for @asuwrath , continued from here
“Whether or not the dog is put down is irrelevant,” he said, eyes narrowed with bubbling rage. He had no real desire to protect the cult, or Joseph, but still he did anyways. It was instinctual. It was the only home he had, even if he wished to set it all ablaze. In some ways, he envied Hale; he wished he could tear a path of violence through Hope County, through the Project, scorch the earth and set forth a plague of revenge. He couldn’t, though, so instead he had to turn his rage inward. It stayed there, bottled up, until it inevitably overflowed.
Hale’s smirk was disgusting to Ethan. So proud. So arrogant. In some ways, Ethan also pitied the deputy. His fight seemed futile, a punishment out of Greek legend, doomed to fight the same battle over and over and over again.
“I was talking about you,” he said, “and what the world has turned you into. You don’t see how you’re being used?”
Two could play at mind games. Ethan had been steeped in manipulation and violence for most of his life. He had quelled his inner beast for now, but it snarled and growled from its cage.
“I’m not the pathetic one. I’m not the one fighting as a one man army for people who will never care about me. Do you really think the people here will accept you? That they’ll thank you? You’re a sacrificial lamb being brought to be slaughtered so the people of this county can smear your blood on their doorposts in a vain attempt to avoid the inevitable.”
Ethan smiled. A false smile. A smile meant to disarm, though he didn't think it would work. His smile wavered after a moment.
“You’re a rabid guard dog for these people, and they’ll put you down the minute you aren’t useful to them. But here, with me, you’ll find no judgment. The choice is yours, Deputy.”
