IC Inbox for maskormenace

[followorders]

Speak.

[Click.]

 

Comments

permavoice;

[worstever]

[Irritable, in part at being called out:] Don't try to play this off. I want an answer.

permavoice;

[followorders]

What answer is that?

The one you want to believe or the one you'll accept?

[worstever]

How about you give me both, and I'll decide which is which for myself.

[followorders]

If you want an answer then meet me at [x,y] in an hour. If you're late, then consider this line of conversation over.

[He terminates the call without another word.

The coordinates he provides are situated in Nonah, North Carolina, more specifically a large park surrounded by trees to give them a semblance of privacy. Locus will be waiting at the park using his power of invisibility to gauge Washington's approach. He may not be trying to kill him anymore, but that doesn't mean he's grown lax with their engagements.

Either way, the abrupt meeting is simply a ploy to strategize his approach of the agent in the future. He doubts Washington knows about Felix, or his own part in what followed after. Felix and the other sim troopers were pulled from the past meaning they still consider him an enemy. He doubts their view of him would have changed much in light of recent events. Still, he wants to make things right. Even if all he'll garner is further suspicion.]

[worstever]

[Jesus, a time limit, even. Wash doesn't like the feeling of dancing to Locus' tune, but he doesn't really have another option here. He's not about to let Locus go unchecked.

Wash arrives as early as he can. It's public enough he can't draw his weapon off the bat (and he's reminded of having done this with Felix, and how much better that could have gone). Locus didn't sound as though he was planning an altercation, but that doesn't mean much. There's the distinct feeling he's walking into a trap, because if it was Wash? Yeah, he would have set this up as a trap.

He's visibly tense walking through the copse of trees at the entry to the park. There's no sign of Locus, but Wash hasn't forgotten how much he likes that invisibility upgrade of his.]

[followorders]

[His entrance does not go unnoticed. From the treeline Locus keeps him in his line of sight until he's certain there's no one with him. He came alone.

Stepping out of the treeline, Locus dispells the shroud of invisibility and comes to a stop ten feet from the Freelancer.]

You came alone.

Admirable. But, foolish.

[worstever]

[Yeah, there he is. Not even a surprise. Wash watches him approach warily. Not that that's a change from the usual.]

And everyone will notice if I go missing, so don't get any ideas.

This isn't a warzone anymore.

[followorders]

[He draws closer.]

Life is a war zone, Agent Washington.

[He comes to a stop once there's a few feet of space between them.]

But you have nothing to fear from me today. I came here to talk.

[worstever]

[Wow. And they call him melodramatic.]

In case you haven't noticed, life's usual rules have a way of not applying here.

Fine. Whatever it is you want to talk about, talk.

[This is how Felix got the drop on him, last time, he thinks grimly, Wash trying to stand his ground. But he's not about to give Locus the satisfaction of drawing away from him.]

[followorders]

[He was hired by Malcolm Hargrove because he is the best meaning he's been in a lot of war zones. Too many at this point for him to believe the rules of survival don't apply here too. But, that isn't the reason he called him out here today, so he shifts his attention back to the problem at hand.

He's used to using his physical body as a form of intimidation. It's as natural to him as breathing by this point, and it's something he'll need to change in the future.]

A truce. [A cock of his head.] Unless you'd like to continue playing the sacrificial knight?

[Because you will be the sacrifice, Agent Washington.]

[worstever]

I'm not playing anything. I wasn't about to bring the Reds and Blues for this.

[They're... uniquely unsuitable for negotiations, and Wash knows that he's the one Locus wants to talk to.

A truce, huh. Well. It's not that different from what he'd already worked out with Felix -- they leave each other be, for the moment. (Okay, Felix leaves Tucker alone -- but the Reds aren't in the very specific danger of mistakenly becoming friends with Felix, either.) Until something upsets the status quo, that's worked. Not that he likes it, but he likes no one being dead.]

Felix told you about our deal?

[followorders]

He did.

[A pause.]

But we're going to make a different one.

[worstever]

[Alright, Locus has his attention.]

I thought you wanted a truce.

[followorders]

On my terms, not yours or Felix's.

[worstever]

And if I don't like your terms?

[followorders]

Then don't expect me to comply with your deal with Felix.

[worstever]

Fine.

What do you want out of this?

[followorders]

If Felix oversteps, you and your men will stand down.

I'll take care of it.

[worstever]

What?

[He's not blind -- Locus and Felix's methods are... at odds. But this?]

If he 'oversteps', it's most likely to be by killing one of my men!

[followorders]

I'll stop it before it gets that far. You just keep your men from interfering.

I don't need guns on two fronts.

[worstever]

Before I make any kind of decision about this, I want to know why the sudden concern.

Sure, Felix isn't trustworthy, but that's old news.

[followorders]

[There's a long bout of silence as Locus tries to gauge how much to tell him until he finally settles with: ]

What do you remember from before you were bought here?

[worstever]

I remember exposing you and Felix, if that's what you mean.

[Smug, smug, smug. Smuggity smug.

Wash has been, consistently, the furthest ahead. He has no reason just yet to think Locus would be any further.]

[followorders]

[Sorry to disappoint you, but he'll be taking that from you now. You should be used to it.]

So, they pulled you before the real war started.

[He looks at him.]

I'm from the end of it.

[worstever]

[And just like that, he's offguard.

Locus could be lying, but why would he? To pretend he has info? Wash will find out what happens eventually. Key word eventually.

But there's one thing he can infer:]

Looks like you made it out alive.

[Does that mean they lost?

(Or -- Locus deserting is a remote possibility, but...)]