Role Reversal (Farren)

[Gabriel Seran]

If only things could play out as originally intended, things would only appear to be much simpler, the rules unchanged and sides readily determined but in a game there was always a chance of change, the rules of everything could change and Gabriel Seran was just the man who lived by that model. Things in his mind turned like the inter workings of a clock. Yes busy as a bee he plotted and ployed upon old ideals making them new and reorganizing his frame of how he saw the world, but it came back to a very basic step. Humanity itself was flawed.

Stepping into Mr. Farren's office Gabriel Seran made his way passed the Secretary turning back to address her pleasantly. His red coat standing out amongst the average setting it had appealed towards.

"Would you get me a meeting with Mr. Farren straight away..."

It wasn't so much a question as it was a demand, yes he had quite a few things in mind, they needed to speak more pressing matters and now.

[Farren]

Miss Money Penny was not someone you wanted to boss around. She put up with me because I paid her well and gave her a lot of freedom in her job. So someone giving her a demand, even someone as charming and good looking as Gabe, would be rebuked. Quite brutally. The emerald-eyed femme-fatale swiveled in her chair to face the young man and crossed her legs to sit up straighter in her seat.

"Look, kid. I realize you're a hot shot here. Got the world on a string and all that. But in this office, in this little section of school, I'm God. I make the rules. You don't tell me what to do. So when you come waltzing in, slick and fine, you ask for a meeting with Mr. Treborn. And I tell you when and if you can see him. Now I'll let you slide, just this once, because you probably didn't know better. But in the future, if you ever demand something of me again, I will snap your limp little dick off like a fucking wet noodle. Okay?"

And with that she would smile, reach back behind her, and press the button on our two-way intercom. She said sweetly "Mr. Treborn, Mr. Gabriel Seran to see you." I knew that tone. She never talked like that unless she was furious. Gabe must have pissed her off something fierce.

"Thank you Miss Money Penny. My door's open, send him in." I was sure Gabe wouldn't waste time so as he would enter my office and shut the door I'd look up from my seat behind the desk and say "The hell did you say to her, man? I thought you knew better than to upset a lady."

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel cocked a brow and a curious little smile of course, he'd never intended upon being so forward with her perhaps he'd forgotten his manners in the rush but he'd not apologize, he was quite the stubborn fellow when it came to it. He made a soft chuckle at her breaking him however showing never once was he to be startled nor even shaken, there were quite a few worse things he could imagine to be done to him.

"Of course miss, I'll watch my manners next time.." Gabriel gave an effortless smile trying to rebuke his former comments strolling in through the door quickly to avoid the dragon woman's anguish.

Gabriel entered to another assault this one he deemed more endearing than the prior one however and decided it to be his best option to continue on.

"Seems I may be loosing my touch.." Gabriel chuckled briefly totally unconcerned however as he took a seat calmly waiting for a second to be addressed further before starting the conversation himself.

"So Farren, I'm still awaiting what you had in mind for this school? From our last encounter I'm sure you know more about my past than I do yours but I see that badge of yours notes you claimed a position as a once Pillar... Does that deem you've had some change of heart? Or am I wrong to assume that?"

[Farren]

I chuckled a little at his attitude. Nothing fazed him, a good trait to have. He really was reminding me of myself more and more. He took a seat and got right to the point. I normally liked a little more foreplay but I was fine getting to the main act right away. I closed the lid on my laptop and shuffled a few papers out of sight as I said,

"Nothing's changed really, plans are still in order." Then I lifted my right arm from out of sight and above the desk top, showing it to Gabe. It was encassed in a double thick plaster cast and slung across my chest in a cheap fabric sling. "Just a delay. Been a bit short handed lately." I put my arm back down to rest it and leaned back in my chair, running fingers through my short, messy hair. Where to start, where to start...the beginning I guess.

"I'll get right to the point. My plan for this school is to do away with the Pillar System and, in the same stroke, destroy the Corporal Punishment System. It doesn't work any more and it's practically archaic. Not to mention unfair. A lucky few rise up, everyone else fades and dies at the bottom. I can't change that, that's how life is unfortunately. But the Systems don't allow people a chance. Even if you don't win in the end, you still deserve a chance."

I glanced back at the Pillar badge I had hanging on my wall. "I was a Pillar once. I saw the problems with it from the inside. But I also saw how to stop it. The Corporal Punishment System draws it's main strength from making students fight themselves, the Pillars. That way they can sit back, let the strong ones castrate each other, and take care of any loose ends from the sidelines, their power unchallenged."

"To have any hope of winning, you need to take away their power. Get rid of the Pillars and the enforcers, then go after them. But instead of trying to take Pillars head on and getting myself killed in the process, I simply want them...out of the way. Like I said to you, I just want them gone, not dead. Push everyone to the side, giving me a straight shot at the System's head itself."

I looked out my window for a moment before finishing and saying "Starting to understand?"

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel grinned darkly, exactly how he'd assumed and exactly how he wanted it. Gabriel deemed that the rules of play had now changed drastically in his stead, yes now there were no rules only what he could provide to the game if this was Farren's truest intentions than the two would be on an equal level as far as their plans except Gabriel had been planning his own change of position for two years, the pieces from Moral Crest and his original stay at 259 building blocks towards his ascension.

"Excellent... it seems as though this pact will prove to be quite useful."

Gabriel mused a slight bit of laugher wavering in his voice. Yes now he could get the pieces in play, the game would get a bit more interesting next to that.

"Well then what we'll need is a bit of a power struggle to start this off... For one there is Regalia, if given time they will ascend to the pillar's place if left empty, the cycle repeating itself. As for the pillar's they're weak and disorganized, doomed to fall."

Gabriel would basically surmise prior to giving his initial scheme and the entirety of his plans.

"What I suggest be the first move of action is gain control over Emily, restrict her grades and threaten her future, nothing appeals to her more than that I've noticed. use Regalia as a tool to wipe out the pillars then I shall take what's left in their moment of weakness."

Gabriel chuckled thinking about the next phase surely it was a deviant plan but once more much was at stake.

"Now I understand this is simply appealing to the same mentality, but it will be an end to the cycle. What if there was someone at the top that could not be beaten, someone akin to Leon Sudeki? Would fear drive these students to give up rather than battle amongst one another? Or even join together in a single effort to take him down?"

Gabriel hoped Farren would catch his drift.

"I believe that with a power like that you could unify the school rather than dismantle it.."

[Farren]

The suave kid was a scheming bastard after all. I had a feeling he was. I watched him intently as he laid out the plans as he saw them. He was right about Leon and anyone else who might fit the bill or fill the void. Cycles of violence and revenge was what the Systems fed on more than anything. That and fear. After all...that's what had produced me. I breathed in and let out a slow sigh, looking up at my ceiling fan as I collected my thoughts.

"You're right 'bout cycles. That's why I don't want the Pillars dismantled just yet. I want them contained, ta make sure a void doesn't open up. Figure heads. They may be disorganized as a group but individually they could still cause headaches. I think the best we can do there is convince them it's in their best interest to either help us or stand aside. How we do that we'll discuss in a minute. We can deal with stripping them of power later."

"As ya said, Leon and those like him are the ultimate problem. We'll need more than luck ta stop 'em. And it's true, there's a lot of power in unifyin'. But I've seen what happens then. Power struggles, corruption, same as now. In tha end, dismantlin' is what I want; I don't want me or anyone else bein' a king. If alliances are eventually needed I want as few as possible, tied together fer a common goal, not fer any one group or person."

I'd seen power hungry leaders back at 552 too many times. I'd hate to think someone I'd allied myself with would use the chaos to try and rise up. This was MY feud, MY vendetta. Not some future-dictator's ticket to the top. I eyed Gabe catiously. Regalia, the gang? I didn't like the idea of gangs.

"Regalia huh? You're part of that group, aren't ya Gabe? And Emily's the head, ain't she? You, as a member, are really tellin' me to take control of her and essentially Regalia as well? Seems like you're kinda stabbing them in the back. Unless I've got my facts wrong and you're not running with them any more..."

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel shot Farren a daring glance as though the comment was a strike on his honor. Surely if Farren didn't see the value in such a group he was just as weak as the rest of them, short-sighted as the rest as well. Gabriel however would not be held back by emotional whims, rather saw how the pieces to the game fit and while they had every right to fear him coming to power they had no ability to stop him. He cocked a grin in retribution to the statement feeling as though a reply was deserved but choosing a careful response would be met with a similar answer.

"The ends justify the means wouldn't you agree Farren?" A daring questioning of the consoler's moralities perhaps then he could judge him as such.

"You don't seem to realize just how dedicated I am towards this goal...Perhaps you could find the answer to that in your files..."

Gabriel found himself chuckling a hand trailing to his temple as he tapped it with his index finger, a taunting gesture almost.

"As powerful a person you are there is one place you cannot go..." Gabriel had to chuckle a bit more sealing his words with a daunting smile.

"So will we progress or will you leave this to me? I will not accept being slowed down by any means. Its been too far of a road coming here and now is by far the best opportunity."

[Farren]

A dangerous alliance was forming. On the one hand me, a man trying to avoid bloodshed in pursuit of his goals - but willing to push limits. On the other Gabe, a man willing - almost wanting - to wreck havoc but holding back to make things happen. Two extremes meeting in an uneasy middle. Though I didn't like what the future could hold Gabe was too valuable an ally to pass up, at least at the present moment. I stared at him, him and his cocky demeanor. Did he really understand the pain that could be caused by our actions? I hoped he did.

"Don't be mistaken Gabe, I'm cautious fer a good reason. I've lived through more than one of these 'Revolutions,' and ya don't do that by chance. I know what it takes."

I reached down and unlocked a small drawer behind my desk, opening it and retreiving a small, manila folder. As I did I said, "We'll go ahead. Tell Emily I'd like ta speak ta her. I'll let ya handle your first target; Matrim, Sara, whoever ya want it ta be. Just don't mention me, not yet anyway. Oh, and see if ya can talk ta Kevala. I want her out of harm's way...I think you more than most would want that too." Unless you truly were a cold-hearted bastard I thought.

"I think that's all we need to discuss, for now. Before ya go though, I have a present fer you." I tossed the manila folder over in front of Gabe. "Since you like makin' fun of my files, here's one of yer own...on me." Inside, Gabe would find a stripped down version of the file I kept on myself, including my basic stats like place of birth and age, along with a small history. Things like my time spent at 552, how I became Pillar my junior year, my enacting of martial law during my Pillarship, my diagnosis of lung cancer and subsequent resignation of my title. And a single line under 'cancer' that said Experimental Treatment Phoenix. Classified. Of course, I left out several key things, like my current address, my salary, any of my friends. None of my 259 boss connections or my connections back in New York and in the police force. Just enough to make him happy.

"Enjoy."

[Gabriel Seran]

Gabriel surveyed the man with a certain interest, yes things would be changing swiftly now, enacting the plans he'd set in motion all but a year ago. Now as the time for his leave was coming Gabriel would make his last mark here. Time was of the essence and yet another dangerous alliance would be met.

"And I expect the same courtesy from you... I'm not to be mentioned for the time being, till then there are matters to attend to."

Gabriel nodded, he took into account the man's comment, about wanting specific people out of this 'change' no there would certainly be no quota. Any leniency in Gabriel's plans would be used as an Achilles heel. He knew all too well from his past that connections, however useful, would be turned on you in a second. In the light he'd bing them together and in the darkness he'd smother them. With every great good required a great evil.

Eyes surveyed with a subtle patience picking over the file with intense speed. There was quite a bit of information in there but Gabriel being the man he was doubted this was all. For a man like Farren there'd certainly be a subtle hint to his cause not just cancer and the feeling to uphold the weak, that only drove a man so far.

"In due time Farren, in due time, we'll each get to see a brighter day..." He chuckled before snatching up the file and pacing himself out the door giving a polite bow to Miss Money Penny.