart.

“You don’t consider siccing you on me as doing something to me?” she asked. She supposed it was better than the alternative: Tony Alessi. It was pointless arguing though, it was happening regardless of semantics. Shannon needed to figure out how to get through it without the entire school finding out about her.

“I wrote it after she told me what her sleazy dad did. I’ve never seen her so mad. I thought maybe she’d want to get payback. Learned quickly that was not the case.” She cleared her throat and stood taller. Shannon had messed up but she didn’t plan to go through with it. Not after Tali had dumped her for it. “I deleted it, like I said. Contrary to her belief, I didn’t intend to ruin my best friend’s life. You shouldn’t be able to even see it, it was gone. I wasn’t going to publish it.” And there was a chance Nell would have stopped her too. She did that sometimes in complex situations. “…ex-best friend,” she amended.

[christiandumotier]

"Non." He answered before he could stop himself, echoing the question back to her with Francophone finality. "It's crass. I would consider the value of its sophomoric humor if you weren't discussing your best friend's father's 'dipstick.' " He sighed. "I understand the appeal of the flourish but if you want to collect and use secrets, you need to consider the value of keeping them and the method by which you disclose. It is very easy to ruin their value. Far easier than most believe."

"Sicc me on you?" Christian was genuinely offended. Was he a fucking poodle? But as tempted as he was to threaten her, he knew that made him look less powerful, not more. "Always glad to hear my reputation proceeds me. But if my presence really was so intimidating, you wouldn't be defending yourself quite so vehemently, would you?" He didn't wait for her to agree. He didn't have to. "This was a monumentally stupid play precisely because you got your information in an easily traceable way, and despite the current banality of your writing, your style suggests you're smart enough to know that. So stop arguing with me and come up with your next move."

Why was he giving her advice? He genuinely didn't know. It certainly wouldn't be to Tali's liking. But it was a waste, and despite his economic class, Christian didn't like those. Mostly.

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[shannonquilter]

Shannon was stunned into silence. What… how… She looked around the room, making sure they were the only ones in here. Nell was the only one on the paper who knew what she did. The more people who knew the more likely it was to get out. Like it was right fucking now.

“Tali,” she repeated, the pieces clicking together in her head. “She did this?” Wow, what the fuck. Absolutely batshit how quickly someone could go from being your best friend to your worst enemy. This was literally Shannon’s nightmare. Far worse than what she had not even done to Tali. Her fucking dad was the one who hurt her. Tali knew that and she had still done it.

“First of all, that is a first draft. Those have errors.” She raised one finger. “Second, I deleted that entry. How are you reading that right now?” Another. “Third, I’ll ask again: what are you doing? I can appreciate a good snoop but this is an ambush. What do you want from me? Or should I say what does Tali want from me?”

[christiandumotier]

Christian really loved this part. Watching his prey flounder, explore every potential escape plan until they realized they had nothing. He didn't joke to Lou that he was a supervillain for nothing. Even if he sometimes felt more like a housecat.

Shannon did have more questions than he was used to. Usually people were sniveling almost immediately. "First, it's careless, but I suspect you know that. Second, because I'm me. And the sooner you understand that, the sooner we can move onto your third question."

Maybe that was coming on a bit strong, but he didn't particularly like being questioned. "But you're misusing the past tense here too. Tali hasn't done anything to you. Not yet. I'm not sure you can say the same. Reassure me, and I may consider helping you alleviate what I dearly hope is a misunderstanding."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Five

[lourdesvillasisniega]

"Thank you.” Lou leaned more firmly into his touch. She knew this wasn’t easy for him, but she would give him points for trying. He didn’t have to understand to go a little easier on Tal.

“Shh.” She tried to stop him, but he grew contemplative. As much as she wanted to interrupt him, push the words back down his throat, she owed him this. He was so rarely honest about his health. The least she could do was make sure he got what he wanted here. “Then you’ll get Raleigh,” there was a confidence to her words that didn’t match her insides.

Seeing Britt on that table had been so draining. They weren’t even close friends, but she’d been struck silent by how small and fragile Britt looked. How utterly final the whole thing was. Imagining that Christian could be there… she looked up trying to blink away any possible tears. He was fine. His heart was steady underneath her hands, she could feel it. He would be okay. He had to be.

“Revenge dress has possibility. I mean Diana made everyone remember her.” She didn’t have the budget for her tastes and she hated when her mom heard that Christian bought anything. As a result, she didn’t have a ton of eat your heart dresses, but the idea did appeal. “Is that all you can use? There’s gotta be something they want that you can give them.”

She laughed as he suggested they make out in public. “I don’t think that would mean much to anyone, us included.” She and Christian had never really mastered the art of PDA together. Partially because there was a vulnerability between them that felt a little too raw for other people to witness. Partially because they were usually busy with other people. Come to think of it, she never saw him make out with anyone. “Also, you’d be getting pressed for wedding invitations and I don’t want to explain how nothing could be less serious than you and I kissing.”

She squeezed his hand gently. “I could never grow sick of any of that. I wish you’d brought it here. But, you’re right, we can’t be stuck here forever. We’ll find our way back to the beach eventually.”

[christiandumotier]

Christian was proud of Lou, in a way, for not resisting the conversation about his demise. Usually she would have smacked him by now. "Louis..." he said, his accent on her name even thicker from his smirk. "You're spoiling me."

"There are things they want that I will not give them, thank you very much." He had to laugh. If he had wanted to piss off Fiona, all he had had to do was acquiesce to Heli Fusco's bubbly advances and let her spread the news around. What can I say, Fi? I just like blondes. They're so agreeable. But even he wouldn't stoop to that kind of psychological warfare. Especially with a sophomore. "At this point couldn't you just tell Rumi to commission it? She has more clout. In this respect." He added quickly.

He took a long drink from the bottle before offering it to her. "Taliesin Mauk isn't just anyone, but I take your point." He gave her a wry look, clocking the teasing but not-so-veiled threat. "As if I/we would do anything other than elope. But our 'make it up to our parents' party would be the invitation of the season."

"There's my Louis." He kissed her palm before gently bringing her arm across his body. "Ever the optimist, for the betterment of all." He paused, looking up at her. "I missed you. And I'm sorry."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[shannonquilter]

Things had been… hard since Tali had ended their friendship. It was difficult for Shannon to wrap her head around. How she had ended up being the bad guy in a situation where Tali’s father was an adulterous piece of shit. In what world did that make sense??

As a result of her much emptier social life, she had been throwing herself into all things school and gossip. It kept her mind busy and she couldn’t dwell on how much she missed her friend. Onto bigger and better things. Shannon didn’t need her.

She walked into the newspaper office, her attention on her phone, scrolling Instagram to see if anything interesting was going on. She was planning to knock out the rest of the new gossip this week during this period. Being Alice was one of her favourite things ever, her voice always soothed her.

She stopped short when she reached the end of her desk and realised someone was in her chair. At her computer. With her newspaper account open. “What are you doing?” she asked him, trying to appear calmer than she was. “This is not for public use.”

[christiandumotier]

Christian was only mildly glassy-eyed as he inserted the USB stick to unlock Shannon's computer. These things were second nature to him now, so they barely demanded any focus. It was quite easy to unlock any school machine when you bought the company who handled their remote access kiosk and insisted to them that having a skeleton key for the system was just good business. I mean what are they hiding anyway? he'd said in a near perfect imitation of his father. (Such was the benefit of conference calls.)

He looked up as Shannon spoke, raising his eyebrow at her nearly squeaking out 'public use.' "I know that you value your privacy, Alice, but I expect you to appreciate a good snoop."

He leaned back in the chair, giving it a slight half turn back and forth as he read from the blind item she thought she deleted.

Big Oil Daddy’s housewife isn’t doing it for him anymore. Someone has been very bad recently, who knew the PTA was such a hot spot for illicit affairs? A father of a West Ham High student has been putting his dipstick where it doesn’t belong... A cheap date from the other side of the tracks who’s son also attends WHH. What will this mean for marriages and children? Is one of our social elite about to have a new step brother? We’ll just have to wait and see.

He pointed delicately at the screen, his finger hovering over the second line. "I think you're misusing a comma here. Unless you resent Strunk & White as much as you do Tali Montes?"

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[talimontes]

Relief was trying to make itself known, but Tali wouldn’t let herself feel it yet. Not until it was done. She’d taken first steps but bringing Shannon to heel was a whole other thing. She hoped her faith in Christian was not misplaced.

“Thank you. Your services are much appreciated.” She reached into her Prada bag and pulled out her notepad and pen. Tali wrote her name and phone number in her neat cursive. “That’s all. Please let me know when it’s been handled. This is my number,” she handed him the paper. “What do you prefer for client recommendations? Word of mouth?”

“No hall pass needed, I’m not staying today.” Who knew how Shannon would react when she found out Tali had gone this far to silence her? She hoped she’d have the sense to roll over, but she could be unpredictable at the best of times. A Shannon backed into a corner had potential for lashing out. And anyway, Tali needed some retail therapy after all of this drama. Her father’s Amex tucked into her purse would come in handy today. And maybe she’d see if Krish wanted to join her.

[christiandumotier]

Christian took the note with a slight nod, just enough to evoke a bow to a lady but without actually being that ridiculous. "By eighth period. You have my word." It would probably be sixth, but he liked a little room to work. Or take a pill or two, as the case may be.

"Word of mouth always, please. Anything you read on a bathroom wall about me is almost certainly a lie, and I'd like to keep it that way." Social media was a no-go, but he knew she was smart enough to know that.

"An erased absence then." Christian said, with a smile. "That's even easier. Less overhead." (It really was ridiculous that hall passes were still a thing. Such a waste of paper.) Then he let her go on her way, took a short nap, and headed to the newspaper office to lay his trap.

@shannonquilter

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Seven

[thekhoolest]

“I didn’t see it.” There had been one witness to the attack and he wasn’t sure if she was the kind of religious that was an asshole or the kind that claimed to see visions. So, he wasn’t sure that they could take her word as gospel. “The description I heard made it sound like it wasn’t from this region, at least.”

He chuckled. He wasn’t as good as Christian when it came to insults, but he didn’t need to be. “I can’t imagine it. My confidence was built into my bloodline.” So were his insecurities.

“That same way you handle everything. With style and a little bit of mockery.” If he could keep him away from the guillotine, Christian would have a pretty good setup in this new world. Not a fortress a la the Alessis, but something respectable. And enough social clout on both sides that he should be able to navigate major hurdles. Maybe even some leverage to help people see things his way.

And then Christian changed the game on him. “Okay, got it.” He raised his hands in surrender. “I won’t tell you your business, but I think you’re underestimating Tony and Anu here. They are holding a lot of pieces, more than most people know about, and they have more influence, too. Those parties do a lot for people. And Tony won’t let the chains of society break too far unless he’s the one breaking them. You can count on that.” They never talked about it directly, but everyone knew where Tony’s power came from. He knew how to wield it and the miscalculation everyone else had made was deciding to give it to him. “I imagine your other interests are hush hush, but I’m not seeing a lot of danger from other sources. Maybe that new guy since I haven’t figured him out, but even he’s made overtures to Tony’s side.”

[christiandumotier]

"Unnerving." Christian said. Watching all of the Anaconda franchise one day while he was a little too high had given him a healthy (or perhaps unhealthy) fear of very large CGI serpents and the wilderness in general. (In the wilderness, you see, no one could get to you if your pain or heart meds wore off.)

Christian nodded, leaving most of the matter unsaid. "I could say the same, but I'd have to bundle the pretentiousness in there, too."

"Flattering." He replied with a smile. "But wrong."

Christian was tiring of this, and he knew it would end if he simply gave Reg the last word, but he also knew, deep down, that he wasn't the type to do so. "They should be careful, then, about revealing those pieces, when the second highest voted person just said that the pieces are community property. Far be it for me to bring history into this, Reg, but one of the primary ways capitalism and oligarchy sustain themselves is the proletariat must not spend their free time observing their true circumstances. This can be handled with bread and circuses, yes, but both of those are in limited supply in the end, no matter how deep Tony's pockets are. I am dismayed to say it, but we may have to actually... help." It was making him nauseous already. "Or branch out."

Branching out really was the solution. He knew that. His 'assistance' with Fern's initial campaign was one of the few aces in the hole he still had, even if she'd now proven should could take power on her own, at least for now. She didn't need to know that she had Dumbo's feather. That would really be counter productive.

"Also. A thing you should perhaps know about new guy." Christian looked a little bit like he was in one of the Candlish family's cow shit filled fields. He could practically feel his nose wrinkling, just thinking about the way the kid's eyes had roved over Fiona at the church a week ago. "He's a murderer. In the most cliché, Gothic sense."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[talimontes]

Tali laughed. He reminded her of Shannon in a way, always wanting to know the gossip. She had to be careful though, he seemed like he was good at making his clients feel secure. She’d be remembering this wasn’t a safe place for anybody but him. Tali wondered if he had any true loyalties or if he was a lone island. Lou liked him, she knew that in the way she and Lou knew a lot of things about each other they never talked about. Did she trust him though? Did he respect that trust? Curious.

“Shannon’s been in love with Nell Bright for years,” she told him. Tali had always thought it was kind of stupid the way Shannon never let Nell know how she felt. Like the school paper was some serious thing, and dating was so unethical in that environment. But whatever, she was suffering because of it and Tali couldn’t care less now. “She’s been out for a long time now, so this isn’t that. I’m not sure if or how you’d use it, but that’s why it’s a tip and not my original payment.”

[christiandumotier]

Christian paused. He resisted the urge to say 'I have no idea who that is' in a deep, Lex Luthor-esque voice because he did know who Nell Bright was. He just profoundly did not care. So he just left it at a simple "Interesting. I'll keep it in mind."

Christian had never been one to play Cupid. At least not that way. He'd had a few people come to him in search of what he would call a love potion. 'Can you find out if he likes me?' Yes. What will you give me? 'Do you know if he really does stuff like that in the bathroom?' No. It's the boys locker room, and it's dull and uninspired. Next question. But if Shannon would be further mortified by the notion of her crush getting out, he could work with that.

"I'm very glad you came in today, Tali. And I can assure you, as always, that your secrets are safe with me. I hope this misfortune resolves itself however is best for the people you care for." It was a rather French way to address it, but arguably, an affair had given Claude to him, and by extension, he was willing to understand that these things had more complications (and potential benefits) than people liked to admit. Even if Mrs. Nixon was a very poor choice of affair partner. "If you ever feel the need to turn the screws on Miss Quilter, feel free to act as you choose. Or let me know how I can assist. Far more fun. Now can I help with anything else, or shall I send you back to class with a perfectly forged hall pass?"

[morganlittle]

Drew’s short agreement was all it took for Morgan to realise he was using their signal without directly waving it in her face. Which was fair and would have been weird if he chucked her a contextless deuce right now. Christian was a lot smarter than Dylan Quilter, they had to be more subtle.

Morgan listened to Christian, not really buying what he was saying. “Well. As a black girl coming from normal American society where things were already quite treacherous for people like me, not really.” She shrugged as if that didn’t weigh on her. They were still figuring out how things differed here, how they wanted it to work. What it was in reality. Felt a little like walking a tightrope trying to see which way they’d fall. A better society or a worse one. Who had the strongest push?

“If you don’t feel safe why are you putting your hand up to confront Tony?” she asked him. “Surely that’s not safe. And we want you to be safe, to be clear. That’s not in question. I’m genuinely curious.”

@christiandumotier

[drewrogersqb]

Drew wasn’t proud of Morgan. He didn’t have any right to be, because it suggested a power/competence dynamic they didn’t have. But damn if he wasn’t very, very, very grateful. He had baggage when it came to pretty European boys very patiently gaslighting him, and it was all feeling a bit familiar, even if Christian’s features were less conventionally masc than Art’s. So he focused on trying to not screw this up for her.

He nodded as she pointed out the privilege of what he was saying. “Good point, Morgan.” He didn’t want to center himself in it, but if Christian argued with her, there was going to be a problem.

“I don’t want to be rude, or whatever, man, but this isn’t really news to most of us, even if we’re just talking about Tony. You heard what happened at his dinner party on Friday. You’re friends with Raleigh, right?” He was impressed he remembered that, to be honest. He just recalled Raleigh vaguely suggesting he could get talk to Christian about Cricket management back in January, saying he just needed to tell Christian ‘The White Witch says hi.’ to get some kind of discount. (What a discount meant in this context, he didn’t want to know.)

@christiandumotier

[christiandumotier]

Okay. He'd walked into that. More than a little. He could hear Lou teasing him in his head (dumb white boy, she'd murmur, somewhere between exhaustion and affection. Or perhaps he just told himself that.), but he reminded himself that this all looked very predictable and clumsy. For once, he did need to be aiming to look like a little less of a threat than usual, if only to lull them into a false sense of security. "A more than fair point, Morgan. I apologize. I'll admit I had not had to think about the implications of the Alessis' actions well..." He took perhaps a little too long to think. "Ever." His smile looked a little apologetic. A little.

"We don't really travel in the same circles, and I have no interest in doing so, despite various overtures that have been made over the years." This first tack was important to take. He was at risk of looking too connected, which could be very dangerous indeed. Connected was bad. Informed was good. "But I do have information they don't want to get out. Consider it the threat of nuclear winter to counter his posturing on the border."

He gave them a moment to process this before adding. "I appreciate your concern for my safety, but as I mentioned to Fern, I consider this information to be the best protection a person can have against the Alessis, even at their most volatile. Much as I appreciate you and Mx. Seraven volunteering to moderate conflict, when I see a situation where I am in a position to help, I feel it's my obligation to offer. I'll admit that wasn't the case in West Ham. But we aren't in West Ham anymore, as Raleigh explained to me on Friday night."

It was a slight exaggeration, to be fair. She'd sent him a warning text, and he'd followed up. It was less consolation and more risk management. "Our families are close, yes." He managed to keep the fact that her ancestors had helped to fund his forebears' escape from the French Revolution to himself. "I hate to see her upset, and I find his threats to be in poor taste. Unfortunately, he and his sister have demonstrated the only thing they respect is a show of power. I have that. And community maintenance is fundamentally designed to avoid such demonstrations, as I understand it."

[fernbright]

“Of course,” Fern nodded cordially at Christian, and then gave Morgan and Drew a reassuring smile. She would dampen down her own curiosities and worries and fears and leave it in their capable hands. She’d asked Drew to take this on for a reason, she reminded herself. He was good at this.

For now, she was going to meet with her new friends and have a small break in the madness. Fern needed to feel like a normal girl again, to remind herself of the good that she was fighting for. If only for a moment. “I’ll see you later.” She waved her goodbyes and began her walk back home, the voice in her head reminding her she was breaking a promise to Nell. Again. Fern sighed, and took her phone out of her pocket to ask her sister for a ride.

@morganlittle

[morganlittle]

“My queen is good,” Morgan joked. “No, my name is fine.” She didn’t know if she wanted a title, she got the impression it would feel too police-y. They were trying to avoid that.

Morgan followed them inside, trying not to appear too interested. She wondered if Claudia was here, she hadn’t seen her much since their group bonding session at the church party. She wanted to say hi, see how she was doing. One of the downsides of being so busy now, it was harder to keep up with all the smaller things.

“She did yeah,” Morgan replied, sitting to perch on the edge of the sofa seat. “I think we were a little surprised that you offered,” she said, looking to Drew. She didn’t want to take over or launch into any questions too soon.

@drewrogersqb

[drewrogersqb]

It somehow felt like a little much when Christian said ‘Madam President’ out loud, even if Drew had been doing it in his head for over a week. “No titles necessary, at least for me.” (He never wanted to tell Morgan what to do.) He nodded gratefully, almost sleepwalking before adding. “Not sure that matters anymore.”

He suppressed the urge to ask Fern to come back. Morgan had this, even if he very much felt he didn’t. He was just there to be the dude.

Luckily or unluckily he didn’t really know how to be anything other than direct. Talking to the Quilters had proved that to him. And if they were a scrimmage, Christian du Motier was the freaking Super Bowl. And he really didn’t have a play. So he just said… “Same.”

@christiandumotier

[christiandumotier]

Christian gave Fern a small salute as she left, more for Drew and Morgan's benefit than for hers. Then he followed up with an appropriately aristocratic bow before adding "Morgan."

He sat down on the most comfortable couch in the room, which left Drew and Morgan two rather imposing armchairs. "I understand your confusion, but when Fern explained what you were facing, I couldn't help but worry. If Tony's playing judge, jury, and executioner, I'll admit I don't feel safe." He managed to not add I don't have the capital you have, but only barely. "Do you?"

There was no point in a full lie. Not to them. They didn't merit the effort of keeping the falsehoods straight. Half-truths were easier.

@morganlittle

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[talimontes]

Shannon had done that, hadn’t she? Tali would feel bad for Drew if she cared about his feelings. He hadn’t managed to dodge the consequences of Tea Time before news about his cheating boyfriend spread far and wide.

Unspeakably fucked. Those two words held so much temptation. She could destroy everything that Shannon had put so much effort into building. Turn everyone against her, make them hate her the way Tali now did. She’d get to watch that and then wave her off with a fuck you, bye bye.

But the idea of getting to hold this over her head indefinitely was far more appealing. Tali didn’t have to do anything to have the effect she wanted. It’d always live in the back of Shannon’s little mind, the knowledge that Tali could ruin her, she just wasn’t going to. Yet.

“Excellent. You paint quite the picture,” she told him, pretending to really think it over. Tali was glad she’d come to him, if only so she could know how he operated, what he could achieve. It was worth having options. Tony’s methods were effective too, but different. There was a time and place for that.

“Private.” She decided. “Someone like Shannon? Knowing I have this in my back pocket will be its own kind of torture.”

Tali wished she could be a fly on the wall for that conversation. See the way Shannon’s blood would drain from her face when she realised how much shit she was in. This is what happens to disloyal bitches, Shan. Hope you like the consequences of your actions.

“And my tip, if you would like one. It is not as interesting or scandalous, but it’s another thing Shannon does not want to get out.”

[christiandumotier]

Quite a picture. "One of my specialties." Christian said with a smile. It was a private joke to himself mostly, considering his parents' vocation and his family's fondness for stolen art, but it did prove his point in this case. If Tali wanted him to scare the shit out of Shannon, he could do it. Likely better than her little mafioso not-boyfriend could manage in the end. Physical violence tended to have consequences for the perpetrator. Or at least it was traceable. Emotional violence was deniable and nigh on eternal.

And then, as people often did, Tali gave him what he wanted. "Excellent." And before they even had a chance to squabble about payment she was giving him more. It really was his lucky day. "Consider me seated." he said, already sitting.

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Before

[talimontes]

Tali smiled, tilting her head at him in thanks. She would hold onto what control she could when it came to this situation, even when asking for help. Shannon had taken too much away from her in a scenario that should never had gotten to this place.

How the fuck… Tali blinked at him, managing to keep most of the surprise off her face. This was Christian she was speaking to, she reminded herself. He was able to access more information than most. It was why she was surprised he didn’t know about Shannon.

“Nauseating,” she replied, smoothing down the front of her unwrinkled skirt. His choice in partner had made her feel ill whenever she thought about it. He could have at least picked someone more on her mom’s level. Risking his marriage over a Nixon… No. “And disappointing. It doesn’t, but it’s helpful context I suppose.”

Something that had been relentlessly anxious settled inside Tali at his assurance. He could fix this. And so she would pay him. She had her own ways of getting him to come through for her if he didn’t hold up his end of the bargain. “Your word is enough for me, I don’t need to see results before I tell you.”

“Shannon Quilter is the one writing the column. I wish I didn’t tell her my secrets, maybe she should wish the same about me.” To a degree. Tali currently believed that cutting her off was punishment enough for this. No more parties, no more confidant, no more perks that came along with being important to her. It was all done. Permanently.

[christiandumotier]

Christian didn't bother to hide his satisfaction as Tali's shock leaked through in snatches, like errant snowflakes in April. This was the part of the job that kept him interested. The power. The surprise. "Well, glad it helped in some small measure then."

There was no need to comment on his victory. Not when there was still so much to do. And then she told him.

Shannon had been in his top three suspects, so he wasn't too surprised, but perhaps he was a little depressed that it wasn't Laila Khan moonlighting as the ultimate mean girl. That would have been very useful. The younger Quilter's reporting under her own name was so bland compared to Tea Time. She must have been overcompensating.

There was no sign of surprise in his eyes, just intrigue. It was a well practiced poker face that hid the whirring in his mind. He didn't have anything on Shannon aside from this. And this? This was useful but not particularly valuable when one took the impact (or lack there of) of The Crimson and Gold into account. But Shannon didn't know that. And she had collected some good leads this year already. They were barely a month in. But he could make her regret it. "That, Ms. Montes, I can do."

A smile a little too close to the Cheshire Cat had begun to spread over his face. "I only have one question: public or private? You have a rather unique opportunity here for most of my clients: true deniability. She just exploded the football team last week." Nevermind that Reg had benefitted from that significantly. Christian was patiently waiting for him to get over his crush on Drew Rogers. "If people know who Alice is, she is unspeakably fucked. But there is one drawback. Then it's over quickly."

"I can't imagine the stress this affair has given you. If you out her now, maybe she switches schools, she's free to ply her catty Molly Ringwald trade somewhere else. But if I let her know the sword hanging over her, then she belongs to you." Or him, really, but that was his business. "...To do with as you please. When you please. I know what I'd choose, but we're partners in this. What would you prefer?"