❧ Devil's Advocate

[luministimods]

[Elsewhere--always elsewhere--Filippo Resarci waits anxiously. Anxiety isn't a feeling he enjoys, but for two weeks now, he's been on the run from Nathan. It isn't the first time he's been in such a position; before, he had Ferran's protection, and now he has none for reasons he knew about before he issued his offer. If he had his way, he'd put some of those otherworlders as cannon fodder and keep them in between him and that damn cop. It's not like they can't come back!

But no. Ferran has forbidden it. Anything done to physically hurt those people, he must be a witness to. That has always been the agreement.

It made sense at the time, and yet...

Filippo tenses, his hand gripping his gun. A very, very small part of him is regretting shooting that cop. That man wasn't nearly as tenacious in his efforts as he was before. If Ferran hadn't given Filippo that device to replace the special CAT he had, he never would have gotten out of there in the first place. There isn't a day that goes by that he doesn't wish he had magical universe-crossing powers like they did. Filippo would have jumped to another one a year ago and stayed gone. And hopefully, that universe would have had a tropical pleasure planet that catered to all tastes and wouldn't mind taking money that was definitely not from around there.

All of a sudden, his reverie is shattered when he hears a noise begin to blare. Frantically, he looks around, having never heard that sound before--and then he sees why that alarm has gone off. It was from one of the many monitors in the room.

And again, another noise startles him, this time from behind. He whirls around with a short, panicked cry--and sees Ferran. He lets out a relieved sigh, lowering his gun.]

Oh, thank god it's you! I thought that bastard cop had--

[The man in black tuts loudly, walking past Filippo to have a look at the disruptive monitor.] Manners, Filippo, manners. Thorn in our side though he may be, he is still a respectable Marshal who has failed at his job for many years now. You need not fear him finding you now that I've returned.

Then that means...? [Filippo edges closer to Ferran, trying to read the man's expression.]

The preparations are nearly complete. [A smile crosses the man in black's face.] It is much easier to relocate than it is to start from the ground up, as I told you previously. [He straightens, amused by what he's seen, and puts a hand on Filippo's arm.] Your distraction has worked even better than I could have hoped for. [Ferran's eyes close as he takes a breath, that hand tightening its grip.] Yes... It is very good.

[Filippo winces, but knows better than to attempt to move.] I-I'm glad you do. It was your plan, after all.

[Ferran finally releases his hold on Filippo's arm.] Ahhh, but without you and the ire they possess for you, none of it would have been nearly as successful. Speaking of, I do believe it is time for you to see how many of them have sided with you. I know I am curious to see how well you were able to sow the seeds of dissension amongst them.

Right... [Reluctantly, he pulls his CAT out, but he hesitates before using it. He knows going out into the open again only leaves him exposed for Nathan to do whatever he's going to do. But if there is one lesson of his father's that he's always taken to heart, it is this: one must lie in the bed one makes. So after a moment, he finally types in a message that he sends off to all of the otherworlders' CATs that reads:]

It's time, Otherworlders! If you have made your decision to leave this place behind, then meet me in one hour outside Lab #4 and then you'll see this place no more. Remember what I said about bringing everything with you. See you soon.

And sent. [He slides his CAT carefully back into his jacket pocket, then turns to Ferran.] You're sure about bringing them there?

Two of their number has already visited there, as you saw. [He motions to the monitor.] And had you not removed the blueprints of the lab from the computer systems, they may have found it sooner. So in a way...we are giving them exactly what they want anyway.

[Filippo shrugs indifferently to hide the shred of uncertainty still hanging out in the back of his mind.] If you say so. We'll see what they think soon enough. [He removes the special yellow device from his pocket, using it to teleport out of the room.]

So we shall.


Plot Details: Devil's Advocate

First of all, thank you to everyone who voted in the important poll I put earlier in the week. It was greatly appreciated, and by a landslide, it looks like our dear Nathan has won the popular vote and electoral college and is most definitely prom king! And yes, that poll was very much important despite Filippo still going ahead with his plans anyway. After all, he doesn't know what everyone is going to decide.

However...that brings us to an hour from now (in-game, naturally.) The two people Ferran mentioned as having found something are Terezi and Hawk, but the others searching elsewhere in Caligin's lab office and such would have been successful...had Filippo not been an asshole. What a jerk.

Once that text goes out, your lovely little shoulder companions go too, but everything up until now remains the same. Nothing has changed.

So...I leave you with yet another choice: do you talk to Filippo and/or go see what he's up to there? Or do you not? This entry will be used for interactions with Filippo while he waits for people to arrive so he can bring them away from there. Talking to him and going down to Lab #4 doesn't mean you invalidate the way you voted in the poll. Hell, you can even pretend that you're going with him if you want! But certainly, they must be curious, right? If not about him, about what Nathan will do when he inevitably shows back up.

As I did with Nathan, this half of the plot will only go for one week, so I'll stop taking answering questions through Saturday night of next week (aka, October 13th.) Sunday until the next post is up. Any questions left unanswered after that will, unfortunately, remain unanswered, so if you're going to start talking to him, start early. I can't stress that enough.

As before, all action with Filippo will take place in this entry and I'll make a comment with him as soon as I've posted this, as well as an OOC comment thread for any questions and such people might have!

Since this is a party/mingle post, comments made in Filippo's thread can be overhead by others, but if you want private threads with each other, please feel free to make your own in the post! I also recommend tracking your threads if someone other than Filippo hops into your thread!

And that should be it! Believe it or not...we only have a few more weeks until the very end...

Comments

Conversation fun times with Filippo!

[luministimods]

[Pacing rather impatiently in front of the door to Lab #4 is Filippo Resarci. He seems...a bit twitchy; it's as though he doesn't like being out in the open as he is. He's always hated the layout of the lab in general. Who makes an observation deck in the same area as very important labs?! He'll never understand it. Stupid lab.]

[He's muttering to himself a bit too.] No way is anyone going to believe me. And where the hell is that stupid Marshal?! He's doing this on purpose. Making me sweat it out a little longer...

MY LOVE

[manicurious]

[Naturally Ichijou makes a beeline toward Lab 4 to see if Filippo is really there - and to see if anyone else has beaten the shit out of him or worse. Though as he approaches the lab, he starts to move more slowly. His look and tone is one of genuine concern.]

Are you really sure that it's alright for you to be here? The others... Most of them are still holding a grudge, you know.

[luministimods]

[Filippo stops his disgruntled muttering the moment he sees Ichijou approaching. Of all the otherworlders there, he knows he has nothing to fear from this man.]

Of course they do. I'm not surprised they do. [Note the lack of regret in his tone.] And...well, I really have no other choice. We're closest to our destination here. It'd be riskier meeting elsewhere then walking all the way over here.

Besides... [He pulls out the little yellow device he used before.] I've still got this if anyone tries to kill me.

itt: hard-hitting questions

[manicurious]

[He seems a bit incredulous.] It would be even less risky to wait somewhere else, have everyone gather as close as possible to whatever exit point you're planning to use, and generally not stay here any longer than you really have to.

Not that I'm not happy to see you, but... I'm not sure. That's just a taser, isn't it? I'm sure you know what you're doing, especially since you spent such a long time monitoring us, but I'm still concerned.

Doing it this way could make you seem more sincere, though.

[He brightens.] It's really too bad that we're meeting under such serious circumstances! I always hoped that we would run into each other again. I was here all by myself for months and months - I wish you could've visited then. I could've made a cake.

You like cake, right?

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie approaches with her arms crossed over her chest, eyeing him suspiciously]

Do you really think that, after everything, there's anything you could say that would make us believe you?

[luministimods]

[He makes no motion to threaten her as he arches an eyebrow at her.]

Honestly? No. I don't--but keep this in mind: I have always been upfront about my intentions for you and your friends. I've never lied to you, nor told you that I couldn't answer everything just yet because of some vague reason and oh look, I'm disappearing now, bye! [A little smirk crosses his lips.] No. I let my actions speak for themselves.

Unrelated, you look fabulous! The last time I saw you, you were a little pudgy in the midsection. Was it a boy or a girl?

[fortune_sought]

[she glares] No, you just hid yourself for as long as you could! That's certainly nothing like lying, is it?

[and, if possible, her expression grows even colder as she gapes at him] A boy. A boy that I will be home with soon--no thanks to you, I'm sure.

shame he's not prom king :'(

[tactilekonesis]

[It takes Kon a moment to find the door to Lab #4, considering he's rarely in the area, but he lands just before Mr. Resarci and folds his arms before he gives the guy a once-over.]

Marshal? I didn't think we had a Marshal around these parts. [The downside of super-hearing: Kon didn't realize Filippo's voice had been softer than usual.]

It's okay; he'll remember to stuff the ballot box next time~

[luministimods]

[Filippo glances up when he hears Conner's voice, his eyes narrowing a smidge before he relaxes, absently smoothing his suit coat.]

You do, it's--[A small smirk grows in the corners of his lips as he realizes something.] Hold on, he didn't tell you? [He lets out a small laugh.] All this time and he never even told you his real name...

lesson learned?

[tactilekonesis]

[Oh, Nathan wasn't his real name? Kon tilts his head to the side, but isn't actually that phased by the news otherwise - initially, at least.] So? People like me use fake names all the time...

[Give him a minute...]

... But you think he's been lying about other things too?

good times all round

[fireflyheir]

[John's frowning when he gets there, but he wants to work out what's going on more than staying away. Would that even work, anyway?]

Are you serious about helping us?

[luministimods]

[He folds his arms across his chest and regards John for a brief moment.]

I wouldn't be here if I wasn't sincere. I said I would get you all away from here, and that's what I intend to do.

[fireflyheir]

[John considers this and shrugs, folding his arms to mirror Filippo's.]

Okay. And away from here means… where?

[worldsapart]

[Xion is... hesitant to approach him, and it shows in her posture. There is determination in her eyes, though, and she straightens her back to stand taller. (Not that it makes much of a difference. She's grown, metaphorically and physically, since she first arrived in Luministi, but she's still short.)]

You said before that once you're rid of us, you're rid of your problems. But you also said you left. I'm sure you could've gone somewhere far, far away, where whatever your problems are couldn't ever catch up. Why did you choose to come back? What are the problems that you're afraid of following you?

[There's a pause. Then, as if to streamline her questions, or perhaps to explain herself...] What are you really getting out of this?

[luministimods]

See, the problem with your line of thinking is this: you think I had a choice. My father was supposed to run this little enterprise when he bought the lab out from under Caligin--but then he went and got himself shot. So who had to step up for the old man? [He points at himself.] Me. And I left because I had to. I like living, and if I stayed? I wouldn't have lived. And I've come back because, yet again, I had no choice. I put my chips in with Ferran, and I can't cash out. I'm in too deep here.

[He takes a breath, smoothing his suit coat.] So when you ask what I'm getting from all this, know this: I'm getting freedom.

[worldsapart]

[Her first response is soft:] But why did you have to step up for your father? Why didn't you have a choice?

[She's quiet for a moment, processing and thinking. Then, she looks back up.]

So is Ferran the one who told you to offer to send us home, then?

[wind_of_reason]

[Fuu approaches slowly. After all, the man is quite dangerous. But she needs to speak to him while the opportunity presents itself.
As opposed to what he asked in his message, she has brought nothing but her usual purse. Once she has come close enough she bows briefly.]

A pleasure to meet you properly in person, Mister Resarci.

[luministimods]

[He raises an eyebrow at her bow, not returning it.] And you, Fuu Hououji. [Tilts his head a bit.] Funny, I thought you'd be taller.

[bonnypiperlad]

[At first, Jamie thought he wasn't going to bother going to the lab. He has no fondness for Filippo, especially not after trying to track him down and his stunt in the pub, but he does have a question or two before the man leaves. So to the lab it is, even if he looks less than thrilled when he finally spots the man.]

So why do it? Why offer to help us when ye can just leave us behind and run away again?

[luministimods]

[He folds his hands behind his back] Have you ever left a mess behind that you know will do more damage being left as is instead of cleaning it up for yourself? That is what I'm doing here. I'm cleaning up the mess I made. Sure, it won't be perfect, but at least I am doing something.

[desertdaggers]

[Hawk doesn't intend to go along with Filippo, and isn't about to make much pretence of doing so, though he has everything he wants on him in case things do turn sour. He steps quietly, making as little sound as he can until he's close enough for a conversation.]

So why are you making this offer, then?

[luministimods]

Why else would I? Honestly, all you people... [He looks annoyed] What did I tell you all before? Have you all forgotten that damn easily? I want out of this for good, and if I'm going, why not release all of you while I'm at it? And don't ask a stupid question like "where are we going?" You're going back to where you all belong.

[terezi_pyrope]

[She has waited for this chance. When she arrives, she emerges from the shadows she's hidden herself in while others has chatted him up.

With one hand, she rests on her cane.

With the other, is rope.]

What's your real plan, Resarci? You should know by now that no one here trusts you and wouldn't give a criminal like yourself the light of day.

[luministimods]

[He looks very amused by this.] A rope? Seriously? And what are you planning to do? Tie me up and beat me with your cane? That's very kinky, darling, but not what I care for personally.

And yeah, I know no one here would trust me, I'm not that naive. And really, I don't care. I thought I'd give you all a way out. To get away from this lab and back where you belong.

OOC questions/comments/etc!

[luministimods]