[sorry, backdated to monday night because fission mail, is why]
[Private to Elena et al.]
Greetings. I am Elijah and rumour has it that my reputation precedes me. Some of you are terrified. Some of you are hostile. Some of you, no doubt, will attempt to impale me without a second thought, despite my assurance that it will be a wasted effort.
I tell you now that you should be terrified. You should be apprehensive and very much concerned about an Original in your midst. That tells me that you have the good sense and intellect to prepare yourselves against worse threats that may yet arrive.
But we need not be hostile. I am here to announce that Elena and I have reached an understanding. You may receive this as good news, or bad. Your feelings on the subject do not concern me. What does concern me, is that it is our express wish for this understanding to exist not only between ourselves, but also between all of you.
If you treat me with respect, you will find yourself treated also with respect. I will be your ally because I have given my word and because it is in our mutual interest to keep peace for the duration of our stay.
However. Should you choose so much as to contemplate going behind my back, you will have sabotaged this understanding not only for yourself, but for all those involved. Let me make one thing clear, and it is this: your state of existence is immaterial to me. I have no secret urge to harm you. But for those who demonstrate good faith to make this arrangement work, I will consider you my ally for as long as we are here in Ridgeway and defend you to the fullest of my abilities—a courtesy I expect to be reciprocated.
I do not ask for your friendship nor for your adoration. An alliance of expediency requires neither. I do ask for your partnership and I do ask that you conduct yourselves honourably and with integrity in our encounters. As an initiative to foster candid discussion between affected parties, I invite you to dine with me at the Velvet Room this Sunday at noon.