∞ 96: Reminders [voice/action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[voice]

As a follow-up reminder to Rydia's latest entry, this month is likely to be another New Feather cycle month if the new Organization management continues the trend. The Welcome Center is always looking for volunteers when New Feathers arrive.

While the weather may be warmer, there are still watch stations outside the village that should be maintained and well-stocked. Any volunteers are welcome. For now, I am organizing the effort, but I am looking for someone to take over that responsibility.

[There is a slight pause.] Is anyone working on the farmlands outside the village? I am curious to know what crops are being grown out there.


[action]

[Albert isn't up to anything special today. He's finally getting around to taking care of and sharpening that sword he had asked Sokka for during that reality-shifting experiment. He can be found working on the steps of his house, looking the sword this way and that as he works on it; it's more work than he usually has to put into sharpening an axe.

Afterwards, he'll make his usual rounds of tending to his garden and checking on the stables. ...Which will lead to a trip to the grocery store, because the horses need more grains.]

Comments

[ voice | filtered ]

[herotypical]

[ about forty-five minutes later, buffy is peering anxiously around the garden and exterior of the house. looking for him. ]

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert can be found sitting on the steps of the house, once Buffy has come closer to the house. He has his sword resting, sheathed, on his lap.]

Buffy.

[action]

[herotypical]

Albert. [ a stiff nod; she needn't give anything more.

and then she sits next to him. gathering her words. ]

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He watches her take a seat next to him, and he remains quiet for a few moments.]

...You had something you wished to talk about?

[action]

[herotypical]

I probably don't need to ask but I'm going to anyway -- I can count on your discretion, right?

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Anything you tell me does not need to reach anyone else's ears, if that is what you wish.

[action]

[herotypical]

A resident named Archie Kennedy was attacked. Did you catch that? I know who by. And the whole situation is kinda pickle-shaped.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He nods slowly, though the odd metaphor gives him pause.]

What happened?

[action]

[herotypical]

It's all a little on the complicated side of the fence but -- Jack...got into a pretty powerful someone's bad books. This someone leveled some threats at those closest to Jack. That's why we...well, the upshot? We protected some others over Archie and we paid for it.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

So this "powerful someone" is also intelligent enough to notice your weak spots.

[action]

[herotypical]

And this someone just wants to go on not having a name dropped publicly to the community at large. So I negotiated a stalemate. I won't go all tabloid on this someone's butt and they won't touch anyone else.

But that's just buying time. And now Jack's gone. And I want to do something about this villain. But you gotta understand -- when I tell you the name? I'm breaking the truce.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

You would be, yes. And taking action against this individual may prove to haunt you in the long term.

[action]

[herotypical]

Which is why I wanna talk any potential action over with you. Other -- other sounding boards haven't worked so well.

[ she and giles have been so rocky. the arguments, the death, the...the everything. ] But it's up to you. Y'know, I'm not gonna drag you into our little mess if you don't wanna be there.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

I would not be opposed to listening, Buffy. Why do you feel that this is a matter of "buying time"?

[action]

[herotypical]

Because if she thinks we're stalemating, it gives us time to come up with a plan. Time not spent worrying about her potential targets. Time to come together as a group and...

Grell Sutcliffe, Albert. That's the name,

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He nods, mentally noting the name.] Long-term solutions for troublemakers are hard to come by, as I am sure you know.

[action]

[herotypical]

...Exactly. Which is why I tried my hand at some non-violent negotiation on the night Archie was attacked. It...ticked off certain people. [ jack, who hadn't wanted her involved with the death god at all. ] But now, certain people aren't here to keep certain promises to. And I want a plan.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[His expression remains unmoved as he inquires.] Did you have something in mind?

[action]

[herotypical]

Well, for starters? I was thinking about unmasking Grell to the whole town. Let people know that there's a danger.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

And the straightforward route would involve placing yourself as the primary suspect of Grell's "unmasking." [Perhaps Buffy could handle herself, but she could not ensure the safety of all those who Grell would see as weaknesses.]

[action]

[herotypical]

...That's the only way I'd have it.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

And how do you know that Grell will not strike out against your weak spots?

[action]

[herotypical]

I know that she will. I know that she already has. All the more reason to try and find a solution.

[action]

[chikaidestroyer]

Just how unreasonable is this Grell? What transpired that led to this amount of escalation?

[action]

[herotypical]

...She's on the far side of crazy, I think. Jack -- he thought she was a fortune teller. She tricked him into letting her do some pretty terrible things. Do you know what a chainsaw is, Albert?