Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

The restaurant in the hotel was relatively busy, patrons from both the hotel, and outside, enjoying the cuisine. Gerald had booked a table after confirming a time with Julianna, and was, as usual, early. He had ordered a gin and tonic, and was just finishing it when the sommelier, or at least what Americans thought passed as one, appeared with the bottle of wine Gerald had ordered.

"Yes, that's the one," he confirmed when shown the label, nodding when asked if he would like it opened. "Yes, it needs to breath," he told the young man, figuring that if nothing else, at least the chap would have a better understanding of the role he was employed to fulfill. "And another gin and tonic, if you would be so kind," he told him, pleased he hadn't had to tell the chap that the bottle should be opened in front of him and left to breath on the table. At some ghastly restaurant in New York they'd tried to take the bottle away, and tried to act offended when he clearly pointed out that he wasn't about to give them the opportunity to decant the wine in the bottle and replace it with a cheaper variety.

He nodded his approval of the linen napkin that was correctly draped around the neck of the bottle, as he had instructed, and settled back in his chair, returning to observing the tide of humanity that was dining in the Golden Nugget that evening.

Comments

[st_clare]

Julianna was late, but only because a traffic light had been out of order, so a policeman had been directing traffic to prevent incidents between motorists.The Watcher arrived in the Golden Nugget's restaurant, shaking off the early evening chill as the host greeted her.

She spotted Gerald already at the table, and approached as he continued to people-watch. She'd been surprised to hear from him, and it made her wonder if he was on another of his treasure hunts. God alone knew what the desert could be hiding. But was it a sanctioned trip by the Council, and if so, why hadn't she been informed?

"I apologize for the delay in getting back to you," she said with a smile as she took up space in the chair opposite him. "The university is finally replacing that dreadful girl, so I should be dealing with someone competent once the holiday break is over."

Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald rose as Julianna approached, pleased to see the attentive host saw to Julianna's chair, and taking his own again as she sat.

"I hope the next one has a modicum of sense, and at least some idea of what the responsibilities are," he told her, glancing up to draw the attention of the sommelier who had already started to wend his way to the table.

"What would you like to drink?" he asked her, the young man arriving, hands clasped behind his back as he awaited her order. "I have taken the liberty of ordering the wine, to give it time to breath," he added, indicating the bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild bordeaux. "It's a 1970, so still a little young, but also a little cantankerous, so let's hope it breathes well."

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"I'll have a gimlet. Vodka, not gin."

Julianna studied the label on the wine bottle with interest, then glanced around at her surroundings. She'd stayed in a different establishment when she first arrived in Las Vegas, so she wasn't familiar with what they served here. Still, if they could cook a decent steak, she'd be happy with dinner.

"How have you been, Gerald?" she asked once the server had departed. "It seems like it's been ages since we've spoken. Is this official business or something else?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"Let's call it a combination of both," Gerald replied, after returning the usual felicitations. He relaxed back in his chair as he took a sip from his drink. "My usual research into anything that appears on the underground market for artifacts, plus the fact that there has been very little discovered of any great importance in this region before, which as we know makes it rather unique has led me to be here. Either there has been a singular dearth of activity in the area over the centuries, if not millenia, or there is much that is hidden beneath the veil of desert and dust." He took another sip before adding, "of which there is much of both as I'm sure you well know." He lowered his glass as he cast a quick glance around them.

"And from what I've already learned there appears to be a rather sudden increase in the population of a variety of individuals of interest. And we both know what that can lead to." He gave her a smooth smile. "Have you noticed anything?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

The news that Gerald's presence had nothing to do with checking up on her made Julianna relax. It might have been foolish of her, but despite her lingering doubts she wanted to be considered good at her job. No, not her job, her calling. To have others second-guessing her when she was already second-guessing herself would have been too much.

"There has been some activity within the city," she told the other Watcher. If she mentioned Elfleda, would he be aware of who the Corruptress was? "Vampires, of course, but other entities as well. It seems as if there's a place in Las Vegas where demons and such can go for sport. Hand-to-hand combat, you know. Rather like boxing, but likely with fewer rules. I've not been, but blood sports have never interested me, no matter who's competing."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"Really?" Gerald replied, one eyebrow arching with interest. "There was a place in Barcelona like that, 'Circus Maximus' I believe they called it, which I always thought was most fitting. Not that I rate it high for entertainment value, but it is a very handy place to learn of what might be happening on the underground."

He paused as the sommelier returned with Julianna's drink, checked if there was anything else they would like and left when there was nothing more. "Though do send the waiter, would you?" Gerald told him. Once the young man had nodded, and departed to do as bid, Gerald continued.

"This activity you mention, what types of entities?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

They'd prepared her drink with the exact amount of lime juice she preferred, and she sipped at it appreciatively as the waiter was being summoned. When she was sure he was out of earshot, she dropped her voice to a murmur.

"Have you heard of Leviathan?"

Starting there seemed like a good idea. To discuss the matter with a colleague might give her new understanding, a better way to deal with the situation. She'd set the wards at her apartment, then done the best she could to cleanse her office of the brunette's presence. If Gerald could help, it was better to share information.

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald studied Julianna for a moment over his glass before he lowered it slowly to the table.

"I am going to take it that you are not referring to the biblical monster of the deep, but more along the lines of one of the Four Crown Princes of Hell. Or is it the one of The Church of Satan, which uses the Hebrew letters at each of the points of the Sigil of Baphomet to represent it?" He pushed his glass a little across the table, leaning forward, his voice becoming a little more serious as he added, "or is it one of the Seven, envy, the gatekeeper of the Hellmouth, and taker of a bride?" He leaned back a little, rubbing lightly at his chin. "I believe she goes by the name Elfleda?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

Julianna concentrated on the glass in her hand so she wouldn't spill her drink, and a slight chill wandered up her spine. Then again, it was expected that Gerald would know what she was alluding to. She pushed the hint of coldness aside by thinking warm thoughts.

"Yes, her name is Elfleda," the Watcher said with a slight nod. "I don't know if there are others like her. There might be. There isn't much in the lore about her specifically. But I've encountered her. Or she's visited me. I'm not sure how to explain it."

The black-jacketed waiter arrived with menus, and Julianna sat back in her chair and took another pull from her drink. Talking about this could only make it better, not worse.

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald had become particularly astute at ready people, in particular people he knew. And he had known Julianna for a good long while, back before his late wife, Elisabeth. They had always maintained a professional relationship, which had grown to closer resemble a level of friendship than acquaintanceship. During all decades he had come to know her 'tells' and was watching one of them now.

When the meal order had been placed Gerald picked up his glass and leaned back again, his chin resting on the fingers of one hand, the other resting on the arm of his chair, slowly sworling it so the contents moved.

"Have you told the Council of this... encounter?" he asked, thinking there was more to this tale than what she was currently telling him.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"No, I haven't. The circumstances surrounding it are a bit unusual, and I wouldn't know where to begin."

Would he report her if he knew she was attempting to foster a mentoring relationship with Valerie? Could he report her? Yes, they were friends, and that friendship had deepened over the years. When Elisabeth passed away, she'd extended her condolences. Years before that, when she didn't accept Edmund's marriage proposal, Gerald had been the one she'd explained her reasons to. They'd known each other for a long time, and she trusted him. How much of a stickler for protocol was he?

"I'm trying to get back into the swing of things," she told the other Watcher slowly. Her drink had been freshened, and she looked down into the glass contemplatively. "Professionally, you understand. I seem to have found a bit of light at the end of a very long tunnel, and I've started to work my way towards it. I'm not sure how the Council would react to the situation."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Still relaxed in his chair Gerald observed her still. He had never had to deal with any of the Slayers in anything but a tutorial role, a specialist called upon to instruct them on the signs to be alert for when coming across items that could be anything from an ancient portal key, a goblet or a gourd which could hold the essences capable of protection or harm, to something as innocuous as a garden gnome enchanted to keep rabbits from eating the garden vegetables. While the latter had been something he used purely for variety and entertainment purposes, to prove a point, the former were all objects he had been instrumental in collecting over the years, along with many others. He'd never understood her deep attachment to the Slayer who'd died, whose name he struggled to recall. To him she was too talented in her translations and observations of ancient cultures and he felt it a waster of her abilities, to get herself entangled with the young girls who were called into a life that was not usually conducive to longevity.

"The Council has become a little obtuse, when it comes to management of its affairs," he offered, "and for a number of years I suspect it has been a case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing." This was something he had fostered, to his own ends, and was happily overseeing.

"I wouldn't worry, as most still regard the northern Americas as the colonies," he added with a soft laugh, glancing around the room that clearly indicated they were anything but. Mostly. "There is a lot to be said for those of us who know our business, to follow our noses and keep the ship afloat, so don't worry yourself too much about their reactions." As he lifted his glass to take a sip he asked, "what's her name?"

[st_clare]

"Valerie. It turns out she was Allison's replacement, called at the moment of her death."

Julianna said it quietly, a thread of pain in her voice. One day, she'd be able to remember without the memory hurting. One day. That was what she was working towards. She put her drink down, folded her ringless hands together on the tabletop.

"It's still tentative, on both sides. She absorbed the things she was taught in London, and practices them stringently. She's a very good soldier. But I'd like to think I can still make a difference somehow. That was how I attracted the attention of...well...her."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

He could see it in her again. That need to be accepted, to be important in the life of one of these Slayers. She had put them before the proposal of marriage from Edmund, something that although she had explained all those years ago, he had secretly never understood.

"A good soldier can die just as quickly as a bad one if they face an opponent who is more than they can defeat," he said matter-of-factly, his glass waving in a generalised motion. "My one piece of advice to you is don't leave yourself open to more heart ache, Julianna." The last was said with a tinge of genuine feeling. He drained his glass and studied the four cubes of ice that remained in the bottom, clustered around the thin slice of lemon. "Their is a calling, something pressed upon them by the fates, and the Powers Than Be. Nothing you or I can do will ever change that." He looked back up at her. "Don't take on the responsibility of things that are far beyond our control. No good comes of it."

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

It was probably very good advice, but Julianna couldn't bring herself to heed it. If she didn't take a risk, nothing would change. The worst thing a person could ever have was regrets. As much as losing Allison had hurt, she didn't - couldn't - regret befriending her. Possibly that was part of the reason she hadn't put it behind her after all this time.

"I appreciate your concern, Gerald," she said with a warm smile. "And I'm not planning to be foolish about this. Someone told me that it's not my place to make decisions for other people, and I'm trying to take that to heart."

The food arrived, brought to the table on a wheeled cart, and the Watcher unwrapped her cutlery and put the cloth napkin in her lap. She'd ordered the fettucine alfredo with shrimp, but only because they couldn't serve a rare enough steak for her liking. But pasta was a fine substitute.

"So." The waiter had departed, leaving them to their dinners. "Enough about me. I'd like to hear about you. How are things on your end?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

The change of subject made him smile. It was still a subject she didn't want to discuss, which told him more than she could have. He picked up the wine that had just been poured and took a sip, rolling the French red around his tongue. There was something about the way the flavour changed in the warmth of the mouth and he nodded his appreciation before lowering his glass to the table again.

"Things are interesting," he answered, picking up his utensils and studying the piece of eye fillet presented on his plate. "My trip here was a little rushed, but has already proven to be fruitful." He started to carve a small piece of meat as he continued to tell Julianna of his meeting with the multi-appendaged entertainment manager of the bar Ragnarok. "Rather a handy place to keep tabs on, from all appearances," he added as he picked up is wine and took another sip.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

She listened with interest while Gerald described his encounter at Ragnarok, made a note that she should possibly visit the place herself. The Seventh Circle didn't appeal to her, but a less combat-oriented establishment might. It didn't escape her attention that the other Watcher didn't mention anything about his personal life, but he'd always been reserved on the subject. She didn't even know if he'd tried to start seeing someone in the wake of Elisabeth's death.

"You'll find the area a bit lacking in culture at first, at least compared to London," Julianna said as she twirled some noodles onto her fork. "But there are programs hosted by the university, and there's Cottonwood Cove, which is only a few miles away. I was on one of their day cruises not that long ago."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"Cottonwood Cove? How quaint," Gerald replied. "It sounds more suited to somewhere on the Mississippi. And a cruise? Was this somewhere up in the mountains, on that Lake Tahoe?" he asked, reminding himself he really did need to take a look at the maps he'd collected, and familiarise himself with the locations for their names, and not just the deserts and mountains for their historical, geological, and archeological value.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"It's a resort and marina on Lake Mohave," Julianna answered. "A woman in my department organized an outing, but because it was the off-season for tourists the place was rather deserted. It is quaint, though. A good place for privacy if you want to get out of the city for a weekend."

The shrimp were a little tough, but there were plenty of them. The Watcher had cut herself off after two gimlets since she was driving, but the wine was very good for a relatively new vintage. "Will you be taking an apartment, or do you intend to keep residing here?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"I don't know how long I will be staying at the moment, so I will remain here for the meanwhile." Gerald dissected his meat with the same delicate precision he would employ when revealing the secrets of the ancient world from it's entombment in millenia of soil and compaction. The vegetables on his plate were cut into equal sizes and a combination of them forked together before being placed in his mouth for consumption.

"Lake Mohave, this is somewhere to the west, southwest?" he added, wondering if Julianna had heard of this town, Searchlight, that he had been directed to.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"It's to the south, about an hour from Las Vegas," she answered. "I didn't expect to find somewhere for recreational swimming outside of a hotel pool in an arid place like this, but I intend to go back in the summer when the weather is more typical of the state."

It piqued her curiosity that Gerald might not remain in Nevada permanently, but in his line of work travel was imperative because the next treasure trove could be found anywhere. Was he looking for something in particular?

"Is there to be a dig in the vicinity?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"A long drive for somewhere to swim," he joked, "but you say they have cruises? A day beneath sail was always a good salve to the soul," he mused, "and something I haven't had the opportunity to do since my last visit to Cairo. Even that wasn't the most pleasant as the weather wasn't particularly pleasant and the pollution in the air made it even less enjoyable. I would hazard that there is little of that problem at this Lake Mohave, given the lack of population and industry? And no, sadly no dig, as there is little to no evidence of anything buried beneath the sands, other than more sands. The natives of this land were seemingly more nomadic, so just as it is in the greater part of many desert regions, there is little to justify any sort of archeological search." He paused for a moment, before adding, in a slightly quieter tone, "which of course means there could be things going undiscovered that were not necessarily architectural in nature, yet still of archeological interest."

[st_clare]

"Oh, yes, absolutely. The area does have a...a pull, despite the apparent desolate nature of it. The quiet may be pervasive, but it's also misleading. Still waters and all that."

Julianna was halfway through her dinner at this point and contemplating dessert. If Gerald was still getting to know the area, had this multi-armed acquaintance of his informed him about Searchlight? There had to be others who were in the know about the town, as tiny as it was. A place that small would have dried up and blown away like a tumbleweed if something wasn't going on, as far as she was concerned.

"I suppose you'll be investigating Searchlight at some point?" she asked the other Watcher. "I dig a small bit of digging when I first arrived, but other matters pulled me away from the subject."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald inclined his head at the mention of Searchlight. "The name was given to me, and it was suggested the town warranted further attentions, yes," he replied, taking another sip of his wine before replacing his glass again on the table. After the brief moment of respite he again picked up his utensils and addressed his remaining meal.

"What did you find in your initial digging?" he asked, curious also as to what pulled her away, but preferring to learn all he could about the township first. "And what drew you there in the first place?"

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"I was looking for someone."

Only her promise to Rhiannon about keeping quiet regarding her presence in Las Vegas prevented Julianna from relating the dreadful time she'd had trying to track the girl down, only to have her appear in her office seemingly out of nowhere. The relationship would always be acrimonious at best, which was why she was putting off a certain piece of business with the brunette Slayer. But she didn't want to talk about that now.

"It seems as if the mines were a large draw in the past," she added, toying with her wine glass. "There were several strikes of gold and silver, and as the population grew the place became a bit of a boomtown. In the current time, the mines have been closed, and as the money ran out, so did the people. But it seems to draw people there even in the modern age, almost as if the people who end up there have a purpose in being there."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"Interesting," Gerald mused, a finger resting on the top edge of his knife in one hand, fork loaded with another precisely cut mouthful waiting in the other as he listened. "What is it that draws them there?" he added thoughtfully before placing his food in his mouth. He continued to think as he chewed. The information he'd been given at Ragnarok was intriguing on its own, enough for him to have made plans to travel to the tiny town, but the fact that Julianna had also deemed there to be something more to the town added another element to the quandary.

"I wonder what it is that draws people to such a place," he said, his mouthful having been swallowed, and another being prepared. "Or at least to this place in particular."

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"Psychic energy, perhaps," Julianna suggested. "A location doesn't have to be as grand as Stonehenge to be a nexus for unseen forces. I'd have to do more research to properly develop a theory, but I have the feeling that something must be going on there."

She polished off a few more bites of pasta, a thoughtful expression on her face. With two Watchers in the area, they'd be able to combine their respective resources and share ideas. Gerald wasn't just a friend, he was a respected colleague. If her plan to be good at this again was to succeed, she'd need professional support.

"It's good to see you again. Old soldiers like us need to stick together."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

"Yes, yes, psychic energy, a portal of some type, to some other dimension, an evil demonic ritual that is carried out every century, or just a biennial gathering of those whose paths do not match the paths of the majority of the population into the grave. I'm just wondering what it is about this place in particular. Have I missed something in the archives? Has there been any notation of this area being particularly active in the past?"

He nodded in acknowledgement of her comment. "It's old soldiers like us who keep things ticking along," he added. "The youngsters of today want everything to be put in their hand without any groundwork, or effort on their part, with their instant everything, from information, news and weather details, to their food! Those dreadful places that are erroneously called restaurants. They don't serve food, it's false advertising." It was a pet hate of his, the speed with which the younger generation wanted everything done, and he'd given a stern talking to on a recent excavation where a potentially dangerous spirit had almost been released by eager young students, unaware of the meaning of the inscriptions around the neck of the gourd, and when they'd been unable to find any information on their brief search through the online archives, had started to unseal the container.

He had settled a very lucrative deal with a collector who knew the value of such a find only just before learning of the need for him to travel here.

He indicated the last mouthful of food on his fork when he said, "this is food, and no fast food establishment can ever hope to come close to this!" He popped the forkful in his mouth and dabbed at the corner with his serviette.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

"Yes, people in these times do want everything too quickly," she agreed. "Forty years ago, there was no such thing as the bloody internet, and there wasn't a television in every home either. I see the laziness on campus, in my classroom and elsewhere. Intellectual sloth. I'm never sure if I should weep or be afraid. There are exceptions, of course, but that's why they're exceptions."

Not that Julianna wanted to turn back her own personal clock. She didn't want to be twenty again. She didn't even want to be forty again. With age came experience, and she didn't want to undo any of that. But every now and then, she did wish the world around her would stop changing so rapidly.

"The meal is quite good," she said with approval. Her plate was nearly empty. A couple two tables over was making selections from a dessert cart. "The restaurant at the hotel I stayed at when I first arrived served a fine dinner as well. I'm sure the people at headquarters didn't know what to make of my list of expenses, but when no one complained I presumed it wasn't an issue."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald huffed a laugh as he picked up his refilled wine glass and leaned back in his chair comfortably. "The individual in charge of the financial reconciliations is an old friend, and has never set foot outside of England, so when it comes to receiving our travel expenses I have begun to think he uses our reports as a way of vicariously traveling the world in our footsteps," he chuckled, taking a sip of the bordeaux and enjoying the taste on his palette.

He studied Julianna for a long moment as she ate some more of her meal, his forefinger rubbing lightly across his lips. "Tell me, Julianna, how have you been finding the support that London has been offering, being out here in the wild west, as it were," he asked her.

Re: Dinner discussion

[st_clare]

To be diplomatic or to say how she felt?

"At first, I felt as if I was living in exile," Julianna said. "I didn't want to come to the States initially, despite the chance for a very good teaching job. Assuming responsibility for the check-in meant facing what happened seven years ago. Really facing it. The Council may not have censured me, but I know they don't tolerate failure."

She paused, because the waiter had returned to ask if they'd like anything else. After a brief pause for thought, the Watcher ordered a third gimlet. All that food would offset the effects of the alcohol well enough. He went away again after asking Gerald if he wanted something too. She waited until he was out of earshot before speaking again.

"However, as time has passed and I've become accustomed to the area, I've realized that I can get assistance if I require it. I've made more than a few trans-Atlantic phone calls since I've been here, and if I don't get immediate results, someone from London gets in touch in a few days. So I'm not feeling as separated anymore."

Re: Dinner discussion

[ghargreaves]

Gerald absorbed the information, head tilted a little as he listened. The only occasions he'd been in one place for any duration was on some of the more involved 'digs', where there was a great deal to be observed and monitored as items were uncovered that the Council needed to ensure were 'safe', or in some instances, procure them to remove them from circulation, and causing any undue grief. He had always regarding his home as being in London, and it had only been since his wife's death that he had been less anxious about returning home as quickly as possible. Now he was a widower there was less pull on him to return, and if he was honest with himself, he would admit that returning home usually carried a good deal more pain than pleasure, as the empty rooms and darkened drawing room, his wife's favourite room, only served to remind him of his loss. Now he found that having a reason to extend his stay somewhere was more welcome that the journey home.

"So how long have you been here?" he asked, taking a sip from his glass then adding, "and have there been any visits from other Watchers?"

[st_clare]

"I've been here since August. It seems like longer than that. And you're the only other Watcher in the area, at least as far as I know. That was why I was so surprised to hear from you when it wasn't long distance."

Perhaps it was because she'd never married, but London had represented safety for Julianna in the wake of her Slayer's death. The chances for travel, including the dig in Peru, had been temporary escapes, but she'd always returned to her flat and teaching afterwards. She wondered if it was fate that had caused her to be here in the present time, trying to re-assume her responsibilities as a Watcher. If everything had a purpose to it, perhaps this had been unavoidable.

"If you do find something of particular interest, I'd like to hear about it," she told Gerald as she signaled the waiter with the dessert cart to come over. "My translating skills are a bit rusty, but I'm slowly blowing the cobwebs away."

[ghargreaves]

"Yes, as I said, it was a last minute decision for me to come here," he explained, with a little more detail about the message that had come through about an item that had surfaced in Las Vegas, which he had now seen. "And the fact that these areas are really some of the largest unexplored regions, archeologically, has always given them an air of intrigue that piques my interest," he added with a small grin. "You know how it is, Julianna, the opportunity to find something that no-one had ever even suspected of existing, a culture in your case perhaps, of a people who had slipped beneath the radar of the regular world."

He lifted his glass and sipped from it, a twinkle in his eye, the prospect of doing that clearly one he still held as possible.

[st_clare]

Julianna smiled warmly at Gerald as she picked up her wine glass and lifted it in a toast. "To new discoveries and old friendships."

The cart supporting the sweets was in range. She was going to be stuffed before this meal was over, which meant paying strict attention to her exercise regimen for the next week or so. Even if nothing came of it, it would be nice to work with someone familiar again. One never knew what tomorrow might bring, after all.