|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 13, 2021 16:17:32 GMT -8
"That would be because of this fine man. I can be lucky that his family business had actually brought him to Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania."
"Try this. If you aren't allergic to nuts, that is."
"Yah, those are not for me. I wish I could give it a try, though, but any sort of nut would instantly make me raise like one of these pancakes."
"Yes, I think we've had enough medical emergencies for one day," Sophie stated. She accepted the offered serving dish with a subtle shrug in Zemo's direction. Hoping that he would understand she was just being curious and that this wasn't some nefarious, underhanded attempt at interrogation. Fine, the couple's personal information was off the menu, but she was fairly certain Helen hadn't received that memo.
"And that is also delicious," Sophie announced, after trying the dip. "But I can't bring myself to eat the red caviar. I just can't; it's nothing personal." She waved toward a stack of crepes dripping in tiny fish eggs, opting instead to stick with the more conservative options. They carried on eating, keeping the conversation light, until Sophie felt herself full and dabbed at the corners of her mouth with the cloth napkin.
"Well, Helen, I know it must be hard being half a world away from your family and friends," Sophie finally said. "But it looks like you've built an amazing life here. Beautiful home, amazingly efficient butler," she added, laying her hand lightly on Oeznik's arm as he sat beside her. "I'm afraid some of us have not been so fortunate in choosing our partners. And I do regret that that choice has affected your family."
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 14, 2021 5:47:56 GMT -8
Helen (tempplay by DarkSideCookie) "Well, Helen, I know it must be hard being half a world away from your family and friends,""But it looks like you've built an amazing life here. Beautiful home, amazingly efficient butler,""I'm afraid some of us have not been so fortunate in choosing our partners. And I do regret that that choice has affected your family.""Yeah, as much as I miss them, especially my dad, I wouldn't trade this life. I used to visit him a lot, though, but with the more recent circumstances, I've had to wind down a bit." She gave Helmut a look of equal gratitude for his generosity to pay for those flights and silent wishfulness for making him accompany her on those someday in the future. Yet Helen would never force him to it, for she knew that his family business sometimes required his presence at short notice. She just wondered why not her dad could step in for him, especially since their business was, strictly spoken, still his. However, Helen didn't like to argue with her husband. It was exhausting. Not even because of having an argument in the first place, but rather because the only person ending up in one would be her. She swore it was not possible to argue with that man. "Anyways, I hope you could enjoy the breakfast - and don't worry, caviar just isn't for everyone -," Helen stated with a soft smile as she started to get up out of her chair, obvious that this was just as much of a procedure as it would be for their guest with her injured leg, yet for different reasons. "Oh, and let me know if you need more clothes or anything else. I had no chance to ask for your taste, so I hope the dress didn't make you feel uncomfortable. It looks great on you, by the way." "Okay, you two, I'll be going to take a bath," Helen said before finally taking a leave. It was only a second later that Oeznik rose from his chair as well, almost as if he could no longer just sit there once the first person had started to move. With a nod in Zemo's direction, he started taking care of the dishes and, with it, leaving towards the kitchen, still nearby enough in case they would need him. *** Helen and Oeznik leave the dining room ***
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 14, 2021 5:48:43 GMT -8
Once there was only him and their mysterious guest left in the dining room, Zemo moved his head slightly back in her direction, at first saying nothing, but then couldn't help commenting late on one of the former story plots. "So, you got the hunting gene from your Granny. I'm sure she'd be proud of you."
He smirked, especially when she looked rather shocked that he made this joke while their butler was still somewhere around. Instead of reacting to that, though, Zemo slowly raised from his chair as well, yet only to walk closer towards a bowl with sweets being placed on a sideboard, taking his time to pick one from a colorful selection.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 14, 2021 11:19:51 GMT -8
"Oh, and let me know if you need more clothes or anything else. I had no chance to ask for your taste, so I hope the dress didn't make you feel uncomfortable. It looks great on you, by the way."
"That's very kind of you, Helen, thank you." Sophie smiled graciously and remained quiet as their very pregnant dining companion took her leave. She honestly did regret that their young family had now been pulled into this mess, even if she didn't yet know to what degree. Although it could only be bad.
"So, you got the hunting gene from your Granny. I'm sure she'd be proud of you."
"Oh, I thought I'd told you about Grandma Birdie," Sophie replied. "But I suppose it's not one of those details that comes up in everyday conversation in the office." Once she had regained his attention from the candy bowl, she pointed emphatically toward the kitchen where Oeznik was still present, and then to her ear. She knew the conversation that was looming did not need eavesdroppers but frankly, she was tired of play-acting and wanted some real answers.
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 14, 2021 12:08:59 GMT -8
"Oh, I thought I'd told you about Grandma Birdie,""But I suppose it's not one of those details that comes up in everyday conversation in the office."
Zemo smirked in silence, with his attention still turned to the bowl with candy. Not his full attention, of course. A detail that most people misread with him. He was quite good at separating his senses.
He paused for a moment, then unwrapped a pink-colored lokum to put it into his mouth, chewing for one, two, three seconds before, finally, drawing his eyes to Osprey, yet without any sign of intention to react to her words or motioning, first, toward the kitchen and, then, her ear. How cute that she thought he'd really be so incautious to talk like this within earshot of Oeznik, if he really was just a common butler. Well, of course, she couldn't know. He saw not yet a need to clarify that, though.
Wordlessly, Zemo turned to the bowl with candy one more time, picking another one - this time much faster -, then casually threw it in her direction. "Turkish delight," he commented as if this was but a board and lodging for her. Well, they would be having a more serious conversation soon enough.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 14, 2021 14:49:47 GMT -8
"Turkish delight."
Sophie caught the piece of candy he'd tossed her way but gave him only a disappointed frown in return. Laying the candy down on the table, she struggled to get to her feet with far less grace and poise than she'd hoped. The headache was starting to creep back in, along with the post-shooting pain in her leg. She'd have to beg Oeznik for more of those magical pills.
"I think I should go lie back down," she said, maneuvering the crutches to underneath her arms. "When you're ready to be honest with me, even twenty to thirty percent honest, you know where to find me." But before she departed, she reached down to retrieve the piece of Turkish delight from the table. Unfortunately, she had developed a taste for them while being in this country.
*** Sophie exits the Dining Room ***
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 15, 2021 4:16:36 GMT -8
Zemo's eyes were following the movement of the dismissed candy down to the table, then wandering back to its reviler, for a moment an almost disappointed look on his face. Maybe it was not really a look of disappointment, but rather surprise. About her being fed up with him already? No. About her giving voice to that just yet? More likely. "I think I should go lie back down,""When you're ready to be honest with me, even twenty to thirty percent honest, you know where to find me."Funny, she says that, Zemo thought with sudden sternness on his features. He had the impression that, actually, he was giving her a lot more percent of honesty than gotten from her. And yet, he was still willing to help her out of the trouble she found herself in. Granted, she might not have an idea how deep into it that actually was. Only for a short moment, when she reached down to receive the Turkish delight, after all, there came back a slight smirk to his face, this time not even meant to get noticed. Those were simply irresistible. ***
*** A couple of hours later ***
Zemo had been granting her some time to simmer down. Not because he thought she really would have taken it amiss on him that he wasn't exactly throwing words around like he did with candy, but because he knew how unnerving things could be when you got shot in the leg only less than twenty-four hours earlier. Anyways, now it was time to discuss some things, getting a picture of where he had put himself in and, most of all, for whom he was putting himself on the line. She was demanding answers yet not ready to give him anything in return, so he had to find another way to ascertain if this all would be worth it. He decided to use the chance to take her offer from before when Helen decided to take a little nap on the couch. Or maybe not so much a decision for her part, but rather an overpowering by the recent exhaustion. Nothing to worry about, as their doctor had said. Zemo reached out one of his hands to Helen's face and then to her belly, a little movement inside bringing a warm smile to his face, before carefully wriggled himself out of her arm, gently placing it around one of the cushions instead. Then he quietly left from the couch, heading out of the living room. Zemo paused in front of the guestroom door. Not because he felt hesitant to have this conversation, quite the contrary - he was bursting to have that -, but because he wouldn't like to make her startle or even surprise her at an inconvenient moment. He reached out to the door with two fingers bent into a fist-like position and knocked, patiently waiting for an answer.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 15, 2021 4:48:26 GMT -8
Sophie had tried to lie down, prompted by the calming effects of a large breakfast, but her nerves wouldn't let her be. And since she couldn't physically pace the room, she had to settle for doing so mentally. She and her colleagues had no personal communications devices on them when they went into the field -- that would be too risky -- so she was effectively cut off from her team and her country. Were they even making an effort to look for her? Had they assumed her dead? Had her host made any attempt to reach out to the MI-6 liaison? Or would that endanger him and his family even more?
Feeling overwhelmed by her own doubts and fears, it was almost a relief to hear a knock at the door. "Come in!" Sophie called, thinking it was likely the butler checking on her out of routine hospitality.
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 15, 2021 7:28:45 GMT -8
"Come in!", came the answer faster than expected.
Zemo was wasting no time to meet with the invitation. As soon as he had entered through the door, without glancing at his guest yet, he turned back towards it and, after closing it very quietly, locked it, like he had done the evening before. "Precaution," he commented in a taciturn way once facing the blonde woman on his guest couch, appearing rather restless and faint. But Zemo wasn't here to check on her wellbeing, not primarily at least.
He stepped closer into the room, and when she looked like she was going to open her mouth to say something, he just cut her short before words could even come. "You won't give me your name, not yet," Zemo added in a way that gave away how sure he was that, at some point, she would. However, he didn't leave her any time to react while he still moved closer, meeting her by the end of the couch, with only the glass table between them. "As I said before, I accept that." He continued his steps, then stopped next to the table, all the while not breaking eye contact with her. "But I think what you got from me is incommensurate with what I got, which I would say was even less than - what? - three percent?" Zemo explained in a calm yet, for the first time since they have met, demanding tone. Zemo was a sociable guy, but he also could be more persuasive. With his eyes still gazing at her and his features quite harsh, although not looking like he was going to do her harm or something, he seated himself on the edge of the table, in a position that allowed both their faces to meet in one line. And before she could have asked him what he wanted, Zemo already went on with the answer to that. "I want you to look me in the eyes and answer me one question." He paused, starting to study her features so that he would be able to see a difference. "Who are you working for?"
She had already given him that information, same as it was silently given by his commander when they had announced their teams to work together, but things were different now. Zemo had become warier while, at the same time, more determined to help her personally, yet only if she proved herself trustworthy. Zemo's attention was drawn to her every reaction, any slightest hint of movement in her eyes. He had enough experience to tell when somebody was lying. Soldiers might be a lot harder to read, but he had seen truth reflecting in her eyes before, so he would be able to see it again. Sure, he could as well have started to ask her questions about the mission, same as for information about the MI-6, but, just like him, she would have been able to get those from files and people. Soldiers always were prepared, no matter their allegiance. So, his way would be much more efficient.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 15, 2021 8:41:24 GMT -8
"...But I think what you got from me is incommensurate with what I got, which I would say was even less than - what? - three percent? I want you to look me in the eyes and answer me one question. Who are you working for?"
Sophie uttered a short laugh, taken aback by the question. "MI-6, British Secret Service," she answered without pause. But there was no longer amusement or even annoyance in his features. No, the gracious host had been fully replaced by the soldier. She had been the one to insist on this transformation, so now she would have to face it. There was a storm in those dark hazel eyes, and it was headed straight for her.
"Zemo, what's wrong?" Sophie asked gently. "Have you heard anything from your commanding officer or...or the Joint Terrorism Task Force?"
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 15, 2021 11:55:11 GMT -8
"MI-6, British Secret Service,"
And there it was: that little spark of truth in her eyes he'd been hoping to see. A truth one tried to hold back, yet only to protect their own or, probably even more likely, the lives of their beloved. The mistake of trusting the wrong person could mean harm or even death to those a soldier was attached to, especially emotionally. That was the main reason why a lot of soldiers weren't married or had children even. Zemo could relate, and he had once accepted that to be his fate as well, before, one day, a mission had sent him to Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, United States, causing him to question all of his principles. And yet, never would he trade this life for the loneliness he had felt before or the mere thought of not being with the woman he loved, even if it meant to lie to Helen for the rest of it. But people had to be protected, especially those he was emotionally attached to, for it was them who could be getting in the eye of the enemy. It was not anymore about his own family, but also hers, even primarily.
Zemo eyed her for some more moments, although his features had started to ease at least a bit. The storm in his eyes was no longer aimed at her, but instead at the difficulty that would be ahead of them; both of them, as one team. He couldn't say if this would turn out as one of the mentioned mistakes a soldier always had to fear, but the small percentage he got from her was, now, enough for him to come to a decision, after all.
"Zemo, what's wrong?""Have you heard anything from your commanding officer or...or the Joint Terrorism Task Force?"
Without any more hesitation, he came out with the information. "They had convened an emergency meeting this morning," Zemo started as he backed away from her a bit, only so much so that she would no longer feel like this was an interrogation, for, now, it was a briefing. "Nobody had seen or heard back from you - we know why of course - so they started to make conclusions; that you could be the mole. I'm sorry," he added with his gaze lowering to the folded hands in his lap. He really was. But he also wanted her to know that he was on her side. "Every name can be cleared, though," Zemo finally added, looking back up at her with a nod of assurance before she even could have questioned him what he thought, although his next words were making that very clear. "I can help you. If you let me." With the last line, there also was a hidden message in his voice and eyes that she would have to let him in, as well. At least, a bit.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 15, 2021 15:59:50 GMT -8
"They had convened an emergency meeting this morning. Nobody had seen or heard back from you - we know why of course - so they started to make conclusions; that you could be the mole. I'm sorry."
"What?!" Sophie gasped. She had nearly died and now she was being accused of treason, of actively subverting the months-long effort to take down a psychopath. She felt like she'd been punched in the stomach on top of everything. The room was spinning, the floor seemed to have fallen out of her reality, until his voice again stretched out like a lifeline.
"Every name can be cleared, though. I can help you. If you let me."
Sophie recollected her bearings and gave him an astonished look. "No. No, Zemo, I can't let you do that," she proclaimed, shaking her head insistently. "Why would they do this? Do they... do they even have any proof? Communications, material support, financial transactions?" she rattled off, grasping for solutions to a problem that she didn't even fully understand yet. "I mean, they would have nothing, because there is nothing. I would never, ever associate with a monster like Nasim al Zarif. I... I would never willingly put my team in danger. Ever. You have to believe that."
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 16, 2021 4:38:09 GMT -8
"No. No, Zemo, I can't let you do that,"
Zemo was just going to say something in return when, suddenly, she started to panic, maybe not yet loud and alarming, but he knew how quick people could work themself up into that. And someone panicking really was the last thing he needed to deal with right now.
"Why would they do this? Do they... do they even have any proof? Communications, material support, financial transactions?"
"Pshh," Zemo tried to make her lower her voice before he would be ready to give her answers to all her questions, yet she wouldn't let him, as she went on rattling off all her thoughts and worries at once. Okay, that wasn't helpful, but understandable.
"I mean, they would have nothing, because there is nothing. I would never, ever associate with a monster like Nasim al Zarif. I... I would never willingly put my team in danger. Ever. You have to believe that."
Then, at some point, he saw no other chance to get a word in himself than by placing a hand on her mouth, not forcefully but rather to make up for his former failed try of silencing her. "You need to calm, okay?" He paused to give her time to take some breaths and taking his advice.
"I believe you," he then added almost placidly while taking his hand away from her, taking back on a more casual posture. Zemo could tell that her reaction had been real. Only a really hard-boiled soldier would be able to play it like that, and the woman in front of him didn't appear to him like such, with no offense intended. Sure, there always was a chance to be at fault, but, for some reason, Zemo thought he was right here. He actually wanted to trust her. And he needed her to trust him, as well. "There's no proof. No communications. No material support. No transactions," he replied each of her former questions in one go. "But we probably both know how nasty things can become once people start the digging. The little cash transfer for your nephew's eighteen's birthday so that his parents can afford his first car suddenly gets presented as suspected money laundering. And by looking at your loyal team members, I'd guess that none of them would enter an objection, or they might have done so already. Sorry, but - you know - for most of us it's easier to just sit there and listen, taking no risk." But that was not how he functioned. Taking risks meant to advocate and to live by a codex. Well, by now, Zemo was too deep into it already anyway. "I really think my help is indispensable."
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 16, 2021 5:40:27 GMT -8
As startling as his fingers on her lips may have been, it was an effective way to still her voice and her thoughts, which were like a train that had left the station and was just starting to gain speed.
"You need to calm, okay? I believe you."
Sophie nodded in agreement, but being calm was going to be a stretch. She listened in a still-shocked silence as Zemo allayed some of her fears but raised others. Had none of her colleagues spoken in her defense? Did they actually doubt her allegiance, or were they just following the path of least resistance? Had she somehow become a scapegoat for an intelligence failure that could blossom into an international crisis? She was in so far over her head and feeling very alone.
"...Sorry, but - you know - for most of us it's easier to just sit there and listen, taking no risk. I really think my help is indispensable."
She studied Zemo's face again, unsure why he was willing to make this sacrifice on her behalf. But if he was going to make the leap, he would not be doing it alone. "Sophie," she uttered quietly. "My real name is Sophie Briggs. If you're going to clear it, you should probably know it, right?" She followed her confession with a small smile, having laid down on the table what might be the first of many securely-held cards.
"So, um, what do we do? Where do we start?" she asked. "I doubt I can tell you much more about Zarif than you already learned in briefings."
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 16, 2021 8:36:45 GMT -8
"Sophie,""My real name is Sophie Briggs. If you're going to clear it, you should probably know it, right?"
For a moment, an expression of surprise was flitting across his face. He hadn't awaited to get a name just yet but appreciated that she started to open up, as well. And admittedly, it made things a lot easier indeed. "Well, hello, Sophie," Zemo replied with a nod and a slight smile of his own.
"So, um, what do we do? Where do we start?""I doubt I can tell you much more about Zarif than you already learned in briefings."
And then he went on with what she probably already had learned to hate about him: messing with the flow of conversation. "With your leg," Zemo said as he turned his attention away from her and instead towards the first-aid set he had carried with him when he entered, and had placed on the table next to him before they had started to have this little briefing. He already started fishing out some bandaging material, then looked back at Sophie expectantly. "Mind me if I take another look?" That was, of course, supposed to mean please ruck up the dress a little so I can, because I won't be doing that myself.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 16, 2021 9:55:27 GMT -8
"With your leg. Mind me if I take another look?"
"Oh, right, that," Sophie recalled. The hypothetical but serious injury to her reputation had nearly eclipsed the serious injury to her physical self. She pulled up the hem of the dress so that he would have easy access to clean the wound and change the bandages. And since she wanted to take her focus off what was going to be a bloody and painful business, she tried to keep her eyes forward and her mind engaged in thinking out loud.
"Zarif isn't likely to stay in Sokovia long, now that we've flushed him out," Sophie began. "He'll head north, maybe to Poland or Germany, and try to find a boat back to England. There's no guarantee he won't leave a trail of bodies behind, though. His time with the Islamic State -- that was just an excuse to be as sadistic as he wanted without consequence. He's hardly an observant Muslim. Drinks alcohol and makes a habit of sleeping with women who aren't his wife. But I'm sure you wouldn't know anywhere in Novi Grad where he could enjoy that sort of thing," she prompted, raising an expectant eyebrow.
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 16, 2021 15:00:12 GMT -8
Zemo listened to her sharing of information and conjectures while taking care of her wound. At her last words, however, he suddenly paused, looking up at her with a little bit of perplexion on his face.
"Well, as you said," Zemo then started with a suppressed smirk, "he isn't likely to stay in Sokovia long, so why bothering to think of places around here," using her former statement to not having to answer her question, one that wasn't even exactly asked in a question-like way, keeping it a mystery if he might or might not have come across such places. He surely hasn't while being with Helen. Men who did that were pathetic in his eyes. He used the moment of that silence following his words to focus back on the changing of her bandage instead of allowing this to become awkward. It didn't look like there was an infection, but it would still need a while for her to fully recover, so he definitely would have to take care of things with Zarif himself. To be honest, that was even what he preferred. Not because he wouldn't give her credit for cutting a good figure on the battlefield, but because his method of doing things his own way, disregarding one or two commands and, now and then, also the usual procedure a regular soldier should stick to if needed. It was better to deal with potential consequences from his actions all by himself, without getting anyone else into trouble. Sophie was in enough of that already anyway.
"So, that sounds like at least a bit more to me. I shall be able to work with that," Zemo eventually spoke up again, alluding to her former statement of not being able to give him much more than what they had already learned from briefings. Conjectures were good enough to work with, something to start from. This time, though, he waived a specification in percentage as tempting as it was. After having finished her bandage, Zemo placed a hand on her forehead to check if she came up with a fever. She felt a bit warm yet nothing to worry about, more like a side effect of the natural healing process.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 16, 2021 16:59:05 GMT -8
"Well, as you said, he isn't likely to stay in Sokovia long, so why bothering to think of places around here."
"Uh-huh," Sophie remarked, her tone free of judgment. "Good to know you were a monk before you were married."
"So, that sounds like at least a bit more to me. I shall be able to work with that."
"Okay. If anything else comes to mind, I'll let you know," she asserted. "I just wish there was more I could do." She retreated slightly at the cooling sensation of his hand on her forehead but since his expression seemed to stay in that resolved frown, she figured it was nothing to be worried about. "By the way, Zemo, what is it your wife thinks I do? At our shared office?" Sophie inquired. "We did agree on twenty to thirty percent honesty...."
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 17, 2021 4:01:59 GMT -8
"By the way, Zemo, what is it your wife thinks I do? At our shared office?""We did agree on twenty to thirty percent honesty...."
Zemo paused again, wondering in silent amusement. How come that he had missed such an agreement? Then he turned serious again, carefully covering the new dressing around her leg back with the fabric of his wife's dress. He really hoped that, next time, Helen would pick something less fraught with memories. It was a little bit disconcerting.
"Just some boring family business," he replied her question with nonchalance, then added more, realizing that probably hadn't met their agreement of, at least, twenty percent. "Mineral and raw-material exports. Copper, fluorspar, iron ore. I haven't specified your department, so guess that makes about ten percent artistic freedom if you want," Zemo added with a smirk.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 17, 2021 13:29:05 GMT -8
"Just some boring family business. Mineral and raw-material exports. Copper, fluorspar, iron ore. I haven't specified your department, so guess that makes about ten percent artistic freedom if you want."
"I shall be able to work with that," Sophie said, echoing his own words of summation. She would have to keep the details vague, of course, but she had a sense that Zemo's wife was not that interested in the so-called 'boring family business' and the butler seemed far too polite to push if she wasn't feeling talkative.
She sensed this meeting was coming to a close, given that her wound was taken care of and she'd shared all the information she had that she considered helpful. "Just one more thing," she added before he could depart. "When you find the bastard, do give him my regards."
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 18, 2021 7:28:30 GMT -8
"Just one more thing," Zemo turned his head back around to her, indeed looking like he had been about to leave already. "When you find the bastard, do give him my regards."He gave her a slight nod. Whenever it came to things like this, going after somebody who would be better off dead, there was no more sign of joking on his features, but instead, a grim determination that made clear he was a man who never left his work unfinished. Then, after all, his features were softening back to those of the man he was as well. The social baron with a sense of humor. "Oh, and Sophie? You also do me a favor, please." He let a short pause following his words before adding with a sweeping gesture: "Don't kill my servants while I'm gone." Only when Zemo started to make his exit towards the door, a slight smirk was showing through. Of course, had he heard about it from Oeznik, and it had greatly amused him.
*** Zemo exits the guest room ***
Once outside the door, his features hardened back again; not only because of the mission ahead, but because of yet another lie that he had to give to his wife. ***
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 21, 2021 19:20:23 GMT -8
*** A Couple of Hours Later *** Much as she'd done earlier that day, Sophie couldn't keep herself from mentally pacing. She would soon grow weary of these four walls in which to concoct worst-case scenarios so she might as well hobble to some other environs of this same floor. She already knew about the dining room and the kitchen, but there was likely also a study or lounge. Maybe even a library. Probably best to stay away from the front room with its large, inviting windows, though. As she ventured from the guest room, her attention was drawn back to the kitchen by the sound (and the aroma) of activity. Sophie rounded the corner, still a bit clumsily, and saw Helen busily hovering near the stove. The woman was happily absorbed in tending to the array of pots and sauce pans that were bubbling and boiling away. Enjoying the domestic satisfaction of preparing a meal for her family. Sophie felt a pang of guilt but reasoned that she was worrying enough about the absent Mr. Zemo for the both of them. "Hi, sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," Sophie said, announcing her presence as she made her way to one of the kitchen counters. "It's just, if I sit in that room alone, I'm afraid I might go mad, so... is there anything I can do to help? Your husband would never let me hear the end of it if I sat idly by and let a very pregnant woman do all the work."
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 23, 2021 13:20:30 GMT -8
Helen (tempplay by DarkSideCookie) With the preparation of their dinner already well underway, Helen eventually wondered if she should have asked their guest about any dislikes in taste or even intolerances. At least, she hadn't said so when Helen talked about her nut allergy. Was it weird to think that one would have brought it up, though? Not everyone was as chatty as herself, right? On the other hand, Helen had a feeling that they would get on well together. Also, it was nice to finally catch a glimpse of the mysterious picture Helmut always painted when it came to his family business. She shook her head in slight amusement. The little he had told her about it wasn't sounding so mysterious to her, after all. Rather boring. To be totally honest, she didn't even remember what exactly they were exporting. But she wouldn't say so to her husband, of course. "Hi, sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," suddenly, a female voice broke into her thoughts, making her turn around from the stove. "It's just, if I sit in that room alone, I'm afraid I might go mad, so... is there anything I can do to help? Your husband would never let me hear the end of it if I sat idly by and let a very pregnant woman do all the work.""Oh, no problem at all," Helen replied right away in her usual enthusiastic way, already searching for something around her that she could need help with. Most people probably would turn down the help from an injured guest, but she totally could relate to the feeling of being no help when around strangers, in a huge house like theirs, at that. Besides, she was very pregnant indeed. She might not be someone who asked for help a lot but appreciated it when offered. It didn't take long until Helen found something that hadn't gotten cut into cubes yet. "And no worries, that feeling's mutual. Helmut often leaves for days, sometimes even weeks - that's fine by me in general -, but I still didn't get used to being all alone in this house. I'm glad when Oeznik is around, at least. So, your company doesn't bother me at all. Quite the contrary." And here she went chatty again. "Er, sorry," she chuckled as she placed some vegetables, along with a carving board and a knife, on the kitchen counter in front of birdie. "Guess my tongue tries to catch up on things with someone else around now." Oeznik was not tight-lipped, yet not her class of age which made it difficult for her to find a thread. And that had to mean something coming from her. "But it's actually nice to have some female support for once."
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 24, 2021 15:27:52 GMT -8
"And no worries, that feeling's mutual. Helmut often leaves for days, sometimes even weeks - that's fine by me in general -, but I still didn't get used to being all alone in this house. I'm glad when Oeznik is around, at least. So, your company doesn't bother me at all. Quite the contrary. Er, sorry. Guess my tongue tries to catch up on things with someone else around now. But it's actually nice to have some female support for once."
"Well, I'm glad to be of help in whatever way I can," Sophie asserted with a warm smile. What was that saying about opposites attracting? It seemed for every two words she could extract from Zemo, she would easily get ten or more from his wife. It was a kindness she would have to do her best not to take advantage of, despite her burning curiosity.
She situated herself in one chair and rested her damaged leg in another beside it, and set about her very important task of slicing potatoes. "I admit, I knew very little about Sokovia before I came here. Probably couldn't even find it on a map when the bosses talked about setting up shop here," Sophie confided. "And coming from the States as you did, I'm guessing it was a massive culture shock. The Zemo family seems to have rather deep roots here...." This house, this lifestyle from what she could tell, seemed far more old money than nouveau riche.
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 26, 2021 17:09:25 GMT -8
Helen (tempplay by DarkSideCookie) "I admit, I knew very little about Sokovia before I came here. Probably couldn't even find it on a map when the bosses talked about setting up shop here,""And coming from the States as you did, I'm guessing it was a massive culture shock. The Zemo family seems to have rather deep roots here....""Yah, I know," Helen agreed with a nod of her head as she turned from her task at the stove to face her conversational partner. She was used to doing multiple things at the same time, just as she was used to talking about multiple topics in only one or two sentences; although it was rare for her to undercut the minimum of at least three sentences in general. "Sokovia isn't exactly a place you would think of as a place to grow old," she chuckled. "And yet, here I am. Having more than I'd ever dared to dream of. I don't mean his family's wealth - that's just a really nice bonus -; Actually, I had no idea of that before I'd seen it myself. Usually, people would brag about it, but he never did. I didn't ask, so he didn't tell. Yah, you always gotta ask to get actual information about him." Helen shook her head in slight amusement before suddenly realizing that, yet again, she went on talking and talking. "But you probably know that already. Or how long are you working together? He isn't really talking a lot about the job, you know."
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 27, 2021 4:39:17 GMT -8
"...I didn't ask, so he didn't tell. Yah, you always gotta ask to get actual information about him. But you probably know that already. Or how long are you working together? He isn't really talking a lot about the job, you know."
"Oh, just a couple months, really. Though I do get the sense he's very ... economical with his words," Sophie observed as she continued her chopping chore. "Which means when he does speak up, it must be rather important. No one else matched his expertise on all things Sokovian. I was quite flattered that he voluntarily chose to work with my team."
Here she was blurring the lines between the boardroom and the battlefield, unintentionally. Because she still didn't understand that choice and highly doubted if she would have the courage to do the same.
"Then again, I suppose it's a win-win for all involved. The UK gets access to a superior product -- your iron ore -- for refining and distributing to our customers, and your country gets thousands of new jobs and a sound investment in its infrastructure. I'm so sorry, I can see your eyes glazing over," Sophie said in apology. "Zemo told you I was a hit at parties, right?" If she overloaded Helen on the boring business stuff, at least as much as she could conjure from thin air, the woman would be less likely to continue asking about it. Which could clear the way for Sophie to ask about the actually interesting topics. "What was your first date like? With this human enigma?" she prompted with an encouraging grin.
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on May 30, 2021 9:35:58 GMT -8
Helen (tempplay by DarkSideCookie) "Oh, just a couple months, really. Though I do get the sense he's very ... economical with his words,""Which means when he does speak up, it must be rather important. No one else matched his expertise on all things Sokovian. I was quite flattered that he voluntarily chose to work with my team.""Economical, hah, that's good. And, really, so on point," Helen chuckled at birdie's choice of words regarding her husband's habit of keeping things to himself, yet without being unwilled to share them in the first place. It sounded like, even though they weren't working with each other for too long yet, this woman had analyzed him quite well already. "Then again, I suppose it's a win-win for all involved. The UK gets access to a superior product -- your iron ore -- for refining and distributing to our customers, and your country gets thousands of new jobs and a sound investment in its infrastructure. I'm so sorry, I can see your eyes glazing over,""Zemo told you I was a hit at parties, right?""Hm-m... What? Oh, no no, it's fine," Helen replied with a shake of her head, although she would be lying if she said that details about his family business were exactly what interested her a lot. She wouldn't state that, of course, not even towards Helmut. And here she probably could be lucky for his economic way with words. She chuckled again in amusement about that, this time only inwardly, but then tried to focus back on their conversation. Helen didn't want to give birdie the feeling that she couldn't talk about everything with her, and yet again, would she by lying if she said she wasn't glad when their guest changed the topic, after all. "What was your first date like? With this human enigma?"At that, Helen's chuckling became outwardly again. She hadn't been expecting this kind of topic but, being totally honest, it was much more to her liking or rather her nature. With her head slightly tilted back, she paused the stirring for a moment. "Well, we didn't exactly start off in this conventional way of going on dates. Wait - this sounds a bit wrong," she chuckled again as she raised one hand to her forehead. "Anyways, one day when I decided to pay my dad a surprise visit, he suddenly was there inside while my dad actually wasn't. Geez, that had freaked me out in the first moment, believe me. He turned out to have been an alum at my dad's uni, needing his help with something business-related, so my dad had invited him to stay for a while. Well, what shall I say? I might have started to visit my dad more often than usual, like... day-ish... I practically gave this withdrawn man no other choice but to bear with me. Turned out he had no problem with that. Uh, and here I go telling you our life story, I'm sorry." Suddenly she felt really sorry, as she remembered birdie's reason to be a guest in their house, in the first place. The smile died down bit by bit. "Really, sorry. I must sound like a princess in a castle who found her Prince Charming." Helen kind of wanted to ask her about the situation with her husband, not out of curiosity, but out of a wish to help her, yet she didn't know if this was the right moment to do so. "However, I'm telling you - they all have their idiosyncrasies." Okay, that probably was not the best way to head for it but instead the worst. She made an apologizing grimace as she continued with the stirring.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on May 31, 2021 11:16:28 GMT -8
"Well, we didn't exactly start off in this conventional way of going on dates. Wait - this sounds a bit wrong ... Uh, and here I go telling you our life story, I'm sorry. Really, sorry. I must sound like a princess in a castle who found her Prince Charming. However, I'm telling you - they all have their idiosyncrasies."
Sophie listened intently as Helen shared their history, well aware that it was more information than she would ever get from Mr. Zemo. As she shared smiles and laughter with this woman in her kitchen, it was easy enough to imagine she was having tea with a friend back home. A sweet moment of normalcy amidst the chaos of the past few days, for which she was grateful. Even if her conversation partner didn't know her real name or her real reason for being there.
"I would never begrudge another woman's happiness," Sophie assured her. "Surely, such stories give us hope that one day it could happen for us, right?" But as she returned her focus to the slicing knife, she recalled that Birdie was supposed to have already found her prince, who then turned out to be a monster. And how much of that fairytale was she comfortable with sharing?
"So, let's see, my story -- in the interests of full disclosure," she began, "my husband Matthew and I met through mutual friends. They were sure that we'd hit it off, and we did. He was tall and handsome, dark hair and light green eyes, very quick-witted and contagious smile. We started dating, moved in together, got married in the Cotswolds, adopted a dog. Things were good between Matthew and me, until they weren't. He lost his job and I was having to work twice as hard to pay for everything. Living in London is so expensive. I think he just resented that feeling of being out of control, having to rely on someone else. He'd get jealous, make up all sorts of stories that I was cheating on him with some colleague or other. I suppose that all came to a head while we were visiting here.
"I'm afraid I made a major lapse in judgment all those years ago, and now I have to deal with the consequences. Or rather, the Novi Grad Police Department has to deal with them right now. But please don't feel like you have to walk on eggshells around me, Helen," she advised. "I'm not some teacup that would easily shatter."
|
|
|
Post by DarkSideCookie on Jun 4, 2021 8:49:38 GMT -8
Helen (tempplay by DarkSideCookie) "I would never begrudge another woman's happiness,""Surely, such stories give us hope that one day it could happen for us, right?"At that, Helen turned back around with a sad expression on her face. She didn't mean to appear like she was pitying her, guessing that was the last this woman wanted and also needed, just like Helen wouldn't want that herself if she was in her shoes. Sure, Helen didn't know her for long, but Birdie seemed like a strong and brave woman to her, almost so much that it was hard to imagine she'd stay with a violent spouse. On the other hand, you never knew someone's story before you hear it. Helen was no one who came up with judgment before listening to someone's story first. And even then, she was always trying to see things from their perspective. Almost as if this woman had analyzed Helen's thoughts just like she had her husband's behavior before, she suddenly went on telling her story, after all. "So, let's see, my story -- in the interests of full disclosure,""...""..."""I'm afraid I made a major lapse in judgment all those years ago, and now I have to deal with the consequences. Or rather, the Novi Grad Police Department has to deal with them right now. But please don't feel like you have to walk on eggshells around me, Helen,""I'm not some teacup that would easily shatter."Helen had listened intently, at times almost forgotten to stir the sauce in front of her, while the picture of their very first guest, at least when it came to her husband's business partners, got completed in her head, line by line. Then, when Birdie had finished, Helen seemed to be awakening from her inner painting-a-picture thing. "Don't worry, Birdie," she assured with a nod and a slight smile. "I recognize a strong woman when I see one, and you surely are no fragile teacup." She hesitated, wondering if offering help would come off persistent, but then decided to do so anyway since that was just her nature. "However, sometimes we need someone to... I don't know, just talk it out, or vent if you want. Oh, venting is so important. I honestly have no idea how Helmut never explodes or something; unless he has some kind of extreme hobby that I don't know about." Helen chuckled, then changed the topic back to Birdie. "It's totally alright if you don't want to or think I'm not the right person, though. Just an offer, really. Look at this as your safe place where you can share whatever you want." It was probably odd to say something like that to a stranger you only just met, but Helen had felt a connection between them right from the start, so she truly meant it.
|
|
|
Post by Kristi Lynne on Jun 5, 2021 18:59:37 GMT -8
"Don't worry, Birdie, I recognize a strong woman when I see one, and you surely are no fragile teacup. However, sometimes we need someone to... I don't know, just talk it out, or vent if you want. Oh, venting is so important. I honestly have no idea how Helmut never explodes or something; unless he has some kind of extreme hobby that I don't know about."
Oh, he has a hobby, Sophie remarked inwardly. Just not the kind you'd want to know about. "I gather he didn't tell you about our axe-throwing league that meets on Thursday nights. He's terrible at it, that's probably why," she joked, attempting a diversion in case her expression had betrayed her thoughts.
"It's totally alright if you don't want to or think I'm not the right person, though. Just an offer, really. Look at this as your safe place where you can share whatever you want."
"Thank you, Helen, that's very kind," Sophie replied. "But I don't wish to impose any more than I already have." Though she appreciated the sentiment, it was wiser to keep herself guarded in unfamiliar company. As much for her sake as for her host and his family. "So, um, back in the States, were you working or going to university for something?" she asked. "I mean, taking care of this house is probably a full-time job, even with help. But you didn't have to give up anything for this smirking Sokovian prince, did you?"
|
|