Day 28: Bus 1

[accursed_rock]

Zelgadis was not happy, at all. Not that this was any change, but the events of the past few hours had given him more to angst about than usual. Nightshift had been dreadful: first he was attacked by a small green man and then covered in leeches, neither of which lead to warm fuzzy feelings

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[zeus_incarnate]

Statesman found the new clothes he had been provided weren't too bad... The shirt was just a little tight around his shoulders, and the sweater that had come along with the close had like-wise been just a little small on his large frame.

But if they had trouble getting clothes that fit him properly, he had to wonder what they would stick Recluse in. Of course, he hoped he wouldn't have to be trapped on a bus with that psychopath.

Statesman was willing to work with Recluse at night, but he wanted him to stay away during the day.

Marcus took one of the window seats near the front of the bus and stared at his muffin and juice box. They expected that to substitute for breakfast?

[tartaros_avatar]

If Landel's was supposedly such a well-funded institute, why did they give him a pair of old jeans and a muscle shirt for today? And a jacket, which really didn't fit at all. It was fairly consistent with what had been his normal attire... back in 1916.

At least he had someone to antagonize this morning. Forgoing any other options, Recluse sat down next to Marcus. "We really shouldn't have spent so much time waiting for your friends. Nothing important got done."

Hello, my name is Stefan Richter, and I'm here to ruin your day.

[zeus_incarnate]

It was almost like old times. Seeing Recluse dressed like that... that was not the sort of clothing that fit with the image of Lord Recluse, but it was exactly the sort of thing Stefan had worn when they had been teenagers working on the docks together.

Marcus couldn't refute that nothing had gotten done, because it hadn't...

"I wouldn't call making dangerous chemical weapons important, Recluse."

[tartaros_avatar]

"Finding the basement isn't important? I have a very good idea of where it's hidden." And making phosgene is important. Marcus was just too prudish about everything.

"I get the most work done when I only deal with one person or go by myself at night." Large groups just attracted complications. Just like at home, really. Arachnos had a reputation for incredible efficiency, but that only held up if you didn't look on a case-by-case basis.

[zeus_incarnate]

"We should find the basement," Marcus agreed. "I only said that making chemical weapons isn't important."

And here he went, trying to get Statesman alone. Possibly because that would be faster, or maybe so he could attack him without anyone else to get in the way.

"Maybe you should go by yourself, then."

[tartaros_avatar]

Recluse sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. Irritation was making his sunlight-induced headache worse.

The exasperation was real, but the reason for it was feigned. "I'm genuinely trying to help you, Marcus, whether you believe me or not."

...He was trying to help the man, but he had more than a few ulterior motives. He wasn't going to mention those.

[zeus_incarnate]

"I don't believe you. I will admit, you did give me a few weapons, so that's one point in your favor..." But Recluse was going to make chemical weapons.

"But I know how convincing you can act when you want to," That was the trouble with being such a skilled liar, when you genuinely wanted people to believe you, they had no way to tell if it was an act or not.

Statesman stared out the window. He didn't want to look at Recluse right now, not when he looked so much like the man he had grown up beside. Of course, he could still keep an eye on him in the transparent reflection of the window.

[tartaros_avatar]

Recluse propped a knee up on the seat back in front of him--the only way it could fit in the small space--and left the other stretched out in the isle, not really caring if anyone tripped over it. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes to give them a rest from the sunlight. "If I was lying, I'd probably be trying to act perfect. And more agreeable." If he was lying badly, that is.

[zeus_incarnate]

"Timothy Benton," The name Recluse had used while they had pretended to be cops back in the late twenties. "You were an irishman and one of the best coppers in London for three years. Don't tell me you don't know how to be convincing," Marcus knew first hand how good an actor Stefan... Recluse was.

Of course, he still had no idea if this was all an act or not, but his money was on the 'act' part. Statesman did not want to make the mistake of trusting Recluse.

[tartaros_avatar]

"I can be. However, my only goal at the moment is escape. As long as you are willing to work with me, I don't care if you trust me or not." Being blunt to the point of rudeness sometimes backed up an act quite well... Maybe it would this time, as well.

[zeus_incarnate]

"As long as you are only trying to escape we can work together. But I do not approve of you making chemical weapons," Since Recluse probably didn't have the proper things to contain it and use it safely. Not that there was ever a truly safe way to use chemical weapons.

Statesman was not desperate enough to consider chemical weapons an option.

[tartaros_avatar]

"Of course you don't approve of it. It isn't exactly a heroic thing to do, is it? I'm using what materials are available." When it came to being a villain, those with morals need not apply. "I've already made thermite here, among other things." And he had a plan for a viable way to set it off at a lower temperature than would normally be possible. It just meant producing a chemical through an absurdly simple process...

[zeus_incarnate]

Thermite. For some reason, Marcus was not surprised. The people running this place must not have known what they were signing up for when they brought Recluse here.

It would be a better idea to keep a close eye on Recluse and risk being betrayed than to let him wander on his own.

He needed to make sure Recluse didn't hurt any innocent patients when he set his plans in motion.

[tartaros_avatar]

Recluse decided not to say anything more unless Marcus really wanted to talk, crossing his arms over his chest and closing his eyes. Not only did that mean that he didn't have to deal with the full force of the sunlight, but he also didn't have to look at Marcus. Which was always a plus.

[zeus_incarnate]

Statesman tried not to notice the reflection of Recluse any more, paying it only the smallest amount of attention.

He looked so much like Stefan again, and Marcus once again had to wonder why Stefan had turned on him like that. Had it been Tartaros that corrupted him like this?

Then again... Marcus had to admit that he could very well have ended up just as evil as Stefan had. He had even come face to face with that darker version of himself.

"You couldn't have been missing that long. You're probably the Recluse of another dimension." One that was only slightly different than his own.

[tartaros_avatar]

Recluse sighed. "Why would it matter? only minor details would be changed." He opened his eyes slightly, gaze flicking over to Marcus before starring at the ceiling. "In any case, I could list off the coordinates for Primal Earth, and the future opened up for Operation: DESTINY."

He didn't mention again that he could be gone for that long without anyone's notice. No reason to say anything more.