all of this leaves the clone even more confused – nobody at dyad has ever treated her as anything more than a tool. a weapon to be used at their discretion. to delphine’s credit, she was more cordial than anyone else she had been forced to work with, only really requiring her to stay with her when she was going to meetings or other business. but this was different.
she can’t put her finger on it, but there’s almost something sad behind the blonde’s words, and the brunette studies her as she allows the other to help her shrug out of her leather jacket. ❛ uh — yeah. a drink would be good. ❜ she’s sure the confusion is clear on her face. normally, a poker face was something she was good at. but confusion outweighed her need to remain stoic, still unsure where any of this was going.
she almost balks at the blonde’s next statement, feeling bitterness creep into her voice. ❛ we’re not equals, delphine. we may not be at the office right now, but this is still something you chose – ❜ she’s always had a short fuse, a bad temper. but she tries to keep her voice level, to keep that anger pushed down. delphine didn’t do this to her, probably doesn’t even know. getting into a shouting match over something she wasn’t aware of wasn’t going to help her. ❛ —- i was dragged into this. you seem t’mean well, but we’re far from equals right now. ❜
she closes her eyes a moment, taking a deep breathe as she leans against the wall behind her. she opens them again, taking in the apartment around her. something about delphine had always seemed so clean, clinical. images of white walls and ironed sheets had come to mind when she mentioned her home – she hadn’t pictured something this warm, or welcoming.
gaze finally lands on the stack of papers on the coffee table, neatly labeled with the dyad logo. she raises a brow as delphine re-enters the room, taking the drink from the blonde’s hands. ❛ – is this about whatever’s in those files? ❜
once both jackets were hung neatly in the closet by her door, delphine nodded and sauntered over to the kitchen. it was an open floorplan, but she knew kelli would more than likely follow regardless. while her back was turned she winced at the words being thrown out about how they were not equals. she knew kelli was technically correct... which only meant that it would be up to the both of them to change that fact. delphine would, of course, prefer to keep her safe, but unfortunately this could not be done alone.
delphine had a soft-spot for all of the clones. she didn’t know whether it was due to the amount of studying she had done about them (all of the hours and days she poured reading about her subjects) or just human nature. either way, the connection she had with kelli was different- delphine just was not sure if the brunette felt it too.
she extended her left arm up as she opened an overhead cabinet, grabbing two wine glasses as she spoke, ❝ I have a Chablis wine currently... it is white- and actually from a small winery not far from where my family lives...❞ a small smile crept across her face as she trailed off a bit, lost in a memory. france was gorgeous in the spring, and she could still smell the countryside air she had grown up so close to. as she was grabbing the bottle from her wine fridge, delphine frowned at it before looking up at her guest, ❝ My apologies... I do also have other drinks- I know wine is not everyone’s preference. ❞ her accent thickened at the end of her words; this happened often towards the evening.
pouring a glass for herself, delphine nodded at kelli’s assumption. her grip on the bottle tightened, ❝ Yes. It is. I brought you here to discuss something with you...❞ she began to pour the second glass out of habit. if kelli did not want it that was fine. delphine would be drinking more than one glass tonight.
she set the bottle down with a quiet clink, and lifted her glass to take a small sip. she relaxed her tense shoulders and looked into kelli’s uncertain yet determined eyes, ❝ It is about your family, Kelli. ❞ she clenched the glass in her hand, softening her features.
I know what Rachel has done with them.❞