WHO: EDDIE NYGMA and OPEN.
WHERE: All over the City, just tag in your position.
WHEN: Between October 25, 2011 and October 29th, 2011.
WARNINGS: Will edit... In case... Well.
SUMMARY: I'm sure there's someone who wants to hit him, or something.
FORMAT: Tagger's choice.
(
It is a very sad thing that nowadays there is so little useless information. )
Which meant lots of work, and lots of the bossman coming in, which was what Wednesday was like, wherein Mitch didn't even knock before striding into Edward's office, one hand holding his Blackberry, the other holding onto a thick sheaf of papers.
Reply
He put a hand on his hip. "You know, you're not encouraging me to take a vacation, and I haven't been on one in years. It was bad enough back when I was mayor back home, let alone what could happen if I left here."
Reply
He flashed a grin, suddenly, offering an inside beat of the joke.
"You should consider adequate backup, after this mess concludes. Powers or not, you're only human. And humans are only mortal -- for the most part."
Reply
"Or are you afraid I'm going to set my sights somewhere else and leave the City all by itself?" He wouldn't, not really. It would have to be a cold day in hell before he considered leaving for the higher territory, at least here. Maybe because being in one DC was enough, or maybe it was sentiment. Or law. There were any number of reasons. "Maybe give you this fucking job. I'm sure you'd love it."
Reply
Eddie leveled a glare, keeping Mitch's attention captive.
"You must implement some strategy of government to fill the void you'd leave. Some degree of structure -- Or yes, someone will take advantage of that vacuum," he said with gravity. "Someone like, perhaps, a Vulcanus agent."
The hypothetical, though spoken idly, was heavy in imagination.
"Do you even have any idea of what to do, if these variables aligned?"
Reply
"Shit, you just had to bring that kind of possibility into play, didn't you?" he finally began after a few moments of silence. "Of course I've put thought into it, but things like this, they have structure. It doesn't matter if we're in a fake New York City, we've still got traditions and laws," he paused, and finally his eyes slid from the carpet to the man behind his desk. Connection made.
"You're saying you don't trust the people in line, aren't you?"
Reply
Eddie snorted, his disdain evident.
"It's my job to consider these possibilities. You pay me to think for you." Harshly phrased. "No, I don't trust anyone on your staff. Because -- unlike myself -- they salivate for your position. I'll be the first to say I've never envisioned a political career for myself." A lengthy pause followed. "What bleaker honesty can you get here?"
Reply
"You're right about a few things, Edward. Everything will change, that's not up for debate. Influxes from other worlds, we're changing it, and I'm not sure if it's for the better, as depressing as it is to admit," born of experience. Of knowledge he didn't share. "Shit, I'll even agree that the people around here probably want the job, but do you really think any of them are going to go so far as to pull the assassination route? They know it doesn't work, not against imports." He didn't want to ( ... )
Reply
He flashed a smile, something cutting and unnerving in context.
"So, tell me: what are your backup plans? Who do you trust? What's to prevent a child from ruling in your place because you're reduced to suckling your thumb for some inane, City-wide reason?"
Reply
He knew what this was. He did. Mitchell knew what it was like to be backed in a corner, and Edward was pushing, hard. Then again, he knew what every action was. Each biting, scathing comment, actions like just a few moments ago, hinting, promising that with one question, Edward could easily ruin him. A man with the power of truth at his fingertips. Power was what all men sought, and ex-supervillains probably strove for it more than ex-superheroes ( ... )
Reply
Eddie was gathering his intel.
"Are you asking me?" The question was spoken softly. "Are you asking me to tell you who you trust? Because I can easily -- effortlessly -- discover. I can know the reality of those who claim loyalty to you."
He knew how tempting that would sound.
Reply
"I know you can," he focused on the closest clock. The constant, jarring noise, white noise for as long as he could distract himself, he focused on it. Let the mundane noise of a timepiece wash over him, distract him.
Edward could tell him. Edward knew just as instinctively as he could tell what every watch thought. God, it was tempting. He didn't trust anyone, but he could figure out who wouldn't betray him. Who he could trust.
"Who? I need to know."
Reply
"We can't do it here. Someone could be watching."
It would benefit Eddie, of course. Knowing who Mitch would trust -- it was impossible to divine that information without his presence. That was the beauty of his power.
He was the crucial, knowing element.
Reply
Wasn't he always? It was a sad fucking world when the goddamn Riddler was the one with the truth in his hands, and when despite his actions, despite the obvious manipulation, he couldn't back off. He was right.
"Fair enough. We wouldn't want anyone getting wind of who's actually trustworthy around here. Shit, you never know, it could be their lives at stake."
Reply
He withdrew his hand, smirking. Mitch had pulled back. Mitch had folded.
"We'll do it some place quiet. Some place you believe in."
Reply
"I can think of a place," he mentioned, biting back some retort about religion. No need to add more fuel to the fire.
Reply
Leave a comment