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[It's been a few days since Van arrived, under less than ideal circumstances. During that time, he felt it was probably wisest to remain incommunicado. The easiest way to assure the others from Auldrant that he was doing nothing threatening was to appear to be doing nothing threatening; and he wasn't... strictly speaking. For the most part, all he'd done was study Ms. Sage's guide -- no, memorized it. He'll have to thank her, if they ever meet. She provided him with so much valuable information; including a list of exploitable thugs.

Someone should really do something about that.

But as enlightening as Ms. Sage's writings are, man cannot live on words alone. The supplies he gathered after leaving Asch and Luke's building (...and later returning to it) were starting to run out. He wasn't particularly thrilled with the clothes he'd grabbed, either. He'd rather not wear his Oracle uniform all the time, and the rest were a bit... lacking. He'd like to think he was a striking, well-dressed man; and appearances were so important to a favorable first impression. He'd get to that later in the day. And then the library, perhaps. It was always an advantage to have more information. His first stop, though, was something he could no longer put off: the medical facilities in the battle dome. He'd have to hope he could find what he needed there.

Despite his long list of errands (and the vague concern that he'll run into people he knows and would rather not deal with yet), he'll be perfectly willing to exchange a few words with anyone else out and about. In fact, he'll make sure to at least make eye contact and give a polite nod to every person he sees. The charisma is turned up to 11 today.]

Dist: Something to discuss with you. CH#7. Tonight.

(TL;DR: Meet him in the library, the clothing shops, the battle dome, on the street... And fill this out if you would, plz)

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Asch and the replica. [Dist isn't the type to let a little setback like abduction and imprisonment stop his research. Van has a very hard time imagining a situation that would dissuade Dist from his research. That's part of what makes him useful.

And with a matched set of specimens, unable to get away from him, well...] I assume you've been making observations?

[Or wanting to, at the very least.]

[Ah, so that was it. Of course he's been making observations and taking notes, but like hell he's going to tell Van that. What could Van possibly do for him here that would persuade Dist to cooperate? Even so, Dist isn't one to get on the man's bad side, especially when he's unarmed and alone, so he'll be...relatively honest. He regards Van carefully, crossing his arms before pushing up his glasses.]

Regardless if I have or have not, Commandant...what exactly would you do with such information?

[What a cagey snake Dist is. Van would honestly prefer not dealing with him at all; and wouldn't, were it not for this one issue. It isn't as though he has a surplus of replication researchers to choose from at the moment.]

Merely allay some concerns. I've invested considerable time and effort into Asch. I want to be forewarned of any... degradation.

Unless you aren't capable of such a simple task?

[Speaking of snakes...Dist sneers, turning his nose up. Oh, you foul manipulator, Van. Dist's not falling for that....though it does get his blood boiling, if how tightly he's gripping his arms is any indication. But the fact that Van knows about Asch's health...it only mildly surprises him.]

Then I suggest you study up on the Big Bang, if that is your concern. Asch is far too cautious to let me within two feet of him when I speak of experiments. [Not entirely untrue.] ...Not that I mind one bit, given his disposition.

But I know nothing, only theories and hypotheses. Jade may know more than I, but you'll be hard pressed to gain any information from him.

[Translation? You are SOL, Van.]

[Oh, he didn't know anything about Asch's health. He just guessed, based on what he'd noticed about the cheagles in Ortion Cavern. He was just there not long ago. The idea stuck out to him.

But thanks for confirming that, Dist. You've been an enormous help.]

Hm, yes. The Necromancer. You're right, of course. He'll never cooperate, which makes him useless to me. [And life tends to be short and/or unpleasant, for people who are useless to Van. Surely Dist doesn't want to be in that category of people?]

That information is not, however. I value it a great deal.

[...Bugger.

Dist listens carefully, and chews his bottom lip restlessly. Jade is indeed useless to van, but what could he possibly hope to gain here? Luceti is a wholly different place! There's no Score, barely any fonons, no fonmachines, no Lorelei, nothing. Nothing that Van could hope to change in that demented mind of his.

Yet his presence still intimidated Dist. Van wasn't stupid...not entirely, and Dist wasn't stupid to not admit it. That's what made Van so unsettling. He was smart, and secretive, and knew how to meddle with peoples' minds. Did Dist just say anything he shouldn't have? ...No matter. It shouldn't be his concern anyway! Asch and the replica weren't his concern, after all. Why should he give even half a damn about them?!]

Then are we finished here, Commandant? I'd rather not linger out in the dark too long, you see.

You will tell me if you learn anything, won't you? I would hate to find that anything untoward happened because you felt secretive. I've invested so much time into Asch.

[And therein will Dist find his answer. What Van hopes to gain is, for the moment, Asch; and much like any of the other things Van wanted, he would stop at nothing to obtain that goal. Right now he's simply betting on the fact that Dist will see more good in being a help than a hindrance.]

[...Is that a threat? Dist narrows his eyes and neither does nor says anything. He purses his lips before tucking his wings against his back and moving off the wall of the building. Van doesn't have any leverage over him. Not yet anyway. He wouldn't be stupid enough to go after Nephry. Jade would murder him. And the professor...did he know of her? Dist certainly hopes not.]

So I have have heard. ...And what, pray tell, would you be willing to offer me if I see fit to cooperate with you, Van? You must be well aware I do not work easily and without profit of some kind.

[You've got nothing, haven't you? You've got nothing and Dist knows it.]

[No, for once Dist is right, damn him. Van may as well be fresh out of the Order's military academy, for all the resources he has at the moment. It's intolerable. It would be enough to make another man desperate; desperate enough to make open threats instead of veiled ones. Desperate enough to do something... uncalculated.

Van is not that man. Not just yet.]

Why don't you tell me what you want? [It's as good as a blank check; an unspecified favor for this one little bit of information. It's certainly as good an offer as Dist will ever see from Van. It's a better offer than most people can ever hope to see from Van. But he knows that he never really held any more sway over Dist than greed could provide. He's going to have to be a little... generous.]

Edited 2011-09-19 16:05 (UTC)

[That, oh, that single sentence makes Dist grin. It's a sick, twisted, ugly, and victorious grin. He lowers his head and laughs quietly. The triumph is unbelievable. So much so that Dist has to laugh about it. What does he want? Well, he'll tell you, Van. He'll tell you plain and simple.]

...Nothing. [His grin spreads. For once, he's not lying. He has everything. He has Jade, he has the professor, Nephry, even that idiotic emperor. Though fontech here is scarce, Winry provides him enough automail and other technologies from different worlds to keep him happy.] For the moment, at least. I've absolutely everything I could want.

But let us strike a deal, Commandant. [Dist lifts his head, and straightens his back.] I'll agree to assist you as best I can, but in return, if and when I myself require your, ah...services, you do me the honor of providing what I need, yes? Do you approve?

[Dist.

Dist

Do you see the tightness of that smile? The subtle twitch of his brow? Do you know what it means?

You are a treacherous little roach and you infuriate him. But he needs this information. He needs it and for that he needs you and he hates it.]

One small favor for another is a fair price, I agree. [Let's be honest, Dist, he's not asking you to do anything you wouldn't be interested in anyway, less the 'telling him' part.] You know I don't expect you to work for free.

[Snake.]

[Dist can't help but feel exceedingly smug by Van's indignation. The thought that he's now become quite a target doesn't seem to register just yet. Dist never has been the right person to really think ahead. All he knows, and cares about, is that he's won. He's won against Van of all people!

He chuckles again, and moves away from the wall. They're done now, right? Well, he is, at least.]

Excellent! [He grins, taking a few steps toward the direction of his home.] I'm glad to hear that, truly; I'll look into things when I'm able. Now...if we're finished, I'd like to return home. Good evening, Commandant.

Quite finished.

[He lets Dist go, chiefly because he intends to follow at a distance. Asch and Luke neglected to mention where everyone lived. Very remiss of them.

He'd really like to know.]

[Dist does walk away, towards home. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have as much common sense as Luke or Asch. Plus, he's still caught up in his little victory against Van. Making sure he's not being followed isn't anywhere near Dist's thoughts at the moment, sadly. And it's only when he's three quarters of the way there that the victory wears off and Dist finally, finally, sees the error of his ways.

Shit...shit! He's gone too far now to just correct his path, but he doesn't want him to know about--...rrgh. Damn him to hell, he was better off there to begin with. What can he do...what can he do? Calling Van out, when he may not even be there isn't right. He could keep going, and warn Nephry...but--

Wait. ...Van's sister. A deplorable act, yes, but if Van wants to play that card, so will he. Dist is their enemy, isn't he? Yes. Yes, he was. Tear wasn't--even if she thought...no. No, he's not part of any family.

So. He continues on, all the way home, though his pace is slower, and his posture isn't nearly as confident as before. He reaches House one, opens the door, enters, and glares out into the darkness before he closes and locks the door.]

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And Dist shocked Van into silence for a whole week.

And Dist gloats about it for the next decade.

Gloat while you can, Dist. Gloat while you can.

/DOES.