on the morrow

RP blog for Roy Kiefer, part of devilselbowhq.

[murdcrofcrows]

who: @bymorrow ( roy ) where: his office?

sitting in the small waiting area outside the first lieutenant's office was not how tallula had seen her day going when she'd gotten up that morning. it was supposed to be filled with more patrols, rebuilding, etc. same thing they'd been doing since the storm stopped and they were sent out to start uncovering homes, roads, offer medical attention or transport, etc.

but also help keep the peace for those now displaced and looking for somewhere to stay. they hadn't been given protocol on where to send those looking for shelter. of course they knew there would be areas of the compound and community center that were being set up because they were out there helping set them up, however they didn't have orders to start telling displaced citizens that information.

of course that didn't stop devan from becoming impatient when they were done, heading out the door to start letting people know early. going off half-cocked before she could stop him. tully was not someone who disobeyed orders, not ones that could easily be traced back to her at least. she also tried to keep her best friend and partner in line with her, not doing something that would call for disciplinary action or, worse, get themselves killed. on the rare occassion, however, like that day, she misses the cue to keep devan in sight even though the signs were right in front of her face.

she knew she shouldn't have followed after them, knew it would end with her getting disciplined right alongside them but here they were. and to think, the major-general was going to offer her a promotion just a few months ago... guess that's out of the question now.

'private kennedy, come this way please.'

the sound of the office door opening and the assistant calling her name simultaneously, made her jump. she didn't do well with this. tully didn't get into trouble, she was the level-headed one. she locked eyes momentarily with devan as they passed each other, them leaving of course and her entering. tully made her way into the office, taking a deep breath before moving to stand at attention and salute her superior officer.

"sir, you wanted to see me, sir?" private kennedy greeted, hoping whatever punishment she got was swift and painless. even though a mark on her record was devastating and painful enough, to her anyways.

[bymorrow]

This was not the first time these two names had crossed his desk and he was certain it wouldn't be the last. Devan was a known troublemaker. For now, their usefulness outweighed the trouble caused but once that precarious balance tipped, chances of an accident in the field would become near certainty.

"Come in Private Kennedy. Please close the door behind you," Roy clicked his pen and made a note on Devan's file. "This is by far my least favorite part of the job and I really hoped to not have your name cross my desk so soon."

Roy closed the file and looked up at her with a pointed sigh. The sort that conveyed conflict between what he was supposed to do and what he wanted to do because he cared for her. An incentive to convince him to perhaps not put this mark on her record. "Being First Lieutenant has its perks but I fear I'm slowly losing touch with the realities of field work. How have you been faring? What's been going on?"

Of course the First Lieutenant had plenty of eyes and ears on the ground which when combined painted a rather vivid picture (lies included). The value of asking Tallula's account was not in their facts but a show of Roy's personal interest. He had an imagine to maintain, after all. 'One of them'. A real private who had worked his way up and was no stranger to the hard, dirty leg-work required. A First Lieutenant who cares and saw the bulk of the army as more than just tools to be used.

[bymorrow]

ryō & roy @strcinedhecrts

His talk with Dio had left him pensive, finding himself replaying memories of recent meeting with the Sergeant, trying to retrace his particular body language, anything that stood out as odd in some way. Memories though were fallible, easily manipulated (conscious or unconscious) and fabricated with figments of the mind and other imagined ghosts.

It's lunch time and as so often Roy finds himself in the cafeteria of the compound. He could eat elsewhere, on his own but it's good to be seen and remain approachable even as the first sergeant of the east atlantic army. Or maybe exactly for that reason.

And speak of the devil, tray in hand, Roy spies the Sergeant across the room and joins him. "Sergeant Sasaki, good seeing you. It's been a little while." Roy smiles and sits down, taking up form and knife to start cutting at his sausage. "How are you? I know we're all so damn busy all the time, we barely get any time to catch up."

[insainted]

What is it about Sasaki that makes Dio suspicious? The same thing that made him suspicious about a first lieutenant all those years ago. He doesn't have concrete evidence, which is why he hasn't acted on anything yet—if he's going to remove people from command, he sure as hell will make sure he's certain beyond a shadow of a doubt. "Some of the body language," Dio finally offers Roy, though both men know that he might as well have been 'it's a gut feeling'. Unsubstantiated. Dio has been in this business for long enough to know when to trust his gut feeling and when not to.

To Roy, these things are also a clear suggestion for him to look into it further, without Dio having to openly tell him to. There's very little orders Dio has given Roy over the years, sometimes because Roy has already anticipated what needs to be done, sometimes because having orders on record would be too damning.

The offer to cast out lines has Dio nod in approval; even if his first lieutenant doesn't have connections here and there, he knows how to make them, which strings to pull to get to what they need. It's why Dio doesn't care to micromanage anything he does.

"Singular, the last I've heard," he confirms, taking his own bite of food, not commenting on Roy's eating posture. His father would've long whacked that out of him, but Dio puts less emphasis on etiquette in private, that's for business and presentation only. Roy doesn't need to pretend in this space, and they both know that. "Normally I wouldn't blink about a body, it's simply whom the body belongs to. Or rather, the family."

[bymorrow]

Roy grunts in acknowledgment without looking up from his plate. Any other person might assume disinterest— the end of the line on this conversation. Where silence falls and they move on.

But Dio knows him well enough to know that it's Roy's subtle way of saying 'I'll look into it'. If Dio shares a gut feeling, then that's worth pursuing. It might be nothing but it might well be something. Dismissing the issue without investigation is dangerous, as is acting on nothing but a hunch.

"Did you try a new recipe? Spices? This is good." Roy comments, pointing the fork at his half-finished plate.

He sets the fork down and wipes his mouth with a napkin, then straightens and turns fully to Dio, studying the old man. "Which family?" He asks slowly, feeling the anticipation knot the pit of his stomach with dread.

[insainted]

ROY KIEFER ⸻ DIO'S RESIDENCE  . . .  WITH FELIX  ( @bymorrow )

Not many get a standing invitation to Dio's home. Obviously his children, though none of them take him on it—frequently or ever—as well as his first lieutenant. The list of people Dio truly trusts to give unlimited access to his attention, his person, and his sanctuary is, unsurprisingly, very short. As it is, tonight he's making dinner for two, expecting the younger man to join him before long. More often than not, any serious conversation is not held in his office, rather than in his home, since Dio knows there's much more privacy there than anywhere else on the compound.

He doesn't look up as the door opens, instead moving to the balcony to grab fresh basil. "Have you heard of the latest disturbance in Burnington, lieutenant?" Dio asks as he returns to the kitchen, going about plating food. Pulling open a drawer, he sets down utensils next to the plates, gesturing for Roy to go ahead. "Something about a body in a closet."

He heard it from Finn O'Brien, of course, who heard it via via from a brother of some kind. Although he'd been reassured not to worry—and it's not that he does, worry, that is—but security is his business. If the town is on the verge of spinning out of control, if the Shamrocks cannot maintain the order he's been ensured they can, then he would have no choice but to do it for them.

But it's still too early to make any quick decisions on the part.

Besides, he doesn't care to see a conflict between these two parties, not because he much cares about the well-being of the town's citizens, but because Dio knows he stands to lose if it does come to pass. "Do you have a reliable in with the bikers? I don't quite trust Commander Sasaki enough to provide the intel we need. I fear he may be compromised."

[bymorrow]

Roy's well aware of the privilege he holds visiting Dio at home. Even so, his visits have become commonplace. Like another son visiting the father. Roy feels at home here. Like he can be open like nowhere else. No prying eyes or vultures waiting for roadkill.

"Compromised? What makes you think so?" Roy looks up. Fork hand paused on the rim of his plate. He still eats like the kid whose not sure when he'll see a full meal next— somewhat possessively hunched over his plate, arms to both sides of it in protective anticipation of any thieving hands he knows don't exist here. It's a hard habit to beat. At least he no longer comes down his food, the pace becoming more measured— even normal as he grew older.

Roy hadn't heard yet. It bothers him and mentally starts mapping any potential points of failures or gaps in his network. His eyes have been elsewhere. "I'll put my ears to the ground. If I don't, I'll find an in." For all Roy knows whatever connections he may have held, they might have been burned, killed or died some other tragic way.

"A body or bodies?" Roy asks as he resumes eating.

[bymorrow]

FULL NAME: Morrow "Roy" Wood Kiefer GENDER & PRONOUNS: Cis Man / he/him AGE & BIRTHDAY: 5th August (38) BIRTHPLACE: Lost Angeles HEIGHT: 185cm / 6"1' WHERE DO THEY LIVE: Afterglow Compound FACTION: East Atlantic Army (First Lieutenant) OCCUPATION: Civic Councillor STRENGTHS: charismatic, perceptive, clever, strong-willed, resilient WEAKNESSES: manipulative, devious, distrusting, ruthless, selfish FACECLAIM: Ryan Rosling

CONNECTION IDEAS:

I'm done with the past but the past isn't through with me: People with a connection to the uncle that sold him to afterglow, his mother or the disappeared father he barely knew, the rascals, ruffians and criminals who he ran with as a kid, comrades in arms from his private days. 

Allies: Those who agree with his ways and methods or at least are hoping to reap a profits by supporting him are trying to manipulate him to their benefit.

Enemies: People he's burned in the past, that don't agree with the way he handles things or see right through his charismatic facade; who want revenge or simply to see him fail. People who want to get at Dio through him.

Spurned lovers & hook ups (any gender): What it says on the tin. He may have been in relationships before but the army always took precedence and he refused to compromise on his time even for a lover. May have been frustratingly cold, like he doesn't really care or distrusting and slow to open up causing a relationship to fail in its infancy or drag along for too long.

BIOGRAPHY

TW: abuse, alcoholism, addiction, violence

Kiefer was born and raised in Lost Angeles. His father was a violent drunk and his mother an emotionally unstable addict. His father died when he was young, vicious rumors had it that Kiefer killed him, having a history of aggression and often finding himself entangled in criminal activity even at his young age. Shortly after, his mother was put in prison for assault (supposedly biting off s man's dick) and possession of illegal substances. Kiefer was consequently placed in the care of his uncle who sold him to the government.

After initial difficulties at the military academy, things start looking up for the first time in Kiefer's life. A brief period of rose-tinted belief in Afterglow and its mission is followed by inevitable disillusionment. This paired with teenage rebellion has Kiefer testing the boundaries and nearly gets kicked out. This is around the time when he meets Dio who would become a large influence on Kiefer, filling the role of the father he never had. He learns perspective and that there is more to life than just survival. There's power if he dare take it.

Through the years, Kiefer works his way through the ranks of the army from the bottom up, building reputation and influence. He's a charismatic young man, well-liked by his peers who firmly consider him one of them even now that he's made it to First Lieutenant. How much of this is real or part of Kiefer's scheme, who knows? And while he did earn his current position by proving himself worthy, secretly, he's always had the privilege of having a direct connection to Dio and has been his eyes and ears.

It was only within the last two years that he was made First Lieutenant and he aims to succeed Dio in favor of his biological son. This is everything he has, everything he's worked for so hard and for so long. Suddenly, he has things to lose and with that realisation fear seeps in. The days of just surviving one day to the next with nothing to his name are long gone. Could he lose everything and still know persevere or have those muscles long since atrophied?

EXISTING CONNECTIONS:

Dio: Father figure, mentor, role model and perhaps the only person he truly trusts and is loyal to.

Lino: They don't get along on account of Roy directly threatening his succession.