Green Flame Rising (Exalted vs Dresden Files)

28st of July 2006 A.D.

Lydia has money and probably contacts left over from her dad, you reason plus it;s easier to trust someone who's not involved in organized crime... that you know of at least. Don't go borrowing trouble Molly, you push down the urge to investigate 'Signore Rici' beyond what his public facing online present as a successful contract lawyer with a middling New York firm claimed. He's Harvard trained so probably good at his job, but also... he might take any less than legal prodding poorly. You would in his place after all. So you text Lydia.

MollyC: /Hey how're you doing?/

Lydia2001: /Working my way through the rusted gears of the American legal system. Apparently I have to have 'significant responsibilities' to be emancipated. Well not really, but it is 'recommended' and the lady from DCFS apparently thinks I'm an idiot trust fund baby whose wasting her time since I won't be sixteen until Holloween even though it takes months to get the process rolling and I just want to make sure I can get it over with smoothly. I check all the boxes beside the ones inside her head./

MollyC: /Go to someone else?/

Lydia2001:/If I go over her head I will just look like I am even more of an entitled brat, I might have to though. I almost wish I could just go all silvery and lay down the law on her. What's she going to do, go to the Midwestern Arcane with the scoop?/

Thinking back on those Daedalus people who had been snooping around Chicago you really do not think that is a good idea and say so. Thankfully Lydia is not serious about tearing back the veil on some Department of Children and Family Services worker, she is just venting. You almost don't ask about the diamonds, not wanting to be a bother when she has that to worry about, but from the sounds of things she is looking for a distraction.

MollyC: /Do you have some way to sell five six and a bit carat diamonds./

Lydia2001: /The fomori put diamonds in the pill bottles. Strange, even for evil fish people alchemists./

MollyC: /Nah, I made them./

You hesitate writing that but only for a moment, the diamonds are obviously artificial at any detailed examination, having made them is the most reasonable explanation. On top of that it's not like you don't trust Lydia, you have trusted her with a hell of a lot more and you have been rewarded for it.

Lydia2001: /Like transmutation of base... carbon I guess? Cool./

MollyC: /Thanks./

Lydia2001:/Send then over with Daniel, he's coming over to watch the Enchanted movie this evening or you could come yourself./

Not being entirely socially clueless you recognize a reluctant afterthought when you see one. No reason not to get in a bit of gentle teasing.

MollyC: /No thanks, I don't think there's enough room on the couch for one more./

Lydia stops a while maybe to get any embarrassment under control though when she is done she fires back:

Lydia2001:/ You would not believe how much extra room there is on this couch when Daniel and I are on it. Bank account number?/

Thankfully dad had gotten you a credit card last year with an injunction to be careful with it and not run up unreasonable debt. By your reckoning putting several tens of thousands of dollars in there is being really careful with money... even if you do plan on blowing it all on a luxury sports car slightly possessed afterwards.

MollyC:/Thanks 😁/

You talk some more, normal small-talk interspersed with your thoughts on what had happened in Cleveland. That is how you find out that King Corb had crossed paths and swords with Lydia's father in the past and that he's a slippery one who always had three holes to slither into if a battle goes poorly, which does make sense for someone who had managed to piss off both Summer and Winter What you had not expected among accounts of ancient wars and betrayals, weddings, ambushes and ambushes at weddings is to be told that a lot of the alien abduction stories, the ones that aren't frauds are in fact Fomori seeking new victims or recruits. Modern day myths work as well as old ones according to Lydia.

For his part Daniel is really weirded out when you had him a bag with diamonds. "They aren't going to vanish or turn into beans are they?"

"No." You stoutly resist rolling your eyes. "Also that is not even a good comparison, the magic beans were actually real."

"Whatever you say Jack," he gives you a big 'little brother energy' grin.

But you are completely serene: "Didn't know you liked Disney romances so much, I guess it's not so much what you watch as who you watch it with."

He blushes and mumbles something about 'who doesn't like Disney' as he takes the stones.

Later that evening Lydia sends a text as you are playing scrabble with mom, dad, Leech and Amanda. Fortunately with how long it takes Amada to decide on her next move you have plenty of time to answer.

Lydia2001:/50K$ good?/

MollyC: /Found a buyer already?/

Lydia2001: /Not yet, but that is about what they got apprised to and with you saying you need the money in the next few days I can cover you until the sale goes through./

Do you take the deal?

[] Yes, trade diamonds for 50,000 Dollars from Lydia now

[] No, you do not want to risk leaving her with a loss over this, wait for them to be sold and then take your money (There is a possibility the money will not arrive in time for the auction)

[] Write in

OOC: Welp that was a fun scene to write down. Hope I got the flow right.