2019-07-12 - 5 Percocet per day

Graham's done a good job of coaching Elise for her inevitable meetings with Felix. She knows not to sit down unless asked, not to speak unless spoken to, accept the drink no matter what it is; be direct but respectful. Don't waste his time. And above all else? Hope you never get a meeting with Felix, and never request one yourself.

Elise is doing a great job with the first few, but she's broken the very last rule. Elise doesn't want to do this, but what choice does she have in the moment? With the police showing up in full riot gear at her house - and boy howdy, have the neighbors been talking - only to cart Graham out, Elise knows she can't afford a lawyer on her own. So here she is, standing in the study after getting a pat-down by security, someone far smaller than Andre standing guard at the door. And Felix at the helm, behind the desk.

She's a wreck, but she's dressed sharp. Pencil skirt, silk blouse, high heels, hair back in a French braid. She's got the look of someone dressed for a job interview, and she's well composed . Not that she would be a sobbing mess though - she wasn't sad. Elise was pissed. But there's just the slightest tension in her jaw that suggests that at the moment.

With everything else going on, Graham must have forgotten to remind Elise NOT TO GO TO FELIX FOR HELP, because she would totally listen if he reminded her, right? Right?! He called her, of course, but it was basically just to say he's not dead, sorry, and "goddammit, I'm on the fucking phone," with some scuffle-noises that ended with a hasty, "I love you, I'll be home as soon as - " Click. Phone-calls from jail are awesome. 😃 That was yesterday, and it's been radio silent since then, and there's not getting in to see the guy right now.

Which leaves us here. Felix is doing the Felix thing, sitting at his desk, doing some work on his computer. He has one, he knows how to use it; he just turns it off when not-Andre introduces his guest. "Miss Kruger. Please." He gestures to the empty seat across from him, tipping his fingers toward it invitingly. "You want to talk about Graham, I assume?" Hold on, someone should get her a shovel; this hole is going to get deep.

It was probably one of those unspoken things that Elise totally heard and was totally listening to, as she takes a seat upon the offered chair. She doesn't recline or make herself comfortable, she just crosses one leg over the other and lays her hands primly in her lap, trying to keep her breathing even and controlled. It's a good thing she has such good composure else she'd probably be through the roof with nerves at the moment. "Thank you," she says as she sits, her eyes narrowing a subtle amount when he makes his assumptions.

"Yes," it's a simple response. It requires nothing more. But Elise continues, "And the stunt that the police pulled at my home, actually," her jaw gets a little tighter. "Graham needs a lawyer." It's at least not a request, it's just a statement of fact.

Like this is not his problem, Felix answers, "I'm sure he does." No drink on offer tonight, nothing to even take the edge off poor Elise's nerves. He just sits back in his super-plush chair, folding his hands comfortably across his middle, elbows resting on either arm of his chair while he looks across the desk at Elise. At least she's easy to look at~.

Go on. He's listening.

Elise tips her chin in a small nod, lips pressing into a thin line as she steadies her look on Felix. "But it would be better if the department could be convinced to just.. let this go," she starts slow, shifting in her seat not out of discomfort, but to straighten her back and try and appear more confident. "Graham is... exceptionally loyal to you, Mister Monaghan. I think that he d.." No, scroll back, she gives her head a faint shake. This was not the way to go. "I think that he can still be useful. To you."

She was cringing on the inside, and her tongue feels heavy in her mouth. She wets her lips, hands clasping in her lap as she continues. "And I think that I could be useful, too. In a greater capacity. If the police were willing to let this go. If they were willing to drop the charges and let Graham go." Pause. "And Andre, too."

There's no malice in the comment, "Graham made a mistake. Should there not be consequences for mistakes?" Like Felix is really inviting Elise to weigh in on the subject and not just like - well, the truth: he's already made up his mind what's going to happen, and this whole conversation is just for show. Then he waves his fingers vaguely in the air - like, no, never mind, let's just ignore that question and move on.

"In what greater capacity could you be of use, Miss Kruger? Assuming I could somehow arrange for this all to go away, assuming I want to intervene on his behalf." That's a lot of assumptions, Elise! "What exactly do I get out of this deal?"

This was the problem with these sorts of conversations - there's no 'Guide to Talking to Crime Lords' and while Elise's parents could've likely set her up for success if they'd been even remotely honest about their position? They didn't. And so here Elise was, opening her mouth to reply - and then quickly closing it when Felix waves his fingers in the air. She'll just be over here, forget about the fact that she was just about to agree wholeheartedly that Graham deserved a consequence for his mistake. But what could she give? This was the part that she struggled with the most.

But that struggle was prior to this meeting. She's come prepared; she made a list. "Well," she clears her throat, a dainty 'ahem', and shifts forward on the chair. "I.. have access. To medical records, case files." Swallow. "Autopsy reports." She pauses, and musters up a soft smile to fit to her lips. "There's going to come a day when one of your men is too injured for me to take care of here. But I can make sure when they show up at the hospital, that there's no evidence that could be traced back here. It's exceptionally easy to lose track of someone's file, for example. Or make small edits here or there to the narratives," she tips a shoulder. "And I know the doctors who will sign things without looking at them. I know the doctors to avoid."

Yes, there should absolutely be classes. For example, 'hold something back' should probably be in Crime Lord Discussions 101. Because Felix nods through all the things she's offering, letting her spell out all the ways in which she's a useful person before he points out, "You'll do all of those things anyway. I already have you over a barrel, Miss Kruger." It's a simple statement of fact, not something he means to be vicious about.

"You want a favor. I want your loyalty. Graham would take a bullet for me. Would you do the same?"

There's a faint twitch in her jaw, a straightening of her shoulders, when Felix shares just the facts, ma'am. Elise is smart, and she was super satisfied with herself for 'coming to the table' with all these things. So to be so casually disregarded .. it was like Felix sticks a needle in the balloon that is her ego and quickly deflates it.

But here's the thing. Was she surprised about his question? Not really. She just didn't come prepared to answer it on the spot, and not without Graham's help.

So there's a twitch, there's a shift in her seat, there's a slow breath in and a steady breath out. But Elise does not lie. "Graham wouldn't.. put his life on the line for just anyone," she is certain of that. "And I trust him." Completely. Except when he's bullshitting her. She lifts her eyes to Felix's own, holding his gaze. "So yes. I would."

Again, there's no malice in Felix when he looks directly back at Elise. He's not trying to test he mettle with the strictness of his return look; it's just a thing that he does naturally, that silent challenge to see who is going to look away first. It's pretty much never him. "I'm glad to hear that," he says in a tone that's not entirely unpleasant.

"So let me be sure we have an understanding here. You want me to be sure your boyfriend doesn't go to prison. In return for which, you promise your loyalty to me." There's a pause, just a small one. "And a steady supply of Percocet. Let's say, five pills a day, and we'll even give you weekends off. Twenty-five a week should be do-able for a nurse."

Elise no longer twitches in her chair, at least. She's perfectly straight, and even maintains the smile. But the understanding, yes. It was important to have an understanding. "I want them to drop everything. All the charges. I want them to make it go away. For him and for Andre," it's not an instruction, more-or-less clarification. "Honestly, I think the detective that stormed my house should be thoroughly punished. Put on administrative leave, maybe even demoted actually, because I.. I'm sorry, what?" She blink-blinks a few times, focusing back on Felix. He catches her a little off-guard there.

But the words settle, and she doesn't panic. She'll flail on the inside, and just politely clear her throat. "I don't have access to.." she starts, and then immediately walks that back with a quick shake of her head. "It doesn't matter. Five Percocet a day, that's.. that's.." insane. "Perfectly reasonable."

It's for the best that she got derailed by the ask. While she's telling Felix what she wants and what she thinks, about how the cops should be punished and stuff, Felix is looking at her like dis bitch done went crazy, who does she think she is, and where's someone that can knock some sense into her? He even looks at the guy that's not Andre by the door, like - deal with this problem.

But the guy doesn't even have time to step in Elise's direction before she's shifting gears (thank gawd). "Then we have an agreement." He reaches across the desk for a handshake. During which he will add, "Keep your opinions to yourself, Elise. When I want to know what you think, I will tell you." That he wants to know? Or what she should think?

Prolly both. <.<

Look, as the meta said before - there's no fucking guide on how to talk to crime lords. But at least Elise doesn't get her head knocked in by not-Andre, though in her righteous fury over wanting to punish the police, she missed all the cues that she was in danger. Anyway, her eyes flick to the outstretched hand, and - in finally taking some of Graham's advice - does not hesitate to take it, letting Felix dictate the firmness by which they would shake.

His warning should chill her. It should make her think. But Elise was still honestly pondering how she can push that stupid detective in the mud. So instead, she says: "Thank you. Yes, of course. Thank you for your time."

The handshake is brief and precise, ending when Felix withdraws his hand and looks to the man that minds the door once more. Not so the dude will knock her upside the head, but so he'll start opening the door. Oh but wait: "And Elise? Don't answer any questions. From anyone. About anything."

Surely, Graham has delivered this advice before, but he's very pretty, so it's easy to get distracted. It's a lot easier to maintain focus when Felix gives advice orders. "If the police speak to you at all, you ask if you're under arrest. If the answer is no, then you will not come to the station and talk, and they are not welcome to come inside, and you have nothing else to say. If the answer is yes, the only thing you have to say is that you want to talk to your lawyer. His name is Robert deWitt. You'll get his number from - " The dude by the door; can't remember if he had a name in this scene, so pretend that the name Felix says is that guy's name.

One last thing: "They'll be out in a few days." She's welcome.

Elise doesn't move to stand, because Felix was still talking. So she will sit there and listen, until Felix gets to his point - and at his point, and the open door, she assumes that it is her time to leave. So up she goes, smoothing her skirt, tipping her head in a small nod. "Robert deWitt," she repeats, just to commit the name to memory, and looks back up to Felix. "Thank you, Mister Monaghan." It is extraordinarily polite.

It's not until Elise is out of the office - hell, out of the Club, and sitting in her car - does it hit her that this was likely the same advice passed down from Felix to Graham. That it was probably the same advice they trained Andre on. Which means.. Graham has a lawyer. Which means..

"oh, fuck. What did I do?!" she asks the car, and the car does not respond, so she bangs her head on the steering wheel a few times.

It's too bad Felix isn't the type to steeple his fingers and be like 'eeeeexcellent.' It would really be super appropriate right now.

Glimpse the future. Graham's gonna hear this story, burst into cynical laughter, and tell her, "Baby, you got played."

Glimpse into the future? Elise is gonna thai kung fu Graham right in his fucking laughing face.

BUT HE'S SO PRETTY ELISE!!!

IN. THE. FACE.