dendarii | [IC] [Mask or Menace] Contact Post

[ That, too, gets a hell of a face. ]

Did he mention my bone condition, perhaps? If not he really should have. Removing the mark physically is quite impossible for me.

He mentioned you had a condition that made it lethal to remove. He didn't mention exactly what it was, but I can guess. [he doesn't make that guess out loud, but Miles can offer it if he wants to.] Supposedly it can go anywhere, from here [a quick gesture at his own chest] to a finger. What I don't understand is why he was so adamant on tapping you.

I don't entirely understand myself. Interest, he says. A hub for other connections.

[ Rubbish, he thinks. Miles alone is worth nothing, less than nothing. As for an explanation of the bone condition ... he reaches into the messenger bag he'd brought with him, pulling out several x-ray photographs. They show the sigil emblazoned on his sternum - but also how terribly weak his bones are. The sternum itself is nearly transparent on the x-ray, so frail that a hard blow could shatter it instantly. ]

[oh? interesting- Robert takes them with clear curiosity, looking them over. his eyes go from the mark to noticing the thinness, to the mark, to Miles...] Remind me never to ask you to do any heavy lifting.

[joking aside, he sets the photographs down, tapping the mark. so if that's what he's agreed to wear, on a trial basis...]

He wants me because of my connections to the school. I don't like the thought of him using them, or any of my others.

[ It does fit with his reduced stature. Clearly something that affected his development. ]

I would have to refuse you, yes.

[ A wry smile that fades after a moment. Lucifer with dominion over a school headmaster ... that seems unwise. ]

Then don't agree to anything he offers you. Especially not a mark. Enchantable to do any number of things, or so I've heard.

The thing is, I went to him. [he takes a moment to let that sink in.] Normally, I'd be more than happy to let him rot where he is. But there's another project I'm working on, one which is in his interest to help complete...among others'.

[ Yeah, he's sideying you a bit sir. ]

... Which would be what, exactly?

[for that? Callaghan just regards him silently for a long moment, then closes his eyes.]

Suffice it to say if it works, we'll have a lot less to worry about from Russia. If it doesn't, we're no worse off than we were before.

Until it's operational, I'd rather not discuss details. I trust my work [he tilts his head towards his device] but the less who know, the better. How long has it been since he put it on you? [subject change back towards the Mark; go.]

[ Oh he recognizes the subject change. And he doesn't like it. A frown crosses his face. ]

He put it on me as we were escaping from the submarine. So ... a week ago? Week and a half?

[woah woah woah wait a minute. eyes open, eyes focused.]

He was torturing you during that time? And nobody stopped him?

-- Oh, no. God no. He was murdering Russians during the breakout and I tried to stop him. That was his response.

[okay that's...well, that's not better, but there's the very slightest of shrugs, insomuch well that makes more sense.]

You're a brave man, mister Naismith. One of my former students tried the same thing and had some ribs broken. [there's a tone of respect there, for the both of them. he's clearly not happy about Lucifer being...Lucifer...but. well.

he lets out a breath.]

Before you bring it up, yes, I know I'm playing with fire. That's why I asked you here, so I could get an idea of else is in this damned 'deal', and so I at least have some warnings. Maybe make a countermeasure or two. [the very, very slightest of headtilts towards his device.] What else do you know?

Brave, maybe. Stupid, more likely. I hope your student had better weapons than I.

[ He just snorts a bit, brushing off the compliment. ]

About Lucifer? Very little. I've tried to avoid him as much as possible.

I taught her. [so she has her head. and her aim. and her...being Gogo. that's pretty formidable.] That, and she's faced worse.

[moving on.]

Did you have any encounters with him before?

[ He shakes his head a bit. ]

My very first time. I must have truly pissed him off.

So why would he focus on you? Why would he care about your connections if he barely knew you?

I have no idea. He seems to want to be a guardian angel to someone very badly.

[pft. yeah, that's- that's an eyeroll. you're important to me. let's just- ignore that.]

If you're a fan of scripture, he'd rather just watch all of us kill ourselves.

Not familiar with it in the slightest, alas. Theism in general is rare where I come from.

I'd like to hear about it sometime when we're not on a time limit.

[though this isn't proving as fruitful as he hoped.]

Can I count on your discretion in this?

[ Miles truly does wish he knew more, alas. ]

If you're asking me not to tell Lucifer, absolutely.

Or anyone else. This doesn't need to leave the room.

[he folds his hands again.]

I don't know how little time we have, but it's only a matter of it before something happens, and I don't know if I'll be in time to stop it.

... I'm sorry, but there's one person I have to tell everything. But I can avoid telling anyone else.

[ He hesitates. ]

What are you trying to do, Professor?

Can you trust them to stay quiet? Or do they have one person they have to tell? [there's an implication there; and will they tell one person? and will they tell one person? but he can't stop him, he can only look at him long and seriously.]

I just think it'd be nice if we didn't have to worry about being held again. After that's built- as far as I'm concerned, I'm done with this.

[with Lucifer.]

[ Miles lifts his chin stubbornly, a bit offended. ]

I assure you, it will be only the two of us. No further. I trust the man with my life and my soul both.

[ Don't you sass him on this one, he will tear you to shreds. ]

... You want to prevent another kidnapping? How?

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