Blood from Stone [AU]

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"No. I have my revenge, for me and..." Shannon hesitates, then squares her shoulders. "And for my little brother." Since when did Shannon have a sibling of any kind?

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Brother?"

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon nods curtly. "Evidently... mother was pregnant when we left for Nyra. Pureblood aasimar. He... had an accident less than three months after our return. I... had my suspicions even then but I later confirmed that daddy dearest was... unwilling to have a son who would be still an child even after he is old and retired. He attempted to arrange for a ritual to alter the balance of his blood, to make him merikos but when it failed, he staged a fall."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I see. I am pleased to hear my earlier assumption was correct."

She doesn't sound pleased. Not in the least. 

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Earlier... oh. Right. About him deserving... "Yes. Well. That goal is complete but I still need to... cross Harrod and Chainjaw off my agenda, so to speak. And I am... still undecided on Melindra and Alisenne. Do you have... thoughts on that by the way?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I try not to," she says, her voice dark. "Surely they are not as difficult to kill as to prevent you from divesting certain interests?"

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon scowls, crossing her arms with annoyance. "I have made three attempts. The first was just a... fit of pique to be honest. Fifty gold and a man with a longbow. Obviously that gained little. I am not even sure he knew the attempt was made. The second was better funded and planned. Four assassins- actual assassins, with references such as they are for that profession. All skilled combatants, two blades, two magic. And a watcher, who didn't fight. They got him when he was alone with just his manservant, in the back of one of the record houses. Two minutes after engaging, they emerged, unwounded. The watcher managed to get a peek into the room- all four assassins were dead, ripped apart and burnt. The final attempt was with poison. A guard died, Harrod wasn't even made ill."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I see." She frowns. "I have contacts I can put out some inquiries through. A better attempt can be made. When we succeed, will you divest?"

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"Yes," Shannon says simply. "That was all I ever needed any of it for. Would... would it ease your mind to go over my illegal assets? If any of them are... over the line, I can sell them. Or feed you what information you would need to dismantle them if you prefer."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes," she says, quickly. "At the very least, it would save me the trouble of working my way to the top if I am, in fact, on your trail." I likely am. She fits the profile of an image I am only now starting to understand I was piecing together. 

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"That... would have been a rather interesting meeting," Shannon says with slight bemusement. Then tilts her head, considering. "Though... it could be fun to... play that out sometime. For... fun."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No," she says sharply. "The mask is not for spice. Other roles, perhaps, but not that one."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon blinks. "Ah. Sorry. Perhaps as... the Shadow Savior or something?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

"No. Perhaps a role reversal -- but not that game. It feels disrespectful." She pauses, then adds, "And too close to things I have done. I am familiar with lines being blurred with respect to torture and intimidation, after all."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

"We can discuss that in more detail later, I think. I... I have some very strict boundaries of my own," Shannon admits. "Do... do you have any more... questions or... those are the worst I can think of, by my admittedly corroded morals but..."