Post by "Unfettered" on Jan 15, 2013 22:47:57 GMT -8
OOC: During the 4th day of Vincent's week-long visit and the day after Mark of a God.
"Unfettered's" Post:
There would be a note slipped under the door of Delilah's room in the Crow's Nest, for whenever she came back from the more Northern zones where Marcus and his men were stationed.
Delilah's Post:
Delilah would return later in the day to her barracks, exhausted and in need of a bit of sleep. The second she got through her door however, her boot would find the little peice of paper slipped under it, sticking to her sole as if telling her that there was still much yet to be done.
She sighed and pried the paper free, lifting it to her face to read past her boot print. Instantly, fatigue left her and she spun on her heel, striding back out the door as it closed beind her with a click.
Several minutes later, Delilah would be lifting her leg to hop off the little dirt-bike she modded for herself; faster, less comfortable, but with excellent suspension and easy portability. She walked with one hand on the handlebars until the engine died, pushing down the kick stand with a practiced flick of her heel and walking the rest of the way to the plaza.
"Unfettered's" Post:
The plaza would be in what bustle that could be mounted these days. The children that were playing on the sidewalks, the Crows that were assigned to the organizing of the volunteer populace to repair, construct, and maintain the area, and what little business that could be performed.
In the plaza, a certain white-haired German would be seen, sitting at a ceramic table with four legs underneath, along with a fresh bag of coffee. Apparently, he'd gone off to do business with the owner of the "coffee shop" again. He was seen pouring over a black binder filled with papers and his scrawlings, white mug in his other hand, as he read over it carefully. There was an empty seat across from him on the other side of the table...
His eye was lucid. But for Delilah... she would be able to notice her longtime friend... and the amount of thinking that was going on behind that remaining eye.
Delilah's Post:
She slowed her approach as she spied 'Unfettered' sitting rather conspiculously at a perfectly undamaged looking table...with coffee and papers, as if he had made this place his own office.She couldn't help but smile to herself and roll her eyes a bit. She wished he wouldn't leave himself out in the open like this with no one around...she knew he could take care of himself and all, but it still irked her that her leader left cover so readily.
Quietly, she sat down across from him, pulling back the chair and sitting comfortably, eyes moving to look at the scenery quickly before resting on her friend, noting his expression.
Deep in thought. Way deep. She wouldn't be surprised if he didn't fully comprehend that she was here.
So she would wait until he was finished with his thought, lifting her arms and resting her elbows against the table while she watched him.
Unsettlingly.
"Unfettered's" Post:
...There would be no pause in their beat. The moment that Delilah had settled herself in, staring at him, he would flip the binder to a certain page, his jaw slacking as he stirred out the words.
"...It's fine, du know. At least every once in a while," he'd "resume" as if they had been talking this whole time.
Delilah's Post:
"It only takes once for it to be a problem," she replied back almost immediately, still thinking about the unnerving lack of cover. Then she blinked, realizing that there was a likely chance 'Unfettered' was not reading her mind.
"I mean...what?"
"Unfettered's" Post:
"It ist completely possible..." he continued, "Zat Ich am far safer than du realize.
"After all, you are not a robot. Nor am I. Ve have our self-appointed duties, but to constrain ourselves completely would be equally crushing to ze soul, ja?"
Beat. He'd look to the next line before bringing up the mug to his lips and sipping it again. Furitively, he looked to the left... And watched as a man in a tie and a plaid shirt seemed to resume walking after he did so.
"But zat ist vy Ich make mein coffee runs. Und I assure du Ich check ze weather patterns before Ich do.
"How are you, Delilah?" he finally smiled, lookin up and at her. His free finger seemed to be stuck at a certain line.
...The smile was one of enthusiasm. The type he had when a particular choice had to be made.
Delilah's Post:
Her eyes narrowed the teensiest iota as he spoke, following his gaze to a man wearing a garish display of clothes (Plaid and a tie?) which was already rather odd considering the apocalypse and what not (That kind of attire attracts way too much attention...). Her lips pursed slightly as she faced him again.
Weather patterns, he says. His funny way of thinking about the war? Who even made coffee in this day and age, it was near impossible to brew now, let along procure. For a moment she was lost in a tangle of thoughts before she realized "Unfettered" was looking at her now, had asked how she was. She only raised an eyebrow at him and leaned a little more across the table to examine him closer.
"Suspicious," she said without even thinking about it. Though for what reason, she could not begin to fathom...but that alone was cause enough. Her oldest friend was a tricky one. Everything he did had a reason, a cause, and effect behind it. She was ever wary to that.
And yet, he always managed to catch her by surprise.
"Otherwise, good. Yourself?"
She paid a little more attention to her surroundings now, expanding her awareness.
"Unfettered's" Post:
The details of the coffee and how the German procured a fresh bag of it were details for later... and outside of what the German was focusing on. Instead, he chuckled at Delilah's immediate response and rested down his mug on the table again.
"Currently, Ich am fine."
Smile.
The German pushed the mug of coffee towards Delilah, offering.
"Ich vas just over in ze God's territory, vith John Ong he said."
He pulled out a pen and redirected his attention temporarily down, circling the date. 2012, the current year, August, the current month...
His gaze did not waver from hers as he stared at her.
"Ich have an... offer for du."
Delilah's Post:
Her eyes lingered on the cup in front of her, flicked back up to his, and then down again as she took the cup. She held it in both her hands and lifted the mug to her mouth, taking a sip.
...It wasn't bad. Quite good actually, all things considered. How long had it been since she'd had a nice cup of coffee? A little over a year...though it felt like eons.
Her own eyes stayed firmly affixed to his as she set the mug down again, though now it was the German's gaze that was slightly unnerving. He had visited the God's with Asiv's right-hand man? Interesting.
"Ich have an... offer for du."
Delilah cracked a grin at this and let a mild chuckle slip between her lips as a wave of nostalgia passed over her. Good Lord...how many times had he said that to her in some form or another over the years? And what was always her answer (which, by this point [she assumed] was more of a polite formality for a result they both knew)? Knew it. "I'm assuming this has something to do with the Gods?"[/color] she paused to take another sip of coffee.
"Alright then. Let's hear it."[/size]
"Unfettered's" Post:
"...How much would du...
"...Like to be a God?"
Delilah's Post:
Blink.
And there it was. That little thing he did that always surprised her. Damn tricksy German. And always, ALWAYS when she figured she had him alllll figured out.
She sat in stunned silence for a moment before expunging a long, slow breath of air."...Never really thought much about it," she said cautiously, as though trying to avoid stepping on any more hidden land-mines. "I've only met one God back in high school, Dionysius..."
But then she thought about it as her shock wore off. The legendary strength of the Gods. Mathew Amtrum had become a God recently himself, had he not? Shortly after his return, as they said. The stregth...the power they weilded...
With so much at stake, why wouldn't she want that?
"...Why do you ask?" More questions before she gave her answer. Doubtless one they both knew.
"Unfettered's" Post:
The German's eye danced, twinkling.
"Ich vas talking vith ze Gods to consecrate an alliance," he began.
His fingers were seemingly absentmindedly flipping back from the pages while his newly freed hand was placed as a bookmarker for the page he was currently on. However, his gaze only went down once or twice to look before he stopped on a page. The paper itself was very old and had yellowed with previous extended exposure to the sun. It read "The Milita Treaty." An old idea.
"Ich proposed ze matter to zem und from amongst ze Gods of ones we had fought against und those who bore grudges, we were met with mixed results. Ze proposed idea vas simple in theory: Further ze alliance between our two nations und shrink ze threat level of Barker until ve can vanquish him. Coupled along with plans for trade und resource pooling, ze only thing zat needs to be assured ist zat zere vill be no backstabbing."
The German tilted his head, smiling... strangely.
"Athena proposed zat someone from Crows... be made into a God."
A polite snort. A laugh.
"Ich refused zer generous offer, in favor of finding someone more... suitable.
"Someone who ist for one who ist both a Crow... as vell as a Militia.
"Someone who is dearly powerful vith her diplomacy, her friendliness, her her righteousness of mind. Who is our prime ambassador to ze Dragons und vould be ze tie zat brought together all of these nations in a cooperative federation against Barker."
The man's smile melted.
"...Ich am asking a lot of du. Und du shouldn't choose so easily. Ich am unfamiliar vith zer traditions, zer laws, und ze vay in vich ze call a God to conduct him or herself.
"...But it ist imperative zat Ich ask."
Delilah's Post:
She listened in contemplative silence, taking his words and picking them apart. Every one of them had the ring of truth and underlying depth. An alliance. But on a much, much grander scale.
This was a huge oppourtunity for them all. All her hard work had brought her to this point, would make her the centre peice for an entire network of groups and their functionality. Being a God aside, that was truly a goal worth shooting for.
But...there were signifigant risks associated with this role. And she wasn't entirely sure what taking this role would entail. ot that it changed her mind, which was already made up.
Though, she didn't miss the bit about 'you shouldn't choose so easily'. This was not a caution, but a request. Was he concerned? She took another long sip of coffee, looking at him over the rim of her mug.
"You've asked much of me before. We both know I would follow you to hell and back if you asked," Delilah took a moment to look around at their surroundings and raised an eyebrow. "...and I kind of already did that." she set her mug down again with a light 'clink'
But before she said 'yes'...
"How would we go about assuring this alliance? Why do you need my permission so thoroughly?"
"Unfettered's" Post:
"Unfettered" looked at her. He didn't say anything for a few moments, his adam's apple warbling up and down, chewing his words. His jaw was careful and loose...
He reached a hand out to go over hers, the one that was holding onto the mug. As he bent himself towards her, he looked down.
"Du have done so much for not just me. But Crows as vell. Vith du made into a God, ze Gods would feel less compelled to strike against us, when we have finally destroyed the thralls of Barker.
"Und ze mantle of leadership are very much ze shackles of ze greatest slaves of all. What of your husband-to-be? Of relationships? Your free time? Your time spent vith your son?
"Ich am asking to have your most precious gift---your time---stolen from du," he finished gravely...
"Ich only think it appropriate zat Ich give du time to think on zis," withdrawing his hand. The return of a smile. His eye narrowed as he looked at her.
"Unfettered." How much none of them were. How many shackles they wore.
"Ich vant to give du a week to zink on zis.
"After which, Ich will be ready vith a reply to ze Gods."
Delilah's Post:
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as he reached across the table, laying his long, spindly hands against hers. Reader's hands, a mark of his intelligence. How he bent low over it, as if asking a favour. For a reason she couldn't quite discern, her heart seized a bit.
Now she understood his concern, why he wanted her to consider the issue a 'request' more so than a caution or a command. This wasn't just about her well-being; it was about her as a person, how it would affect her life if she chose to accept this burden.
It was that kindness in his warning that touched her. Already she felt these shackles, if she thought about them. She thought back to her fight with Stu on the beach, already months ago over the very same fate.
You don't owe these people anything.
Oh, but I do. she thought with a heaviness in her heart. For if not me, than who?
"....One week, then," she agreed. "I'll try to spend my time wisely."
"Unfettered's" Post:
The German smiled, folding the binder shut. He plopped the bag of coffee on top of it and reached out for the mug, nodding. But his gaze had not left hers. He blinked.
"Ve shall secure ze alliance whether du accept or no. Do not be afraid to make your choice to yourself. Freely."
Pushing his chair up, he stood up. Yes, just as before... just a white t-shirt and blue jeans, his hair drawn deliberately over his left eye and the lining of an eye patch visible underneath. If it were not for the situation they were in, it would almost be as though he had just concluded a casual business proposition with an old friend... which wasn't exactly a stretch. But he wanted to leave it on an optimistic note... that not everything was riding on her. That she still had that freedom of choice. That the alliance...
'It will be secured.'
Delilah's Post:
She drained the last of her coffee and handed him the mug. She stood with him and the steady gaze between them broke with a practised blink.
And just like that, the mask he wore slipped back into place and he was once again "Unfettered".
As for his words... there was little else she could do save for nodding her head in acknowledgement. She had much to think on, at his request. Not only was this her future at stake, but her family's as well. Was she really the best chance for a unified force against Barker? Or was that simply a hubris she had developed over the last few months?
Well. That remained to be seen.
"Back to the 'Nest, then?"
"Unfettered's" Post:
The German gladly took the mug... but shook his head at her words. Immediatly, a few men, including the the man with the tie from before began walking past them, towards a van. Tai would be seen driving it.
"Unfettered" reached out and would grip Delilah's left shoulder. A wink.
"Ich am off to ze Dragon's nest. Hopefully to talk vith David.
"Ich vish Ich could visit more. Zer ist much to be done, and much to delegate, he began to nod at her."
His voice began to resume that of the Zero. Orders to be had.
"Ve should begin assigning ze men to establish centers of worship, for ze sake of our people. Und ve must start comissioning ze establishment of some strongholds. Hermosa Beach is still indefensible.
"If du have anyone du could recommend to head any of these projects, Ich will trust you to whom to begin delegations."
A final squeeze.
"Trust me. It vill be all right."
...With that, he withdrew himself and turned away, marching towards the van. There was still a job they had chosen to do.
Delilah's Post:
Her eyes moved as shapes and figures moved towards them... and she relaxed upon recognition of who they were. Ah, so not alone after all. She smiled wryly. Good.
He mentioned meeting with David and her expression became hopeful, remembering how the man had chewed her out a couple of weeks prior on the subject of inaction. The incident had left her with a glowing coal of indignation in the pit of her stomach, but it was dying now. One way or the other, it would be dealt with.
And then orders. She took a quick mental stock of the people who would be well suited to the roles, and who to assign. Hermosa...if she could fix it up, it might be easy to establish a base there. After that, she would see who was capable of defending it. Military zones? Marcus could do that. He and his burgeoning wolf-pack would benefit from close military contact, and vice versa as the former US army learned guerilla warfare.
He squeezed her shoulder and she remembered how he did the same when she and Stu were reunited. Her face and the often flinty look in her eyes softened.
"Trust me. It vill be all right."
fsize=1]She watched "Unfettered" and his men depart before making her own way back to her bike, hands tucked into her pockets with her head tilted back, looking at the sky.
"'Trust me', he says," she mused.
"Pssh. As if I don't already."[/size]
"Unfettered's" Post:
Immortalized Diplomacy
There would be a note slipped under the door of Delilah's room in the Crow's Nest, for whenever she came back from the more Northern zones where Marcus and his men were stationed.
Delilah,
We must talk. Meet me in the plaza north of the Crow's Nest.
-"U"
We must talk. Meet me in the plaza north of the Crow's Nest.
-"U"
Delilah's Post:
Delilah would return later in the day to her barracks, exhausted and in need of a bit of sleep. The second she got through her door however, her boot would find the little peice of paper slipped under it, sticking to her sole as if telling her that there was still much yet to be done.
She sighed and pried the paper free, lifting it to her face to read past her boot print. Instantly, fatigue left her and she spun on her heel, striding back out the door as it closed beind her with a click.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Several minutes later, Delilah would be lifting her leg to hop off the little dirt-bike she modded for herself; faster, less comfortable, but with excellent suspension and easy portability. She walked with one hand on the handlebars until the engine died, pushing down the kick stand with a practiced flick of her heel and walking the rest of the way to the plaza.
"Unfettered's" Post:
The plaza would be in what bustle that could be mounted these days. The children that were playing on the sidewalks, the Crows that were assigned to the organizing of the volunteer populace to repair, construct, and maintain the area, and what little business that could be performed.
In the plaza, a certain white-haired German would be seen, sitting at a ceramic table with four legs underneath, along with a fresh bag of coffee. Apparently, he'd gone off to do business with the owner of the "coffee shop" again. He was seen pouring over a black binder filled with papers and his scrawlings, white mug in his other hand, as he read over it carefully. There was an empty seat across from him on the other side of the table...
His eye was lucid. But for Delilah... she would be able to notice her longtime friend... and the amount of thinking that was going on behind that remaining eye.
Delilah's Post:
She slowed her approach as she spied 'Unfettered' sitting rather conspiculously at a perfectly undamaged looking table...with coffee and papers, as if he had made this place his own office.She couldn't help but smile to herself and roll her eyes a bit. She wished he wouldn't leave himself out in the open like this with no one around...she knew he could take care of himself and all, but it still irked her that her leader left cover so readily.
Quietly, she sat down across from him, pulling back the chair and sitting comfortably, eyes moving to look at the scenery quickly before resting on her friend, noting his expression.
Deep in thought. Way deep. She wouldn't be surprised if he didn't fully comprehend that she was here.
So she would wait until he was finished with his thought, lifting her arms and resting her elbows against the table while she watched him.
Unsettlingly.
"Unfettered's" Post:
...There would be no pause in their beat. The moment that Delilah had settled herself in, staring at him, he would flip the binder to a certain page, his jaw slacking as he stirred out the words.
"...It's fine, du know. At least every once in a while," he'd "resume" as if they had been talking this whole time.
Delilah's Post:
"It only takes once for it to be a problem," she replied back almost immediately, still thinking about the unnerving lack of cover. Then she blinked, realizing that there was a likely chance 'Unfettered' was not reading her mind.
"I mean...what?"
"Unfettered's" Post:
"It ist completely possible..." he continued, "Zat Ich am far safer than du realize.
"After all, you are not a robot. Nor am I. Ve have our self-appointed duties, but to constrain ourselves completely would be equally crushing to ze soul, ja?"
Beat. He'd look to the next line before bringing up the mug to his lips and sipping it again. Furitively, he looked to the left... And watched as a man in a tie and a plaid shirt seemed to resume walking after he did so.
"But zat ist vy Ich make mein coffee runs. Und I assure du Ich check ze weather patterns before Ich do.
"How are you, Delilah?" he finally smiled, lookin up and at her. His free finger seemed to be stuck at a certain line.
...The smile was one of enthusiasm. The type he had when a particular choice had to be made.
Delilah's Post:
Her eyes narrowed the teensiest iota as he spoke, following his gaze to a man wearing a garish display of clothes (Plaid and a tie?) which was already rather odd considering the apocalypse and what not (That kind of attire attracts way too much attention...). Her lips pursed slightly as she faced him again.
Weather patterns, he says. His funny way of thinking about the war? Who even made coffee in this day and age, it was near impossible to brew now, let along procure. For a moment she was lost in a tangle of thoughts before she realized "Unfettered" was looking at her now, had asked how she was. She only raised an eyebrow at him and leaned a little more across the table to examine him closer.
"Suspicious," she said without even thinking about it. Though for what reason, she could not begin to fathom...but that alone was cause enough. Her oldest friend was a tricky one. Everything he did had a reason, a cause, and effect behind it. She was ever wary to that.
And yet, he always managed to catch her by surprise.
"Otherwise, good. Yourself?"
She paid a little more attention to her surroundings now, expanding her awareness.
"Unfettered's" Post:
The details of the coffee and how the German procured a fresh bag of it were details for later... and outside of what the German was focusing on. Instead, he chuckled at Delilah's immediate response and rested down his mug on the table again.
"Currently, Ich am fine."
Smile.
The German pushed the mug of coffee towards Delilah, offering.
"Ich vas just over in ze God's territory, vith John Ong he said."
He pulled out a pen and redirected his attention temporarily down, circling the date. 2012, the current year, August, the current month...
His gaze did not waver from hers as he stared at her.
"Ich have an... offer for du."
Delilah's Post:
Her eyes lingered on the cup in front of her, flicked back up to his, and then down again as she took the cup. She held it in both her hands and lifted the mug to her mouth, taking a sip.
...It wasn't bad. Quite good actually, all things considered. How long had it been since she'd had a nice cup of coffee? A little over a year...though it felt like eons.
Her own eyes stayed firmly affixed to his as she set the mug down again, though now it was the German's gaze that was slightly unnerving. He had visited the God's with Asiv's right-hand man? Interesting.
"Ich have an... offer for du."
Delilah cracked a grin at this and let a mild chuckle slip between her lips as a wave of nostalgia passed over her. Good Lord...how many times had he said that to her in some form or another over the years? And what was always her answer (which, by this point [she assumed] was more of a polite formality for a result they both knew)? Knew it. "I'm assuming this has something to do with the Gods?"[/color] she paused to take another sip of coffee.
"Alright then. Let's hear it."[/size]
"Unfettered's" Post:
"...How much would du...
"...Like to be a God?"
Delilah's Post:
Blink.
And there it was. That little thing he did that always surprised her. Damn tricksy German. And always, ALWAYS when she figured she had him alllll figured out.
She sat in stunned silence for a moment before expunging a long, slow breath of air."...Never really thought much about it," she said cautiously, as though trying to avoid stepping on any more hidden land-mines. "I've only met one God back in high school, Dionysius..."
But then she thought about it as her shock wore off. The legendary strength of the Gods. Mathew Amtrum had become a God recently himself, had he not? Shortly after his return, as they said. The stregth...the power they weilded...
With so much at stake, why wouldn't she want that?
"...Why do you ask?" More questions before she gave her answer. Doubtless one they both knew.
"Unfettered's" Post:
The German's eye danced, twinkling.
"Ich vas talking vith ze Gods to consecrate an alliance," he began.
His fingers were seemingly absentmindedly flipping back from the pages while his newly freed hand was placed as a bookmarker for the page he was currently on. However, his gaze only went down once or twice to look before he stopped on a page. The paper itself was very old and had yellowed with previous extended exposure to the sun. It read "The Milita Treaty." An old idea.
"Ich proposed ze matter to zem und from amongst ze Gods of ones we had fought against und those who bore grudges, we were met with mixed results. Ze proposed idea vas simple in theory: Further ze alliance between our two nations und shrink ze threat level of Barker until ve can vanquish him. Coupled along with plans for trade und resource pooling, ze only thing zat needs to be assured ist zat zere vill be no backstabbing."
The German tilted his head, smiling... strangely.
"Athena proposed zat someone from Crows... be made into a God."
A polite snort. A laugh.
"Ich refused zer generous offer, in favor of finding someone more... suitable.
"Someone who ist for one who ist both a Crow... as vell as a Militia.
"Someone who is dearly powerful vith her diplomacy, her friendliness, her her righteousness of mind. Who is our prime ambassador to ze Dragons und vould be ze tie zat brought together all of these nations in a cooperative federation against Barker."
The man's smile melted.
"...Ich am asking a lot of du. Und du shouldn't choose so easily. Ich am unfamiliar vith zer traditions, zer laws, und ze vay in vich ze call a God to conduct him or herself.
"...But it ist imperative zat Ich ask."
Delilah's Post:
She listened in contemplative silence, taking his words and picking them apart. Every one of them had the ring of truth and underlying depth. An alliance. But on a much, much grander scale.
This was a huge oppourtunity for them all. All her hard work had brought her to this point, would make her the centre peice for an entire network of groups and their functionality. Being a God aside, that was truly a goal worth shooting for.
But...there were signifigant risks associated with this role. And she wasn't entirely sure what taking this role would entail. ot that it changed her mind, which was already made up.
Though, she didn't miss the bit about 'you shouldn't choose so easily'. This was not a caution, but a request. Was he concerned? She took another long sip of coffee, looking at him over the rim of her mug.
"You've asked much of me before. We both know I would follow you to hell and back if you asked," Delilah took a moment to look around at their surroundings and raised an eyebrow. "...and I kind of already did that." she set her mug down again with a light 'clink'
But before she said 'yes'...
"How would we go about assuring this alliance? Why do you need my permission so thoroughly?"
"Unfettered's" Post:
"Unfettered" looked at her. He didn't say anything for a few moments, his adam's apple warbling up and down, chewing his words. His jaw was careful and loose...
He reached a hand out to go over hers, the one that was holding onto the mug. As he bent himself towards her, he looked down.
"Du have done so much for not just me. But Crows as vell. Vith du made into a God, ze Gods would feel less compelled to strike against us, when we have finally destroyed the thralls of Barker.
"Und ze mantle of leadership are very much ze shackles of ze greatest slaves of all. What of your husband-to-be? Of relationships? Your free time? Your time spent vith your son?
"Ich am asking to have your most precious gift---your time---stolen from du," he finished gravely...
"Ich only think it appropriate zat Ich give du time to think on zis," withdrawing his hand. The return of a smile. His eye narrowed as he looked at her.
"Unfettered." How much none of them were. How many shackles they wore.
"Ich vant to give du a week to zink on zis.
"After which, Ich will be ready vith a reply to ze Gods."
Delilah's Post:
Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as he reached across the table, laying his long, spindly hands against hers. Reader's hands, a mark of his intelligence. How he bent low over it, as if asking a favour. For a reason she couldn't quite discern, her heart seized a bit.
Now she understood his concern, why he wanted her to consider the issue a 'request' more so than a caution or a command. This wasn't just about her well-being; it was about her as a person, how it would affect her life if she chose to accept this burden.
It was that kindness in his warning that touched her. Already she felt these shackles, if she thought about them. She thought back to her fight with Stu on the beach, already months ago over the very same fate.
You don't owe these people anything.
Oh, but I do. she thought with a heaviness in her heart. For if not me, than who?
"....One week, then," she agreed. "I'll try to spend my time wisely."
"Unfettered's" Post:
The German smiled, folding the binder shut. He plopped the bag of coffee on top of it and reached out for the mug, nodding. But his gaze had not left hers. He blinked.
"Ve shall secure ze alliance whether du accept or no. Do not be afraid to make your choice to yourself. Freely."
Pushing his chair up, he stood up. Yes, just as before... just a white t-shirt and blue jeans, his hair drawn deliberately over his left eye and the lining of an eye patch visible underneath. If it were not for the situation they were in, it would almost be as though he had just concluded a casual business proposition with an old friend... which wasn't exactly a stretch. But he wanted to leave it on an optimistic note... that not everything was riding on her. That she still had that freedom of choice. That the alliance...
'It will be secured.'
Delilah's Post:
She drained the last of her coffee and handed him the mug. She stood with him and the steady gaze between them broke with a practised blink.
And just like that, the mask he wore slipped back into place and he was once again "Unfettered".
As for his words... there was little else she could do save for nodding her head in acknowledgement. She had much to think on, at his request. Not only was this her future at stake, but her family's as well. Was she really the best chance for a unified force against Barker? Or was that simply a hubris she had developed over the last few months?
Well. That remained to be seen.
"Back to the 'Nest, then?"
"Unfettered's" Post:
The German gladly took the mug... but shook his head at her words. Immediatly, a few men, including the the man with the tie from before began walking past them, towards a van. Tai would be seen driving it.
"Unfettered" reached out and would grip Delilah's left shoulder. A wink.
"Ich am off to ze Dragon's nest. Hopefully to talk vith David.
"Ich vish Ich could visit more. Zer ist much to be done, and much to delegate, he began to nod at her."
His voice began to resume that of the Zero. Orders to be had.
"Ve should begin assigning ze men to establish centers of worship, for ze sake of our people. Und ve must start comissioning ze establishment of some strongholds. Hermosa Beach is still indefensible.
"If du have anyone du could recommend to head any of these projects, Ich will trust you to whom to begin delegations."
A final squeeze.
"Trust me. It vill be all right."
...With that, he withdrew himself and turned away, marching towards the van. There was still a job they had chosen to do.
Delilah's Post:
Her eyes moved as shapes and figures moved towards them... and she relaxed upon recognition of who they were. Ah, so not alone after all. She smiled wryly. Good.
He mentioned meeting with David and her expression became hopeful, remembering how the man had chewed her out a couple of weeks prior on the subject of inaction. The incident had left her with a glowing coal of indignation in the pit of her stomach, but it was dying now. One way or the other, it would be dealt with.
And then orders. She took a quick mental stock of the people who would be well suited to the roles, and who to assign. Hermosa...if she could fix it up, it might be easy to establish a base there. After that, she would see who was capable of defending it. Military zones? Marcus could do that. He and his burgeoning wolf-pack would benefit from close military contact, and vice versa as the former US army learned guerilla warfare.
He squeezed her shoulder and she remembered how he did the same when she and Stu were reunited. Her face and the often flinty look in her eyes softened.
"Trust me. It vill be all right."
fsize=1]She watched "Unfettered" and his men depart before making her own way back to her bike, hands tucked into her pockets with her head tilted back, looking at the sky.
"'Trust me', he says," she mused.
"Pssh. As if I don't already."[/size]
