"Well, Alyssa, I think we should-" you raised a finger as you interrupted the boss, perhaps going back to their facilities and spending the night there was a good idea, but you wanted to make it clear that if you co-operated from now on that it was on your terms.
Not because you were throwing your weight around simply because you could, no.
You simply wanted to make it clear that you had a say in these matters.
"No, you're not going to tell me that you're taking me back to the facilities. Until I have some form of employment or affiliation that has me answering to you, please, ask me. I doubt you'd appreciate it if our positions were reversed, so please, please, show some courtesy."
There was a pause.
"If you show me that courtesy, I'll do my best to show the same to you. It isn't easy for me being in this position, given I'm still feeling out what has changed, dealing with the chaotic rollercoaster of emotions that goes with this. If you'll try for me, I'll do my best to try with you."
There was another pause before the boss slowly nodded.
"Very well Alyssa. We have set a room aside for you back at our facilities, the plan had been to have you placed near Millicent so that she could have handled your any needs that cropped up for you. Given that Millicent is currently no incapable of carrying out that duty for obvious reasons, if you'll come back with me I shall asign a temporary liason to you until Millicent, as to the best of my knowledge, can return to duty."
It was about what you'd hope for with him being straight with you. Of course, you knew it could be better than that, but this was fair enough and you couldn't complain that he wasn't bending over backwards for you. You'd asked him to be fair with you, not to bow to your whims.
"Okay, while I consider my response to this, I do have a question for you. What happened just with the representative and the entire situation leading-"
The manner in what the boss furrowed his brows conveyed a clear displeasure over the matter, you knew already that he didn't like these people, yet there was something more than this.
"Alyssa, they are an agency that was created to fulfill much the same role as our one, after our one was transferred into government hands for funding and control. They have better funding, less bureaucracy, more freedom to act as they see fit. That some of their agents had gone rogue is troublesome, as it suggests that their loose structure permits an element of corruption to hide amidst their ranks. Your interactions with them on the other hand, I cannot say I am pleased with. I would have preferred them to be kept in the dark over what you had found, but there is a silver lining to this cloud. If you will permit one of our agents to accompany you to the inevitable meeting with the Queen-"
"Inevitable?" you interrupted.
"Yes, she will be... Most interested in you, given that both our agency and theirs... Ah, I should not tell you this, but both agencies were founded by Queen Victoria, ours publically, that lead to us eventually being transferred into government control, theirs less so and later, along with deals we do not know the nature of that permitted them to remain under the control of the crown. Ours, and theirs too I presume, where founded in the memory of her childhood friend."
The thousand soul, it had to be.
Here you were living in the shadow of this man, seeing how he had touched all these shadowy aspects of the history of this land.
"So, you wish for an agent to accompany me?"
"Yes, given the manner that the agents attempted to snatch you in, you can refuse a meeting if you are not permitted to bring along another for your well being. It shall be humoured, given that they will wish to gain your trust."
"So, you wish to listen in on what they have for my ears only?"
"To be frank, yes."
"Is that your name?"
"No, it's an expression-"
"I know that, but you look like a Frank."
"No, I am no Frank," the faintest hint of a smile came to the bosses face as he attempted to remain serious. "I know that you have little reason to do this, little reason to trust either of our agencies, but, if you wish to work with us in this manner I shall ensure that the trail of information it leads through is presented to you, so that you may, alongside us, unwravel the mystery that is your nature."
"It's food for thought," you responded as you turned your attention briefly to your dwindling cake. "I'll give it some serious consideration, as, as you are quite aware, I have little trust for anybody at this point. As for lodging and a liason, I'll accept that, as I don't know if I like the alternatives I can think of," you stated.
You knew that you could approach the LPD and attain lodging for the night with them - you were a witness in an ongoing case, amongst other things.
You could also approach the other agency and ask them to put you up instead, but you knew that couldn't be a smart move at this point.
You could sleep on the streets, but that was even more foolish given the nature of this city and, well, you knew London didn't have much of a homeless problem.
The things that went bump in the night had to be why.
The rest of your cake was quickly consumed as you noted that it would be hard to eat this on the way back to the agencies facilities.
In doing so, you could feel an uncomfortable warmth starting to blossom through your chest.
Perhaps it was a sign that you shouldn't have eaten so fast, a sign that you were stressed and food wasn't quite the best option.
Perhaps it was neither.
That uncomfortable warmth was blossoming up as it radiated through your chest in a way unlike any sensation of heartburn you'd ever experienced before.
It felt fierce.
Powerful.
Indomitable.
And then it was gone once more, leaving you feeling more than a little confused as you patted at your chest.
"You're going to do everything you can for Millicent, right?" you asked as the boss lead you towards the exit of the LPD's station.
"Of course, Millicent... Should not be here for long before it is determined that she was acting both yours and her defence. However, the fact that she is currently in a new form will present difficulties."
"Such as?"
"Such as her most likely wishing not to remain in a masculine form for longer than required."
"So, there's boy and girl versions of what she is?"
"This comes as a surprise?"
"Well, no, I guess not, I was curious though. She didn't seem to want to talk about herself much in that manner."
"Does that surprise you, either?"
"No... Do you like Millicent?"
"I do not. She frequently challenges my authority, she disregards my orders where she feels that they are problematic. She gets results however and I respect that she is willing to put herself on the line as she often does," came his words as he lead you towards a very fancy looking car parked out front.
Then past it, towards a plain white family car.
That was anti-climatic.
And there was the burning sensation in your chest again.
"Are you well, Alyssa?" came the bosses words with some concern.
"I'm fine, why?"
"You look paler than usual."
"I think stress and the cake aren't agreeing with me, it's nothing."
"If you insist," with those words he unlocked the doors of the car, presenting the passenger seat door to you even as he clambered into the drivers side.
While the car was a family one, it bore little sign of being anything other than his one - the drivers seat was set for him, the passenger seat was set at much the same distance. There was little in the way of dirt and debris other than what had been tracked in from outside - a few dead leaves and some mud on the floor mats.
You were dimly made aware that this barely likable man was single.
It was hardly a surprise given he was likely married to the job.
Of course, you had the key from earlier - the one with a seven printed upon it, so... You were going to be housed opposite Millicent's currently vacant accomodation.
That was somewhat grim a thing to think of, knowing that right across from your room was the entirety of her life in stasis.
She wouldn't have had much of a life beyond this, you assumed after all.
Work, accomodation from work, whatever free time she could muster to enjoy herself.
It was the british dream.
Work yourself into a grave while the damn Tories told you that it was your own fault that you hadn't broken free of the rat race.
As your journey by car had you reach the agency - and the housing opposite it, you asked yourself, did you trust these people enough to permit them to send an agent with you with what they assumed to be inevitable tomorrow?
Did you tell the boss your answer now so he would be able to plan in advance, or would you sleep on it?Fire: 3 (Markswoman)
Earth: 3 (Pain Tolerance)
Air: 4 (Fast Learner)
Water: 4 (Detecting Deception)
Perfect Form - Forever in your prime.
Phoenix - Reborn in fire.
Flames of Creation - ? ? ?
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Phoenix it is. Reality Weaver gets a new name - Phoenix'll be upgradable further at a later point if you wish to expand it toward the scope you're mentioning.
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Topic: I told them I could be anything... (Read 27747 times)