luministi | ❧ Devil's Advocate

[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

voted in the important poll

are Terezi and Hawk

Talking to him and going down to Lab #4 doesn't mean you invalidate the way you voted in the poll.

~~Saturday night of next week (aka, October 13th.)~~

start early

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She nods, glad that he seems so willing to answer in a straight-forward manner.]

I would like to know: this year, what is your reason for being involved in all this? Are you still working at the bidding of your 'client and benefactor'?

I haven't been involved. If I was, do you think I would have gone ahead with that sappy bullshit where you all thought you were true citizens of the town? My audiences wouldn't have gone for that. And my only reason for being here? I'm as much of a captive here as the rest.

[Fuu blinks in surprise at him admitting that he is a captive here, but shakes her head slowly, crossing her arms in front of her. She again has that feeling of there being a whole tangle of things happening just beyond her view. If she can't see what is going on, she doesn't know if what she does will help or hurt. And she doesn't want to see anyone hurt. Especially through ignorance.]

Are you...? Forgive me, Mister Resarci, but although I don't want to see anyone hurt, you know you've given us no reason to throw our trust on you. But if you are a captive...

[She shakes her head again slightly. If he's captive, they should help him. But some things are still not adding up.]

How can a captive lead other captives out? Why would the man in black Ferran allow you to escape and take us with you? You were working for him all last year- what changed?

[He cocks his head to the side slightly as he listens, watching her expression as she speaks.]

Captives can escape, and who better to aid in the escape than someone who knows this place best? As for what changed... What hasn't changed? Can't you feel it in the air?

[She tilts her head- he's answering questions with questions, which is not too helpful. On top of which he'd not really answered anything, of course.
But has something changed in the air?]

Luministi doesn't seem to have changed much. And there seems to be the same air there always was.

[Or... is this a clever joke, aimed at her wind magic?]

[He smiles, amused, but not in a mocking way.]

While that is true, and the air purification systems have always been top-notch, I didn't mean what I said in such a literal way.

[She smiles a little in return, but sighs.]

That, then, I'm not so certain about. But I think that for as long as everyone persists in keeping secrets, trouble grows.

Do secrets bother you, Miss Hououji? Do you keep none for yourself even for the good of others?

How else would I know that secrets grow trouble.

Only if you keep the wrong ones. Some are for the good of the people. Gives them peace of mind. Ignorance can be bliss.

And I suppose you'll claim that our ignorance has been bliss?

[Needless to say, she doesn't appreciate it. All she knows is the painful disaster their ignorance brought to Cephiro. And she really doesn't want to see that happen again if she can help it.]

No. I'll never claim such a thing. I'm smarter than that--and so are you. But them! [He gestures at an invisible audience off in the distance, people only he can envision.] They are the ones who should remain ignorant. Those people have put you all on pedestals, and to have someone come and knock those down would break them.

Not even I wish to do that. [Even if he is terribly curious.]

[And not too long after his reply, a chiming can be heard...]

❧ Devil's Advocate

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject