( it's close to midnight when lilith walks through the doors to the shop, asking for his location before walking further through, slow, quiet steps as she approaches him )
Lyall?
( her voice is curious, making certain that she has the right person as she addresses him )
[It's a relatively small shop, in fact, which means Lyall is simple to find. (He is also the only one working.)
The man sits at a desk that is tucked slightly behind a glass counter at the back. He is unassuming and unmemorable in practically every way. Well dressed, but not ostentatiously so. Small. Not ugly, certainly but not handsome either. Once Lilith enters and says his name, he stands up to round that case and meet her.]
Yes, at your service. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Lilith.
[Well, she didn't give a last name and propriety is very important to him. His expression is mild but certainly not unpleasant, as is his tone of voice. If anything gives away his interest in her and the opinion he is trying to form by collecting information it is a slight tilt to his head.]
[Lyall gestures around the case to indicate an extra chair pulled up near the desk. It's only polite to offer the lady a seat.
Then he smiles. It's perfectly polite and perfectly bland.]
Didn't he? I am almost surprised.
[He doesn't choose to draw attention to the fact that Alessandro clearly did not tell him anything about her. Or to let on just yet that he'd chosen not to ask. Yet.]
No, I suppose it doesn't. But I do find it interesting to learn about the differences. Personally.
Excuse me a moment. I'll get the tea.
[There's a door back behind the counter as well which Lyall opens and leaves open behind him. The room behind is small and appears to mostly be taken up by a kitchenette. Lyall bustles around in it for...well, more than a few moments, boiling the water and then setting the tea to steep once it has. He reemerges with the pot and two cups - and biscuits of course - on a tray when that's done.
He sets it on the desk but doesn't pour just yet. It still needs to properly steep. Sitting down, he laces his fingers together and rests them on his knees with that same pleasant but bland smile.]
[She took the first step to ask questions and what she wants to know will be just as instructive as any information he asks of her. That's enough.]
They are two different answers, it is true. I am from England [As if his accent wouldn't give that away....if she's from some version of Earth.] but I was in India prior to being brought here.
[To be fair, Lyall has had only minimal experiences with Americans anyway. He wouldn't know much about regional accents and his concept of the American accent in general is....broad.
Again, his head tilts to the side slightly as a faint indication of curiosity.]
I can't say I am familiar with the place though that is not particularly surprising to me. Am I correct in guessing it is somewhere in America?
History. ( she could add that she was also the towns unofficial historian since that was what mary wardwell had called herself but honestly, it wasn't her. she didn't engage with people as mary wardwell had )
[Lyall, of course, understands what she means and he's mildly surprised that she knows.
If she knows that, he wonders if she knows what other things exist in their world. If she knows that Alessandro neutralizes the supernatural, the nonhuman then it must follow that she knows there are such things to neutralize. But she hasn't said it. Curious.]
Yes, he's very talented. Not quite uniquely, but almost.
Uniquely here, certainly. Though it's a secret he's kept well.
( when lies weren't purposely exposing him but he was careful with his touch. when he believed someone was mortal anyway. lilith had her own experience with his power in a very unfortunate way, not only for what they were doing but in terms of what it had done to her )
[Lyall sips at his tea again, observing her from over the rim. There is a part of him, very cynical, that wonders if that isn't a threat rather than a reassurance.
Of course if it isn't, then Lyall too appreciates her discretion. In this new world, with so many different kinds of people, he worries about Alessandro being perceived as a threat. Or too much of a threat at least.
( things not written into the contract. the majority of their actions were their own, lilith giving him freedoms to live his own life. he held secrets that she kept and she held secret that he kept. currently, her status as a witch was very much still a secret. her true name even more selective )
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craftylikea) wrote2019-09-17 10:48 pm
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Lyall?
( her voice is curious, making certain that she has the right person as she addresses him )
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The man sits at a desk that is tucked slightly behind a glass counter at the back. He is unassuming and unmemorable in practically every way. Well dressed, but not ostentatiously so. Small. Not ugly, certainly but not handsome either. Once Lilith enters and says his name, he stands up to round that case and meet her.]
Yes, at your service. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms Lilith.
[Well, she didn't give a last name and propriety is very important to him. His expression is mild but certainly not unpleasant, as is his tone of voice. If anything gives away his interest in her and the opinion he is trying to form by collecting information it is a slight tilt to his head.]
Can I offer you some tea?
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( she accompanies it with a nod, stepping further into the shop, leaning slightly against one of the counters )
He didn't tell much about you.
( though she also hadn't asked much )
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[Lyall gestures around the case to indicate an extra chair pulled up near the desk. It's only polite to offer the lady a seat.
Then he smiles. It's perfectly polite and perfectly bland.]
Didn't he? I am almost surprised.
[He doesn't choose to draw attention to the fact that Alessandro clearly did not tell him anything about her. Or to let on just yet that he'd chosen not to ask. Yet.]
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( she pauses for a moment before deciding to take the offer, moving to sit on the chair )
I haven't asked much about where he is from. Generally, it matters little in this place.
( they were all just as fucked as each other here )
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Excuse me a moment. I'll get the tea.
[There's a door back behind the counter as well which Lyall opens and leaves open behind him. The room behind is small and appears to mostly be taken up by a kitchenette. Lyall bustles around in it for...well, more than a few moments, boiling the water and then setting the tea to steep once it has. He reemerges with the pot and two cups - and biscuits of course - on a tray when that's done.
He sets it on the desk but doesn't pour just yet. It still needs to properly steep. Sitting down, he laces his fingers together and rests them on his knees with that same pleasant but bland smile.]
There. Now we can talk.
[And he intends to let her start.]
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( she offers a smile as he brings the tea over )
I should ask you where you're from. Or at least where you were before waking here.
( he might be waiting for her to start but that wasn't happening )
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They are two different answers, it is true. I am from England [As if his accent wouldn't give that away....if she's from some version of Earth.] but I was in India prior to being brought here.
And yourself?
[She at least sounds American.]
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( though for the moment she'll only give him one of the answers )
I've been staying in Greendale recently, though it isn't a permanent thing.
( though for as american as she may sound there isn't a particular native sound, no recognisable location in her accent. she's travelled a lot )
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Again, his head tilts to the side slightly as a faint indication of curiosity.]
I can't say I am familiar with the place though that is not particularly surprising to me. Am I correct in guessing it is somewhere in America?
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( lilith pauses to drink some of her tea, a nod of approval before continuing )
It's a small town, not one that tends to get many visitors.
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[It's somewhat mindless pleasantries, keeping the conversation until he can find better questions to ask that aren't too blunt.
Her nod of approval does occasion a very small smile, however.]
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( she lowers the cup to rest at her lap )
History. ( she could add that she was also the towns unofficial historian since that was what mary wardwell had called herself but honestly, it wasn't her. she didn't engage with people as mary wardwell had )
Have you always worked for Alessandro?
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Not before this, no. This arrangement is largely for convenience.
[Whose, exactly, he won't say.]
I am curious, you said you don't know much about his - our - world. What has he told you?
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( more intimately than just when they were from even if there'd be marked difference )
And-- his particular skills.
( she phrases it in such a way in case he isn't familiar, allowing her to fall back om his combat )
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If she knows that, he wonders if she knows what other things exist in their world. If she knows that Alessandro neutralizes the supernatural, the nonhuman then it must follow that she knows there are such things to neutralize. But she hasn't said it. Curious.]
Yes, he's very talented. Not quite uniquely, but almost.
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( when lies weren't purposely exposing him but he was careful with his touch. when he believed someone was mortal anyway. lilith had her own experience with his power in a very unfortunate way, not only for what they were doing but in terms of what it had done to her )
Something I wouldn't reveal.
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[Lyall sips at his tea again, observing her from over the rim. There is a part of him, very cynical, that wonders if that isn't a threat rather than a reassurance.
Of course if it isn't, then Lyall too appreciates her discretion. In this new world, with so many different kinds of people, he worries about Alessandro being perceived as a threat. Or too much of a threat at least.
The hunter is absolutely a threat, after all.]
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( things not written into the contract. the majority of their actions were their own, lilith giving him freedoms to live his own life. he held secrets that she kept and she held secret that he kept. currently, her status as a witch was very much still a secret. her true name even more selective )
Our contract has been beneficial.
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I am glad to hear it. [He pauses, as if considering something.] It must be...interesting, your both being classified as submissives.
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( and things that lilith still needed a dominant for but that was why she'd also purchased one )
Though I'm also not his only contract.
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[The way Lyall says it is bland. But, of course he's aware of Sandy's other contract. He lives with the both of them.]
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( things that only a dominant could provide )
Though-- I'm curious what he's told you.
( it's not a probe for information but to see his thoughts, his trust in the other )
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[Lyall tilts his head, curious as to what she's after.]
Of the nature of yours?
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( it depends what he's willing to give away )
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