54th Devotion: Challenging the Status Quo

[favoritetraitor]

It is as I feared.

Deities... I would have a word with you...

[Private]
What can it possibly matter what I do now? Nothing can be worse than this...

[Private to Xemnas//ARTEMIS Encrypted]
The search is off.

Mr. Xemnas, I intend to send you an encrypted file that you will be able to access after 24 hours in case I am not heard from again. Please follow the directions that I've laid out. May I count on you, or... should I find someone else?

Comments

[Private/ARTEMIS encrypted]

[letxequalnull.livejournal.com]

I am yet at your service. You may count on me.

[Private/ARTEMIS encrypted]

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

These are trying times... but I'll put my trust in you. After all, I wouldn't have elevated you to your position if I didn't see great potential in you and your work.

Mr. Xemnas... who do you trust, if you had to name someone...

[Private/ARTEMIS encrypted]

[letxequalnull.livejournal.com]

Nor will I betray your trust.

I trust those who earn that trust, and it is something hard won.

[Private/ARTEMIS encrypted]

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Is there no one, then, that you would trust here?

Re: [Private/ARTEMIS encrypted]

[letxequalnull.livejournal.com]

There are a few here. But they are only trusted provided they do not jeopardize that trust. But fortunately some of them have realized that.

[Private/ARTEMIS encrypted]

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

That's good...

It's good to have someone to fall back on if needed.

[Private/ARTEMIS encrypted]

[letxequalnull.livejournal.com]

More so in this place than in others, I fear.

[toobad-sosad.livejournal.com]

Solomon is so troubled...

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

This has gone on long enough... is only temporary.

[toobad-sosad.livejournal.com]

I wonder what I can do to ease the sorrow...

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

Riboflavin.

That's a word, isn't it?

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Hm. A sense of humor. And who is it that I'm speaking with? No doubt you know who I am...

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

Prof. Dr. Laszlo Jamf

--and then there's a bit of alphabet soup after my name, technically, but that means fuck all in this place.

And, yes, we know who you are. We know who everyone is.

1/2 *guilt*

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Then this is just one big experiment to all of you. Tell me, is your group the main force that's responsible for bringing us here?

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

I've just downed three psychic martinis. I'm metaphorically on top of the Alp d'Huez. And you're talking shop.

Here I thought there was a trade or something involved.

2/2

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that I've troubled you... and moreso what you'll possibly go through after this.

Marisha... who is it that you're most comfortable with in the City?

[toobad-sosad.livejournal.com]

You.

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

I didn't contact you idly or just for a chat.

Is it true that you deities are responsible for bringing us here?

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

... such a sweet girl.

And after me... who then?

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

Sure seems idle to me.

[toobad-sosad.livejournal.com]

...No other.

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

I believe evasive is a better word. Very well. I'll cut to the chase then. I want to know why Saya was taken from me the City...

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

Proprietary business.

No dice.

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Proprietary? She's more mine than yours. Or perhaps she's escaped. I see no reason why you would let us go...

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

I told you already.

Proprietary business.

QED.

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

... yes yes, so you've said. How different from Sabine you are...

Look, Professor... I need Saya here. From where I stand, there would be far more profit to you and your little group by bringing her back. Won't you entertain this idea?

Re: || Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

Sabine and I share a cigarette now and then. Nothing more.

It's an entertaining idea, I'll put it that way.

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

...

Then, will you arrange this?

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

What?

No.

I said it was entertaining. As in "ha ha, that's funny."

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

You refuse?

Then release me. Send me back to my world.

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

You just keep talking and I just keep on not listening.

I think I need another psychic martini.

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I need to be louder then so that you will hear me. Very well, if you refuse to comply with my requests, then I'll withdraw myself from your little game...

I won't serve as your 'entertainment' any longer.

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

Cute.

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

Let's see how long you think that.

|| Deity Filter ||

[laszlo-jamf.livejournal.com]

Shoodley ba pa doo dah, dah dah~

|| Deity Filter ||

[favoritetraitor.livejournal.com]

[The network device clicks as it's shut off.]