{rp} Will you defeat them, your demons and all the nonbelievers, the plans that they have made?

[superiorspectre]

Suzie hasn't been to see Tosh. She hasn't even tried. If Tosh needs anyone around her right now, it's people she can trust. And Suzie's got no illusions there.

Instead, she's working at being useful, working out her story. She's got something no one else has when it comes to infiltration and deception -- her cover story, if she plays it right, is the absolute truth.

In her own timeline, she'd have betrayed Torchwood. It was only a matter of time. And, sickening as that thought is, it's her armour here and now. He can't spot a lie when there isn't one.

Gwen might've said she wanted to save that for when there were no other options, but right now, the best efforts of geniuses and aliens haven't brought her Captain back. Maybe a manipulative, backstabbing little bitch might have a chance.

After all, she thinks, she was good enough to fool Jack Harkness, in the future everyone else remembers. Maybe, just maybe, she's good enough to play Thane as well.

She knows a few things about what she's walking into; the kind of man she's dealing with, the way he likes having power over others... And her facade has cracks in it, places the old scars still show. She'd be stupid if she didn't think he'd exploit them. And again, she's better-suited than anyone else to go in -- she's been there before, after all.

And maybe, just maybe, this will count as penance, somehow, for the things she did that led to the things she didn't.

She's doing this. She won't be argued with. However, she does have a concept of chain of command, informal as that's always been around Torchwood. Ideally, she needs to speak to Gwen Cooper, but she's not keen on going right over Sam's head. And given what she's about to do...

Well. It might help if there's someone she can't lie to, to reassure (Tosh) everyone of her intentions.

So this is the plan: find Sam, then talk to Gwen, then... Do what else she needs to do. She's going to want a word with the Vesmier, but first, to talk things through with her commanders.

Comments

[torchwoodsheart.livejournal.com]

Gwen manages to stay quiet through all of that, though a part of her badly wants to interrupt her and inform her in no uncertain terms that there is no way in hell she is letting her walk in there, under any circumstances. She glances past Suzie momentarily to Sam, searching his face for any sign that she's being less than truthful, but there's not a wince, not a grimace, and god damn it, she has a point.

When Suzie stops talking, Gwen stands up slowly, her hands on the desk, and says evenly without looking away from Suzie's face, "Sam, would you give us a moment?" He pauses a moment, eying her in concern, and then nods and steps out of the room, closing the door behind him. Gwen has no doubt that he'll be close enough that she can speak to him after this, but for now...

"Everyone who has gone in there so far has been knocked out, handcuffed to a wall, and tortured. Even Hart, and he was working with him! What makes you think that you'll be any different? There's a good chance he'll kill you before you can say two words to him, and then it won't matter what a manipulative bitch you are, you will be dead, and believe it or not, that bothers me!"

There's a massive, shadowy lion prowling around Suzie, growling quietly and constantly to herself, occasionally swinging close enough to bump her head against Suzie with a somewhat louder growl when she does. Jack is gone and they came so close to losing Tosh and she is not ready to let another of those under her protection go running off to die.

Every now and then, she casts Suzie a look like she's considering grabbing her by the scruff of the neck and just holding her until she gives up this insane plan. If a shadow could actually manage that, Suzie might have something to worry about.

[superiorspectre]

Suzie shakes her head. "Have you noticed yet that Thane hasn't killed any of us on sight? Knocked us out, tortured us... Everything I've seen tells me that he's interested in having power over people. He's not above casual elimination, but if he's interested enough, he'd be more likely to try and take me apart first. He's kidnapping people for a few drinks and a friendly ear, now. If he's willing to hear me out at all..." and yes, that's a long shot, but she's taken longer, "...that gives me time to get to him. All I have to do is be interesting enough."

I'm sorry. But you know it's true. And better me than them.

"Besides, if he's busy with me, he's not trying to hurt the rest of you. It makes sense, Gwen." She's not going to plead on this, not going to beg... That kind of manipulation won't get her anywhere. What she is going to do is keep pushing for this.

Unstoppable force against immovable object. Something's got to give, and it won't be her.

[torchwoodsheart.livejournal.com]

Gwen studies her face, jaw tight, searching her eyes. If it hadn't been Sam that brought her here, if he hadn't been standing right here when Suzie told her what she wanted, Gwen would have suspected... God, she doesn't even know what at this point. But she's telling the truth, she really wants to do this and believes it will help and her reasoning is good and solid even if the entire thing is insane and possibly suicidal...

She tries to ignore the voice in the back of her mind reminding her that most Torchwood missions are in some way.

"Alright," she says finally, as if the word pains her to say. Oh God, they just got them out and here she is sending someone else in to be tortured, and how did this become one of their best options? "You can go. Talk to the Vesmier before you go, see if there's anything he can tell you about Thane's mental state... and if there's any way for him to keep in contact with you. If he can, if I tell you to get out, if I tell you anything, you are going to unless doing so is likely to get you killed. Understood?"

She can't be saying this. A part of her doesn't believe it even as the words are coming out of her mouth. She can't be letting someone walk right in there, alone, and allowing him to do absolutely anything he wants with her. This is not her life.

[superiorspectre]

Suzie smiles at that, thin and tight, but still grateful. "Understood. Thank you." And the worst thing about the whole bloody business is that she means that. She's going to march into the lion's den... And if she's very good, and very lucky, she's going to walk out of it with her Captain.

Good enough for her.

"One more thing. If you could just please tell Tosh I..." ...she can't finish that sentence. "I'm sorry?" "I love her?" There's nothing that can be said that won't make this worse somehow. And I've hurt her enough already, haven't I?

If we bring him back, Suzie's shadow murmurs, would she forgive us? Would any of you?