madimpossibledreamer (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2022-05-05 01:24 pm
madimpossibledreamer) wrote2022-05-05 01:24 pm
Entry tags:
Move
Main Points:
Dresden Files AU, M is for Marcone Series
Chapter Summary: Right after Mastermind. Dresden figures out where the questions are leading.
Word Count: 990
Rating: Teen
I incline my head slightly. “I am considering the option, yes. Which is why I would like your opinion on the matter—not only the feasibility of such a project, but the moral implications. I have no doubt you’ll have an opinion on that account.”
I would miss the slightest hint of a smile on his lips before he hides that, too—can’t allow himself to be amused at the joke of the criminal overlord. It’s strangely encouraging the parallels along those lines. His next question is thoughtful and serious, at least, by his standards. “Aren’t you worried that I’ll turn you in?” By the sound of his voice, he’s more troubled by the prospect than I.
I meet that ridiculous question only with a flat gaze. It’s not really worth answering. He squirms and asks a better one, with an easy enough answer. “Why?”
“It has come to my attention,” I begin, allowing only the slightest hint of anger through my iron control, “…that the Council makes regular practice of executing underage wizards.”
Fortunately, Harry knows me as well as I know myself. Perhaps better, aside from a few secrets I have kept to myself. “Gard told you, which means…Hell’s bells, Vadderung wants this.” I feel a touch of smug pride that he’d put it together almost as quickly as I had. He can be rather oblivious at times, but this time it appears he has elected to use his brain. “How long have you known?”
“Shortly after we became acquainted.” I leave it up to him how he interprets the statement. “I didn’t let myself consider the matter further until it was more attainable.”
He’s piecing that together. “The Accords. Your joining as a Freeholding Mortal Lord. Was that all for this—wait, no, don’t actually answer that, you wouldn’t be asking for my opinion on if it was a good idea if you’d already made up your mind. The how, maybe. Not ‘whether’.” He sits back, lacing his hands behind his head for lack of anything better to do with them, and makes a face that says he’s had idle thoughts about setting this Council of his on fire, which means he is possessed of more restraint than I or probably anyone else acquainted with the man gave him credit for. “Vadderung’s pretty fond of us mortals, so he probably wouldn’t just set us up for annihilation. I’m guessing he has some sort of plan?” So it sounds like, moral compass that he is, he’s come to the same conclusion I have—that the Council, for the moment anyway—had been a lesser evil, but if a better alternative could be pursued…
“Not that he’s shared.” He wouldn’t, either. I have the idea that all future resources, like information, depend on me taking the steps he wishes like a good little chess piece, and sadly, he’s not entirely wrong. While I am not a supernatural creature, I am also incapable of acting outside of my own nature. “I am told it is rare that he or his representatives attend meetings. I am sure it is not the full extent of his schemes, but it is clear he wishes to change the current balance of power.”
“Stars and stones.” He considers it further and then drops any pretense of trying to hide anything from me. “So, I don’t know a lot about Vadderung specifically, but in general from my experience, the fact that he’s acting now means that he has backup plans.”
“Others likely to act according to his wishes,” I clarify carefully, curling my lip just slightly at the thought that I am replaceable.
“Yeah. I mean, he chose you for a reason, and one of those is probably that you’re not just a ‘take orders’ kinda guy. But that also means you’re not going to just jump into this when he says to jump.” He pauses, letting out another long breath. “If you go along with it, you might have some more control. You might be able to ride the wave. But it’s going to be dangerous either way.”
I nod sharply. That’s almost entirely what I had suspected. “If I wanted ‘safe’, I would’ve just let the Vargassis continue to bumble around.”
“I didn’t think—” Harry trails off, helpless.
My voice is gentle as I respond. “You often don’t.” I pause to let that sink in and continue. “Still, you were useful enough in this instance.”
“I’d like to think I’m useful enough in every instance,” he retorts. The arrival of the food doesn’t give me time to respond in kind.
He doesn’t say anything at all when he’s eating, devouring everything quickly, and stands almost immediately. I hadn’t expected him to stay as long as he had, as regretful as it is. Before he stalks out, though, coat swaying around him, he places a hand on my shoulder as I continue cutting into my steak, forcing me to look up, because even without my own feelings in the matter, he’s a hard man to ignore. “I, uh, I’ll poke around and tell you what I can find out. I can’t be sure, but I’d guess you don’t have much longer before Vadderung makes a move of his own. Thanks for letting me know and asking for my advice, as weird as it is to feel I was useful to you of all people. And…” He pauses, then continues. “Let me know when it’s going down, all right? Because it feels like helping you out here is the right thing to do, ditto if your patron backstabs you.”
He's gone with long strides before I can even respond, which is just as well, because for once I have nothing remotely helpful to add.
Dresden Files AU, M is for Marcone Series
Chapter Summary: Right after Mastermind. Dresden figures out where the questions are leading.
Word Count: 990
Rating: Teen
“Hell’s bells.” Harry’s voice, usually so loud without thought to others’ sensibilities, is hushed, like he almost couldn’t make his voice power through the shock. “You’re going to destroy the Council.”
I incline my head slightly. “I am considering the option, yes. Which is why I would like your opinion on the matter—not only the feasibility of such a project, but the moral implications. I have no doubt you’ll have an opinion on that account.”
I would miss the slightest hint of a smile on his lips before he hides that, too—can’t allow himself to be amused at the joke of the criminal overlord. It’s strangely encouraging the parallels along those lines. His next question is thoughtful and serious, at least, by his standards. “Aren’t you worried that I’ll turn you in?” By the sound of his voice, he’s more troubled by the prospect than I.
I meet that ridiculous question only with a flat gaze. It’s not really worth answering. He squirms and asks a better one, with an easy enough answer. “Why?”
“It has come to my attention,” I begin, allowing only the slightest hint of anger through my iron control, “…that the Council makes regular practice of executing underage wizards.”
Fortunately, Harry knows me as well as I know myself. Perhaps better, aside from a few secrets I have kept to myself. “Gard told you, which means…Hell’s bells, Vadderung wants this.” I feel a touch of smug pride that he’d put it together almost as quickly as I had. He can be rather oblivious at times, but this time it appears he has elected to use his brain. “How long have you known?”
“Shortly after we became acquainted.” I leave it up to him how he interprets the statement. “I didn’t let myself consider the matter further until it was more attainable.”
He’s piecing that together. “The Accords. Your joining as a Freeholding Mortal Lord. Was that all for this—wait, no, don’t actually answer that, you wouldn’t be asking for my opinion on if it was a good idea if you’d already made up your mind. The how, maybe. Not ‘whether’.” He sits back, lacing his hands behind his head for lack of anything better to do with them, and makes a face that says he’s had idle thoughts about setting this Council of his on fire, which means he is possessed of more restraint than I or probably anyone else acquainted with the man gave him credit for. “Vadderung’s pretty fond of us mortals, so he probably wouldn’t just set us up for annihilation. I’m guessing he has some sort of plan?” So it sounds like, moral compass that he is, he’s come to the same conclusion I have—that the Council, for the moment anyway—had been a lesser evil, but if a better alternative could be pursued…
“Not that he’s shared.” He wouldn’t, either. I have the idea that all future resources, like information, depend on me taking the steps he wishes like a good little chess piece, and sadly, he’s not entirely wrong. While I am not a supernatural creature, I am also incapable of acting outside of my own nature. “I am told it is rare that he or his representatives attend meetings. I am sure it is not the full extent of his schemes, but it is clear he wishes to change the current balance of power.”
“Stars and stones.” He considers it further and then drops any pretense of trying to hide anything from me. “So, I don’t know a lot about Vadderung specifically, but in general from my experience, the fact that he’s acting now means that he has backup plans.”
“Others likely to act according to his wishes,” I clarify carefully, curling my lip just slightly at the thought that I am replaceable.
“Yeah. I mean, he chose you for a reason, and one of those is probably that you’re not just a ‘take orders’ kinda guy. But that also means you’re not going to just jump into this when he says to jump.” He pauses, letting out another long breath. “If you go along with it, you might have some more control. You might be able to ride the wave. But it’s going to be dangerous either way.”
I nod sharply. That’s almost entirely what I had suspected. “If I wanted ‘safe’, I would’ve just let the Vargassis continue to bumble around.”
“I didn’t think—” Harry trails off, helpless.
My voice is gentle as I respond. “You often don’t.” I pause to let that sink in and continue. “Still, you were useful enough in this instance.”
“I’d like to think I’m useful enough in every instance,” he retorts. The arrival of the food doesn’t give me time to respond in kind.
He doesn’t say anything at all when he’s eating, devouring everything quickly, and stands almost immediately. I hadn’t expected him to stay as long as he had, as regretful as it is. Before he stalks out, though, coat swaying around him, he places a hand on my shoulder as I continue cutting into my steak, forcing me to look up, because even without my own feelings in the matter, he’s a hard man to ignore. “I, uh, I’ll poke around and tell you what I can find out. I can’t be sure, but I’d guess you don’t have much longer before Vadderung makes a move of his own. Thanks for letting me know and asking for my advice, as weird as it is to feel I was useful to you of all people. And…” He pauses, then continues. “Let me know when it’s going down, all right? Because it feels like helping you out here is the right thing to do, ditto if your patron backstabs you.”
He's gone with long strides before I can even respond, which is just as well, because for once I have nothing remotely helpful to add.