17 Days Ago
Taylor pushed past Ryan, ignoring sweating, panting agent, focusing only on the threat across the rooftop. There was a gunshot, and for a moment, he was disappointed – there was no reason for it to be over so soon. No reason that the full punishment of the system shouldn’t be doled out. No reason it should be easy on either of them.
‘About time,’ he growled. ‘They’re always slow.’
The Enforcers held the ex-recruit still, one with her suicide weapon in his hand, the other simply restraining her right arm. Without speaking, they shifted away, he went to follow them, but felt his “commander” staring at him.
‘You did this?’ Ryan asked, a slight wheeze in his weak voice.
He thrust his head in the direction of the scholar. ‘You’re blaming the wrong agent, sir.’
Shift: current local Enforcer location.
The rooftop blurred, and he found himself in a small room with the two Enforcers and the girl. One thrust a clipboard at her, and she hurriedly signed her name without reading the document. He watched as the Enforcer to his left pulled her under a large lamp, which immediately cast a blue light on her. A pre-reclamation scan.
He wished he’d read through the document, so that he knew exactly what they were going to do to her, and to Ryan. And whether or not that meant-
The Enforcer to his right, one with the appearance of an older man, turned to him. ‘There’s no need for you to be here, Taylor. For the moment, you’re in charge, please go attend to your duties.’
‘For the moment?’ he questioned.
‘You’ll be informed of when conditions change.’
‘Yes sir.’
He looked past the Enforcer, at the girl with the light scanning over her body, she caught him staring at her, and quickly looked away, tears forming in her eyes. Satisfied, and knowing he could review the tapes later, he shifted away.
His office blurred into view, and he found Magnolia holding a large stack of reports and heading for the door. She moved the pile of folders to one hand and snapped a salute. ‘There’s a large one there on your desk sir,’ she said, dropping the salute and indicating to the red folder. ‘Eyes only.’
He lifted the file, made a simple requirement and handed it to her. ‘You can view it. It’s a victory a long time coming.’
She gave him a quick, respectful nod, placed her pile of folders onto the desk, opened the folder. He sat behind his desk, quickly signing off on the other reports above her security clearance and making them disappear as soon as possible.
His eyes snapped up when he heard his recruit make a small noise, a decidedly un-Magnolia noise, a weak noise. Without asking permission, she required a chair and sat heavily on it, the assuredly involuntary noise escaping her again. He concentrated on her, and heard her heart beating rapidly in his ears, her pulse far above that of his calm and collected recruit.
She licked her lips, then finally looked up at him. ‘Sir,’ she began, but then closed her mouth and looked away again.
‘Magnolia,’ he cautioned as he stood, ‘speak, or don’t, don’t-’
‘You signed the short form of this, correct sir?’ she said quickly.
The fact that she had interrupted him stunned him for a moment, but then he nodded. ‘Yes.’
Genuine horror, the kind he thought he’d beaten out of her a long time ago, slid across her face. ‘Sir,’ she said quietly, ‘did you read the short form in its entirety?’
‘I-’
‘Sir, you didn’t, did you?’ She licked her lips again, and looked away for a moment. A highlighter appeared in her hand and she quickly flicked it across several sections of the paper, but still, she didn’t look at him.
Trepidation was a brick in his gut. ‘Magnolia,’ he said, ‘what did I sign?’
With a trembling hand, she handed across the highlighted sheet. He read the highlighted sections, twice, then he raised his fist to his mouth and bit through his thumb. The digit fell to his desk with a tiny thud and not much blood at all.
From the stump, however, the blood flowed freely, and he did nothing to stop it. After a few seconds, emergency protocols kicked in, stemmed the flow of blood and began to regrow the thumb.
He looked across at his recruit, her favourite knife was already on the table, lying on top of its sheath, her body relaxed and awaiting punishment. He stared at her for a long moment, grateful of the offer, but without any desire to act on it. It wasn’t her he wanted to hurt, it wasn’t her he was going to-
His newly-grown thumb flexed of its own accord, checking the connections and making sure that it was functioning within parameters. It was, but it didn’t matter, he didn’t need both thumbs for what he was going to do.
‘I’m going to,’ he said, his voice far calmer than he could have predicted, ‘kill him.’
He stood, turned, and walked into his gym. The lights came on automatically as he strode across the polished wood floor, and the secret wall panel slid open to reveal one of his weapon caches. He slid his hand across a great axe, the one he’d used to behead a king, but dismissed using it, as much…as much fun as it was, this wasn’t a job for such brute force. There needed to be pain before the death, only a little, he wasn’t going to have much time before they came for him, especially with Enforcers in the building, but time enough to do what he wanted.
One hand still on the axe, his other shot out and grabbed his recruit by the neck, he didn’t turn to look at her, he didn’t try and choke her, he simply held her away from himself. He looked to a collection of three knives that resided beneath the axe.
The knives would have been perfect, they all worked together, each releasing a different poison into their victim’s body, each working against them in a different way, culminating in a very painful death. Unfortunately, they were too slow, they wouldn’t be able to finish off the scholar before he was taken down.
‘Sir,’ Magnolia said, not even struggling in his grip, ‘you can’t do this.’
‘Are you presuming to tell me what to do?’ he asked as his hand ran over a small switchblade, one he’d offered to her, but she’d declined, saying that it had been designed hands smaller than his own. He agreed, but kept it anyway, sometimes a small weapon was necessary.
‘Yes.’
He snapped his head to look at her. He stared at her, then released her. Her gaze didn’t move from him. ‘Know your place, Recruit.’
She took a step forward, her slight form close against his, the ruffles of her skirt brushing across his pants leg, the sound her heart still so loud in his ears. ‘If you take any weapon from that case, my place here will no longer exist.’
He set his jaw. ‘And that means what to me?’
Her heart was pounding, faster than he’d ever heard it beat before, faster than the first time he’d tried to kill her, faster than when she’d outrun a reaper.
‘You are better than this, sir,’ she said quietly. Quietly, but not weakly, the uncertainty had disappeared from her voice. ‘You are better than this.’ He reached for a small and unadorned serrated blade. In a quick movement, she was between his hand and the weapons cache, she was quick, his training had paid off.
‘Get out of my way, Magnolia.’
‘Of course, sir,’ she said, but didn’t move.
‘Recruit!’
‘What you are doing is tantamount to suicide, sir, is this your plan, then there is something you have to do first.’
‘Being?’
With a quick jerk, she extracted her knife from her boot – evidentially replacing it for even the quick walk from his desk – and handed it to him handle-first. ‘Keep your promise.’
He ripped the knife from her hand, a line of blood appearing across her palm, and pressed it to her neck. ‘One chance to take the easy way out.’
‘If you’re gone, sir, I’m useless here. I have no intention of being useless.’
‘Fine.’
He grabbed the front of her dress with one hand, pulled her away from the weapons cache, and slammed her against the nearest part of the wall. She expelled a short breath, then lifted her chin and turned her head away, affording him a good view of her throat. A good target.
He lifted the knife and pressed it to her skin.
The rest of his life would consist of six movement. All so simple, all so practiced. The first, to cut her throat. The second, to drop her body. The third, to drop the bloody knife. The fourth, to grab the serrated blade. The fifth to shift to the scholar. The six, to stab Jones. Then, all he would have to do is to await his execution.
It was better than what the future held otherwise.
He stared unblinkingly at Magnolia, and for a moment, she turned back to look at him, but she said nothing. She knew she’d overstepped her bounds, and was apparently satisfied with her current number of infarctions.
After a moment, a moment in which he could have cut her throat, a moment in which he could have started his last six actions, a moment in which he could have changed everything, her demeanour changed. Her eyes told him she’d accepted her fate, as well she should have, he had a knife at her throat, that meant-
‘Sir, I-’
He shifted away.
This is WAY more than just a Taylor and Magnolia chapter! Really cool, much more than I expected, actually.. I like his reactions 😀
Also, this is the first time we experience shifting from the point of view of the actual shifter.. Are there any restrictions? Can you Shift: safe location or somewhere abstract like that? 🙂
And.. Magnolia’s last words in this chapter.. Did she try to confess? >_>
Is that why he shifted away? ))
This is WAY more than just a Taylor and Magnolia chapter!
I kinda felt like I did a good job with them this time, they’re so gorram hard to write (especially him! 🙁 ). *feels arrogant, runs away*
I like his reactions 😀
I like complete lack of reaction other than BITING HIS THUMB OFF. >_>
Also, this is the first time we experience shifting from the point of view of the actual shifter.
Yeah, I thought I’d throw him a bone and give him that. (Also, it’s actually from his POV the first time we actually see Stef come back to life).
Are there any restrictions?
Can’t shift into a blackout zone.
Can’t shift into a Court.
Can’t shift anyone affected by too much magic/had time energy injected into them.
Can’t always shift fae.
Precision is easier if you actually know the place/have been there before.
Can you Shift: safe location or somewhere abstract like that? 🙂
Not so much, abstract with a condition can work, like him wanting to be with the closest Enforcers, or “shift: safe house/Agency/home” send you back to where your default is set.
Did she try to confess? >_>
Yeah, she tries whenever she thinks he might actually off her.
Is that why he shifted away?
No, it was more AAAAAGH FUCK IT I WON’T KILL THE LITTLE BASTARD, since he didn’t want to, yanno, throw his life away. >_> He’s off to yell at Jonesy (coming in the next chapter!).
*grabs by the hand, pulls back*
*cookie*
Not arrogant! Gooooooood! ^_^
I like complete lack of reaction
Noo, he had plenty of reaction there.. For example when he was so shocked, that he didn’t even stop Mag from interrupting him (how could she dare?!) 😛
Shift: London
<_< >_>
<_< >_>
I guess I’m just too full of magic or something ^_^
*found a plausible excuse*
*noms on Flex* >_> *noms on cookie*
For example when he was so shocked, that he didn’t even stop Mag from interrupting him (how could she dare?!) 😛
hehehe
Part of me still thinks he did it so he could feel feelings again (ie, proper burny rage, not the complete calm).
*found a plausible excuse*
How about…you’re not an agent? 😛 (Unless you are, are you?)
*noms on Flex* >_> *noms on cookie*
Umm.. Ow? >_>
*rubs stiff shoulder, or whatever place that was nommed on* 🙂
How about…you’re not an agent? 😛 (Unless you are, are you?)
well.. I’m not sure.. And I don’t like the thought that I might be an outcast agent, with requirement turned off/banned for life… So for now I’ll pretend to be the overly-magical boy 😀
*rubs stiff shoulder, or whatever place that was nommed on* 🙂
Shoulder are the best for nomming, or so I’m led to believe my the fact that *noms on shoulder* is Randi’s fiance’s way of saying “good morning” 😛
So for now I’ll pretend to be the overly-magical boy 😀
You and your magic… >_> Fine, but at least do awesome stuff.
*is very very confused* O_o
Whatever you say, boss.. )
Do we get to see Emma’s reaction too? Cause that would be awesome, Taylor and Emma could have a little emo contest over Stef being agentified.
Ooooh! I totally forgot about her!
That WOULD be cool!
Do we get to see Emma’s reaction too?
Chapter with Jonesy first, be patient. 😛
And, Taylor doesn’t get emo, he smashes things. 😛
Self-mutilation = emo in my book.
…only one little thumb, and it came right back!
…little thumb, probably as big as my wrist >_>
then ?? his fist to his mouth and bit through his thumb
missing a word or something
*fixes*
I love how it’s like “he can review the tapes later”. It gives the impression that it’s like, I dunno, porn to him, or something. I suppose that’s in line with his character, after all. 😛
I also am loving the casual severing of digits. Next thing you know he’ll be mindlessly tearing off his arms when trying to do a particularly perplexing crossword.
It gives the impression that it’s like, I dunno, porn to him, or something.
I suppose in a weird way it is. >_> *forces brain reboot before images start to form*
I also am loving the casual severing of digits.
It’s totally him, but that hasn’t stopped me insanely giggling about it
whenever I take two seconds to think about it. 😀
Next thing you know he’ll be mindlessly tearing off his arms when trying to do a particularly perplexing crossword.
He’ll tear off both (somehow)then get Mags to sit there an use her un-torn-off arms to finish writing in the answers for him.
When he tears the first one off, one of his three braincells goes with it, and with its new found sentience, it takes out the other arm too.
…independent, sentient Taylor arm is the stuff of nightmares. O_O
…I hope the tech department has Taylor-proofed themselves as well (so much as they can anyway).
…you really don’t want to know what happens when the arms start working out how to reproduce themselves by GROWING NEW TAYLORS FROM THEMSELVES.
…Mags would be happy >_>
NONONONONONONONONO!
*hides under a couch*
ONE IS ENOUGH! ONE IS ENOUGH!
Mags: Hey guys, what’s going on in this thread? …*dies of happy*
Mags: Whoo, moar Taylor to torture me! ^_^ Taylor hand goes with Taylor knife, so lotsa Taylor hands=lotsa Taylor knives 😀
…they could put stuff that makes you think on the wall, like philosophical stuff, and Taylor’s brain would overload and get fried 😀
…three brain cells cannot reach critical mass! There isn’t enough to explode!
Taylor himself would be happy. Who better to give him a fair fight than himself? Much better than a punching bag.
…wouldn’t want to beat himself up, when multiple hims could go beat up other people together. >_>
…his three braincells would have a massive fight, and the one which thinks about hurting people will survive, and then Taylor would be all “ZOMGIKILLYOU!” >_>
Natural Selection amongst Taylors? The most superior Taylor, we shall call him ‘Alpha Taylor’ will reign supreme over all Taylors, and together THEY SHALL CONQUOUR ANYTHING THAT IS PUNCHABLE!
…they would just stop killing the weaker Taylors, as that breeds more, weaker Taylors.
Of course before they realize the weak, pathetic, stupid Taylor population has already grown to immense size and now make up the entire population of Inala, Woodridge and Ipswich. (For non-locals, very rough neighbourhoods.)
…dude, if I’ve got my numbers right, that many Taylors would be several times the entire worldwide population of agents…
It’s like having a part of your body that is stupid, inane, pointless and endlessly frustrating… ISN’T THAT RIGHT, PINKY TOE!?
…look, let me just encase your foot in concrete, then you’ll be safe.
THEY SHALL CONQUOUR ANYTHING THAT IS PUNCHABLE!
Dude, I am so putting that on a badge as soon as I find the bits.
Nice. You need to take a picture of this when you make it. 😛
I hope I can find the spare badge bits soon (I cleaned the area where I was storing them and I don’t know where they went >_<).
you can always buy more though, right?
…it’s easy enough to do. 🙂 (Once I get a job and are working again).
Well that will teach him not to read what he signs. And of course he will not trust Jones again for a long time, and that is going to be some screaming fit when he gets to Jones.
I would say these two are a match made in the dungeon, since anywhere else just wouldn’t work for them.
…learn his lesson somehow. It just makes me wonder what else people have slipped past him because of his “sign anything put in front of him” habit.
And of course he will not trust Jones again for a long time
Nah, he’ll just go on not trusting him, like he’s done for the last twenty years. -_-
that is going to be some screaming fit when he gets to Jones.
Yeah, it’s going to be epic.
I would say these two are a match made in the dungeon
hehehe o_o hehehehe *tries to scrub away dirty thoughts*
T: Victory is mine!
M: Um… sir… it’s not >_>
T: ZOMGWTF?
M: *whimper*
T: ZOMGthatbastardmustdai!!!
M: Nonono, u killz him, u dai too!
T: So what?
M: *puppy eyes* You promised you’d kill meeeee! Who’s gonna kill me if you dieeeee? *wails*
But yeah, from now on, he’ll triple-read anything he has to sign, just in case they agentify Merlin next >_>
And ooooh, looking forward to screamingfit 😀 wonder how Jonesy’s going to fight back ^_^
Bufi, don’t forget… He has 3 entire braincells (gasp!).
There just isn’t enough space in there for him to remember to proofread reports..
5 minutes later, and Jones will give him another one to sign, related to Ryan, and he won’t even notice… And then he’ll cry later, and bite off a leg or something 😀
5 minutes later, and Jones will give him another one to sign, related to Ryan, and he won’t even notice…
No, the thing with Ryan was in the same report, hence the RAEG! (which is more than normal RAGE :P).
And then he’ll cry later, and bite off a leg or something 😀
Even for him that would take a bit of chewing. 😛
Mags: Sir?
Taylor: *OM NOM NOM*
Mags: …sir, stop that.
Taylor: Must…chew…off…leg…
Mags: Sir, you do realise that it’s growing back as fast as you can chew it, right?
Taylor: I CAN FIX THAT!
Taylor: *drops blackout bomb*
Mags: Sir, what the- WHERE DID YOU EVEN GET THAT?
Taylor: o_o
Mags: You’re in pain now, aren’t you sir?
Taylor: *makes vague chewing motions*
Mags: *rolls eyes* *drags him off to get medical attention*
Now that you mention it… A blackout bomb in their building would be nothing short of a disaster! >_>
Magic elevator, doors, ACs, Found and Lost office etc etc =/
…the Agency going black is a terrifying, terrifying thing.
*thinks*
With slight effort, they can get, like real power and real communications going (this sceneraio is accounted for), however, that only powers the lights, the tech department computers/communications and the lifts. No AC (except for rooms that really need it, like server rooms or whatever). (Oh, and the morgue freezers of course). The lift is for emergency/agent use only, everyone else has to use the stairs.
No hot water, and the cold water is rationed (no one can take a half-hour long shower).
The doors, well, they open, but don’t lock unless they’ve got a proper manual lock. Lost and Found office, well, that dude’s going to be lonely for a while. All other building macros would be offline as well. -_-
It wouldn’t be fun. -_-
Is it even connected as a building? I mean with magic elevator thing the floors could be spread out all over the city and no one would know the difference.
Yay for Neverwhere! 😀
…it’s one physical building, not spread out.
Ok, fine, there’s a pocket dimension library that it’s connected to, and there’s a warp in space to let everyone get to the infirmary quicker, but take that away and it’s a regular building.
It needs to be, for situations like this, they can’t have their people spread out and cut off.
… uber-lol-worthy ^_^
But yeah, from now on, he’ll triple-read anything he has to sign
Thank god he doesn’t have actually have to read much himself, otherwise the Agency efficiency rating would go down. >_>
wonder how Jonesy’s going to fight back
Still working out the finer points, but it’s going to be fun. 😀
What did he sign? WHAT DID HE SIGN!?
He signed the form that basically says, “I, Agent Taylor, being of sound mind and body, hereby authorise Ryan to be left in charge and for the little hacker chick to get made into an agent”. 😛
…OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOkay, that’s understandable, I guess. 😛
…biting off his freaking thumb. 😛
(Oh god, I’m still loling at that).
…Shakespeare’s “I bite my thumb at you, sir” to a scary new level.
…stop making me laugh, I’ll wake the boy up. >_<
…to “Wibbly jester”? 😀
…you’re fine to stay Wibbly Mum.
I, Agent Taylor, being of sound mind and body bite off my thumb because I don’t read what I sign. If anybody ever pulls a stunt like this again, they shall be mangled with fae weapons, and then I’ll chew off my arm in a blackout zone. >_>
Poor Taylor, at least I kinda make up for all this with some of the upcoming chapters where he, *gasp*, actually gets to have a good time.
Grigori 😀
That is actually mildly terrifying. Taylor having a good time I mean. How much suffering must that mean for the world?
…with a minor spoiler: when he sees Grigori, he…smiles.
That’s… so… so… O_O
(does he remember their past…activities? >_>)
Not a damn thing, but nonetheless, he’s someone whom Taylor likes and respects and…zomg, thinks of as a friend.
…
Yes, I just said that, and no, I’m not feverish.
Unless this is a difference between Australian English and American English, shouldn’t infarctions be infractions?