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: 2012-07-28 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.]
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Date: 2012-07-28 06:38 pm (UTC)[[Gafney said, trying to insert humor into the situation.
He looks up from the bar, over to a man who was sitting at one of the tables, talking to another man. Both of them were in fancy attire.]]
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Date: 2012-07-28 08:15 pm (UTC)The attire was far to fancy for normal working men.]
Is-is that?
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Date: 2012-07-29 11:58 pm (UTC)[[The man looks at Wheatley, and quickly gestures him to approach him.]]
Looks like he's ready to speak to you.
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:01 am (UTC)[Wheatley looks at Gafney, swallowing nervously.
This was not happening. While he was used to dealing with the worst of the worst, he had a terrible feeling about this one.
He managed to get his nerves under control, however. He stood up, approaching the man and sitting down with him.]
...
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:04 am (UTC)You're taller than they said.
[[He puts the cigar in his mouth.]]
But so lanky... hardly the face of a killer.
I like that. No wonder no one suspects you.
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:08 am (UTC)[He started to speak, and coughed slightly in response to the cigar.]
I...well... I don't like to think of myself as... a killer, mate.
[Wheatley cautiously looks around to see if he can get himself out of this one...]
...If you think of it, in that way... you-you can't accuse a gun maker for the crimes that it's creation causes...
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:10 am (UTC)You must be one of the naive ones.
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:13 am (UTC)...
You... you cant arrest a gun maker for that-- can you?
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:15 am (UTC)At that moment, a woman comes by, setting drinks on the table. Incredibly expensive drinks.]]
Please. Have a drink... what did you say your name was?
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:18 am (UTC)[Wheatley quickly realizes the worth of the drinks, and takes a careful swig. He didn't even think to suspect of them being poisoned or anything.]
...Can a gun maker get arrested for that?
[He repeats. He needs to know.]
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:21 am (UTC)That makes you nervous. Are you worried someone will trace the damages back to your clocks?
[[He pulls out a photograph. It's a photograph of an entire family. Fletcher. Notably, the man is standing beside the daughter, dressed as a butler.]]
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:31 am (UTC)Upon seeing the photograph, everything made a bit more sense.]
You... you work for them?!?
[He didn't know that even the servants were filthy rich... the man probably came from a prominent family. The disbelief in his voice is embarrassing, so he returns to a more formal tone.]
I... I'm sorry mate. I haven't made a clock in ages... I don't think I can.
[But the money...]
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Date: 2012-07-30 12:38 am (UTC)I thought you'd say that, McArthur.
[[Some rummaging...]]
I'm willing to make an offer for your trouble.
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