[54]

[buildstherobots]

[Phone call! To the whole town! Except the drones and the usual meddling authority figures. The call is in a moderately hushed tone, but he's easily understandable.]

So, I see that there are many new people, and you may count yourselves as lucky as you can in this place because Dist the Rose is here to take care of you all. I'm sure you've been informed as to the basics of Mayfield, but I've put together a lovely little primer for just this kind of occasion, giving you all of the details you need to bring you fully up to speed, including the most important things that have been inflicted upon us since the first of us can remember arriving here. If you would like to be informed, then come to the library to pick up a copy. If you can't find it, ask any drone where it is, they'll be able to tell you. Look for a gorgeous man with pale hair; someone as extraordinary as myself will stand out.

[And, just a little louder but no so much so that he's quite up to normal talking level.]

And be sure to pick up your free library card! Knowledge is power and all that.

[action]

[And there Dist will be, flitting about, stacking things and shelving things and generally keeping himself busy. He'll also be available to assist anyone who just so happens to be in the library themselves, though every so often he'll have to stop and sit to rest a bit, possibly get down a granola bar outside the view of the head librarian. He can't fit his chair through the door, let alone down the aisles of books, so he's walking everywhere and carrying things and with his condition this tires him out quickly.]

Comments

[Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

[Garvi looks for a gorgeous man with pale hair. With his level of appreciation of other men's beauty, this will take a while. Eventually he'll come to the huffing and puffing Dist]

"You that rose fellow?"

[Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Dist peeks out over the stack of books in his arms, most of the color drained from his face. He needs to eat something.]

Dist the Rose, yes. You're... looking for a card?

[Hey, it's a government building! Have to be careful and all that, right?]

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"That's right."

[he looks down at Dist, his craggy face not showing much.]
"read your little thing. It is quite useful. I've been passing it around to folks."

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

Oh, lovely!

[He says it just a little too loudly, starting a little and glancing over his shoulder. Yeah, he's getting trained.]

They love it, I'm sure. They love it, right?

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"I've no clue. I just hope it is helpful and informative."

[he tries to avoid showing his disappointment. This man wrote the helpful pamphlet? Well, perhaps he is an Iterator of some sort, which would at least make the spindly physique justifiable. He'd come in hopes of a leader of men and found... well, Dist.]

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

Of course it was. I'm brilliant, you know, though you may have gleaned that from the letter.

[He preens a little bit, fluffing up his feathers, as it were.]

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"Of course." [he says, keeping his expression neutral, then drops his gravelly voice lower.]

"So, what more information do you have? For example... this library card?"

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Dist drops his voice even further.]

I have plenty more information. The card? Was so I didn't get fired for making personal calls on government time, if I was heard. The librarian... has problems.

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"Let's walk and talk then. I need as thorough a briefing on the situation here so I can make a tactical evaluations and figure out what can be done to alleviate, if not solve the situation."

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Dist can't help snorting a little.]

Solve? Good luck. But I'll be right back.

[He turns to seek out the head librarian, then comes back a few moments later.]

Outside. I have fifteen minutes.

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

[he heads outside at Dist's behest.]

"Go on then, I can tell you enjoy talking."

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

Well, I have a lot to say. What do you want to know that wasn't covered in the letter?

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"Present groups looking into dealing with the situation, for one. Places or people to procure gear beyond what the present time period of what this place allows."

"Current events. That letter appeared to be a little dated."

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Hnn.]

The letter is designed to be an introduction, not a timeline.

[Now that he thinks about it, though, the revelations over December and January actually are newcomer-relevant and he should probably update the letter to say so. Not that that's going to keep him from being indignant; this is Dist, after all.]

If you must know, if you're looking for organized resistance efforts, ask for Olivier or Frederick over the phones; those two have made the most significant efforts to stir up organized rebellion, not that they've gone anywhere. There have been others; generally people stick with friends and do as best they can. With all the dronings it's hard to create any sort of militia that's worth a damn.

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"Olivier or Frederick? Can you tell me a bit more about them?"

[he chuckles]

"A militia. How quaint."

[he looks down at Dist.]

"You are helpful, you know. But you seem bitter... or even sarcastic. Why?"

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

What is that supposed to mean?! I'm not bitter!

[Yes you are, Dist. Bitter as hell.]

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"Then why are you yelling?"

[he raises a hand to forestall further indignant behavior]

"Just tell me about those two you mentioned before. I owe you quite a bit, and I will repay the favor, but I need more information first."

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Rrrgh. Dist doesn't like being silenced, but he continues after a slight growl.]

Olivier is dangerous. She was a major-general on her world, and can fight as well as anyone I've seen. In the time I've been here she's made the most effort to gather an organized resistance group; she was droned for a while but came back, and hasn't been quite as active since. She's also intolerable; the loyalty she inspires in people baffles me.

Frederick... I don't know much about him. He's a king or something, and he likes strategy over force, but he's not very good at it. People like him, though, and he's making an effort.

Everyone wants to "deal with the situation," okay? You think you can just walk in here and change everything when brilliant minds like myself have been here for a year with almost no progress? It's insulting.

[Okay, yeah, bitter. But he doesn't like being hushed, as though he were a child!]

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes it takes only a single change to utterly upset the scales, one way or another. I think I can only do what I can, which is fight, and lead, if need be. I am not trying to insult you, but I will not give up hope just because others have adjusted."

[he looks down at Dist.]

"Even a brilliant mind still needs a strong arm and a firm will to execute certain tasks. I can offer you those two things, as both payment and for the good of everyone. Don't let your pride get in the way of moving forward. There is a clear objective here."

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

I've learned that it's not so clear as "get home." I've used force; the important buildings can't be knocked over and the important people can't be physically threatened.

[Why does he feel so small? Probably a combination of a creeping helplessness that he's otherwise been able to bury by throwing himself into daily life, as well as the size advantage his companion has on him. Dist shoves his hands into his pockets, looking down at the sidewalk.]

We've tried so many things. What could you possibly have to offer?

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"When I was among the Astartes, I was a member of the Mournival. We were strategic and moral advisors for our Primarch, Warmaster Horus Lupercal. I was very specifically the naysmith, considering the consequences of our actions. My place is there was to make sure we did things for the right reasons, and never went off the path that would be best for humanity."

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[That makes Dist curl his lip.]

Do you know how many people I've heard back home talking about what's best for humanity? I don't care! I just want... I just want to go home. I want Jade, and the Professor.

...The people here think this is what's best. We don't know the details, but there was... some kind of weapon. It was used in what I guess was a war, and if Westport was any indication it destroyed everything. So they built this.

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

[he stares at Dist in disgust]

"In all of humanity's history, there is only ever war. But... this is wrong. To take us out of our own times, our own places, was wrong. I don't care what they do after we're freed, but..."

[he shakes his head.]

Re: [Action]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

I didn't say I agreed. I said that saying you want what's best is meaningless.

Re: [Action]

[lunawolves10th.livejournal.com]

"I disagree, but we're clearly very different people."