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Post by Emilian Sota on Jan 5, 2016 0:00:54 GMT -5
Emilian shook his head another time or two before he looked at Brandis again. "I wanted her, and she's gone, I watched her die. You're trying to offer me things I don't want in exchange for letting you steal her daughter." Ah but he did want things, he'd always wanted things. He'd done well keeping things locked away during the past few years, though his recent slip-up had brought some things to the surface again. "You can speak pretty words all you like."
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Post by Brandis on Jan 5, 2016 0:09:17 GMT -5
"I've made no such offer," Brandis explained. "Intentions can change, Herr Sota. If we could help one another, perhaps Adara's daughter will be unnecessary, perhaps she can be returned today to grateful fathers." Did Emilian really approve of the life Adara had impulsively chosen? If so, it would do no good to insult it. "I was the right hand to a powerful man. What is it you desire? What kind of life would she want you to live without her?"
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Post by Emilian Sota on Jan 5, 2016 0:14:21 GMT -5
"Stop calling me Herr Sota, it's nothing but brown-nosing," Emilian snapped. "How could I help you with whatever the hell it is you want? You say you've got pull, so use it and leave us all out of it." He would say nothing of whatever he might or might not desire. "I have no pull, I have no power at all." The only thing had was a handful of contracts to jewelers.
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Post by Brandis on Jan 5, 2016 0:26:02 GMT -5
"Mr. Sota, then," Brandis said impatiently. "My options as far as Schneewittchen are concerned involve kidnapping, risking my own life, and living as a fugitive in the servants' quarters of my own home. Can you see, perhaps, why another path might appeal to me? My pull is behind the scenes. I can give you information to restore wealth enough to buy your way back into Society's graces, can tell you with whom to connect in Germany to rebuild. I can do this and more, but my birth assures that I cannot put any of this to use for myself. Do you understand my offer yet?"
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Post by Emilian Sota on Jan 5, 2016 0:37:57 GMT -5
Why couldn't his parents have just kept their end of the damned bargain and given him back his inheritance? "You'd have me as your new Snow," Emilian said. At least, that was what it sounded like. Give Brandis the behind the scenes power he'd had in the past. To say it wasn't tempting at all would be a complete lie, but he knew himself well enough to know that giving in would just lead to too many future mistakes to count. He had to agree to get Isolde home safe, but Brandis would never let that happen without some guarantee of help.
Years outside of Society and more years of simply not caring meant that his eyes didn't even begin to hide the fact that he was thinking things through, assuming his silence didn't give it away. How long would he need to play along before Isolde could be safe? And would it be long enough that he could not pull back? "I won't agree to anything unless I'm sure she's going home."
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Post by Brandis on Jan 5, 2016 0:57:22 GMT -5
"Yes, of course," Brandis said. "You can take her yourself. Mother, give her to him." The woman looked at the baby longingly, then shifted to put it in Emilian's arms. She spoke English fluently, as did most of the staff, and had been listening all along.
"Mr. Sota, for some short years I planned my life with you in mind. You don't give a damn about running a household and if I prove myself true to my word you'll likely let me have my way. It isn't as grand as this castle, but I'm willing to trade location for position. Return the child, as has been your goal. You'll be a hero to her fathers and if you return to me I'll begin a whispering campaign in your favor. Otherwise... Well, there are some here who might be hurt enough to imply you were part of all this." It was less of a threat than a statement that he did have the power he claimed. "You have little to lose and much to gain."
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Post by Emilian Sota on Jan 5, 2016 1:05:00 GMT -5
It was only when the actual transfer of the girl began that Emilian realized that he had never actually held a baby before. In the momentary shock that followed, he almost forgot to respond entirely. "I'll take her back," he said. Then he would return. It was a mistake, and it felt like turning himself over to doom all over again, but he'd managed these past few years, he could keep his head for however long it took. Couldn't he?
Moments later he'd apparated with a crack, then reappeared to chaos in front of the store. After the tension of the discussion, the throb in his leg made itself known again, though he focused instead on not dropping a kid who wasn't exactly used to apparating while he scanned the area for Dare's bright head.
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 5, 2016 1:26:37 GMT -5
Isolde, still groggy from her short nap, curled her fingers around the back of Emilian's neck. She was at that age where she could cling to a person with little help from them, and so she was comfortable enough. Confused, but comfortable enough.
The front of the store was blocked off, and Aurors milled around, asking questions. Dare sat on a cheap folding chair near the counter, trying to hold onto numbness. The kids—the rest of them, anyway—had gone home with a hastily-summoned Wynne, the younger ones confused and Helle sobbing with guilt. Dare had told Michael everything and who knew where the man was now? Probably looking for Skylar. He wouldn't ask them what they intended to do. They could just do it.
A high-pitched squeal of excitement brought his head snapping up, and his heavy heart paused, only to resume at breakneck speed. "Oh my God. Isolde!" An employee with an armful of dented cans moved deftly out of his path as he made his way to his daughter. He was catching her up gratefuully into his own arms before it even registered that someone had been holding her. He hugged her tightly and she hugged him back, then melted against him to drowse again. Dare's eyes brimmed with tears of relief.
"Thank you, I don't know how..." And it was Emilian. It had been Emilian who'd grabbed onto that woman as she'd disapparated. And he'd come back with Isolde this quickly. Dare flicked a glance at the nearest Auror, who trotted over. "This is Isolde, he brought her back just now." He eyed Emilian almost curiously. Why? Was it some remnant of feelings for Adara? A remnant so powerful that it had surpassed Emilian's own sense of self-preservation and loathing for him and Michael?
Where did you find her? the Auror asked.
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Post by Emilian Sota on Jan 5, 2016 11:03:06 GMT -5
Emilian shifted slightly in discomfort, and was grateful when the Auror appeared and spoke. "I grabbed the woman's arm just before she apparated, we ended up in Germany," he said. A quick glance toward Dare, who must be able to make the connection, right? Then back at the Auror. "I made a deal, and they let me bring her home. And I'd really like to sit again, I think I got a slight case of splinching."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 5, 2016 11:51:33 GMT -5
Dare brought Emilian the chair he'd been sitting on and someone summoned a Healer. The Auror wanted to ask more questions, but Dare waved him away. "Send a message to Michael," he told the man. When they were alone, the two men and lightly sleeping child, Dare took another chair to settle facing Emilian. "It was that servant, wasn't it?" he asked. He couldn't remember the guy's name. "What kind of deal? Michael will be here soon, don't try to bullsh~ me." His face was intent, ready to listen. That Emilian had mentioned a deal at all implied he didn't care to lie.
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Post by Emilian Sota on Jan 5, 2016 11:57:32 GMT -5
Emilian nodded and jerked at his pant leg. Well, at least this new scar would be a small one, he imagined the cold had helped. "Brandis, it was his mum who took Isolde. The man wants power, like always. He offered his connections to me to get me back into Society in return for him to work for me. If I agreed, Isolde could come home." So he had. "The two are living in the servant's quarters of your castle, might want to take a look at the loyalty of the people working there."
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Post by Dare Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 5, 2016 13:15:35 GMT -5
Dare blinked and gave a quick nod, then looked around, wondering how long until Michael arrived. He didn't know what to think of an Emilian who seemed to be telling the truth, who claimed he'd turned down an offer of power. As for Brandis, why would a man who'd wanted Isolde from before her birth agree to let go after years if he could be Emilian's servant? It made no sense!
He let the appearance of a Healer take away his need to reply. Michael knew Emilian. He needed Michael.
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 5, 2016 13:45:43 GMT -5
As soon as Michael received the message, he apparated to the shop with a crack. Emilian was involved now? This couldn't be right, and it certainly couldn't be good. He paused a moment to run a hand through Isolde's soft hair before he spoke. "What happened?" He listened in silence, keeping a hand on the girl, as Emilian repeated information, then spoke. "Thank you for bringing her back. I suppose he wants you back soon?"
He wanted to go after the man, but had the feeling it wouldn't be easy. Isolde had been returned unharmed, Brandis was in Germany. They would have to convince the other country to hand him over...it would be a nightmare.
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Post by Emilian Sota on Jan 5, 2016 13:48:39 GMT -5
Emilian hissed as the healer finished up the basic healing, then nodded. "He implied it would be bad if I tried to stay away," he said, settling his pant leg back into place. "If he's close enough with the servants that they're letting him stay there after all this time, he could stir up a lot of trouble."
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Post by Michael Blackwood-Hardt on Jan 5, 2016 20:15:58 GMT -5
Michael nodded and filed it away for future thought. For now, he was more interested in making sure Isolde was safe and that the family was okay after the upheaval, however brief it may have been. Isolde would probably never even remember it, but it could still have lingering effects in him, Dare, and Helle. "Go on, keep us updated. Be careful," he said. "And thank you again, I don't...if you hadn't..."
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