The devil he wore such a fine, fine shirt

[wizzardly]

WHO: Rincewind & Lord Petyr Baelish
WHERE: The Iron Throne, Maurtia Falls
WHEN: Night
WHAT: Just two BFFs hanging out in a gentleman's club. .....Hahahaha except no, actually they hate each other, and this will not end well for one of them.
WARNINGS: Talk of topless ladies, intimidation
-

-No, no, I'm not leaving, not until I bloody well get to talk to - BAELISH! Where are you? We've damn well something to discuss, you and I!

[Rincewind boils like a frothing pot, his body radiating offense as he stalks across the floor. The receptionist's attempts at protest go ignored, and he barely even registers the scenery of the unfamiliar club around him. It's been hardly any time since he finished texting with Miles Vorkosigan, since he made the decision that confronting the slim Lord over the phone wouldn't be good enough. Oh no, betrayal needed to be discussed in person. Preferably with the Luggage along to back the man into a literal corner, but it can't use the Porters; he'll have to wait at least an hour for the sapient guard dog to join their conversation.

No matter; he's not going to need it to wring this scrawny man's neck - metaphorically or otherwise.]

Comments

[wizzardly]

[it would be disingenuous to say some part of that doesn't reach Rincewind. The wizard is made of less sturdy stuff than he'd like to be, and a bit of that insinuation - that he's being used, being led, that Chilton's care for him is either professional or nonexistent - burrows like a beetle into the already fertile ground of his self-doubts. As to whether it will nest or stay buried - who can say? Still, Rincewind only grimaces; he shakes his head once. Refusing.]

I know a little something about self-preservation. Sometimes - [he licks his lips, glancing away.] - rarely... you find something more important.

[shoulders hunched, arms crossed, Rincewind wanders towards the edge of the empty stage, inspecting the room. Mostly because he still finds it easier to talk without looking at Petyr directly. He can't figure out if the brothel lord is trying to somehow convince him to take responsibility, or if he really believes it himself.]

Infractions, were they? And this is - you doling out punishment then?

[baetiful]

[ Doling out the punishment. Putting Rincewind in his place. Establishing hierarchy over the wizard. Petyr merely smirks in that irritating 'I'm not telling' way of his and then glances toward his glass of wine. ]

And most of the time, that thing of importance is one-sided. Rare is it that people share equivalent feelings toward one another. How nice it would be if there was a world where love -- familial and romantic -- or friendship conquered all. But those are worlds for the truly delusional. People such as Princess L'Arachel who are not grounded in reality. You and I, however, live in worlds where this...

[ He gestures between them as though referencing their very relationship in the invisible air. ]

...is our reality.

[wizzardly]

[Rincewind would throw it all back in Petyr's face if he could, consequences be damned, just to wipe that insufferable look from the nobleman's face. But there's nothing to throw. That's Rincewind's own philosophy being used against him, and even recognizing that he can't deny it. People like Twoflower believed that good would always win because that's what good's meant to do, but Rincewind knows better. Sees better. "Good" men suffer and die all the time, and all the friends and family in the world don't stop it. More often than not, it just means more people fall with them when the final blow comes.

The world - all worlds - runs on brutality and chance. There's no more logic to it than that. Sometimes you get lucky; Rincewind certainly has in the past. Mostly, though, people who aren't quick, clever, or strong enough to prevent it get crushed or used. That's how the world works.

And they both know it.

Rincewind's shoulders hunch further in on themselves. He looks back towards where he came in, clearly yearning for an exit.]

...I suppose we'll see which one of us is right about him then. Eventually. [because if Petyr is wrong, if despite the danger to himself Chilton finds a way to help Rincewind slip the devil's lead - if Lucifer ceases to become a concern, and Petyr's threat against him crumbles...

Well, they both know the reality of their relationship, don't they?]

I'll leave you to your evening then, shall I?

[baetiful]

[ Petyr shrugs, but again it's with the arrogance of a man who truly believes he's right. A more concerning reality would be the devil porting out well before Chilton would be able to slip Rincewind from his clutches. But with Peter Pan on his side and the ability to call in a favor if need be, he isn't too concerned about all of this blowing up in his face. He merely makes a grandiose gesture for the door and with a shit-eating smirk, he says: ]

Do feel free to visit at any time, Rincewind. You could use what my club has to offer. I would even waive the entry fee for the first visit, since we are to be such dear friends.

[ And, as though to emphasize that point, he calls out for the auditioning ladies right before the wizard leaves so that the last image he can have is of two topless, beautiful women. He figures for a man who vowed celibacy, such a sight would be more torturous than any of the words or blackmail shared between them. ]

[wizzardly]

[it's funny - it's Lucifer who started all this, cornered the wizard and branded him with his mark - but it's Lord Baelish who finally churns Rincewind's stomach with bitter, nauseated hatred. It's his mocking smirk framed by topless women the wizard will remember after he leaves, pink-eared and thoroughly cowed.

How no one else can see the truth of this man peeking around the edges of his charming, humble mask, Rincewind doesn't know. He's angry with himself for not seeing it sooner - because it was there from the start, wasn't it? All the signs laid out for anyone with the desire to see them.

When you're the sort of man who sells flesh for a living, you're going to look at people and see price tags.]