Lunch Date (Estella Restaurant)

[Emily Shale-Vanders]

Emily turned to listen as Natalie began to open up after she first gave Emily a glare that said "don't apologize for things that don't require an apology." Admittedly, that was a flaw Emily had. She understood that she had done nothing wrong by sharing what had happened. They were friends, and that was something friends did.

Natalie didn't open up much, but when she did, Emily made sure to listen. Natalie had many scars, and had few she let into her circle. Emily was glad to be one of those. In truth, today had shown Emily how much their relationship meant to her. Natalie didn't offer any answers, and by her own admission, knew that wasn't what Emily was looking for. She instead was there, telling her she knew what it felt like and even offering Rachel an out.

Emily clinked glasses with Natalie when she offered and gave her a bright smile. "Thank you! I'll keep that in mind, it will do Rachel good to get out I think. Right now, she's not there yet, but soon, I hope," Emily sighed and took a drink of her water. "And sometime after Baby Vanders has come to the world, we will have that irresponsible afternoon of cocktails. I will hold you to that."

The waitress arrived with their orders and Emily thanked her. As desired she had a side of pickles, which Natalie had taunted her for. Emily ate a couple of slices. "You know it's weird. These are both disgusting and delicious at the same time." She chuckled a bit. "Okay - so deep stuff out of the way. Tell me about Belizna. What is going on with that. I have memories of you mentioning it, but wedding brain meant it didn't always take. Essentially a school right?"

[Natalie Grey]

“Open offer, whenever she might need it. Kind of selfish on my part, really. It’ll take years to renovate the whole estate. I’d be happy for the help.”

Natalie was glad to let the quiet edge to her own mood dissipate without prodding her own feelings too deeply, and Emily seemed lighter for having the opportunity to voice her fears. She made a mental note to check in some time later though. Not that Emily didn’t already have a supportive network around her, but she was also the glue of the Shale family. Unlike Emily, Natalie was the reckless middle child, not the responsible eldest, but she knew something of how fragile a burden it could be – being the one others looked to.

“Deal,” she said, to the future cocktails, and smirked with a little glimmer of devilishness.

The food arrived then. Natalie hadn’t realised she was hungry until the plate was laid before her, and she tried to recall if she’d remembered breakfast that morning. Jay was an early riser, they both were, but he was a mouth full of toast and slurp of coffee blur out the door. Natalie only kept to the routine of returning to the apartment because he was there, and she didn’t choose to spend much time inside its sterile walls when she was alone. So, probably not.

“Essentially,” she agreed as the topic shifted. Belizna was primarily business, and she had never mixed that with Emily’s friendship beyond them talking about what they were both up to when they got the chance. “Or it will be. The Custody is hardly pulling its weight in that respect.” She half raised her brows, aware it was somewhat controversial for a Patron’s granddaughter to speak so flippantly about the governmental systems that gave her family power. Of course, there were reasons for that. But she could hardly tell Emily everything she had seen in Texas – the sanctioned experiments on children which subdued and controlled their gift. Witnessed right before the State was ushered in as the newest Dominance.

“I think I’ll be able to open the doors in the new year. Teaching girls through the Sickness, to start.”

It would be more than that, of course. A consortium. A sanctuary. A voice. Not just for the girls, but for the women who would teach them. But it needed careful framing, lest it be tarnished a rebellion before its roots grew deep enough to withstand opposition. Despite working briefly with Marcus DuBois, and having been offered a position in the Consulate, she had not approached any official channels to ask permission, or avail of their resources. Instead, in the elite social circles Natalie had begun engendering support, she chose to lean heavily on her mother’s philanthropic reputation. Most already knew the Northbrook’s blacksheep daughter had self-exiled to aid work in Africa. They built their own picture of her intentions from there.

[Emily Shale-Vanders]

Emily listened carefully and she could tell how important this was to Natalie. Of course having gone through the sickness herself, she knew the dangers of it first hand. It could kill, but the key to stopping it was learning how to control the magic within them. Emily thought then of Thalia, a woman she had helped learn to control her power. Emily hadn’t checked in on her in a long time. It might be worth reaching out soon. Thalia was an artist, if she remembered correctly.

”Well, if you ever need help with that, let me know. I have some experience in helping people get through the sickness,” she said, light heartedly. ”It would be great if we could find a way to help people before they get sick though.”

Emily’s mood went somber for a bit at that thought. Emily was a kind hearted person, but the Moscow business world could be pretty harsh. She had learned to consider the consequences of her actions - the good and bad. And Lucio - Emily had known that had she found him, she would have hurt him. She flat out approved of his assassination, and allowed her husband to actively participate in it. Early detection would be a good thing, but it could also be dangerous. Like so many things it could be used the wrong way. People taking channelers to run tests on them against their will to say nothing of the Atharim who might use it to kill those before their power manifested itself. Still, Emily considered - maybe she could have some researchers working on that.

Emily returned to her cheerful mood only a moment later. ”Anyways - like I said - let me know if you’d like some help there too. Also before I forget…” Emily pulled her wallet out of her purse and sent Natalie Rachel’s contact information. ”Rachel’s number - I’ll give her yours to - in case she wants to help.”

Emily put her wallet back and pulled out a small box covered in wrapping paper. ”Inkmow you’re not one for keepsakes, but I saw this and I thought of you. Merry Christmas, Natalie.” Emily placed the present on the table.

[Natalie Grey]

It was surprisingly pleasant to talk about Belizna with someone she was not trying to manipulate to her cause. The physical renovations took up great swathes of her time, the planning, networking, and carefully laid groundwork even more so. But though Natalie’s ambitions ran deep, she only ever intended to pull the strings from behind the scenes – especially once the school opened its doors. She had little love of the spotlight despite the notoriety attached to her family name. None of this was about the accolade which would inevitably come with such an endeavour, nor even really about doing something good. When she spoke about it Natalie usually sold the dream she knew others wanted to hear in order to win support, but rarely revealed her own motivations.

“I don’t see why we couldn’t figure it out,” she said thoughtfully, tone low with sincerity. Emily grew quiet for a moment, and Natalie let the moment pass undisturbed. The other woman seemed burdened, though she bounced back quickly enough. Natalie didn’t pry this time, though she lingered a moment longer in her own pensive contemplation. Emily was perfect, of course, but Natalie was wary of mixing business with true friendship. It felt disingenuous, even if it wasn’t, and she didn't want Emily to feel she had been manipulated.

“The Channeling Consulate has tech to visualise weaves, and I’m sure they could adapt it easily to a basic teaching aid. If not the government, sooner or later someone will roll it out in a handy app – and make millions off it, I’m sure. But Belizna isn’t to compete with that.” Her voice grew softer, though she wasn’t about to say anything that would matter should it be overheard. Rather the softness was a gentle earnestness, the words of someone for whom the stakes were greater than purely business. She’d told Adrian Kane the school wasn’t for financial gain (to his general disdain), which was true of course, but she’d never allowed him to see that it meant something to her. “No tech can replace community.”

She didn’t say any more, not in a busy restaurant, and Natalie was hardly one for saccharine declarations either, whatever she truly felt. Girls sparked young and often in isolation. If they survived, it was to be hunted for what they were. And not just by Atharim. Now that channelers were known to the world, there were already those mobilising exploitation of a new and valuable commodity. She’d seen it. There was protection in a community; not just for the girls they’d teach to save themselves, but for the women who needed somewhere to belong. Strength in numbers they might one day need, for the power held by even a single channeler was terrible in the wrong hands.

She took Rachel’s contact with a nod, then for once was taken off guard by a modicum of surprise when Emily produced the gift. “Fuck,” she muttered, unapologetic for the bad language in such an opulent setting. Despite her refined accent, she rarely bowed to those sorts of conventions. “Is it that close to Christmas already?” Absent-mindedness was not in her nature; rather, it was more that tradition was so low in her priorities. She couldn’t recall the last Christmas she’d celebrated – it was usually a time for avoiding the overtures of her familial obligations, and usually spent alone. Beneath the perfect veneer the Northbrooks had been in shambles ever since her father’s betrayal and incarceration, at least as far as Natalie was concerned. She could act with the best of them, but she wouldn’t pretend at lies.

“By which I mean thank you, obviously.” She glanced up with a warm smirk. “Should I open it now?”

[Emily Shale-Vanders]

”No tech can replace community.”

Natalie’s words echoed in Emily’s mind. Shale’s crowing achievement was Wallet technology. Shale could give up all other endeavors and live off of the profit from the Wallet. Everyone had one, and they continued to improve upon it. Emily had inherited it. The Wallet was what had made her wealthy, but Emily had said it when she has interviewed for her job before the entire company fell into her lap. Technology should be used to bring people together and not keep them apart. It was something she strived for. With that thought, Emily could see Belizna for what it could be; a community of women channelers, working together to learn, confide in, and protect one another. Emily could see it, and the image made her eyes sparkle a bit as her lips curved into a small smile.

Natalie’s response to her gift made Emily laugh a bit. Her expletive had caused some to look their way. Emily ignored them. They’d scoff and then say worse things in the privacy of their limousines later. Emily was a part of the upper crust, but she knew most of them wore fake smiles. Emily much preferred Natalie’s genuine nature. ”Yes, Christmas is right around the corner.” Emily smiled, but knew Christmas probably hadn’t been in her radar. Christmas was usually a family affair, and Emily was aware of Natalie’s familial issues. ”I would love for you to open it now.” Emily hoped Natalie liked it. It really had made her think of her friend, and Emily’s gift had certainly come from the heart.