[writers_muses] 110.9: Divide et impera
This is based off some private AIM logs I've been working with gene_driver's mun that I've gotten pretty fond of. This is, of course, unter_allen's expanded mafia universe, and therefore a chance for me to play around with everyone I can. A lot of love goes out to king_atheart's mun who planted mere existance of the Hub in my brain. And of course to nottheherotype's mun for the nearly perpetual permission to yoink Tony when I need to.
Divide et impera - Divide and Rule
“I don’t believe you just did that.”
Sariel’s employer laughed slightly and turned the page of his morning newspaper. “Why ever not?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, “Couldn’t possibly because we know for a fact he’s selling us out to those idiots down at the Hub which means anyone who wants information on us can get it. Oh, could it be because he’s taking advantage of your generosity? No, it’s because he’s an obnoxious little brat who doesn’t even bother lying about what a scheming bastard he is! Even better, he’s-“
Lucifer folded his paper and placed it down on the kitchen table. “And what would you have done with Mr. Ahteride you were in my position?”
“Given him a damn good torture session, for starters. Maybe just let Altair have some fun. Not take him into my goddamn house, tend to his wounds and let him stay the night without any repercussions whatsoever!”
A smile played on Lucifer’s lips as he watched her gesture wildly as she spoke. Sariel had a terrible habit of getting worked up over the smallest things, especially when she precieved the actions in question as a threat to him when it really wasn’t. In many ways, he found it endearing. “I would have gained nothing by his death. And yes, the boy does occasionally take advantage of me, I’ve learned a bit about his home situation, and I don’t mind.”
“So what, you’re just gonna keep giving him jobs while he’s selling information back to Harkness and Winchester - putting the entire family at risk?”
“Something like that.”
That caused Sariel to take a beat before firing back with a, “How does that even make any sense?!”
Lucifer stood up and walked over to his beloved coffee maker and poured himself another cup into his mug that was twice the size of what any normal vessel for holding the substance should be. “Because,” he said. “Knowing what he is doing means we can manipulate the information being given.”
“But to what extent? You can’t change the interior of say, Tony’s house.”
He leaned back against the counter, ignoring her second question. “Think of it like this. We now know what Kresnik has been feeding to those two idiot goons being paid by the Suoh family. By knowing that, we know what our enemies know of us. Means we can fix up those problems and will have motivation to do so quickly.”
Sariel groaned and began to rub at the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me that you’re at least going to inform Mr Stark about the information leak.”
“Tony? Nah.” Lucifer shrugged and took another sip of the coffee. “He doesn’t need to know.”
“Doesn’t need to kn-“
“When I say that, bear in mind that Tony already had his suspicions and agreed to hire Kresnik anyway, mostly because his work is fairly inexpensive. We can’t be sending you and Altair out all the time. Loyalty isn’t cheap here, and you’re both as loyal as it gets. A bit of a saving grace for your respective moralities, I feel.” He paused. “Honestly, around here, if you’re working the mafia and haven’t pledged to a family, this sort of behaviour is almost guaranteed to happen.”
“So you what, decided to not have him killed to fuck with him?” Sariel stared at Lucifer, incredulous.
“In so many words.” He finished the mug’s contents and proceeded to walk over to the sink, rinsing it out. “But also to remind him that I ultimately have the power of life and death over him.”
She simply nodded. Sariel knew that a good deal of mafia life was nothing but elaborate deception, but had forgotten that quite a bit of it also relied on cruelty for sport.
“Really,” Lucifer rolled his eyes, placing the mug in the dish washer. “Five years on the job and you haven’t learned that.” Once the mug was put away, he closed the machine and turned it on. “Anyway, I need you to get the car running in ten. I’ve got public relations shit for Stark Industries to handle today, and Tony’ll have my head if I’m late.”
“Because he plans on being late?”
He laughed slightly, “Wouldn’t be Tony otherwise.”
And with that said, Lucifer headed out of the kitchen in order to put on one of his better suits, leaving his bodyguard to sit and puzzle out why exactly this much deceit had been bothered with for one, insignificant hit man.
Word count: 749
Divide et impera - Divide and Rule
“I don’t believe you just did that.”
Sariel’s employer laughed slightly and turned the page of his morning newspaper. “Why ever not?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, “Couldn’t possibly because we know for a fact he’s selling us out to those idiots down at the Hub which means anyone who wants information on us can get it. Oh, could it be because he’s taking advantage of your generosity? No, it’s because he’s an obnoxious little brat who doesn’t even bother lying about what a scheming bastard he is! Even better, he’s-“
Lucifer folded his paper and placed it down on the kitchen table. “And what would you have done with Mr. Ahteride you were in my position?”
“Given him a damn good torture session, for starters. Maybe just let Altair have some fun. Not take him into my goddamn house, tend to his wounds and let him stay the night without any repercussions whatsoever!”
A smile played on Lucifer’s lips as he watched her gesture wildly as she spoke. Sariel had a terrible habit of getting worked up over the smallest things, especially when she precieved the actions in question as a threat to him when it really wasn’t. In many ways, he found it endearing. “I would have gained nothing by his death. And yes, the boy does occasionally take advantage of me, I’ve learned a bit about his home situation, and I don’t mind.”
“So what, you’re just gonna keep giving him jobs while he’s selling information back to Harkness and Winchester - putting the entire family at risk?”
“Something like that.”
That caused Sariel to take a beat before firing back with a, “How does that even make any sense?!”
Lucifer stood up and walked over to his beloved coffee maker and poured himself another cup into his mug that was twice the size of what any normal vessel for holding the substance should be. “Because,” he said. “Knowing what he is doing means we can manipulate the information being given.”
“But to what extent? You can’t change the interior of say, Tony’s house.”
He leaned back against the counter, ignoring her second question. “Think of it like this. We now know what Kresnik has been feeding to those two idiot goons being paid by the Suoh family. By knowing that, we know what our enemies know of us. Means we can fix up those problems and will have motivation to do so quickly.”
Sariel groaned and began to rub at the bridge of her nose. “Please tell me that you’re at least going to inform Mr Stark about the information leak.”
“Tony? Nah.” Lucifer shrugged and took another sip of the coffee. “He doesn’t need to know.”
“Doesn’t need to kn-“
“When I say that, bear in mind that Tony already had his suspicions and agreed to hire Kresnik anyway, mostly because his work is fairly inexpensive. We can’t be sending you and Altair out all the time. Loyalty isn’t cheap here, and you’re both as loyal as it gets. A bit of a saving grace for your respective moralities, I feel.” He paused. “Honestly, around here, if you’re working the mafia and haven’t pledged to a family, this sort of behaviour is almost guaranteed to happen.”
“So you what, decided to not have him killed to fuck with him?” Sariel stared at Lucifer, incredulous.
“In so many words.” He finished the mug’s contents and proceeded to walk over to the sink, rinsing it out. “But also to remind him that I ultimately have the power of life and death over him.”
She simply nodded. Sariel knew that a good deal of mafia life was nothing but elaborate deception, but had forgotten that quite a bit of it also relied on cruelty for sport.
“Really,” Lucifer rolled his eyes, placing the mug in the dish washer. “Five years on the job and you haven’t learned that.” Once the mug was put away, he closed the machine and turned it on. “Anyway, I need you to get the car running in ten. I’ve got public relations shit for Stark Industries to handle today, and Tony’ll have my head if I’m late.”
“Because he plans on being late?”
He laughed slightly, “Wouldn’t be Tony otherwise.”
And with that said, Lucifer headed out of the kitchen in order to put on one of his better suits, leaving his bodyguard to sit and puzzle out why exactly this much deceit had been bothered with for one, insignificant hit man.
Word count: 749