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[tergiversant]

[The message that plays when you receive Rufus Barma's inbox is simple, curt, and almost annoyed to have to do this.]

Be succinct.





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[velveteened]

You mean you don't know already?

( he can't help himself sometimes, and with duke barma — with the moon, with the ue, with the mutiny, with everything — even his own temper has been harder to mind. )

Though even so, I was supposed to be the one greeting you.

[tergiversant]

[At the first question, Barma simply smiled. It was only what Oz continued with, that he answered.]

I believe, indeed, tis what hath been promised. Proceed.

[velveteened]

( it's answer enough; he lowers his eyes a moment as he has another sip of tea. he hadn't expected much else, truthfully, perhaps because if nothing else he's not so lucky nor so hopeful.

after a moment he says, ) The United Earth is a formidable enemy.

[tergiversant]

[When Oz looks back up, Barma is looking out the window, his own expression hidden by the ridiculous volume of hair around him.]

Enough to scour a city from the very ground. Why, I must wonder, whence they took heroes and villains of many worlds, powers of strangeness and might... and yet, tis all within hidden movements and nibbling attacks?

[velveteened]

Because if we do otherwise, we'll lose. ( he does look back up, says it levelly and almost without a trace of emotion. ) It's all these people can do to survive. In fact, if the United Earth wanted us dead, we would be; they've already chased us off the planet and murdered everyone on another. A direct attack wouldn't be any better.

( lets that hang in the air a moment. )

— at least, the way things are now. ( hence this strategy. ) The United Earth doesn't keep allies, and they don't need them, either. It's no problem for them to do something like sealing Dodo, even without a Key. Our status, everything about us from home, doesn't mean anything to them.

( he breathes out, lets his gaze drop again briefly. )

What I'm saying, in other words, is that the situation is dire.

( what he's saying, in other words, is that while the initiative is the disadvantaged side, there's equally no advantage to even considering the other. and because, in all honesty, there isn't anyone he'd wish the united earth's might against, no matter how untrustworthy or irritating they may be, and no matter what they may have done. )

[tergiversant]

Thou hast experienced it thineself. [At the first touch of Oz's tone, Barma had looked back, watch him, listening to the pauses. There's no question in his statement, merely confirming what hasn't been said, but should be. The emotion, the investment meant little to him. But a do or die situation, at a time like this, when it is truly imperative he live to finish his plans...

Barma straightens up slightly, a spark in his eyes that often lit whenever someone's temper broke. A shout, or an attack, something unexpected and complicated...]

So, we art playing a game where our king hath already been checked.

[velveteened]

( the conclusion isn't a difficult one to make, and he doesn't acknowledge it. after the destruction of keith's world, he'd wanted to be honest; kano and he had discussed in the catacombs while the ground above them shook how the new transports would need to know these things, how much of a lie it'd be to let them think things here could be peaceful. this is personal, though. it was unpleasant enough to allude to the united earth monstrosity that had affected everyone at vanadi's party, to whatever technology they'd used to keep everyone helpless at the compound, and it's not as though rufus barma of all people needs to know any more detail than that.

(and it's more than he has done with alice, even by now, and every intention of telling gil has still quietly gone astray.)

but the other reaction, that's — not quite what he expected. he'd been so concerned with trying to prevent another betrayal that it hadn't occurred to him that this could sound like a challenge. his brows almost draw together, but he smoothes out his expression as he straightens in turn. )

That's right.

[tergiversant]

[For a long minute or two, he doesn't answer. Almost immediately after Oz had finished speaking, he had withdrawn his fan from its pocket and snapped it open, expression covered as he considered it. Both what little Oz had conveyed and what he had gotten from Break's confidence in 'Reim.']

Tis that, then: the information I wish from thee. What scraps of knowledge thou hast gathered at our enemy's swordpoint.

[velveteened]

( barma doesn't know, can't know, not precisely what it is he's asking for. but even if he did — even if he did, it wouldn't stop him, of course. but you don't care what happens to me, oz had said once, for why barma makes an unbiased (in certain respects, anyway) source of information.

his expression cools, and he says, ) That's something you could hear from anyone here.

( a lie, of course, but he's not so eager to share this; and it's all part of the game, isn't it, making him have to say it. )

[tergiversant]

[Barma's eyes narrow in amusement over the edge of his fan.]

That should make thy price paltry, should it not?

[velveteened]

( it's something else entirely that makes his own eyes narrow. )

Not at all. If it's not valuable information, you don't want to hear it — isn't that right?

[tergiversant]

Perhaps. [Not at all. He had found in many years that all knowledge had its value, all trivia had its place, often in the most unexpected ways. But for Oz to neglect a detail he'd already revealed, their first meeting no less... The unlovable brat was hardly off his game, as much as...]

What Oz Vessalius neglects to mention may be so commonplace as stones in the ground. [He closes his fan and sets it in his lap.] But what he doth not wish to say? That hath value to mine ear.

[velveteened]

Its value should be worth your cooperation, so long as you're here. ( picks and chooses his words carefully, knowing their weight ) Frankly, I don't trust you at all, and there's no reason for either of us to be loyal to one another. But bringing the conflict between the Baskervilles and Pandora here benefits no one — and that includes you.

( one show of cards for another, perhaps, though the greater of oz's is yet to come — almost promised, now. )

1/2

[tergiversant]

[For what it is worth, it gives Barma a pause. He stills, almost entirely motionless to consider Oz.]

[tergiversant]

Very well. As long as both thee and thine companions [The emphasis is subtle, barely even a rise in his tone.] wish it, I shall work towards thy goal.

But be it clear, is it survival or triumph that ye seek?

[velveteened]

( he — exhales at the question, and what's ironic is that were barma any of a number of other people (those who care) he wouldn't respond as he does.

because there's less a flicker of something wry in oz's expression than something that lingers, deep-rooted, and his posture becomes more brittle than straight. )

It's both. Victory would be impossible without survival, of course.

[tergiversant]

[Neither the posture nor the curious phrasing was missed.]

Then, we have an accord.

[velveteened]

( that's one thing settled, at least. )

Good.

( there's the matter of oz holding up his end, now, and he realizes it; seems to make his pause now seem especially obvious. )

[tergiversant]

[Unfortunately, Barma is not exactly one to make these things easy. As the pause stretches out, he simply raises an eyebrow and trades his fan for his tablet, opening it with a practiced swipe.]

I imagine thine tea is becoming tepid.

[velveteened]

( oz shoots him a dry look, mostly directed at the tablet. )

Am I interrupting something?

[tergiversant]

[A single gloved hand raises to motion the sentiment away. He doesn't look up.]

If thou art to hesitate, tis best if only one our times art wasted.

1/2

[velveteened]

( AND THEN THERE'S THIS ASSHOLE )

[velveteened]

( it'd be exceedingly, exceedingly obvious — more than he has been already — to offer the information written or at another time, so

well

he gets on with it. )

When the United Earth destroyed Exsilium, it wasn't a random attack. Probably, something like that had been planned for a while...but to do it at that time, was in retaliation for something. A counter-attack on the part of the people here.

[tergiversant]

[He sets the tablet back on his lap, folding his hands over it.]

A counter-attack? So something wert so severe those in this organization felt it necessary to throw caution aside?

[velveteened]

( oz isn't sure if it's better or worse that barma's visibly paying attention now. )

That's right. I never found out how many it was, exactly, but the UE had kidnapped a lot of Transports — ( assumes barma's heard the term by now and doesn't pause to elaborate ) — and so there was a rescue operation.