On the Mark
20th of January 2007 A.D.
"I'm guessing you don't mean the kind of healing someone could get out of an alchemist's bottle?" you ask after a moment's thought.
Helen's answering nod is about as telling as the face of the overcast sky above.
"I know someone who can heal any mundane ailment, but she is going to ask for her own price." Part of you wants to offer assurances that it would not be too onerous, but the two of you have common causes more than common principles, a thing that is easy to forget when she's around.
***
21st of January 2007 A.D.
Regained 2 Willpower -> Now at 6/9
Jesus Christ, there's really not much else to say on hearing the story of the Bekits, they surely need his mercy. You have heard of worse, thanks to Nemesis you have dealt with worse, but there is something about the sheer mundane nature of the violence and suffering involved that makes the whole thing even more sick. Helen has a daughter in a coma, in the hospital because someone took a shot at John Marcone back in '98 all of thirteen years old. The cops couldn't find the shooter so Helen and her husband tried going after Marcone, lost because of course you'd lose against Gentleman Johnny in this town and then tried going ofter him themsleves. This being about the point where most people would get a shotgun or started looking into homemade bombs they instead got into black magic rites to tear out people's hearts at the behest of some asshole called Victor Sells whom Harry had investigated seven years ago. Both of them got arested, got sent to jail which is where Greg Bekit died.
"She's working for Marcone..." you shake your head not so much in confussion as denial.
Tiffany tsks. 'You know why,' her look says without words and she's right, you just don't want to say it as F-ed up as all of this is. "Keep your enemies closer... But why is Marcone allowing her to run one of his buisnesses? I can't believe he doesn't do background checks."
"According to Harry," Lash motions at the obviously uncofortable, though no longer bandaged wizard next to her. "Guilt. He's got a thing about hurting kids and he agrees that he was in some part to blame, just not enough to go to jail."
"Surprising that no one made use of child coombatants against him given the weakness," Usum chines in, presumably since he did not think the conversation was disturbing enough already. In response you throw back something between an order and a plea to slow down with the tactical help.
"So when you heal the girl...?"
"I'll have an in with the local mob boss," she finishes brightly. "Oh don't give me that look Harry! Would you rather I ask for payment from the grieving mother?"
"Here's a thought, you could just not ask for anything," he snipes. That gets your attention. Harry Dresden is not generally the kind of man to snipe, but it seems he had come against a realization as inevitable as it was unpleasant, Tiffany MacNeil is not a nice person just because she is nice to him and she does not value his good graces more than she does whatever influence she might be able to squeeze out of Marcone.
"If it's sainthood you are looking for Harry I'm afraid you are marking up the wrong tree, atop the wrong mountain, on the wrong continent," the once-Fallen answers in a joking almost singsong tone, though her eyes are hard. It's about making a point as much as it is about profit for her, that she's not just going to live her life by his rules.
Lost 1 Essence -> Now at 14/15
In your heart of hearts there's a little thrill to see that distance between them, physical as much as metaphorical, but your brain kindly informs your heart to shut up there's more important things afoot. "Where's... Amada, Helen said her name was, going to stay? What's she going to do? She's been in a coma almost half her life?"
"Humans are a lot more adaptable than you give yourselves credit for," Tiffany says, now almost clinically detached. "
Neuroplasticity is the term I think, just as one might adapt to physical injury so too can one do so for social harm so long as there is a foundation for them to work off of. I could grant her the skills she is lacking with a contract, but that would draw her wholly into
this world without the ability to make a proper choice in the matter."
It's clear Harry would like to feel better about at least this line being there, but at the same time feeling guilty that he is not standing up to this more. It does not take Essence-sharpened sight to see he'd really like you to argue against Tiffany getting her hooks into Marcone.
What does Molly think about Tiffany trying to get an in with the local Mob boss?
[] Good for her, it sounds useful
[] Tell her to be careful, this is the kind of thing that raises her profile and as the story itself shows, it is the kind of profile some people are liable to treat as a shooting gallery
[] Ask her not to cut deals with Marcone, it does not seem worth it
[] Write in
OOC: Arguments to convince one or both of them are of course welcome. 
