Thanks everyone for the Part 28 feedback... it meant alot.
VampNo12 I love your analyses - only I don't have time to get into that one too much now...
The contrast between them is just as important as the connection. I would not disagree with anything you have said about the feelings, the excuses that they make to themselves and the differences.
One thing I hadn't planned but you noticed and I like it, so I will take some credit, was the idea that the pain of the scratch was only apparent away from Willow... then she sucked it away again later. I guess I meant it in a way, but never in those terms... I'll have to remember that one! Thanks!
And Willow... possessive? Well what's hers is hers and what's mine is hers... if she wants it.
Part 29 is below... it is a two part mini story with Part 30 which will post tomorrow night...
Lilah makes it to Sunnydale...
Enjoy and thanks Kittens!
Katharyn
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Title:
The Sidestep Chronicle – Assignments (Part 29)
Author: Katharyn Rosser
Feedback: Constructive criticism always welcome.
katharynrosser@hotmail.comSpoiler Warning: Pretty limited. The story occurs in an alternate universe though reference is made to events that occur in both realities.
Summary: Lilah arrives from L.A.
Disclaimer: I still don’t own any of the copyrights or anything else associated with BTVS. All rights lie with the production company, writers etc, etc. I am making zilch from this series of stories.
Rating: 15
Couples: VW/T
Notes: This is continued directly in Part 30
Thanks To: Those who have stuck with this so far… is any of it making, or starting to make, any sense yet?
The Sidestep Chronicle
Assignments
By
Katharyn Rosser
“There you go now, she is on her way,” the Mayor put the telephone down and regarded the young woman who sat opposite him. A young woman with very costly fees but an extremely capable one indeed. More than justifying the outlay. And with powerful connections. The sort of connections that couldn’t be ignored during a career in politics.
She was, he had to admit, quite striking. Not that he had any interest in her in that way. No siree. Not since his own dear Edna May had passed. Nor did he have any intention of starting up in that sort of frivolity again now. And if he had… Well then, there were far safer places for his gaze to rest than upon his lawyer.
“Excellent, Mr Mayor. Tell me about her. I’ve read the file but…”
“They never tell you everything – and it certainly won’t do my Tara justice. You know I keep telling Liz that, don’t I Liz?”
“Oh yes sir…” the elderly secretary turned to Lilah, “He tells me that frequently,” she told the visitor. “He’d been telling me that for, oh, thirty-five years. I was a young lady like yourself when I first joined Mr Wilkins.”
Lilah just smiled patiently, more than just aware of the powers that sustained the Mayor of Sunnydale. She had been, a very junior, part of the negotiating team that had extended the contract for him after the unpleasantness with the rising of that local vampire king.
“You’re still a young lady Lizzy,” the Mayor told her. “Young at heart. Best way to be. You’re only as young as you feel.”
“Well, Mr Mayor… I feel old.” Liz smiled and collected up the papers he had been signing for her.
He was right though, Lilah thought, the files never did tell the reader everything. How could they? They were just words on a page. There was no substance behind them. Whatever the focus of the words there was always something that was missing. If a report described a situation it missed a feeling. If it described a feeling… then it missed a sensation.
Lizzy left them then, arthritis or something definitely catching up with her, and the Mayor smiled sadly as she went. “I keep offering to make a little bargain for her joints… but she won’t let me.” He sounded wistful. “It would be the tiniest thing.”
“She has a lot of dignity,” Lilah said.
“Yes she does and talking of dignity – and lots of it - I must say I was expecting you rather sooner, Lilah. Tara has been with me for quite a little while now.” He sat back in his chair, making a steeple of his fingers. “Considering the importance that I was told this project has for your firm I was expecting you to move just a little bit faster.”
“Well, I am certainly sorry if the firm misled you in any way-” Lilah started to explain to him.
“No, no. Not at all. It was just an impression that Holland gave me some time ago. He suggested right from the get-go that you would be with us here in Sunnydale as soon as was
humanly possible,” the Mayor told her, waving off the apology.
“I got here as soon as I could – I had to pass some of my caseload over to one of my associates,” Lilah explained to him. It still smarted.
“Ouch, I bet that hurt.” He watched her give him a knowing smile. “No, I meant what Holland told me some years ago. You didn’t know?”
Holland? Holland had told him… years ago that she, Lilah, would be here. For this project…? When the need had, supposedly, only been identified a few weeks ago? Something wasn’t quite right with that…
But she couldn’t display either surprise or ignorance in front of a client – and she hid it well. “Sorry Mr Mayor, I just thought you meant the more recent arrangements. Naturally I knew,” she lied to him.
“Naturally, it’s your project.” His tone showed not a hint of doubt about her reassurance. Which in itself was damning.
“We just wanted her, Tara, to be comfortable with her surroundings before we made any overt move that might be traced back to Wolfram and Hart – or that might link you to us.” But that link, Lilah knew, was about to be made abundantly clear. Many of those who moved through the darker side of the world had heard of Wolfram and Hart. The firm had a justified reputation as the best representation certain classes of clients could acquire. Had this Tara heard that?
“Well I think she is certainly that. Yes sir, she is definitely comfortable – as comfortable as she will let herself be anyway. She does a quite wonderful job here – the streets are much safer already. She has effectively created no-go zones for the vampires here in town.” He grinned at Lilah. “Even if your firm hadn’t asked me to hire her I think I might well have done so anyway. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better than my Tara.”
That all certainly gelled with the reports that Lilah had seen concerning this Miss Maclay and her capabilities. Tara had avoided the dark magics that would have consumed her – which had always been an unpredictable risk the firm had been forced to weigh – and she had also avoided burnout. She had indeed become, as the Mayor had suggested, a very capable killer of the undead. More specifically, of vampires.
“And,” the Mayor continued, “if you try and steal her away from me then I might just have to offer you up in sacrifice to some of my campaign contributors.” The Mayor regarded the young woman in her suit with a serious eye, noticing her wondering just how serious he was before he cracked up. “Just kidding. Don’t worry. No need for that. I’m sure the partners in your firm would do exactly the same to me if I even attempted it. And that is the sort of mutual respect that we can build a relationship on. A relationship that can last another century.”
“She is powerful then?” Lilah asked, wondering just how many of those hundred years she would see. Being a capable vampire killer could be a matter of technique rather than actual power. Not that either scenario would be a disaster for Wolfram and Hart – or for Lilah herself.
“She doesn’t show it, no sir she certainly doesn’t do that. She came in here for her interview and did something very impressive – but virtually straight away she edged away from that level of power – and I have only seen her utilise it once since then.”
“She is restricted?” Lilah asked with a professional concern. If the girl had ‘low batteries’ then she might prove significantly less useful – especially for Lilah - in the longer term.
The Mayor considered that proposition. “No, I think she just holds back. She avoids the big flashy shows that most witches and warlocks take for granted. She also avoids the trivial things. If my Tara wants a window opening she gets up and does it herself. She doesn’t take the easy way out. But she definitely has the power. She just…” he paused searching for the words, snapping his fingers in irritation as they continued to elude him.
“Finds ways to work around having to use it?” his visitor suggested.
“Excellent. Yes. That is exactly what she does. Simple methods. She soon settled down into a very dependable routine. More than gets the job done and I must say she is a heck of fine young woman in her own right. She has the moral centre that is lacking in most of the youth of today… to my eternal despair.”
“A moral centre?” Lilah asked, trying not to sound too aghast. That could be a problem for Lilah too. Who could have planned for a moral centre in a young woman of her generation? Everyone had morals… to a greater or lesser extent but no one even bothered to
describe a person’s moral centre unless it was a strong one.
“Yes, quite a fine one.”
“She knows what you do though sir? What you plan?” If this Tara knew that… then the moral centre might have its ambiguities. Grey areas. Those would be something that Lilah could work with to achieve her ambitions for this project. Not exactly what the firm had planned – but certainly not outside the scope of the project. It was just a question of proper implementation of this phase. That was why Lilah had come to realise that being here in Sunnydale might be a good thing – in the longer term.
Even if Gavin was back at the office trying to steal her clients. She was sure that he must be.
She would have done the same.
“Oh yes – she knows. But she considers the Master and his kind a far, far greater threat than me. And far more immediate. In that she is not at all wrong. Until the Master is dealt with there is no way that I can do what is necessary to fulfil my campaign promises. And that really ticks me off – not to mention being a big disappointment to those contributors I mentioned. I believe that you know some of them?” Lilah nodded – she remembered the discussions very well. “You can imagine then. Besides how can a politician stand up and face his constituents unless he keeps his promises?” he laughed again. “Especially when he wants to eat them.”
“So you agree with our assessment of the potential?” she asked, returning to the matter at hand – Tara. Miss Maclay would be here very soon and she wanted as much detail as possible by then. First hand observations, not just dry words. She flicked to the page in the file that referred to the matter of potential and scanned it quickly.
“Oh yes, definitely. One hundred percent. A hundred and twenty actually.”
“And do you think I will have any problems?” she asked. Holland had indicated that she should try and follow his lead in this matter – and she had to admit that he appeared to know his assistant well. At least he thought he did. Lilah guessed that she would find out which soon enough.
“You shouldn’t do… in fact you might have a distinct advantage, as a young woman.” He noticed that Lilah gave him a slightly blank look. “Let’s just say that it is my impression that Tara is not so comfortable in the company of young men. No, that isn’t what I mean and it isn’t fair to her at all. My generation never had to explain things like this. Let’s say instead that I don’t think that she would choose the company of young men… romantically.”
“She’s…?” That had certainly not been on the menu – or in the reports. But it was amazing that the extremely simple logic of the situation had escaped her. There was the whole prophecy thing. There had been doubts in the very beginning as to whom it referred to. The Master seemed to thing it was Rosenberg and some boy he had also had turned by Spike and Drusilla. But it should have been obvious… if Maclay and Rosenberg were going to be in love and fate was going to bring them to that then they would have to be that way inclined. At least by the time they were together.
And then another thought struck her. A question. Was this why Holland had sent her to do this? Some attempt to manipulate Maclay that would have been hampered by someone like the late unlamented pretty-boy Lindsay? His faux-charm offensive certainly wouldn’t have helped. The boy had been a flirter. Maybe Holland thought it was her turn to have to adopt that approach. Sometimes one had to reason why… not just get on with it. She had failed to spot the obvious connection, and she wasn’t keen on being played like that. She was supposed to be doing the playing…
Manipulation was fine, but more than that? That wasn't her thing at all. She just hoped that Holland and the Mayor realised that… and if they didn’t then Lilah intended to make sure this Tara did. She wasn’t about to let her bones get jumped. And talking of unfair to Tara as they were… wasn’t that? She hadn’t even met the young woman and she was worried about
that when fate was directing Tara somewhere that was
very else?
“Gay? That’s what they say now… I would say so…” the Mayor revealed. “Not that she seems to be active in that regard, much as I occasionally try to steer her towards nice, suitable young ladies of similar persuasions,” he frowned. “I just wish I knew what to do for the best for her. I suppose that she just needs to take some time to herself. Do you know that she worked nineteen hours yesterday all told? And averages sixteen everyday? Now
that is unhealthy. It’ll lead to burnout – not of the magical variety – but you mark my words that would be a crying shame. If she won’t allow herself to have a romance… then she can certainly have friends. I try my best to spend time with her… maybe you could too.”
“I’m not…” Lilah tailed off, somehow lost for words for once in her life.
The Mayor laughed. “I wasn’t actually suggesting that you were or that you should. Just that I think that a person such as yourself is going to have an easier time getting to know her if you approach her as a potential friend rather than as my lawyer. Her life has been sheltered and also very exposed – it is just a question of comfort. If she is comfortable with you then you can be her friend, and I happen to think that being her friend is going to get all of us much further than trying to be her lawyer.”
Lilah nodded, certainly understanding that. It was a tactic she had employed in recruitment before… and she was hoping that she could gain Tara’s trust. Maybe the Mayor had the correct sense of his assistant.
“And she is rather… shy… around new people. When she isn’t killing the heck out of them anyway.” He grinned. “Besides you might like her. Just don’t lie to her… If she asks you a question – any question, then you tell her the truth,” he warned. “No matter what that question is.”
“She
is a seer?” Lilah asked. That was what Holland had warned her of. Tara Maclay’s actions, as observed by the monitors and by her current host suggested it might be the case. The prophecy left the matter open to interpretation. As usual… especially as it was not directly related to the fated outcome.
“Maybe, I’m not quite convinced of that yet. But she has a talent for sniffing out a lie. It’s uncanny. Scarred the bejeesus out of Dave on the planning committee when he tried to convince me that some sewer repairs I had requested were fully completed. She just looked at him until he withered and told me the truth. Saved us a pretty penny I can tell you.”
“Then how… how can I convince her I am her friend?”’ she asked him. If she couldn’t lie or dissemble then her tools of persuasion were pretty limited. Years at law school… years more at Wolfram and Hart and she couldn’t lie?
“Oh heck I don’t know,” he said with just a touch of sarcasm and not a hint of anger, “actually try and be one? My Tara is too special a girl to have no friends closer to her own age. Just allow yourself to be her friend – if she will have you. I’ll bet you a barrel of apples that it gets you further than negotiating.”
“No bet, sir.” If there was one thing this ‘man’ was good at it was judging character – and she did understand that Tara already meant something to him. He was using the witch certainly, but he was quite attached to her too. Perhaps, Lilah mused, she could be the same. It might prove a more enduring tie than forced loyalty, certainly better than money.
There was a knock on the door before it opened. “And here she is!” the Mayor told his guest, standing and rounding the desk to usher Tara in, shutting the door behind her and then gesturing to Lilah.
“Tara I’d like you to meet Lilah Morgan, my lawyer. Lilah, Tara.”
Lilah held out her hand, smiling. “I’m really just one of his lawyers,” she added trying to be a little modest. Modesty would seem to be the way to go here. Like an ill-fitting coat it sat on her – hopefully Tara would not notice the fit… just that the coat was there at all.
“Nonsense,” the Mayor chided. “I’ve never met with anyone else from the firm since you came on board, Lilah.”
The wary look in Tara’s eyes as she looked Lilah over was eerie to behold. Lilah had met plenty of seers in her time – of varying power and accuracy – and she could well imagine that Tara was another, and certainly gifted.
‘The eyes are the window to the soul,’ so most seers seemed to say, so Lilah cast her eyes downwards – as if nervous herself. It protected her eyes from scrutiny and gave an interesting impression to the witch. She’d used it many times in the past when dealing with shy and insecure people. The trick was, rather than bullying them with her presence, to make them feel that they were more secure in themselves than she was in herself.
It was a difficult balance to achieve and still manage to do business. But it wasn’t quite a lie and that should pass Tara unnoticed… even if she was a seer.
Besides when Tara’s eyes had been fixed on hers, for that brief second, she had felt naked before the younger woman. It was as if Tara could read every dirty secret that Wolfram and Hart had ever entrusted her with. Lilah snatched a glance upwards, saw the Mayor smiling at her performance and found that Tara too was looking down, around, anywhere but at Lilah. Definitely the nervous type. Around new people at least – as he had said. She was surprised then, not that Tara shook her hand, but that the younger woman then looked up from the ground and smiled right back at her.
Either, Lilah thought,
she’s a hell of an actress or she can’t see what I am.She might not even be a seer at all.
Ultimately it probably made little difference. It would be useful if she was for Lilah’s purposes – but was barely an issue at all for Wolfram and Hart.
--------------------
Tara looked over at Lilah Morgan. Knowing what the Mayor was and what he intended to become, what did that say about one of his lawyers? Snap judgement perhaps but that sort of thing had tended to keep her alive in the past few years. Right or wrong. Not that the prejudice was borne of any fact. She had never had much to do with the law except when her Father’s will had been read. The law didn’t work for vampires so it served her no purpose.
Apparently it
did work for wanna-be demons and politicians.
Still, despite what he was aiming to become, the Mayor had been pretty good to her. Could she ever have expected more from an employer… especially one she had worked with for such a short time? And the Mayor obviously thought pretty highly of this Lilah. Despite her reservations what could she say? The woman was full of secrets – she could see that. But that was to be expected, she had confidential information to deal with every single day. As long as she never lied to Tara or got in her way, what did it matter what she chose to hide? It wouldn’t concern Tara, would it? They had just met after all.
Tara had to figure that she must be there, in the office with them, for a reason. Though the Mayor had introduced her to many of his visitors she had been called specifically to this meeting the previous day and it clearly had something to do with this woman. Tara looked up from her shoes and into Lilah’s predatory eyes. And she was a predator. Maybe not in the same line as Willow… or Tara herself. Probably never a killer. Snap judgement again… but she could not imagine Lilah Morgan standing over a body with a blade in her hand. Lilah was a predator in an arena that Tara knew nothing about.
Politics and the law.
So she had to learn. Just enough to survive whatever was coming.
She looked up and smiled at Lilah – trying to hide the wariness that she felt.
----------------------
“Tara, would you mind showing Lilah around our fair town?” the Mayor asked her.
“The day or night side?” Tara was responding to him, but asked the question of Lilah weighing the newcomer’s facial responses. Would Lilah be afraid of the night? Did she want to go sight-seeing or know what Sunnydale was
really like? If it was the latter Tara wasn’t quite sure that she should… it was dangerous out there. There were things… things like Willow.
Knowing that Tara was weighing her up, Lilah rose to the challenge, and simply broadened the politician’s smile she had perfected in long classes on joining Wolfram and Hart. She could keep that up for hours now… without it even aching. And without meaning it either. But this time she did. She had to admit she was curious about this town on the Hellmouth. If she had to be here then she might as well know it… and Tara. “Why not both?”
The Mayor chuckled as if he were pleased with the response. He had probably expected it.
“You’re s-sure? It can get k-kinda dangerous out there at night.” Those were her first words direct to the lawyer… and sure enough her voice let her down immediately. Old reliable. Old un-reliable more like.
“I am from LA,” Lilah pointed out to her, a little annoyed by the assumption that she couldn’t handle it – even if the younger woman was only really showing concern.
“Not the same thing,” the Mayor told his lawyer. “No sir, not the same thing at all.”
Tara could see that Lilah was determined not to be found wanting . By the Mayor nor by her. “Sure?” Last chance to stay safe, even though she would do her best to make sure Lilah wasn’t at risk. Perhaps some of the places she had already pretty much cleared of vampires, Tara thought to herself. The places that they had learned to keep away from.
“Absolutely certain. I know you’ll keep me safe.” It was only then that Lilah released Tara’s hand.
Tara wondered at the length of that handshake but it was over now. The lawyer so obviously had an agenda – to want to see the worst side of Sunnydale, and Tara wasn’t sure where the best side even was, she had to want something. Lilah also knew about
her. Tara knew that she wasn’t exactly typical monster fighter style.“Y-yes I will.” She turned back to the Mayor. “Anything else sir?”
“No Tara. You run along now. I have some things to discuss with Lilah. Come back and join us for brunch?”
“That would be n-nice.” She had always enjoyed those meals with him. He had funny stories and he told them very well…
“Good girl.”
Tara made for the door and was stopped by his call – as she often was. He was forever thinking of things at the last minute. Either that or delaying them for maximum effect. She wasn’t sure which it was.
“Oh Tara, would you mind if Lilah stayed with you too?” He explained it to the lawyer. “There was an unfortunate incident at what would have been your hotel last night.” Lilah knew all about that. She had asked for it to be arranged and Sunnydale’s Mayor had been happy to oblige. The idea was to observe this woman, one of her two roses, and she couldn’t do that from a hotel room. They had to be thrust together. The night life in Sunnydale would ensure that Lilah saw the witch under crisis conditions – and now she would get to see how she lived.
That was the surest way to assess a person – by their surrounding and under pressure.
Lilah smiled, appreciating his manoeuvres on her firm’s behalf. Richard Wilkins was certainly very, very good at what he did. It was a real shame that his ascension hadn’t worked out for him. Maybe the next one would, with this young woman’s help. And Wolfram and Hart’s – of course.
**************
You hear that baby? I am going nowhere.
by Katharyn » Tue Apr 30, 2002 12:14 am 
