Day 3: In which enemies are allies

[voiceofrappigs]

Characters: OU Peony & Dist
Location: the dungeons of the imperial palace
Time: Day 3, late afternoon
Warnings: none yet

Comments

[thatgoldentime]

Dist the Rose is used to being alone. No one but Jade ever really understood his genius and passion. Even during his time in the God-Generals, he spent moretime in his workshop than with the others... Not that they likely tolerated his personality well. He ate alone in the lunchroom a lot.

And now, he is here, in a cell. It wouldn't be so bad if he at least had a workbench... But then, he could probably escape in short order. Thus the genius of Daath whiles away the time with things no more dangerous than a pencil and paper.

Unforunately, perhaps, for Peony, Dist might not quite share the Emperor's opinion of company when it comes to specific types. Like him. Dist looks up from his latest scribbles, head tilted as he hears the voice of the Emperor.

He considersnot answering, but instead replies in a pleasant, conversational tone, "Of course I am, dear Peony. After all, you saw fit to provide me with this wonderful room, I would be remiss if I turned away your largesse."

Peony will find the former God-General sitting in his chair, hands folded primly in his lap and a wide smile on his face. Maybe a little /too/ wide.

[voiceofrappigs]

Two years ago, Peony would've sworn up and down that Saphir would waste away in a prison -- just dissolve into a pile of complaints and bitterness and someone's idea of a fashionable jacket. But the other man had done an admirable job of keeping himself going despite the difficult circumstances. Part of Peony could admire that.

Most of him, however, was always happy to be a brat. "Good, good," he said broadly, folding his arms over his chest and grinning. "I'd hate to hear that you thought I was being stingy."

Peony drifted over to the cell and leaned one shoulder against the nearest bar of warded metal. "I trust you've been treated well? I try to send only the most beautiful officers of my army down here, you know, so that you won't be too disgusted by your caretakers." He smirked, more to himself than anything. Choosing had been fun.

[thatgoldentime]

It seems that every time you think Dist would finally give up, he just bounces back like some kind of demented superball with a manic smile.

Maybe he really has gone insane. Maybe he has a plan. Maybe he is just biding his time.

Or maybe he just thinks Jade is actually reading those letters he keeps sending him. Poor guy.

Dist's smile, however, cracks slightly as Peony takes his comment as unflappably as always. The 'Emperor' always was difficult to deal with, the former God-General reflects. He gestures offhandedly, tilting his head as he replies, "Oh, I certainly have nothing to complain about your chosen caretakers..." Except that they weren't Jade. And they basically left as soon as they were done with their tasks. And even when Jade DID show, he basically made like a panda. Still, a little Jade is better than none.

"...But what brings the Emperor of the Malkuth Empire to see his poor prisoner?"

[voiceofrappigs]

Ah, straight into the boring stuff. Peony sighed and rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "What, you don't want to know how I've been? I'm deeply hurt." Fortunately, not hurt enough to stop making idle conversation. And in fact, idle conversation actually had a decent lead-in to the topic he wanted to talk about, and Dist always got really agitated when he circled around a topic, and Dist was fun to watch when he was agitated. Just like in the old days.

"And I even wanted to tell you about the other version of you that I ran into earlier today... Oh, Jade's already been to see you about our visitors, I trust?" He smiled at the shorter man. He'd probably have been to see Saphir today regardless, but in all honesty, meeting the other version of Saphir had made it a much more entertaining prospect.

[thatgoldentime]

Dist appeared to be prepared to blow off Peony again until the Emperor mentions... A second Dist. "WHAT?" The ex-God General yells, floating on his chair forward to the bars with an anguished expression. "What do you mean there's another me?" He mutters, making infuriated sounds and straightening in his chair, pounding the arms in impotent nerd rage. "There's only room for one Dist the Rose in this world! What, was I not GOOD enough?"

He turns away, his broad chair back presented to Peony as Dist goes quiet... "But imagine all the incredible technology that could be possible with two of me. I mean, look at all I've done already, right?" He turns back to the Emperor, and laughs with that wide smile of his. "Yes, Jade's told me all about them already. It's quite the problem, isn't it? Still, there's little I can do in here but theorize." Light gleams off of Dist's glasses... He's clearly got SOMETHING going on.

[voiceofrappigs]

It was like some sort of beautiful play being put on for him; Saphir flailed and ranted and at least for a moment forgot to be boring. Baiting Saphir had always been one of Peony's hobbies for precisely this reason. Peony gave himself a pat on the back and chuckled to himself a little, but managed to straighten himself out when the God General turned around again.

"Which is why I came down here," Peony acknowledged, leaning against the bars again. "We could use more people looking at this matter. And for some reason Jade doesn't seem to trust the other Jade to lend a hand. But I figured I could ask you to help out!"

[thatgoldentime]

What? TWO Jades? This is INTERESTING... "Well, of COURSE! Why would Jade trust him when he has a perfectly good, beautiful, and competent genius right here?" Ah, that old Dist narcssism, hard at work.

That glasses-gleam continues as Dist continues. "So, I will help you figure out what's happening with these doubles, and you will let me free to pursue this, I assume?" Dist smiles. As if the Emperor wouldn't know what he wants.

[voiceofrappigs]

Amused, Peony corrected conscientiously, "Well, this is my idea. I haven't spoken to Jade about it." Anticipating, the way he had, strenuous objections to anything like getting the former God General involved, much less the generous lengths to which Peony was prepared to stretch for that questionable privilege. "I thought it would be fun if you got to see Jade's reaction yourself." If only he could be there to see it himself. At least he'd probably get the pleasure of the aftermath.

"Of course there are conditions, but I'm happy to give you a place to stay in the palace for the duration of the research that doesn't have bars on the windows." Peony grinned, spreading his hands. "And if you're good, it'd be my pleasure to arrange for you to get some perks afterwards!"

[thatgoldentime]

Dist, far more animate than he has been previously, claps his hands together with delight. "Oh, wonderful! I can't WAIT to see Jade again. He'll be so happy to see me!" Happy to 'accidentally' blast him with a Thunder Lance, maybe, but let's not ruin the poor boy's joy, right? Despite his happiness, the God-General's mind is still turning over the deal in the back of his mind...

Hmm. Well, Peony wins in this, and so does Dist. It's about the best kind of deal he could ask for, regardless.

He backs away from the bars, giving the Emperor a bit more room. Dist leans back in his chair, steepling his fingers and propping up a leg, as if he WASN'T stuck in a jail cell and chatting with a man who could just as easily order his execution. "So, what kind of conditions do you have in mind?"

[voiceofrappigs]

He smiled a little, feeling somewhat like an indulgent father. Honestly he was happy to have some good news to share; he genuinely couldn't care one way or another in general, but when he really thought about it, he'd much rather have all his friends happy and unincarcerated.

"You can have laboratory space and an apartment in the palace, but you'll need to be accompanied at all times and you're not allowed to leave Grand Chokmah under any circumstances," Peony said, sober for a few beats. "No one is exactly terrified of your fonic artes," which had never been Saphir's forte (or Peony's, for that matter) the way it had been Jade's, and the average member of the Malkuth military was more than competent enough to overpower whatever abilities he might still possess, "but you will not be allowed access to any fontech outside of the laboratory. Your hours there will have to be accounted for... Standard stuff, I guess."

[thatgoldentime]

If only Dist felt the same way about his captor.

Dist almost looks indignant at the comments about fonic artes, but he's got to admit it to himself regardless: He's always been more dangerous with a giant fontech robot than trying to do anything Jade does.

And that makes him quite sad. Oh well. Peony's commentary about restrictions also causes him to frown... But he supposes it couldn't be helped. The Emperor may like him (Despite his occasionally poorly-hidden desires to see him go falling off those waterfalls behind the palace in a barrel), but he'd be a complete fool to TRUST him... so soon.

This all plays out in a series of expressions on Dist's face, and the God-General nods, finally, at the end. "Very well. I accept, Emperor." It's a better deal than what he was expecting.

[voiceofrappigs]

A better deal than what Peony was quite aware Jade was willing to offer their mutual friend -- from their conversations, Jade had implied that if he felt any need to bring Dist into the matter (which he did not) he would see it done in exchange for maybe a pat on the head and a sprinkling of flatly intoned kind words. Peony liked trouble, but he didn't like cruelty. (At least, what he liked wasn't cruel in his opinion.)

So he was pleased, and clasped his hands together, and said grandly, "Then it's settled! I'll have someone put together a room for you. We can even skip the cage this time." Although he patted the bars fondly. "What do you say to the northwest wing? Got a great breeze, great view of the girls on the beach in their little swimsuits...!" Yeah right.

[thatgoldentime]

"I'm glad we could come to an agreement." He replies, with a thin, Disty smile... And then arches an eyebrow curiously. He wonders for a moment if Peony is just setting him up for something (Especially with the comment about the girls)... It wouldn't have been the first time! But nevertheless, he'll take what he can get.

"I'll be waiting for my new room with great relish, I assure you." And a great number of considerations for the future. A door opens... And so many possibilities will lie before him... Even though he is simply moving from one cage to one with bars no less steely... Though easier to forget they exist.

He'll have to make sure he doesn't forget.

[voiceofrappigs]

"Excellent. I'll send someone by to let you loose as soon as we can get the room ready for you." Peony grinned at Saphir. Well, perhaps that would speed up Jade's work, if only out of incentive to get Saphir put back in some sort of cage.

He tapped his lips thoughtfully and then said, "All the new arrivals -- including your double -- are being housed at Gailardia's estate in the noble's quarter, if you're interested in visiting any of them. The original arrival, Blade, is kept in the north wing, not too far from where we'll be setting you up, but you'll need special clearance to get in to see him."

[thatgoldentime]

"That delicate, eh? So be it." Dist smiles faintly. "I'll be sure to ask before playing with your 'special guest'."

Peony is clearly enjoying this far too much. Saphir considers this, turning his chair away to hide the hot flash of anger that crosses his face. Not now. Not yet. He continues to speak in a conversational tone, "These are interesting times, Emperor. We'll see if they're a curse or not soon enough."

[voiceofrappigs]

Good old gloomy Saphir, Peony thought, and shifted away to fold his arms over his chest. "Hey, but at least they're interesting. They could be boring," he said, in the same tone that he might've said cursed.

The emperor started moving for the door, adding, "Oh, and take the day off or something! When they let you out, have fun or stretch your legs or something. That's an order from your new boss!" He flashed a bright smile in Dist's direction as he stepped out.