video and private text

[captain_by_the_book]

[public video]

I take it you have all received one of these mysterious tickets.

[ Cassian holds up his ticket. ]

I know they were delivered to my house easily bypassing all our security systems. With it just being an envelope, at least we didn't have a bomb scare this time.

I would like to hear your theories, no matter how far-fetched.


[private text to Attleton Deputies, in the aftermath of Marco's flaming video]

Attleton team please take note: if any of you EVER pull a stunt such as Everglade's Deputy Marco I'm going to give you cement shoes myself. I don't care for reasons or excuses or your feelings. The self-control to keep from terrorizing your own city is the bare minimum of qualifications for this job.

I know you're better than that. I trust you. You did well when K-2SO was dead and I was out of commission. I'm just saying this to make clear that standards of what is permissible haven't changed in Attleton.

Come to my office at your convenience, I have an extra task for all of you.


[action, Maribelle's office, Everglade]

[ There is also a delivery of brownies, from the stash in the Attleton Guardian's office, delivered to Maribelle's office.

A short note accompanies the treat, saying]
Thank you for the files
Andor

Comments

[video]

[shatterhearting]

[She's not been here long enough to have any far reaching theories, but she WAS bothered by the sudden appearance of the ticket, in the place she's currently calling home, without her permission or knowledge.]

Tell me, do things like this happen often? I have listened to the chatter through these devices, I have heard much chaos.

[It's hard to filter through what is important and what is not. Fran has often felt tempted to leave it somewhere covered by anything to muffle the messages.]

video;

[unhappy]

A microscopic 3-D printer.

[ Look, he said far-fetched. ]

[Video]

[grizzly_teatime]

I suspect it's some sort of part invitation, perhaps for some sort of experiment.

[Maribelle is calmly sipping her tea while listening to an old fashion vinyl record play mozart's violin concerto 5. Cassian's brownies are sitting nearby her tea set.]

Hopefully it isn't something that will be harmful, but I've always been a believer of hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.

private video

[captain_by_the_book]

[ How classy. Unfortunately mostly lost on the man from outer space who lacks the cultural references to know it's classy. But he does take note of his brownies with some satisfaction. ]

I agree. I have to admit right now I'm most disturbed by the ease with which our security measures were bypassed. Not that it hasn't been the same before but... It never gets more pleasant, does it?

Re: video;

[captain_by_the_book]

[ That earns her an amused snort. ]

I wish.

[captain_by_the_book]

Unfortunately... yes.

[ He grimaces in faint distaste as he recalls past surprises, sitting up straighter as he tries to sort all that in his mind. ]

The incident this most reminds me of are the large eggs that showed up in our homes last spring. Same procedure, just showed up, we couldn't get rid of them. The contents turned out to be mostly harmless, pokemon hatched from them. This invitation... It could be harmless, but if in doubt I bet on sinister.

private video

[grizzly_teatime]

[That's okay, Maribelle plays it more for calming herself and the enjoyment rather than trying to impress people with her classiness. Perhaps if given the time, she'll even be able to play some violin for him and get him to appreciate the finer things in life.]

No... no it doesn't. I doubt there's very much any measure of security would be able to do in regards to this sort of thing, be it technological or magical. Otherwise I'd suggest a few magical means to help implement your security systems.

[Although that would likely require curses, which was a form of magic Maribelle didn't consider herself all that proficient in.]

What sort of emergency medical procedures do you have in place in Attleton?

[shatterhearting]

It is wise to hold suspicion.

[She does not feel generous enough to assume the tickets are benign, herself.]

Unfortunate, that it is not unheard of for a place that whisks us away without permission to inflict other risks upon us. Perhaps if we are in luck they will prove to be harmless. They are simply paper.

[but they probably represent something else, larger on the horizon.]

[mother_of_monsters]

I got one too! And I think Colette did as well. It's weird that it just showed up. Perhaps it's magic.

video;

[unhappy]

Can you prove it wrong?

Re: video;

[captain_by_the_book]

Not yet, no. We will all have to wait for that.

Probably for us to die a gruesome death.

[captain_by_the_book]

Weird and disturbing. I suspect it's magic, I've never heard of technology which could do such a thing.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ He looks down at the ticket in his hands, lips twisting in distaste as his mind provides him with a long list of worst-case scenarios. ]

Nothing that can handle whatever this could lead to, I'm afraid. We're well-prepared for regular emergencies and the mayor has been putting more funds into emergency relief to improve what we have. The Guardian's office has an on-call magical healer to help, Orihime Inoue.

The last time all of Attleton was invited someplace it was that circus which forced people into games from harmless up to maiming them and ended with a battle to the death.

[captain_by_the_book]

There is that, yes. Last year the consensus on our gifts had been dragon eggs. It was disconcerting.

[ Yeah, and first thing Cassian had done was to throw his out of the window while hollering about bombs. Not his best moment. ]

My hope is that these invitations will be familiar to someone, that it resembles something they know from their own world.

[grizzly_teatime]

Ah, Orihime is a fine young woman. I've worked with her before, though not medically mind you.

[That was back when Maribelle had her own little cafe.]

I ask because when it comes to battle I was a front line healer during the war, so my skills are more suited to emergency situations rather than mundane stomach cramps. If Everglade is effected less than Attlleton, I am willing to offer whatever aid I can if there are any injuries.

[shatterhearting]

Dragon eggs as a gift? [That could have been a disaster, should the dragons prove to be violent or worse.]

Unfortunately, it is not something I recognize from Ivalice. [in case he wondered, though she's been pretty clear about being clueless herself.] It would be convenient if the solution was that easy.

I have my doubts that we will learn anything until we are supposed to. But it would not do to sit idly by. Should I come across any information I will be sure to share it. [She pauses,leaning in closer to the video.]

Your name?

Re: video;

[unhappy]

You're so optimistic, Cassian.

Re: video;

[captain_by_the_book]

You'd enjoy to watch people die a gruesome death.

[mother_of_monsters]

The thing is...it's polite magic. Usually this place pulls us into shenanigans out of the blue. It doesn't invite us first. Like we have an option to refuse.

Why the change, I wonder.

[captain_by_the_book]

Thank you. I won't turn down your help.

[ Especially since he trusts her to actually be of help and follow orders. ]

If this becomes a medical emergency I'll contact you. I'm sure you can imagine Attleton doesn't have a wealth of magical healers.

[ He leans back, regarding her curiously. ]

That strikes me as an odd combination, healer, lawyer, soldier...

video;

[unhappy]

Hmm... nah. I'm a doer not a watcher.

[grizzly_teatime]

I am a noblewoman of Ylisse dear Cassian. From a young age I was taught the clerical arts of healing so that I might serve my lord if war ever came to our kingdom, which it did on more than one occasion. I was close friends to the crown prince and princess of our kingdom, so it was only natural that I learned my best to defend them.

[She pauses... tapping her chin in thought at the best way to explain further.]

My time learning the ways of the law and the courts of our kingdom is... not so far fetched when you take those facts into consideration now is it? Those of nobility oftentimes dabble here and there, but the law of the land is obviously something to take note of when you rub elbows with the law makers.

[There's quite a bit she's not telling him... quite a lot actually, but it's a rather personal subject.]

Re: video;

[captain_by_the_book]

I could have done without that reminder.

[captain_by_the_book]

To stir up unrest? Observe how we respond? Which of us will consider it a threat and which will not? I can't see the point of it unless it's a psychological experiment.

[video]

[fierybluebird]

Invitation to a slave auction.

[.... You asked.]