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 Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 11:02 am
A better person would've argued Ashanite's insistence that it had been his own fault. Quartz, in fact, in a better state might've even made a case for it . . . but in Ashanite, he saw instead a reflection of himself, and he understood this much: "It happened to you because you were weak." He shook his head, discouraged by how useless his advice had been. "That's knowledge you'll have to live with. Just don't do anything stupid that'll make your position even weaker. Get stronger as fast as you can, and most people will have to leave you alone." He cocked his head to the side. "If you want into the Intel branch, you'll have an easier time if you can finish out some missions. Stop by my office some time, if you want -- I've got a few folders that look like real softballs I could lob your way." It was okay to help Ashanite now, as long as he was helping him become a better officer. He wouldn't get in trouble for that. For once, what he was allowed to do was what he wanted to do.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 3:28 pm
Quartz was right, more right than he realized. Yes, Ashanite had corrupted because he was weak - because as long as he was a Knight with nothing but a wand and unknown magic to defend against people who could reach into your chest and rip out your soul, he would be too weak to survive.
Assimilation or death, Laurelite had declared when she was holding him in the air like a trophy. From everything he had seen, that was entirely true.
"That is exactly what I intend," Ashanite said, and there was a steel edge in his voice, a certainty that he probably had no right to. But damn it, he wasn't going to lay down and let himself be rolled over again. He had skipped the most difficult stage of being an officer - that meant he had the unique opportunity to do things much sooner and easier.
"I'd appreciate that, thank you," he said, and he decided that it would be very much to his advantage to continue to be on friendly terms with Quartz, if the man could send assignments his way. "I'm working on something, but it's a bit..." He wiggled his fingers, briefly. "Complicated. Chasing things that are a little simpler would be nice in between."
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 4:14 pm
"It's no trouble," Quartz said. Very nearly as quickly, however, one of the bees on Quartz's shoulder spoke. " What will you do," it said, and then, in a second voice, " for us?" The third voice it spoke in was Ashanite's own, his English accent as crisp as it had been from Ashanite's own mouth. " Apparently there's an equivalency to these things." Quartz rolled his eyes, as if to say, chagrined, cats.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 5:30 pm
All-One was unsettling as all hell, Ashanite decided. Having his own voice repeated back to him so perfectly was flat-out eerie. But the creature did raise a fair question. Quartz was offering to help advance him - an offer he would, Ashanite was sure, someday regret.
"Is there something I can do for you? I can start passing you information, if I find anything particularly interesting," he offered. "You're putting yourself out for me, and I'd feel awful if UI didn't even try to return the favor."
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Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2015 9:53 am
Quartz shrugged. He hadn't been expecting remuneration of any kind, and -- remarkably -- didn't find himself all that bothered by the prospect of not being repaid, for once. It wasn't Ashanite's idea to be in the Negaverse. He didn't want to be here. He was a decent kid. Quartz couldn't summon any anger or resentment for that. " Yes. And -- take me with you -- " All-One provided its own suggestion. " -- on missions -- Quartz -- gives you. He can -- summon -- me. I'll be -- quiet as a mouse." A buzzing, disembodied laugh followed this.
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 1:01 am
Ashanite fully intended to insist on offering something, because it felt wholly unfair to be the only one benefitting from this arrangement. But at least there was something, even if it wasn't entirely to his tastes - being followed around might make things harder, but then, the face he was presenting to Quartz was the exact same one he was presenting to Order, and if anyone would understand the importance of playing as nice as possible to get information, it would be a man who had set himself up in the Intelligence branch.
"That would be no trouble," he agreed, "and would make reports easier, I imagine. Thank you, All-One." Be as polite as possible to the most useful creature he had yet encountered.
"And Quartz - please, let me know if there is ever anything else I can do to help you."
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 9:41 am
Quartz nodded. "There aren't many sane people in this organization." He gave a soft smile -- small, fleeting, genuine -- he'd almost forgotten how -- and put out his hand. "It'll be nice to have at least one to talk to. Take care of yourself, Ashanite. Stay sharp." All-One snorted.
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Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2015 11:17 pm
Quartz was usually so grim - to actually elicit what looked to be a very genuine smile felt like a sincere victory. Ashanite accepted the offered hand, and squeezed, briefly. "I'm glad we ran into each other again," he said. "And thank you. I'll drop by your office soon."
It was a stroke of the best luck he could have asked for, really. But there was always more to do - and so he gave Quartz a last wave, and then bounced off the edge of the roof, landing gracefully below.
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