strength with compassion

star light, star bright, first star i see tonight. i wish i may, i wish i might, have this wish i wish tonight.

[morganlittle]

Morgan had no idea what to expect as she walked to the front door of this giant ass house. It blew her mind that people actually lived in places like this. It looked really fucking haunted, but it wasn’t going to stop her from being here to support Drew. This was going to be very different from the Quilters.

She had never used Christian’s services before. Morgan hadn’t often found herself in situations that she couldn’t figure out on her own or with the help of her friends. She was lucky like that. But it meant she didn’t really know what she was in for.

“Hi,” Morgan waved after Fern introduced her. “Thanks for being available at such short notice. Could we talk inside?”

[drewrogersqb]

There had been several times in the past two weeks when Drew found himself wondering how he’d gotten himself into this situation. Some had been good (getting to go home with Bronte). Some had been complicated. (Bronte potentially being pregnant, trying to connect with Adam.) Some had been very bad. (Nearly everything else.) But he still had never expected to end up near Christian du Motier’s weird little bathroom office, let alone his house. Not even in the depths of his Artemio derived paranoia. Yet here he was.

He watched Fern as she greeted Christian, still trying to understand exactly what happened between them. He didn’t want to make harmful assumptions, but Heli had made him sensitive to certain people’s unfortunate ability to see the best in people when it was definitely not a good idea to do so. But if it meant that he didn’t have to walk into a mafia compound? Well, sometimes you just wanted to let the offensive and defensive lines exhaust each other a little.

So he waved. “Hey, man. We really appreciate your offer.”

@christiandumotier

[christiandumotier]

Bless Fern for texting, truly. It meant that Christian could time exactly how long he would need to switch into nicer pants than sweats. But he also planned to get this done as quickly as possible as a result. But not in a suspicious way. Just his normal amount of smug way. It was a delicate balance.

He leaned on the door as he opened it, smiling at Fern before turning. “Madam President.” He looked Morgan and Drew up and down. “I would use a title if I knew what to use, apologies. I don’t believe we’ve been introduced, but I know both of you by your enviable reputations. Go Catamounts.”

He did appreciate Fern letting him do the talking to a certain extent. His faith in her continued to be well placed. “Thank you, Fern. We’ll call if we need you.” He made a note to himself to find out about her other engagement. They did have an agreement after all.

Christian beckoned Drew and Morgan into the front living room, the one that only allowed them in deep enough for him to look polite without giving them sight on important things like his wine or Blu-rays. “I assume Fern’s relayed my officer, but I’m sure you have misgivings. Allow me to alleviate them.”

@fernbright

[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

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Twelve

The lights are on, but no one’s home. Noah’s house is still smoking, and the mysteries are piling up. Oh, and there’s that government thing to worry about.  Might need a criminal justice system like now. 

So press play, and go.

[fernbright]

The meeting with Community Maintenance had gone much better than Fern had expected it to. They had a plan, and a good one in her opinion. The team had been willing to tell her how they felt and they planned accordingly. The success of it was fueling her, she felt energised and ready for what was next.

She'd promised CM that she would come along and make introductions for this chat with Christian. Fern had checked in and made sure he knew they were coming, and they headed over together. She just hoped that nothing would come up during their talks that would change this plan.

Fern smiled when he opened the door, quite a difference to how she'd been when she'd left his house earlier. "Hi Christian. We've just met to talk about the idea we were discussing earlier." Fern stepped to the side to let him see two thirds of CM with her. "Drew and Morgan have some questions they thought would be easier to bring to you in person." She clasped her hands. "I won't stay, I have another meeting to get to. But I will be available by phone until around 2pm if you need anything from me."

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Twelve

The lights are on, but no one’s home. Noah’s house is still smoking, and the mysteries are piling up. Oh, and there’s that government thing to worry about.  Might need a criminal justice system like now. 

So press play, and go.

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

The President and Community Maintenance discuss the treacherous path forward. Can they get Tony to engage peacefully? And do they really have to involve Christian du Motier of all people? Surely there must be a better solution. Right?

Keep reading

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Twelve

Phase: Day Twelve

Phase: Day Twelve

Phase: Day Twelve

[janghye-jin]

Hye-jin smilled. Everyone was being so nice. Not that she hadn’t grown to expect it, but she wasn’t exactly used to this much attention, especially with this much charisma around her.

It took her a good forty seconds to parse what Lou was saying about Taliesin, but once she got it, it was easy to ‘yes, and.’ “Oh yes, roleplay is fun. You should try that with Gabe, Rumi. I bet it would help you relax.”

She liked it when Lou was being nice about Wes. She was never mean of course, per se. But Hye-jin had slowly grown to realize that not everyone red him as easily as she did. Perhaps it was like Lou had said. He was a golden retriever. If she didn’t know how to understand America’s favorite breed, what right did she have trying to be a vet?

Hye very slowly realized she was holding her breath. Because Fern was smiling. Blushing, even. Hye was a very good observer of behavior. Humans were animals after all, and she knew that look. Perhaps had even felt that. She carefully pulled away from the table, maneuvering over to Lou. “I have a question.” She said softly.

@lourdesvillasisniega

[lourdesvillasisniega]

“I completely agree, Hye. Rumi and Gabe should get to roleplaying as soon as possible. She can show him the ropes with all her acting experience.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief. Rumi was the most adorable shade of pink and it worked beautifully with her olive tone.

As for Wes, he had his share of supporters. She was largely one of him, but not for his facts. Space just didn’t interest her. It had been incredibly boring since freshman year and she would not be looking further into it.

“I’m proud of him for helping you. His advice can sometimes be a bit perplexing in delivery, but he always helps me find clarity.” She leaned forward, “But I would love to hear more about what you’re passionate about. I don’t mean all of your important ideals, we all heard that, but what makes you, personally, feel alive. If you feel like sharing.”

Lou scooted closer to Hye-Jin, recognizing the tone of voice. She gave a small nod of her head and lowered her own voice, “Hopefully I have an answer for you.”

@rumibehbahani

[rumibehbahani]

Rumi’s hands flew to her mouth. “Hye-jin. No. NO.” She was going to melt into the floor. And faint. And then roll around in her own pathetic melt-y mess until she sunk through the world. She moved her warning gaze to Lou. “Don’t… Don’t say that ever again. That is not… That is not what acting is for. I wouldn’t be able to–” There were too many possibilities, nearly all of them mortifying. Also it was very possible she’d go into directing mode and that wouldn’t go well. “I just couldn’t.”

She wasn’t exactly surprised at Lou’s friendly sum up of Wes, but she couldn’t help but feel that some upselling was happening. She didn’t know what to make of it. Wes was a bit of a serial dater, but she supposed they already had one Wilder ex-girlfriend in the group, and Hye seemed fine with it. It would be fine. And it might provide some distraction from her own new relationship.

She jumped at the opportunity for a switch of subject. “Yes, Fern. What nerdness can we nurture? That’s our specialty.”

She almost said a New Romantic specialty, but she didn’t want to sound cliquish. Her mother had explained that very gently to her after attending one of her first plays. Something about “shining at the center of a crowd.”

@fernbright

[fernbright]

"I feel like I need to save you but I don't know how," Fern said to Rumi. She wouldn't laugh, even though she did find it amusing. "You and Gabe?" she asked. "Is there something there?" Fern loved the idea. Gabe was one of the kindest people she knew. And Rumi was wonderful. The whole different religion thing could throw things off for most people but maybe with them it could work.

Fern smiled at Lou, nodding slightly and wishing she could control the heat in her cheeks. She didn't know him as well as the three of them did, but she wanted to. And she could tell he was a good guy. She needed more of that in her life.

"My nerdness. Well. My bedroom at home was filled with different kinds of house plants. Don't make me garden outdoors though, the skill doesn't translate. I brought my favourites here and propagated some of the bigger ones so I didn't have to give them all up." Fern reached for the marinara sauce and started spreading it over her base. "I don't have a lot of spare time outside of my school and leadership commitments. But I love to read. Mostly fiction, set in different places in the world. I want to travel more than anything but I can't do that yet, so I go in my mind." That probably sounded so pathetic, but it was an escape before the escape. "I hope I will get to someday."

@janghye-jin

[fernbright]

Fern was getting frustrated. With Tony for letting his friend lie about her to everyone, with Christian for telling her she needed to play the game to preserve her image. It felt so unimportant compared to the problem at hand. “I would ask CM to go to anybody accused of kidnapping and possibly murdering someone in this town.” The idea that she wouldn’t, that it meant something different because it was Tony was ridiculous. “Regardless, I will take that into consideration.” This she would do begrudgingly. She knew her frustration was starting to show, so she decided it was probably time for her to leave.

“I’m aware,” she told him, not bothering to say there was still a chance Noah was still with them. It was too miniscule to acknowledge here. Fern didn’t see it the same way though. The longer they waited, the more time Tony had to plot. There was nowhere to go, so it wasn’t like he was a flight risk. But he was crafty, and had grown up learning how to get away with things like this. They needed to get things in motion. “I’ve already called a meeting this morning, so I’ll bring it up then. I’ll be in touch when I know what we plan to do.”

“Thank you for your time. And offer of aid. I do appreciate it, Christian.” Fern just hoped they could actually use it.

[christiandumotier]

Christian was well practiced in finding people’s limits, discovering exactly how far to push before people toppled off the deep end. And Fern looked like she was close. "You know that, and I know that. But unfortunately we can only rarely depend on a good faith read of our actions.” No one in their right mind would give him a good faith read, but perhaps that went without saying.

As her tone went clipped, he realized he might have pushed even her a little too far. He was out of practice, maybe. Or just distracted by the danger of his circumstances.

“That’s fine. Truly, take your time. And it’s…” Careful, Christian. “I shouldn’t have to reiterate this, Fern, but it is not your fault. It is unfair, and it unfortunately it bears repeating. But please know that if anyone decides to make it your fault, they will have me to contend with.”

He gave her an almost apologetic smile as he rose slowly and walked her out. “Thank you for coming to me.” It had been a warning he desperately needed. And perhaps… perhaps a way out.

(end)

[christiandumotier]

"Appearances are still an important part of the this ‘New Ham’ ecosystem we’re developing, unfortunately.” Christian said. He was speaking with surprising delicacy, even to himself. The simple reality was that without concern for appearances, he had far less leverage than he preferred to have, but he also generally believed he was correct. “Gossip is a powerful and mercurial thing. Lucy Crowne has already implied that you’ve lied about Tony due to a Lifetime-movie level obsession with him. I suspect she was inspired by our dearly departed Britt, which is distasteful in many respects. My primary concern is that narrative taking a deeper hold, an assumption that you are using community maintenance as a cudgel in retaliation for Tony 'exposing you.’ It’s absurd, but the average income bracket of this little town is particularly prone to absurdity.” Himself included, thought he wouldn’t acknowledge it. “Though if anyone can charisma their way out of that unfortunate situation, its your administration.”

Christian smiled placidly as she apologized. “On the contrary, I’d prefer you be as confident in our approach as possible. Consult anyone and anything you need.”

“At the risk of sounding uncouth, I severely doubt Noah is waiting on us.” It was a point of pressure without actually looking like he was intentionally putting on pressure (a Christian specialty). “The timeline means this is about justice, not rescue, and I prefer the wheels of justice to spin slowly. Or perhaps just cautiously. Fast, free, and fair trial and all that.”

Especially when they could be coming for him.

[fernbright]

Fern was getting frustrated. With Tony for letting his friend lie about her to everyone, with Christian for telling her she needed to play the game to preserve her image. It felt so unimportant compared to the problem at hand. "I would ask CM to go to anybody accused of kidnapping and possibly murdering someone in this town." The idea that she wouldn't, that it meant something different because it was Tony was ridiculous. "Regardless, I will take that into consideration." This she would do begrudgingly. She knew her frustration was starting to show, so she decided it was probably time for her to leave.

"I'm aware," she told him, not bothering to say there was still a chance Noah was still with them. It was too miniscule to acknowledge here. Fern didn't see it the same way though. The longer they waited, the more time Tony had to plot. There was nowhere to go, so it wasn't like he was a flight risk. But he was crafty, and had grown up learning how to get away with things like this. They needed to get things in motion. "I've already called a meeting this morning, so I'll bring it up then. I'll be in touch when I know what we plan to do."

"Thank you for your time. And offer of aid. I do appreciate it, Christian." Fern just hoped they could actually use it.

[christiandumotier]

Christian and Fern had very different ideas of what the "right way” meant. He’d always known that intellectually, but the gulf had never felt wider. The ‘right way’ to him would have been that everyone just agreed to not talk about the waste of space that Noah Nixon was/had been the way they generally had been until that odd note on Ingrid’s board. In fact, he suspected a lot more people would do that before and after this.

“I take your point, but, and I ask this as kindly as possible, what would you have community maintenance do? If things went sideways, if things went well? And however…” How to put this gently? “…obsessed Tony may have been in his private life, he has more enemies here than just you, Fern. He might not believe that I have a vested interest in 'justice for Noah’, but I do have a vested interest in him being reined in.” If only so that Christian could hold the reins, of course, but that was an inside thought. “Most would assume I serve my interests before anyone else’s.” They were right, but he’d get far less business if he let that notion get around. You had to build some kind of trust if you wanted to do what he did to amuse himself. You’re so anti-work that even if you do 1% of what everyone else would do, you feel like everyone should drop everything to applaud you. he heard Fiona throwing in his face once again. Well, look at him now. The potential newest member of community fucking maintenance. “I’m not sure Tony would connect us if I turned up on my own. So we’d need to decide how worried you are about my safety. I can try to assure you I’m fine, but considering the circumstances, I have to leave that to you to arbitrate. I can assure you, though, Fern, that the only snake in that house will be me. And by reputation only.”

He’d said it as gently as he could, but he knew it might be too direct. Still, it felt better to say it aloud. He was particularly sensitive to people trying to assess risks to his life even when he assured them he was fine. Not that she ever could have known.

He shook his head, reassuring. “I’m certain.” She wasn’t in a position yet to offer him what he needed, and he didn’t quite know what that was yet anyway. “But I appreciate your understanding.”

[fernbright]

Fern sighed. She placed her hands flat on the counter while she thought over what he was saying. She could see his point. "I hear you." Part of her wanted to scrap the whole plan. But what was the alternative if she did that? Which path involved the least amount of risk? Was she setting CM up for a more volatile situation by removing Christian from the equation? Her instincts told her the answer was yes. But she felt she'd be doing them a disservice not to ask first.

"I'll be honest. I'm struggling to see how much my own deniability matters, whether he has other enemies he could point the finger at or not." Fern had already thrown several things in Tony's direction. What was one more, really? But maybe that was her being reckless again. Would Nell or Tee tell her differently? She wished they were here for her to ask.

"I have to talk to some people first. I'm sorry. I know that's not what you want to hear, but I need to be sure and I'm not right now." Honesty was the best she could give, not just to Christian but her people too. If CM going with him was a deal breaker, then fine. They'd do this the same way they were going to originally. But she needed their viewpoint. They'd consider things she hadn't. "I won't take long."

[christiandumotier]

Christian gave Fern a small salute in further reassurance. He did get this sentiment a lot. Just another tool in the arsenal. Certainty tended to soothe nearly everyone, and it also had the added benefit of people tending to blend any complication on themselves rather than him. Convenient.

He could understand her curiosity about Tony. Any ammunition probably felt like good ammunition right about now. "As soon as I can tell you, I will.” He wondered, honestly, if she might have already gleaned it from her proximity to Tony, but the kid was aggressively protective about any form of vulnerability. A physical one would be no exception.

And there was the complication. The last thing he wanted to do was knock on the Alessi mansion’s door with any of Fern’s little posse in tow. But he wasn’t exactly in a position to object. “That might ruin the deniability component for you a little, but I do appreciate what I must assume is a concern for my safety.” It was a gentle pushback. A careful warning that monitoring him was not going to go well for anyone. (In this case, more of an aspirational warning as he didn’t have the power to back it up right now, but he had to at least try, didn’t he?)

And here was the other tricky point. What was least suspicious answer re cost when he’d already technically entered a gentleman’s agreement with Fern? He realized, suddenly, that it might actually be immaterial. All the favors he needed from Madam President were not the kind that could be collected at the present time. They were painfully, torturously reactive. So he had to think of the future. “I consider this an extension of our initial agreement, to be frank. We are allies. This is what allies owe to each other. Mutual protection. Mutual aid.” Laying it on a little thick, maybe but if he was going to have to do this with a morally superior audience, the more goodwill he generated now, the better off he suspected he was going to be.

[fernbright]

Fern was surprised at that answer, but she didn't let it show. She'd expected a firm no, not a not yet. "Thank you," she said. Though she wasn't sure she really did want to know. It had to be bad if Christian felt it would be enough to get him to comply with what they were asking. But she refused to turn away from it.

"Your safety, yes, but I also want this to be as above board as possible. We need to do this the right way, even if... I don't know, they wait outside while you speak to him. You may be an effective improvisor, but I don't trust Tony. I don't trust that he won't lose his cool when he realises why you're there." No matter how much information Christian harboured, he was still a person just like the rest of them. "He's going to assume all attempts at gathering information for this case, interviews and searches and whatever else, are coming from me. If you went alone, he would still think that." Was she overthinking this? Was she missing the point? How much value did her own deniability have in a situation like this?

Fern hadn't expected that to be his answer, but for right now, she was relieved it was. She would have paid up front for this, and maybe later on she would wish she had. But for now, this was a good solution. "If you're sure," she said. "I won't begrudge you if you'd like to change your mind."

[christiandumotier]

"No apology needed. If we don’t acknowledge how things should be, we have no hope of making this right.” Saying it aloud kind of made Christian want to puke a little, but he couldn’t have her dropping her principles now. Not when they were helping him at this present time. “We’re making things up as we go here. The social contract is all we have.” Really, that was the difference between him and Tony. Christian was a lawyer. Tony was one of those cliché rogue cops who wished they were in Scorsese movies.

“He won’t back out.” Christian probably sounded a little too sure. Perhaps he could make it sound like optimism rather than certainty, but then he opted for honesty. “If he does, Tee will be ruined. Whatever misgivings he may have, I would be very surprised to see him take down New Ham’s most popular councilor on his way out. Mind you, Tee could still do that to themselves, but my money’s on Leo avoiding it if at all possible.”

He smirked as she edited herself. “Blackmailer-Blackmailee confidentiality, I’m afraid. No literal skeletons in the closet. It’s the little things that matter to people like him.”

Christian let himself laugh just a little, even though he could see the guilt on Fern’s face. He was very well practiced in convincing women that any mortal danger he faced was actually nothing at all. “On the rare occasion that things don’t go how I expect, I do what I always do. Improvise quickly enough that no one is the wiser.” He lifted an eyebrow. “And that is another thing you can’t tell anyone. I have a reputation to uphold. And a mobster to extract.”

[fernbright]

Fern's stomach twisted at the idea of this being the downfall of Tee of all people. They wouldn't deserve that, not one bit. She hoped for their sake, and for the sake of this case, that Christian was right about this. She liked how sure he sounded. There was a reason she came to him for information, he almost always had an accurate read on things. Fern would make sure to give Tee any extra support they needed, just in case. "Your certainty is reassuring," she told him.

Fern huffed a laugh and shook her head at herself. "I know. Worth a try." She wondered what it could even be that would matter now. It probably wouldn't if it was from 2+ weeks ago. But maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was recent. Could it be related?

Wow. He seemed to be revealing more than usual today. Fern knew in the grand scheme of things that admissions like that were not a big deal. But she appreciated the peek behind the mysterious curtain. It made him seem a little less untouchable, a bit more... normal? Human? She wasn't sure, but it was the kind of approach she took in her leadership. Fern liked when people were real.

Christian was sure about what he could get Tony to do though. So she nodded her agreement. "Okay. Yes, please try. I would like Community Maintenance to go with you, but I won't speak for them, so I'll ask. And if they agree, then I think it's a good idea." She searched his face again for any doubt, but did not find it. "If they don't agree, it may be a wasted opportunity. But it would be for good reason." She trusted them. She also trusted Christian. Mostly. But something made her keep that to herself. "What will this cost?"

[christiandumotier]

Christian didn’t bother to agree or disagree with her. Whatever should or shouldn’t matter, this was what did. But he could tell she knew that, too. He tried not to begrudge people beaten down by the system for lamenting the ways they’ve been beaten down, but it was a mindset his financial situation didn’t particularly prepare him for. "I don’t want to be right, Fern. It’s not fair, and I don’t have to tell you that it’s disgustingly gendered. But we lessen its power when we keep it in mind and shape a narrative to counteract it.” Now he sounded like Kaia. Disgusting.

She was giving Leo more credit than he would have, but it was also to Christian’s benefit to paint with as broad a brush as possible. “What he chose to do in the end was empirically better than the alternative.” he agreed. Better late than dead. “And if he continues on this path, he can do a significant amount of good.” Not that Christian cared about the general good, but there was lots of possible personal benefit in play.

Christian looked at her, bemused at her question. His usual refrain of ‘I have something on everyone.’ nearly left his lips before he caught himself. Fern was one of the rare people who was better to keep in an invisible cage rather than a gilded one. So he just gave her that Cheshire grin again. “I have enough. And more on people he cares about. I’m not promising a confession. But I know I can get him out of that house without a weapon going off. Which is… a start.”

[fernbright]

Fern nodded. They would have an investigation. A trial. These things would all be a part of it. She would try to separate herself from it, a likely feeble attempt at self preservation. Deep down she knew that whatever the result ended up being, none of it would feel good. Part of her was angry that she was even being put in this position. Wasn't this already more than enough? "Yeah. You're right. Sorry, I'm wasting both our time talking about what things should or shouldn't be like. It doesn't change anything."

"Hopefully he won't lose momentum when he has to face the consequences. Whatever they might be." Leo was the only alleged witness they had. If he decided to stop talking, how would that affect things?

Fern searched his face, his eyes, wishing she knew how to read him. "What do you have?" she asked before thinking better of it. He wouldn't tell her, she knew that. She wasn't sure why she even asked, other than suddenly wanting to know as much as she could about this person she used to spend so much time with.

Safety. For Community Maintenance, for the other people in that house, for whoever needed to speak to Tony going forward. That would be the payoff if she agreed to this. The benefit alone for Community Maintenance was huge. The risk was high as it stood right now, wouldn't it be worth it to give them this security?

"Are you sure?" she asked him. "What if it doesn't go how you think it will?" Fern had sent enough of her peers into dangerous situations without being aware of the risk. She was aware this time.

[christiandumotier]

Fern was using the past tense too. Christian found it comforting. He’d been pondering what would seem less suspicious, assuming Noah was dead or not, but he’d never been willing to play the fool even when it might be to his benefit. She didn’t have any knowledge of the truth. He was certain of that. And yet instinct kept the score. She knew what the Alessis were capable of. And yet she’d made her gambit anyway. That kind of bravery was useful. Dangerous. But useful.

Who he was as a person. It almost sounded like she was challenging him, but Christian was used to being judged, to shocking people with the sheer audacity of his existence. (How dare he be rich and perceptive and enjoy manipulating others. How dare.) “Can you think of someone who will miss him? Plenty might be unnerved by the idea that Tony has decided he’s judge, jury, and executioner, but is there anyone who will say Noah Nixon was worth keeping in our unique little community behind the general "all life is sacred” sentiment? That is what you are up against. There are no character witnesses for the victim, and his murderer has plenty. His murderer had you, not too long ago. You’ve condemned him now, but that just risks this allegation looking punitive.“

"We always have a choice. The rich especially.” All of Christian’s work, his own outlook on life, depended on this notion. His “clients” always had an option to come clean, to accept the consequences of their actions. Instead, they chose to owe him. A wise choice, but still a choice nevertheless. “Often, the majority of the options one is presented with are not ideal, but there are always at least two. To be or not to be, do or do not, etc. Doing nothing is also a choice.” He paused. “And if you tell anyone I quoted Hamlet or Yoda, our deal is off.”

He’d asked her if she had another approach in mind almost idly, his mind still whirring in search of the best way to avoid the mess Anu and Laila had made for him. But then, as Fern, this town’s second most powerful person (aside from himself) looked at him, he realized there was a way to control this situation. “Let me convince Tony to turn himself in. The last week has shown him to be… unpredictable. And you need as much deniability as you can have.”

[fernbright]

"It shouldn't matter." Fern hung her head. How completely defeating that was. It made her want to throw in the towel right there. It shouldn't matter that she couldn't think of anyone who would miss Noah. That there'd be people who wouldn't care that he was gone. "I know. You're right." She'd hoped that her speech would be the end, but people would still connect her back to him. There was no absolute separation with something like this. And they would be right when they spoke of his good qualities. It wasn't that he didn't have them. It had been all she'd seen in Tony. It was that they came with plenty more.

Fern smiled half-heartedly at what she hoped was a joke. "I swear I won't," she told him anyway, appreciating the half-second of levity. "He did have a choice. He also chose to tell us about it in the end. I think that does count for something. Leo could have continued to keep it to himself. Maybe waiting this long was self-serving, but it still counts." Maybe to his own detriment. If he hadn't come forward, would Tony have found a way to put it on his cousin? Would he still try to?

Fern blinked, sure she hadn't heard him correctly. "Convince him? How? ...Why?" She could not imagine a reality where Tony agreed to something like that. "I'm sorry if this offends you, but I don't think anyone could get him to turn himself in." Unless. "Do you have something on him?"

[christiandumotier]

Christian gave a very un-Christian like click of his tongue at the Leo news. That was the most believable sign of surprise from him that he could think of. “Brave of him. I’m not sure even I want to see how that goes. I presume Drew, Del, and Morgan have it in hand in any case. And if not, I did promise assistance, didn’t I?”

For all Fern’s protests of not knowing Tony, Christian could hear the capital F in her voice when she said “Family.” An important distinction. An intimate one. Which made him ask the next question after she laid her cards out plain. “Knowing your timeline and its implications, is Leo who you’d like to spend your favor on? The boy who very likely watched Noah Nixon die and didn’t tell anyone until the one witness who could contradict his story was good and gone?” His head cocked a little, considering. “Or do you focus on Noah? If even a fraction of the rumors are true, we are going to struggle to get any sort of conviction with or without a body.”

His smile was feline. “Or have I missed another possibility entirely?”

[fernbright]

It was brave. It had to have been huge for him to choose to cut ties like that. And a murder was pretty big. Fern knew community maintenance were overwhelmed, understandably so. But she was making sure they were supported. She had full faith in them. "Yes," she said, answering both questions at once. "If that changes I'll let you know." She didn't know what that meant though, which made her feel reluctant.

Christian made a good point. She certainly didn't think Leo was either a. innocent, or b. trustworthy. She trusted Tee, and that endorsement did say something. But love could do weird things to your brain. "Because of who he was as a person?" she asked. Was. She couldn't even speak like there was a possibility he was still alive.

So it's okay that he died because he wasn't good? But Fern knew that was just her own feelings on the situation speaking. What she'd want to say to everyone who pointed out his flaws and ignored his humanity. It didn't mean Christian thought that himself.

"I know that in most situations there involves some level of choice," she began. "But I wonder how much Leo felt he had. Whether his feelings were legitimate or not." Fern could only just begin to imagine the true dynamics of that house. She was not well educated on this topic. Fear was a powerful motivator.

At his smile she tilted her head. "I'm not following."

[christiandumotier]

It was complex. Christian could agree on that. There was no approach without risk. But he had given up a pawn to save his own king. That was simple logic. And in the end, he suspected she would understand this, even if things were laid bare.

But that didn’t mean he wanted to find out.

“Oh, Madam President.” Christian said, his smile genuinely affectionate. “You give me so much credit. This was a matter of observation.” How kind of her to give him an out. “He doesn’t sit with them. He barely looks at them, and Anu acts like he’s not there. Either they had some kind of disagreement, or Leo insulted Tony’s cooking.” Perhaps a thought in poor taste, considering the Gravianos’ preferred method of wetwork disposal.

He leaned forward, his so-often-distant voice now warm, almost honeyed. “But you, Fern… I suspect you know Tony better than anyone. Trip Samuels isn’t staying there anymore either. But he isn’t a Graviano by blood. Is there any other betrayal Leo would survive aside from knowledge of Noah Nixon’s fate?”

[fernbright]

Fern deflated a little, her disappointment aimed at herself now instead. She was not doing this correctly. Whatever this was.

"He left the Family," she told him. It was obvious he knew that by the list he'd just given her, but she knew for certain. She'd been so confused the first time he'd come to her to tell her about it. It hadn't been adding up. The second time had made things painfully, devastatingly clear.

Fern's head pulled back at his words. It felt like pouring salt in a wound. Knowing Tony... as if that had ever been true for her. She'd known his body, known the fraction of himself he'd shown her, but she hadn't truly known him.

"I don't think I do," she disagreed. Fern chewed on his question for a moment though. "Leo doesn't seem sure he will survive it." There was little point in being evasive now. She was going to have to give him details to receive any kind of insight. Maybe if she did that something would trigger a memory... a conversation. Anything that could help her make sense of this.

"Leo saw Tony hurt Noah, allegedly, and now his house has burned down. Noah hasn't been seen in six days."

[christiandumotier]

Christian swirled the wine in the glass. Sniffed it. He let himself pick up the notes in the vintage. Stalling again, maybe. Or perhaps just giving her room to think. To talk. And room for himself to figure out what she needed from him. That was the trick for everyone. What they needed from him. And she seemed to need this very, very badly. The question was why. Some affinity for Tony she hadn’t erased? Self preservation

Christian smiled at her. “You know something I don’t. I’ll admit that’s a rare position for me to be in. In any other circumstance I might even say it was intriguing.”

But I feel like I’m being tested, Fern. He swallowed the words before he said them. Threats had no value when you had no leverage, and Fern didn’t actually know he’d fixed the election for her. He wasn’t sure she’d even believe him if he said it. (And if she did, all the investment he’d made in her confidence would collapse like a house of well intentioned but naive cards.) So effectively there was no leverage.

Unless he showed her she had nothing.

“This is about Leo Graviano, isn’t it?”

[fernbright]

Fern was holding back, very intentionally. She wasn't sure if it was because she found it hard to trust many people right now or if she wanted to get as much information as she could before giving any away herself. Though she should trust Christian. Shouldn't she?

"It's just a complex situation is all." She hoped that would be explanation enough, but then he blew her mind. Fern had to physically stop her mouth from dropping open. She took a deep breath in through her nose to compose herself.

"So you do know something about it." She was a little disappointed, she thought the deal they'd made meant something. Maybe it had been too vague. But if she was holding her cards close then she supposed it made sense that he would be too. "Who did you hear that from? Or is that an educated guess?"

[wewerechildrenwerenotnow]

Phase: Day Ten

Phase: Day Ten

[fernbright]

Fern laughed. “You wouldn’t be the one cleaning it even if they didn’t agree.” Fern would never put that on her sister. “It’s decided. I’m going to talk to them about it.”

“It’s a good game plan, Nell. I think it will work.” She hoped it would. This was her sister’s baby, and this was important. Fern would put her faith in it and the town. And she’d do everything she could to keep Nell safe while she did it.

“Yes, Nelly.” Fern stood up, leaning over to place a kiss on top of Nell’s head. “Who’s the older sister here? Go have fun on your date. My eyes and I will be fine. I’ll sort the dishes.” She gathered up her plate and set it next to the sink. “Tell Shannon I say hi.”

[nellburnsbright]

“I don’t want you cleaning it up either.” But the bro-y contingent of Fern’s voting block was welcome to perform whatever tasks Fern didn’t want to do herself. “I think that’s a good idea. We can get a glimpse into their heads.” They were a bit of a wildcard and she wanted a better understanding of them now that Tony was drawing battle lines.

She hoped it did, but the paper had made her cynical. It wasn’t easy to get eyes on words these days, even though everyone was on a text-based machine most of the time. “It gives us a chance to do some real good.”

Nell chuckled at Fern’s rhetorical question. Work life balance was going to be difficult for all of them. There were no guardrails here, you had to make them yourself. “Okay, but don’t be afraid to take breaks for tv and dancing. Do something fun at least once an hour.” She put her plate in the sink and gave her sister a squeeze before heading towards her room to get ready. “I will.” She shouted from the stairs.

(the end)

[christiandumotier]

“Well.” Christian poured Fern a glass of a 1945 Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild (retail price $8,631. Not that he would say. That was gauche.) “No pressure. Not to be a cliché, but I find personally that it helps.” As long as the oxy had worn off. “Especially when it comes to discussing Noah Nixon.”

He thanked himself once again for having cultivated an air of slow and careful language. It didn’t need to feel like stalling, even if he was. “I saw his display on Tuesday. And Tony’s displeasure with it. But so did nearly everyone else.”

He was intimately familiar with the prisoner’s dilemma. A naive little notion with falsely built rules. Of course it made sense to betray your accomplice if cooperating meant you would only get a lesser sentence anyway. But Christian was rich. Even during the French Revolution, the du Motiers had gotten off scott-free. He couldn’t betray the Alessis. Not yet. Not overtly. But if he could manage it, he was locking those bitches away for three long years.

“I’ve heard whispers. Hypotheticals. But I’m not sure I can trust them, which is nothing new. The Alessis are most obvious cause of his disappearance, of course. We all know that. Which provides anyone who would like to do him harm a unique opportunity. You have a perfect and very loud fall guy with every reason to harm him and a demonstrated lack of situational awareness.” He paused. “But I am getting ahead of myself.”

Tread carefully. Carefully. “I assume you’re here because no one has answered the inquiry on Ingrid Rojas’s little board. I can assure you, I haven’t heard from Noah either. But I’ve also made it perfectly clear to him from the beginning that he will never be able to avail himself of my services.” Make sure to speak in the present tense, Christian. Present tense. Future, if possible.

[fernbright]

"Ha, fair. Thank you." Fern had no intention of drinking it. Maybe a sip to not seem rude, but she didn't feel like this was the time. She could picture Nell or Tee telling her as much.

Fern nodded. "Mhm. I remember." She didn't need the reminder. Noah had blamed her for Britt's death in front of quite literally everyone. Tony, among other things, had stood up for her. He wasn't kind to Noah, but it didn't feel all that threatening to her in the moment. Now of course, it shed an entirely different light on the interaction.

If it had been anyone but Leo who had come to them she may have bought the idea of the Alessi's being scapegoats for this more seriously. She eyed Christian, hoping he was telling her the truth. She doubted if she would be able to tell if he wasn't. You didn't get the kind of reputation he had without being able to fly under the radar.

"I wish I was here because of Ingrid's board, but unfortunately not. Somebody came to me and some of the council members last night claiming to be a witness to Noah's disappearance. There's truly nothing you've heard recently?" She asked one more time, so hopeful that she would be able to bring back some kind of information to help. "Not even in hindsight?"

[christiandumotier]

Potential problem. Well, that was promising. Christian’s problem had certainly moved beyond ‘potential.’ He let his surprise register on his face. “Sensitive, you say? Why, that’s one of my favorite kinds of problems.” He probably shouldn’t have been joking like that, but somehow he felt like he’d be arousing even more suspicion if he turned what Lou sometimes called his “asshole meter” down. “I do love a challenge.”

Still, there was no need to be a bad host. His mother would never forgive him. “Please. Come in.” He led Fern into the kitchen, letting the door shut and lock behind him. “There’s no one here but me and my DVD collection. And wine. Do you drink?”

Act normal, he instructed himself as he took down two glasses anyway. Or at least be the expected kind of rich eccentric. It was a comfort, perhaps, that Fern didn’t know his habits all that well. Lou would have been much more likely to clock his unease, though he’d even hidden things from her in the past. Necessary evils and nothing more. So he silenced his phone, sliding it into the pocket of his sweatpants to focus on Fern fully. Either she was a criminally good actress or she was still wearing her heart on her sleeve. Bless her either way. “I had hoped this was a social call, but I still appreciate you taking me at my word. What is the source of your unease, and how can I help?”

[fernbright]

Fern wanted to grimace at his words. She was sure he wouldn't think so in a moment when she told him why she was here. Instead she offered a polite smile, following him into his kitchen. "That's good," she replied, relieved. She could talk semi-openly then.

"Sometimes," she responded absent mindedly. Fern didn't decline the offer, which was a sign of how troubled she was. Not that she wanted to drink right now, but that she couldn't keep up with niceties.

At the sight of Christian putting his phone away, she quickly checked hers to make sure she hadn't accidentally called someone or was recording their conversation. You never knew with these smart phones. "You will have heard Noah Nixon is missing, I'm sure." She started. "Have you heard anything about it? What might have happened, where he might be?"