Maketh Tua (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mismanagement) wrote2016-01-25 02:02 pm
mismanagement) wrote2016-01-25 02:02 pm
Entry tags:
IC Contact Post [Hadriel]
This is Maketh Tua. State your business.
I will not tell you again.
[She doesn't want to hurt him, but he's in the way, he's threatening to put a stop to her plans. She can't allow that. There's work yet to be done. And he keeps talking like it's a reasonable thing to do, like she's the one being foolish.]
[She doesn't want to hurt him, but he's in the way, he's threatening to put a stop to her plans. She can't allow that. There's work yet to be done. And he keeps talking like it's a reasonable thing to do, like she's the one being foolish.]
[His warning bells had already been going off, but they're almost deafening now and his sense of self-preservation is truly warring with his desire to do what's right.
Does he call her bluff, or retreat?
Lance really doesn't want to be stabbed. He's been shot before, which honestly wasn't as bad as he would've thought, but he's heard stabbing is worse and in a place like Hadriel it'd be very dangerous even if the initial injury isn't serious. And just because his pain tolerance is high, that doesn't at all mean he's reckless with being hurt.
But on the other hand, all the reasons he hasn't already left are still there. Walking away now would be knowingly turning his back on Maketh either being hurt or doing something really reprehensible, and if he did follow through on his threat to call the others he might be putting them in danger.
There's also the matter of needing to establish, very firmly, that he isn't an easy target or someone who can be intimidated into compliance; that's a reputation that would likely prove to be very important here, well beyond this one situation.
And a part of Lance is also just really, really hoping Maketh has it in her to make the right decision. So he takes a deep breath, willing his voice not to waver.]
Is this something you really want to do? After everything you told me about not wanting to be that kind of person anymore?
Does he call her bluff, or retreat?
Lance really doesn't want to be stabbed. He's been shot before, which honestly wasn't as bad as he would've thought, but he's heard stabbing is worse and in a place like Hadriel it'd be very dangerous even if the initial injury isn't serious. And just because his pain tolerance is high, that doesn't at all mean he's reckless with being hurt.
But on the other hand, all the reasons he hasn't already left are still there. Walking away now would be knowingly turning his back on Maketh either being hurt or doing something really reprehensible, and if he did follow through on his threat to call the others he might be putting them in danger.
There's also the matter of needing to establish, very firmly, that he isn't an easy target or someone who can be intimidated into compliance; that's a reputation that would likely prove to be very important here, well beyond this one situation.
And a part of Lance is also just really, really hoping Maketh has it in her to make the right decision. So he takes a deep breath, willing his voice not to waver.]
Is this something you really want to do? After everything you told me about not wanting to be that kind of person anymore?
[Maketh's face doesn't change. She holds herself very still.]
The Guard is my responsibility. If I must be that kind of person to protect them, then I will.
The Guard is my responsibility. If I must be that kind of person to protect them, then I will.
[That's a lot more of an answer that she's been giving, and he tentatively encouraged; he's just as still as she is, except to respond with a simple question.]
Is that really what this is about?
Is that really what this is about?
[Maketh tightens her grip on the knife as a warning.]
He will not hurt my men. I won't allow it.
He will not hurt my men. I won't allow it.
[His gaze flickers to the knife again and then back to her face, and he's starting to feel vaguely nauseous from fear and tension, but sounds as steady as ever.]
I'm not asking you to allow it. I'm asking you to do handle the situation in the best way, not the most immediate and satisfying one.
I'm not asking you to allow it. I'm asking you to do handle the situation in the best way, not the most immediate and satisfying one.
You know nothing about this.
[He's not an officer, not even one of her Guards. How can Hux understand when Lance won't?]
[He's not an officer, not even one of her Guards. How can Hux understand when Lance won't?]
This is my job.
[He typically doesn't get into justifying himself when people say such things, but in this situation he needs her to listen to him and can't have her thinking she can just dismiss what he's saying as inexperience; she needs to listen.]
[He typically doesn't get into justifying himself when people say such things, but in this situation he needs her to listen to him and can't have her thinking she can just dismiss what he's saying as inexperience; she needs to listen.]
You are weak. You think I won't hurt you?
[She advances on him, eyes narrowed.]
I will always do what is necessary.
[She advances on him, eyes narrowed.]
I will always do what is necessary.
[He backs up immediately, on reflex, and it kind of undoes some of his attempts to look unflappable, but he's a whole lot more interested in just getting through to her at this point; he's suddenly speaking very quickly, looking from Maketh to her weapon and back rapidly while he does so.]
You're not doing what's necessary, you're doing what you think is easiest and is going to give you the most immediate satisfaction, and it's going to go wrong and you're going to paint an even larger target on everyone you're trying to defend. Is that what you really want?
You're not doing what's necessary, you're doing what you think is easiest and is going to give you the most immediate satisfaction, and it's going to go wrong and you're going to paint an even larger target on everyone you're trying to defend. Is that what you really want?
Edited 2017-05-21 19:57 (UTC)
[Video] Backdated to May 20th shortly after Sato's broadcast
elegant_and_proud
2017-05-21 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Maketh. What is the Guard's history with that man, Sato?
[She hasn't committed to getting involved in any of this, but she's determined to at least be informed on the matter. She has several friends in the Guard and she saw Sato encouraging a young girl to go into a highly dangerous area without any warning about the monsters. She's not exactly a law-abiding or especially moral person herself, but Sato's a very different sort than she is.]
[She hasn't committed to getting involved in any of this, but she's determined to at least be informed on the matter. She has several friends in the Guard and she saw Sato encouraging a young girl to go into a highly dangerous area without any warning about the monsters. She's not exactly a law-abiding or especially moral person herself, but Sato's a very different sort than she is.]
I'm doing what I should have done in the beginning!
[She was soft, she let Sato off with only a small punishment. A warning, a threat, of course he retaliated. Of course he killed Shadow and now, having proven that he can, he'll go after her Guards. They're her responsibility. She has to protect them, has to set an example for the rest of Hadriel.]
I was soft, I let him go. No, no, no. I'll cripple him this time.
[She was soft, she let Sato off with only a small punishment. A warning, a threat, of course he retaliated. Of course he killed Shadow and now, having proven that he can, he'll go after her Guards. They're her responsibility. She has to protect them, has to set an example for the rest of Hadriel.]
I was soft, I let him go. No, no, no. I'll cripple him this time.
You really think it's going to be that simple? That he isn't already expecting exactly this reaction?
[He knows he's said this before, but it doesn't seem to be sinking in.]
You know better than to walk into a trap, Maketh, just looking at this purely logically.
[He knows he's said this before, but it doesn't seem to be sinking in.]
You know better than to walk into a trap, Maketh, just looking at this purely logically.
Get out!
[This isn't working, isn't working, he won't shut up. Maketh doesn't want to listen to this. She needs to work on her schematics, improve the plan so that everything will work. It's like hunting Jedi all over again, only this time she can't fail.
She shivers all over. Lifts her chin.]
I warned you.
[This isn't working, isn't working, he won't shut up. Maketh doesn't want to listen to this. She needs to work on her schematics, improve the plan so that everything will work. It's like hunting Jedi all over again, only this time she can't fail.
She shivers all over. Lifts her chin.]
I warned you.
[Maketh doesn't look so good. Her face is drawn and pale, eyes narrowed tight. She hasn't been sleeping - has indeed been working almost constantly since she heard the broadcast.]
He attacked us once before. Claimed some nonsense about liberating people.
He attacked us once before. Claimed some nonsense about liberating people.
[His heart is pounding and he's tense, ready to fight if it comes to that after all, but he's not done trying to make her see reason.]
You're so angry because you know I'm right, and don't want to admit to yourself that this is not the best course of action. Putting your pride above your sense is the opposite of what you need to be doing right now.
[Putting it that was is a change of tactics and a huge risk, but he'll either succeed in getting through to her, or see if she's bluffing or not after all.]
You're so angry because you know I'm right, and don't want to admit to yourself that this is not the best course of action. Putting your pride above your sense is the opposite of what you need to be doing right now.
[Putting it that was is a change of tactics and a huge risk, but he'll either succeed in getting through to her, or see if she's bluffing or not after all.]
How odd. From my observations, all of you leave people alone unless they're actively trying to harm others here. One would think he'd concoct a plan to find the Door if his true objective was liberation.
[Maketh is definitely not looking well.]
When was the last time you ate?
[Maketh is definitely not looking well.]
When was the last time you ate?
[He won't stop talking. Stars above, why won't he just stop? Maketh tips her head back and takes a deep breath, swallowing around the tension. She hurts all over, a deep ache radiating out from her bones, and part of her just wants to retreat back to her room and sleep, possibly forever. But she can't, there's work to be done.]
I warned you.
[She says it through gritted teeth. The knife isn't balanced for throwing but she does it anyway. It hits the wall with a clang and then skitters away without sticking. Close enough to his head that he ought to flinch, that he ought to know he needs to go.]
I warned you.
[She says it through gritted teeth. The knife isn't balanced for throwing but she does it anyway. It hits the wall with a clang and then skitters away without sticking. Close enough to his head that he ought to flinch, that he ought to know he needs to go.]
He's a liar stirring up trouble. It doesn't matter what we do, only that we're a target.
[She grimaces, not answering the question.]
Is there anything else you needed?
[She grimaces, not answering the question.]
Is there anything else you needed?
[She's going to take that as a no. Which, combined with the lack of sleep, is worrisome.]
I also wanted to let you know that I will be dropping by to visit you shortly.
I also wanted to let you know that I will be dropping by to visit you shortly.
[He's had things--a lot of things--thrown at him before and so ducking his head and holding up his arms is automatic, although he's expecting to feel the knife at least hit if not cut him. Instead he hears it hit the wall and then drop to the floor, which he does as well shortly afterward, sinking to the ground in shock.
But she didn't hit him with the throw, and she definitely didn't stab him, and those are both good signs. It's not great that she'd resort to that level of threatening, but at least she didn't follow through.
Lance takes a moment just to gather his thoughts and try to break through the hazy feeling of shock that always settles over him after a close call, and also to try to figure out what to do next. He called her bluff and she didn't actually hurt him, so this is an opening to really get through to her, but everything else in him is telling him not to provoke someone dangerous; be thankful to be alive and just leave her to whatever fate she's so dead set on running into.
He can't make a decision yet, shaken, and instead just watches Maketh for a moment to see how she reacts to her own actions.]
But she didn't hit him with the throw, and she definitely didn't stab him, and those are both good signs. It's not great that she'd resort to that level of threatening, but at least she didn't follow through.
Lance takes a moment just to gather his thoughts and try to break through the hazy feeling of shock that always settles over him after a close call, and also to try to figure out what to do next. He called her bluff and she didn't actually hurt him, so this is an opening to really get through to her, but everything else in him is telling him not to provoke someone dangerous; be thankful to be alive and just leave her to whatever fate she's so dead set on running into.
He can't make a decision yet, shaken, and instead just watches Maketh for a moment to see how she reacts to her own actions.]
Edited 2017-05-21 20:58 (UTC)
[He flinched. He flinched, he flinched, and she didn't even touch him. Maketh takes a shuddering breath. Stars, her chest hurts. There's something tight in her throat as well, something she can't quite swallow around. A tension she doesn't have a name for. It's just there, spreading, sinking in.]
Next time I'll hurt you.
[She says it softly.]
Get out.
Next time I'll hurt you.
[She says it softly.]
Get out.
[Maketh breathes through it, holding him tight. Stars, she loves him.]
My brother.
[Her voice is rough still, fighting back tears.]
My brother.
[Her voice is rough still, fighting back tears.]
[Lance watches her carefully, but reading her seems suddenly impossible; he's mentally exhausted, a bit dazed from shock, and having more and more difficulty fighting the deeply ingrained instincts not to anger someone who might harm him. The one thing he is certain of, at least, is that this isn't working.
He still doesn't want to call someone for backup, but he's out of ways to handle this otherwise and is unable to keep mustering up the willpower and courage it takes to keep trying to get through to her when she seems about to snap on him. So this time her threat gets a silent nod and he manages to stand with the help of the wall, gaze fixed on her as he heads for the door, not turning his back on her in case she changes her mind.
The moment he's out of the apartment he lets his calm facade drop, at least for a few seconds as he goes down a flight of stairs to put a floor of distance between them, stopping then to lean back against a wall and take a few deep breaths. He's okay. Don't panic; this isn't over. Focus.
It takes a moment before he pulls out his phone, scrolling through to find Henry's number, and hopes his voice will be steady as he makes the call.]
He still doesn't want to call someone for backup, but he's out of ways to handle this otherwise and is unable to keep mustering up the willpower and courage it takes to keep trying to get through to her when she seems about to snap on him. So this time her threat gets a silent nod and he manages to stand with the help of the wall, gaze fixed on her as he heads for the door, not turning his back on her in case she changes her mind.
The moment he's out of the apartment he lets his calm facade drop, at least for a few seconds as he goes down a flight of stairs to put a floor of distance between them, stopping then to lean back against a wall and take a few deep breaths. He's okay. Don't panic; this isn't over. Focus.
It takes a moment before he pulls out his phone, scrolling through to find Henry's number, and hopes his voice will be steady as he makes the call.]
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