Daimon says "So I apologize for being rude."
Pat nods. "I figured as much. I had simply thought of a completely irrelevant question for Terry."
Daimon says "What?"
Pat says "I was wondering who he used to serve. As I said, irrelevant."
Daimon says "I'm not sure. Maybe next time I see him I'll ask."
Pat nods. "It's not critical. I was just wondering."
Daimon nods, then pauses. "You know, I have no idea how to be a Servitor of Judgment. I'm going to need help."
Pat nods. "Of course."
Daimon says "So I'm asking."
Pat says "What would you like to know?"
Daimon says "Everything, but we only have an hour. How should I do things from here on out? How should I carry myself? What is expected of me? If I use Prank, is someone going to get really pissed off?"
Pat hrms, and reaches for his cigarettes. "An hour. We'll start with the most important, then."
Daimon nods, and flips to a new page in his notepad. All of the pages are covered with scrawled, messy Helltongue.
Pat says "We have to be fair and even-handed, Daimon. This means that we cannot punish more than is deserved, or else we devalue the nature of Judgement."
Daimon takes notes. "How do you know what punishment to hand out, if there needs to be one?"
Pat says "Sometimes it's obvious. Sometimes you have others to help you decide. And, though it usually works in reverse, you just know."
Daimon says "You just know? How can that be fair?""
Pat says "Daimon, I don't think I made it clear. We /must/ be fair. To punish too harshly is dissonant."
Pat says "And you can feel it coming."
Daimon says "Well, I'm in _no_ position to hand out punishments."
Daimon says "That's weird, even for me."
Pat says "It's not expected of you, either."
Daimon takes down notes. Scribble scribble. "So what am I supposed to do? Just try to pay attention and learn?"
Pat says "For now? That sounds perfect. Your only responsibilities, if I understood Jordan correctly, are passive. You simply have to behave."
Daimon says "Fabulous. I feel like a six year old."
Pat chuckles. "It's not /that/ bad, Daimon. Just...be mellow."
Daimon says "And not proactive."
Daimon closes his eyes, and doesn't get irritated.
Pat says "Do you feel comfortable being proactive?"
Daimon says "In this manner, yes. I don't know if I want to sit back and just watch."
Daimon says "I'm also used to being alone, so it's a change."
Pat nods. "Fair enough. I'd like to ask that you at least mention any plans to me, first?"
Daimon says "My plans are sort of vague, nebulous, and non-existent at the moment. They mostly focus around not getting turned to a spot by many people, including your Boss."
Pat shakes his head. "Daimon, you're in very little danger of becoming a spot. Especially from Dominic."
Daimon says "I'm afraid I'm going to fuck up, and this is just another person to piss off. I really wasn't expecting it to be accepted."
Pat says "You don't want to fuck up."
Pat says "You're not /trying/ to fuck up."
Daimon says "Nope, but hey, these things happen. I'm extremely amendable to learning, but remember that I don't have it sketched into my very being."
Hitherby drifts into the room.
Daimon looks up at Hitherby. "Is Liz okay?"
Hitherby bobs. "So far."
Daimon looks relieved.
Pat nods. "I'm aware of that, Daimon. And believe me, Dominic is aware of that. Servitors such as myself and Jordan work on faith and hopeful wisdom, but the Most Just /knows/."
Daimon says "Okay, so I learn and stay out of the way. Until I can't stay out of the way. At that point I just pray and do what needs to be done."
Hitherby says "I had wanted to mention, briefly, that I have pinpointed and attached to the cars of the Focals' staff, and I have birds atop the building. On the downside, the presence of the 'bomb squad' may eventually alert the Game that I had visited the parking structure. -- we can discuss it further when your conversation ends; I just wanted not to lose time if this were important."
Sarah closes her eyes briefly. "The bomb squad."
Hitherby bobs.
Pat says "Bomb squad?"
Daimon doesn't WANT to know, really.
Hitherby says "They were a curious bunch."
Pat says "They generally are."
Pat says "/Why/ is the bomb squad in the garage?"
Hitherby says "They wore a good deal of padding."
Daimon spreads his hands. "Another marvelous Hitherby adventure, I bet!"
Hitherby says "I am not entirely certain. It had something to do with my presence, but the exact connection has eluded me. However, I took advantage of their attendance to locate all four cars, so it was not a total loss, and they have left now."
Sarah says "Somehow I have the impression that we'd be better to ask Liz, later."
Pat nods. "Later, yes."
Pat draws deeply on his cigarette.
Daimon grins. "Hitherby, generator of tales."
Hitherby bobs, and retreats to the corner of the room to perch on a chair or somesuch and listen.
Daimon says "So anyway."
Pat nods. "Anyway."
Daimon says "So, I'm trying to be a Dominican. What I've gathered so far is that I follow along, keep my mouth shut, and take notes. Until I explode."
Pat says "Why in the world would you explode?"
Daimon says "Because I'll go nuts, eventually. I'll have to make at least a FEW crass comments."
Pat chuckles. "Can you restrain yourself to dry sarcasm?"
Pat says "We're very fond of dry sarcasm,"
Sarah murmurs, "So we've been noticing," fondly.
Pat smiles at Sarah.
Daimon says "I tend toward crass. I can do sarcasm, though."
Pat says "Think pithy commentary, Daimon."
Sarah says "Crass is still acceptable off-duty, isn't it?"
Daimon says "I'll try to limit my innate Funniness to pithy commentary. Although I feel weird, I haven't done standup in almost a week."
Pat nods to Sarah. "Absolutely. Of course, I can't remember the last time I was off duty." He turns back to Daimon. "I think standup is not inherently condemned."
Daimon says "I won't be doing it anymore."
Pat says "No?"
Daimon says "Not if the Boss dies, or I end up Elsewhere. Or I die."
Pat blinks. "Oh."
Daimon says "It was a fun 80 years, though."
Sarah sighs, but forbears from insisting that Daimon won't die. This time.
Pat nods.
Hitherby hums, quietly, "There are new Vessels, Daimon, and new chances."
Daimon shifts. "Let me try to explain this, so maybe people can figure out why I'm so depressed. I love my job. I love working for my Boss. Imagine, suddenly, one day, someone comes up to you and says, 'Pat, you can't be a private detective anymore. You can't even work for Dominic anymore. You get to make clay pots for the rest of eternity.' I mean, you'd feel pretty crummy. Or suddenly Hitherby can't hang around with animals anymore, or Sarah can't be around her books. It would be a pretty big bummer."
Pat nods. "I understand that, Daimon."
Daimon says "So right now, I don't get to be a comedian anymore. I don't get to even write my bits for someone else. It really bugs me."
Pat considers this.
Daimon waves a hand. "No more even writing the stuff, let alone performing it. No more theater. I can play music on my own time - but not for other people. I mean, it's depressing."
Sarah says gently, "It's only temporary, Daimon."
Daimon says "Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. That's the way of the unbound Lilim. Jobs come and go. I just got comfortable and happy."
Hitherby says, quietly, "Daimon, the Great One would not be thrilled, but he would not destroy me if I were to practice -- the harmless kind of comedy. And he is farther from it than Judgment is."
Daimon says "I'm just coming to terms with things. What I want now is to do this job, and do it well, and have someone be mildly pleased."
Hitherby hums, sharply, "Superior!"
Sarah says "What?"
Pat says "What?"
Daimon sits straight up.
Daimon says "By Liz?"
Hitherby says "In the Tether."
Hitherby says "Not in the room."
Daimon says "Oh. My. God."
Sarah whitens.
Pat closes his eyes for a moment.
Pat keeps his eyes closed. "What's the situation, Hitherby."
Daimon says "I shouldn't have sent her there."
Hitherby says "Seneschal claims no danger. I don't know how long I'll be allowed to multitask."
Daimon says "Just keep us updated. Like, constantly."
Pat says "Does Zebina have a method of escape, if necessary?"
Daimon is obviously extremely concerned.
Hitherby says, softly, in Pat's house, unless prevented, "He's here."
Daimon rubs his forehead with his hand. He looks bugged. "I wish it was me instead of Liz."
Pat opens his eyes. "Situation?"
Sarah says quietly, "I don't." She takes a deep breath, rubs at her temples. "I wish it were none of us."
Hitherby says "I will say, should it change."
Pat says "If the lines are as suspected, it's probable that she is safe."
Daimon jumps when the phone rings, and picks it up off of Pat's desk, where he set it. "Liz?"
---