[Open] Pearl Steps Through the Rift (Grant Park)

[pearlapothecary]

Thirty seconds ago, Pearl had been walking through an antique shop, trying to find a pair of rings that looked old enough that she might have owned them before the United States had its little unpleasantness. Suits made of fine fabrics paired with classic jewelry spoke of old money. Everything depended on giving the right impression. Then she

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[idontgethurt]

It is definitely a motivating factor for Damon. He does not want thumbs in his eyes again. He is very aware that she is that much stronger than him, and Damon would hate to make another enemy when he has enough going for him as it is by the very nature of taking up Josef's mantle after he died and because Damon is Damon.

Damon has a habit of making enemies, because he's a jerk.

"...yeah, not how it happened where I'm from. Sadly," Damon says, and while there may be that slight hint of smarmy sarcasm in his voice, he mean it. He would have preferred a universe where John Gilbert didn't get to get away with half of what he did. "People can land in the windy city from alternate versions of their own universe so if everything wasn't complicated enough, Pearl. Our universes don't exactly match up."

Thankfully, he doesn't really think they need to get into all the discrepancies. He has no desire to mention that Anna also died in their universe via John Gilbert too.

It seems like unnecessary pain, and she can't get back to her daughter anyway. She can only hope that one day she might fall through into Chicago herself.

[pearlapothecary]

Pearl doesn't make enemies lightly. She builds alliances based on mutual interest. She's going to have to start at the beginning, since she doesn't have a network built up over centuries. Almost the beginning, at least.

It seems she has one person, and they've come to enough of a truce not to try to kill each other.

"I find that I'm relieved by that," says Pearl. She hears the sarcasm in Damon's voice and dismisses it. It's too obvious; it's in almost everything he says. She's more interested in what's underneath it, what she doesn't hear.

She's curious about what happened in that other universe, the one Damon is from. She's surprised to hear about other universes, especially one where she's dead, but hides it by folding her arms across her chest. "I take it from what you say that your universe's John Gilbert is still among the living?"

She's going to have to make sure that this universe doesn't have a John Gilbert, or, if it does, that he's not going to be in it much longer. If that's even possible. She's going to have to establish herself here first and find the best places to hide the bodies.

Pearl is ruthlessly practical, when it comes down to it.

[idontgethurt]

[OOC: Sorry for the delay. :(]

Damon cannot say the same about himself. He has a tendency to make enemies everywhere by sheer nature of being who he is. However, he has been better at it. There are people that he's been careful around, and he's aware that in this universe, he's out of his element.

There are more than werewolves to worry about when it comes to what might hurt him.

"Relieved it doesn't happen that way? Even if you end up dead?" Damon raises an eyebrow at her. Yes, the sarcasm is everywhere in his voice, in his demeanor. It's much easier that way, for him at least.

"Unfortunately," he says in answer. "He was living last I heard, but he's not here and Jeremy comes from further down the line. He said John died. ...do you want a drink?"

It seems strange to talk to her out in the open about all of this, and Damon never knows who could be listening in. He knows she doesn't trust him as he doesn't trust her, but he means to keep his word when it means an alliance between them.

[pearlapothecary]

[OOC: No worries! I'm busy all the time myself.]

"I think I could use one," says Pearl, with a wry smile. She'll take any kind of drink: Alcohol to blunt her hunger, caffeine to warm her skin, or blood to sustain her. She's going to have to be careful with the last one until she finds out where it's safe to drink, and what blood banks she can withdraw from without consequences. "I presume you know all the good places in town?"

[idontgethurt]

"I own one of them," Damon says with a smirk as he looks at her, but it's not where he will lead her to at the present moment. He doesn't think the 'club' aspect of it will exactly appeal to her, and it's prime time for it to be filled with people. "There is one much closer to the park, and I can point you in the direction of the Tower."

Because he's a gentleman like that... except not. He does want to appeal to her being his ally as opposed to the alternative. he doesn't trust her, but he could use allies.

[pearlapothecary]

"Damon Salvatore, an entrepreneur," says Pearl. She gives him a curious look, reevaluating him. He's changed. "Putting down roots?"

OOC: Look at me, posting again! Sorry for the delay!

[idontgethurt]

"Learning a thing or two from you," Damon says instead with a small smirk. He has changed. It was months in Mystic Falls after she'd died. It's been almost a year in Chicago for him too. "Surprised?"

[OOC: AW ;; it's good to see you again, and no problem at all. <3]