38. The stage is set [Voice]

[vile_queen]

I have been given the location and time of the meeting. Those who have already spoken to me of their wish to attend, I am transmitting the coordinates and time to your PCD. Please do not share them. I am responsible for every attendee

Comments

[cornered_circle]

Like a board meeting? ... Are we a company now?

[vile_queen]

We are not a company. There are far too many divides for us to be a cohesive unit. Consider this a meeting of the United Nations.

[cornered_circle]

Well, a bit of variety ain't bad. So we're nations, then? I've never been a nation before.

Will there be complementary gifts?

[vile_queen]

...Yes. We will be nations.

I believe information will be the gift of the day, though the trick will be to gather more than they do.

[cornered_circle]

Do we get to pick our own flags?

How much information do any of us have? Hard t'not come out on top if we don't 'ave anything to begin with.

[vile_queen]

You may choose whichever flag you wish. Are you particularly fond of one?

I do not know what they may wish. But they would not agree to this if they did not see a way to gain from it as well.

[cornered_circle]

There's a lot to pick from! I think there was one with a lotta snakes stuck on it...

Not much t'gain from us out here. 'Less they just want to make sure of that.

[vile_queen]

Do you refer to the flag of Martinique? I cannot recall others with many snakes upon them.

Quite.

[cornered_circle]

Yes! Surprised you'd 'eard of it. Are you a flag-collector?

Or if they just want to capture up th' people most likely t'take an interest in them.

[vile_queen]

I collect ...things from various countries. It is my business to have heard of them, small or large.

Which is why we are not going in unprepared, just in case.

[cornered_circle]

Like souvenir t-shirts and mugs?

Everyone can really be defended? What if they have guns and auto-harpoons?

[vile_queen]

Like landmarks and items of cultural significance.

Auto-harpoons? [There's a pause. Congratulations, you've surprised Carmen.] Surely they would not use them against things that can evade more skillfully than whales.

[cornered_circle]

Oh. [Pauses] Y'must have an awfully large closet to store landmarks.

They're more like a distraction technique. You start paying too much attention to the 'arpoons, and askin' questions about why someone would bring somethin' like that out with no sealife in sight, an' then a sniper gets you.

[vile_queen]

I... Landmarks would not fit into a closet.

I see. If they bring harpoons, we will then look for snipers.

[cornered_circle]

So where do you keep 'em?

Just don't look too hard, or they'll hit you with the harpoons! They switch things up like that.

[vile_queen]

It was more the taking than keeping. But I did have a secret base.

It should be fairly simple to continue to dodge the harpoons as well.