"I'm an antiquarian. I own a book store with a restoration service. Though I am more than happy to roll up my sleeves here and help. I know this sort of place quite well."
"Ah yes, that must take you out of the circuit frequently. Playing with...your books."
"Cerai," Ethan starts, but she holds a hand up.
"We don't need a restorationist here. Or a bookseller, or someone to whisk our owner away and leave the place floundering, people getting murdered, that sort of thing. We need Ethan. Here. Working."
"We're also allowed a honeymoon," Francis raises an eyebrow. Wow.
"But tell me, at what point did I imply he wouldn't?" It's a little sharp as his temper flares but he then wonders if it's a test. Actually what the fuck he didn't even do anything. Why are you coming after him.
"And not that you need to know this information little demon, but half this match was arranged because of the club's need for me to get involved."
She snarls, and Ethan whips a look between them, because what, demon, who what--
"Listen," he tries, because he doesn't like confrontation, and he's worried, and he wants to smooth this all out with ice cream or something, what the fuck--
"Sure you get a honeymoon. But Marcus didn't know what the fuck he was doing half the time," she says matter of factly. "You may elevate our status, but we need him," she points to Ethan, "to stay present and focused."
"Cerai," she snaps. "Don't you hurt him. Don't you dare. Because I've seen and smelled your kind before, and I know what you do. I know how you treat your partners. You do that to him and I'll bring down all of hell on you."
Mm. Yes perhaps he shouldn't have. But he isn't sure Ethan even caught it, particularly. It could have very easily been.. weird.. name calling. Hm. Hm, hm, hm. They'll need a discussion in private later. And likely a Deal.
Francis wets his lips, trying to control his temper. You, little tramp, have terrible taste in men.
It also means she will know quite a lot of dirty laundry. Delightful.
"Then I'm sure you know to take his stories with a grain of salt."
He looks to Ethan, tracking a little slowly. This isn't. Fantastic for him.
Ethan is definitely listening. The fuck. A demon? He isn't stupid enough to miss what's going on. He's soft enough to want to smooth it, but he is definitely hearing it. He's no stranger (at this point) to otherworldly beings. A Demon is a first, though.
"Oh, he tends to be...uncommonly honest when it comes to his daddy issues." She leans on the counter, pushing two straigh whiskeys at them.
"Son," Ethan says, finally chiming back in. He's not thrilled about this pissing contest but is aware he's out of his league. How do you even interject. "Wow."
Francis takes the drink with some hesitation. You've certainly gotten your revenge. He is clearly absolutely not ready to be talking about his kids.
"Mm," pressing his lips thing before letting them pop. This is very uncomfortable.
"I have a few. All long grown with families and lives of their own. You're under no obligation to.."
To what. Acknowledge them? Put yourself out? Try? Well he can't exactly say that with Abaddon's eyes and ears across the bar. What an awful, unkind coincidence.
"Speak to them.. I was waiting for the right time to tell you."
"Yes it makes sense you would know Jackson. He takes care of you?"
Like. Is he even good at his job? He's trustworthy? Francis tries wth Jackson for Aurora's sake and they've finally found footing with each other which is a relief but he doesn't really know Jackson as a man. Outside in the wider world.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
So...many kids.
Her eyes barrow a little, eyes flicking between the two of them.
“Out to work, hm? What do you do?”
no subject
no subject
"Cerai," Ethan starts, but she holds a hand up.
"We don't need a restorationist here. Or a bookseller, or someone to whisk our owner away and leave the place floundering, people getting murdered, that sort of thing. We need Ethan. Here. Working."
no subject
"But tell me, at what point did I imply he wouldn't?" It's a little sharp as his temper flares but he then wonders if it's a test. Actually what the fuck he didn't even do anything. Why are you coming after him.
"And not that you need to know this information little demon, but half this match was arranged because of the club's need for me to get involved."
no subject
"Listen," he tries, because he doesn't like confrontation, and he's worried, and he wants to smooth this all out with ice cream or something, what the fuck--
"Sure you get a honeymoon. But Marcus didn't know what the fuck he was doing half the time," she says matter of factly. "You may elevate our status, but we need him," she points to Ethan, "to stay present and focused."
no subject
Francis smiles, half genuine, half he can not believe your sheer fucking audacity.
"Well, good," agreeing with her.
"I'm glad we're all on the same page, then. I look forward to working with you Cersea."
no subject
She pauses.
"Abaddon included."
no subject
Funny after all this time it's still possible to blindside him.
Francis stares for a moment, wordless. Breathless. How dare you.
How dare you.
Say something, you old fool. She can't take the ground in this conversation. Don't give it to her.
"Well I say," finally. Recovering. He takes off his glasses to clean them with a handkerchief from his pocket.
"And how, exactly, do you know him?"
no subject
She is very tempted to tell Ethan precisely what you are. What you've done. The children you've sired. All those lives you've lived.
"Oh, he's been in and out." She smiles, moving to get them drinks. She finally has this ass by the balls. "We've dated off and on for a millenia."
Ethan is wondering if he should even be ere -- should he go fuck off, like. What is happening.
"Who's Abaddon," he finally interjects.
no subject
Francis wets his lips, trying to control his temper. You, little tramp, have terrible taste in men.
It also means she will know quite a lot of dirty laundry. Delightful.
"Then I'm sure you know to take his stories with a grain of salt."
He looks to Ethan, tracking a little slowly. This isn't. Fantastic for him.
"My son."
no subject
"Oh, he tends to be...uncommonly honest when it comes to his daddy issues." She leans on the counter, pushing two straigh whiskeys at them.
"Son," Ethan says, finally chiming back in. He's not thrilled about this pissing contest but is aware he's out of his league. How do you even interject. "Wow."
no subject
Francis takes the drink with some hesitation. You've certainly gotten your revenge. He is clearly absolutely not ready to be talking about his kids.
"Mm," pressing his lips thing before letting them pop. This is very uncomfortable.
"I have a few. All long grown with families and lives of their own. You're under no obligation to.."
To what. Acknowledge them? Put yourself out? Try? Well he can't exactly say that with Abaddon's eyes and ears across the bar. What an awful, unkind coincidence.
"Speak to them.. I was waiting for the right time to tell you."
no subject
It is precisely what you deserve for outing her, because Ethan is certainly looking at her a little bit differently now.
Not bad. Just...slightly concerned.
"No, it's okay. You said you were old, it would be strange if you didn't. IF they're willing to meet me, that's' cool."
Him and Cerai are gonna be talking later, though. Shit.
no subject
They don't always have the easiest relationship. But he tries more, these days. He really does. It isn't that he doesn't love them.
But he is quite ready to change the subject, eyeing Cerai for a moment. They're due a conversation later as well, he feels.
no subject
Damn straight they’re due a conversation. She’s giving you such a look as Ethan gently tugs on his arm. Cmon. Let him show you around.
“How many do you have?” He asks, guiding him away. Come look at the pretty club.
no subject
"Five living," he answers. Many dead.
"Two girls and three boys. My daughter Aurora lives here in the city."
no subject
Five kids. Wow. That’s a lot. Ethan doesn’t have any, never really cares one way or another It just never happened.
“Aurora?” That’s a familiar name.
no subject
"Lovely girl, extremely talented in deviation. I think you'd like her if you wanted to meet her."
no subject
Divination?
“Is she really tiny...like, a twig? White-silver hair?”
no subject
no subject
“Uh, actually, I know her husband pretty well. He’s the guy we call when we can’t call the regular cops.”
Like, he’s been to their house.
no subject
"Yes it makes sense you would know Jackson. He takes care of you?"
Like. Is he even good at his job? He's trustworthy? Francis tries wth Jackson for Aurora's sake and they've finally found footing with each other which is a relief but he doesn't really know Jackson as a man. Outside in the wider world.
no subject
He nods.
“Yeah, he’s been really good to have around. Marcus introduced us, we’ve always gotten along.”
no subject
A chuckle.
Maybe he should make more effort to invest in Jackson. Show.. some sort of interest in his life and exploits.
no subject
Maybe. He's worth knowing. Keeps your kid safe, even if he's some weird offspring of Chuck and...something or other.
Ethan grins.
"My lips are sealed."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)