Post by The Greater Evil on Aug 5, 2009 21:56:52 GMT -5
Dirge: Did she now ?
Dirge lowered the newspaper that he was reading and looked over it at Erik with a slightly raised eyebrow. One could tell from the positioning of them that it wasn’t a look of frustration or annoyance, more a one of calculated amusement…almost appreciation. Erik observed this, completely unphased by the reaction. After a moment Dirge calmly folded the paper and placed it down in front of him on the table. He looked calmly at Erik for a moment before looking past him at the spacious back yard of his rather expensive home, his right hand to his clean shaven chin with the pointer finger tapping thoughtfully against it every few moments. He was silent for a few more moments before speaking again, his voice calm and measured.
Dirge: Tell me again what she said…
Erik waited for Dirge’s cool and self-assured stare to fall back to him and then continued, his tone measured and exact…betraying his military experience.
Erik: She referred to you as a “liability” to the team…the “weak link” and tried to tell the Irishman that you are confusing him…playing head games and therefore unreliable. She attempted to persuade him to have you removed from The Covenant, even going to far as to assert that she had spoken to the “other” Raenius and that it had at least tacitly listened to her.
A slow grin crossed Dirge’s face, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He paused for another moment before responding to Erik, his tone and the grin on his face reflecting each other perfectly.
Dirge: I would presume that he not so politely to “shove it”.
Erik nodded his head slowly in response, the non verbal cue revealing the answer before the verbal had a chance to be uttered.
Erik:Da. I believe the exact nomenclature that the Irishman used was “fuck off”…after reminding her with great assertion that he considers you a brother. She seemed very displeased, if not outright disgusted by the response.
This time a slow chuckle escaped his lips, a low rumbling noise that almost resembled distant thunder.
Dirge: That sounds like Raenius.
Erik wasted little time in offering a solution to the problem.
Erik:Shall I find a way to neutralize her before she can become a larger problem for you ?
Once again Dirge laughed, this time loudly and for a good amount of time before responding.
Dirge: No my friend, that will not be necessary. Let this play out as it must. Trust me when I say that I have that situation well in hand. As far as Raenius goes, he won’t turn his back on me and he knows that I am equally as loyal to him. Even his “Dhar” side understands that, even if “it”, as little as I believe in the necessity of it, doesn’t care for my attitude towards it. From one dark spirited being to another we understand the mutual use that we pose to each other…as well as the fact that we do not wish to see Raenius be destroyed. Obviously the interest of that side of him is purely selfish for obvious reasons.
Erik cocked his head to one side in an inquisitive manner, his eyes somewhat narrow and curious.
Erik: And yours ?
Dirge grinned at the candor in his friends’ query, clearly taking no offense in it and understanding the intent in which it was posed.
Dirge: That’s simple my friend. On a personal level, a man of my…questionable moral standard…has very few genuine friends. When another acquaints themselves with you and accepts you as one of their own, making it obvious that they not only do not judge you for who you are, but would lay down their life for you regardless of your nature…that is the sort of person that you mutually and willingly lay down your life for when the time comes. I would do the same for Chassie…even Mickey and Klaus. When Raenius called me his “brother” I consider that a compliment and think of him in the same way. That my friend is why I don’t consider Nyx to be a genuine threat.
Erik shook his head in understanding before posing his next query.
Erik: Do you not think that she could none the less be a problem ? She seems the persistent type.
Dirge: Oh, she most assuredly is. She will continue to prod, push and needle. She will continue to agitate, obfuscate and denigrate. In so doing she will very likely alienate Raenius even further. I suspect that after a time that even his so called “Dhar” will tire of her ceaseless meddling and incessant prattling. Raenius may not be willing to consider what I say about his “distractions” now…in time though he will come to understand that I am right. Eventually the killer in him will listen to me. Nyx cannot affect that. I want only what is best for him…she cannot say the same.
Erik nodded his head again before looking thoughtfully at the Covenant’s colossus.
Erik: What of Syn ?
This time it was Dirge’s turn to look with confusion at his friend.
Dirge: What of her ?
Erik paused as if considering his words carefully, and not because English was his second language and occasional enemy still. He stepped off of the porch and stood at the bottom of the short, richly stained stairs and looked off into the distance. Dirge took the cue, standing up from the expensive deck chair and signaling to someone. Moments later a man in a dark blue suit appeared at his side. Dirge handed him the newspaper and spoke to him briefly in what sounded like Russian. The man nodded his head and turned back towards the house before opening the sliding door and disappearing from sight. Dirge covered the distance down the stairs easily and came to stand next to Erik. The two men stood silently for a moment before Dirge spoke first.
Dirge: What of Syn ?
Again the stoic Russian paused to seemingly consider his words, although Erik was the type who always knew exactly what he wanted to say. The phrase “lost in translation” was at times a very apt description of his use of English. He began to walk towards the woods at the far end of the lawn, his footfalls making no sound on the green grass and soft earth. Dirge followed along at his side, his hands clasped together behind his back and for once completely silent. When Erik finally began to speak his words were somewhat halting and somewhat more careful than usual.
Erik:Friend Dirge, I do not trust her.
The statement earned a chuckle of mild and appreciative amusement from Dirge. His response carried much the same tone to it.
Dirge: I can count the number of people you “trust” on one hand…not counting your hand picked Security team of course. I know that you trust them; they all fought in combat with you. Outside of them though, you’re about as trusting as I am…which isn’t saying much. What is your concern about Syn, other than that you haven’t cleared her yourself ?
Erik smiled at the statement, dropping his perpetual guard in front of one of the only people in the world that he felt comfortable showing himself to.
Erik:Well Da, there is that. Maybe I am being paranoid about it…it just seems to me that it is a little too convenient that we have Syn…the assigned protector and Nyx…the self assigned…what’s the word…
Dirge: Handler ?
Erik nodded his head assertively at the somewhat intrusive response, knowing that Dirge meant no disrespect by the interruption.
Erik: It will suffice.
Dirge holds a hand out, both as a semi mock bow and as a gesture for his friend to continue with his train of thought. Overhead a Hawk soars, majestically perusing its hunting ground below for food, its eyes sharp and focused. Erik has the same look in his eyes…minus the flight of course.
Dirge: Do continue.
Erik pauses for a moment and looks up at the Hawk, his gaze focusing on it appreciatively as it drifts back and forth across the sky, effortlessly making use of the present updrafts as its source of propulsion. The two continue to walk and talk as Erik does this.
Erik:I state the obvious by saying that I already know that Nyx cannot be trusted. That woman is dangerous and the prudent course of action would be to neuter her.
The use of the term that is most often associated with the procedure that is done on animals to inhibit breeding and the spawning of progeny causes Dirge to raise a curious eyebrow and look quizzically at his friend. Erik doesn’t seem to notice this.
Dirge:Perhaps you mean “neutralize” her ? We’ve had this conversation…explain to me what this has to do with Syn in that ever conspiratorial mind of yours.
Erik continues to view the Hawk, his stride never quickening or slowing as he does so.
Erik: Syn, quite simply, is a “wild card”. We know nothing about her, other than that she was assigned to guard Raenius by his associates known only as “The Order”…which as I recall is shorthand for “Order of Chaos”. That is the name that I recall anyway, I could be mistaken in that belief.
Dirge turns his gaze from Erik to the border of the woods, which are by now perhaps less than one quarter of a mile away. They look dark, ominous and foreboding…as if no light can penetrate the canopy that is created by the assortment of large trees that comprise the massive woodland area.
Dirge: No, I believe that you’re correct in that title. Do continue.
The two men step into the woods and continue their talk in an environment that is so devoid of light that it almost seems as if it was born of the mind of a horror writer.
Erik: Is that alone not enough cause for concern ? How do we know she is not a threat to us or The Covenant. How do we know that she is not just as bad as Nyx is, but just better at hiding it ? It may not be the same type of control as what Nyx tries to have…but control is control all the same.
Dirge shakes his head in agreement before responding.
Dirge:Very true. The counter to that is that while I myself haven’t looked much into Syn’s past just yet, I know that she was very thoroughly researched by The Order and is therefore accountable to them. I admit that I haven’t had much involvement with The Order, conversely though I do realize a well run organization when I see one and, in addition to that they did have talent like Bryson on their roll; as well as Raenius and that by itself says a lot. Syn could be a threat, but I don’t get the feeling that she is. If the Order has her assigned to Raenius it is genuinely to look out for him. Nyx is only there because she can use her connection to Raenius’ former manager to attach herself to him like a parasite and suck the life from him. From what I’ve seen Syn doesn’t care much for Nyx and the two rarely deal with each other.
Erik nodded his head, although it didn’t seem as if the response did much to assuage his concerns.
Dirge: By all means look into her background. You know I won’t take issue with that. It is always better to be as prepared as one can be after all. One’s friend can become one’s enemy rapidly, and vice versa. I don’t think that Syn is a threat to Raenius. This doesn’t mean that I trust her, far from it…but she is one who will be much easier to work with. At worst we can play she and Nyx off of each other. As long as I’m able and around to find out from Raenius what they’re telling him, I can enact spin control. If worse comes to worse we can always find a way to remove Nyx from the equation. Syn might be a bit harder due to her association with The Order, that wouldn’t stop them from dealing with her if she became a liability.
Erik put his hand to his shaved chin thoughtfully and the two men continued to walk through the almost unnaturally dark and twisted looking woods. Finally he grunted to himself and posed another question.
Erik: I don’t assume it would be out of the question to arrange a meeting with Syn ?
Dirge grinned at the question while pushing a gnarled and almost claw like branch from in front of his face. In spite of the high canopy of trees and the ground covered in dry leaves the footfalls of neither man made any sound at all.
Dirge:Of course not. I would encourage it in fact.
Erik pauses for a moment and looks around the forest, involuntarily shivering in spite of it being a warm spring day. He looks at Dirge, his expression both curious and a bit tentative.
Erik: This is a strange and mournful feeling place friend Dirge. Why is it that you chose to walk here ? Everything here feels corrupted by death…even the trees look gnarled and warped. What is this forest and why have we never walked in it before. What happened ?
Dirge continues to tread the ground; his uncharacteristic silence and seeming reticence to answer the question are louder than any worse he could speak. When he finally does answer his response is very short.
Dirge: Something evil.
Erik stops walking and looks at Dirge quizzically, obviously deeply bothered by the use of the word “evil” by a man who many consider to be the right hand of the Devil himself.
Erik: I don’t understand…
His words trail off but he is forced to keep walking as Dirge never breaks stride…he just continues to walk, his body language oddly distant. It’s almost as if he’s fighting himself over something and trying to force himself not to retreat from it.
Dirge: Mickey isn’t the only psychopath I’ve known…
Erik answers this with an almost nervous silence as the two men continue to walk through the tortured looking woods.
Erik: Ok…I still do not understand where we are and why we are here though…
Dirge answers the question, his voice low and strong…but quieter than usual. It has a mournful, almost haunted tone to it.
Dirge:Simply…in lieu of what is going on with Klaus, Jezebel and this Salem guy…I felt it necessary to revisit something that I’d have much preferred to leave long dead. In order to understand the insane, one should tread the ground they hunted on…and found solace in.
Erik continues to walk, matching Dirge stride for stride. His face has an expression of concern and confusion on it, as he’s never heard his friend speak in such a manner before.
Erik: I still do not understand…what do Mickey, a drunk, a Cajun woman and a crazy man with a mask have to do with this poisoned place ?
The question is met with a long exhalation from Dirge, as if doing so it somehow avoiding something too painful to dig up.
Dirge:Directly…nothing. Indirectly…all too much.
Erik answers the remark with a raised eyebrow but says nothing and nearly walks into Dirge when he suddenly stops moving. He looks to see where they’ve stopped and looks at Dirge, who looks like he’s once again fighting himself about something. Erik faces forward and his gaze settles on a small, one level cabin with wind and rain faded brown clapboard siding. The windows are dark and some of them are cracked and broken in places, giving the small building an oddly menacing and broken down look. He looks back to Dirge, who just stands silently looking at the building as if something that even he hasn’t entirely rectified transpired on the other side of the weathered walls. Erik opens his mouth but never gets a word out before Dirge speaks.
Dirge: Welcome to the refuge of the damned…
End[/i]
Dirge lowered the newspaper that he was reading and looked over it at Erik with a slightly raised eyebrow. One could tell from the positioning of them that it wasn’t a look of frustration or annoyance, more a one of calculated amusement…almost appreciation. Erik observed this, completely unphased by the reaction. After a moment Dirge calmly folded the paper and placed it down in front of him on the table. He looked calmly at Erik for a moment before looking past him at the spacious back yard of his rather expensive home, his right hand to his clean shaven chin with the pointer finger tapping thoughtfully against it every few moments. He was silent for a few more moments before speaking again, his voice calm and measured.
Dirge: Tell me again what she said…
Erik waited for Dirge’s cool and self-assured stare to fall back to him and then continued, his tone measured and exact…betraying his military experience.
Erik: She referred to you as a “liability” to the team…the “weak link” and tried to tell the Irishman that you are confusing him…playing head games and therefore unreliable. She attempted to persuade him to have you removed from The Covenant, even going to far as to assert that she had spoken to the “other” Raenius and that it had at least tacitly listened to her.
A slow grin crossed Dirge’s face, his eyes gleaming with amusement. He paused for another moment before responding to Erik, his tone and the grin on his face reflecting each other perfectly.
Dirge: I would presume that he not so politely to “shove it”.
Erik nodded his head slowly in response, the non verbal cue revealing the answer before the verbal had a chance to be uttered.
Erik:Da. I believe the exact nomenclature that the Irishman used was “fuck off”…after reminding her with great assertion that he considers you a brother. She seemed very displeased, if not outright disgusted by the response.
This time a slow chuckle escaped his lips, a low rumbling noise that almost resembled distant thunder.
Dirge: That sounds like Raenius.
Erik wasted little time in offering a solution to the problem.
Erik:Shall I find a way to neutralize her before she can become a larger problem for you ?
Once again Dirge laughed, this time loudly and for a good amount of time before responding.
Dirge: No my friend, that will not be necessary. Let this play out as it must. Trust me when I say that I have that situation well in hand. As far as Raenius goes, he won’t turn his back on me and he knows that I am equally as loyal to him. Even his “Dhar” side understands that, even if “it”, as little as I believe in the necessity of it, doesn’t care for my attitude towards it. From one dark spirited being to another we understand the mutual use that we pose to each other…as well as the fact that we do not wish to see Raenius be destroyed. Obviously the interest of that side of him is purely selfish for obvious reasons.
Erik cocked his head to one side in an inquisitive manner, his eyes somewhat narrow and curious.
Erik: And yours ?
Dirge grinned at the candor in his friends’ query, clearly taking no offense in it and understanding the intent in which it was posed.
Dirge: That’s simple my friend. On a personal level, a man of my…questionable moral standard…has very few genuine friends. When another acquaints themselves with you and accepts you as one of their own, making it obvious that they not only do not judge you for who you are, but would lay down their life for you regardless of your nature…that is the sort of person that you mutually and willingly lay down your life for when the time comes. I would do the same for Chassie…even Mickey and Klaus. When Raenius called me his “brother” I consider that a compliment and think of him in the same way. That my friend is why I don’t consider Nyx to be a genuine threat.
Erik shook his head in understanding before posing his next query.
Erik: Do you not think that she could none the less be a problem ? She seems the persistent type.
Dirge: Oh, she most assuredly is. She will continue to prod, push and needle. She will continue to agitate, obfuscate and denigrate. In so doing she will very likely alienate Raenius even further. I suspect that after a time that even his so called “Dhar” will tire of her ceaseless meddling and incessant prattling. Raenius may not be willing to consider what I say about his “distractions” now…in time though he will come to understand that I am right. Eventually the killer in him will listen to me. Nyx cannot affect that. I want only what is best for him…she cannot say the same.
Erik nodded his head again before looking thoughtfully at the Covenant’s colossus.
Erik: What of Syn ?
This time it was Dirge’s turn to look with confusion at his friend.
Dirge: What of her ?
Erik paused as if considering his words carefully, and not because English was his second language and occasional enemy still. He stepped off of the porch and stood at the bottom of the short, richly stained stairs and looked off into the distance. Dirge took the cue, standing up from the expensive deck chair and signaling to someone. Moments later a man in a dark blue suit appeared at his side. Dirge handed him the newspaper and spoke to him briefly in what sounded like Russian. The man nodded his head and turned back towards the house before opening the sliding door and disappearing from sight. Dirge covered the distance down the stairs easily and came to stand next to Erik. The two men stood silently for a moment before Dirge spoke first.
Dirge: What of Syn ?
Again the stoic Russian paused to seemingly consider his words, although Erik was the type who always knew exactly what he wanted to say. The phrase “lost in translation” was at times a very apt description of his use of English. He began to walk towards the woods at the far end of the lawn, his footfalls making no sound on the green grass and soft earth. Dirge followed along at his side, his hands clasped together behind his back and for once completely silent. When Erik finally began to speak his words were somewhat halting and somewhat more careful than usual.
Erik:Friend Dirge, I do not trust her.
The statement earned a chuckle of mild and appreciative amusement from Dirge. His response carried much the same tone to it.
Dirge: I can count the number of people you “trust” on one hand…not counting your hand picked Security team of course. I know that you trust them; they all fought in combat with you. Outside of them though, you’re about as trusting as I am…which isn’t saying much. What is your concern about Syn, other than that you haven’t cleared her yourself ?
Erik smiled at the statement, dropping his perpetual guard in front of one of the only people in the world that he felt comfortable showing himself to.
Erik:Well Da, there is that. Maybe I am being paranoid about it…it just seems to me that it is a little too convenient that we have Syn…the assigned protector and Nyx…the self assigned…what’s the word…
Dirge: Handler ?
Erik nodded his head assertively at the somewhat intrusive response, knowing that Dirge meant no disrespect by the interruption.
Erik: It will suffice.
Dirge holds a hand out, both as a semi mock bow and as a gesture for his friend to continue with his train of thought. Overhead a Hawk soars, majestically perusing its hunting ground below for food, its eyes sharp and focused. Erik has the same look in his eyes…minus the flight of course.
Dirge: Do continue.
Erik pauses for a moment and looks up at the Hawk, his gaze focusing on it appreciatively as it drifts back and forth across the sky, effortlessly making use of the present updrafts as its source of propulsion. The two continue to walk and talk as Erik does this.
Erik:I state the obvious by saying that I already know that Nyx cannot be trusted. That woman is dangerous and the prudent course of action would be to neuter her.
The use of the term that is most often associated with the procedure that is done on animals to inhibit breeding and the spawning of progeny causes Dirge to raise a curious eyebrow and look quizzically at his friend. Erik doesn’t seem to notice this.
Dirge:Perhaps you mean “neutralize” her ? We’ve had this conversation…explain to me what this has to do with Syn in that ever conspiratorial mind of yours.
Erik continues to view the Hawk, his stride never quickening or slowing as he does so.
Erik: Syn, quite simply, is a “wild card”. We know nothing about her, other than that she was assigned to guard Raenius by his associates known only as “The Order”…which as I recall is shorthand for “Order of Chaos”. That is the name that I recall anyway, I could be mistaken in that belief.
Dirge turns his gaze from Erik to the border of the woods, which are by now perhaps less than one quarter of a mile away. They look dark, ominous and foreboding…as if no light can penetrate the canopy that is created by the assortment of large trees that comprise the massive woodland area.
Dirge: No, I believe that you’re correct in that title. Do continue.
The two men step into the woods and continue their talk in an environment that is so devoid of light that it almost seems as if it was born of the mind of a horror writer.
Erik: Is that alone not enough cause for concern ? How do we know she is not a threat to us or The Covenant. How do we know that she is not just as bad as Nyx is, but just better at hiding it ? It may not be the same type of control as what Nyx tries to have…but control is control all the same.
Dirge shakes his head in agreement before responding.
Dirge:Very true. The counter to that is that while I myself haven’t looked much into Syn’s past just yet, I know that she was very thoroughly researched by The Order and is therefore accountable to them. I admit that I haven’t had much involvement with The Order, conversely though I do realize a well run organization when I see one and, in addition to that they did have talent like Bryson on their roll; as well as Raenius and that by itself says a lot. Syn could be a threat, but I don’t get the feeling that she is. If the Order has her assigned to Raenius it is genuinely to look out for him. Nyx is only there because she can use her connection to Raenius’ former manager to attach herself to him like a parasite and suck the life from him. From what I’ve seen Syn doesn’t care much for Nyx and the two rarely deal with each other.
Erik nodded his head, although it didn’t seem as if the response did much to assuage his concerns.
Dirge: By all means look into her background. You know I won’t take issue with that. It is always better to be as prepared as one can be after all. One’s friend can become one’s enemy rapidly, and vice versa. I don’t think that Syn is a threat to Raenius. This doesn’t mean that I trust her, far from it…but she is one who will be much easier to work with. At worst we can play she and Nyx off of each other. As long as I’m able and around to find out from Raenius what they’re telling him, I can enact spin control. If worse comes to worse we can always find a way to remove Nyx from the equation. Syn might be a bit harder due to her association with The Order, that wouldn’t stop them from dealing with her if she became a liability.
Erik put his hand to his shaved chin thoughtfully and the two men continued to walk through the almost unnaturally dark and twisted looking woods. Finally he grunted to himself and posed another question.
Erik: I don’t assume it would be out of the question to arrange a meeting with Syn ?
Dirge grinned at the question while pushing a gnarled and almost claw like branch from in front of his face. In spite of the high canopy of trees and the ground covered in dry leaves the footfalls of neither man made any sound at all.
Dirge:Of course not. I would encourage it in fact.
Erik pauses for a moment and looks around the forest, involuntarily shivering in spite of it being a warm spring day. He looks at Dirge, his expression both curious and a bit tentative.
Erik: This is a strange and mournful feeling place friend Dirge. Why is it that you chose to walk here ? Everything here feels corrupted by death…even the trees look gnarled and warped. What is this forest and why have we never walked in it before. What happened ?
Dirge continues to tread the ground; his uncharacteristic silence and seeming reticence to answer the question are louder than any worse he could speak. When he finally does answer his response is very short.
Dirge: Something evil.
Erik stops walking and looks at Dirge quizzically, obviously deeply bothered by the use of the word “evil” by a man who many consider to be the right hand of the Devil himself.
Erik: I don’t understand…
His words trail off but he is forced to keep walking as Dirge never breaks stride…he just continues to walk, his body language oddly distant. It’s almost as if he’s fighting himself over something and trying to force himself not to retreat from it.
Dirge: Mickey isn’t the only psychopath I’ve known…
Erik answers this with an almost nervous silence as the two men continue to walk through the tortured looking woods.
Erik: Ok…I still do not understand where we are and why we are here though…
Dirge answers the question, his voice low and strong…but quieter than usual. It has a mournful, almost haunted tone to it.
Dirge:Simply…in lieu of what is going on with Klaus, Jezebel and this Salem guy…I felt it necessary to revisit something that I’d have much preferred to leave long dead. In order to understand the insane, one should tread the ground they hunted on…and found solace in.
Erik continues to walk, matching Dirge stride for stride. His face has an expression of concern and confusion on it, as he’s never heard his friend speak in such a manner before.
Erik: I still do not understand…what do Mickey, a drunk, a Cajun woman and a crazy man with a mask have to do with this poisoned place ?
The question is met with a long exhalation from Dirge, as if doing so it somehow avoiding something too painful to dig up.
Dirge:Directly…nothing. Indirectly…all too much.
Erik answers the remark with a raised eyebrow but says nothing and nearly walks into Dirge when he suddenly stops moving. He looks to see where they’ve stopped and looks at Dirge, who looks like he’s once again fighting himself about something. Erik faces forward and his gaze settles on a small, one level cabin with wind and rain faded brown clapboard siding. The windows are dark and some of them are cracked and broken in places, giving the small building an oddly menacing and broken down look. He looks back to Dirge, who just stands silently looking at the building as if something that even he hasn’t entirely rectified transpired on the other side of the weathered walls. Erik opens his mouth but never gets a word out before Dirge speaks.
Dirge: Welcome to the refuge of the damned…
End[/i]
