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[unapparent]

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USERNAMe
@stewardess

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text @frank farmer

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Let me know if you're in need of any help.

[unapparent]

Thank you.
Though I imagine you’ll have your hands full with your darling charge.

[ lmao ]

And your possible date?

[ she twigged the auction. ]

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( he messaged the colchesters privately. called greer accidentally privately. his nonexistent antennae go up.

he glances up at one of the video cameras in the room. they were all conversations and not even in person... )

She's not a layup, that's for sure.

( not to sleep with, dear alicent, but to keep track of. his shift yesterday lasted twelve freaking hours. but she knows all about buffy. was it her idea for giles to bring him along?

as for the date. he treads lightly. )

And who's my possible date?

[unapparent]

[ it amuses her a little, how careful riley is with her, thinking her far more clever and machiavellian than she is. he isn’t alone in that — most people think her a dangerous, slippery thing.

they don’t understand why she serves. perhaps they never will. ]

The highest bidder.
You’re up for auction, my darling boy.
Or didn’t you know?

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( he leads his life in deference to a cause. first, his country. then, his clients. now, to the purse strings. maybe he's wrong in thinking they might constitute as friends. no, she is still his employer and referred him to one of his hardest assignments to date. and he extracted a detained reporter in Kosovo.

What does he have to offer, anyway? )

I know you want me to have more fun, but I assure you this isn't my idea of it. I'm working this summer, Alicent, thanks to you.

( this is not very on brand for her... )

Why me, anyway?

[unapparent]

And how would your pleasure or displeasure benefit the House?

[ as callous as it seems, his “fun” concerns her far less than his utility. ]

I haven’t a thing to do with your stepping onto the plinth and flexing those muscles, though I’m sure you’ll raise a fine sum for charity.
Why you, indeed?

[ she immediately has a theory, given the few who stand to benefit from his split attention, but there’s no fun in spoonfeeding the young. ]

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You tell me.

( Doesn't he serve at the pleasure of the house? Technically? If not its' stewardess. )

Thanks for the heads up.

( It has Buffy written all over it. He has no doubt the kind of specimen he is. Nor the distraction this could create. But, he's not about to disrupt the ecosystem of this house, as much of it as he understands. )

[unapparent]

Now, now, you’re cleverer than all that.

Would you like me to outbid the competition?

[ a sincere offer, though it’s not entirely appropriate, is it. ]

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I can handle a little competition.

( Selfishly, there are a few people in this house he'd hope would bid on him. And people he wouldn't. )

Anyone who wants to bid can bid. It's for a good cause, right?

cw oblique refs to dubcon

[unapparent]

So it is.
Still, I’ll intervene if any troublemakers put their money where their silver-spoonfed mouths are.

There are some things even staff needn’t offer.

cw. continuing an oblique ref

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Instincts say I can hold my own, but I'd like to see that if it comes down to it. Can't hold money in a chokehold.

[unapparent]

Darling, I don’t even need to lay hands on a man to put the fear of god in him.

But if you ask nicely, I’ll consider it.

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If I need it, I'll ask nicely.

I'd like to come out of this summer not needing a lawyer.

[unapparent]

I’m sure you will.

[ ask ever so nicely. ]

Do tell me if anyone requires extra attention.

[ here meaning scrutiny, so oft followed by clean up. ]

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I have you on speed dial.

Tell me the same.

[unapparent]

As and when.