"Right, right," he conceded. If he actually wanted answers, he knew who he'd have to talk to. He really would prefer not to, though. He wouldn't want to risk getting called out or his loyalties or job position put into question.
In that life he had before, with the Marquette family, John had no problem talking back or making a point when he was upset or concerned on their ways of doing things. Because he knew the results would be the same every time--a punishment of varying degrees of severity. They didn't try to hide their cruelness under a layer of sweet, not to him. Not to their other 'pets'.
Bill was different. Because he seemed to actually care. He seemed to want what was best for those in his care. John wouldn't talk back or question him because he didn't know what the results would be. A show of his darker side, or some dulcet disappointment that would somehow strike deeper than a kick or a switch.
He wouldn't question Bill, not any more than he just had to Karen. Never to his face. Because the reaction may prove what he secretly feared. That he'd gone from one gilded cage to another.
"Yeah," John nodded. "That is my job." Make it matter. Twist that one act of cruelty into something that would benefit the masses. He'd done that plenty of times before.
His mood shifted quickly, back into his more jovial and usual self. "Alright, posing questions, boosting engagement. Makin' a fucking splash, yeah? Any types of support from the community that you'd like me to focus on? Solely digital, or encourage public action as well?"
@into-the-voyd
Banzai was lead? Good for him. John felt a strange amount of pride for the young man--who he met when Banzai was still a teenager--and worry. Did Banzai know his team would be attacking an activist? Did he care? Or was he in on the scheming of it all together?
It shouldn't surprise him that Banzai could have that sort of ruthless streak--they all did given the right circumstance--but especially not with Mantu as a father. Banzai worked hard to prove himself despite his name, his family. Often so requiring blood and sacrifice.
Perhaps that's why John is better suited for desk work. He thought too much about sacrificing the one for the many, focused in too heavily rather than seeing the bigger picture.
He also knew why it had been kept under wraps and that's what he would focus on the most--making sure this does not connect back to them.
"I'll check in with him," John confirmed. Then, he refocused on work, pushing aside those sort of deeper feelings for the time being. "Alright, bury him, sure. I'm sure we could scour his socials, find some old posts alluding to violence, perhaps any even directly referencing Magick Influencers. Maybe not Walter specifically, but hey maybe we'll hit the jackpot. None of it should be hard to find, but I'll do what I can to get those resurfaced and circulating again."
Monitor forums. Look for recruits. "I'll keep an eye on those as well, filter through the users' profiles, see if they're consistently active and outspoken, pass along any that seem worth following up with. Do you want me boosting their engagement as well? Bolstering them, getting a rise, seeing just how far they're willing to go? Or just monitor?" Sometimes he'd do that, raise questions and comments in responses in order to fan the flames. "All anonymously, of course."
John looked over the list he had made himself, drumming his fingertips on the table. "Is this going to become a regular thing, though? Attacking activists in order to frame bigots? I mean, I am all for those pieces of shit getting what's coming to them, but if this were to get out--if people were to know--that will only give everyone more ammo against us. So many already like to call us terrorists, do we really wish to give them more of a reason to? Because if we start attacking Magicks, where do we draw the line."
@into-the-voyd
"Haven't been there in a while," John returned the grin. Karen was always a good time to hang out with. Maybe it was their way of buttering people up to like them more, but hey, if it was, John wouldn't say no to the benefits of that.
John took the phone, squinting slightly to read the words. Big article, big names. A Magick activist attacked, and the anti-magick public figure that was blamed for it all.
"I have now," he replied, skimming through the article. He processed. So they were doing this now--attacking activists? Isn't that friendly fire? John wasn't going to question it, he was smarter than that. And that was his job, right? They all got to be as messy as they wanted and he got to do his best to smooth out the wrinkles? Well, this was certainly going to be an interesting one.
"So what're you looking for from me--are we looking to boost support for the activist, maybe send some anonymous gift baskets or donation to their next fundraiser, or are we out to smear this fucker for this and even more shit?" He handed Karen their phone back.
"That was a bold move, I will say. Could've backfired on us big time--I'd say it still could, but I'm good at my fuckin' job. So I'm just glad it went off without a hitch." He looked at them again. "It did go off without a hitch, right? Please tell me no one tagged the scene again."
From the articles it looked like it did go smoothly, but who knew what people were keeping under wraps. However, usually people jumped to throw MAFIA's name into the ring if there was a reason to. Right now, it was all on Michael Anaclet, which was good for them. Until Michael started talking and throwing out his own thoughts and theories...
"No wonder you invited me for a drink in Queens," he said with a playful grin and a glare as he took out his own phone, ready to start writing down notes and ideas to make sure this mole hill didn't become a mountain.
@into-the-voyd
John wasn't built for the sorts of missions that put him in harms way. Not to say he hadn't gotten his hands dirty before on behalf of the group or his own personal vendettas, but he wasn't much of a fighter. He wasn't fast enough at escaping--in person form--and he just did better when his weapon of choice was words.
He'd spun a tale or two, covered many a covert crime, played his part very well. He liked doing it too. So it wasn't a surprise when Karen came around for a meeting.
"Hey, Karen," John greeted with a grin, returning the hug. "Honestly only a matter of time, right? You lot cause the loudest commotions, I'm surprised I didn't get shipped off here sooner." He joked. He spent most of his time in London, some in Amsterdam, he'd been to the America's a few times for one reason or another. Usually cities with much higher populations.
"I take it this is more than just a friendly catch-up though," he inquired, tilting his head. "So what've you got for me?"
@into-the-voyd