[Rome doesn't know enough about Maketh's methods, and even if he did, he wouldn't disagree. The idea of disagreeing is just not built into him, and besides- he's intimately familiar with 'the ends justify the means' as a mentality. He functions just fine within that framework; it's all he's ever known.]
Miss Rey is under the impression that you know where it is.
[So they haven't tracked it down yet. There's still time. Maketh thins her mouth, watching Rome. He's been straightforward to the extreme thus far, a good soldier. Probably one of her best. And now she must trust him with something that matters.]
I do. You're not going to betray me now, are you?
[It's asked softly. Maketh already knows the answer. But she wants him to say it.]
Maketh has become akin to his handler, whether she intended to or not. She's been responsible for him, offered him the structure he desperately needed to keep from falling apart, dealt with him with a firm hand and has been, more or less, resolute and agreeable ever since his arrival here. He's interacted with her more than any other member of the guard, trusts her more than anyone else in the city.
But she's been relieved of her position. She exists now, outside of the structure that he needs, and he has promised his loyalty to the Guard. Granted, the promise was through her, so- where does that leave him?
He'd told Rey that he would do as she asked and report anything he learned from Maketh to her, but Rey wasn't his handler. Rey technically did not have a position of superiority over him in the guard- though now, neither does Maketh.
The choice for him isn't a moral one in the slightest, but rather one of loyalty. He doesn't have any sort of opinion about the weapon or the gods or the Null or any of it- it all boils down to his duty and his obligation to his superiors. He's a good soldier. He always has been.
So when he finally speaks, he elects for complete honesty.]
Rey instructed me to glean the location of the weapon from you and report it to her.
[A difficult choice. Rome has never been good at making decisions- most of the time, they're made for him and he goes along with them. Orders, he understands. They're clear, taking responsibility from him and allowing him to operate in a very rigid framework. He's more comfortable that way.
Deciding for himself isn't a skill he's ever needed to refine, and now that he's faced with the choice, it's harder than he could have thought. He'd meant to do as Rey asked, fully intended on remaining loyal to the Guard when they spoke, but now that Maketh is in front of him and asking for his loyalty, he finds himself faltering.
Loyalty has always been his defining trait, as it is for most others of his kind. His superiors had abused that and crafted it into a loyalty to a system, a military, a government, but it has instinctively always been stronger when attached to people. His handler, whether or not they deserve it. His pack, what little interaction they may have had.
[Assuming that Rey hasn't asked someone to watch him as well. But the guard is stretched thin as it is- and besides, he'd be able to smell someone in the shadows long before they follow him anywhere.]
What should I tell miss Rey?
[Those lying lessons might have to come sooner rather than later.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 06:36 pm (UTC)They don't know. I don't either.
[Rome doesn't know enough about Maketh's methods, and even if he did, he wouldn't disagree. The idea of disagreeing is just not built into him, and besides- he's intimately familiar with 'the ends justify the means' as a mentality. He functions just fine within that framework; it's all he's ever known.]
Miss Rey is under the impression that you know where it is.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 06:41 pm (UTC)I do. You're not going to betray me now, are you?
[It's asked softly. Maketh already knows the answer. But she wants him to say it.]
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 07:04 pm (UTC)Maketh has become akin to his handler, whether she intended to or not. She's been responsible for him, offered him the structure he desperately needed to keep from falling apart, dealt with him with a firm hand and has been, more or less, resolute and agreeable ever since his arrival here. He's interacted with her more than any other member of the guard, trusts her more than anyone else in the city.
But she's been relieved of her position. She exists now, outside of the structure that he needs, and he has promised his loyalty to the Guard. Granted, the promise was through her, so- where does that leave him?
He'd told Rey that he would do as she asked and report anything he learned from Maketh to her, but Rey wasn't his handler. Rey technically did not have a position of superiority over him in the guard- though now, neither does Maketh.
The choice for him isn't a moral one in the slightest, but rather one of loyalty. He doesn't have any sort of opinion about the weapon or the gods or the Null or any of it- it all boils down to his duty and his obligation to his superiors. He's a good soldier. He always has been.
So when he finally speaks, he elects for complete honesty.]
Rey instructed me to glean the location of the weapon from you and report it to her.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 07:14 pm (UTC)That gives you a choice, then. You can be loyal to her, or you can follow where I lead.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 07:47 pm (UTC)Deciding for himself isn't a skill he's ever needed to refine, and now that he's faced with the choice, it's harder than he could have thought. He'd meant to do as Rey asked, fully intended on remaining loyal to the Guard when they spoke, but now that Maketh is in front of him and asking for his loyalty, he finds himself faltering.
Loyalty has always been his defining trait, as it is for most others of his kind. His superiors had abused that and crafted it into a loyalty to a system, a military, a government, but it has instinctively always been stronger when attached to people. His handler, whether or not they deserve it. His pack, what little interaction they may have had.
Maketh.
He nods once, slowly. It feels heavy in the air.]
...I'm yours.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 07:51 pm (UTC)Maketh nods just once.]
There is a lab in Spire 1. The door is trapped. You'll find the weapon inside. Rey intends to destroy it, and I cannot have that.
no subject
Date: 2017-11-30 07:55 pm (UTC)[He doesn't do anything by half-measures. He's all-in now, for better or worse.]
What needs to be done?
no subject
Date: 2017-12-02 03:20 am (UTC)[Her voice is perfectly cool.]
I don't particularly care where you put it, so long as it remains intact.
no subject
Date: 2017-12-03 05:10 pm (UTC)[Assuming that Rey hasn't asked someone to watch him as well. But the guard is stretched thin as it is- and besides, he'd be able to smell someone in the shadows long before they follow him anywhere.]
What should I tell miss Rey?
[Those lying lessons might have to come sooner rather than later.]