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[thethirteenthchild]

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[thethirteenthchild]

"To be honest, I don't know if that's even possible, or what my grandfather said to Vika. I wouldn't put it past him to lie to her. The only thing that is contractually obligated for them is whatever they say directly prior to sealing the deal. A set of terms, within a few sentences, and then a handshake or a question to determine if you accept. Anything they say before or after that is fair game. Eligos could have easily spun her a story or just let her assumptions do the work," Dahlia explains, surprisingly candid about the whole thing.

"Vika seemed to think she was permanently killing me, but the contract written on the board said that my soul would be conveyed to Eligos for whatever he deemed fit. He decided to put half of me back, stripping me of my demonic form. So I looked and felt like shit. Frankly, I probably would have felt better had I gone to the old man's dinner party, but it was too risky.

[maltesefalcon]

“Aster offered a few people deals over dinner. I was one of them. And I did accept the one he offered me. The cost of it was that I can’t share information I learn about the Leeds family with anyone who doesn’t know it.”

Her openness is met with openness in kind.

“Thus, your nature is contained. But even so, I wouldn’t have been shouting it from the rooftops. I care too much about you to be free with your secrets, Dolly. The same way I didn’t go talking to just anyone about our dream.”

[thethirteenthchild]

"I---" That honestly stuns her. They're friends, of course, but the idea that he trusts her enough not to throw her under the bus? wagon is... A lot to take in. Clearly Aster didn't think it possible, otherwise he wouldn't have shortchanged himself with a deal like that just to slow her cover being blown...

"...I'm surprised you're not more put off. That's a lot of trust to put in me, considering."

[maltesefalcon]

"I'm not exactly happy with what I know, but...disconnecting from you, leaving you alone, that's not going to help anyone, not either of us. Things are pretty shit right now, but I don't want them to be worse, for you or for anyone."

He shakes his head, nuzzles hers.

"And I hope if you need someone to talk to, you might reach out in the future. I can be a very good listener."

[thethirteenthchild]

Her heart clenches at the affection, both elated and filled with dread. It's emotionally uncomfortable, the conflict between feelings, but she leans into it anyway.

"I do have to keep doing it, you know. I can't stop."

[maltesefalcon]

"I do know. We're going to keep warning people away from the woods. People will still keep going there, thinking they're stronger or better or braver. The same tensions will exist as they always have."

A hesitation.

"Do you know if, um. If a victim being willing ruins anything for you?"

[thethirteenthchild]

"...A little. But I also can't use the same victim over and over, either. I start to get less and less out of it. It's better if there's a long span of time in between using the same victims..." Then, awkwardly: "I also just. Prefer strangers."

[maltesefalcon]

"For obvious reasons, I'm certain. But if push comes to shove, and you're desperate enough, let me know."

...it's the opposite of what her grandpappy would want, Cerrit realizes.

[thethirteenthchild]

"I--- You don't have to do that. It's terrible." Plus, she wouldn't want to look at him like that. It still stresses her out that she nabbed Ianto right after hiring him for a job. Especially since shortly after, she had to discourage him from hunting her down and killing her. "...I'll ask. If I need to. But I'm going to try not to need to."

[maltesefalcon]

"Good. And you have ways of reaching me if you need to talk. You don't need to hold it all alone, always, Dolly." Surprise, you're not going to be dadded at any less, now that Cerrit knows.