Post by Book of the Twilight on Apr 14, 2009 14:34:42 GMT -5
::Once the girl is gone again, Doug lets a small chuckle escape::
Doug: So it was you lot. I didn't buy that tripe in the paper for a second. The LPA's desperate, but they're not that desperate... yet.
::Alicia releases her hold on him at last::
Astaroth: That's not your concern. But I'm afraid this time we weren't able to cover our tracks. We didn't realize that the LPA had recruited the Witch's Surrogate.
Doug: You mean the shapeshifter?
Astoroth: ::nods:: And I'm afraid that her involvement, as well as our... more extreme methods may have stirred up a hornets nest. Now that she knows that demons are involved, perhaps the Witch's Surrogate won't be the only hero getting involved. We'd like to avoid that since heroic involvement in Lindblum's past hasn't exactly been in the city's best interest. That's what we need you for.
::She circles her desk to come around to the back of it, resting her hands to lean forward so as to appear she's looking down her glasses at him::
Astaroth: I'll admit you've been useful so far, feeding the LPA information and worming your way through their ranks, giving us all the names of the higher officers--
Doug: Something that might come back to bite me in the arse now that they're all getting picked off.
Astaroth: But it seems that they're slow to trust you. And a certain Violette Hallowes seems to be able to do what you do for them a bit more effectively, and they trust her more.
Doug: Don't give me that. Violette would never work for you lot. She's LPA all the way. You need me.
Astaroth: Not if you don't start showing us some improvement. A little insight into their strategy at Gin Street could have averted this entire mess.
Doug: I told you the Dragoons wouldn't let me into the meeting.
Astaroth: My point exactly. You're on shaky ground with them, and that goes for the rest of the brigades as well. But here is your chance to redeem yourself. I want you to keep an eye on those who get in and out of the city, and I don't mean through the front gate. Anymore new recruits or suspicious "tourists", they set foot in this city I want to hear it from you first. Keep your eye on Iole Blakeney, see if she makes contact with anyone. Any suspected hero in the city, they so much as giggle I want to know about it. Am I clear?
::Doug grins::
Doug: So I'm in heroic territory now? That's a little risky. This isn't just a rag-tag resistance we're talking about. These are hardened war veterans with clout and power. I don't think it would be unfair of me to ask for a little advancement.
::Alicia snaps her fingers, triggering one of the guards who still stand by the door to produce a small envelope. While he opens it, she sits back down and starts rifling through a few documents on her desk::
Astaroth: An up front payment. You'll get the rest in the usual way. It's twice what we're already paying you. Keep proving yourself to be the reliable capitalist you've been so far, and you just might have yourself a hotel in the upper districts one day. Now get out. I detest looking at you any longer than I have to.
Doug: As ye wish yer ladyship. ::He turns to leave, but stops and turns back around:: Ye'know, I may not be much to look at, but I've turned my fair share of pretty heads under the sheets.
Astaroth: Not according to your wife.
Doug: So it was you lot. I didn't buy that tripe in the paper for a second. The LPA's desperate, but they're not that desperate... yet.
::Alicia releases her hold on him at last::
Astaroth: That's not your concern. But I'm afraid this time we weren't able to cover our tracks. We didn't realize that the LPA had recruited the Witch's Surrogate.
Doug: You mean the shapeshifter?
Astoroth: ::nods:: And I'm afraid that her involvement, as well as our... more extreme methods may have stirred up a hornets nest. Now that she knows that demons are involved, perhaps the Witch's Surrogate won't be the only hero getting involved. We'd like to avoid that since heroic involvement in Lindblum's past hasn't exactly been in the city's best interest. That's what we need you for.
::She circles her desk to come around to the back of it, resting her hands to lean forward so as to appear she's looking down her glasses at him::
Astaroth: I'll admit you've been useful so far, feeding the LPA information and worming your way through their ranks, giving us all the names of the higher officers--
Doug: Something that might come back to bite me in the arse now that they're all getting picked off.
Astaroth: But it seems that they're slow to trust you. And a certain Violette Hallowes seems to be able to do what you do for them a bit more effectively, and they trust her more.
Doug: Don't give me that. Violette would never work for you lot. She's LPA all the way. You need me.
Astaroth: Not if you don't start showing us some improvement. A little insight into their strategy at Gin Street could have averted this entire mess.
Doug: I told you the Dragoons wouldn't let me into the meeting.
Astaroth: My point exactly. You're on shaky ground with them, and that goes for the rest of the brigades as well. But here is your chance to redeem yourself. I want you to keep an eye on those who get in and out of the city, and I don't mean through the front gate. Anymore new recruits or suspicious "tourists", they set foot in this city I want to hear it from you first. Keep your eye on Iole Blakeney, see if she makes contact with anyone. Any suspected hero in the city, they so much as giggle I want to know about it. Am I clear?
::Doug grins::
Doug: So I'm in heroic territory now? That's a little risky. This isn't just a rag-tag resistance we're talking about. These are hardened war veterans with clout and power. I don't think it would be unfair of me to ask for a little advancement.
::Alicia snaps her fingers, triggering one of the guards who still stand by the door to produce a small envelope. While he opens it, she sits back down and starts rifling through a few documents on her desk::
Astaroth: An up front payment. You'll get the rest in the usual way. It's twice what we're already paying you. Keep proving yourself to be the reliable capitalist you've been so far, and you just might have yourself a hotel in the upper districts one day. Now get out. I detest looking at you any longer than I have to.
Doug: As ye wish yer ladyship. ::He turns to leave, but stops and turns back around:: Ye'know, I may not be much to look at, but I've turned my fair share of pretty heads under the sheets.
Astaroth: Not according to your wife.