CH1: T h e W a t ch m a k e r .
Jul. 23rd, 2012 12:48 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wheatdos posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
clockwork_science
[The dim lighting of a contemporary candelabrum left the entire room in a series of long dark shadows. The office of Wheatley McArthur. The place in itself was cramped comfortably in stacks of books, spreadsheets, papers and mangled clock pieces that haven’t been touched in ages. A substantial amount of dust covered the surrounding shelves, undisturbed by the fingers of the clockmaker.
In the silence, there was a strangely soothing and hypnotic sound of the mundane ticking of clockwork. The man, seated at his desk, kept his head low as he was madly scribbling his notes:
Funds
7000
-3200
-------
3800
-900
-------
2900
-2000
-------
900
-625
-------
275
-105
-------
175
-135
-------
40
He let out a large tired sigh, and pushed the messy strands of his hair back. 40 pounds for the entire month.. He put his head down against his desk and closed his eyes, synchronizing his breaths to the sound of the clocks. 40 pounds. 4 weeks. He’d be living off of 10 pounds a week. He knew that he’d be able to do it alone, but... he had Cecelia now. His apprentice. The idea of how he would be able to make ends meet literally made him sick.
He knew that he would have to get into that business again.]
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Date: 2012-07-25 10:48 pm (UTC)R-right... Allen..! Among friends...
[Did he just say 'come with me?']
...N-now? It's terribly late mate... dark out...
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Date: 2012-07-26 04:29 am (UTC)I insist.
[[Cecelia retreats back to the back room. Gafney had thoroughly intimidated her, and now... she couldn't help but worry for the safe hood of Mr.McArthur. ]]
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Date: 2012-07-26 08:25 pm (UTC)[Wheatley smiles at him, and turns hesitantly towards Cecilia.]
Get my coat, will you.
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Date: 2012-07-26 08:33 pm (UTC)[[And Cecilia runs off.]]
You seem nervous among friends.
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Date: 2012-07-27 12:20 am (UTC)[Wheatley tries to suppress the worry, fiddling around with his watch.]
H-hurry up, Cecilia...
[His voice cracks slightly.]
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Date: 2012-07-28 03:33 am (UTC)[[Cecilia eventually reappears with Wheatley's coat, handing it to him.]]
Shall we?
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Date: 2012-07-28 03:57 am (UTC)B-be sure to lock up after I leave, love...
[There is an apparent shakiness in his voice.]
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Date: 2012-07-28 04:12 am (UTC)Yes, Mr.McArthur.
[[When Wheatley would go to put the coat on, he would feel something different; something in the pocket. Upon inspection, he'd see that Cecilia took it upon herself to put the revolver in there too.]]
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Date: 2012-07-28 04:26 am (UTC)So instead, he turns towards Gafney, and makes his way out of the door.
When he got out, he was sure to close his coat.
It was cold at nighttime.
McArthur hated nighttime, because he hated the moon. It always made him uneasy. The worst of things happen in this town at night. He would know. He was often a part of them.
There was no use in trying to hide what Gafney really wanted.]
Wh-what kind of job we're you looking for, Mr. Gafney? And are... are you sure I, uh... I can give you what you are looking for?
no subject
Date: 2012-07-28 04:46 am (UTC)You see McArthur... You may think of me as an intimidating man.
Think what you like. I am not your enemy, nor your friend. I'm just a man
who is a position just as tragic as yours, controlled by money.
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Date: 2012-07-28 04:51 am (UTC)...I'm afraid... I uh, do not understand.
[He found a little bit of comfort in those words, but nowhere near as much as he had hoped for. Controlled by money. Men controlled by money will do anything.]
Why...why have you called me out here?
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Date: 2012-07-28 04:54 am (UTC)I like that about you.
[Gafney chuckles.]
I'm sure the name Fletcher rings a bell.
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Date: 2012-07-28 05:20 am (UTC)[Oh it did. Money and Fletcher were practically synonyms. It also left a bitter taste in his mouth as he said it, reminding him of his financial situation.]
Of course.
[He nods. Then the realization hits.]
You're not planning on doing something insane like killing someone in that sort of power. They'd know it was you. You'd never make it out, mate.
[He tries... to seem concerned. Friendly. Maybe Gafney would be less inclined to wave his gun around.]
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Date: 2012-07-28 05:27 am (UTC)[Gafney shakes his head.]
Think of me as a messenger. An escort.
I'm here... to escort you. To a very different man.
One who knows exactly what it is that he wants.
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Date: 2012-07-28 05:57 am (UTC)[He gives a sigh of relief.]
Tell me one thing Gafney, if you can.
D-do you know...Who the man who wants my services is?
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Date: 2012-07-28 06:03 am (UTC)The man walked into a bar and paid me 30 pounds without so much as questioning my name. He must've known I knew you prior. He didn't so much as doubt himself as he handed me the money.
[[He closed his eyes, sounding amused.]]
He threw that money out without counting. A richman I tell you.
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Date: 2012-07-28 06:36 am (UTC)[Wheatley repeated, furrowing his brow. A rich man. The worst of the worst. They had their money to cover themselves up. He can't tell how he feels.]
...Well, you don't hear about very many of those on this side of town.
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Date: 2012-07-28 07:11 am (UTC)[[As he responds, Gafney slips into a narrow alleyway, urging Wheatley to follow him.]]
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Date: 2012-07-28 07:21 am (UTC)H-he was joking right? An alleyway...? At this time of night?]
...M...mate?
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Date: 2012-07-28 07:36 am (UTC)Will I have to drag you down here, McArthur?
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Date: 2012-07-28 07:41 am (UTC)He just wasn't trustworthy. The man had a gun, and while Wheatley had a gun too, he wasn't going to waste his bullets.
He could make it, if he booked. So that's what he decided to do--]
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Date: 2012-07-28 09:07 am (UTC)Gafney didn't hesitate to throw the rock, it hitting Wheatley directly in the back of his head.]
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Date: 2012-07-28 06:02 pm (UTC)CLONK.
He fell over, faceplanting the ground.
Yep. He was out cold.]
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Date: 2012-07-28 06:26 pm (UTC)He pulls him over his shoulders, Carrying him into the alleyway.
Whenever McArthur came around, he's be sitting in a chair. The scenery changed. It is now an underground pub, filled with all sorts of men, drinking and singing. Gafney is sitting across from him, smiling at McArthur.]]
How was your nap?
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Date: 2012-07-28 06:35 pm (UTC)He said nothing. He was in too much of a shock.]