Saturday at the Office

[Shehrazad]

Most people in Germany don't work Saturdays. Today was an exception. There was always an exception when the Sept was concerned.

Edward was lounging in his office with his morning coffee when his secretary sent the girls up. The place was so big and fancy, it was almost intimidating. But the secretary gave them a warm smile and sent them in.

[Anna]

Anna pushed the door open and stepped into Edward's office. She didn't know Edward very well. She barely saw him once or twice around the Caern since her Rite of Passage. He seemed to do his own thing most of the time, but was still respected for all the work he did protecting the Sept from the human world.

"Hello," she said. "Thanks for seeing us."
She looked at Yvonne, hoping she knew Edward a little better and could at least do the pleasantries part of the meeting.

[Yvonne]

"Hi Edward."
Yvonne smiles, as usual.
"How are you? Is business doing okay?"

[Shehrazad]

"Exciting as usual."
Edward gave Yvonne a toothy smile and offered her a seat.
"Drinks?" he asked. "Lemonade? Tea?"
He buzzed Amanda.
"Amanda, darling, drinks for the ladies please."

He leaned back in his expensive leather chair and looked a little more serious.
"The police are looking for you," he said to Anna. "Once they find you they will put you back into fostering. That means they'll keep a close eye on you. You know we can't have that."

He sat up straight.
"But we can't have them declare you dead either, that would really make things uncomfortable for you."

Amanda chose that moment to knock on the door and come in with drinks. Edward waited for her to go back to her office before he turned back to Yvonne.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure? Business? Pleasure? You're not in some sort of trouble too, are you?"

[Anna]

Anna shrugged.
"Can't I just get emancipated?" she asked. She had been putting off dealing with this, and they sort of had more important things on their mind right now.

[Yvonne]

"Lemonade would be perfect."
Yvonne nods sombrely as Edward explains the legal situation. She puts a hand on Anna's, hoping she wont get upset talking about this... nothing they're there to talk about is likely to be comfortable for her.
"Well you know there's a room spare if you ever need it."
She looks back up at Edward.
"We're looking for someone, he came past the wall - I'm sure you've been told about the attacks - and we need to do what we can to stop it happening again. Anna can tell you about him."

[Shehrazad]

"It's one of those things that'll get social services involved and you know how difficult they are to deal with. It's a long legal process, and frankly, with your history, it's quite a long shot. I'd suggest adoption, someone they can be sure has a healthy home and all that. That'll take their noses out of your business quickly enough. Someone from the Sept must be here legally. And in that case I can work things through as easily as I did with..."
He paused.
"The last time," he finished lamely.

He turned back to Yvonne.
"Do you think he crossed legally?" he asked. "Then we might be able to cancel his papers. A name could be helpful."

[Anna]

Anna looked a little sulky at that suggestion.
"You work it out," she said finally, and changed the subject. "All we know is his name is Matthias, but he's metis so he probably doesn't have any real papers. They must be faked or stolen. He's a really big guy, really stands out. And he's bald and black. He can't be difficult to spot."

[Yvonne]

"Well... I'm here legally with daddy. I'm sure Max and Adiyah are here legally too."
She stops to consider Anna's own pack.
"I suppose Kamut can't be, being what he is..."
Yvonne stops rather than venturing what she thinks of Anna's other packmates as 'healthy home' material.

[Shehrazad]

"I am trying to sort it out," Edward said with a smile. If he was frustrated with Anna's somewhat immature attitude, he didn't show it yet. "Your pack is somewhat... lacking, when it comes to a stable environment, and the fact that they're foreigners won't work in their favour. They're only here temporarily as far as anyone's concerned."
He sighed. He really hated to come out and ask the question bluntly. It wasn't like him at all, but Anna was avoiding the subject and it wasn't helping that he was dancing around it.
"Isn't there anyone else?" he asked.

[Yvonne]

Yvonne shrugs, she really isn't comfortable suggesting things that she can't really guarantee. She looks at Anna to suggest it to her directly rather than speaking like she's not there.
"I suppose daddy could adopt you."
She looks back at Edward, and gives her oversimplified perception of her father.
"He's great, I can always rely on him."

[Anna]

Anna couldn't help smile gratefully at the suggestion. The smile didn't last very long, however. She was sure Vasara would have something to say about it. He had wanted the pack together.

She looked at Edward.
"Will that work?" she asked. "I mean, only as a pretense. I'd still need to be with the pack, most of the time."

[Shehrazad]

"Maybe you should speak to your father about this first," Edward said carefully. He could imagine how difficult it must be to live with a teenaged girl who was a Black Fury to boot. Why would anyone even think that adding a Get of Fenris to that mix would end with anything but disaster. He really didn't envy Frank at this moment.
He picked up a business card and handed it to Yvonne.
"Have him call me, we'll settle things," he said, and then added to Anna. "And you'll need to come to the police station with me at some point, just to work out your story. And then there's the matter of Simon's assets..."
He looked up, and then added hastily.
"I can sort that out though," he said. "Tell me about this man you want me to watch out for. He's the one that attacked you both?"

[Yvonne]

Yvonne nods.
"I should, I don't know what he'll say."
She takes the business card and pockets it, then looks again at Anna as Edward presses the matter of their attacker.
"I only saw him in Crinos, but he was hugely muscled even by those standards. I don't think there's anything more we can tell you about him."

[Anna]

"Thank you," Anna said. She was hoping Frank would agree and this matter could be settled. Being a minor sort of sucked.

"Can you do something about him?" she asked Edward. She suddenly wanted this conversation to be over as quickly as possible.