...when good men do nothing

[kateohara]

Monday, around 5pmIt's a cool, breezy late afternoon when I walk to the library. Main Street is still busy as the last voters cast their ballots. I feel a little nervous, but also optimistic, about this evening. I called in on Hermia on Saturday in my lunch break, and she seemed very eager for us to have the meeting, so I was glad. I have

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[a_cheval]

Ridden out to Oakridge and back today. Only got back a half hour ago and I've tried to neaten myself up but there ain't a whole lot you can do dunking your head in the horse trough. Had to vote real quick on my way here, and I still got a bit of a grin 'bout it on me, cause I ain't done nothing like that before. Was sorta nervous, like folk'd tell, but it's only making a mark and I ain't stupid. Mostly.

Boku weren't being Boku at the barbeque, so that was sorta weird, and I kept blushing talking to him when he was Koneko, but it weren't for long, nor half so bad as I reckoned it might be, and I liked seeing Miss Kaeli and loads of others there too. Didn't hang around ages, admittedly, but still. Never said a time for me to come, so I come over pretty fast. reckon maybe I'll go through the library stead of straight up to him, just cause I ain't been in a while. Well. Few days.

Spot Miss O'Hara straight off, sitting at one of the tables, and figure I'll say hello. "Afternoon Miss O'Hara," I start, ducking my head to her. "Hope you're well, I-" Oh god it's that cat what talks. "Um. P-pleased to see you too, again." Just stepped in the damn door and I'm out of my depth.

[bakeneko_excolo]

I am in the back of the stacks when I hear the door open. I have found that when I am stuck in the project, Lydia will often shift a book if I am near it to assist. I hear Chester speak to someone and decide to avoid him for now and begin to route back to the inner staircase.

Hearing Luke's voice I grin, I had not expected him so soon. I swiftly turn and find not only Luke speaking with Chester but Miss Kate. "Kon ban wa Chester-chan, Kate-san." I walk over and smile at Luke, "Luke-kun."

"Luke-kun was to meet me, but the library may close soon. May I assist you in finding anything, Kate-san?" Lydia can lock up after herself, but I do try and help others when Hermia is not at work.

[kateohara]

"Hey, Doll! howszit goin'?" I look down to see Chester looking at me. It is still very strange, that gravelly voice coming from a white cat.

"Well, I would prefer you didn't call me doll," I say, "but I am quite well, thank you. Are you here for the meeting, or just passing by?" The idea of a cat sitting in on a meeting about fighting gods is quite surreal, but I suppose it's no more odd than anything else that's happened lately...

Then Luke arrives.

"Hello, Luke," I say, smiling. "It's good to see you." Then Boku arrives, and he looks very pleased to see his friend, which is nice.

"Luke-kun was to meet me, but the library may close soon. May I assist you in finding anything, Kate-san?"

"Oh," I say, "I am here to meet a few people. Hermia included. I am sure she is around," I say, looking about. "We're..." I pause, because I'm not sure how much Boku knows about this town's oddness. "We're here to talk about some of the strange things that have happened lately, and what we can do about them."

[a_cheval]

I know I just seen him saturday (or yesterday or.. whatever) but I still can't help grinning soon as I see Boku. And course he offers to help her, cause he's real good like that, specially when folks don't know so much as him, which is most of the time, probably, just cause he's been round so long. But she don't seem to be here for the books. Oh, I am here to meet a few people. Hermia included. I am sure she is around. We're..." She sorta gives him a bit of a look, but she's always real polite, Miss Kate, and you can't hardly tell at all. "We're here to talk about some of the strange things that have happened lately, and what we can do about them."

Bite my lip a bit and glance at Boku, cause I'm s'posed to be here seeing him and not talking to folk about weird stuff, which, frankly, I've had about enough of, but... well maybe that's sorta the point. "Um. I reckon I might like to sit in on that miss, if you're willing," I say, and I blush a bit cause usually it ain't polite to just invite yourself to stuff. Only this, right, this is the sorta thing that's important, these days, I reckon. "Um, both of you," I add quickly, cause I dunno if maybe Chester's part of it too, and I don't want to be rude or nothing.

[chester_excolo]

Before Kate can answer, two more folks show up. The two young men from the party. Well one young man and one cat-shifter. Luke I think his name was, is clearly not good at dealing with things like me. He greets me though rather than ignoring me like Liam did. and Boku greets me very pleasantly indeed though if I am not mistaken there is a subtle insult in being addressed as Chester-chan.

Still I reply to everyone in turn. I also settle myself on a chair near Kate. If we're gonna have meeting with me participating I'm not gonna be standing around on the floor at everyone's feet.too easy to be ignored or kicked or somethin'. Kate says,Well, I would prefer you didn't call me doll," I say, "but I am quite well, thank you. Are you here for the meeting, or just passing by?

"Here for the meeting. Hermia told me of it. And it's a pleasure to see you again too, Luke an Boku."

[hermia_sophia]

Just - one - more -

There!

I balance the stack of books carefully, making sure to keep my back very straight and my chin up to see over the top. Oh, if my governess could only see me now, with a stack of books in my arms instead of on my head! But no, I am drawing on my Athenian education in an entirely different way today. And if this is not a thoroughly Excolo sort of day, I don't know what is. Casting my first vote at lunchtime, and holding a research party on gods and monsters before dinner.

I was in favor of Kate's idea even before she was finished telling me about it. I've spent all afternoon pulling books from the stacks, even making a few notes of my own on what I've learned and what I can remember from my Athenian upbringing

I can hear several people out in the main area already - no, several people and one cat. I hope Kate has already met Chester...

"Oh. I am here to meet a few people. Hermia included. I am sure she is around,"

"I'll be right with you!" I call over the top of the pile of books, as I come out of the stacks.

Luke and Boku both! And still grinning happily - oh, that's a lovely sight! And just Chester and Kate, so far. Well, I'm sure there will be others. And Kate trying to explain to both of them...

"We're...We're here to talk about some of the strange things that have happened lately, and what we can do about them."

"That's right," I say. Oh dear gods, this is heavy! I drop it down onto the nearest table with a gasp, and a slightly louder thump than I had intended. "Sorry. Er. Thank you for coming. It's very good to see you again."

[bakeneko_excolo]

"We're here to talk about some of the strange things that have happened lately, and what we can do about them." I nod when Kate brings up the oddness of Excolo. After all, I just greeted a talking cat, and she is not aware of my own strangeness. Luke offers to join, of course he would given his caring soul. I smile and pull out chairs for us both. Perhaps my project will assist...

Hermia appears from the stacks with a tower of books just as I am nodding in response to Chester's greeting. I could have sworn I heard no one in the library. Arching a look at the main desk, I wonder just how big Lydia is, and where she routes me at times. "It is pleasant to see you again, Hermia-san. Kate-san, I am aware that there are many things in town that are not always friendly to people. Is this the particular focus of the meeting? Or are we talking of all supernatural phenomena?" I nod my head at the talking cat and grin.

[kateohara]

Suddenly the library seems a lot busier. Hermia emerges with a great pile of books.

"It is pleasant to see you again, Hermia-san. Kate-san, I am aware that there are many things in town that are not always friendly to people. Is this the particular focus of the meeting? Or are we talking of all supernatural phenomena?"

I notice Boku's nod and smile at Chester, and I laugh.

"Oh, no. There are many supernatural things that seem very friendly," I say, smiling at Chester and patting his head. "We are a bit concerned about the - well, the gods in town," I say, but luckily Boku and Luke don't look surprised. Good; I don't have to explain it to them, because I am really not sure I could. "I was talking with some friends last week, and we decided we need to pool our resources so that we feel less... Well, less like victims." I smile at Luke and add: "and of course you're welcome, Luke. We need all the friends we can get." I look at Hermia. "It looks like you have already started working, Hermia! Can I help with any of those?"

[a_cheval]

Hermia comes bustling up then, and she don't look upset or nothing 'bout the duel, but then sometimes folk don't look upset on the outside, and that's just how it is. "Sorry. Er. Thank you for coming. It's very good to see you again." Nod and say hey to her, and I'm wondering if maybe she organised the whole thing, then? "You too, Miss Hermia."

Have to look away from Boku grinning at Chester like that cause it sorta makes me want to laugh, and I don't want to be mean, even if I listen careful like to what Miss Kate says. Offers to help Hermia with her books too but it ain't polite to let a woman go round carrying stuff so I nip over before she has to get up, and carry 'em over. Then I settle next to Boku and I ain't blushing even a bit cause he pulled a chair out for me, cause that'd be silly. You ain't a girl, Luke, bloody hell. "We are a bit concerned about the - well, the gods in town," she says, and frankly I reckon she's got cause. And I start to think with some of 'em anyway and then I stop myself. Ain't no need to make excuses for him no more. "I was talking with some friends last week, and we decided we need to pool our resources so that we feel less... Well, less like victims."

"Right. And I- I don't reckon it's even just that," I say, thinking of Johnny. "Cause sometimes they ain't going after folk or nothing. 's just how other folk get caught up when they're fighting, and... all sorts." Smile at her a bit cause it's real nice of her making me feel welcome like that even if it sounds like they all know a good deal more about it than me. Well. Maybe not, no more.

[chester_excolo]

Boku asks, I am aware that there are many things in town that are not always friendly to people. Is this the particular focus of the meeting? Or are we talking of all supernatural phenomena? He nods in my direction. That's a good question. I eagerly wait for the answer.
Oh, no. There are many supernatural things that seem very friendly,We are a bit concerned about the - well, the gods in town, Kate laughs and pats my head. I duck my head but do not scratch or bite her because I believe she meant well. but ah! an out, a reason to move away from future head pattings.

and there is Hermia! I can't help it, my ears perk up a bit when she arrives. Greets us by thanking us for coming. I get up and go over to wind about her ankles when she sets the books down.

I was talking with some friends last week, and we decided we need to pool our resources so that we feel less... Well, less like victims.

Ah, so today is about what to do about the gods situation! If Mab isn't on the invite list I will have to make sure she hears about this.

Kate invites Luke an Boku to join us and chairs are pulled up.Right. And I- I don't reckon it's even just that," I say, thinking of Johnny. "Cause sometimes they ain't going after folk or nothing. 's just how other folk get caught up when they're fighting, and... all sorts. Luke says. i wonder what he knows of the gods in flesh?

I claim a chair next to Hermia and curl up on it. "So. How many more people are we expectin'?"

[hermia_sophia]

I can't help smiling a bit to see how eager Chester is to jump down towards me, and then again a bit more when I feel his reassuring warmth around my feet. "Hello, Chester," I murmur. "Good to see you." Luke comes over too, jumping in to help with the books even though Kate's already offered.

"Oh, thank you, Luke - here, can you bring these over, please?" All the books in English, first, I decide, passing those over to Luke - we'll see who else knows any other languages after we've sorted these out. "Here, Kate, I think this will be a good start," I put in, before she starts explaining the meeting. I hope Boku has managed to find some books as well - I know there are some in Japanese, but I wouldn't even begin to know how to find the right ones.

"Right. And I- I don't reckon it's even just that," I say, thinking of Johnny. "Cause sometimes they ain't going after folk or nothing. 's just how other folk get caught up when they're fighting, and... all sorts."

"That's exactly it, Luke. Even when the gods aren't trying to cause any problems for humans, but just quarreling amongst themselves - or even when they're simply going about their own business, sometimes - they're so powerful, and their actions can have such large effects, that their conflicts can spill over into our world." All the great stories of the gods that I read as a child, all of the ancient heroes - that's how they all start. First the gods fight, and then humans get drawn into it, whether they wish it or not...

"And...we need to figure out how to protect ourselves from that."

How many of Ares' quarrels spilled over onto Luke? I find myself wondering. Is that why he left him? I'm glad he's away from it now...

"So. How many more people are we expectin'?"

"A few more than this, I believe? Kate?" I settle into a chair - and Chester takes his own. He chooses his own place, as always...

[kateohara]

"Let's see," I say, helping Hermia put books into different piles, and then I sit back down in my chair. "I spoke about the idea initially with Glass, Reed and Tess - Tess Thiess, if you haven't met her; I know she hasn't been in town long. I mentioned this to Kaeli Whyte when I saw her at a barbecue this weekend," I continue. "I don't know if she'll bring Cain with her or not. I left word at the abbey, too, to see if they could spare someone to come. So hopefully there will be a few of us." I smile hopefully and start looking at the spines of the books Hermia has brought out. Goodness, there are a lot of strange titles...

[bakeneko_excolo]

I nod towards the new arrivals and look through the books. There is a few good japanese books. But one is a cookbook, how odd. Reviewing it, I see that it has a cooking god mentioned, but I set it to the side. I see at least two that Lydia has written based on my project. It is interesting to see what she has done with the data.

I contemplate going for my maps, but that is more overall data patterns than specifics of protections against deities. Instead, I look at the two apparent leaders, Kate and Hermia and ask, "How is the meeting to be structured? Shall we meet regularly to convey warnings and advice? And what sort of protection are we discussing?" Unfortunately some deities do not respond well to wardings. I think of the battered body of the god of black and blue we left in the woods and grimace.

[glass_beddau]

Show up and folk are already quietly collecting. Kaeli's something of a surprise, but I suppose she's improved since tormenting the dead at Tez's drunken behest--

--well, can't have gotten worse, at any rate, if it is her. I shake the thoughts off and nod to Kate and Hermia as I set my books down on the front desk and stroll over.

"Afternoon," I say mildly, glancing around the table, coming in time to catch the Oriental man's mention of manner of warding. "Lacking a manner of banishing them from Excolo entire, warding'd suit me."

[chester_excolo]

More and more people arrive. And I know almost all of them. The only one I don't know is the Redhead. She kisses Cain on the cheek and sits next him though. Must be his girlfriend. The one he was so worried about the day we talked by the river. Looks pretty enough and she seems to have healed up all right from whatever it was.

Reed gives me a nods as she takes a chair and just watches everyone else. i nod back but keep my silence. I do that for anyone who notices me but hold my tongue for now. I'll save it for when I got something besides hello to say. I admit i'm a little reluctant to give up this chair right now, and if we're not full yet i risk losing to some human just because they wouldn't think that it might already have been claimed.

[kateohara]

[cont below]