[video] rebel without a cause

[maddest]

What an exciting week!

In light of all the discussion, Adstringendum, let's chat- who would you trust to nominate as ombudsman?

Comments

[expunger]

Michael is too intelligent, and Gabriel too sentimental.

I am not interested in your immature authority issues, Break. The chaos in this city is not working. Only a fool would deny it. [She sounds almost vaguely disappointed- she does not think him a fool, or she didn't. She doesn't really know. Everything is varying degrees of irritation and hate.]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

The funny thing is, I think a police force would be beneficial. I just don't trust the way it's being done.

[A mild shrug.]

I think you should also be concerned that we've seen it tried nearly a half dozen times, each one a failure.

[expunger]

It has to happen some how. Would you prefer the usual way? Through war and bloody conquest?

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

With an ombudsmen and a charter.

[He shrugs.]

Or we'll get that war after all.

[expunger]

You mean you will start it.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

No. I'll just irritate you all until one of you slips up and kills me, and this powder keg goes off.

[expunger]

Coward. Do your own dirty work.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Oh, look, the chickadee has morals all of a sudden.

[expunger]

[Her lineface snaps into a startlingly vehement snarl.] Your kind disgusts me.

[The outburst is gone as quick as it came, expression blank again.]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

Even though I have better control of myself than you do?

[expunger]

[She steps forward and seizes him by the collar, face still creepily impassive and her tone even.]

Break, you are nothing but a hypocritical worm who dares to claim the moral high ground while associating with the Devil himself. Do not think your attachment to him will save you.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

[Michael, run his prayers, abruptly, remember me? I saved you from zombies once. I think I may have just goaded Raphael past the tipping point and I could really use a favour before your sibling turns me into toast with jam. Flippant, but with a tiny note of real panic.]

You're not actually proving me wrong.

[swordoffate.livejournal.com]

What's going on?

[expunger]

[Raphael stands to attention immediately, straightening up and turning to face her brother, still gripping Break's collar casually.]

It should be obvious.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

[For once in his life, Break shuts up.]

[swordoffate.livejournal.com]

It is. Why is less obvious.

Also, let go of Break; he isn't going anywhere.

[expunger]

[Raphael's stance is almost as casual, exuding a kind of perverse relaxation through which the constant tattoo of stress inside her shows in the slight tension in her shoulders.

She looks at him just as evenly for a long moment, her grip tightening on him.]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

[Break allows, quite softly;]

I shouldn't have goaded you.

[swordoffate.livejournal.com]

[expunger]

[Raphael allows one more second of looking Michael right in the eye before she breaks his gaze to look down at Break.]

No, you shouldn't have. [Softly, scornfully. After a moment's consideration she decides on her own to let him go with a small shove and look around at Michael slowly.] Everything's fine.

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

[He gives her a quick smile.]

[swordoffate.livejournal.com]

Don't lie, Raphael.

What was this all about?

[expunger]

Xerxes does not know his place.

[So bland and fake-relaxed.]

It no longer matters.

[She'll just be flying away now, to somewhere in the Northwest quadrant, making no efforts at all to hide or run from Michael. Yeah, he's probably gonna follow her at some point. She doesn't care right now.]

[mister-hatter.livejournal.com]

[Break straightens, with a gasp.]

I'm sorry about that. It got out of hand.

[swordoffate.livejournal.com]

What, exactly, was 'it'?