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.

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"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."

Scared? No, Dia's not scared. He is startled and angered by the change in her tone of voice, though. No parent should talk to their child like that especially not a child who seems to need the extra attention this one does because she already has some active magical ability.

Not when that tone of voice conveys such condescension and distaste toward the person who is suppose to be her daughter.

"Please, just give Mommy a few more minutes."

Her tone is gentler by the time she switches back to Dia.

"My apologies. That child is getting into more trouble than she usually does."

She almost has to wonder if the child is doing it on purpose.

"Even if she is causing more trouble than usual, you shouldn't use that tone with her. She might not be old enough to know what it means, but I do. It is the same way you all talk to us--like we are objects that are beneath you," Dia hadn't actually planned to lecture her, but he just couldn't help it. The father in him was livid.

"She is your child and your responsibility. Nothing should come before that."

"She is not..."

She catches herself just in time. The girl is not her biological daughter, nor would she regard her as such. But she is not cruel or foolish enough to say so in a place where the girl could possibly hear.

"She is special, that child. And she needs to understand that I have my duties as assigned by the Association."

"Do you really think talking down to her will help?" Dia asks, his anger tempered slightly by the fact that he is curious about why she stopped herself just then. "Children are more intelligent than adults give them credit for. She may be acting up because you are talking to her in such a way.

"You mentioned she has a maid. Just how much time do you spend with her and how much time does she spend with the maid? Perhaps spending a little more time with her would help end these behaviors so that you can focus on your work."

"I spend a good enough amount of time with her. So much that she makes these phone calls even on days I have work."

Who is he to tell her how to care for the child?

Dia smiles a little sadly, though again, it's something she can't see. She might, however, notice a slight change in his voice, "Some children just need their parents more than others, I guess. I know that is how my youngest was. They just don't like to be alone.

"Would it work to set up a few times during the day for her to call so that she doesn't call so randomly and interrupt your work?"

"That is actually a good suggestion, if she is willing to listen."

She stops and pulls the phone away from her ear. She stares at it with a surprised expression. She had just taken advice for a Servant. It is perhaps the oddest thing that has ever happened to her with the exception of having that child given to her.

Dia can't help but smile a little. He's actually rather happy that she is willing try. Of all the things he had been known for in his first life, being a father was one of his favorites and it isn't often he gets to think let alone talk about it.

"Yes, if she will listen. It always hinges on how willing the child is to listen. Well, that and their age. Sometimes they are just too young to understand. How old is your daughter if I may ask?"

"Anywhere from nine to twelve, I guess."

She doesn't correct him on calling the child her daughter. After all, a moment of discomfort is better than revealing too much information.

His brow furrows in confusion. How can a mother not know the age of her daughter? Unless she just doesn't want to tell him, which is probably exactly the reason now that Dia thinks about it. Even if they are both parents, he is still a servant and she a mage.

"That should be old enough to understand. Hopefully, she will listen to you and you will be able to work something out that will give her the closeness she needs while also giving you space to work."

Dia pauses for a moment, refocusing himself, "And I'm sure you are tired of me telling you how to parent. Shall we return to the previous topic before you daughter calls again?"

"Thank you. I'll talk to her about it if she calls again."

She also has to take a moment to focus.

"I will suggest scaling back the Enforcers for the time being, but if any incidents occur, the number of Enforcers might increase."

Dia sighs. It's a vague promise, but more than she was willing to offer just a few moments before so he decides to accept it, "There won't be any incidents. This will help calm him, not make him more uncontrollable. They both are tired of having to patch me up. My continued good heath seems to be a great motivator to them. It's something you in the Association know all too well.

"Now, your secretary mentioned that there were things that the Association wanted to ask me, but had not been able to because Set refused to let you speak with me. Would you like to ask me those things now? I can't say when I will be able to talk to you again. He didn't want to let me make this call, but somehow I didn't think having you talk to him about this would be a good idea."

It is a good will gesture since she seems a little more willing to work with him now. He just hopes he doesn't regret making the offer.

Edited 2012-12-13 04:47 (UTC)

"I would like to know a little about your exact relationship with the Beast, then. It's obvious you're special to him, but how would you consider your task? Is it too much of a burden?"

Edited 2012-12-13 05:31 (UTC)

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