Tweak

InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "you killed a muppet!"

Username: 
Password:    
Remember Me
  • Create Account
  • IJ Login
  • OpenID Login
Search by : 
  • View
    • Create Account
    • IJ Login
    • OpenID Login
  • Journal
    • Post
    • Edit Entries
    • Customize Journal
    • Comment Settings
    • Recent Comments
    • Manage Tags
  • Account
    • Manage Account
    • Viewing Options
    • Manage Profile
    • Manage Notifications
    • Manage Pictures
    • Manage Schools
    • Account Status
  • Friends
    • Edit Friends
    • Edit Custom Groups
    • Friends Filter
    • Nudge Friends
    • Invite
    • Create RSS Feed
  • Asylums
    • Post
    • Asylum Invitations
    • Manage Asylums
    • Create Asylum
  • Site
    • Support
    • Upgrade Account
    • FAQs
    • Search By Location
    • Search By Interest
    • Search Randomly

Katherine Athena ([info]oceantoocean) wrote in [info]we_float,
@ 2010-05-21 22:37:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:character: alistair icenhour, character: katherine athena, plot: sympathy for the devil

Who: Alistair Icenhour and Katherine Athena.
What: Conversations and further strategy.
When: Saturday, May 22, 2096
Where: Waiting for the Interurban, Fremont, Seattle
Status: Closed; in progress

"Well." Katherine said as she came to a full stop in front of the four statues. "That's something, isn't it?" Her arms, still clutching the notes from a brief meeting with the mayor, pressed her notebook up against her chest without even thinking about it. To protect her heart.

"Waiting for the Interurban" was what someone had titled the work of public art so many years ago that even Katherine, who studied her city's history carefully, knew little about it. It had become an institution--four stone figures standing, on which the public draped clothing and changed outfits at will. However the figures had changed. Someone had sewn on extra limbs into some of the outfits, added lumps of stone to the heads... in short, they were jokers.

"You don't have to stare," a teenage girl stopped and told them, plucking a headphone out of her ear for a moment. "It's been like that since Wednesday." She snapped a piece of gum and rolled her eyes. "I think they shoulda added something more dramatic. Like maybe the Troll." Before Katherine could get more words out of her mouth, the girl had stepped back on a board and let the air hover her down the street.

"Wednesday," Katherine repeated, stepping a little closer.


(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-22 06:55 am UTC (link)
Her hand jerked down, interrupting the dataflow. She knew what it said, regardless. Stream after stream of hate crimes and it was only beginning. This was what she had legislated.

"You're right. I was harsh." Katherine pressed her lips together tightly for a moment, gritting her way through a smile. "But don't you think it's ridiculous, whatever side you're on, to suggest that legislating wild cards out of work is a good idea?" Her arms clenched around her notebook again. "You can't remove an entire segment of the population, particularly not one that size, and not expect the economy to collapse. Goddamnit, Alistair, not even the President went that far."

She halted, staring down at her watch. "Let's talk about this in the car. I need food or I'm likely to get worse."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-22 07:08 am UTC (link)
He held his tongue for just that - long enough to complete the circuit they'd walked and get into the town car. He put the privacy window and the sound dampeners up before finally addressing her statement.

"I imagine he'll circumvent the economic issues by not simply editing them out of the work force. He'll edit them out of collecting unemployment, receiving public health - or at least threatening to pull public funding for hospitals that continue to maintain care, and then welfare. Really, if anything, paring down the societal strain by excluding a sizable amount of the population may do the local economy good - more available jobs, money concentrating on 'Real Americans', no paying for those pesky Joker medical bills."

"Of course," Alistair added, taking the bottle of water he'd left and resuming drinking from it, "this increases crime which makes the whole Wild Card Act seem awfully prescient. It's a win-win for Yang."

He fell silent as he breathed and drank and existed. All the money in the world wouldn't matter if he was turned away from every establishment that would serve him. Money wouldn't matter at all.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-22 07:17 am UTC (link)
Her hands rested on the wheel for a moment, sitting there unnaturally flat.

"Yes, that's true. I have a hard time thinking that he can completely edit the population out of the workforce, however, simply because so many citizens are going to express the virus. There are still latents. Or will Yang go for them as well, I wonder?" Katherine's gaze was locked on the street sign ahead as she curled her fingers around the wheel, tightening the grip. "Where shall we go? Am I just taking you home or would you care to go to mine?"

She wasn't yet ready to conclude the conversation or quite to concede the fight she'd lost with Yang. She'd managed to bite back her true thoughts with gracious nods. His pet senator to the end.

It can't go on, she thought to herself as she reached down, starting the engine with a touch of her finger against the print reader.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-22 07:25 am UTC (link)
"Unless he's got some magical device that can identify latents, I imagine he can't. But."

He paused and decided not to answer her question about where to go. It was apparent she wanted him here, so this is where he was going to be. Alistair continued.

"But unlike the President, there is an 'outside' to his boundary of rule. Once he pushes them outside his authority, they cease to become his problem. The President can't just shove them into Canada. Or the ocean. He has to deal with finding a place for Jokers, even if it's prisons or camps or what have you. Theoretically providing basic sustenance. That's where I see the difference."

Alistair worried the mouth of his bottle, fingertip surreptitiously drinking in the sparse liquid that was hung up on the ring of metal.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-22 07:33 am UTC (link)
He wasn't going to answer where they were going, was he? There were times when Alistair drove her a little mad. With a small sigh, Katherine started driving. She reached into the compartment between them, digging around for gum as she kept the car moving down the narrow Fremont streets.

"I'll give you that. But eventually, if Yang pushes them outside, they become someone else's problem. And thus the President's problem. And shit rolls downhill, so I suppose, at that point it becomes my problem although I already consider it something of a concern." She hesitated, not certain of whether or not her next sentence was appropriate. "Alistair, what would happen if someone important, particularly in government, expressed a wild card? Yang doesn't have a magical device but that won't stop something like that from happening at some point."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-22 02:22 pm UTC (link)
Oh, the times he'd considered that question. The first few iterations of his thoughts had compared it to the effect a sex scandal had on a person. There were false apologies to constituents, associates treated you like the plague for awhile, but so long as it wasn't immediate to an election it was amazing how fast people forgot their outrage.

But time had nuanced his internal debate. She was of course speaking on someone public - Congress or the President's Cabinet - otherwise the answer would be to fire and forget they ever existed. Anyone on the cabinet would be asked to resign, he imagined. They all served at the President's discretion and he couldn't imagine any sort of recourse now that the Wild Card Act eliminated any employment fairness. But Congress was a different matter. Oh, he was sure party members would insist on resignation, but they were elected officials. It would, he thought, be a state matter.

"That would depend on whether or not anyone could make a case for fraudulence," he said off the cuff, but chose to elaborate in a different direction. "If said person is stubborn enough, the matter goes to the Supreme Court. Not directly of course, but if they were fervent enough to try and slip into Congress or Cabinet, I'd imagine the appeals process lands them there to determine constitutionality. Now, whether that's a beneficial thing is anyone's guess - it really would depend on the argument - but..."

Alistair shrugged and then looked at Katherine expectantly. "Why do you ask?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-22 04:02 pm UTC (link)
Was it time to tell him? Katherine's hands flattened against the wheel another time as the Trio glided onto W. Etruria Street. They were a block from her home.

She turned her head to look at him for just a moment. Her brown eyes were wide as she stared him in the face and opened her mouth to speak.

"I-"

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRANG Her phone rang, rocking her purse slightly. Reaching in, she fumbled for it and switched it off without looking to see who it was. Katherine muttered to herself, "Goddamn inopportune..." as the car pulled into the drive.

Stepping out, she glanced over at Alistair. "Let's go inside to continue this conversation. I bought the house. I might as well use it." With that, the woman strode towards the door, swiftly letting them both in with a simple touch of her palm against it.

She dropped her purse on the couch. Katherine was always more casual when Bart wasn't home. Kicking her shoes off, it took her a moment to remember to place them neatly by the door. Her movements were brisk as she walked into the kitchen, hanging her jacket on a peg, and then came back to lean against the wall.

The Athena home was beautiful. So beautiful that Katherine felt ill at ease sitting in its living room. It was apparent that she'd had long enough without Bart to make a stab at changing that--the pillows were askew. An old, worn afghan was draped across one end.

"Can I get you anything?" Katherine asked. "Consuelo's out so you'd have to suffer through my cooking if you want food but I can make a sandwich." Well. At least one that didn't require heat.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-22 05:52 pm UTC (link)
That was not the answer he was expecting. He wasn't sure what answer he was expecting - perhaps something about setting one of her heroes on the path of politics - but not 'we'll talk about it inside.' Not with a wide eyes and a slack jaw.

He followed her into the house with a keen, wary look about him as he didn't follow her motion of pulling of his shoes. Distracted as he was, he didn't pull off his jacket either, instead closing the door behind them and standing at the threshold.

"I'd rather an answer," he replied staidly. The first name in his mind was Huxley, but that was quickly erased - she'd take a delicious sort of vengeance in that, not wide eyed shock. An ally perhaps, but an ally--

Alistair's eyes narrowed slightly. "You must have someone in mind."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-22 09:51 pm UTC (link)
A casual manner and an offer of food wasn't going to distract him. She'd known that it wouldn't. She looked at his face, her hand reaching up to scratch her ear, then falling.

"I'm afraid that if you know, Alistair, someone will make you a target." Katherine looked directly into his eyes. "Why have you stayed? Why not Scotland?" Xaviera had been in her thoughts these past few days. It was easy to look at the Acts as targeting only adults but strangely, Alistair's daughter was one of the few jokers she had ever interacted with.

She folded her arms and waited.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-22 11:26 pm UTC (link)
"Amy won't do it," he replied, managing to look even more direct at Katherine for her hedging and going so far as to take a few steps forward towards her. "And we're not sure we can get her a passport."

It bothered him a great deal that she was being so stubborn on the subject, but he imagined if it got worse, she'd cave. Even if it meant going back to being Kieran Catchlove.

"Now." Alistair gave Katherine a solemnly stern look.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-23 01:35 am UTC (link)
"You know who it is, Alistair," she said quietly. "Connect the goddamn dots."

And she meant it. She was surprised that he'd never suspected her in all this time. Her private doctors, the education with tutors, the way that she never allowed anyone to embrace her. There were signs if anyone had thought to look into it- bills for custom clothing, a void of personal relationships- perhaps, Katherine thought wryly, she'd done the job she'd wanted to, after all.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-23 01:32 pm UTC (link)
He supposed that he should take some solace in the fact that if this was ever going to happen, now was the time for it. Just months ago this would have felt like a death sentence, sure as he was on her position regarding Wild Cards.

All of that said, Alistair felt pretty awful at the moment. His mouth was dry and he hardly knew what to say to Katherine. Her accusing eyes and quiet tone that was rife with an undercurrent of what? Bitterness? Frustration? Anger? What did he say to that? Being good and safe and prospective all these years had left him with only one instance to dwell upon and that was with Amelia. And she'd gone first.

"We should talk about this," he said finally, quiet with an unusual thread of nerves. Alistair ran a hand through his hair and settled it on the back of his neck, as if that might still him some how.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-23 03:57 pm UTC (link)
"We should." She felt a shiver at the calm, quiet tone of his voice. Of anyone in the world, Alistair had the greatest ability to destroy her.

Would he? She wondered as she touched her ear, finger scratching at the edge so hard that it was already cracking.

She inhaled, then said, "Can we sit down?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-23 08:11 pm UTC (link)
Alistair nodded and moved over to his right to take a seat on her couch. The room was expansive and it felt it al the moment. He finally made a move to take off his jacket.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-24 01:17 am UTC (link)
For once, Katherine sat right next to him. She wanted to see his face when she spoke although she wasn't sure whether it would be comforting or not.

"I don't know where to start," she said.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-24 02:41 pm UTC (link)
He tossed his jacket over the arm rest of the chair and folded his hands together before him. Alistair could feel his heart beat through his shirt; it felt unnatural just as the whole of him did. The muscles of his back and forearms tingled with restraint, as if he was desperate to move his fins when he wasn't. His chest was tight with nerves.

Alistair looked over at Katherine, outward calm assisted by his permanently soft eyes. "How about how you found out?" he requested. If he gave himself away, it would be one thing, but if it'd been a third party, it was best to nip that in the bud.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-25 12:56 am UTC (link)
"I was nine," she said quietly. What was he thinking of, as he looked at her? Had he asked because he wanted to know how long she'd hidden this secret? "It... I was riding my bicycle. Too fast, Dad said. I always rode it too fast coming down the hill."

Katherine's finger tugged at her ear as she sat there, remembering but not speaking.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-25 01:15 am UTC (link)
'I was nine'

The words sunk in slowly, but they were powerful enough that it sucked ever ounce of concentration from him. Like water through his skin. She was talking about herself. She was talking about herself. She was talking about herself.

He stood up reflexively and looked at her as if she had just grown another head. The thought that he'd manage not to find out didn't paralyze him so much as the truth that this was something to discover about her. Holy shit. She was a Wild Card. He'd been running campaigns for a Wild Card. He'd gotten a Wild Card elected to CONGRESS!

That his shock meant he hadn't considered her but himself as the topic of her condemnation wasn't given a fleeting thought (surely he exposed himself now by it). It was impossible to not be completely slack-jawed by the admission.

Alistair managed to grab some measure of sense when the words sunk deep enough to no longer straight-jacket him. He folded at the knees and waist back onto the couch, set his hands on either knee, and remembered to breathe. It seemed markedly easier than remembering how to talk.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-25 01:46 am UTC (link)
"I'm sorry," Katherine said, not finishing the explanation. Slowly, the woman inhaled, letting her own hands drop to her lap, watching him. "This isn't-"

She leaned back into the couch, her knees folding up underneath her as she curled herself into the opposite corner. Her feet never touched the couch, too used to nagging about its surface. It didn't matter.

"I'm a joker, not an ace. I thought--I've always thought--that if I was able to achieve great things, someday, I'd be able to show that to the rest of the world." Her eyes sought his out, looking for some measure of understanding. "But I could never be soft. Everyone who ever was was accused of being a wild card themselves at one point or another. I never could have taken that test and proven that I wasn't. They would have ruined me before I ever saw a full term in any office."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-25 01:59 am UTC (link)
Alistair's eyes evaded hers, then were turned downward as he rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"You should have told me," he said absently. Of course she should have. He knew precisely why she didn't.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-25 02:48 am UTC (link)
"Plausible deniability," she said. "I saw no point in putting you at risk." Katherine stood up, turning so that she didn't have to face him. It was obvious that he was uncomfortable with the conversation.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-25 03:12 am UTC (link)
"You saw no point in putting yourself at risk," Alistair corrected flatly, no anger or disappointment in his tone. "I know why you didn't, Senator. It wasn't... I don't need an explanation. You just..."

Alistair stopped and shifted to lean back against the arm rest. He took a moment to collect his thoughts, of which there were numerous and all of them fuzzy.

"It would have been privileged communications," he finally said with the same blurry absentia, then added a little more humanly, "I would never have said anything."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-25 03:15 am UTC (link)
"I know." She stared at the wall ahead, at a painting she hated. A circle and a square. It didn't mean anything. "I suppose, it's easier after a while to keep up the lie. After all, there isn't anything else."

And now he knew. Katherine wondered what he'd do with that information. She knew he was loyal enough not to betray her but she didn't know whether or not he'd leave.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]theseainsideme
2010-05-25 03:29 am UTC (link)
"Is it?" Alistair asked, with a weak, half-chuckle. "Easier?"

He rose up again, this time of his own thoughtful volition and offered her a hand. "You mentioned something about eating. And you look like you need a drink." Alistair had crossed the threshold from shock into something more normal: taking care of Katherine.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)


[info]oceantoocean
2010-05-25 01:59 pm UTC (link)
"No," she said. "I don't need a drink." Katherine led him towards the kitchen where they stood for a moment, dwarfed by the size of the room.

She hesitated, wanting to ask why it was that he wasn't angry or... Even, given circumstances, Katherine had expected it. Perhaps this was just another job and the fact that she'd presented him just another challenge to deal with.

She supposed that was fair enough.

Katherine walked over to the cupboards, opening and closing them until she found a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. It was her secret stash, hidden in case she ever needed to cook.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

(no subject) - [info]theseainsideme, 2010-05-25 06:03 pm UTC
(no subject) - [info]oceantoocean, 2010-05-29 04:34 pm UTC

(Read comments) -

Home | Site Map | Manage Account | TOS | Privacy | Support | FAQs