shatteredservice | Deal with the Devil?

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Current Location: The Kitchen

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Deal with the Devil?

It is still very early, though the reason that Dia is already up is not because he can't sleep, but because he knows it will be better to get his call to The Mage's Association done and over with by the time Set wakes up. That way if he does end up upset, he will hopefully have time to bleed off the stress before either Set or The Beast can pick up on it. The last thing Dia wants is to have to deal with bringing The Beast down after having had a stressful talk with The Association.

Because he knows this isn't going to go well. He knows the kind of shit they are going to tell him and he knows they are probably not going to buy the geis story one bit. It would be great if they did, but he isn't very confident they will. It would mean showing some common sense and decency--two things he's pretty sure they don't have.

Dia turns the phone over in his hands for a few minutes working up the nerve to dial the number. It is silly, really. He's charged into armies in the past with no worries; he fought off Caster's monster without blinking, but this simple phone call is giving him pause.

Dia sighs and sets the phone down to take one last sip of tea from the mug sitting on the bar. He runs his hand through his hair nervously, and then picks the phone back up dialing the number before he can find another reason to delay.

The phone rings for a few moments before there is a click on the line that Dia knows means he's being transferred. When the Association let everyone go out to live their lives, they were all given a number that would directly connect them to those within The Association who dealt with servant affairs.

Of course, that doesn't mean that he still doesn't have to talk to a secretary before he is put through to someone who can actually do something for him. Dia can't help but cringe at the fake cheer in her voice.

"Good morning, Cu Chulainn. What can we do for you?"

Dia isn't surprised that she knows what house is calling. He's always suspected that the number not only was a direct line, but also identified who they were. He's also not surprised that they assume that it's Set calling. After all, Set always said that they weren't going to talk to him if he could help it.

"Actually, this is Diarmuid. Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. He and I live together," Dia corrects her.

"Oh, Diarmuid, my apologies. We were told that you wouldn't be talking with us so I just assumed..."

Dia waves off her concern. It's just as fake as everything else, "It's fine and this is a different circumstance. Could I talk to someone in Affairs, please?"

"Has something happened?" Her voice is suddenly too eager. "You are fully aware of the details of your arrangement. If we need to arrange a detain..."

"You do not," All the politeness evaperates from Dia's voice and is replaced with just a hint of anger. "I just want to speak with someone in Servant Affairs."

"I would not advise trying to hide an incident, Diarmuid. It could easily lead to a violation of your contract. I'm sure you don't want that."

"I'm not hiding anything," Dia's voice is low and just a little dangerous, not that the secretary seems to notice. "I merely wish to talk with someone in Servant Affairs. Transfer me."

"Please understand, Diarmuid that there are many things The Association wants to talk to you about and haven't been able to since Cu Chulainn has insisted that we not talk to you."

"And you are not qualified to talk to me about any of them," Dia points out. "Now do your job and transfer me."

The secretary starts to say something else, but seems to decide against it. A moment later, Dia is relieved to hear a buzz as he is finally put through to Servant Affairs.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The message from her secretary comes the worst possible time for Nemesis Eskardos.

No, her secretary is doing, at most, her job. Nor can she fault the other caller for having an issue that needs to be dealt with.

Instead, she can only blame the family member already on the phone with her. In one morning, she had taken four calls from that person alone. Perhaps it would be more pardonable had it actually been related to her work. But this person's calls were always personal and never official. Unfortunately, current arrangements meant she had to prioritize this person's calls, even when it interfered with her official duties.

"Honey, honey, please. Mommy has work. Yes, Mommy will call you back. Just five minutes, honey. Watch TV, alright? Martha can answer your questions, alright? Bye-bye, honey. Love you too."

She sighs, puts down the phone, and rubs her temples for a second before picking up the receiver again to speak to the other caller. At 28, the dark-haired, no-nonsense career woman did not appear at first glance to be a working mother. Especially when one considered that she was the unmarried heir of the Eskardos family, placed into the position of Servant Affairs so as to cement her father's authority. For her to have a child out of wedlock would be ridiculous, but here she was, taking multiple calls from a person who addressed her as "Mother."

"Yes, hello? Cu Chulainn, is it? What do you need to discuss?"

Dia rolls his eyes. While he's always thought it touching that Set wished to protect him so much, sometimes the results are rather annoying.

"Diarmuid. Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. Cu Chulainn and I live together," Dia makes the correction for the second time that day without missing a beat. "May I ask to whom I'm speaking?"

"Nemesis Eskardos, Servant Affairs representative. And you are Cu Chulainn's guardian, am I correct? I will assume this is not a matter of detainment, since my secretary would suffice for that."

She taps her fingers against the desk. Hopefully, this matter can be resolved within five minutes.

Dia's eyes narrow, though his voice remains polite if a little strained. Did they really have to make it so obvious that all they care about is detaining servants?

"That is correct, though I really don't think of myself as his guardian. He is a grown man after all," Dia points out. "The reason I'm calling is because there has been a change in his and The Beast's...relationship I guess is the best way to put it. Since you have people watching us so closely, I'm sure it's something that will eventually be noticed, but I thought I would inform you of the change myself since we have something of a partnership and that is what partners do."

Dia doesn't mention that part of the reason he's contacting them is to make sure they don't try and twist the change into something that breaks their contracts. He wouldn't put it passed them to try such a thing even if the change made The Beast behave better not worse.

"A...change."

Her brows knit into a frown. The vague description he gives promises nothing good.

"What sort of change?"

She does not expect him to answer her question completely. After all, despite the contract that existed between Servants and the Association, it was still an unchangeable fact that the two sides were at odds with each other. As a member of the Association, it's her work to glean useful bits of information from whatever this man is willing to divulge.

Already, she has a working theory. If the change was disadvantageous for the Servants, he would have tried to conceal it even more than he is already doing. In fact, she doubts he would have even made the call if that were the case. So the only conclusion is that this change has given the Servant some sort of advantage over the Association.

She is suspicious and that doesn't surprise Dia. He is actually a little surprised that she isn't being more demanding or hostile. It's obvious she doesn't expect him to be honest with her and Dia can't help but wonder how surprised she would be to know he has no plans to be anything other than honest with her.

"Since you work in Servant Affairs I'm going to assume you are familiar with us to some degree. If not, I'm sure you can look up any information you are unsure about in our files if you haven't already done so, so forgive me if I don't spend a lot of time explaining certain details.

"Are you familiar at all with how a geis works? They are things that both Set and I experienced during our first lives. Recently, we met with a person who had enough power to overcome Set and The Beast's magic resistance and set a new geis upon him. That geis is meant to keep The Beast more under control especially in regards to how he reacts to me."

Her hands tightens around the phone. Of course she knew about a geis. It was a terrible class of curse, but this is the first time she has heard of one strong enough to subdue a Servant. And even more astounding is the fact Cu Chulainn would have submitted to such a geis.

"I see. I would assume that such a person is your ally?"

It is the only logical conclusion. Neither Cu Chulainn nor Diarmuid could have allowed this spell to take effect unless the caster was someone they both trusted.

"Congratulations on improving your control. And pass this congratulations on to the caster if you can still contact them. This makes both our jobs much easier."

"I will," Dia nods, honestly surprised that she not only took the information so well, but actually seems to believe it. His surprise quickly fades into suspicion, though. This is going far too easily, "I guess you could say the caster is our ally or at least someone who thought well enough of us that they were willing to try. It was helpful that both The Beast and Set were willing to accept the terms of the geis. As you may know, those taken willingly are much stronger than those forced upon their victims.

"Since The Beast is more restrained now, I wished to ask if there was a way you could have the Association lighten their surveillance of both us and our home. I am well aware that we are being watched much more closely than most other servants and I haven't argued before because of the danger The Beast poses, but that danger has lessened now. There is no need to continue and we have as much right to our normal lives as any other servant."

As a magus, Nemesis knows better than to show fear or panic to let an enemy know they have the upper hand. Similarly, advantages should not be trumped too much lest the enemy catch on and change their tactics. Thus, she keeps calm as she speaks to Diarmuid.

"Perhaps I could consider it."

Her tone is so casual as to indicate that she is brushing him off. Though the Beast might be of less concern, there is still the matter of the unknown ally.

"Right now, I do not..."

Before she can try to milk more information from him, the phone beeps to show another incoming call.

"Can you hold on a second?"

She puts the coming caller on speaker phone as quickly as possible.

"Yes?"

She frowns when she hears the child's voice again. Again with the inane questions about shows that she did not watch. Again with the nagging for her to come home.

"Mommy is talking with someone right now, alright? And no, Mommy doesn't know why Jake can change shape. No, you can't try it with other doggies."

She sighs.

"Did you try with another doggy?"

Now that is more along the lines of what Dia had been expecting. The brush off. The shift in attitude that marks the beginning of her attempt to pump him for information. Dia doesn't know if it's because Set has refused to let them talk to him for so long, but it's obvious they think he's just going to spill information to them like a fountain.

They are dead wrong. Sure, there is quite a bit of information that he is perfectly willing to give them, but the important things--like the sex of their 'ally,' for example--he has no intention of revealing.

And while it's annoying that she so quickly jumps to take the call that comes in a few moments later, Dia isn't too upset because it will give him some time to decide how exactly he wants to continue with their call.

Or perhaps not, because Dia soon realizes that there is either something wrong with the phone or she just didn't hit the right buttons to get him on hold because he can hear her speaking to the other person quite clearly.

To say that Dia is very surprised to realize that she is talking to what is most likely her daughter would be an understatement. Obviously mages have families. Dia knows that magic is passed down most strongly through familial lines, but to hear a mage talking to their child about such silly things when just a moment before he had been talking to her about very serious things is a little jarring

And, perhaps to this one time father, just a little nostalgic too.

Edited 2012-12-12 05:04 (UTC)

A sigh from Nemesis' end.

"No, honey. The dog would die. And doggies dying is not good. Maybe Jake is a magic doggy? Alright, I'll make you a dog familiar when I have the time. But honey, Mommy really needs to talk this person. Don't worry, they'll never be as important as you. Just five more minutes, alright?"

She switches back to Diarmuid's line.

"Forgive me for that just now. I had some business. As I was saying, I don't have enough information about your ally to make a good decision right now."

Any warm feeling Dia might have developed listening to her talk to her daughter vanishes when she returns to their conversation just as cold as ever.

"I don't what our ally has to do with any of this. It's not like they live with us," Though if the way Bazett ate when she was with them was any indication, the woman might have been better off living with them. Just as long as she and Set didn't end up killing each other that is. "Look, I'm not asking for that much. I'm certainly not asking you to stop watching Set, but why do you feel that I have to be watched so closely? I'm not the dangerous one here. There's really no reason I have to be tailed when I go out to run errands alone."

Edited 2012-12-12 05:53 (UTC)

"Your ally is an unknown force with impressive powers. As a representative of Servant Affairs, it's my job to pay attention to matters like these."

While she speaks, she keeps an eye on the phone. Who knows when the next call would come?

"You yourself have said it. The geis given to Cu Chulainn concerns your safety. Who knows what might happen to him now if you run into any unfortunate circumstances?"

Edited 2012-12-12 06:19 (UTC)

Dia shifts the phone to rest between his head and shoulder so he can use his hand to rub the bridge of his nose, "The only unfortunate circumstances I might run into would probably be something your group set up so that you could get him to break his contract. Believe me, we are well aware of how you guys work by now. And our ally is really no one that you should be concerned with. They are merely someone who had the right knowledge at the right time. As I said, a geis is much easier to work with when the party that it is being laid on is willing. You are making things much more difficult than they need to be."

"I am taking precautions, Diarmuid. It is my duty."

She would explain further, but the phone rings again. She gives a defeated sigh and changes the line.

"Honey?"

Her voice is full of apprehension because the other end is silent for a long time. Then, when the explanation starts, she feels a creeping desire to slam her head into her desk.

"Just because you can't do that with a real doggy doesn't mean you can use your toys. Or Mommy's oven. Just...sit down for a while and think about what you've done. For a half hour or so. Just sit."

Who is she to assume he doesn't know about duty? This is different, though, and Dia is about to give her an earful explaining how when the next call comes in.

And again she fails to get him properly on hold. He can't help but wonder if she's doing it on purpose or if she's just that technologically impaired.

In any event, when Dia hears about her daughter's latest adventure, he can't help but smile a little. It reminds him, briefly, of the times he'd come home to find the kitchen destroyed after Grainne had tried to teach their daughter to cook.

A princess trying to teach a little girl to cook had not been a good idea. As hard as she'd tried, Grainne had never really gotten the cooking thing down.

And that is the secret to why Dia is so very good at cleaning up the disasters Set leaves in his kitchen. He's had plenty of practice.

The half-hour long punishment would ensure that there would be fewer interruptions.

"Now, Diarmuid, do you need to say anything?"

For the first time in the conversations, frustration slips into her voice. Dealing with her "daughter" could get on her nerves faster than any Servant could.

Dia blinks as he pulls himself from his memories. Honestly, he's a little surprised she's not dumping him off to go deal with her daughter.

"That sounded like an emergency. If you need to go handle it, I will be happy to speak with someone else. Maybe they will be more understanding of the situation when they aren't being distracted by their children."

There's a moment of surprised silence when she realizes that he just called that girl her daughter.

"No. I'm fine."

She snaps at him. Just because she had a few minor distractions doesn't mean she's any less competent than another representative.

Dia raises an eyebrow in disbelief. It's just too bad that can't be seen over the phone.

"Yes, you seem perfectly focused," There is a slight bit of sarcasm in his voice, but that vanishes after the first few words. "I'm not saying there is anything wrong with your ability. However, I was a father in my first life. I know well how children can distract you even when you are trying not to be distracted. I merely wished to give you the option of transferring me if you needed to deal with her.

"If that is truly not the case, then we can continue our discussion whenever you are ready."

She raises a hand to rub her temples.

"Yes. Please continue. At the very least, can you testify to your own sanity? Was Cu Chulainn the only one given a geis, or did you submit to one too?"

"Of course, I'm sane. What exactly are you implying by asking such a thing?" Hostility creeps back into Dia's voice despite his best efforts. "Do you really think either of us would agree to something that would alter our mental states?

"The geis was laid only on Set. To be specific, it was laid on him while The Beast was in control so it was The Beast who agreed, with Set giving secondary permission. It binds them both as an effort to get them to work more closely together to prevent me being hurt and it being broken."

"I see."

She has gone back to being calm and collected. It seems that the current change has indeed put her side at a disadvantage. If anything, she might need to call back the Enforcers to discuss a change in strategy.

And then the phone rings again. She gives an audible growl as she has to switch lines again.

"I said a half hour. This is nowhere close to a half-hour."

"I don't think you do..." Dia starts to object, but is again cut off by the phone. This time he sighs and grits his teeth. The interruptions are getting a little old. He really just wants to get this over with, but at this rate, he's still going to be on the phone long after Set gets up for the day.

He understands being a parent. He does, but right now the woman is suppose to be being a representative of the Association, not a parent. If her child needs this much attention, then she should be willing to pass her work on for the moment and get things taken care of instead of trying to do two things at once and not getting either of them done well.

Dia prides himself on being a patient man, but his patience is starting to wear thin.

It might grate on both their nerves to hear the quiet, garbled little voice discuss how she set her dress on fire, and how she managed to traumatize her maid. Thankfully, she was able to avert a disaster by slipping away and...

"Stop."

Nemesis' tone is not harsh, but it is not the tone of a frustrated mother. She sounds exactly as she does when conversing with Dia.

"Sweetie, Mommy is on the phone with someone very important. No, not as important as you, but they don't want to listen to what's happening. I think you'll scare them. As long as you're not hurt, just get the maid to give you a new dress."

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