∞ 101: Quiet disappearance [voice/action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[voice]

[It's almost midnight and he hasn't received a response from Raine for almost three hours. Raine could be kept busy after school from time to time, but she had not mentioned anything that would keep her out late today -- especially this late.]

Has anyone seen or spoken to Professor Sage today? She is not answering to messages from her journal.


[action]

[Despite the chill in the air so late at night, Albert stands out on the porch outside of his house. There is fortunately no snow tonight, so he was able to send out Rune to scout around the nearby forests.

Part of him has already concluded that it's likely Raine was abducted by the rogue facilities. She had certainly not been sent back to her world, as her belongings were still intact and the journal system still recognized that she was there. But ... there was the faint concern that something else might have happened. Luceti wasn't safe from its own residents, after all.]

Comments

[chikaidestroyer]

I suppose he wanted to see for himself, in some way. [If he was the type to shrug, he would; he did not understand the pirate's behavior and really should not try to.] I am somewhat surprised by his concern.

[herotypical]

Why's that?

[ buffy has a privileged space of understanding, so close to the man -- she sees exactly why jack would be concerned. that strange flash of protectiveness he seems to develop for certain creatures.

she doesn't always realize that others don't necessarily see it. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

It is one thing to express one's concern over the journals -- another entirely to come out to the house. Somehow it did not occur to me that they were that close. [Not counting that alternate reality they had all suffered through last year.]

[herotypical]

He...has a lot of respect for her. [ she clears her throat. anxious, again. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

[A faint laugh rattles through his cold throat.] I see. Yes, that explains it.

[But those are of course hollow words. He means to change the subject.] But that hardly matters. If he will lend his eyes, that is enough.

[herotypical]

At the very least, he can keep those eyes on the shore. Not many people are out there on a regular basis like he is. And if she...

[ well. ]

She'll be back. That's all there is to say about it.

[chikaidestroyer]

She will. [He thinks about the last time she had disappeared, and how abruptly she had returned.] ...She will.

[And if she didn't return... No. Don't think about that. Not right now.]

I did not thank you ... for the puzzle box.

[herotypical]

[ a quiet, sad smile. she seems far away again. ]

I bet it you broke into it all lickity-split. There's no puzzling you for long.

[chikaidestroyer]

Even so, the thought is appreciated. It's a clever container for a trinket. [Or a letter.]

[herotypical]

Some things just have to be hard to get at...y'know?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He hums faintly in agreement.] The extra effort makes the prize a bit more satisfying.

[herotypical]

[ language takes a dangerous turn as she watches leaves shuffling in the distant, dark night. ] ...Were you satisfied?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He follows her gaze, though it's a gradual movement on his part.]

You have my discretion, Buffy. You have my support.

[herotypical]

[ this is the sort of admission that brings stable joy to her expression. the slayer had balked at a proposal from the man she loves but here -- this brings only a solid, unquestionable sense of relief. ]

I figured I could count on you.

[chikaidestroyer]

From your letter, it sounded like someone had to. [His tone is somewhat dry.] You heard the Commandant -- he has many rivals. She has fought him herself. It is not as if what you seek to do is impossible.

[herotypical]

...God, but I'd love a chance to meet some of them. Or anyone other than her. She's frigid as hell -- and that's coming from me.

Not that hell's exactly...frigid. Now that I think about it.

[chikaidestroyer]

I understand. [Without needing clarification, for that matter.] The opportunity to speak with him could prove enlightening. What we hear of them is almost entirely the bias of the Organizations. "Cultists."

[herotypical]

I know he didn't dig the conversation much, last time. When he got Derek. But I wanna thing...God, is it naive? To think I could talk to him? That he'd be interested?

'Cause I just wanna state for the record that if I was in his shoes, I'd be wanting to have some stern words with me.

[chikaidestroyer]

I would like to think someone who has brought an end to his life in the past would at least give him pause. [Though how much of a pause was left to be seen.] Do you still have the locket? The one you took?

[herotypical]

Of course. [ she says it a little too quickly. the lie is a little too obvious.

and then she realizes that is she wants albert to trust her and support her, she needs to be honest. ]

Or...sorta. We -- I might've made a pretty big error in judgment on that count. [ buffy clears her throat. ] Back when Dawn was still here, I gave it Jack. Safekeeping. I didn't want any dangerous self-sacrificial temptations to show up while she was here. [ her throat tightens. ] I couldn't do that to her. Not again.

But now I'm not exactly sure how to...get it back.

[ without losing him. ]

[chikaidestroyer]

I see. [Hah. Jack again. He had such a way with women.] It would be the best approach -- emotional blackmail. He would not give it to you, knowing that. [Because he had told him as much when the pirate had asked.]

[herotypical]

I could take it. God, could I take it -- it's right there. He wears it, Albert. All the time. But...[ can she cross that line? perhaps if he's asleep.

could she use violence? once, maybe. absolutely.

now? not so much. ]

Maybe I could negotiate...[ but negotiating with jack is always tricky. she always feels one step behind. jack fouls her up by suddenly turning honest and sincere when she thought the whole exercise was about bluffing. ]

Or maybe I've just left it too long.

[chikaidestroyer]

[He shakes his head faintly, feeling a gust of cold air sting at his eyes.] At the moment, it is not imperative that you get it back. But you need to remember that value should this plan go forward.

It is a shame that we do not have more bargaining chips.

[herotypical]

I've been thinking -- these missions. There's gonna be some way to exploit one to our benefit. Right?

I'm more that ready to try and get us a whole back of chips. If they can be found.

[chikaidestroyer]

If you find the opportunity, do explore and ask questions. But you will be watched the entire time; do not try anything that may result in you being punished. [He had not been surprised that the droids that watched over them during one of his missions did in fact react when someone had tried to storm away from their designated rest area.] There's no benefit in giving them reason to distrust you.