[semi-open to the Shadow Coven] [Nov 30th]

[falsify]

Everything's been just so much lately, but it's important not to let that keep things from progressing. The day after the disaster at Lewisham, Abigail will have received an invitation inviting her and her coven to discuss an exchange that could be of benefit to her. He's been upfront, admitting on the invite that he's of the Unseelie court - it'll be obvious the second they get to talking anyway.

The restaurant probably looks a bit out of place somewhere like Croydon, it's not a borough known for elegant design and fine dining. Eames has had the place booked out, so no one will be there except them and a small gathering of staff; something to allow for some privacy. The table is set out with seats, glasses, pitchers of water. And menus, because you don't invite people to a restaurant not to eat. A handsome young man will show everyone to the table as they arrive and ask for any drink orders before they order their meals - he's not magic, but he does have the elegance and grace people expect of a fae. No wonder he works here.

At the table, Eames is sat reading with a glass of wine as he waits patiently for people to arrive. And he'll stand to greet them with a smile once they do.

Comments

[falsify]

"Right then." Eames clasps his hands together on the table in front of him, smiling pleasantly enough at the assembled witches, "let's cut to the chase then, shall we?"

He pauses briefly when the drinks arrive, considering ordering food for a moment, but apparently it's bad manners to get a meal when no one else is eating. That can wait until after. For now he fixes his gaze on Abigail as he makes the offer; she's their leader for more reasons than her wealth, he assumes. "The offer on the table, is this very borough," he says with no more explanation than that, no terms. Nothing. Let the offer sit first for the trio to decide how they feel about it.

[stauncherhearted]

"Kenzi!" She can't help but let the girlish excitement of seeing her oft-sick bff out and about and a real person again. She'd brought her soup and what-have-you before, but here she was, all dolled up and excited. It was a pleasant change of pace.

Automatically, Nancy moves closer to Kenzi for Eames to make his announcement. she knew the offer, but it felt strange to pretend she did, given she was the common denominator (as far as she knew) between the three other people in the room.

So she kept quiet. She didn't trust the offer completely, because there was a difference between Eames and Business!Eames and this was Business!Eames and truthfully, she knew she shouldn't trust either of them. Too little, too late.

She watches Abigail and Kenzi's faces carefully for their reactions, before she'll state her piece.

[kleptofaeniac]

"What's the catch?"

Kenzi didn't even wait for the offer to get cold before asking the question. She also had her 'business face' on and though she was snuggled up to Nancy in their booth, it didn't stop her from being shrewd. Really there was very little she wasn't prepared to negotiate at the drop of a hat.

[acrookedchild]

Abigail gave a slight motion toward Kenzi, as if to second the question. After all, she trusted fae in the barest sense possible. Unthank, individually, yes. For the most part. But anyone else? Certainly not.

Especially since this sounded too good to be true.

[falsify]

Eames' lip twitches a little in a smirk, smart of them to ask. It's a good thing he's not trying anything underhanded here; it'd be so annoying to have to talk around it.

"The terms are simple. You'll not interfere with the comings and goings of the fae in any territory you hold, and of course it's to be expected that you won't attack any of our land either."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy gives a small hum. It's good to see her sisters as suspicious as she is, more or less.

"Seems easy enough," she says, but waits a moment before continuing. "I'd expect those terms to go both ways." Meaning: no attacking the Midnight witches, either.

[kleptofaeniac]

"Yeah. We're not the ones trying to kick your guys's collective tuckus.

Kenzi is all too glad to point it out and she seems plenty smug as she settles into the back of her seat with her arms crossed over her chest like she's protecting herself.

[acrookedchild]

"And." It's the dicey part of things, but she's bound by her promise to Sylvia. Until Sylvia acts against it. "We cannot oppose Daybreak on your behalf."

She sighs a little, leaning against the back of her chair.

"I have given my word that my coven and Midnight as a whole will not engage in any action against Circle Daybreak. In exchange for the same."

[falsify]

"It's only fair," is his answer to the question of reciprocating terms, though the mention of Daybreak has his jaw clenching. There's a topic he hadn't intended to broach just yet.

"I'm certain I understand the importance of sticking to your word better than anyone in this room," he says lightly, with a smile - it's not an insult or anything of the sort, just a statement of fact - and he rests his elbows on the table, leaning forward slightly with the air of someone with a point to make, "but you must see we have something of a mutual enemy in the likes of Ms. Rebright. If you think she's not looking for ways to circumvent this deal, then frankly you're far too naive for the trust your circle has placed in you."

[stauncherhearted]

When Kenzi leans back, Nancy is the first to reach over and touch her arm, with what she hopes is a calming presence. But no sooner has she done that, but she's pursing her lips at Eames' declaration. Shit.

Maybe it should be Eames' she was steadying.

[kleptofaeniac]

The hand on Kenzi's arm is enough to keep her from really laying into Eames. When he mentions 'naive' Kenzi has to laugh because - really?

"I'm sorry, did we come here for a lecture?"

She'll keep it at that. Let Abigail be the one to really lay into him if she wanted it to go there. Kenzi would just take her dinner in a doggie bag and leave it at that.

[acrookedchild]

"Of course Redbright is looking for a way to break our deal." Abigail almost spits the words. Her eyes narrow, and she looks very ready to stand up and walk out. "However, I am not going to give her the pleasure of me being the one to break that truce."

Once Sylvia or one of hers broke it, then all bets were off. But Abigail hadn't gone through everything she had so far only to give it up by letting Sylvia claim victory on that field, too.

[falsify]

"You misunderstand." His tone and expression is, if anything, completely genial. Despite the brief tightness of his jaw, his smile hasn't slipped, and he gestures broadly as he speaks, "she'll find ways to move against you without breaking your agreement, and when you retaliate you'll seem unstable and vicious like she's always claimed you are."

He shrugs and leans back in his seat, and he addresses Kenzi briefly, "you're quite right, you didn't come here to be lectured--" and he turns his gaze back to Abigail, "and I'm not suggesting you move against Daybreak on our behalf. Beyond that, this has little to do with the offer on the table I suppose."

[stauncherhearted]

Nancy's lips are tight as she watches the exchange. She can't step in, as much as she wants to. She has stake in both parties. Which is why she's thankful, when Eames seems to call an end to hostilities. She'll just put up reinforcements.

"Alright then," she says, looking at each party, still keeping an arm on Kenzi. "Thank you, Eames. For the advice." See, look everyone. Advice. "Do we all agree to the terms, then? we won't act on the Fae's behalf, they won't attack us, we won't attack them. Did I miss anything?"

[kleptofaeniac]

"I did; and maybe I missed it showing up late but --"

She won't actually apologize for being difficult but she does shoot Nancy a look that she hopes says 'I'm sorry'. Hopefully.

"Why?"

It's not exactly a silver platter. Maybe bronze. Still, Kenzi doesn't trust platters of any kind.

[acrookedchild]

"To put us on the front lines instead of the fae, I imagine," Abigail murmurs, her voice cold.

She focuses her eyes on Eames, lips pulled into a thin line. "Or am I being naive?"

[falsify]

He laughs, the way one might at a particularly amusing child. "If I wanted you on the front lines, dear, I would have offered you Bromley."

"Personally I'd rather consider it a gesture of goodwill," Eames says, pausing to consider the three women across from him before he adds, "and of course, if the exchange happens to serve as a middle finger to the Good Witch Redbright-- Well. That's only a good thing, certainly."

[stauncherhearted]

Not good, this was not good. Nancy gave Kenzi a pained look. This deal was going South, and she shouldn't have expected anything less, truth-be-told. While she and Eames got along well, she knew how sharp his tongue could be, after just a bit of time spent with him and Arthur in the same room.

As weird as that had been.

She swallows.

"You all have great points," Nancy tried, ever the peace-keeper. "It seems odd, but, Abby, Kenzi, I think Eames is coming from a good place." She offered her most sympathetic smile to the group. "But Eames, you can't blame us for being suspicious, either. I think the terms themselves are fair, on each side. You all have heard the phrase: my enemy's enemy is my friend, right?" Please work.

[kleptofaeniac]

Kenzi bites down on her bottom lip as Nancy tries to placate everyone. She suddenly feels incredibly bad about putting Nancy in a position like that and decides to keep her mouth shut about how Eames isn't really doing them any favors, just giving fae some good free publicity with the one faction of witches that will actually let them stay in the human world.

But it's all just clutching at straws. She knows she's going to say yes in the end. She's just giving him a hard time because.... why?

She has no freaking idea. It's enough to get her to shut up with a sort of sullen 'yeah'.

[acrookedchild]

It's on the tip of Abigail's tongue. She knows he can't lie, but it certainly feels like she's been told one. Comparing Croydon and Bromley, the latter is a safer bet by far. They'd be flanked by the fae on two sides, not Daybeak on one. But Nancy doesn't want that argument. And they're being offered something they sorely need: a chance to expand.

She doesn't have to like him to accept.

"Very well. So far as I'm concerned, we accept. Kenzi? Nancy? It has to be unanimous."

[falsify]

It's a difference of opinion really - Daybreak are a cause of frustration, but very rarely are they a threat in the same way as the vampires. Being barred from this place is less of an issue than being bled dry to an immortal, after all.

Regardless, he doesn't care much about their opinions, only their answers. Eames looks at the three of them, waiting for their answers.

[stauncherhearted]

"Yes," is Nancy's answer, because she can't say no to something like this.

The final answer falls to Kenzi.

[kleptofaeniac]

"Ditto."

It's less final sounding than a yes. As far as she's concerned. Kenzi smiles quickly towards Nancy and Abigail, trying to be some sort of assurance.

It doesn't help as much as she'd hope.

[acrookedchild]

"Then we're in agreement."

Her voice is firm. Almost cold. And she stands almost immediately.

"And done, I think."

[falsify]

"One last thing," Eames says as Abigail stands, and he takes out a folder and a fountain pen that he slides across the table. Inside the folder, she'll see a simple contract that outlines Abigail's side of the deal - the wording is concise and simple, so there's no room to hide any secrets or tricks. The obnoxious thing is the lack of ink in the pen, and a sharp point just above the nib - implication being, it's used for signing things in blood.

"I hope you won't be insulted, but by the very nature of what I am, I'm bound to my word," and he gestures to the paper with an expression that could be read as sympathetic if one believed he had that in him, "you, Miss Widdowson, are bound by no such rules."