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* Dawn hesitates in front of Angel and Jewel's door, then sighs and knocks. * Jewel is slow to answer the door, leaving the chain on when she opens it at first and peering cautiously around the edge. "Oh. Dawn." She closes the door, releases the chain, and opens it. "Come in, if you wish. If you're looking for Angel, he's gone out, he'll be back for lunch." <Dawn> Is he? ::he pauses, then relaxes minutely:: Actually, I think this is for you, really. ::he brushes past her and begins pacing, rubbing at his face:: <Jewel> ::blinks, mystified:: For me? ::closes the door and relocks it before turning around to peer at him:: Are you alright? Can I get you anything? <Dawn> I- No. ::he sighs and runs his hand roughly through his hair:: I don't know how to even begin this. <Jewel> ::clears her mostly-finished breakfast dishes and sits, half-smiling at him:: Would it help to start in the middle? <Dawn> ::laughs roughly and sinks into the chair next to hers:: You're going to be angry, and you have every right, but I can't- ::he groans, despairingly, and fishes in his cloak. He brings out a small corked bottle filled with a dark brown liquid, and sets it gingerly on the table:: I found that in his things. <Dawn> ::The bottle is marked only with a date - about six months ago - and is about a quarter full:: <Jewel> In-- ::softer voice:: Dusk's? * Jewel picks up the bottle very carefully after being certain there are no drools on the outside of anything she wouldn't want to get on her skin. She peers carefully at the bottle, and shakes it gently. "What is it, do you know?" <Dawn> ::nods, and runs his hand through his hair again:: Yeah. There was this girl, back in Suzail, who- Well. Yeah. It's a concentrate of birthbane, mostly. ::he eyes her tentatively:: Amount that's missing, given the date, I'd guess there's about a dose and a half missing. Or maybe just enough, if it was being used as- prevention. <Jewel> ::tilts the bottle a little, peering at it again, and gives Dawn a puzzled look:: Birthbane? But... ::looks at the bottle again:: it's not really a poison, is it? I mean, it *is*, but not the way he use-- used them. Was Dusk, um... seeing someone? <Dawn> Far as I know, just Bienca. And she gets her potion from Fastian. ::draws a slow breath, watching her cautiously:: You know that if you had a kid, there's some who would see it as... his heir? With a higher claim to the ring than mine? * Jewel continues to stare at Dawn puzzledly. "You think... Dusk dosed *me*? But... that wouldn't make any sense. Why? And--" She tips the bottle again, eyeing her mostly-empty teacup. "Well, no, the 'how' would be easy enough. But... what would it matter?" <Dawn> Because he had two loyalties that came before all else. Me, and the Guild. And I can't tell you how he'd have jumped if it came to a choice between - but a war of succession would be bad for the Guild... and he'd want me to win it. ::he scrubs roughly at his face:: I don't have any proof. I don't know it was you he was using it on, but I can't think of anyone else who fits. <Jewel> But he... ::whispers:: Oh, gods... ::her hand starts to shake, and the bottle slips from nerveless fingers to clatter on the table and spin slowly on its side:: He... he wouldn't. He wouldn't kill a *baby*... <Dawn> ::closes his eyes:: I don't know. I know he likes- liked you. And Angel. He considered you both friends. How much easier to simply... *prevent* a baby in the first place? And then he wouldn't have to face the choice. <Dawn> ::looks at her again, almost desperate:: I didn't know, Jewel. This wasn't my- I didn't agree to this. <Jewel> No... no. ::still shaking, her face white, shocked:: No, you... I know, Dawn. He wouldn't have... have told you. He... ::bites her knuckle hard, to keep from screaming:: <Dawn> ::quietly:: I might not have even realized, except Bie told me that you were- upset that you hadn't... ::he draws a breath:: I'm sorry. <Jewel> ::shaking her head slowly:: It's... it's alright, Dawn... I... how is Bie? <Dawn> Hmm? She made *me* come tell you. She's fine. <Jewel> Good... good. That's... good. Oh gods... ::pinches the bridge of her nose:: She... she told you? I... it was a little thing, I wasn't even sure that I *was*, but when... ::laughs, a touch hysterically:: I was a little jealous of her. <Dawn> ::hesitantly, not quite believing that she's not going to fly into a rage:: Aye... * Jewel takes several deep breaths, trying to calm her shakes, and sets the bottle upright again on the table. She leans her elbows on the edge and pushes her hair back out of her face. "Would people *really* think that? I mean... the Guild's not a monarchy, after all. And most of them probably believe you're wearing it already, in secret." <Dawn> ::after a brief moment:: Would it matter, if *he* decided it that way? <Dawn> ::watching her consider:: It'd make him neither the first nor the last father to choose his child's welfare over a promise to another. <Jewel> ::frowns thoughtfully, staring at Dawn for several breaths:: Yes, I think it would. I... don't think that ring is something that can be given. It has to be earned. And... I think that if you don't have the Guild on your side, you're not going to keep it very long, either. <Dawn> ::snorts:: Shall we take a walk and see how many parents we can find who are blind to their childrens' shortcomings, or who inflate their abilities? Anyway, this- ::waves at the bottle:: -isn't about certainties. It's about *risks*. ::he meets her gaze, serious:: I want that ring, when he's done. I've made no secret of it. And any child of his presents a risk. <Dawn> I'm not as ruthless as h- ::grits his teeth and forces himself to say the name:: -as Dusk was. If there's a challenger, I'll fight them. When the time comes. <Dawn> I'm no childkiller. ::grins briefly:: Besides. The way kids fucking kick, Angel's kid'll want to turn Lizard. <Jewel> ::closes her eyes:: Please... don't say that. ::opens her eyes again, regarding him seriously:: He told me once... well, half-jokingly, I imagine, that he half-expected that Bastian Hooke's heir would discover his other life and turn him over to the authorities to claim his inheritance himself. <Jewel> ::her smile is brittle:: Here I don't even know that I *can* conceive, and people are already writing my child's destiny. <Dawn> Mm. ::he nods at the bottle:: There's one stumbling block out of your way, anyhow... ::after a pause:: Will you tell Angel? <Jewel> ::traces a finger down the side of the bottle, musingly, her eyes sad:: If what you say is true... perhaps I *should* be taking it myself, after all.... <Dawn> ::neutrally:: That's for you to decide. And him. Not sure I understand why anyone would *want* a baby, really... But I'm certainly not going to make that decision for you. <Jewel> ::sighs, not meeting Dawn's eyes:: I never told him I *wasn't* taking it, actually... And I think, knowing this now... that was a *very* stupid decision on my part. ::taps the cork gently with a finger:: I... we'll need to talk about it. And it's... ::sighs:: he's my bodyguard, too. He needs to know about this, if only to *keep* it from happening, if someone doesn't want it to. <Jewel> ::finally looking up at Dawn:: Either way, though... he's gone, and you were *not* involved. I'll make sure he knows that, too. <Dawn> ::winces faintly:: Thanks. ::he sighs and stands:: I should go. <Jewel> I'm sorry, Dawn. It's just... ::quelling a small tremor in her voice before continuing:: I promised him, no more secrets. I... can't lose his trust. <Dawn> ::nods:: I understand. I'll see you soon, I'm sure. <Jewel> ::nods miserably, putting her head back in her hands:: Goodbye, Dawn. |
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