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[justasaleswoman]

As coded messages go, Verity will admit, reluctantly, that it's pretty elegant.

No note, no password, nothing someone can read over a shoulder or inadvertantly overhear. Just a key to a room, left for her with the bar.

A key to this room, in point of fact.

A room Verity's been in before. A room number she recognizes.

Who knew Ruby was so fucking sentimental?

. . . little play on words, there, Verity supposes.

Verity doesn't bother to knock, just lets herself into the room.

Comments

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

Ruby doesn't have a spinny black leather armchair or an intimidating wooden desk in the room for the typical 'I've been expecting you' line.

She kind of wishes she did.

Instead, there's just the standard Milliways-room furniture - bed, dresser, a small, dinky wooden chair ... and a window.

And Ruby is standing by the window, arms across her chest. She hears the sound of the key-in-lock before she sees her visitor. Either way, she'd been expecting her.

"Took you long enough."

[justasaleswoman]

Verity tosses the key onto the bed, shutting the door behind her.

"You know, you better hope you enjoy a fraction of the protection you do now when this is all over.

"Assuming, of course, that you're still alive when this is all over.

"Hello, Ruby.

"You called me?"

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

Ruby's eyes shift slightly, following the key as it lands.

"Oh, I'll be alive," she says blandly. She has no doubt about that.

More than that, she'll be powerful.


"Yep. I've got a message for the boss. Good news. Something a little more specific. Hence the ... secret rendez-vous."

She juts her chin to the key.

[justasaleswoman]

"Unfortunately, if you're not alive when this is all over, I'll hardly be able to effectively gloat about it."

Verity sits on the edge of the bed -- because the chair really is dinky -- and demurely crosses her ankles. (Well, as demurely as ankles can be crossed when they're just above a pair of 5" Manolo Blahnik heels.)

"Spill."

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

Ruby moves away from the window, coming to stand at a comfortable enough distance from Verity.

"A couple of things, really," she says.

And seeing as they're in the privacy of their own room, she's sure she can be frank enough without any loose ears hanging about.

"Firstly, with a little extra shot in the right direction, those idiot Winchesters and their sadly lacking father-figure finally have the Colt back to working condition."

[justasaleswoman]

Ever had the feeling that someone just walked across your grave?

. . . yeah, neither has Verity.

"So, step one in your plan is give them a weapon they can use against you?

"You must have little Sammy Winchester pretty spun, if you're risking that."

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

"That's thing number two."

"Maybe I'll just use it on you."

"Go ahead, if that makes you happy.
It's not gonna do much for Dean, though.
So, what's it gonna be?"

She smiles a pleasant little smile, resembling the cat who has caught the juiciest canary possible.

"That's my boy. This won't be easy, Sam.
You're gonna have to do things that go against that gentle nature of yours.
There'll be collateral damage...but, it has to be done."

"Ah, thing number two."

[justasaleswoman]

"Just so long as your cat in the hat doesn't lose control of Thing One and Thing Two," Verity says.

"Or let them go listening to any moralizing little goldfish."

But she doesn't sound all that concerned. After all, they're the Winchesters. They're not that hard to play.

And the demons in this room are virtuosos.

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

That they are.


Ruby lets out a laugh.

Really. Verity + Dr Seuss? Who wouldn't let out a good chuckle or two?

"I'm playing the most important card in this little scheme, and I'm playing it to take all. Sam's right where we want him to be."

And it'll only get better from here.

Well, better for those who count.

(It'll probably suck for Sam; and it'll be even worse for Dean.)

[justasaleswoman]

Verity raises one carefully arched eyebrow.

"And if you play the rest of your cards right, darling, maybe I won't mention to her that you just said you were more important than she is."

Ruby can be replaced. Maybe not easily, but it can be done.

But not her.

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

There's a frown there. It's a visible enough crack in Ruby's usually blasé expression.

"Now, now, V. I know you would love to see me crash and burn, especially when Lilith's dishing out the burning - but I don't think I ever said a thing like that."

She shrugs.

"And I wouldn't dream of it either."

[justasaleswoman]

Verity's expression is all sweetness and light.

Or at least a mocking parody thereof.

"Maybe I misunderstood, then.

"What did you mean by 'most important card'?"

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

Ruby rolls her eyes.

But really, she can't blame Verity. As far as the fully-informed go, Verity doesn't know everything.

She just knows enough to be able to send a detailed-enough report to their Superior.

"It's Dean."

[justasaleswoman]

A beat, and then Verity very slowly smiles.

"King of Clubs and the wildcard joker, all rolled into one.

"I've played that card myself.

"It's a good one to have up your sleeve."

What? You think they have a problem with cheating? Please.

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

It's only cheating when you're caught.

Otherwise, it's just ... taking advantage of the clueless idiot who failed to think of something to gain an upper-hand over you.

"Exactly."

She smirks.

"So. That should be good enough for her until next time."

[justasaleswoman]

And if you can't talk your way out if it when you get caught . . . well, you don't play on this level.

"I'll give her the message."

Though she won't be the judge of its sufficiency.

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

Ruby nods.


By the time Verity's relaying the report, Ruby will be working on the next phase of their plan, so ... it should be sufficient enough for now.

Still, their boss is a tough one to please.

But all this sure beats whatever shit she would otherwise have been doing right now.

[justasaleswoman]

It's a hell of a dangerous dance they're all doing right now.

Worth it, yes, but still a pain in the ass.

"Anything else, darling?"

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

... not where Lilith, or her mission, is concerned anyway.

Ruby shrugs, nonchalant.


"Eager to return to your little job?"

[justasaleswoman]

Another arch of an eyebrow, over a suddenly red eye.

"Was there something else it would be worth my hanging around for?"

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

It's all feigned innocence, and a touch of suggestion, with this one.

"You tell me. How exciting is it?"

[justasaleswoman]

Verity stands, and comes two steps closer to Ruby.

It's not quite enough to take the distance between them from comfortable to uncomfortable -- but it's close, no more than in inch away from being in each other's space.

"Darling, you are acting as coy as a virgin at a crossroads."

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

That gets out a good, barking laugh.

Now there's a statement she'd never use to compare herself.


Ruby's pretty sure she likes blonde better than brunette on the Crossroads Demon, but right now, she couldn't be assed to care.

She unfolds her arms, closes the distance between them and reaches out to grab a fistful of that meatsuit's shiny, brunette locks.

It isn't exactly gentle.

Then pulling her closer, she presses a rough kiss on the other demon's lips.

"That coy enough for ya?"

[justasaleswoman]

Verity's hand comes up to close around Ruby's neck, her thumb on one side of the other demon's jaw, middle finger on the other. It's not enough pressure to break any of the meatsuit's bones . . . yet.

"Ruby, you are dangerously close to forgetting just who you're dealing with here."

Verity might have to run her little messages and play these little cloak-and-dagger games, but those red eyes aren't just for looks.

And then Verity laughs, and eases her grip just a little.

"But that's actually kind of hot."

Who knew?

Verity drops her hand and steps back.

"I think we can reach an agreement, darling.

"Unless you're going to keep playing hard to get."

Come on, Ruby. They both know better.

Verity used to be a witch, too, after all.

[cannotforget.livejournal.com]

"Hmm. You know, I don't think there's a point in playing anymore."

She knows she's below Verity's rank as far as demon hierarchies go, but at the same time ... there's something about challenging (and trying to equal herself to) a higher power that ... well, turns her on.

The imprints from Verity's fingers against her jaw are still there, light pink against her equally light skin.

And Ruby is already easing herself out of her leather jacket.

[justasaleswoman]

"None whatsoever, really."

No one here is going to fall for it, anyway.

Sometimes, it's just about taking what you want, and enjoying the perks of the job.