Meeting Lilah Morgan (open to freelilah)

[a_sloane]

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.

Comments

[freelilah.livejournal.com]

Sloane's reply takes Lilah aback for a moment -- though she hopes she doesn't show it -- because she had been expecting a literal jungle story. It takes her a moment to readjust, so she first imagines some absurd melodrama about a lovely village girl by day, Viet Cong commando by night --

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."

[a-sloane.livejournal.com]

Sloane is amused by the Kipling reference, which proves Lilah came to the right conclusion, and intrigued by the rest. Especially since, based on her earlier comments about senseless wars, she doesn't strike him so much as the type to fool idealists as the type falling for some against her will.

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.

[freelilah.livejournal.com]

Lilah would not normally describe Wesley Wyndam-Pryce as a man who had fallen in love with her and, if she was honest, she wasn't really sure who had played whom for the fool. But through this mask of semi-disguise, she can say coolly,

"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."

[a-sloane.livejournal.com]

"To works in progress," Sloane says, raising his glass to her. "Personally, I always found finished masterpieces leave one feeling somewhat hollow."

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.

[freelilah.livejournal.com]

"Ah yes. Bringing a task to its conclusion may have a certain satisfaction, but then, in a way, completion eliminates other possibilities." And because every junior high student of literature could speculate on 'the road not taken,' she adds, "Footfalls echo in the memory, Down the passage which we did not take,Towards the door we never opened."

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.