The Right Kind of Place (Cassiel)

"Get rid of them or get rid of them?" Cass pinched the bridge of her nose. "I wouldn't actually go out of my way to physically hurt them."

She shrugged.

"Then don't. Hurt them, I mean. Run them off, ostracize them from the Roses, make them want to be and go somewhere else. This is your family, Cassiel, and you shouldn't have to go and do something that you don't want to do because a couple of snotty, narcissistic bitches think that they're better than you."

Cass didn't understand, and it showed in her expression. They were better than her. That's what she was always taught. That's what Jennica had always beat into her. That she wasn't really a Toreador and wouldn't become anything.

But she was trying to go with what Rai was saying, she was.

"Run them off," she nodded. "Okay."

She smiled.

"I'll help you any way that I can, too. Between us, we have enough support here that it won't be that hard, really. They do most of it themselves already."

She nodded and took another drink.

"If they do it mostly by themselves, then I shouldn't have to nudge it along. Honestly, I shouldn't nudge Areron, anyway."

Her brow rose.

"Why not?"

"In case she decides to call in that boon."

"So trade it to me."

"Wait, she owns the boon... How do I trade it to you?"

"I have more status than the two of you combined. Chances are high that if she's asked the right way, she'd rather hold the boon over me than over you anyway. At the very least, I can talk to Estaban, have him talk to her about it."

"I don't want you to owe her, Rai," she shook her head. Because Areron had done enough to her already.

She shook her head.

"Are you kidding me? Areron and I have a very different relationship than she has with you. There's less... hostility... from her toward me."

"Yeah, she said that everything between you guys was great," she nodded. "If she'll go for it, I guess it couldn't hurt. But I doubt she will."

She tilted her head and smiled.

"I have an ace up my sleeve if she doesn't."

"Aces are nice," she smiled a little. "Have any to spare that could be put up my sleeve?"

She smiled.

"You have one."

"I just hope that ace knows how much I appreciate it."

She tilted her head.

"Ask him? He probably does."

"Ask who?"

"Jamie. Nobody in their right mind would turn down a boon over someone of his status and position."

...

"How about I just... take the punishment for mouthing off? It's just a minor..."

This was getting uncomfortable. She didn't want Jamie or Rai owing Areron. This was her own damn fault, after all.

She tilted her head.

"Areron doesn't react to me or to Jamie the way she reacts to you. You see it as a punishment, as something bad. She's not dumb enough to use it in the same way with either Jamie or I the way she will for you. For you, it'll be something ridiculous and terrible. For me or Jamie, it would be something truly minor."

She nodded softly.

"Then it's worth a shot. And in the meantime, I'll keep my distance."

She nodded.

"Anything you need, you know? Just give me a call."

"I will. I promise," she nodded again.