xp_logs | Hope and Topaz (Reply)

xp_trance posting in

Hope goes through some of the papers she received from the Archduchess and has an uncomfortable realization.

So what are you looking at?"

Topaz wasn't normally one to be nosy, but Hope had been glued to those files ever since she'd walked in. Not that Topaz was complaining much - Hope was good, quiet company, and a great person to drink with. She just didn't usually bring work home with her.

Hope let out a slow sigh as she looked up. "Some papers I managed to acquire during my trip to Ksavia. It is not what I would call easy reading... Therefore..." She gestured at the wine bottle next to the crystal glass. "A bit of mental fortification."

Topaz raised an eyebrow. "Thrilling. What is it?"

"Well, a bottle of some very expensive merlot." Hope picked up the bottle to check the label. "From France. I think someone gave it as a gift to me a few months back."

"The paperwork, smart arse."

"Training plans..." Hope hefted the folder. "To be more specific, training plans for me."

"Hope, I'm not really in the mood for cryptic," Topaz said as patiently as she could manage. "Just explain, please?"

She took another swallow of wine before explaining: "Remember the man who held me in Ksavia... the Archduke? I went to get intelligence in the hope of figuring out what his future plans are since he is recruiting online again. This were his plans for training me if I had not been freed."

That got her a frown. "Why in the world would you want to know those?" That led to way too many what ifs and horrible things that should never be thought about.

"Because it might give me insight what he is looking for in people and what he wants to use them for..." Hope replied swiftly. More slowly she added: "And they say it is better to know then to wonder... in this case I am trying to figure out if I would have preferred to know or to keep wondering..."

Topaz shook her head, sipping her drink. "Probably would've been better off not knowing. It's never a good idea to know bastards are planning for you."

"Maybe..." Hope conceded. "But that is not the scariest bit... I have read almost the whole file and I have a fairly good idea of what his plans were for me... it's not what he was planning for me, but how much I would have enjoyed learning certain things had I stayed there. I might have become a very willing participant."

"Should I be worried about you?" Topaz asked, not entirely sarcastically, sipping her drink. "Seriously, this year is weird enough. I don't need you going evil to add to it all."

"It is not that Topaz..." Hope objected. "It is more like looking in a mirror... you see what very easily could have been. He wanted me trained in diplomacy and to be a face of various charitable efforts. Training in negotiating, public speaking and etiquette and protocol... internships at various charitable institutions like medical clinics, food banks and clothing dispensaries... I would have loved that part of it."

"Some mirrors aren't meant to be looked in." Topaz leaned forward, putting her glass down. "What ifs are dangerous."

"Maybe." Hope just allowed. "But Topaz, the training in diplomacy I have pursued on my own, as well as some of the other things mentioned in here. I have shifted in some other things as well, mostly with the charitable side of things. But it is still in me... those skills and qualities that he saw... it's good to see both sides of the coin."

Topaz looked her over for a moment before shrugging and picking up her glass again. "As long as you're not getting in over your head, I guess."

"Some others are looking at some of the other materials that I managed to get, but I can tell one thing. He is excellent at reading people, both what tempts them and what they fear. I can see now how much." Hope reached out for her wine and took another large swallow. "He made a 'punishment protocol' for each of us, Topaz, for Goose to use on us if we did not cooperate. It is scary as hell."

"Yeah, bad people rarely have good things planned," Topaz said dryly. "I'm not surprised."

"Sure..." Hope replied drolly, pulling out a piece of paper and waving it around. "Every super villain that we encounter will go sit behind their and write a plan on how to brainwash their captives. Including..." She once more glanced at the paper, then shivered when she read the word. "Never mind, scrap that, details are not needed."

"They don't have to be super villains. Just twisted enough to think they can do whatever they want."

"Twisted ones aplenty, but many combining it with this level of planning... I doubt it." Hope gathered up her papers and tucked back into the folder. "Enough for tonight. Otherwise I will be driving myself crazy."

"Now we understand each other." Topaz poured herself another drink, taking a sip.

After putting the files away safely, Hope rejoined Topaz on the couch and picked up her own glass. "I can only put it aside for this evening, Topaz. It needs figuring out what he is planning on doing and I am not doing it alone. Though, maybe I could do my part in smaller doses."

"Just remember when you find something you don't like that you're the one who opened this door," was Topaz' only answer.

"Trust me, the question is not if I am going to find things that I don't like... it's more how many we are going to find and what we can learn from them in order to stop him." Hope acknowledged honestly. "But what else is new, Topaz? We all have enemies who will forever keep following us in some way. You have the insane magical siblings, I have the Archduke."

Topaz scowled, throwing back the rest of her drink. "<i>I</i> don't have anything," she said bitterly. "<i>They</i> are Taboo's problem. And if he hasn't figured out by now to stay far, far away from me, then he'll get the message next time he comes around."

"Trust me, I wish the Archduke as far away as is possible. Just like you with your father and the insane magical siblings. But if I will have to meet him, I'd rather do so on my own terms." Hope replied, her eyes dark and far away.

"Right," Topaz muttered, pouring herself another drink. "You do that, I'll be here where the alcohol is."