𝕲𝖗𝖊𝖌𝖔𝖗𝖞 𝖁𝖊𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖓𝖙𝖎𝖋 (rainbro) wrote in summerview, @ 2019-03-06 23:05:00 |
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Entry tags: | complete, gregory veillatif, oksana kuznetsovich, player: anne, player: lee, plot |
Natural, a beating heart of stone
Oksana + Gregory | March 1st | PG13 | Complete
Hopefully a powerful enchanter with some history in this town would have some answers for him.
Greg was dressed in his typical suit and vest. He decided to leave out the jacket because of the weather, rolling up his sleeves as he approached the heavily magical sanctum. The energy wasn’t negative but he would be keeping his sense on high alert. With a rap of his knuckles he knocked at the door to the address listed for one Oksana Nikolaevna Kuznetsovich. “Summerview PD, open up please.”
This was always the most boring part of the job. But it was how you got to the good shit.
Having to cancel her long-term onsite (extremely lucrative) jobs and being still without an actual workroom meant Oksana had to choose between smaller, easier jobs that paid less or smaller, intricate jobs that drained her– but fattened the bank account.
True to form, Oksana told her broker to open the roster to grandes complications and gave up any hope of a rational sleep schedule. Or regular meal times.
So she was distinctly un-thrilled to be interrupted while pouring the day's first cup of hot chocolate and dressed in pajamas. And by the goddamn cops no less.
Sugar, honey, ice and tea, she thought. Out loud Oksana settled for: "One moment, please."
Pulling on a matching morning jacket to lend the episode some sartorial dignity, Oksana opened the door.
Oksana's first thought was: when did they start recruiting goddamn sycamores for the force? Her second was that she'd forgotten to grab her enchanted ring in favor of the jacket.
She really wasn't at her best before the first cup of chocolate.
"So I'm guessing you're not here to bring more ice?" Oksana said good-naturedly. She stepped aside in invitation. "Please."
Greg could already tell by her aura that she was at least irked in the slightest. It was early--even for him, but when he had to stop drinking and put his work pants on, he really got invested. At least she had a humorous way to go about it.
The corner of his lip twitched ever so lightly, “Afraid I’m not.” He walked through the threshold once she stepped aside and kept close so as not to invade the privacy of her space unless she engaged in it. Doing this so long, being connected to so many feelings, he’d just seen it all and knew how best to go about these things. ‘Thank you, I promise to try not to take too much of your time, but my questions are something of great importance.”
Reaching into his vest, he pulled out his handy-dandy notebook (his memory was all well and fine it just looked professional and like you were really listening if you had one...nuances). “I won’t beat around the bush here. According to the records you have quite the history here, and, make sizable contributions to this city and it’s security. Am I correct?”
'Great importance.' Well, hell: no happy conversation with authority ever started with that opening. On the plus side, she had nothing to hide...provided the bathroom door stayed locked.
A fresh pair of lungs soaking in the tub always had a tendency to derail conversations. Even if the lungs were 100% handmade. And vegan.
Well, for a certain definition of vegan.
"Happy to oblige however I can, officer," Oksana said. There was a pretty blue chocolate pot and a pair of cups on the table; the dense aroma of cocoa wafted from the one half-filled cup. "I was in middle of my morning sugar fix, would you like a cuppa?"
She made an effort not to scowl when the notebook came out. Oksana had a worrywart's natural distrust of being written about in any capacity.
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid your data is slightly out of date," she said politely. "I do have history here, and certain legacy items which may count as civic contribution. But as for security…"
She spread her hands in wry acknowledgement. "I'm afraid I haven't actively contributed to Summerview's safety since I was nineteen. And that was only after two years of heavily supervised contributions. If we're talking about the Barrier, that is. I mean, I suppose there was also the recycling campaign in tenth grade…"
"I did mention something to Jay about picking up Dad's duties while on the island," she continued. "A couple of them anyway. I don't have quite his level of civic devotion, not enough to give up my day job. But on the other hand Summerview doesn't have quite that many Enchanters left on payroll."
Oksana picked up her cup and took a sip of chocolate, rolling her lip to gauge the amount of spices added. A little more cardamom next time, maybe. She set down the cup.
"This doesn't have anything to do with that ugly business at the clinic, does it?"
“I’m not surprised. We don’t exactly have the staff or the budget to be doing as much as this city needs. You know, typical service job woes. Thank you for updating my data. And...sure. I’ll take a cup.” Greg was trying to focus on her eyes, the emotions she was emitting, and the smell of chocolate instead of the overwhelming scents all around them. A bathroom was usually supposed to smell so dank, but eh. He’d give her the benefit of the doubt of just being...an enchanter with her trinkets and knowledge.
Besides. He knew what a dead body smelled like. Parts were not his immediate concern.
The tall steed raised a brow in interest, a corner of his lip tugging upward. “Why would you think this involves the clinic? Maybe I’m looking for more people to fill our staff.”
Her aura gave off a normal vibe. She was eloquent, smooth, and very matter-of-fact. But she wasn’t rude and she definitely wasn’t lying. Yet. “It does, in fact, have to do with the border.” He set the empty pad down which had a drawing of a frowny face--he didn’t take fucking notes--and folded his arms over his chest. “I’ve got a lot of ground to cover and I hate beating around the bush. I’m asking to see if you or your father had any contribution to the border security and if it had, why it may have failed. And if you didn’t, I would like to commission you to do so--anti-community or whatever the case may be.”
“If you must accuse a dead man of negligence, it’s just as well to be blunt ‘bout it,” Oksana said. She didn’t sound at all offended by the idea, smiling slightly as she turned to prepare the chocolate.
“You’re a cop and someone got shot in the only medical facility on the island. Possibly the only exclusively supernatural medical facility in Jersey. It’d be strange if I didn’t bring it up in conversation,” Oksana said. “But I’m happy to be wrong.”
The chocolate that poured out of the pot was dark as mahogany and prickly with the smell of chiles. Oksana set the full cup daintily on its saucer, along with a couple of lumpy and clearly homemade marshmallows nestled near.
“Careful,” she warned gently, offering the cup. “It’s got some teeth in it - figuratively speaking.”
Heh. Enchanter “using body parts as material” joke - classic.
“I can’t speak for Dad’s work in the recent years -“ - or past decade - “- because I haven’t seen it up close since I left. But I’d happy to examine it now and share my findings. Free of charge, of course.”
She picked up her cup again, stirring the thickening contents with a thin spoon. “Of course, it’s possible that the weakness wasn’t in the Enchantment itself. I’m not sure how it’s been here in the stares, but Europe is teeming with rumors of, hm, malfunctions. Reliable spells suddenly failing, decades of craft flickering like a cheap bulb, etcetera. Hasn’t there been anything like that on this side of the pond, Officer - I’m sorry, how remiss; I never got your name.”
“I’ve drank worse.” Said the unicorn before bringing the mug to his nose to sniff out of habit before taking a sip. Yes, he had a thing for sweet and yummy things. Nothing to be done about it or the stereotype.
Greg kept his eyes on Oksana as she spoke, unwavering and focused. Until she mentioned his name. “That’s because I was being rude and never gave it...you can call me Greg.” He took another sip of the delicious drink full of ‘teeth’ aha? His empathetic presence delivering a content sort of mood into the air. Aside from it’s natural healing properties and that of soothing spa. Or so he was told. “Nothing is for free, Ms. Kuznetsovich, certainly not with Enchanting.” He was an old unicorn. He knew magic and magic users and benders. This world usually did nothing but take or do a hardy exchange. It was a fair trade for Enchanters.
“If you are serious about taking a look at what has been set up in the past, free or not, I would appreciate it. Malfunctions, internal sabotage, or malcontents, Summerview is in danger and I’d like to keep it safe.”
There was something about this one – this Greg – that was making Oksana's fingertips cool and her ears hum. Something familiar, maybe, but not exactly comforting.
Then again, that could be the lack of caffeine testifying. If only she'd been wearing her ring…
Oh, well.
"Sabotage? Malcont— what exactly are we talking about here?" Oksana said. "Because this sounds like a lot more than a tune-up and a lick of polish. If I didn't know better I'd say you're speaking of Summerview being under, what, attack?"
Oksana sat down in one of the room's two armchairs, ankles neatly crossed, looking pretty and prim in her pine-green pajamas.
"Please pardon the informality of my speaking so, Greg but what the fuck is going on?"
“What the fuck indeed,” He agreed with her before throwing back the rest of his mug down the gullet and setting it on the table adjacent to his armchair. The unicorn broke his professional demeanor because the Enchanter seemed like she could handle it. While he was too large for this chair he did yawn and roll his shoulders to loosen up a bit, rubbing under his tired eyes.
So much thinking, so much deception, people being people. That sort of shit.
“I’m still working on that. I’ve got no concrete evidence but plenty of isolated incidents of other Supernaturals trying to asset their place in human kind but also being a bit hypocritical in that they’re hurting their own kind while doing so. Egos, ‘we’re the better evolutions’ and the ‘dark times’ still reign high with a lot of folks. I’m too old for this shit, personally, but. It’s always the same shit in a different package.” Greg of course wouldn’t share everything he was discovering because who the hell knew if Ms. Oksana was saving face or could even be manipulated into doing work for people without realizing what it was for.
Consistently, her presence still expressed nothing but a genuine aura. But he’d never give anyone an OK sticker unless there was some full certainty.
“People are going missing in other Sanctuaries, Supernaturals are acting out, and innocent Mer-folk ar getting shot in clinics by people who have no business robbing bandaids. I’d say our border is compromised. So before I can put more energy into chasing the tiny amount of leads I have, I need to make sure Summerview is safe. So, yes, more than a tune up or lick of polish. Think you can handle all that?”
Three years, Oksana thought. She was bound to Summerview for three years unless she found wherever Dad hid the vault earlier - something she was feeling a lot less sure of as time went on and Sh*t Stayed Annoying.
And now this.
Had Dad known about Summerview’s defenses faltering? It was impossible to think that one of the island’s few Enchanters, occasionally the Barrier’s only Enchanter, wouldn’t spot a crack in the wall. But it was even crazier to think that Nick St. Pier of all people would’ve have take steps to arrest the fault. And if he had, then surely there’d something more than a random giant cop showing up for a brunch interview.
Probably, anyway.
What were you up to, old man…
“It seems my conscience is left without a choice,” Oksana said lightly. She rose out of the chair and offered her hand to the man. “Consider me engaged, Offi - Greg. I’ll examine the Barrier and we can discuss contract terms regarding what’s found then. And, please, call me Oksana.”
“Everyone has a choice.” The unicorn tilted his head. He was supposed to be a healer at heart. Devoting all of his time and energy to aiding the sick and unhealthy. The work he could be doing in a hospital--that old dish his parents would say. Or even as an herbalist.
But Gregory did help people. He kept them from dying, he kept those who fought for justice alive so everyone could be safe. And he’d try to keep this earth from destroying itself.
Standing back to his full height, light blue eyes looking down over the Enchanter, he did offer her a pleased smirk, taking her smaller hand and giving it a gentle yet firm shake. With his free hand he pulled his Summerview PD card from his vest and held it out to her. “But I appreciate that you’re choosing to lend your hand. I wouldn’t judge if you wanted to keep to your own business. In any case, please report all of your findings to myself and myself only. It’s imperative no one else know what you’re doing unless Jayati herself asks...I haven’t had the pleasure of feeling out everyone’s truth just yet.”
And if you meant to harm, had vile intentions or were a liar, this unicorn would fucking feel it.