#full disclamer i didnt mean to post this today i meant to do it tomorrow

[direwombat]

tagged by: @socially-awkward-skeleton and @adelaidedrubman

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been slowly chipping away at katc. still a lot left to do, but here's a little taste of syb and john interacting

With bullets flying overhead, Sybille ducks for cover behind a stack of crates in Nick’s garage. She reloads her gun, but rather than popping back up to return fire, she unclips her radio from her belt and lifts it to her mouth. “Hey John. You still there?”

“Change your mind so soon, Deputy?” John asks. His tone drips with eager and sadistic delight.

“Sorta,” she answers, and she flinches as a bullet ricochets off the edge of her cover, pinging loudly as it shoots off in another direction. “Lawyer-types like you like makin’ deals, right? So how ‘bout a deal?”

Shrill, obnoxious laughter spills from her radio, and she’s not sure how much of it is a performance and how much of it is genuine. “You don’t have much bargaining power. What exactly are you bringing to the table, hm?”

Smug fucking bastard. He better enjoy taunting her while he can because she fully plans on kicking his ass before she slaps a pair of cuffs around his wrists. “Myself,” she answers through gritted teeth.

In the din of the fire fight, she barely hears him as his voice drops dangerously low. “I’m listening.”

“Call off your men,” she says. “Leave the Ryes alone and I’ll surrender.”

“A tempting offer,” John hums in mock thoughtfulness. “But I’m afraid it’s not quite good enough. I’m going to need a little bit more to sweeten the pot.”

A barrage of bullets -- likely from a mounted machine gun from the sounds of it -- hammers against her cover. She barely has enough time to roll over the bar counter while the gunner is reloading. Bullets whiz past her from the other Peggies on the ground providing covering fire, and she hears the blam of a sniper rifle taking a shot at her. Her back slams against her new cover just as her old hiding spot is completely obliterated. 

“For fuck’s sake,” she mutters to herself. Her heart pounds in her chest, and although she technically has Nick providing air support, she really hates being pinned down like this. “Fine,” she says into her radio. “What do you want?”

“I want you to Atone, Deputy,” he laughs. “I want you to accept your sins, to wear them proudly, and to allow yourself to be cleansed.” 

“Jesus Christ,” she groans, and then, pressing her finger to the transceiver, she says, “Fine.”

“Ah-ah,” John tuts sharply. “Not quite.”

Smug fucking bastard. She can hear him smiling �� can practically see it. Somewhere in the county, John Seed is donning a pleased, toothy grin, like the cat who caught the canary. 

God, he’s easy to lie to. Just tell him what he wants to hear and he starts fucking preening.

Moron.

But it doesn’t make the lie any easier to tell. This is a stupid idea. Reckless. Likely to get her killed. But she needs to get close to him to find out where he’s keeping Joey, and if turning herself over to him can get him off the Ryes’ backs, even if just for a moment, then it’ll all be worth it. 

“Yes, John,” she grits. “I’ll atone.”

“Wonderful,” he breathes. A few moments later, the gunfire ceases and all that’s left is the ringing in her ears. “My Chosen are on their way, Deputy. It’s in your and the Ryes’ best interest if you don’t resist. It’d be a shame if anything happened to the happy family, now wouldn’t it?”

“I already said ‘yes,’ didn’t I?” she asks.