Putting the Screws to Her

[pryce_the_elder]

MacInnes, one of the more promising new recruits into the revitalised Watchers' Council, all but burst into my office unannounced. My mouth had opened, a stern rebuke against the young man's apparent ignorance of even the most basic of polite manners, but the frantic excitement in his expression stilled my tongue, for the moment.

"Mister Wyndam-

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[pryce_the_elder]

The vampire called Harmony regarded me with a disdainful, almost exasperated expression in place. No doubt, I assured myself, it was a case of her innate demonic sense of superiority, that damnable arrogance that almost every supernatural being seemed to carry, as if their extranormal nature were something that placed them on a pedestal above the rest of the world's inhabitants. It was one of the traits I disliked the most about vampires and demons in general.

"Umm, hello. Has anyone ever told ya that you suck at all this. Not vampire suck, just suck suck."

Interesting. Harmony was already resorting to an attempt to belittle my interrogation skills. It was almost humourous, considering the number of individuals-- demonic, human and otherwise-- I'd 'convinced' to cooperate with the Council on numerous occasions.

"Oh, I assure you, Ms. Kendall," I replied as dryly as I could muster, "that we have just begun the proceedings in this interrogation."

Confidence, Roger, I reminded myself. You might be well past your prime for a human, but your will and your intellect are beyond reproach and second to very well none. I needed to show the monster nothing but strength, confidence and determination. In the end, I would certainly prevail.

"Was there like, something you wanted? Not that I am giving up anything or... anything."

Hmmm. Curious. It was an unusal move to broach the subject of what I as the interrogator was after. It almost seemed as if Harmony were actually encouraging me-- or more in line with the vampire's vicious, deceitful nature, encouraging me-- to open up that line of questioning. Once more, I wondered at the demon's plan for this encounter, and what further subterfuge might await me.

"We'll see just what you will and won't tell me. I can be more persuasive than you probably imagine. So," I began, settling into my seat and giving the vampire an illusion of a casual relaxation, "let's begin with you and what you're doing in London at the moment. Also, are you here by yourself, or have you already begun to gather minions?"

[dis_harmony]

"Oh, I assure you, Ms. Kendall, that we have just begun the proceedings in this interrogation."

Ok! So this was much, MUCH better. He was all growly so I could be all 'Oooooooooo'. See! Look how well I Oooooooo. Aren't you all OHHHHHHHH over my Oooooooo?

Cause ya should be! I know that I am. And if I am, then you are. And he is. Cause that is just the way it goes. Coming here was such a great idea!

"We'll see just what you will and won't tell me. I can be more persuasive than you probably imagine."

Even more growling and being all stern! This was excellent. I went to clap my hands happily, only to hit full-on pout when I rememered that my hands were cuffed. Ya know, I remember these things being a lot more fun! Still, things were going much better.

I flipped my hair and flashed the old guy a grin.

"So, let's begin with you and what you're doing in London at the moment. Also, are you here by yourself, or have you already begun to gather minions?"

I paused to take a better look around me.

"This is London?" It was so hard keeping up, ya know? I followed the fun and as long as it didn't go and stop on me where I was didn't so much matter. You only needed the name when it got to the part about complaining. "And I got over that minion thing a long tme ago, ok?" I leaned forward as far as I could, deciding to share my hard-learned wisom. "They suck. Especially the part where they want to be paid."

[pryce_the_elder]

It seemed that I had finally gotten the vampire's full attention. Perhaps now that I'd put my foot down and informed the creature that I would brook no stonewalling of this interrogation, it had decided that I was now a worthy opponent for further obfuscation and mental manoevering. In any case, the eyes of the vampire called Harmony were now wide with attentiveness and were very tightly focused on my own. Now I could really get to work.

I spoke again, and I was surprised to see the focused attentiveness turn into a smile. A smile? What in the world would Harmony have to smile about at that moment? The question began to itch in the back of my mind.

"This is London?"

"It is," I replied, more than a little confused by the question.

Retreating a bit from the interrogation table, out from under the single, harsh light, I gave myself over to thought, to analysing the intelligence my men had gathered on this vampire. What was her game, what strategy was she employing to get the better of me?

"And I got over that minion thing a long tme ago, ok? They suck. Especially the part where they want to be paid."

One eyebrow cocked at the very idea of a more powerful vampire actually employing minions, rather than attracting and holding them by the force of his or her age-earned willpower. The concept of paying for loyalty among that division of the supernatural was all but unheard of.

Absently, I scratched at my beard, lost deep in thought. Harmony remained looking back at me with a deceptively blank expression pasted expertly across her face. I stared into those would-be empty orbs for a long minute, attempting to fathom the depths of Harmony's machinations.

At last, I tumbled to the key, and cursed myself for a fool for not having understood it earlier.

It was an act. A ruse. Harmony was feigning ignorance and ineptitude during this interrogation not because of some specific intent, but because she was simply enjoying the farce.

I was being toyed with.

Well, that would be quite enough of that. I waved toward the hidden closed-circuit camera in the corner of the room, and immediately, we were joined by several burly Council operatives.

"Remove Ms. Kendall's restraints and release her. We're quite sorry for the inconvenience."

I turned and left the room. Moments later, I ordered the tightest, most thorough surveillance be placed upon Harmony. She'd had her fun trying to outsmart the mortal, and sooner or later, she would no doubt return to her scheming and then we would have her.

Who'll be the smart one then, eh?