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Meeting Lilah Morgan (open to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
freelilah)
There were worse ways to pass one's time than to open up business negotations with a woman of mystery. Sloane had dealings with Wolfram and Hart before, mostly concerned with the Credit Dauphine cover for SD-6, but he himself, as a private person, had never been a client. Huge and ruthless organisations he could not control were not exactly trustworthy.
On the other hand, any lawyer serving for Wolfram and Hart would know their business, or would be dead. Lilah Morgan appeared to be very much alive, and rather intriguingly not listed as a lawyer acting in any current case, something which he had checked out, using the APO access to the relevant databases without hesitation. She had been head of the Los Angeles special projects department, as she had mentioned, but no activity was listed since. All of which opened up a can of interesting possibilities.
Arvin Sloane had no intention of telling a stranger just what he had in mind, but he decided some preliminary dealings, perhaps involving some of his less traceable bank accounts from his time with OmniFam, would be a good way to find out whether Lilah Morgan was the right person for what he privately termed "the project".
His pardon agreement banned him from any Rambaldi research, unless, he thought cynically, said research would be to the government's advantage. Well, there were other ways. Nadia's current state was due to a Rambaldi formula Elena had injected her with. It stood to reason that somewhere, in some manuscript by the Master which Sloane had somehow not managed to get hold on so far, there might be a clue for a cure. Of course, he had tapped all resources known to him by now. Except one. Wolfram and Hart was rumoured to have the greatest collection of manuscripts and artifacts known to man. And he needed something - or someone - to open that collection to him.
If Lilah Morgan turned out to be the wrong person, well. Then he would still have spent some hopefully agreeable hours dining at Orris with what a vague memory told him was an attractive brunette, and what her comments so far had shown to be an intelligent woman.
There were, indeed, worse ways to spend one's time.
On the other hand, any lawyer serving for Wolfram and Hart would know their business, or would be dead. Lilah Morgan appeared to be very much alive, and rather intriguingly not listed as a lawyer acting in any current case, something which he had checked out, using the APO access to the relevant databases without hesitation. She had been head of the Los Angeles special projects department, as she had mentioned, but no activity was listed since. All of which opened up a can of interesting possibilities.
Arvin Sloane had no intention of telling a stranger just what he had in mind, but he decided some preliminary dealings, perhaps involving some of his less traceable bank accounts from his time with OmniFam, would be a good way to find out whether Lilah Morgan was the right person for what he privately termed "the project".
His pardon agreement banned him from any Rambaldi research, unless, he thought cynically, said research would be to the government's advantage. Well, there were other ways. Nadia's current state was due to a Rambaldi formula Elena had injected her with. It stood to reason that somewhere, in some manuscript by the Master which Sloane had somehow not managed to get hold on so far, there might be a clue for a cure. Of course, he had tapped all resources known to him by now. Except one. Wolfram and Hart was rumoured to have the greatest collection of manuscripts and artifacts known to man. And he needed something - or someone - to open that collection to him.
If Lilah Morgan turned out to be the wrong person, well. Then he would still have spent some hopefully agreeable hours dining at Orris with what a vague memory told him was an attractive brunette, and what her comments so far had shown to be an intelligent woman.
There were, indeed, worse ways to spend one's time.
no subject
"Whose cynicsm isn't?"
he replies, equally lightly. "I dare say my own was forged by them as well. I did have that dreadfully cliché moment when I looked up, surrounded by subtropical climate and a lot of dead bodies, and wondered what the hell I was doing there."
Which of course implies he served in Vietnam as well, and that it happened there. While Sloane was occasionally in Vietnam, it was never as a soldier, and he actually associates the place with one of his fondest memories; toasting Sydney's birth together with Jack. Still, his statement is as true as hers was. He had his series of moments like that, and usually in subtropical climates, whether in South America or Indochina, as that was where the CIA was working at the time.
"But they definitely did not lead me to join the peace movement,"
he says and smiles at her. Not that he hadn't wanted to achieve world peace at one time. But in a very different way, and the fact that Nadia was paying the price for what Elena had turned that way into ate at him day and night. Still, no thoughts of a Rambaldi formula added to the water of many of the word's cities can be read from his pleasant, ironic expression.
"I'm afraid I rather came to the mundane conclusion that the rewards of patriotism were too one sided for me."
Also true as far as it went. Getting into business for himself was one of the conclusions he had arrived at, but he also had known that this alone wouldn't satisfy. Arvin Sloane has always needed something to believe in. It was one of the differences between him and Jack Bristow, whose own disillusionment had not led to any of the same results.
The main course arrives, and the waiter asks Lilah whether she wishes to change her drink of choice.
no subject
She notices, again, the many things that he fails to say, along with the few that he does.
Regarding patriotism, she adds, "Like all forms of loyalty, it does tend to reward those to whom the loyalty is given."
At the waitress's question, Lilah considers. She remembers the old adage, "Beer then liquor. . ." Not a good thing. But in her current state, she is more or less immune to the harmful affects of alcohol. And it might loosen Sloane's tongue.
"Not now, but perhaps after dinner. . ." She looks at Sloane. "A thirty-year Scotch. Lagavulin." Not because it's Wesley's brand. Because it makes a good impression. "And two glasses?" She casts a questioning eye at Sloane, then wishes she hadn't. He wouldn't have asked for her approval.
no subject
Her questioning glance is of course a good thing in the matter of power balance, but there is no reason to fill self-satisfied. Complacency gets you killed.
"By all means,"
Sloane says regarding her suggestion of two glasses and Lagavulin, which is an excellent brand indeed, and, once the waitress is gone, says, casually:
"I envy you then. Losing those one cares about in wars that do affect one, especially when they choose to sacrifice themselves for the other side, is even more galling."
He's willing to bet that this is true for Lilah Morgan as well as for him. Sacrifice, of course, has not to mean sacrifice through death. It can be through life, lived and given and devoted to where it shouldn't be.
"Though as in all matters... it probably depends on your point of view,"
he finishes benignenly, and starts the main course.
no subject
Except that now Sloane is hinting at the misfortune occasioned by caring for someone on the other side of the battle lines. She imagines there is a story there, but honestly, it has nothing to do with her. The tendency of her most special projects to gravitate toward (or back toward) Team Angel, notwithstanding.
She begins the main course and takes no hurry to respond. "My war stories," she finally says, "are of course, more of the metaphorical sort. I've never spent any time in the jungle, except as a tourist. Still, I dare to say I have a tale to match any of yours."
Sloane can either take this invitation as a challenge to a battle of tall tales, or an opportunity to spill a bit of truth. Either way Lilah is game. She looks at him, expectantly, and this time, she doesn't defer or offer to go first.
no subject
Sloane replies, and decides that some truth is in order. Not truth about himself directly, though Lilah will be able to draw some conclusions from what he's going to say, if she's as intelligent and resourceful as he thinks she is.
"Once you have seen your best friend self destruct because he was made a fool of by the woman he loved who happened to work for the other side, there isn't much that would surprise you in the ways of human melodrama. Well. Except for a man learning those lessons too well."
Sloane rather doubts Jack thinks of his years at SD-6, spying on Sloane for the CIA, as doing the same thing Irina did when posing as Laura Bristow, but then, Jack has a selective point of view when it comes to those things. In any case, Lilah probably has enough hints for now to deduce he is, or used to be, connected to intelligence.
It will be interesting to see if she comes up with a bit of truth herself in return, or an imaginative lie. He flatters himself that he will be able to tell.
As opposed to Jack Bristow, Arvin Sloane has know that he was lied to for years.
no subject
Too many movies, Morgan. Sloane's comment, in fact, hints at something more interesting.
"Of course, Mr. Sloane," she says smoothly. "In a great game such as international finance -- one might say that a man fool enough to fall in love deserves what he gets. An impressive story, but I can indeed top that." She polishes off the last of the Riesling and says, pointedly casual. "I've been the woman. At least," she smiles, "If you ask his friends."
no subject
Of course, like Irina, she could be both.
"And did he learn his lessons too well, my dear?"
he asks softly, leaning back while the waiter, having noticed the Riesling was gone, approaches with the Scotch and new glasses.
no subject
"Absolutely. He became a cautionary tale for idealistic men who fall for the wrong kind of women. Although --" She absently runs a finger across the rim of her glass, pulling a whistling sound from the crystal. "I'm starting to believe it's still a work in progress."
no subject
After the toast, the waitress approaches and asks whether they want desert. Sloane tells her to wait a bit, and as she withdraws, he says:
"This reminds me. Naturally, your efforts on my behalf will ensure a financial compensation" - he has included a suggestion for the salary she'd earn as his lawyer among the names, dates and accounts he gave her earlier; it's generous, though not extravagant - "but I think there should be more in the ways of deserts."
Especially if she gives him the Burkles as a way to use counterpressure on Peyton. Even more so if their first dealings work out and they get to the stage where she'll help him procure the Wolfram & Hart Rambaldi artifacts. He reaches in his jacket and pulls out two tickets for
Madama Butterfly. They had originally been planned as a gift for Sydney and Jack, but that had been before Sydney went missing, and ensuing unfortunate events. Giving them to Lilah Morgan after what she had said added an originally unintended but not unsuitable subtext. It was, after all, the story of a woman falling for the wrong kind of man.
"Admittedly it's not La Scala, but then, you'll have a shorter way back home," Sloane says, giving her the tickets.
She can take her work in progress along, unless they're both less than enthusiastic about opera. For a moment, he recalls taking Nadia to see Norma last year, and her joy in it, despite the awkwardness between them; then he surpresses the memory and concentrates on the brunette sitting opposite of him.
no subject
Something about being dead has increased her appreciation for "The Four Quartets." Probably not a preference that bears too much analysis.
As for the possibilities of this meeting, though -- Lilah is ready to file it as a success, once he offers her the opera tickets. "Thank you. It's been much too long since I've attended the opera."
Wesley, she thinks, might accept the invitation, but she'll have to see how their next meeting goes. Besides, he seems most suspicious of her when she offers gifts. There is also that intriguing Bruce Wayne character, who seems to be able to buy anything he wants, and thus might be amused by a woman making the offer. And then, the little artist, the Fisher girl. . .
Yes, so many possibilities. Including selling them for ready cash.
"Now." She looks at the dessert menu. "I believe the chocolate torte was actually described as 'sinful', and I must confess, that is very much my weakness." Sin, chocolate, whatever. She'll allow the man to draw his own conclusions.