07:24 <tom> Willie's phone beeps. It's fucking.. 4:34 AM. <What kinda biz> 07:25 <VoxPVoxD> Willie hears her phone as she's about to step into the shower and practically leaps into her room in case it's Sergio. <oh!! did I wake you? I'm so very sorry> 07:25 <tom> <nah i just had> 07:26 <tom> <a feeling> 07:26 <tom> <this is about the thing right> 07:26 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: <which do you mean> 07:27 <VoxPVoxD> Why isn't she just answering his question? It's hard to say. Her instinct is to be cagey even though she explicitly needs to talk about this. 07:27 <tom> Bob is typing... 07:27 <tom> He's still typing... 07:28 <tom> <yknow with the phonecall?> 07:28 <tom> <during lunch?> 07:29 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: <oh! that was aster about The Roth Thing. this is different> 07:29 <tom> <yeah> 07:29 <tom> It's not clear if that's a question? 07:30 <VoxPVoxD> <can we speak? my vision's a bit blurry. idk if that's practical for you, if you can go outside or something> 07:30 <tom> <lemme check real quick> 07:30 <tom> <yeah shes asleep im omw greybox> 07:34 <VoxPVoxD> Willie showers and gets into a too-big Harvard University pullover and matching deep red sweatpants. Her hair's pulled back in a rough, short ponytail and it must be sleeplessness and lack of makeup but she looks remarkably pale and sunken-eyed. She brings a thermos of good coffee and a couple of scones. 07:34 <tom> Bob is showered when he shows up. The sweats are back, but not so bad. He looks about as sallow as you'd expect to find a man awake at four in the morning, anyway. Hopefully there's someone to let him in. 07:34 <tom> Hey, well, at least she's clearly been up all night too. 07:34 <VoxPVoxD> Since Willie lives much closer, she probably lets him in, having regretfully woken up Richard. 07:36 <tom> Same jeans and jacket as the picnic. Nondescript, grey. Velcro straps. He pulls back the hood once he's outta the rain. 07:37 <VoxPVoxD> Bob actually gets a little hug! "I've got hot coffee and a buttered scone if you're hungry. Thank you so much for coming out so late. How are you doing?" 07:38 <tom> His heart's actually kinda pounding as she pulls him in for a hug, but he just looks tired. "Great, great, knee's all patched up. I can do squats again." 07:40 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's is too, weirdly. She doesn't seem to notice. "Excellent." She's being quiet, as you'd expect. Only one light is on, at the far end of the offsite, near the kitchenette table. That's where they sit. "So," begins Willie, lacing her fingers together. "You remember that there were two vampire leads." 07:43 <tom> "What, this is about.. work? Shit dude, I thought this was gonna be a 'we're burned, five minutes to pack your bags', kinda thing." 07:43 <tom> "Why are you up at Four-Thirty in the Gat Dang morning?" 07:44 <tom> "...And why can't this wait until the others show up?" 07:44 <VoxPVoxD> Willie sighs, eyes dancing across the tabletop while she thinks. This is the sort of thing Bob'd normally expect her to have a prepared answer for, given how obvious it is, but it seems like she's only now working out how to respond. "As I said, you recall that there were two vampire jobs. You and Aaron followed up the one, and because of his conflict of interest he can't really be seen 07:44 <VoxPVoxD> to work the other." 07:45 <tom> Bob will now retrieve the offered coffee, he's getting his second wind, though he still won't be showing off his very-slightly trembly hands. 07:45 <VoxPVoxD> It's fresh made coffee, actually. Willie brought a thermos. It's incredibly good coffee too, if Bob can tell that sort of thing. 07:46 <tom> He can't, which means he just knows it contains caffeine, which is the important part. 07:46 <VoxPVoxD> "But I've been able to arrange a meeting with the principals of that second potential contract." 07:47 <VoxPVoxD> "It's at midnight tonight, at very short notice. And I've been informed that having a heavily-armed man at my back will be a show of strength they'll respect." 07:47 <VoxPVoxD> "Who better? Who else?" 07:48 <tom> "Yeah so... where's Rolf and Badawi, wh..." Bob thinks hard, eyebrows furrowing along the rims of his visor. 07:48 <tom> "How'd you set this up?" 07:49 <tom> "In for a penny, in for a pound. If you want to bring security, you should bring overwhelming force. I don't like it just being the two'a us." 07:49 <tom> It violates the most important rules of war! Concentration of force! 07:51 <VoxPVoxD> Willie shakes her head. "No, showing up with an army is exactly the wrong message to send. This is not a fight. No one wants it to be a fight. You see, the vampire organisation — the word these ones favour is 'covenant' — is closely intertwined with the aristocracy. And I was able to secure this meeting because of my family's status." 07:51 <VoxPVoxD> "Working with a contact." 07:53 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "It's important that you be visible and visibly armed. Past that... what do you advise? What more do you need to know? I'll tell you whatever I can." 07:54 <tom> "Tell me about your contact," Bob says, leaning back in the little deskchair and crossing his arms. 07:57 <VoxPVoxD> Willie takes a long sip of her coffee. "My contact is a member of the covenant in good standing, who's been able to prepare me to make the right kind of impression to establish a relationship." 07:57 <tom> He'll boot up his visor while she carefully chooses her words. Yep, shit's definitely starting to bug out. There's no getting around it. He could reformat.. again... but really, there's no substitute for the right tools and expertise. Just one more thing breaking down on this piece of shit world. 07:59 <VoxPVoxD> Bob's reticle shows that Willie's body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. 08:00 <tom> That's kinda low, especially for her. 08:00 <VoxPVoxD> Here's the thing: every other time he's pointed it at her, it's been a steady 100.4. Maybe the reticle *is* damaged. 08:00 <VoxPVoxD> Right. 08:00 <tom> Bob has not been keeping careful track of her body temperature that would be weird. 08:01 <VoxPVoxD> Still, being at a steady subclinical fever probably registered. 08:01 <VoxPVoxD> Even if just in passing. 08:01 <tom> "Hey, you're looking cool." 08:02 <VoxPVoxD> Dryly: "I'm flattered." 08:02 <tom> t"I mean," he taps his visor. "You been around anyone without a mask or shot recently?" 08:02 <tom> "All our shit comes with thermal imaging. Best way to root out bloodsuckers." 08:02 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "That thing reads--" 08:02 <VoxPVoxD> "Huh." 08:02 <VoxPVoxD> "...maybe it's the lack of sleep? I'm feeling a bit under the weather." 08:02 <tom> "Uncle Sam didn't spend fifty million dollars getting these set up for nothing, man." 08:02 <tom> "Ma'am." 08:03 <tom> "...Well maybe you should go get a covid test?" 08:04 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "That's very true. And will be much to our benefit." She frowns. "Perhaps I will after sunup, on the way to the office." 08:04 <tom> "Sure, sure." 08:04 <tom> "How'd you meet the contact? S.J. didn't give us a number, really." 08:06 <VoxPVoxD> Willie keeps speaking, like she didn't hear that. "But I want you to present as a heavily-armed, dangerous, but well-trained and well-behaved bodyguard. And there is one important caveat: the Victus Indomitus do not know we know they are vampires." 08:07 <tom> Hmmmm. "Hmmmmm." He's quiet for a little while. "Any reason? Knowing they're afraid of fire is a good joint to put weight on." 08:08 <tom> "I like do be open on it, y'know? I know you know that I know that you know-" 08:09 <tom> "It's chill. Everyone knows the score." 08:09 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Well, I've presented myself as somewhat naive about the night-city. That's how I was able to secure the meeting. As an introduction." 08:09 <tom> Presented, right. Right. 08:09 <VoxPVoxD> "The substance of the meeting will be for them to reveal themselves as vampires to me." 08:10 <tom> He swallows another big ole gulp of coffee. "So how'd you wanna play it? Nice or mean?" 08:10 <tom> It's clear he's past his doubts by now. 08:11 <tom> "If you can give me a couple days I can cook up dragon's breath." 08:11 <tom> "Nasty stuff. Useful!" 08:12 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Cordial. Respectful. Courtly. As I said, these Victus Indomitus affiliate themselves with the most exalted circles of the upper classes. They do not see me as a hunter, or a civil servant, or anything. They see the youngest child and only daughter of the Duke of Wellington." 08:12 <VoxPVoxD> "There is no time. The meeting is in 17 hours." 08:12 <tom> That's... soon. "HMMM." 08:12 <VoxPVoxD> "Hence the late-night message and urgent meeting." 08:12 <tom> "Okay. I'll bring the magnesium flares- you know, flashbangs, just in case. I bet their super-hearing won't like it." 08:13 <tom> "I got a few boxes of twenty gauge flares in the back- are you going unarmed?" 08:14 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I will be in formal eveningwear. Jewels, a gown." 08:15 <tom> "Do you need, like, a knife, for your.. you know.. hell thingy?" 08:15 <VoxPVoxD> "I will have a knife in my garter." 08:15 <tom> Bob chuckles. "Smart! What a nasty surprise for Dracula, oh my god." 08:16 <tom> Bob's clicking through tabs on his visor. Shit, he doesn't even remember starting most of these arguments... six hours ago. Fucked up. 08:17 <VoxPVoxD> Yes, imagine Sergio's hands slowly gliding up her thigh... Willie's temperature ticks up a bit as she looks down at her coffee. 08:17 <tom> There's a little notification bubble in the corner of the Huntr app. He'll click it. New tracks, eh? 08:18 <tom> He'll put 'em on- just a little ambient music, help him wake up some. The coffee's doing wonders already, and the caffeine is doing... something... to his heart. 08:18 <tom> "...You said you were meeting with Roth, or whatever?" 08:19 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Yes. Aster and I met with Roth last evening. That one's an odd duck, Aster will be able to explain it better." 08:19 <VoxPVoxD> "Why do you ask?" 08:19 <tom> His eyes pass over the readout and he steels himself to listen to the whole thing out of sheer oppositional defiance. 08:20 <VoxPVoxD> Roth's entry is #2 on the TrackCheck list. 08:20 <tom> We'll get there. 08:20 <tom> He isn't even two minutes in yet. 08:21 <tom> "Do you think the Trackcheck is trolling us?" 08:21 <VoxPVoxD> Willie, immediately: "No, why?" 08:22 <tom> "Nobody's gonna listen to the whole thing but they'll get the point? Hm, hang on." 08:22 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "..." 08:22 <tom> Bob scrolls up, and there goes his eyebrows. 08:22 <VoxPVoxD> She looks so happy. 08:22 <tom> "What's your contact's name, again?" 08:22 <VoxPVoxD> In the photo that is. 08:23 <VoxPVoxD> The woman in front of Bob doesn't look at all happy. 08:23 <VoxPVoxD> "..........................Why do you ask?" 08:25 <tom> He turns off the music. The thing was right, he didn't listen to the whole thing, but he got the point: Strangled: "Is your contact a vampire?" 08:26 <tom> "I will need to know your contact's name, for this meeting, yes. That doesn't seem like it would be hard to tell me." 08:27 <tom> "Am I just totally fucking stupid, or does it start with an S?" 08:29 <tom> "Here's a good question that all TF:V kiddos know right outta boot camp, ma'am." 08:29 <tom> "Do vampires show up on cameras?" 08:29 <VoxPVoxD> Willie freezes. 08:29 <tom> "Yes! Mostly! Some have it harder than others! Most, you just never can get a good look at their face." 08:29 <tom> "Like, say, during a night selfie." 08:30 <VoxPVoxD> Opens her mouth. 08:30 <VoxPVoxD> Closes it. 08:30 <VoxPVoxD> "His name is Sergio." 08:30 <VoxPVoxD> Barely a whisper. 08:31 <tom> Bob scowls and forcefully baps a button on his visor. 08:32 <tom> It's clear that he's trying to control his breathing, which is starting to get a little shallow. 08:32 <tom> "Did he bite you? Did he bite you?" 08:33 <VoxPVoxD> "Keep your voice down," Willie hisses, even though he wasn't particularly loud. 08:33 <VoxPVoxD> ".......yes." 08:33 <tom> "Jesus christ, kid!" Bob whispers back. 08:33 <tom> This is the one thing, we didn't want to happen! 08:33 <VoxPVoxD> "Don't--" 08:33 <VoxPVoxD> She can't make herself finish the sentence. 08:34 <tom> "So, what," Bob will look away, shake his head, tap his fingers on the table. 08:34 <tom> "What's the play?" 08:35 <VoxPVoxD> Bit by bit her shoulders relax. She doesn't feel any more at ease, but the advantage of getting it over with is she can talk more readily about it. 08:35 <VoxPVoxD> And really, who better than Bob? 08:35 <tom> "Just.. please tell me you didn't look into his eyes." 08:36 <VoxPVoxD> She can't meet Bob's. 08:36 <tom> "That is the whole reason I have this." 08:36 <VoxPVoxD> Weakly: "It's not how it sounds." 08:36 <tom> He will take off his Huginn visor, fold up all the stupid little doodads, and set it on the table in front of him. 08:37 <tom> So now he just looks old. Old and sallow and tired, just glowering at her with a bleary eye. He's rubbing the other. "Good, cus it looks pretty bad." 08:37 <tom> "Look, I'm not the one-" 08:37 <tom> "If it seems fucked to me, that means you're in a pickle, kWillie." 08:38 <tom> "Can I tell you something?" 08:38 <tom> He slouches back, tapping his glasses on the table. 08:38 <VoxPVoxD> Hollowly: "Sure." 08:39 <tom> "I remember the first thing she said to me, back in that lab in Boston." 08:39 <VoxPVoxD> "..." 08:40 <tom> "'Get me out of here.' Like, it wasn't just the words, it was like the whole fuckin'.. universe was on my eyes. Like if I didn't do it, everything I ever cared about would wither and die. And then my visor chimed up, and blocked it." 08:40 <tom> "And then I got her outta there." 08:40 <VoxPVoxD> "I don't understand." 08:40 <tom> "They're people, right." 08:41 <tom> "But what would a normal person be like, if they could just, order someone to blow them?" 08:41 <tom> "Absolutely horrible shit, right! Right." 08:43 <tom> Bob's turning away, wincing already. 08:43 <VoxPVoxD> For a moment, it looks certain that Willie's about to start crying... but then something Bob says flips a switch behind her eyes, and they get dry and bright and hard. 08:43 <tom> "But, look. Mari tried to scramble my brains, and she's a good kid." 08:43 <tom> "I don't fuck with vampires. I do not. The thought's crossed my head, yeah, many a night." 08:44 <VoxPVoxD> "Shut up." 08:44 <tom> "Are you 100% sure you're ready to go with this? Because If you aren't ready to go all the way, this could end really badly for you, for me, everyone you've met." 08:44 <tom> "That's what happens when you fuck up with these guys." 08:45 <tom> "So I would recommend, you let him know, soon, what you know, and that there are people that will come after him if he does something.." 08:45 <tom> "Unkind." 08:45 <VoxPVoxD> "I said shut up." 08:46 <tom> He does. 08:47 <tom> So instead he just sits there, feeling like an asshole, looking like one too. 08:48 <VoxPVoxD> Words are hard to force out past the heart in her throat. "I need. A bodyguard. I need a man who can hold a gun and look like he'll shoot it." 08:48 <VoxPVoxD> "That is all I need." 08:48 <VoxPVoxD> "If understanding is too much to ask." 08:48 <VoxPVoxD> "If empathy is too much to ask." 08:48 <VoxPVoxD> "If friendship is too much to ask." 08:48 <VoxPVoxD> "Then give me that." 08:48 <VoxPVoxD> "Or is that too far now too?" 08:48 <tom> "I was never not gonna do it! C'mon.." 08:49 <tom> "You're cuttin' me deep over here." 08:49 <tom> Bob sighs deeply and shakes his head. 08:50 <tom> "Let me scout out the perimeter first. We'll be there early, I'll get the drone out, it'll loiter and make sure nobody new shows up." 08:50 <tom> "Simple in-and-out." 08:50 <tom> "I'll bring the shotgun, I'll bring some flares, in and out in half an hour tops, right?" 08:50 <VoxPVoxD> "I said silence." 08:51 <tom> He doesn't even whimper out a 'yes ma'am.' 08:52 <tom> So what are we doing, Willie, are we just sitting around being madsad? 08:52 <tom> So what are we doing, Willie, are we just sitting around being madsad? 08:53 <VoxPVoxD> "You know nothing about me. You know even less about him. If Mr. Aster or Ms. Badawi wants to sit there and scorn me, to call me a child and a whore, then fine. Let them talk down to me. You don't get to. I have been in your home. I have put food in your lover's mouth. You will not speak to me that way." 08:53 <tom> God damn it I am real dumb. 08:54 <tom> He just nods. 08:54 <banana> Haldane: "Excuse me. I do hope I am intruding." 08:55 <VoxPVoxD> Her shoulders are shaking. Tears are standing out in the corners of her eyes. She looks up abruptly and despite the scene and the posture her voice is almost normal. "Mr. Haldane. I do apologise." 08:55 <banana> Richard's wearing pyjamas. Full shirt and pants, striped, fluffy sock things. Neither of you have ever seen him look angry - is that what this is? His expression's still kind of mild but there's something in the eyes. 08:55 <tom> Bob just sinks into the chair. 08:56 <banana> Richard: "To me? Why? I already watch the track list. I was hoping it'd catch on, you know." 08:56 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "For waking you." 08:56 <VoxPVoxD> "We should have discussed this outside." 08:57 <tom> Bob does not acknowledge Haldane at all. 08:58 <banana> Richard: "Nonsense. If you were stupid outside someone might hear it. We're protected in here, from vampires and clients and our employer. It's just - this is so stupid. You have to work together. We can't be like this." 08:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I am aware." 08:58 <tom> "Oh you heard that, great." 09:00 <VoxPVoxD> "There's no problem, Richard. I'm just upset." 09:00 <VoxPVoxD> "I'll get over it." 09:00 <VoxPVoxD> "Please, don't worry." 09:00 <banana> Haldane throws up his hands. "I don't know much about- whatever you've been through and this isn't the time to ask. There's only one damn thing I do around here, and I'm going to do it: The door's not opening until you're both ready for it." 09:01 <banana> "I can go back to my room if you prefer, or I can stay here and make some.. or try some of that coffee." 09:01 <tom> "The coffee is good," he sputters. 09:01 <banana> To Willie, then: "May I?" 09:01 <VoxPVoxD> Willie stares in utter bewilderment... but does offer him the thermos with a silently extended arm. 09:01 <tom> "I'm actually fine to get out this conversation now, really," Bob adds in a small, hopeful voice. 09:02 <VoxPVoxD> Her hand's not shaking as it was a moment ago. 09:02 <VoxPVoxD> Willie gets up to get herself some water instead. 09:02 <banana> Richard takes a seat and drinks. It is very good. To Bob he just shakes his head. 09:02 <tom> "Come on bro, let me out-" he pleads, quietly. 09:03 <VoxPVoxD> Then: "Now. As I was saying. This is an introduction of me by Sergio to the Victus Indomitus. Neither they nor he are aware that we know their true nature. This knowledge is our greatest piece of leverage. We would be fools to squander it." 09:03 <tom> He nods. Sensible. 09:05 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "So as I said, you would be my bodyguard, as a show of my resources, my strength, my nobility, essentially. And you'd have your reticle, and your drone, and your sturdiest armor and your scariest gun." 09:05 <VoxPVoxD> "And you would let me talk." 09:06 <tom> Bob's hands are shaking, and now he's not so sure they shouldn't be. 09:06 <VoxPVoxD> "That is my proposal. What do you think?" 09:07 <tom> "Yeah. I can do that." 09:07 <banana> Haldane takes notes. Nothing's going in the database yet, but there needs to be a record of the plan. 09:07 <VoxPVoxD> "And then once we've come out of there with a reliable contact, we have a means to approach for the job, and for subsequent jobs." 09:08 <VoxPVoxD> "Aster's conflict of interest is a concern, but he's a brilliant man with no love for the WASC and he loves money. I believe he'll muddle through." 09:09 <banana> Richard: "A question about the expectations of this faction." 09:10 <VoxPVoxD> Willie's almost back to normal again, aside from being exhausted and anaemic. "Mmm?" 09:11 <banana> "Naturally they'll be expecting you to treat the help poorly. Seen and not heard, as befits their station. Dressed down at the slightest indication that the masters might have made an unwise decision." 09:11 <tom> Is the door unlocked yet? 09:13 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I think there are multiple possible angles to take that dynamic, but it does bear thinking about. Bob, what do you think? Where would you feel most comfortable? What kind of terrible boss should I be? The too-familiar one? The infantilizing one? The tyrant?" 09:13 <VoxPVoxD> "How would you like me to refer to you?" 09:14 <tom> Yep, he's crying. 09:14 <VoxPVoxD> Oh no. 09:14 <VoxPVoxD> "Bob..." 09:14 <banana> Richard: "Mm. If the whole thing revolves around deceiving them, it would be better to fake that." 09:14 <tom> He waves her off. 09:14 <VoxPVoxD> She reaches a hand out. Does he recoil? 09:14 <tom> "I'm fine, it's just.. I haven't taken D-AMP in like a month." 09:15 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Is that-- do you need a doctor?" 09:15 <tom> "Three months." 09:15 <tom> "Nah I'm good. Was trying to quit anyway. You get like this sometimes." 09:15 <tom> "It's the ups and downs. Ambien helps." 09:15 <banana> Richard shuts up again, but Willie's starting to realise how angry he is. 09:16 <VoxPVoxD> At her? 09:16 <banana> Well, Bob's not being very professional, but that wasn't what got him out of bed. 09:17 <tom> Shit. Shit! Gotta get a grip! 09:17 <tom> Bob stretches, does his best to pretend everything that happened before this didn't just happen. 09:17 <VoxPVoxD> If Richard wants to say something, he can say something. Otherwise, it's not her concern. 09:17 <tom> He starts by rubbing his eyes and retrieving his glasses. 09:19 <tom> "What were you saying?" 09:22 <VoxPVoxD> Willie looks away from Haldane after a moment, back to Bob. "We need an idea of what dynamic we're going to project." 09:23 <tom> "Boss seems fine. I'll be the hired muscle." 09:23 <tom> "I'll try to look bored." 09:23 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Are you going to be okay? Physically?" 09:23 <tom> "Yeah." 09:25 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Okay. What else do you need from me?" 09:25 <tom> He shakes his head. 09:26 <banana> Richard: "The address, please. In case we don't hear back." 09:26 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Inchcape Productions. At <address>." 09:26 <tom> A subtle change is working its way down his body. The shakes are gone. He looks cold. 09:28 <banana> "Thank you." Richard takes it down: No. 1 The Close, Salford M6 5JE. 09:32 <VoxPVoxD> There's a lengthy silence where the three of them just sit at the table, still the only light on in the box. "I'm sorry, Bob. I was very hurt, and it's been... a trying several days. But once again I failed you, and our friendship. I reached out to you for help and I made you feel small." 09:32 <VoxPVoxD> Being mad at Richard feels a lot easier than being mad at Bob. 09:33 <tom> Bob doesn't say anything for a real long time. His mouth works itself into a couple shapes in the interim. He shakes his head. "No, no.... nah." 09:33 <tom> 'It's on me." 09:34 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Neither of our finest hours, perhaps." 09:34 <tom> "I just don't wanna have to be scared for two people." 09:34 <tom> "That's all." 09:35 <tom> Speak for yourself! I'm just great! 09:36 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I understand. And I know how this is going to sound, but: I don't think you have to be scared for me. The vampires are... they're gangsters, essentially. That's roughly how it was explained to me. And gangsters only hurt people when they think they have to." 09:37 <VoxPVoxD> "Sergio... means well. Sergio cares. Very deeply." 09:37 <tom> "Yeah, like Badawi's friends," he chokes. 09:38 <VoxPVoxD> "It's not going to be like that." 09:38 <tom> "I hope not, I don't have any dental insurance." 09:38 <tom> That's.. a joke. A joke that normal people make in normal conversations, where everyone is being normal. 09:39 <VoxPVoxD> "With your drone and your weapons, you will be well-prepared to get us out if you sense danger. And with you at my back I will feel very safe indeed." 09:39 <banana> Richard takes notes in Pitman shorthand, which is no longer a useful skill. He found it interesting to study and there's a certain thrill of having something like a code in plain sight. 09:39 <VoxPVoxD> "But promise me you'll be physically well tonight. I will find another night, another way, if you need it." 09:40 <tom> "I can manage." This is the best he'll be, really, if he can't get substitutes. Just downhill from here. 09:40 <banana> She was being judged, he writes. Betrayed by the only man who might have understood this situation. And he was being put in a box. Reduced to what she needed of him. For all that one of those feels more.. for some reason.. well, what can he do about it? 09:41 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Does Mari know?" 09:42 <tom> "She will when she wakes up and I tell her so he doesn't have to run all those dumb blood tests she was gonna do." 09:42 <tom> she* 09:42 <VoxPVoxD> Willie stands up. She's gonna go in for a tight hug, if Bob lets her. 09:43 <tom> Bob just completely ragdolls in her arms, but managed to kind of squeeze her on the back a bit before they seperate. 09:43 <tom> "Get some sleep before the meeting, alright?" 09:43 <VoxPVoxD> She holds him a bit before she does. "You too." 09:43 <VoxPVoxD> To Richard: "Do you think he's earned his freedom, Warden?" 09:43 <tom> He turns and will just completely eat shit on the Greybox door if Richard hasn't already unlocked it. 09:43 <tom> Because baby, he is outta here. 09:44 <banana> Haldane: "Yes, not a problem." He looks like a man with regrets, now that the's coffee's circulated. 09:45 <VoxPVoxD> Once they're alone, she collapses back at the table. "Go ahead," she says. 09:45 <banana> "Having passed the heat of the moment?" 09:45 <VoxPVoxD> "For the moment." 09:45 <VoxPVoxD> "I'll be abstaining from the coffee, I can tell you that much." 09:48 <banana> Richard hesitates, but then: "None of us know each other that well, yet. However, at least in your case as the field team, you've been forced to rely on each other in high pressure situations." 09:49 <banana> "It seems to me that we've made assumptions about each other and begun forming unduly strong mental images. Warped mirrors subject to shattering correction." 09:49 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Such as?" 09:53 <banana> Haldane: "Bob's image of an girl that needs to be protected. On a pedestal, undefiled. Your image of a sad, safe soldier who'll provide support upon request. My image of a woman who can shape others to her needs, forming extensions of her own will." 09:54 <banana> He closes the notepad. 09:55 <VoxPVoxD> Willie sighs heavily. "I really cocked it up.... what would you have done?" 09:57 <banana> "Er. To be honest it's really difficult to imagine I'd ever be in that situation." 09:58 <banana> "And, therefore, would not possess the tools to deal with it." 09:58 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Whereas I was well equipped. I've got the scalpel, the corkscrew, the pliers, the jumper cables..." 09:59 <VoxPVoxD> Speaking of dark jokes. 09:59 <VoxPVoxD> "Candidly," she says. "The reason I feel confident about the meeting tonight is that this is a milieu in which I do very well." 10:00 <VoxPVoxD> "But I should not have taken Bob for granted." 10:02 <banana> Richard: "Given the danger, that's a very good thing. You're going to go in there with them thinking you're a naif or a candidate, and come out having offered to hunt their kind. It will take chutzpah." 10:02 <banana> "And rest." 10:03 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "Yes. Very wise, Mr. Haldane. And you, too." 10:03 <VoxPVoxD> She hasn't taken a sick day since she moved. Today's the day... just as tonight's the night. 10:05 <banana> There's no way Richard's going back to sleep after that vision on waking. 10:05 <banana> It's barely worth asking. "Do your abilities.. maybe Aaron Aster's.. extend to dream-interpretation?" 10:06 <VoxPVoxD> Willie: "I've never tried." 10:06 <VoxPVoxD> "Maybe? The Blood is diverse in its application. But without proper tutelage I don't know how to cultivate it." 10:07 <banana> "Understood. I'll let you know if we come across any freelance tutors." 10:07 <VoxPVoxD> Sincerely: "Thank you. I would appreciate that very much." 10:11 <banana> One thing to do today: set up another group debriefing. At some daylit hour.