mayfield_rpg | spread the word, tell a friend, tell them the tale

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c: dist the reaper

spread the word, tell a friend, tell them the tale

[voice]

Hmph. You people don't know how good you've got it. Don't realize how lucky you are to have me.

[Remember Dist? He's still an idiot. He sounds so convinced of his necessity, too.]

I'll have you know I've started printing copies of my letter again, with an additional note towards all those irritating hero types we've been getting lately. Best to cut them off at the start of things, before they make us suffer the consequences of their naivete. I removed the timeline at the end, as well, as it was mostly taking up room and was difficult to edit comprehensively. Thus, you'll mostly find the bare basics, and brand new prisoners will make the best use of it, but you can't deny that arming them with information is a necessity. Until they understand how Mayfield works, they're only dead weight.

If you're looking for a copy for yourself or distribution, you know where the library is. I'll be at the front desk, because working in the shelves is annoying.

[action, library]

[If you happen by the library, true to his word, Dist is sitting at the front desk, alternately reading, doodling machine schematics on spare pieces of paper, and building what looks like a very tiny device; he's making no real effort to hide the fact that he's not actually working. Next to him is a tall stack of the letters, which are free to take. He is keeping an eye out for anyone who might be in the town's employ, but only halfheartedly. He's more worried about being punished than "letting it go into the wrong hands."]

(If you're just looking to give the intro letter to your character, you don't have to post in if you don't want to; I just wanted to get it back into circulation, so handwaving "quietly taking a note off the stack" is fine. I love CR, though. ^^)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Mmm. Quite possibly, yes. But I believe I could salvage some of it for my needs. No point in breaking ties with friends after all.

Oh. This and that. A few things that need to be righted.

Do you intend to enlighten me? I assume you want my help with whatever you're planning or you wouldn't have come here.

Indeed I do!

You see, there's a matter of getting even with a gentleman you know quite well that I intend to see to.

[He'll freeze up, but just a bit.]

...Edward? What's he done to you now?

[He notices. Moments of weakness, of indecision, are something the Major has trained himself to notice and latch on to. For the moment he won't say anything about it though.]

What has he done?

He's chosen to pick at matters that are none of his concern. To flaunt victories that were given instead of taken and to make an ass of himself in a grandest manner. And to simplify from that: I just don't like him.

Did he not make a mockery out of you recently, as well?

[Dist also isn't very good at hiding them. He's gotten better over the course of his stay in Mayfield but it's still something of a stretch to truly hide his emotions.]

I don't have any idea what you're talking about.

[Which is why his speaking is suddenly clipped, obviously.]

You're a poor liar.

Does it really not bother you? Does it not bring your blood to a boil that he would do that to you? To betray you and your privacy again and again? Tell me. How many times has he betrayed you? Certainly I may have, but the once I committed was over something far grander than the multitude of small betrayals, of little lies he's told you. That he's told everyone.

[The Major rolls his neck a little before looking up at Dist again.]

I am not often a traitor Dist, though I do fall into it. But Edward? Treachery is his nature. Do you think there's a single person he knows that he hasn't betrayed in some way?

Edited 2012-03-02 06:39 (UTC)

[Oh, good, he doesn't have to pretend that he's over being shot in the head anymore. He's not very good at it and it takes a lot of energy.]

"Better the enemy you know," isn't that what they say? I haven't forgotten what you said about allies, you know.

[Dist can't hide the sneer any more, but its effect is ruined a bit by how his posture becomes tightened, his shoulders hunched up. Defensive, repellent. Possibly afraid.]

Tell me something. What do I get out of helping you? You can't rely on hiding what you are any more; I've seen what you do when you're done with someone. What benefits do I get for knowingly walking with monsters instead of peers, or heaven forbid friends?

And does Edward treat you much better? Do you believe he wouldn't throw you away when he's done? Surely you're not that naive.

[The Major's smile tightens a little. It's different from how he usual is. A much more outward sign of danger.]

You have me not burning and reducing every bit of research you've done and compiled to ash, Dist. I don't give a damn if you help me or not in the end, but I thought I would give you a show of good faith that I might spare you.

I believe that I'm gambling either way and my odds are worse with you. If I'm seen working with you I burn every other bridge I have in this town; I'd never have anyone's trust again. I'd simply be my own undoing, conveniently saving you a few steps on the way.

Regardless, don't drag me into your little pissing contest. Your fight isn't with me, so I'm not the one you should be threatening!

[It was only a matter of time before he started panicking.]

I see.

How much did you tell him about us, Dist?

[He doesn't have any proof that you were betraying Kingdom to Edward. But he'd suspected you were going to play, or were playing, spy at least in part. Or even just an attempt to play both sides of the field that seemed most open to you. He wouldn't put it beyond you to want try and increase your chances of survival by working with both groups.]

[Dist freezes again, curling his shoulders forward just a bit. He'd been so careful; Mayfield wasn't his first go at working with dangerous people, and Kingdom had been a lion's den that would have absolutely destroyed him had word gotten out. That it's largely dried up is no reassurance.]

Who told you?

[The Major's smile loosens a little bit, shifting a bit more to his fake, friendly demeanor.]

Why.

You just did.

[And he chuckles good naturedly.]

[And that's when his hand springs at Dist's collar, trying to pull him forward and closer. Still smiling, still loose, but threatening to harden again.]

Do you have any idea how long I've been doing this, boy? Of how many little rats like you I've seen and had to weed out, have trampled under foot as they try to scurry to safe holes after taking what sustenance they thought they could from me?

I had no absolute proof, but for you to work with an organization I helped head so shortly after my betrayal....you thought I wouldn't see that as off?

And who else would you tell? The other resistances? No. They would cast you out, demonize you for even thinking of fraternizing with the likes of us. Either I was wrong and you were with us for your own gain, or you had an ulterior motive. And someone else to scramble to.

And there's only one person you know you can scramble to now.

[His smile softens even more, and it becomes almost apologetic. Pitying.]

You're a lost, meager little creature Dist. And you don't care about others anymore than I do. The only reason I harmed you in the first place was solely to get to Edward. I have no quarrel with you.

Absolute protection. This, I will offer you completely. If you refuse me...then don't blame me for what might happen to you when I begin my...skirmish with Edward in earnest.

I don't care about you, Dist. I could give more of a damn about you and your piddling little research about this town. But you could be a liability if you sided with Nashton.

Side either with me, or even not at all, and I promise I won't harm you or a single bit of your work.

[Being seated, Dist isn't in a position to avoid being grabbed. He lurches forward, slamming his hands on the desk to avoid falling onto it completely, though his eyes dart down almost immediately. When he sees that he hasn't crushed the device he'd been working on, he leans his weight onto one hand, using the other to slide the project and his tools out of the way and to the side. Focusing on that gives him time to find his voice again, though he never quite meets the Major's gaze.]

...Your allies. Anyone you work with; do you guarantee protection from them as well as yourself?

I swear it. Once this begins, I intend to continue until there is nothing left of the man known as Edward Nashton. None shall be safe due to his arrogance; his "loved ones" foremost, but most shall suffer as well.

If you choose to look the other way - you need not even consort with me, need not dirty yourself with assisting me - I will provide you a safe haven when it truly begins. Will give you ample warning, to move your work there to be safe until such a time as the eye of the storm has passed entirely and left only devastation and fear in its wake.

But Dist....

[His eyes dart to the table, and as if for the first time the Major sees the device Dist was working on. And smiles.]

If you betray me, speak even a word to Edward....

[His free hand forms into a fist, hovering above the device before the Major bends his elbow, clearly intending to smash it if an answer isn't given promptly.]

[Dist darts his hand out to protectively grab the device, almost before he really realizes he's doing it. Truly, his machines and his work have been the only constants in his life, all he could count on when his friends, his country, his world turned on him. Reliable, logical, and unwavering.]

If I withdraw entirely, he'll know.

[Really, his machines are all he is. The research he's done on Mayfield is still there, in his head and in the collected notes of the entire town; that much, at least, could be recovered. Materials, though... those are hard to come by, and not everything he makes can withstand strikes like the Kaiser can. His false eye, his little replication machine, his current project(a voicebox for the swan Klaus had given him, which made more of an impact than the baron was probably expecting)... those aren't so easily replaced. They're closer to his core than most people are.

Hopefully others would understand. He wouldn't be betraying them, wouldn't be standing against him. He would only withdraw. Honestly, there's a significant part of him that believes they'd prefer it that way.]

Then stay by him but tell him we've dissolved. That I have no plans at present.

[And for a moment? The Major's voice goes dull. Lifeless.

Cold.]

The fool will believe it. Trust me.

Edited 2012-03-02 08:26 (UTC)

You have dissolved. Kingdom is gone. There's no lie in that; I have no further inside information.

[Safe. Neutral. Protected. None of these are luxuries he's used to.

But he... made a promise. Promises are no longer something he hands out freely. There may be a workaround, a loophole somewhere. Under the Major's protection, perhaps he can find it. Being coerced so blatantly leaves a bad taste in his mouth, leaves him weak. Mayfield has stiffened his spine, and he's not ready to give that up just yet.]

Mmmm. Not quite.

Perhaps the Doctor's is gone. Mine, however, is not. I lead armies boy. Do you really think I would surrender what I have with them so easily?

And at least a few of them will stand beside me in this. And a few more people may even continue to join in for it!

Just...

[Dist hasn't lowered himself to this in a long time. Even now, he clutches the voicebox to his chest.]

Don't harm my work. Please.

[The Major lets Dist go, still smiling.]

As I said. You have my word.

So long as you do as asked.

[Asked, told; Dist can tell when he's being patronized to. What he is getting better at is not having to snatch the last word in every conversation. As he sits back in the chair, still holding the device, he's instead making plans. If he can protect his own work, with his own resources, then the threat is null and he can do whatever he damn well pleases with his time.]

Fine.

[Now he has a choice. He can help or not, but at least he's not starting out with a shown hand. Hopefully.]

[The Major just continues to smile, trying to re-establish the facade of friendliness as he goes on.]

Good!

Of course, you do realize, and I hope you won't mind, the constant surveillance that will be necessary.

Don't worry about it too much.

You'll neither hear nor see him at all. I guarantee.

[Wait, what?]

Constant? Of course I mind; who are you talking about? Who's going to be watching me?!

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