Two isn't too many cooks, is it?

[hellfire_child]

Alistaire had invited Stephanie out for lunch. The people he paid to keep him informed had brought some very interesting patterns in Shaw Industries' activities of late to his attention. If she was up to what he thought she was, he wanted to play in her sandbox.

"Auntie, you look lovely. You seem healthier. Zumba? Hot yoga?"

Comments

[pyroprincess]

Stephanie thought about it for a moment, what Shinobi could smear her with. The whole Brooke thing was sillier than anything, and anyways, the gossip news cycle would soon be occupied by her getting back together with Marcelo. Her dealings in business and academia were notable only for her tirelessness and impressive accomplishment. She didn't have the power in Shaw Industries yet to affect any dramatic business decisions by herself.

She took out a piece of paper and wrote a single word, which she drew their attentions to. It was virtually impossible for anyone who wasn't sitting at the table to see, and at least one of them would have noticed anyone caring to look. After a second or two, she took it away and crumpled it up neatly.

"Mutants."

[hellfire_child]

"Well then..." Alistaire says simply, sipping his drink. "That's quite the message to get ahead of."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

This did not bode well. Alisa was obviously a mutant or something. But coming out and letting the world know it was all true? It left her unnerved. It was like revealing a secret weapon to the world and then having them vote on if you can still play with other countries or face sanctions.

Her unusual eyes looked over to Alistaire, then back over to Stephanie. "Would people believe him if he told de world about dat? Revealing such information could put you both in more jeopardy. It could even lead to company boycotts."

[pyroprincess]

"Perhaps not immediately, but trust me when I say that it would come out eventually. The property purchased around 11th Street? That particular area of town is well known." Stephanie took a breath. "You're right, it puts us in a difficult situation. Which is precisely why I think he would use it."

"I for one always figured I would have to divulge it eventually, though I was hoping to do so in a few years, when I had control of the company. Most of Shaw Industries' contracts are long-term ones. I have no doubt there'd be some fallout, but I think it's the social implications that are more vexing."

Stephanie sighed. "Whatever we do, it has to be done properly. Nothing rash or foolish. We want to take control of the narrative, not let the news cycle trample over us."

[hellfire_child]

Alistaire falls quiet for a long minute, eyes shutting and steepling his fingers in thought. His head tilts down, until he finally opens his eyes and looks up again.

"We need to move very carefully, but... people love do-gooders, Auntie. Being in the right place, at the right time... to deal with the wrong caliber of person... It could be quite the social windfall, for someone with the appropriate... talents."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"If you mean me, I can try an' seek out Shinobi an' see what he's up to an' what his plans are." She spoke softly, quietly so only Stephanie and Alistaire could hear her. "I wouldn' mind. Business for me is a bit slow, an' if it 'elps to protect you den I'm more den willin' to t'row my hat into de ring."

[pyroprincess]

"That might be legitimate enough for you, but I think the Board would be more disturbed by certain brands of ... good deeds than by certain revelations." Alistaire's reputation worked well enough for him, but she had an altogether different one, one that necessitated at least the appearance of keeping clean hands.

She nodded, staying calm and collected. "We need to find out what he plans in the long run. Though finding him has never been easy. One thing he knows to do well is hide."

[hellfire_child]

"True enough... and heroism has that nasty side effect of people expecting you to do it again." Alistaire cracks his neck to one side, rubbing at his shoulder. "Can't have that."

Another minute's thought. "There is another power-base besides Shaw Industries we could tap. One that thinks just as little of your brother as we do. I think we have enough pieces to make a fresh start of it." He glances at Alisa's place at his side, quite sure Stephanie will understand his implication. "Shaws have always risen to the top there."

He sits back as he tries to reflect on his father. "He'll make a lot of noise and a lot of slander at first... some of it might even be true. Long run isn't his style. He'll adapt on the fly after he puts each wave of attack into motion. It's almost admirable. Almost."

[pyroprincess]

Stephanie leaned back a little bit, listening to Alistaire. She certainly understood his implication well enough, though she was less than sure of the wisdom of doing so. There were far more powerful and dangerous people than Alistaire who had an interest in keeping the Inner Circle as little more than a memory.

"Just remember that there's more than just Shinobi to consider there, Alistaire. Do remember what happened to my father, your grandfather." Shinobi was an essentially short-term problem. Stephanie was far more concerned about attracting the attention of either Essex or Selene, either of whom, bluntly, were a little above her or her nephew's level. At least for the time being.

"I still suspect all this is likely to be a feint, before he attempts to have us dealt with permanently. That is certainly in his style, after all."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"De calm before de storm, so to speak." She kept her arms folded over her chest, a somewhat annoyed sigh escaping her lips. "I do not like dis. His actions are like dat o' a spoiled child who ain' gettin' his way, not a full blown t'reat. Perhaps dere is a greater t'reat behind all o' dis. He's de bait, an' someone is waitin' to reel you all in wit' a hook. I again urge dat you let me see if dere is more to dis den what we can see. I prefer dat all our bases are covered before any real action be taken."