Alice Morgan (onlypractically) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-08-13 22:59:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, alice morgan, cersei lannister |
Who: Cersei Lannister & Alice Morgan
What: Sizing each other up
When: 8/11
Where: A high-end liquor store
Rating: PG-13, minor discussion of murder
Status: Complete
Alice needed to lay in a good supply of wine if she was going to make a life in this place. The condo was wonderful, but despite owning a few bloody vineyards, her deceased fiance had not a single bottle in the place. It was intolerable. She’d arrived at a high-end liquor store, and was looking over the selection. She also might, she realized, look into getting Flemeth a good bottle. Call it a gift.
“I wouldn’t recommend that one,” a blonde woman said. She carried herself with an air of royalty and experience. “Try the one to the left. It’s a richer taste.”
Alice raised an eyebrow at the tone; she hadn’t expected anyone to simply butt into her thoughts. Still, she was polite. Mostly. “Ah, an expert?” She smiled. “I’m not much of one, I’m afraid. I’d be grateful for the help.”
“You could say that. That one was a pretty bad year. Most of the vineyards suffered from pestilence.” She gave Alice a soft smile.
“That does explain a lot.” Alice wasn’t kidding, actually. “I lived in Napa for a year, and my gentleman friend was forever complaining about the yield. I just thought he was prone to exaggeration.” She arched one eyebrow. “Do you live down here?”
“Near enough,” she replied, shrugging one shoulder elegantly. “It’s hard to find a place with proper wine.”
“I would be grateful for any proper recommendation.” She smiled almost sweetly. “My name is Alice, by the way. I’ve just arrived; my gentleman friend passed on far too soon, and I wanted to come back here.” A bit of a sob story, yes, but oh, well.
“Cersei Lan--Baratheon.” She still slipped up, even after 20 years of marriage. She’d always be a Lannister, and so would her children. If only she could off or divorce that oaf. “I’m sorry for your loss. That’s always painful.”
“I will miss him.” She wasn’t even lying; he’d been a lovely companion. He just had to get intelligent about his finances. Oh, well. “At least there are things that remain the same about this place.” She smiled a little. “I even got my old job back. Though I was trying to find a bottle of wine to express my appreciation for it!”
“In that case,” she said, turning and looking through the bottles. “Let me treat you to this one.” She pulled one out and showed her the label. “A wine for new beginnings.”
“Oh, that’s very kind.” Alice wondered if she expected anything in return. “Are you certain, Cersei? I couldn’t.”
“Trust me, I love to spend my husband’s money every chance I get.” Cersei smiled charmingly.
That got a good old fashioned guffaw. “Oh, it’s one of those!” Alice exclaimed delightedly. “Well, in that case, I’ll be complicit, and delightedly.” She liked subversive people.
“I like you.” She offered her arm to Alice, her smile almost genuine. “We should share a glass.”
“I’d be delighted.” She would, both because this Cersei liked spending, and because she wanted to know more. “Is there somewhere nearby you might recommend?” She wouldn’t be inviting her home, though; the condo wasn’t fit to be seen. There was money and muddled laundry everywhere.
“I know a little park. The weather is nice and there shouldn’t be any vermin to distract us.” She brought the bottle over to the counter and pulled out her wallet to pay for it.
Interesting choice of words. Alice did appreciate that she apparently showed enough class to not be ‘vermin.’ “The weather’s lovely, I must say. Coming from England originally, I thought it would be unbearable, but this part of California’s quite temperate.”
“While I miss certain things about England, I do enjoy the weather.” She smiled congenially, happy to find someone from back home.
“It is a rather nice change from constant rain.” Alice smiled. She didn’t like silly small talk, but for now there wasn’t much else to discuss. Eventually, the bill had been settled and they were walking down the street.
“What do you do here?” Cersei asked, conversationally. She added, as to give Alice a bit of an out. “I’ve been looking for hobbies.”
“I’m actually an advice columnist.” Alice couldn’t restrain a faint titter; it seemed like the kind of thing this woman would respond to. “This cute little feminist paper was looking for someone, and it just made sense to me. I can easily toss off silly little aphorisms to make them happy.”
“That sounds lovely,” Cersei said with faux sincerity. It truthfully sounded dull and boring. “I stand in for my husband at board meetings, on occasion, but I don’t get to do that nearly enough.” If only someone would take care of her husband problem.
“How dull that sounds. I’m sorry.” Alice guessed that this woman enjoyed herself when she got to do that, though; it seemed to be all about power.
It was power and power was something Cersei craved as her birthright. “It can be dull. They don’t know what to do with themselves with a woman in the room.”
“I’m sure you remind them.” Alice smiled beatifically. “Men are so transparent. I don’t like that we have to use sexuality as a weapon, but if we have no other choice, I see nothing wrong with it.”
“It can be very fun. They get this hurt puppy look on their faces when they realize they’re not going to get what they want.”
“Isn’t that the best thing ever?” Alice damned near got off on it. “They think they’re in control, but the fact that they’ve allowed control not to just slip away, but be wrested from them, is delicious.”
“I think, some day, I shall have all the control I ever want.” There was a flash of something dangerous in her eyes. Ambition without mercy.
“Careful, m’lady, you need game plans for that.” Alice couldn’t help but drop the act a bit.
She opened the wine and poured them some glasses. “I’m good at juggling.”
“I’d think you have to be.” Alice knew the game. “Your husband might object, if nothing else.” She smiled nicely, intending to look kind and polite. “Men do tend to grumble, obviously. You’d have to make him think it was all his idea.”
“What he doesn’t know can’t hurt him,” Cersei replied, raising her eyebrows at Alice and smiling knowingly. “And he’s easy to manipulate. Sometimes I wish someone would rid me of him, but that’s almost too easy.”
“Really.” Alice was curious. “Is it impertinent to ask why you married him in the first place?” Money, she’d wager, but still.
“I was young, stupid, and it was a good business arrangement,” she replied, taking another sip and then swirling the wine glass lightly. “Mutually beneficial to both the Lannisters and the Baratheons, and, well, he was charming back then.”
“And let me guess, divorce is scandalous in your caste?” Alice chuckled. She’d never been one to move in those circles. “Wouldn’t murder be even more scandalous?”
“It might be more expected.” At least in her dreams. Cersei chuckled.
“You amuse me.” Alice wasn’t afraid of being that honest. “Still. I’m a firm believer that some people just need to be removed. Hopefully Providence does you that favour.”
“Providence would get a big fat kiss on the lips,” Cersei declared, with a laugh.
“You don’t know anyone in the removal line, do you?” Alice laughed right back, taking her glass and sipping the wine. “Mm. That is exquisite, I must say.”
“Alas.” Cersei replied. She looked at Alice over the rim of the glass. “What do you like about that.”
“It has a very pronounced nose,” Alice replied. A wine’s nose was really just its scent, though the deeper it was, the better. “I like wines where it’s possible to taste each ingredient. There’s no secrets in it.”
“You don’t like secrets?” Cersei sounded a little coy. She loved secrets.
“Only if I’m keeping them from everyone else.” Alice turned empty eyes up at the other woman. It was all about power, of course. Cersei knew that well enough.
That was an answer. She nodded her head back at Alice and smiled. “Those are the best secrets. Almost as good as this wine.”
“I think we understand each other.” Alice just hoped this woman might remember her in the future. If she needed anything done. “My family’s not in the same circles as yours, to be honest, but we appear to hold many of the same ideas.”
“Understanding is one of those rare things, that you never know if you want it until you need it.”
Alice wasn’t entirely sure what that meant - Cersei did seem to have a way of bloviating, as did many of her class. Still, she smiled. “It depends on one’s definition. Understanding how the world works? That would be nice, but we’ll never see it. Understanding an individual? Sometimes useful, sometimes annoying.”
“Mostly annoying,” she replied, giving Alice a toast of her glass. She finished her wine and poured some more. “I suppose it depends on the individual.”
“Individuals who are useful tend to be obvious.” Alice chuckled. “The rest of them fall to the wayside.” Cersei was one who could be useful. She had power and money and was apparently prone to a few dirty secrets.
“You may be right.” She took another long sip of her wine. She’d leave most of the rest of the bottle with Alice, but she wanted to savor the taste. And she wasn’t nearly tipsy enough.
“Oh, come now, you can’t tell me you don’t look for people’s weak spots.” Alice laughed. “I’d have pegged you as the type immediately, Cersei.”
Cersei laughed, “That would be giving away secrets.”
“We all do that anyway.” Alice batted her eyelashes. “May I trouble you for a bit more wine before I go on my way?”
“Certainly. It’s too good not to share, and life is so boring without wine.”
“Thank you.” Alice smiled. “It’s been lovely to meet you, you know. You’re much more interesting than most people I meet.” It wasn’t a lie; Cersei could be useful but it was also just fascinating to watch. She was like a caged leopard - beautiful and amoral.
Beautiful, amoral and trapped. Cersei poured herself one more glass, and then handed the bottle to Alice. “For you.”
She hadn’t actually expected that, which was annoying. “Well, thank you, Cersei. It’s very kind of you.” It actually was. Alice would file this away.
The distraction was worth the cost. Cersei had few friends, and many rivals. It was nice to be friendly, even if one never knew what sort of agenda the friendly person had. She gave her a smile, and sipped her wine as she walked away.