Work Text:
As somewhat familiar buildings entered her vision, Jade contemplated the interview she’d just attended. Presenting her case before the Fae Representative, the Pre-dominant, the Elite and in particular the Eminence had been intensely nerve wracking as she went through her interview. As a slayer, much less a solo one working with and under the partial authority of vampires was incredibly new territory. But, she felt strongly that the perception of slayers needed to change and hopes that working in the task force could help their reputation in the supernatural community so that her family and others would no longer be seen as solely assassins in the supernatural world. Jade slowed her jog and began to turn to the hotel she was currently staying at. Jogging up the stairs to what would be a comparably silent residence, the weight of her decision weighed heavily. Was making a difference and learning about how humans live, worth no longer being able to watch her family’s backs?
As Jade entered into her hotel room surrounded by her equipment and what she brought from home, she found herself unable to resist not knowing if they were well.
Her heart racing and her palms feeling sweaty with the memory of her last conversation with her family she dialed a number that was one of the first ones that she was taught to phone.
After a bit, the connection was picked up and Jade began her message
“Hi Dad, I’ve arrived at the hotel. I just wanted to say hi and to check on how you’re doing back home.”
Now you’re asking,…. Jade’s father’s voice sounded somewhere between hopeful and upset, “there’s an easy way to find out and it’s called coming back home rather than dilly dallying in Magiford!”
Jade steeled herself for what she was going to say next,
“I’ve gone to my interview at the regional committee of magic, I want to do this.” Jade tried to keep her voice firm even as her hope wavered as having her commitment be doubted would only hurt more after the decisions she’s made.”
“Work underneath vampires?!” Her father sounded incensed in his incredulity and Jade lost much of what little hope she had left of her father’s acceptance, though she hoped that her next words would not make things worse,
“No, it’s not about that, I want to prove that slayers can do things beyond dealing in death.”
Her fathers disappointment seemed as palpable as his anger when he found the words to give his response to Jade’s interpretation of their family profession, “Killing vampires so they don’t kill people…!
And what will you do in that regard! Will the Curia Cloisters task force give rampaging vampires a simple slap to the wrist!”
The incredulous and upset response to even the idea of the task force was hard for Jade to hear. She felt she couldn’t continue the conversation without causing further agitation, so she decided to end the call even though the idea of hanging up on her father felt against everything that was appropriate. So with sadness and a heavier heart, Jade asked her father to please send her love to their family before she ended the call.
Sitting in the hotel room still holding the phone, while staring into nothing, The weight of what she was doing seemed ever more overwhelming. Though as she began to stand to get ready for bed the chime of an alert made her check her mail. She noticed the RCoM address fairly quickly and decided that it was best to see what she was being contacted for. A quick skim informed her that she was being offered a place on the task force and with new resolve along with more of a spring in her steps Jade planned to go over real estate listings after her shower. She was determined to prove that slayers were not just figures of fear and hopefully friends could be found among her coworkers and new community.
……
The disconnected phone in his hand, Mr. O’ Neil turned to the empty kitchen, “She’s going to get herself killed.”