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birthright_rpg2014-03-10 09:51 pm
st_clare) wrote in birthright_rpg2014-03-10 09:51 pm
Coming to Terms
Perhaps things had been going too well.
The bonding process with Valerie was still a work in progress, but the building blocks had been established. Her students were responding well in her classes. She was writing a new paper to be published, on the class system of the Victorian age. So a little bump in the road should have been expected.
What a bump in the road it was, though.
She and Rhiannon had agreed to meet in a neutral spot at one o'clock on Monday afternoon. The weather was warming up as spring approached, the days lengthening as Daylight Savings Time went into effect. Julianna had seated herself on a wooden bench where the Slayer could find her, where they wouldn't be overheard. She was composed, a little removed.
Duncan Neely's death had actually made the Las Vegas papers, and it was suspected to be a break-in gone horribly wrong. That was no longer Julianna's primary concern. If what she suspected was correct, it was really no more than he deserved. She didn't - couldn't - condone murder, but she was pragmatic enough to know that history had a way of repeating itself. With Duncan permanently taken care of, no other innocent girls could be exploited for the purpose of lining his pockets.
If the other girl was still alive, Rhiannon would know of it. The living should be focused on now, not the deserving dead.
The bonding process with Valerie was still a work in progress, but the building blocks had been established. Her students were responding well in her classes. She was writing a new paper to be published, on the class system of the Victorian age. So a little bump in the road should have been expected.
What a bump in the road it was, though.
She and Rhiannon had agreed to meet in a neutral spot at one o'clock on Monday afternoon. The weather was warming up as spring approached, the days lengthening as Daylight Savings Time went into effect. Julianna had seated herself on a wooden bench where the Slayer could find her, where they wouldn't be overheard. She was composed, a little removed.
Duncan Neely's death had actually made the Las Vegas papers, and it was suspected to be a break-in gone horribly wrong. That was no longer Julianna's primary concern. If what she suspected was correct, it was really no more than he deserved. She didn't - couldn't - condone murder, but she was pragmatic enough to know that history had a way of repeating itself. With Duncan permanently taken care of, no other innocent girls could be exploited for the purpose of lining his pockets.
If the other girl was still alive, Rhiannon would know of it. The living should be focused on now, not the deserving dead.
no subject
Now she was thinking of both Valerie and Allison. The former, who was trying to live, and the latter, who had never gotten the chance. Julianna coughed quietly, covered her mouth with one hand.
"And the training program is different for everyone," she said in a muted voice. "Some girls are more receptive than others. Take to instruction as if they were born to it. That's not a negative thing. Perhaps it's why you've lived so long."
It was almost a compliment, and Julianna did them both the service of keeping her eyes on the trees. She'd eaten breakfast, but had skipped lunch to get some writing done before coming here. That meant something to eat would have to be procured soon.
"I don't suppose there's anything else you'd like to cover, is there?"
no subject
“No.”
There really wasn’t. Coming to a truce of sorts was remarkable progress, and she didn’t expect it to go further, maybe not ever, but definitely not today. If the universe wanted it, they’d wind up communicating and working together in the future. White hats had a way of developing common enemies.
“Good luck with Valerie,” she said. “I know she’s probably not your first slayer, but I hope she’s your last. That sounds off, but you know what I mean.” She stood up and although it felt like a karmic load had been released, Rhiannon also felt drained. She was about to go when it struck her that there was one last thing to say.
“Oh, um, the girl…” she snapped her fingers. “Her name was Iliana Romano. Maybe she went home. That’s what I would have done. Bye.” She stuck her thumbs in her hip pockets and left the park bench, thinking that it'd be a while before she headed for home. She needed to clear her head.
no subject
Was that the first time she'd used the brunette's given name since they'd met? Julianna couldn't remember. She watched the Slayer's retreating form for a minute, then rose from the bench and headed towards the lot where she'd left her car.
Illana Romano. Italian? Perhaps she'd contact someone in local law enforcement and discreetly inquire about the girl. Or perhaps she'd let the matter lie, along with Duncan's corpse. If there was a hell, she hoped he was in it.