[Semi-Open] Eating Crow

[maltesefalcon]

Who: Cerrit Agrupnin and People that Should Know
What: Little Talks about a Big Deal
When: Backdated late August up until Dahlia's Gala
Where: Wherever Talks Happen
Warning(s): None yet


Cerrit's secret has been eating at him, and now it's time to let it out. If you work closely with him as an Enforcer or a member of the militia, or if you're good friends with Cerrit and you don't know about his deal with Aster yet, sometime in late August (post-Blight) or early September he's going to invite you for a private conversation.

The means may vary, the context may vary, but he has some things he needs to say.

Comments

[saintoflangley]

A private conversation with Cerrit isn't that unusual on its face. The eisfuura, like Alex, does value discretion.

He knocks on the door to Cerrit's office. "You rang?"

[maltesefalcon]

"Alex. You know I've been unable to talk about Certain Things, the entire time I've known you. Right?" Look, if anyone's gotten most of it front-loaded, it's been Alex. He's olde enough to Get It, unlike the young firecrackers.

[saintoflangley]

"I thought it was more unwilling than unable - but yes, I'm aware."

He drums his fingers on the handle of his cane, thinking. "I'm going to take a wild guess and say you're able to talk about them now."

[maltesefalcon]

"No. I can't. But I want to tell you why I'm limited in this manner: I made a deal with one of the demon princes. My end of the bargain was that I would be unable to share information on a particular topic."

This is a confession, not a debrief. Not yet.

[saintoflangley]

Okay, well, that's not what he expected...but really, he should have expected something like this.

"I'm no stranger to making a deal with the devil, though maybe not quite so literally. What was their end of the bargain?"

[maltesefalcon]

"The sending stones. This happened before the radios were created, when the only communications we had were the telephones--stationary, no use in the field--and the post office. We needed something for emergencies, and I didn't realize how important the topic in question would become."

Is he defensive? Perhaps, just a bit. But he hopes Alex will understand his reasoning.

[saintoflangley]

Alex doesn't even hesitate.

"You did the right thing. I'm not going to be self-righteous and say you shouldn't have. Hell, I'd probably have done the same."

Tough moral decisions are all part of the job. And sometimes you have to get your hands dirty.

[maltesefalcon]

"CT's not so sure, and I haven't talked to Kilbride yet. And there's going to be fallout later, I know that."

But. He relaxes visibly when Alex says that.

"I've hated having to keep information from everyone."

[saintoflangley]

"Something this important that affects all of us? Yeah, I'd have hated keeping that under wraps, too."

Alex nods when Cerrit mentions the fallout. "I can imagine people are going to want you to justify your decision, especially if it comes out to the public. I know just as well as you do that we have to play the cards we're dealt, even if it's a shitty hand."

[maltesefalcon]

"Don't go out of your way to protect me, if things start going south. I need you to keep everyone else together, if they decide to use me to make a point. CT's already not talking to me. She wants me to go through Crichton if I have anything to say. He's more understanding, but...but."

Cerrit fluffs his feathers out in a full-body shake, bristling.

"It's more important that the Enforcers are a unit than that I am vindicated for my choices."