[Damn it, no, this is not the end he wanted for the conversation. Beckett hisses through gritted teeth. Is he willing to -? Yes, yes he is.]
I've seen your dream, Joker. I know I can't appeal to you. But I know you want out of here as much as any of us - your fight isn't here. The only fight that matters. [This is a language he knows well.] You want this information. Tell me one thing. Please. Angel and Rhys are in the tunnels - down near the southern end. Are they safe?
I couldn't care less about your mental health. [He sounds honest about it, and deeply weary, coughing for a while before he continues.] I'm pointing out that you have unfinished business back home. Here means nothing. You want my information - and I have more, untold, than just about the blood. And I'm setting a very reasonable price on it I do think. Is Angel safe?
[A long pause, as if he's thinking. He's just being dramatic.]
No.
She's not safe.
None of us are. We could all drop dead tomorrow for the silliest reason.
But I'm in a shockingly giving mood, son, so I'll answer the question you're trying to ask me.
She is in danger down there. But if she dies it won't be because of anything I did. I've never been that far south.
[Which is true, and easily proved. He spent most of his time in the tunnels with House and Alphonse ,either of whom could tell people he hadn't been there.]
If that's your standard for wicked, clearly you haven't met many vampires.
[The dramatic pause works, much as he might hate that. Beckett holds his breath through it, through the rambling that follows, still and silent until he gets his answer, his real answer. Then all the air goes out of him at once. At least the feed is voice only, though just from the sound, Joker may get the sense of him staggering against the nearest wall.]
See. That wasn't so hard. [If only he had the energy for a better quip. This will have to do.]
I thought that the blood was tainted in some way. I couldn't keep anything down for a week after drinking it, and after that I - died, so I can't tell you if the recovery was spontaneous or the result of intervention. That was the only symptom, though - which would be odd in a poisoned human, I suppose, but fairly standard in Kindred terms. What else do you want to know?
Entity or system, yes - but I'm starting to feel like that balance we've had is tilting again, not in my favour. So: any other bomb-related tip-offs you might want to give me?
[He might as well push his luck - now that he knows Angel and Rhys are safe, he has very little to lose.]
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 07:41 am (UTC)If we meet we can have tea and laugh about all this, hmm?
[He can't quite afford to let the punchline out just yet, not when people might come down on him over Clayton's death.]
no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 07:56 am (UTC)I've seen your dream, Joker. I know I can't appeal to you. But I know you want out of here as much as any of us - your fight isn't here. The only fight that matters. [This is a language he knows well.] You want this information. Tell me one thing. Please. Angel and Rhys are in the tunnels - down near the southern end. Are they safe?
no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 08:04 am (UTC)My dream? Everyone was in my dream. I saw 'em, floating around....
[Was that his dream? There hadn't been a Bat....this still distresses him.]
I don't remember seeing you.
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Date: 2016-05-25 08:23 am (UTC)I think - you didn't see anyone there. But I did. I saw the carnival, and the bat.
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Date: 2016-05-25 08:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 08:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 08:38 am (UTC)[He sounds excited, almost eager to talk about the Bat.]
He made me! Oh, sure, he probably doesn't remember it that way but he did.
Haha...
I do see him a lot... In my dreams....
Hehee...
no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 08:45 am (UTC)[Playing therapist to mad clowns is not exactly the peak of Beckett's aspirations, but he'll take what he can get for now.]
The rest is nothing. All of us. Set dressing. You need him, don't you?
no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 08:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 12:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-05-25 04:43 pm (UTC)How wicked of you.
[Joker coughs himself.]
South tunnels, you say?
[A long pause, as if he's thinking. He's just being dramatic.]
No.
She's not safe.
None of us are. We could all drop dead tomorrow for the silliest reason.
But I'm in a shockingly giving mood, son, so I'll answer the question you're trying to ask me.
She is in danger down there. But if she dies it won't be because of anything I did. I've never been that far south.
[Which is true, and easily proved. He spent most of his time in the tunnels with House and Alphonse ,either of whom could tell people he hadn't been there.]
no subject
Date: 2016-05-26 12:01 pm (UTC)[The dramatic pause works, much as he might hate that. Beckett holds his breath through it, through the rambling that follows, still and silent until he gets his answer, his real answer. Then all the air goes out of him at once. At least the feed is voice only, though just from the sound, Joker may get the sense of him staggering against the nearest wall.]
See. That wasn't so hard. [If only he had the energy for a better quip. This will have to do.]
I thought that the blood was tainted in some way. I couldn't keep anything down for a week after drinking it, and after that I - died, so I can't tell you if the recovery was spontaneous or the result of intervention. That was the only symptom, though - which would be odd in a poisoned human, I suppose, but fairly standard in Kindred terms. What else do you want to know?
no subject
Date: 2016-05-27 05:05 am (UTC)[A wet cough.]
How'd ya die?
no subject
Date: 2016-05-27 11:53 am (UTC)And he doesn't know if he's ready for that kind of conversation, again. Bad enough that the Joker asks about his dying.]
I stayed overnight in the funeral home morgue. NIMA is - "none shall see my face and live". Since you are apparently up on your religion.
no subject
Date: 2016-05-27 05:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-05-28 07:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-05-29 08:16 am (UTC)Talk sense, man, I've had it up to here with the puzzles lately.
Are you saying NIMA is some kinda entity? In the morgue?
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Date: 2016-05-31 02:58 pm (UTC)[He might as well push his luck - now that he knows Angel and Rhys are safe, he has very little to lose.]
no subject
Date: 2016-05-31 03:02 pm (UTC)Got any more juicy tidbits? Not something I could read on the Network.
Boost me up my ladder, kid, and I'll boost you up yours!
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Date: 2016-06-02 01:27 am (UTC)I can tell you what else I saw in your dream. Interesting stuff.
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Date: 2016-06-02 01:36 am (UTC)I'm more interested in Norfinbury and the other poor saps stuck here with me.
And you.
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Date: 2016-06-02 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-06-02 03:35 am (UTC)[A cough.]
I like to know about everyone. I'm trapped in a cage with ya where even kakking it doesn't get a guy out.
You....you're just interesting.
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Date: 2016-06-02 03:43 am (UTC)[And on he talks, but this is good - keep him talking.]
I'm willing to answer questions, if it gets any of mine answered in turn.
no subject
Date: 2016-06-02 03:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
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