Captain Of The Ward

[Existentially Odd]

Xiamara blinked as Ben discussed his finances with her, discomforted by the fact that he'd said he'd have to ask his sire/boyfriend about the money first. It reinforced her perception of Ben as young, though she respected the fact that Kerr was the one responsible for the money and that Ben respected him enough to ask about it without making false, hasty promises. She knew Kerr was four hundred because she'd asked him. She got a nice vibe from him, though Ben was the one she mainly dealt with.

She frowned as Ben suggested she petition the DLs for money. She'd contemplated it regularly but hadn't decided whether direct confrontation was a better option than hosting a fundraiser. She liked the idea of them saying no to her face so she knew where she stood but she also liked the idea of actually getting money from them. A ball or something would give them a better opportunity to swan about looking important and would more likely finesse funds from them. She hadn't made a move on either option yet, of course and she resented Ben telling her it should happen before the election.

His next statement made her feel downright hostile and she sat up straighter on her stool, her dark eyes flashing angrily and her shoulders rigid at the vampire's words. "Has anyone actually said those words to you? They think you can buy me like some common whore?" she snarled furiously, ready to go after anyone he named in order to set the record straight. She would not stand for being accused of impropriety, it was against her very makeup!

[Trillian]

Ben shifted backwards in his chair, shocked by her sudden shift in attitude and wishing he'd taken the time to go down a more diplomatic route.

"Nobody said anything directly," he lied, feeling like he shouldn't turn the silence into a pregnant pause or drop Zoheret into the shit. "But I gave Conner millions to get the Ward running properly and when I left Haven Crest, the Ward came with me - never mind that those offices were outgrown and the Ward was going elsewhere anyway, and then there's the first District Leader meeting you invited them to, to get together. When I became the first point of business, they assumed that I was the one who brought them all together and not you. It looks bad, Captain, but I still want to help get the Ward up and running. I feel obligated."

He wondered if she would ask him why. Only a little bit of the Oligarchy's downfall had washed his way - Murphy had borne most of the brunt, and the newspaper responsible a little as well. Even that slight taint was enough to colour him poorly, and he would be making amends for that for years.

[Existentially Odd]

She sneered at Ben like he was gum she'd stepped in while walking down the street. "You? As if you would bring them together! You aren't even a leader, you're just our landlord!" she argued heatedly, her tail withdrawing as her hand clenched into a tight fist upon her desk. "I should've made it clearer that you provided the venue for that meeting and that was it. I should've lobbied them for funds that night instead of giving them time to figure out how to work together. I should've kept you out of there," she growled, looking at him regretfully.

A large part of her anger was founded in disappointment in herself. She should've seen this coming, should've thought about how things might look to outsiders. It was humiliating to have this whelp point out her own ignorance like it was such an obvious conclusion for outsiders to draw. In hindsight, it was and that only infuriated her all the more! She needed to take action swiftly, to destroy the appearance of impropriety by making it clear to every district leader that she afforded them the courtesy of respect because they were colleagues. The respect she had for Ben was rooted in a very different garden.

"The Ward is up and running. You have fulfilled your obligation to Conner and the city with your support already," she asserted stiffly. "You're right. I need to get the leaders' financial commitment in funding the Ward and make it clear that we're an independent authority, belonging to no-one and answerable only to the people of the city whom we protect. Perhaps then we'll earn our reputation back," she finished through tight lips, mortified by the thought that she'd misrepresented her people and compromised the integrity of the City Ward by blindly accepting support from the only person offering a hand. She should've been more suspicious. She should've been smarter.

She sighed impatiently, waiting to hear if Ben had more for her or whether he'd exit on that piece of bad news.

[Trillian]

Anger and humiliation rose up in his chest at her words. He was helping her and she was attacking him. It seemed the more he did for this ungrateful fucking city, the worse the treatment he got. The way she said it

You?

made him feel worthless. It didn't matter that she admitted he'd fulfilled his obligation. It didn't matter that he'd been the one to make her aware of her association with him. It was that

You?

sneered at him like he was the worst of the worst. That he wasn't

you aren't even a leader

fit to lead, that he was only

you're just our landlord

some guy giving them free rent. A chequebook. He wasn't even that. It was Kerr's money. The lump in his chest rose to his throat and he found it difficult to talk past that sticky hot ball, but he managed. His voice sounded weird though.

"I'll leave you to it," he said, his tone tight and constricted. He stood up stiffly, lacking his previous grace and ease.

[Existentially Odd]

His exit wasn't unexpected but his tone was. She looked at him sharply, sensing his retreat through instinct and years of combat moreso than anything given away by his demeanour. She realised she was at fault and was further chagrined - he looked perfectly composed but she knew he was closed off to her. She needed to fix this, too.

With a sigh, she threw down her pen and surged to her feet, leaning on her fists on her desk and glaring across at him, her sudden movement arresting his exit for the time being. "Please," she entreated gruffly, "don't go. Not yet. I'm sorry I offended you. Could I explain?" She gestured hopefully at the chair he was now standing in front of, hoping he'd sit again but prepared to chase him around the desk if he insisted on leaving.

[Trillian]

And now she was backpedalling, offering an apology and allowing him the opportunity to get it all worked out. His instincts screamed at him that he should let her, that he should sit again and let her smooth it over. But there was something else in him, that offended rage that wanted to burn everything the fuck down, and right now the fury was blazing bright.

It gave him the ability to remain standing and to look at her quite coldly.

"I believe you've explained it all quite succinctly, thank you. I'm aware I'm only a 'concerned citizen' and I'll remind myself of my place before I approach you in the future. Next time we talk though, I might be a little more than that. I would've thought my charity could've afforded me some measure of politeness, if not outright humouring. My half an hour is up. I know you're very busy."

He would leave unless she spoke again.

[Existentially Odd]

She frowned at him, puzzled by his words until she replayed what she’d said to him in the first place and worked out that she definitely hadn’t had him onside when she’d talked about him only being their landlord. Huh. That was just the truth. She hadn’t meant it as an insult so it was unsettling and humbling to realise that that was where his offence lay. Sh spoke anyway, hoping he’d stick around long enough to be willing to listen.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said quietly. “I was arguing against them believing you to be more influential than you are. That’s my professional opinion and the truth - but I could’ve been more tactful in my declaration. I was angry. It’s a weakness of mine, letting my strong emotions get the best of me,” she admitted uncomfortably, her wings shifting in lieu of her body. “It’s not my personal opinion of you. That one’s much higher and undoubtedly driven by gratitude I should’ve expressed more clearly before now.”

She smiled, apology in her dark eyes, hoping she didn’t look as awkward as she felt in doing so.

[Trillian]

"Okay, thanks." He still wasn't happy, and he wanted to let her know. He wanted to let someone know. "So, I'm not influential. I know it. I feel it every time I talk to anyone who has more power than me right now. But you know what? In spite of my lack of influence, I rescued the Oligarchy books and the file records from Vomas but not the money he stole as a District Leader from the Ward coffers. None of the other District Leaders did anything or put forward anything. They used their money to set up their own headquarters and damn the rest."

Ben shook his head and gave a bitter smile. "Let's not forget there are also two vampire DLs who both run vampire clubs, but it's my Academy looking after the vampire under-fives with a nightly cup of free animal blood and information about how to survive without a sire. I wonder what the streets would look like with them running loose and thirsting?"

He looked at the sober expression she was giving him and continued. "Then there's the registered werewolves who come here for their full-moon lockups because Jake has zero information about where they can officially go in Central District."

And then there were the two things the Captain might not like hearing, but fuck her, it was his truth. "And let's not forget that I was the one who asked you where the District Leaders had their meetings, and you didn't know because the answer was fucking nowhere. They weren't even talking to one another until you invited them to meet here." Ben pulled a face, his disbelief of such a thing still fresh. "And it was my idea and my relationship with the Sacramentum for their employees and extensive network to call you with information or with issues, so now you have much better coverage in the East than you ever did."

He thought he detected a hardening in her eyes but it could just be his imagination, because he was looking for it.

"So no, I don't have political influence. Not in an official capacity, not yet. So if there's whispers about the Ward being in my pocket, we both know it's not true, but it's also not an unreasonable assumption to think I could manage something like that. They obviously know me better than they know you."

He hadn't come here to toot his own horn but hey.

Toot fucking toot.

[Existentially Odd]

What Ben detected in Xiamara's eyes wasn't hardening but the glint of calculation and growing respect. His outburst wasn't really news to her - though he didn't think he was influential? What? - but it was an appropriate forum to share his details, particularly because she'd dismissed him in favour of her own defence earlier. It was his right to rebut. His achievements were impressive when he laid them out for her and she learnt far more about his viewpoint and goals than she'd expected to, simply because of the way he sold himself.

He was more than a representative of his sire or the sum of his ambition and shame on her if she made the mistake of underestimating him again.

"Points taken," she conceded bluntly, looking him in the eye. "I reacted to the accusation I'd do anything unlawful and I didn't consider your perspective. Your accomplishments are impressive, even if they're not in front of the public yet. I've always considered you a man of integrity. Now you've told me how much," she declared, inclining her head in a gesture of gratitude before lifting her head again, the fire burning in her eyes once more.

"And you're right that the leaders know you but don't know me. They don't often want to know me, I don't think. They consider the Ward a nuisance or an insult to their leadership. I haven't bothered to push because there's been a degree of autonomy in working beyond their notice. But no more. You've inspired me to make myself known and to fight for their support." Her grin was battle-tested and determined.

[Trillian]

His anger and indignance faded as soon as she conceded that he'd made valid points. He'd been prepared to be shouted out of her office, bracing himself for yet another burnt connection... and then she'd told him his speech had inspired her.

Inspired her!

It was such a shock that first he grinned, then laughed. It wasn't a huge laugh but it was certainly an obvious one. Half embarrassment and half relief mingling with irony. A shiver raced along his spine and he shuddered at it before shaking his head at her.

"Nice to know I won't be arrested for disorderly conduct," he said, still chuckling. "Sorry. I've been dealing with a lot of criticism and I know it'll only get ten times worse when I win." He paused, then corrected. "If."

He gave her a brief shrug. "I really should get going. Thanks for the opportunity to... um... talk."

[Existentially Odd]

Xiamara nodded curtly. "I appreciate the information you gave me. All of it." She brushed a nonexistent crease away from the area of her shirt over her right breast and shimmered her wings as she straightened her back again.

"I also appreciate that we can have open, respectful discourse and forgive one another when, uh, passions get the better. of us." Colour rose in her cheeks as she thought of how she'd upset him but she was pleased they'd been able to come round to an understanding. Enjoy the rest of your evening. Come back any time. I'll let you know how I go taking the fight to 'them'."

She winked at him and gave him another genuine smile.