Paridon: The Dark Metropolis (Ravenloft)

[Le Noir Faineant]

Calahan almost swallows the tobacco he has been chewing, and coughs as Perrin walks out of the cell.

Then, he laughs, grimly, and spits the brown tobacco water on the floor.

"My friend here is right. I say you are a dirty liar, my little lovey-dolley pervert.
Maybe we should simply make you talk the hard way. I would do you that honour,
but I prefer to leave it to those among my companions who still have certain affairs to settle with you."

With that, he spits the piece of tobacco out, and turns around, to follow Perrin.

"Father Berman, maybe you want to come with me for a sec... I am not sure you want to
be witness of this..." And to Alek: "When it comes to me, fella, you're a piece of dead meat."

 

[InVinoVeritas]

"That's what wild animals always think, yes..." Alek jibes.

 

[industrygothica]

As Perrin and Callahan turn to leave the room, Darian reaches in his coat for his whip. He pauses for a moment to look at his rose-shaped signet ring and closes his eyes, almost prayer-like.

"I will know the truth, Alek."

Darian didn't bother telling the dirty little gnome that he, unlike the others, already believed him. Best to make sure.

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

Ru watches some of his companions abandon their prisoner, but maintains his own composure.

"Brass. Is there a special significance to brass in gnomish culture? Or was it something relevant to the research you were working on with him? And might you know any other of his colleagues?"

Though a large part of him agrees with the others in regard to Alek's trustworthiness, he continues to press on, as he sees it as their only lead.

 

[kinem]

Father Berman replies to Callahan "If you wish to talk about something I will come."

(to the others)

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do, boys!"

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Outside, Calahan will pat on Father Berman's back and offer him some of his pipeweed.

"Wanna try? Extra strong tobacco from Saragoss.
- But be careful, it is said that one begins to see the ghosts of the fallen
if one smokes too much of it in a row..."

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Alek watches quietly as the others leave the room, leaving only Ru and Darian. He then looks away from the pair.

He's wincing, Darian.

He turns back to the two, first to Ru. "I do not know why he chose the name Brass. It does not have any specific meaning in gnome culture, but it is a useful metal. Strong enough for most everyday uses, weak enough to buckle under severe pressure. Brass is the color of gold, but with none of the value. It does not appear in nature, but must be manufactured by civilized people. Because of its utility but lack of toughness, it is in many ways its own worst enemy."

He then turns to Darian. He squints and flinches. He recovers, and clearly fights to maintain eye contact with the policeman. As he speaks, his voice becomes increasingly strained, but he resists the urge to look away...

"You want the truth, Darian? Then you will have it. You have been harboring something for a while, now. It sat there, waiting for you to desire too much. Ever since you wanted to rip answers screaming from my Marionette, no--from your Suki, it has shown you much. It sees what you see, hears what you hear, and gives you a clarity of vision that you have always yearned for. Yet that vision carries a price. It stares holes into the souls of those you meet. Precious few have dared meet your gaze recently. Why? Because it hurts. It's like staring into the sun, feels like the vice-grip realization that we are all prisoners here, we are all nothing but forgotten scraps to be tortured for something as meaningless as the truth.

You want the truth? The truth is that torturing me will give you no more truth, only revenge. It will only serve to slake your thirst for blood, your jealousy at my taking bits of Suki's soul that you had not even known you could touch. But you will learn nothing new. I have been honest to you ever since we got here--painfully honest.

You want the truth? The truth you seek is elsewhere, not here. If you want it, you can find it in someone that doesn't deserve to kiss the rose. Someone who is used to pain. And, no Darian, you don't need her mouth to make her tell the truth.

You want the truth? You've been given a chance at the Fruit of Knowledge. My advice? Bite deeply."

Now that is the truth.

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

Ru stares for a moment at Alek, then turns his gaze to Darian, as if looking at him might reveal what it is his soul harbors.

"I think we've gotten all we can from Alek," he says evenly. Without turning back to the gnome, he addresses Alek, "I'll see what I can do about getting you released; there are no doubt endless emergencies to attend to in what is left of your household."

Then he gestures, perhaps a little coldly, toward the door, eyes on Darian as he says, "Shall we?"

 

[industrygothica]

Darian does respond to Alek, resisting the urge to hoist the little man up by his throat, but instead locks his gaze upon him as he backs out of the room, speechless.

"Suki..." he says simply, and leads the way to her cell.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Finished with his speech, Alek stops looking at Darian with a gasp. He lets himself collapse, shaking his head. After Ru responds, Alek responds weakly, "Thank you, Ru. I apologize for ever doubting your nobility."

Ru catches Darian's glance for a moment as they leave Alek's cell--and he feels it, just as fleeting as the glance, a single throb in his head. Nothing that you would think or suspect--it certainly is not bright like the sun, and a quick glance feel like nothing more than the everyday fleeting mystery discomforts everyone feels. But it was indeed in the glance.

The policemen note, as Darian walks purposefully past, no screams of pain, or wails of anguish. Left behind in the cell, Alek weeps.

Darian storms down the corridor, grabbing Mogson along the way. He unlocks Marionette's cell, and stands aside to let Darian enter.

Marionette sits, propped in the corner like a forgotten doll. She raises her head to see who enters, and ever so quickly lowers it again.

The pain of seeing you. Not just your eyes, but what you mean to her. Redemption. Condemnation. Both, if you like.