because new trailer, is why. (canon is House of Cards [US])

[holdtheelevator]

You really need to calm down.

I know you're excited that I haven't been swept under a rug. The thing is, you don't know what's going to happen. What I'm going to do. And I can't tell you. You might make it ten minutes into the new season and decide you're through with me. I can deal with that. It wouldn't be the first time. I'm just saying it's all up in the air.

...Yeah, I'd like to know what Danton's doing there, too. Whether I'm going to end up answering to him. I thought we were past that, but... Whatever Frank wants, Frank gets. It isn't my place to question. Either way, it looks like I'll have my work cut out for me. It's what I got into this for. Sort of. You don't take this job expecting an easy road.

One last thing: About the suit? Fuck you.

Comments

[mightthinkthat]

Now, now, 'excitement' is entirely appropriate. [There's a smirk. His series ended with his death and his escape from the slippery slope of what happens next, not to mention preserving his wife who got her peerage. So yes, excitement ought to be appropriate.]

And you shouldn't downgrade yourself so quickly. It smacks of desperation and that... well, that's not really going to get you what you want, now, is it?

[holdtheelevator]

[This is... moderately bizarre. Meeting an echo of the man he knows. (Or is Frank an echo of Francis? That's an uncomfortable thought. Probably, it works both ways.)

Seth has found that underplaying himself has it advantages. Express more reservations than you feel, profess a willingness to adhere, and most people won't keep their eyes fixed on you. Which is better for slipping into shadows. Which is better for playing the game through backchannels.

He hasn't gotten this far without learning something. Still, he blinks at Frank-who-isn't-Frank and offers a faint smile.]

I'll keep that in mind.

But I'm really not worried about getting what I want. I've always come through before.

[mightthinkthat]

[Francis would be thrilled to meet his... descendent, if only for interest's sake. His age is no barrier to the depths of intelligence and passion with him. He commands his space, even through knowing his own fate. Perhaps especially so.

And Francis has played that game as a Chief Whip. Of course, he did it too well, at least for Collingridge's sake, and got overlooked.

But Francis has a keen eye.]

No, you won't.

You can't do much of anything, here, without backing. So whatever happens there, might be one thing, but here, you do rather have to... want it.

[holdtheelevator]

If you say so. Sir.

[He's not certain about the honorific. It might be too deferential too soon. But this is a man who seems to require recognition, and Seth knows that force of presence. It burns with the same double-edge of promise and warning he's seen in Underwood.

Seth's own presence is nearly negligible. He plays across an indecipherable distance, expression half-vacant, always looking a little out of place. (Until he wants to make himself known. Until he feels poised to strike. He can pull the veil back if the moment feels right, but there's no good in striking it prematurely.) Still. He's not entirely unreadable, and if the man's as perceptive as Underwood, Seth will have to tread lightly.]

I know what I want.

What I don't know yet is where to find it. I'm still a fresh face around the block. And I'm not interested in jumping into just anything. Despite the rumors, I have standards. [There's a small smirk at that.]

Once I've found something [(or someone)] that's worth my time, I'll make it my own. And I'll find the backing I need.

[mightthinkthat]

And what is it you want? Perhaps I can help.

[He does like to help. If only because people who he helps usually feel beholden to him, even in small ways, even if he'll never get to redeem it.]

[holdtheelevator]

[Always a tricky question. Seth gives himself a moment to weigh various angles of answering.]

Seeing what other people don't see. Knowing what they don't know. I want to be at the center of something. [Something major, something with impact, but doesn't that go without saying?]

For now, I'd settle for tips on where the action is. Or for anything that's worth knowing about this place. [Once armed with information, Seth's confidant that he can make his way anywhere.]

[mightthinkthat]

Ah, the centre. [He smiles.] Well, bigapplesauce has the sort of thing you seem to be looking for. It has all the trendy new powers all the kids seem to have these days. You can even have one of them for yourself. Two sides trying to be smarter than the other, is always very stimulating.

But, honestly, most places do tend toward those who have nifty powers and those with minds instead... well. [There's no competition between brains and brawn.] Even if you do wind up... well, such as I wound up, then you'll have options.

Once up on a time, I was on a lastvoyages for the wayward. It was quite amusing. Though I had to leave. Unforeseen circumstances, alas.

[holdtheelevator]

I can work with options. [And did he hear that right? There's the chance of gaining powers? He might need to look into that. Could be a way to keep from falling behind. And it's clear being here's going to require finding new ways to play the game. (Or play the games; the rules seem to be in constant flux.)]

And this gives me a place to start. I won't say I owe you one, but... I never forget a favor. Not when information is involved. If you ever need to find me, I'm sure you can work it out. [Once in a while, it doesn't hurt to return a favor.]

So what do you do now that your voyages are over?

[mightthinkthat]

[People with powers usually have the same wants or needs so Francis feels he's still on their level. Plus they usually have a great deal more issues and are more obvious about them.]

I'll remember.

Oh, I've been minding my writer, of course. Getting her back to strength.

[holdtheelevator]

[Seth likes to imagine he'd adjust to his hypothetical power well enough. Seth may very well be wrong about that.]

I hope you do. [It's been his experience that attaching yourself to the right people via favors can pay off.]

I'm starting to get the sense that they need a lot of looking after. Necessities, I guess.

Do you ever miss... where you were? Where you came from in the first place, I mean.

[mightthinkthat]

Yes, well, 'real life' can be very trying, I suppose.

[He gives a light shrug.] I miss my wife. [And he does. Elisabeth was his rock, the one who focused him and without her, he's frankly, very lonely.]

But. I was ready for a new challenge. So no. If somehow someone is convinced to 'pick up' my wife for me, well! I should find it very difficult to find reasons to complain.

[holdtheelevator]

I can't argue with that.

Who knows? Maybe she'll make an appearance sometime. [Seth tries to imagine whether there's anyone he misses, can't think of a single face. Not really. It'd be nice to find a few more familiar figures, but Seth's never been especially close to anyone.]

Did you two do a lot of working together?

[mightthinkthat]

Who knows indeed? [He honestly isn't too convinced though. Here, he knows he's a character from the nineties and few play from his period. But he still hopes.]

I suppose so. She acted purely as my wife in those situations. But I always found her mind to be the keenest I've ever known. I knew I could always rely on her.

[holdtheelevator]

Frank and Claire were like that. [Were like that? Are like that?] Which makes sense, if you're... [He shrugs and lets that trail off, not certain of the right words. Not certain if this is an open topic for discussion, or whether there's much to say about it]

All I know is I wouldn't have wanted to tangle with either of them. I'm still not sure who was more of a force.

[mightthinkthat]

Hm. [He's not offended. But of course, he doesn't really know either and thus can't really make a comparison.]

If it's anything like my relationship? Always look to the woman.

[holdtheelevator]

[Seth responds with a flickered smile.] She surprised me, I'll admit. I knew she was capable, but I would never have guessed she possessed such--

[Another lackadaisical roll of the shoulders. There's really no point in saying too much about Claire. Even in this place, Seth's not inclined to spill everything.] I think you might be onto something.

Anyone else you've got an eye out for?

[mightthinkthat]

[He raised his eyebrows, 'questioning' the trail off. The implication was there, he didn't need a translation, but it was amusing that Grayson felt the need to do so.

He smiled at the conclusion.

At the question, he shrugged.] Not especially. Certainly not to the same degree. If they arise, I shall greet them, of course.

[holdtheelevator]

[Seth'll play looser with his speech here, but he wouldn't want to gain a reputation for running his mouth without cause. Besides, there's no telling whether Claire might show up and arch a disapproving eyebrow.]

I imagine they'd be disappointed if you didn't. [Nobody likes a cold shoulder, and in a political environment, it can mean as good as a dagger to the gut.]

How about people you'd rather not see?

[mightthinkthat]

[If only they responded to summons like that.]

Oh, only the tedious. I'm sure they know who they are. [He... probably wouldn't be too pleased to see many, but there's something about an enemy that at least exercises the mind, so he'd be lying if he'd say he'd rather not see them.] But I'm pretty forgiving to the others.