There's usually somebody in the front seat who is in charge of my well-being...

[definitivestep]

Sam has been trying to think, and as sitting at his desk and brooding hasn't helped, this involves a lot of pacing, up and down the halls of the tower, through the empty halls no one's ever really used, and the ones still marked with bullet holes because no one has the time or cares enough to do something about that, and that one rusted hallway

Comments

[duology]

The library is one of the few places Dev can go to calm down, even when nothing else is working, even when the need is gnashing its teeth in the back of his mind. He looks a little worse for wear, these days--dark circles under his eyes, hair more ruffled than normal, clothes rumpled.

He's done with the philosophy section for now, and decides that the best way to research this new world is to look at the newspapers. He sits two seats down from Gwen with a sigh and glances in her direction, noting the glazed look in her eyes.

"Treasure map with no X, hm?"

[torchwoodsheart]

"No X, no dotted line, and I'm not even sure there's an island," Gwen replies, sighing and pushing the article she'd been looking at aside before she glances up at the boy who'd addressed her. She smiles over at him, a little tightly but perfectly friendly. "Not that I actually expected any different. Things aren't ever simple in this city..."

[duology]

He smiles back, his own as tight as Gwen's. "Never simple 'round here, no, I've learned that. Looking for a particular island? Don't suppose I could be a help. I have some experience in the area of the printed word."

[torchwoodsheart]

Gwen pauses a moment, but she doesn't have to tell him why she's looking for this information, and it's innocuous enough. "I'm looking for information on a man called Randall Flagg. He's running for mayor, just announced it last week..." It's probably a good thing Gwen was not a member of Torchwood when Margaret Blaine was mayor of Cardiff, or she would be wondering why it's always the mayors.

[duology]

Dev tilts his head a little at the name. Randall Flagg. He and Ace had a bad feeling about the man after hearing his little speech at the parade; it's nice to know they aren't the only ones.

"Ah, yes. Met him at the parade, was a bit curious myself. Always good to be a thorough constituent, yes? Know who you're really voting for. Hm...and you've found nothing so far? Surely he must have past political experience, man like that. Or is he the grass-roots type?"

Flagg did seem to have a way of stirring up people, something always associated with populists and grass-roots politicians. But someone with Flagg's level of charisma had to leave a trail.

[torchwoodsheart]

"From what I can tell... he seems to have come out of nowhere. No previous political campaigns, businesses..." She sighs, glancing at the newspapers again in a combination of disgust and frustration. "I don't think he's from around here, if you know what I mean..."

Someone who comes out of nowhere like that, and gets power so quickly... Her instinct is wanderer, but maybe she's seeing things that aren't there. Jumping at shadows. It wouldn't be out of the question, considering the year she's had...

[duology]

Dev smiles. "Oh, I do, miss, no worries there. A man from beyond, then, and with considerable amounts of charisma. Hard for someone like that to go unnoticed, no? Harder still to leap into the frame out of nowhere, and stay there."

It points to power of some kind. If it were New Babylon, Dev would say a magus or psychic, or a combination of both. A good and proper telepath could make mind-bending look like charisma; get into your head and change the way you think, and you'd never notice.

This isn't New Babylon, to be sure, but Chicago is proving to be far more interesting in many ways. Though Dev has yet to see it as being much more dangerous.

[torchwoodsheart]

"Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking it," Gwen mutters, grimacing a little in annoyance. "You would think it would be a bit more subtle, at least..."

But on the other hand, it's only this obvious when you know what you're looking for, and with the majority of Chicago so hell-bent on ignoring everything that's happening here... It's like Cardiff. People try so hard to pretend everything's alright and normal and safe, they stop noticing even the most blatant evidence that it really, really isn't.

[duology]

"Well, I must admit, where I come from one had to learn to take everything with a grain or two of salt. I might be slightly more suspicious than most."

Dev and Ace had lived their lives being borderline paranoid. In the long run, it was little more than a survival tactic.

[torchwoodsheart]

Gwen's lips twitched in a faint smirk. "Isn't that a rule of thumb when it comes to politics in general?" Though she gets paranoia. Certain other members of Torchwood are more susceptible to it than she is, but... "He does seem a very... persuasive speaker." Even if it is by psychic manipulation...

[duology]

"Not just politics, I'm afraid."

Persuasive, charismatic, charming, mysterious. Completely untrustworthy. Dev and Ace will have to keep an eye on him.

"I wonder, I wonder," Dev mutters, propping his chin in his hand. "Perhaps he didn't always go by the name Randall Flagg."

[torchwoodsheart]

Gwen frowns a moment, glancing to the paper she's kept by her, the new one with Flagg's picture on it, and she lets out a breath. "That's... actually not a bad point. I'll..." There have to be ways she can track that down. She remembers a post on the journals, a few months ago...

"Thank you," she murmurs to him, and pushes herself to her feet. "I have to go now." She's already moving for the door.

[duology]

"Hm? Oh, well..." She's already getting up before he can fully form the sentence. Clearly she has just thought of something.

"Oh, a moment..." Dev twists around in his chair before she reaches the door. "Can I get your name, please? I'd love to hear about it if you find anything. I'm Dev--Dev Caulfield."

[torchwoodsheart]

Gwen pauses, turning back to face him with a little smile. "Gwen. Gwen Cooper. Nice to meet you, Dev."

[duology]

He smiles broadly and nods. "Nice to meet you too, Gwen Cooper. Hope you find that X."