crossmyheartandhope

Newsflash, dude. Demons lie. I don't know everything, but I know -

[Pauses. Considers. Pretty much everything he wants to say can't be said to Talon, so he shuts his mouth and thinks for a minute.]

Look, they don't gotta make a choice now anyway. And once they make the choice, they don't gotta keep it.

[He opens his mouth to say something - closes it again.]

...you know it's like. Real hard to talk to you about this, right? I kinda can't go, and I kinda can't tell you who could go, and I kinda can't text anyone on vengeance side. So where are we at?

Demons lie, but people who were evacuated by demons do not. It happened to them. Ask them who saved them. Or do you think they're too stupid to realize who came to their rescue?

What you need to do are two things:

First, tell Maki everything. She is going to Vengeance Hell to share information. She is how you get information to them.

Second, gather everyone here and explain to them why they should trust the angels who chose to destroy the city with them in it over the demons who evacuated them in the nick of time. I can avoid this meeting.

That's it. Share the information you have with the people who need it to make a good decision. It isn't hard.

I asked a couple people already, about how it all went down. No one's said nothing about a demon cavalry. I'm just saying, if all we got's Azzy's word that he helped, I'm not buying it. He's done a hell of a lot to hurt a hell of a lot of people, and I got no reason to believe -

[Catches himself before he takes that further. More stuff Talon shouldn't hear.]

...anyway.

I'll talk to Maki.

I told you it isn't Azzy's word. It's the proof in the fact that we're here now, and all I've heard is about the buses to Hell that got them out.

Stop worrying about trying to convince me when you and I both know you are unable to. Worry about giving all of the information to everyone else.

I still don't buy it. I heard about buses, too, but that don't mean they came in like white knights to the rescue.

[Hhhhesitates.]

...I dunno about talking to everyone. And I can't say why.

I'll talk to Maki for sure, though.

So it isn't just because I'm compromised. You realize this makes everything even more suspicious, right?

[Hesitates - then picks his words, careful.]

You might not be the only one compromised, dude.

I got - good reasons to worry, is all.

... Are you in danger? Is anyone else in your situation?

Naw. We didn't get threatened or nothing, this is - like. Eyes wide open. If with some kinda unexpected results.

S'just... I don't want too much getting back to Azzy. He knows too much, and it's gonna cut the legs right out from under us.

And if we don't know who he's got in his pocket...

Anyone who arrived brand new to their unit with corruptions. My teeth are proof enough that those are a sign of Azzy's mark.

Double Moon, likely the members of Baritones who initiated this mission... Those are the ones I can think of right now.

Double Moon?

Double Moon. The weird guy on Avante; red hair and green eyes. He was with us in jail.

He new or something?

No, he's just insane and has too many names to keep track of.

[ Pulls his phone and and brings up a profile ]

This guy. He was with me when Azzy shoved a bunch of demonic curse energy in my face, and all he said afterwards was we're the same now.

...hhhuh. Okay. Okay, good to know.

Thanks, dude. The more we find out, the better off we'll be.

[Pauses. Then:]

Do you gotta, like, tell Azzy everything we talk about? Does he suck it outta your brain, or can you pick and choose, or...?

I am able to pick and choose, but for safety I would prefer not to know everything. Only enough to earn his trust without losing our advantage.

Okay. Okay, cool.

So he doesn't gotta know you told us about Double Moon? Cause if he knows half his dudes are common knowledge, he might just get new dudes.

I very seriously doubt he cares who knows about Double Moon. I am not exaggerating when I say he's barely as useful as a hyperactive young child.

He shouldn't be given any crucial information, but I don't believe he's capable completing even the most basic of missions by himself. I don't know why Azzy selected him at all.

I mean... there's gotta be some kinda criteria, right?

He say why he picked you?

...I asked for him to consider me for future missions. I thought it would be useful to have someone who isn't a complete idiot who can't be trusted involved if there was a next time.

I did not expect...this. [ Gesturing at his mouth ]

...huh. Hell takes applications, I guess. Who knew?

Maybe he just applied, then, same as you.

Perhaps, but I still do not understand what use Azzy has for him.

Could be he doesn't get a whole lot of offers.

Shocking.

You may be right, or there may be more to him... I suppose I'll find out in time.

...you gonna do what he says for real?

Or is this like a double agent thing.

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