closed;

[hardcase]

Who: Randall Flagg & Michael Langdon
What: Flagg gives Michael his first task.
Where: In the common room.
When: July 18th

[ Michael's appearance could not have come at a better time. After five years in this place, Flagg was worrying that he was starting to stagnate (especially because he's never managed to call upon the power he felt during the night of the eclipse again), but having a new acolyte has reinvigorated him.

Now it was time for the boy to meet the darkness. A week or so in the SHU should do. Best to start him off early. ]

Michael. [ He smiles. When Flagg speaks to his followers he always speaks softly and uses their first name. He didn't run his commune like a military regime, barking orders and using last names. The fact that he was, in the end, arming his followers with military-grade weapons didn't change that. ]

Have you been adjusting well?

Comments

[spawnofsatan]

[ There was a reason The Church of Satan waited so long to slip up. It gave them time to dig their roots deep, to help get The Church of the Outer Dark back to stability. There were no delusions that their illustrious leader would return to them without help. He needed a follower, and Michael was the one they chose. How could he not be honored for the opportunity?

Prison is nothing like it is in the movies, so it takes an uncomfortable amount of time to gather his bearings and find out where he's going to fit in. Thankfully, he knows how to be a follower. He's even eager to follow Flagg in this place, to help offer him devotion and support. He knows he's made for something, and it feels like he's in the right place for that.

He mirrors the smile in return, ducking his head in greeting. ]

I'm certainly trying to.

[hardcase]

Wonderful. [ He reaches out and brushes a lock of hair out of Michael's face, cupping his cheek in one hand, his eyes fixated on Michael's and sparkling with some horrible, twisted joy.

He holds still; sometimes these silent moments are worth more than words when it came to forming a bond with his followers. They liked to be held and seen and understood. They liked to have his attention. ]

You're ready for what I'm about to ask of you. [ It's a statement, not a question. He isn't going to permit the seed of self-doubt to start growing in Michael by asking him whether or not he thinks he's ready. ]

[spawnofsatan]

[ Michael meets his gaze with anticipation. with Flagg's attention focused as it is on him, he can't help but feel special. Like this is where he's meant to be, and everything in his life has led up to this.

He reaches his hand up to touch the back of his leader's. Soft, despite the conditions in the penitentiary. ]

I've been preparing for this. I won't let you down.

[hardcase]

I know you won't.

[ He knows Michael's type. If someone else has confidence in him, he'll be able to pull it off. Flagg himself isn't above the need for validation; he just prefers a different form of it.

Like the kind he'll get when Michael succeeds at his task.

He takes Michael by the hand and slides him a small shank, only letting go when he's sure Michael is holding onto it tightly. It's sharp enough to puncture skin, but it's small enough that it wouldn't be a great murder weapon unless you go straight for the throat. But Flagg doesn't want that. Michael would be in SHU for a year if he killed someone. ]

Just a wound, alright? [ He speaks softly, almost at a whisper. ] On anyone you choose. One good strike and then drop it. Don't be holding it when you're caught.

[ Heaven forbid the guards feel threatened. ]

[spawnofsatan]

[ He knows he can do this. Not just for himself, but for Flagg. To make him proud. Michael feels the shank passed into his hand, fingers curling around it securely. His thumb presses against the point to get a feel for it. It will certainly hurt with enough driving force. ]

Just a wound, anyone I choose, drop it after. I understand.

[ He twists the shiv in his grip for a few moments, looking back at his mentor with curiosity. ]

Anyone you don't want to be included?

[hardcase]

None of mine.

[ No one in Block C, he means. He doesn't care about everyone in the block, but Michael doesn't know who he favors yet, so he'd rather just cut block C out altogether and remove the risk that he'll look weak for being unable to prevent the attack. ]

Other than that, it's all up to you. [ And who he chooses is part of the test, as well. ]

[spawnofsatan]

Understood.

[ There were plenty of others to choose from, and he does understand that attacking someone from Flagg's own block could be seen as a conflict of interest. Michael can't upset the status quo.

He likes the way the makeshift weapon feels in his hand. ]

I'll see you on the other side of this, then.

[hardcase]

[ Flagg just nods, and smiles. ]

I'll see you then.