Zacharie
Truly Feared
The Proxy
Posts: 247
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Post by Zacharie on Oct 5, 2012 21:49:46 GMT -6
He noticed how she took a particularly odd amount of time to examine his hand, for a moment he wondered if she was on to him. Zacharie didn't doubt her medical knowledge, then again there was only so much a single cut could tell. Either way, things were still going as he planned.
"Very funny." He raised an eyebrow, looking not too amused with her comment. Zacharie pulled back his hand and examined the cut one more time before standing up from his chair. "Lead the way." He gestured with his other hand, still holding his glove. "I certainly hope you don't actually keep lollipops, though." He tried to hide his grin, remembering the candy wrappers she kept in her desk. He tucked his glove into his coat pocket and picked up his thermos, didn't want to leave it outside in the cold after all.
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Post by Franciska on Oct 5, 2012 22:17:51 GMT -6
"Well I can tell you for sure you won't be getting one with an attitude like that." She gave him a haughty look before raising from her chair and walking towards the screen door. Fran made her way downstairs and over to the medical ward, the spy trailing behind. She had her hand placed on the doorknob to her office before she remembered she had an open box of bandages in the operating room and made that her destination instead.
"Alright, one moment." Nodding at Zacharie, she set about digging through drawers of supplies until she found what she was searching for."Really though, you must promise to tell me next time you hurt yourself like this. Your cut doesn't look too bad now but if it had gotten worse, you would certainly regret it." She spoke calmly but firmly as she unfurled the fresh white bandages around his hand. "Okay?" Fran glanced up to look him in the eye. She wanted to hear him promise her before she'd even let him walk out the door again.
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Zacharie
Truly Feared
The Proxy
Posts: 247
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Post by Zacharie on Oct 5, 2012 23:14:58 GMT -6
He was slightly perturbed that they passed up her office, he was hoping he could have some evidence there and ready for his inevitable questioning. Not deterred in the slightest, he continued following Fran closely. Zacharie was very complacent and didn’t make too much of a fuss about being dragged to the OR and given a new set of bandages. He listened her quietly as she
applied the bandages and fastened them.
“You have my word.” His tone was very simple and business like. But after she applied the fastener he closed his spindly fingers around her’s, just before she could pull her hands away again. “May I,” He paused, bringing up his other hand to envelope theirs, still gloved and very cold from just being outside moments ago. “Ask you a question? I’ve been meaning to for a few days, now.” Zacharie made sure to ask her with a hint of a sly smile on his face, looking back into her eyes.
Sooner or later he was going to have to bring this up; it was likely going to make her very mad. So he figured he would go in for the charming angle. It may soften the blow a bit.
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Post by Franciska on Oct 6, 2012 9:59:39 GMT -6
Fran gave an accepting nod at Zacharie's promise. Whether he meant it or not, now that he said it out loud she had the excuse to hound him about it in the future. "Alright then, in that cas-" Her sentence stopped short when he grabbed her hands just as she was about to pull them away. Startled, but not concerned, she glanced up to meet his eyes.
"Umm, sure?" Her eyes were questioning but Fran kept her voice level. An involuntary shiver traveled up her arm as his frigid, gloved hand pressed on hers. It was a simple question, and his amiable expression wasn't too alarming, but she couldn't help but feel like she wouldn't like what was to follow.
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Zacharie
Truly Feared
The Proxy
Posts: 247
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Post by Zacharie on Oct 6, 2012 14:01:04 GMT -6
He caught her completely off guard, good. It was exactly what he was aiming for, a startled person is least likely to be able to tell a good lie, or even lie at all. This plan had worked so far, as convoluted as it was, as even extreme as it was. But the usual interrogating and bickering never worked well in the past. This was a big chance he was taking; standing there and just holding her hand like that. It was probably the longest the two had ever had physical contact with each other. He just hoped that he would get something worthwhile out of it.
Zacharie spoke very quickly and precisely, making sure the medic couldn’t cut in edgewise.
“You know, I admire how clean and professional your office is, but I must ask, what is that strange jar in your cabinet? I mean, forgive me for looking where I wasn’t supposed to, but it caught my eye after I got those bandages for myself. Nosiness is in my nature after all,” He made sure that his grip on her wasn’t too tight, just in case she probably felt the need to slap him after his small ramble. “You understand, right?”
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Post by Franciska on Oct 6, 2012 21:04:04 GMT -6
Bewilderment plainly evident on her face, Fran stood in silence as his the questions spilled forth. An icy lump formed in the pit of her stomach when she finally realized what he was talking about. He didn't know, did he? He couldn't know. There was just no way. But then again...if he'd snoop through her cabinets, he certainly be willing to look other places where he wasn't supposed to be...
Her heart nearly stopped when she thought of the box underneath her bed.
"I-I..." Her mind was frantically scrambling to find an answer, something that would get him to drop the subject all together. Thinking back, he had given his word that he wouldn't rest until he knew her secret. How could she have been so foolish to think that he had dropped it just because he stopped openly interrogating her about it? She quickly began to fear she was losing the battle to stay calm, becoming acutely aware of his hands tightening around hers. She had to say something, anything, just hurry up and give him an answer.
"A strange jar? I have no shortage of strange jars. I m-mean, I always keep those kinds of things around. You want to look in my freezer? You'll find plenty of spare parts in there too. It's just...you know, it's just part of my job." Her aimless babbling was punctuated by a jittery laugh. Fran decided the best route was to channel her surprise that he knew about the jar into surprise that he would even ask such a silly question. A medic keeping severed things in jars in her office really was nothing out of the ordinary after all. More than likely she was overreacting and he really had no clue about it's significance. At this point it was all she could do to just keep telling herself that.
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Zacharie
Truly Feared
The Proxy
Posts: 247
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Post by Zacharie on Oct 6, 2012 21:32:06 GMT -6
“Oh?” He asked, using all of his willpower not to openly revel in her sudden state of panic. This was going all too well, he didn’t even have to mention the contents of the jar at all. “But it just looked so out of place. Why would you keep such a thing alone in a cabinet like that? Away from the rest of your collection.” His grin widened a bit, there was a hungry glimmer in his eyes. Zacharie saw that she was searching for excuses, but perhaps it was time to let the cat out of the bag.
“You know, it’s awfully difficult to tell secrets if you can’t speak.” He teased, still not letting go of her hand. “Whoever that tongue belongs to sure will not be telling any, won’t they?”
In his mind he quietly braced for her reaction, because even though things had gone as predicated he was haunted by a sense of uncertainty. After all, if what happened to Cecil was true, it could certainly happen to him as well.
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Post by Franciska on Oct 6, 2012 22:02:21 GMT -6
In that instant her shaky smile vanished, replaced with a barely-concealed look of utter horror. In one swift motion, Fran ripped her hands away and took a step back. He knew. This was no bluff; one look at his confident smirk was enough to prove he knew exactly what he was talking about. Of course he knew, all of this was a set up. Did he really even cut his hand accidentally? Was he really insanely dedicated enough to this to actually slice open his own hand just for an alibi?
Fran folded her hands behind her back in an effort to keep them from shaking, or at least to keep Zacharie from seeing. "I don't...I mean, you...he's..." No matter how hard she tried she couldn't bring herself to form a coherent sentence, each attempt only leaving her more flustered. Well if he didn't know for sure before, he sure does now. Years of keeping this incident a secret, and now she folds like a house of cards because of one man's questioning.
This one man.
His smug grin, his over-confident actions, his condescending tone; she'd seen and heard it all before. He had a different face and a different name, but underneath it all they were the same; they were liars, cheaters, manipulators, thieves, and murders. Zacharie, Cecil, what was the difference? The color of their suit?
"That cabinet." She spoke softly as ever, but there was an undercurrent of danger boiling underneath. "Was locked." Fran looked him straight in the eye, issuing her words like a challenge.
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Zacharie
Truly Feared
The Proxy
Posts: 247
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Post by Zacharie on Oct 6, 2012 22:30:56 GMT -6
As she pulled away from him he lowered his hands and held them in front of him, as if to show that he had nothing to hide. Zacharie kept his smug grin about him, with a confidant stance to match it. To him it was a like a shield to hide his own racing heart, he could feel the adrenaline rush starting to take effect.
He watched as her expression changed so quickly, stumbling over her words and actions. He was starting to feel sort of bad about the whole ordeal until her tone changed. He took in a deep breath, the feeling of unease started to creep over him, making the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Zacharie continued to hide behind his mask.
“Yes, indeed it was.” His voice went from the cheery and mocking tone to one that was more serious, almost like a growl. “It was a very cheap lock.” He accepted her challenge mockingly.
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Post by Franciska on Oct 6, 2012 23:05:12 GMT -6
Even now he wasn't taking any of this seriously. He seemed to think that dredging up memories of the most shameful experience of her life was a fun little game. Fran wasn't having any of it.
"Well then, congratulations. You win!" She threw her hands in the air to emphasize her barbed sarcasm. "Yes, I cut out a man's tongue. That's my big dark scary secret. Happy now? You insufferable jerk." She delivered the last word as sharply as she could, wanting so badly to hurt him just a little bit. Though she doubted any of her petty insults could even leave a dent in his cool demeanor. Fran wanted desperately to leave the room on that note, but he was blocking the way.
It occurred to her that seeing the jar and knowing of Cecil didn't necessarily mean he knew the whole truth. No, if he did, she didn't think he'd have the willpower to keep it quite for long at all. By now the initial shock and terror had dulled leaving plenty of room for resentment to take its place.
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Zacharie
Truly Feared
The Proxy
Posts: 247
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Post by Zacharie on Oct 6, 2012 23:30:55 GMT -6
“I had already figured that out.” His grin was starting to fade into a look of unamused indifference in response to her attempt to insult him. “That is not what I am interested to know, I want to know why.” Zacharie gestured towards Fran with his left hand, leaving his right by his side. The wound on his palm felt incredibly sore due to how tightly he was holding it.
Zacharie wanted to try and push things as far as he could, but he knew that he was beginning to tiptoe onto that thin ice. He knew it was there from the moment he finished reading that note, each piece of evidence that succeeded it creating another crack in the ice. Each moment he stood there and continued to ask questions, the cracks would widen. Sooner or later he would have to leave, or else he might fall right through.
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Post by Franciska on Oct 6, 2012 23:58:30 GMT -6
"Why!? That's none of your damn business!" Her tightly-held rein over her emotions finally slipped as she was beginning to raise her voice. No sooner had the words left her mouth did she realize that she was doing nothing but making herself look even more suspicious, but she she was too busy seething to care. Fran had backed up all the way to the operating table, both her hands now tightly gripping its edges.
"I don't know why you seem to do but you are not entitled to know everything about me. This is a matter between me and...well it does not concern you in the slightest and I've said it before but I'd be very grateful if you'd just do us both a favor and drop it!" She spat her words with hardly a breath between them. Fran had figured out long ago that this was about more than just those stolen files; Zacharie decided to make it his personal mission to dig into her personal life. She hated to think of it, but he was doing a frighteningly good job so far. At this rate, he'd unravel the whole sordid tale, especially if she kept running her mouth like this.
With a resigned expression that clearly said she was finished with the conversation, she brushed past the spy and attempted to exit the room.
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Zacharie
Truly Feared
The Proxy
Posts: 247
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Post by Zacharie on Oct 7, 2012 0:35:10 GMT -6
Zacharie stood his ground as she raised her voice, but all traces of his usual smug and haughtiness was gone. He didn’t want to interrupt her as she told him off, it wouldn’t amount to much at this point. But it was true, he didn't have the right to know anything, it was none of his business. But he wanted to make it so. It was too late, he was too invested from all of the effort and work he’d put towards his findings. Morbid curiosity and personal interest were his only excuses now.
He knew from the moment that she backed up for the operating table that she was going to try and leave, so he was ready to intercept her by the time she attempted to push past him. Zacharie reached out with his left hand and grabbed Fran’s arm to stop her from leaving immediately. He gave her a stern look, he wasn’t going to let her leave without him having the final word.
“I am not entitled to anything. But when there is something I want to know, I will find out. One way or another.” And with that he let go, holding up his gloved hand to show that he was simply done.
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Post by Franciska on Oct 7, 2012 0:54:55 GMT -6
Fran tensed instantly as his hand clamped around her arm, just barely containing the reflex to hit him then and there. Meeting his gaze with equal intensity, she said barely above a whisper.
"Good luck then."
Turning away from him, she left the operating room, slamming the door behind her.
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