07-11-2018, 04:31 PM
A goal focused her mind. Or something else temporarily soothed it.
Natalie doubted most people here even knew who she was, except in perhaps the vaguest of terms. She made no grand claims about her privileged blood, and it had been many years since she'd been Northbrook rather than Grey. It irritated her, of course, that the prestige of her family so often mattered more than the flesh and bone soul beneath. But it worked as a shield, too, at times. And sometimes it was exactly the resource that got her what she wanted.
He grinned down, slightly apologetic. The boyishness made her stomach flutter, though he'd clearly meant the humour to sting ; repartee, maybe, for how often her own tongue erred on the side of sharpness. A sly smile softened her lips. She tipped her head closer, a brief brush of gold hair against his onyx sleeve."Then I'm glad you appear to be immune."
Though they both knew it was not her presence encouraging that bubble of space.
Evelyn was not difficult to find. The Congresswoman might appreciate that they came to her first; at least, those were the foundations upon which Natalie laid the risk. It suggested an allegiance she suddenly considered might not really be so far from the truth now she found herself trapped in this new world. The irony amused her, despite her mystery benefactor's warning whispers in the back of her mind. As Jay made his awkward approach she considered their options if this went south. And the potential consequences of such an act.
Evelyn led them to a room away from the furore of dancing and drinking and gossip, the quiet like a balm. Jay seemed bewildered. She sensed his uncertainty, but waited for him to find his own words in his own time. A little hesitant charm would do his plea no harm; on the contrary. But she could see the cost sharing such secrets wrought. And secrets they were; even high on morphine and reminiscent of home he had never spoken of a sister. Let alone one who was so seriously ill.
When Evelyn rose to call for a messenger, he shot her a look full of askance. She'd warned him, albeit obliquely, that there was a larger context to her hunch. But there wasn't much she could do to explain. What did he think she had been doing since he pulled her from the Underground and his existence had wiped clean from all records? She met his gaze steadily, hands clasped lightly in front of her. A thumb trailed the faint burn where her nails pierced the skin. Asking trust. Brandon played by his own rules, but she did not think war was in his interests; which meant he would be forced to placate the situation.
Though whether that benefited Jay remained to be seen.
For it seemed Evelyn would send for Brandon like an errant puppy.
Even Natalie's naturally irreverent manner was faintly surprised by the boldness. She was counting on Evelyn's sway and the Custody's desire to finally broker an alliance with America to align in Jay's favour. If Evelyn latched to the cause as she seemed to, it would be an easy concession for Brandon to play the part of benevolent leader whilst losing little. But would he really come so easily to her summons? She certainly seemed confidant that he would. Curiously ambitious.
Or curiously telling.
A thought for later, for her attention refocused to Jay's unease, and she fought the tug of a frown in reaction. Evelyn's interrogation clearly discomforted him. Unsurprisingly. He spoke about being bartered like property. Natalie's gaze blinked away, a tight rein held on the sudden spark of fury. Did Evelyn notice the chains across his chest? Or remark upon the night-like dark of the uniform, like the polished black of reapers? Her jaw tightened.
When Brandon made his entrance, it was Jay she watched. She wanted to see what he saw when he beheld the man who chained him.
Natalie doubted most people here even knew who she was, except in perhaps the vaguest of terms. She made no grand claims about her privileged blood, and it had been many years since she'd been Northbrook rather than Grey. It irritated her, of course, that the prestige of her family so often mattered more than the flesh and bone soul beneath. But it worked as a shield, too, at times. And sometimes it was exactly the resource that got her what she wanted.
He grinned down, slightly apologetic. The boyishness made her stomach flutter, though he'd clearly meant the humour to sting ; repartee, maybe, for how often her own tongue erred on the side of sharpness. A sly smile softened her lips. She tipped her head closer, a brief brush of gold hair against his onyx sleeve."Then I'm glad you appear to be immune."
Though they both knew it was not her presence encouraging that bubble of space.
Evelyn was not difficult to find. The Congresswoman might appreciate that they came to her first; at least, those were the foundations upon which Natalie laid the risk. It suggested an allegiance she suddenly considered might not really be so far from the truth now she found herself trapped in this new world. The irony amused her, despite her mystery benefactor's warning whispers in the back of her mind. As Jay made his awkward approach she considered their options if this went south. And the potential consequences of such an act.
Evelyn led them to a room away from the furore of dancing and drinking and gossip, the quiet like a balm. Jay seemed bewildered. She sensed his uncertainty, but waited for him to find his own words in his own time. A little hesitant charm would do his plea no harm; on the contrary. But she could see the cost sharing such secrets wrought. And secrets they were; even high on morphine and reminiscent of home he had never spoken of a sister. Let alone one who was so seriously ill.
When Evelyn rose to call for a messenger, he shot her a look full of askance. She'd warned him, albeit obliquely, that there was a larger context to her hunch. But there wasn't much she could do to explain. What did he think she had been doing since he pulled her from the Underground and his existence had wiped clean from all records? She met his gaze steadily, hands clasped lightly in front of her. A thumb trailed the faint burn where her nails pierced the skin. Asking trust. Brandon played by his own rules, but she did not think war was in his interests; which meant he would be forced to placate the situation.
Though whether that benefited Jay remained to be seen.
For it seemed Evelyn would send for Brandon like an errant puppy.
Even Natalie's naturally irreverent manner was faintly surprised by the boldness. She was counting on Evelyn's sway and the Custody's desire to finally broker an alliance with America to align in Jay's favour. If Evelyn latched to the cause as she seemed to, it would be an easy concession for Brandon to play the part of benevolent leader whilst losing little. But would he really come so easily to her summons? She certainly seemed confidant that he would. Curiously ambitious.
Or curiously telling.
A thought for later, for her attention refocused to Jay's unease, and she fought the tug of a frown in reaction. Evelyn's interrogation clearly discomforted him. Unsurprisingly. He spoke about being bartered like property. Natalie's gaze blinked away, a tight rein held on the sudden spark of fury. Did Evelyn notice the chains across his chest? Or remark upon the night-like dark of the uniform, like the polished black of reapers? Her jaw tightened.
When Brandon made his entrance, it was Jay she watched. She wanted to see what he saw when he beheld the man who chained him.