Whodunnit Plot - Confronting Laith

[behisequal]

[Loki leaves the bar after meeting with Mu, the truth of what happened to him (and the others) still swimming around his head. To say that he's angry is an understatement; his temper has reached a threshold where mere retribution and suffering just will not do. It isn't the first time the denizens of the Astral Plane have dared to do anything to him, but playing with his life as if he was just a mere child's toy?

Well. Two could play that game.

He knows he isn't alone in his thirst for vengeance against this woman, so it will not be difficult to spur them into action. Finding her will be another issue entirely, but not one he is concerned with. After all, if he had been the one to do this, he certainly would be waiting to watch the reactions and fallout. He pauses for a moment, then smirks to himself, suddenly understanding a little better how Thor must feel when the wool has been pulled over his eyes.

Quickly squashing that self-realisation into the back of his mind for another time (to be forgotten), he sends doppelgänger off to seek those he's seen speak to the other victims, including anyone left in the bar. While they are off delivering his message to gather somewhat near the bar, he strides forward and starts to clap. His eyes are scanning the area for any sign of this woman; of course, he's also doing so from a safer place while under a cloaking spell. In truth, it's another doppelgänger who is exposed and clapping, and begins to speak.]

I really must congratulate you, mortal, for what you have accomplished here. I must say that I'm impressed. Bending another's mind to your will and bidding takes a certain amount of power; I never thought a mere mortal could do such a thing.

Perhaps we could meet? I really must learn how you performed this difficult task.

[Admittedly, he really does want to know. He can imagine overtaking his brother and ruining his reputation in such a way that their father will have no choice but to declare him unfit for the throne.

However, the other part of him knows that confronting such a person as this woman in this manner will also put her off her guard for the others to arrive. What they do after that is up to them.]


[ooc: It's confronting Laith time! When Laith replies, go ahead and make your own threads to her to question her about what she's done, etc. If fighting breaks out, well, it's only understandable. Definitely keep an eye on each other's threads so we don't accidentally double-up on questions, that kind of thing.]

Comments

AND SHE TAKES THE BAIT

[realitymods]

[Laith appears as expected. Her sunglasses rest in her dark hair. She's still wearing a labcoat over a black dress and stiletto heels; this is clearly what she considers to be proper work clothes. She tosses her hair behind her shoulder.]

Does the term 'immortal' really apply to the son of a god who has tasted death himself?

[She would be some kind of Mediterranean beauty if she wasn't so damn cold.]

I knew you would find out sooner or later. I set it up that way. I got what I wanted, and then I disposed of the experiments.

Come on, then. There's no need to hide. I'm a very busy woman, and I have a date in Los Angeles tonight.

[punkblaze]

[Eithan's eyes are narrowed and his expression is cold. Pretty uncharacteristic for him. He's just that mad.

But he's not gonna run in setting fires just yet.]

Right. I'll try and keep it pretty quick, then. [Snort.] So what did you want?

[realitymods]

[She turns, recognizing Eithan with a smile like ice.]

I wanted to see what made you all so special, so strong, like someone out of a comic book or a fairy tale. Most people wouldn't believe in such things, but believing is seeing, wouldn't you agree?

[punkblaze]

Sure it is. But I'm not seein' how we're "special." Or, I dunno, how death proves whether or not we're "special." Whatever you were goin' for. [Yes, he used air-quotes!]

[realitymods]

I am a scientist. I like to take things apart and see how they tick. Often, the only way to see all sides of something is to break it.

[Her smile broadens. There is not a single hair out of place on her head, not a smear of lipstick on her white teeth. Yet she is completely insane.]

So I broke you, and then I threw you away after I got what I wanted.

[behisequal]

[Loki's doppelgänger sweeps his arms out, gesticulating broadly, proudly.] I still live. As death consumes, so will life return to me. [He doesn't voice his slight amusement that the woman thinks him truly immortal. The fact that death had claimed him so easily is still disquieting.]

Clearly you know who I am, so of course I would find out sooner or later. I am me, after all. [And she ought to know better.]

[Defiantly, the doppelgänger folds his arms behind his back, pretending not to hear her request to show his true self.] As time stops here on the Plane of Astral us, so should it for you as well. Your fruit will wait.

Now, perhaps you can regale for us how you turned such a peaceful mind such as Mu's to such a sinister deed as murder. It was rather inspired.

[realitymods]

Oh, you poor fool. You're only alive because we pieced you back together, not because you are the chosen one. Or not chosen, whatever the case may be.

[She rolls her shoulders.]

Of course the night will wait, but my patience is hardly infinite.

Oh-- that's right. Mu is quite the pacifist, isn't he? It was so beautiful when he remembered. You should have seen his face. As for how I did it... I'm afraid you people aren't privy to that sort of information. It has to do with the internal workings of the Machine.

[behisequal]

[Loki's already moving out of his hiding spot and moving closer, watching the others gather around his double and the woman. The words leaving her mouth only continue to stoke the fires of his fury simmering so close to the surface now. His doppelgänger, however, doesn't let any of that show.]

You may regret your mockery in due course, mortal. [He's convinced that using Mu was purely for her own enjoyment; a tactic he wouldn't hesitate to use himself.] I am something far more than the myths and legends you may have learnt about in books. And I have never been a chosen one--not yet. That will change. You see, all of this--[he gestures with one hand all around him]--whittles down to a simple fact: the Machine is the source of everything. And while I may not be privy to the information it contains, you are. And you will tell me all that you know.

[realitymods]

You say it's mockery, but it is only the truth. That is all I concern myself with. [She tugs her hair free of her labcoat's collar, still unruffled. She looks bored, actually.]

I'm sorry, was that a command? I have no reason to tell you anything.

[lamb_of_gold]

[There is one word uttered behind her. Its a simple word, but uttered with such quiet loathing, that most would find it exceedingly unsettling.]

Why?

[realitymods]

[She doesn't even flinch. She brushes some hair out of her eyes, then turns to face him calmly.]

What a deep, loaded, incredibly vague question. Care to be more specific?

[lamb_of_gold]

Why did you do it? Why use me? Why did they have to die? Shall I go on?

[realitymods]

Why, why, why? I ask you: why not? I am a scientist in search of something greater, something you could not hope to understand with your mind as it is now. Your well-being is of little consequence to me. All that matters is my research.

Oh, is that not what you wanted to hear?

[Her tone gains a few more thorns, her consonants more punctuated.]

Your incessant mewling makes me sick to my stomach.

[desertdaggers]

[he approaches her with his expression set, back straight.]

Is that what the readings were for, then?

[realitymods]

What is with that face? I didn't lie to you; I was doing what was asked of me.

I don't like lies. They're messy and unprofessional.

[desertdaggers]

And you are professional at all times, I take it. Even when asked something like that.

Who asked you to do it?

[realitymods]

Meredith asked me to do the readings, but this experiment was entirely my own.

[She doesn't want the old bag to take all the credit.]

[bonnypiperlad]

[Jamie is angry - furious - by now, and if the person who was behind this had been a man he would've already hauled off and punched him at the very least. But because it's Laith, and Jamie will never hurt a woman if he can't help it, he resists the urge. Still, his entire body language is that of someone barely held in check, hands curled into fists by his sides and his eyes narrowed. He might actually hit her, but that doesn't mean he's not afraid to raise his voice - which he does the moment he lays eyes on her.]

Where do ye get off doing this to us? We'd not done anything to you!

[realitymods]

[She expected as much, which is what makes this so delightful. These people are so incredibly predictable. They do, however, provide some wonderful data.]

Oh, Mr. McCrimmon, I'm so sorry, [she simpers.] Shall I throw myself at your will and mercy, breathing apologies?

Don't take it so personally. In the end, you are the experiment and I am the scientist. Our roles were determined from birth.

[bonnypiperlad]

Ye can throw yourself off a cliff for all I care.

[Even if that hadn't been one of the most fake apologies he's ever heard - which it really is - he's not so willing to forgive what's happened right now.]

And you're wrong about that determined from birth nonsense, too. Just because I'd gotten brought here somehow doesn't mean any of what ye said is true.

[realitymods]

[She wasn't even trying. She seems to have stopped caring about politeness in general.]

I don't like lies, Mr. McCrimmon. They're very messy. It is you who denies the truth of the matter. Your being brought here wasn't by chance or happenstance. It was part of the grand scheme of the multiverse. For someone who's traveled so extensively, I thought you would at least have an inkling of the universal order...

[Sigh.] A shame.

[grip_on_reality]

[when Loki draws out Laith, Menzies stays back at first, letting those who were directly affected get to her. like them, Menzies' blood is boiling, but from her it is, as ever, silent fury. even though she isn't normally one to condone violence, in addition to her anger, she has to admit that she is definitely worried--afraid, even--of what a madwoman with power like Laith has might do in the future. in short, if she can be killed, even Menzies might concede that it's for the greater good. but while she won't lobby for such a thing, in this case, she's willing to let the others make that decision]

[the answers she hears from Laith only strengthen that feeling. once Laith has made her comments to Eithan, she decides it's time for her to join in. she steps forward, fists clenched. as she speaks, her tone is short and clipped]

So, you've had your fun--what's next? What's gonna "tickle your fancy" now?

[realitymods]

I thought you wouldn't be able to stay out of this.

[Laith seems to have dropped all pretense of politeness. And yet, standing here, she appears to be just a woman.]

I still have some preliminary tests to complete. Would you like me to notify you of the next experiment?

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies ignores Laith's comment. to her, this is her job, and it's as simple as that]

[she scoffs at that answer, though] What sort of "notification" would I get, exactly?

[realitymods]

I could send you an adorable postcard of the Niagara Falls.