For Honey to Feed Them

[ninefox]

Jedao only somewhat resembles himself. All the footage of him as Heptarch, even the live feeds for the Heptarchs in conference, is edited into a composite of all his doubles, and none of them look quite the same either. Instead of being surgically indistinguishable, they switch variations around from time to time. He rarely attends his official duties in person at all. He gets copied on everything, and his doubles know to cede to his secretaries or to communiqués when necessary.

Instead of forgeries, the Shuos seat under Jedao is a shell game.

When he was twenty-two and terrified out of his mind, it was a way to let people who had a clue what they were doing handle the day-to-day management. Now that he knows exactly what he's doing, it means he can move around with more impunity than most of his predecessors. Jedao could have sent a dozen agents for this. But for a piece this important, he likes to see who he's dealing with in person.

The garish neon-speckled dimness of the bar conveniently obscures everyone's shadows. He isn't even a Shuos here, let alone the Shuos, and Vidona Sinjir doesn't have to be a ray. Something he's needed more and more, lately.

Jedao slides into the seat next to him to puncture that inadequate sanctuary slightly, stealing a sip from Sinjir's drink and making a face.

"Hard day?"

Comments

[drunk_ish]

"Oh, is this about what I want?"

He keeps an eye on Jedao's hands. Telltale signs that say a card's being palmed, or kept on the top or bottom of the deck. Not that he'd necessarily draw attention to it or object. He just wants to know if it's being done.

[ninefox]

"I am a generous and considerate fuck," Jedao announces, clearly enjoying the faint absurdity of contrast between the boast and the vulgarity. He seems almost ready to wink, although he doesn't, just holding Sinjir's gaze whenever he looks back up, grinning crookedly. His hands move smoothly on the cards, thoughtlessly, and Jedao isn't cheating, although even he doesn't know if his intuition is just good guesswork or a subliminal knowledge of the micropatterns of roughness along the worn edges of individual cards, like the unique ridged shapes of pintooth keys.

"So, yes."

[drunk_ish]

"You've far from sealed the deal," Sinjir informs him.

Sinjir is, really, truly, on the scale of things, just easy. But he's feeling cranky and contrary. He's not sure if he'll roll over at one stroke of those lovely long fingers, but he hasn't yet, all right?

[ninefox]

"I should think that would make what you want particularly relevant, don't you?"

He lays out the cards, one by one.

"Unless you don't know what you want."

He says it quietly, thoughtfully. There's no trace of smugness; even the playful insinuation that's been near-constant until now fades away.

[drunk_ish]

Sinjir feels stung, regardless. He makes a considerable dent in his drink, to make up for it.

He is strongly inclined to end this encounter here. It's becoming an interrogation. Disloyalty looms like a spectre over them both; shadow and cold.

"Stepping onto dangerous ground there," he remarks. "Like a swamp. One wrong step, and slurp! Quicksand. What are we playing?"

[ninefox]

Jedao hadn't - necessarily - meant it as a comment about anything but mixed feelings Sinjir might have about his own sadism. But of course it is connected. Interesting that Sinjir is hyperaware of the connection; interesting that this is where fear enters the conversation.

"Jeng-zai, unless you have any objections?" Not that they have anything convenient to bet. But they've agreed to other stakes already, haven't they.

[drunk_ish]

Ah, but even sadism has connotations, for this Vidona. Torture is loyalty. It is the purest expression of loyalty, for one such as Sinjir, in the form of Remembrances -- but he hates. He is a poison in the ranks. He can't remember if he has ever truly aligned himself with the consensus of the Calendar, wholly, without reservation. He performs the motions. His mind is quick and darting, rebellious and slippery.

"None."

Sinjir plays well. Recklessly, but well, allowing the alcohol to unbalance a Vidona's natural, precise caution. Which doesn't mean he's without tactics -- his tactics are late surprises, undermining twists.

He even lets the game get his attention. Engages in it as a flirtation, as well, because the more he lets himself be caught up, the warmer Jedao's attention makes him feel.

He probably loses. Perhaps deliberately, if he thinks it will make him gains in a... different way.

[ninefox]

The recklessness is - promising. For the night, for Sinjir's potential in general. It fairs better against Jedao than most strategies - although he does still lose.

"Well, I've certainly won something." He announces cheerfully, gathering the cards up to shuffle again. "But it was a very good game. I'll let you pick - a question answered, or a kiss?"