[the fact that he doesn't invite himself to sit, but chooses to stand, is enough for qi'ra to know that he knows this is no regular meeting. given the fact that their last encounter didn't go well, she's not surprised. he may not have been in his right mind, but it's been a very long time since she's been caught off guard, much less had someone take advantage of her in any way.
she watches him for a moment before she stands behind the desk and raises an eyebrow, motioning him to the chair in front of it.]
Sit. [she flashes her teeth, but it's not quite a smile.] I'd like to discuss your recent behavior aboard the ship.
[He does as he's told, though there's something anxious in the tension in his legs and ruler-straight spine that Qi'ra knows well enough to detect. He'd hoped that they wouldn't talk about the incident, knowing that it was the effect of Duplicity's manipulations, although he isn't sure if it's because of what he'd done to her or what that had revealed about his past.]
[she steps around the desk and leans against the front of it, inches from his knees. dressed in her usual black jumpsuit, she doesn't fold her arms across her chest like she would if she were merely curious, though she is. the fact that he's gone deeper into her past that even he knows is something she's not sure if she'll share, but first she has questions of her own. her voice is hard when she asks:]
[And there it is. He holds her stare for a moment, and fights back the urge to say 'nobody'. In a way it's a truth, but not the one Qi'ra deserves to hear.]
The woman that murdered me.
[It's a flat and very simple answer to something that's far more complex, but it cuts to the heart of his anger]
[her expression doesn't falter, but she does a mental skip at the idea that he'd mistake her for the woman that killed him. she knows it's the city's fault, but that doesn't make it any easier.]
I'm guessing that Ms Page is still alive then, given your... [she looks at him fully now, her eyes giving up the slightest amount of betrayal she feels.] ... outburst. A shame, really.
[in other words, she'd help take care of whoever karen page is on his behalf should she ever show herself.
clearing her throat, she stands upright and moves back around the desk, sitting once more as she watches him.] I have a gift for you.
I can't account for what happened after that, but yes, as far as I am aware.
[Murdock and Nelson weren't helpful in filling the blanks. Wesley's expression also falters the slightest bit, a shameful momentary glance away from her face. He cannot stand the idea of what he'd done, but it had in no way been personal. He had not been able to see through his own madness, and that in itself makes the acid rise in his throat.]
A gift? [His voice is wary, wondering if she'd go so far as to take revenge]
Then I certainly hope she doesn't make an appearance here.
[the truth is, anyone else and she might very well have taken revenge, no matter how small. but this truly is a gift and she glances down at her desk when he looks away. this, she tells herself, is why we don't waste time on feelings. on caring. on letting our hearts become engaged.]
Regardless of your actions, you are still an important part of the business we have together and I thought it was time we expanded. [she slides a paper across the desk for him to look at.] I bought another business, one that was failing, with the intent of using it as another front for what we do. I'd like you to take control of it as an extension of all of it.
[Which is of course the most flat way of saying he agrees, if only because he'd be horribly tempted to upset the balance of his life in order to hurt her in some way. The wounds she'd left had faded but would never be gone.
Wesley reaches for the paper and slides it gingerly to the edge of the desk so he can glance over it.]
This is nicely placed for distribution. Closer to the docks. Excellent for distribution.
[It's the most he can tell on paper, but the thoughts come with a slight thrill that doesn't entirely cut through the tension]
Thank you.
[The words hold a trace of hesitation but he will not question her a second time.]
[his hesitation is understandable given what he'd done, but she pauses before dismissing him. in any other scenario, she'd let someone think about what they'd done, let them wonder why she'd give them a gift after such a betrayal, but this isn't just anyone. she watches him a moment before speaking.]
You're welcome. There's no one I'd trust with any of this other than you. [she glances down and to the side as if she has something of great importance to look at.] I were to disappear, Crimson and all it holds would go to you. [she raises her eyes to his.] Regardless of any... accidents the city might orchestrate, you are still the man I chose to go into business with, Wesley. The man I trust most.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 02:05 am (UTC)she watches him for a moment before she stands behind the desk and raises an eyebrow, motioning him to the chair in front of it.]
Sit. [she flashes her teeth, but it's not quite a smile.] I'd like to discuss your recent behavior aboard the ship.
[her lips pop on the 'p'.]
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 02:21 am (UTC)I assure you it was an irregularity.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 02:36 am (UTC)[she steps around the desk and leans against the front of it, inches from his knees. dressed in her usual black jumpsuit, she doesn't fold her arms across her chest like she would if she were merely curious, though she is. the fact that he's gone deeper into her past that even he knows is something she's not sure if she'll share, but first she has questions of her own. her voice is hard when she asks:]
Who is Karen Page?
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 03:02 am (UTC)The woman that murdered me.
[It's a flat and very simple answer to something that's far more complex, but it cuts to the heart of his anger]
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 03:19 am (UTC)I'm guessing that Ms Page is still alive then, given your... [she looks at him fully now, her eyes giving up the slightest amount of betrayal she feels.] ... outburst. A shame, really.
[in other words, she'd help take care of whoever karen page is on his behalf should she ever show herself.
clearing her throat, she stands upright and moves back around the desk, sitting once more as she watches him.] I have a gift for you.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 03:29 am (UTC)[Murdock and Nelson weren't helpful in filling the blanks. Wesley's expression also falters the slightest bit, a shameful momentary glance away from her face. He cannot stand the idea of what he'd done, but it had in no way been personal. He had not been able to see through his own madness, and that in itself makes the acid rise in his throat.]
A gift? [His voice is wary, wondering if she'd go so far as to take revenge]
no subject
Date: 2020-06-08 03:44 am (UTC)[the truth is, anyone else and she might very well have taken revenge, no matter how small. but this truly is a gift and she glances down at her desk when he looks away. this, she tells herself, is why we don't waste time on feelings. on caring. on letting our hearts become engaged.]
Regardless of your actions, you are still an important part of the business we have together and I thought it was time we expanded. [she slides a paper across the desk for him to look at.] I bought another business, one that was failing, with the intent of using it as another front for what we do. I'd like you to take control of it as an extension of all of it.
no subject
Date: 2020-06-27 09:47 pm (UTC)[Which is of course the most flat way of saying he agrees, if only because he'd be horribly tempted to upset the balance of his life in order to hurt her in some way. The wounds she'd left had faded but would never be gone.
Wesley reaches for the paper and slides it gingerly to the edge of the desk so he can glance over it.]
This is nicely placed for distribution. Closer to the docks. Excellent for distribution.
[It's the most he can tell on paper, but the thoughts come with a slight thrill that doesn't entirely cut through the tension]
Thank you.
[The words hold a trace of hesitation but he will not question her a second time.]
no subject
Date: 2020-06-28 04:12 pm (UTC)You're welcome. There's no one I'd trust with any of this other than you. [she glances down and to the side as if she has something of great importance to look at.] I were to disappear, Crimson and all it holds would go to you. [she raises her eyes to his.] Regardless of any... accidents the city might orchestrate, you are still the man I chose to go into business with, Wesley. The man I trust most.