mental link: day 34

[erbier]

[ It is actually quite late when Ilde's soft voice moves through the hosts, her scent of smoke and earth. She is at a club somewhere deep in the city, dazzled by noise and light, something you are free to establish if you look for it. ]

( It has been suggested to me by a hacker named Y that I throw a concert to lure our bombers out again. )

[ This part is forthright, a statement of fact with no value attachment to it. ]

( I believe she is questioning who I really am. If I refuse this idea, I may encourage that. )

[ This may not be strictly true, but it is how Ilde has perceived their conversation. ]

( She seems to know something, but is it worth losing my guise? If not, how am I to refuse this suggestion and maintain it. I do not know if she is a part of the group who contacted us before. She may already know I am false and this is all a game. )


OOC: link & all threadjacking here very much encouraged!

Comments

[erbier]

( It seems rather elaborate, I would need a great deal of support. )

[ Also she doesn't really want to do it. ]

[snaphiss]

( But would a failure be taken as a break in identity, or a false weakness we could use to our advantage? )

( We could put on a bad show and present a front of vulnerability and disorganization to draw them out. A good performance isn't the goal; no one cares about that. No one of any substance, anyway. )

[erbier]

( If I told her I would pursue it, I would have a reason to contact her again. I could leave this interaction more gracefully. )

[snaphiss]

( Do you want to be rid of her entirely? She could suspect something. )

[...hm. Maybe Ilde doesn't have the chops to handle this yet.]

( I could question her. )

[erbier]

( All I want is to find who killed my broodmate. )

[ And kill them. That's all she wants. However they can achieve that, she is satisfied. ]

[adamance]

( Our Enemy is who killed your broodmate. Whoever set the bomb is just their tool in this world. )

[Big picture!]

[erbier]

( My feelings are the same. )

[adamance]

( I realize that, but if we're to succeed here and elsewhere, we'll need to see things from a broader perspective. No one can be faulted for a personal attachment. ) [Except Lexa definitely faults everyone and is concealing that. She just knows that's not the thing to say.] ( But we need to remember our overall mission here first.

And then take blood where blood is due. )

[erbier]

( This mission feels futile. )

[ A statement of more depth than merely its words. Finding this bomber feels like something which can actually be accomplished, something to ease her drifting helplessness, growing emptiness and exhaustion on this indolent world. And perhaps if she's lucky, finding them will contribute to the goal, but honestly she cares little either way. ]

[adamance]

( If we are still here, then we have not failed. Do not lose heart. )

[erbier]

( We have not failed yet, but how much longer do we wander blindly around this city. )

[adamance]

( We are not blind. )

[erbier]

( Aren't we? Trying to change the fate of a world that we barely know. )

[adamance]

( It seems as if you want me to tell you "yes" so that you can give up.

I won't do that. )

[erbier]

( I would never expect that from you. )

[ She understands enough about the commander to know that. ]

( But neither will my misgivings be placated by your determination. )

[snaphiss]

( Do you think this woman has that information? )

[erbier]

( She flirts with it while saying nothing concrete. It may be only to impress me, I cannot tell with these people. )

[ She hates Concordians... ]

[snaphiss]

( I should accompany you the next time you meet with her. )

[erbier]

[ Oh my god senpai show me how it's done, Ilde isn't even mad. ]

( I may be able to accomplish that goal. )

[snaphiss]

[ah kouhai...]

( That should be the first step. If she's suspicious to me as well, we'll plan from there. )

[erbier]

( Very well, I will try delay her for another meeting. Thank you for your advice, Mara. )

[snaphiss]

( Of course. Let me know in advance so I can work on a proper cover story. )

[erbier]

[ 'Of course' and yet no one else has actually offered her any useful advice, merely moralized about the good of the many. ]

( Would it be useful to continue to refer to you as a journalist? )

[ It wouldn't be strange for 'Saffron' to have a relationship with one. ]

[snaphiss]

( You are some kind of public figure. We can say I'm writing something about your day to day life. )

[erbier]

( I understand. I should not keep her waiting much longer, I will meet with you soon. )