50. the fall out starts.

[deepdowndark]

[Private to Sveta]

Svetlana.

Get me out of the light. Please, get me out of the light. Take me to zero, I'm sure it's what Narvin would want, please. Take me there.

Turn the lights off.

[pause. Massive pause.]

I need you to return the favour.

[Private to Narvin]

[space. Pause. space]

[Private to Elric]You must pay for what you did

Comments

Private - Elric can have picked up the Cube at some point, unless you want it with someone else?

[blackbladebitch]

I shall certainly pay for it, along with all of my other sins.

Describe the Cube.

Re: Private - that's a-okay with me. :D Narvin should get it eventually.

[deepdowndark]

It's a cube. Don't play dumb.

Re: Private

[blackbladebitch]

I am not "playing dumb." I merely wish to confirm that this object I have is indeed your Cube, or merely a trinket without purpose.

Re: Private

[deepdowndark]

It is made entirely of metal, and indestructible. And cube shaped.

So you have it.

Return it. It is my property.

spam

[greatlightother]

[Rather than respond, she just hurried over to where he was.]

Can you walk? [No question. No arguments. Just...getting it done.]

Re: spam

[deepdowndark]

[He nods stiffly,]

Yes.

Re: spam

[greatlightother]

Come on, then. [She reached out to help him, should he need it. She wasn't sure how well he could move around, as she didn't know what the Death Toll would be like. Or what stage it would be in.]

We'll have to go quickly. [There might be a few people who wouldn't take kindly to her taking him anywhere.]

Re: spam

[deepdowndark]

[Ardent had said it without knowing the answer, but getting to his feet, he nearly fell over, due to the stiffness and pain in his legs, but held on to her tightly, and found his feet after a moment, determined to.]

Quickly. Of course. [He didn't really want to talk.]

[Spam] Dated to while Narvin is death-tolling

[most_feared]

[Kay comes down to Zero, a small set of speakers and a recording in hand. He doesn't even speak to him when he finds his cell, he just finds a way to position the speakers safely out of reach and start playing the recording, which tells about the finding of the Kir'Shara on Vulcan and the fate of V'Las and his embassy bombing.

And if anyone down there bitches about the noise? Then Ardent will have to put up with their complaining too, but it's going to be played through until the end.]

Re: [Spam] Dated to while Narvin is death-tolling

[deepdowndark]

[Ardent sat there and listened, seeing the parallels, but doing his best to remain impassive.]

I bet you think you're clever, K. I'm not interested in what you think fits. My culture is my culture. Not human, not vulcan, and I acted within my laws and in the interest of Dwarfkind. Nothing else interests me.

[Spam]

[most_feared]

Of course it doesn't. But guess what. You're the only Dwarf here. So anything you did this time around? Was to protect your own ass. You're the only one that interests you, Ardent. [He picks up the speakers to go. He's given his warning, and Ardent has decided that he's too good for it. Or he can't yet see that it's a warning and he ought to be ready for it.]

Re: [Spam]

[deepdowndark]

[Ardent glares through the bars to K.]

A culture is more than a collection of people. It's a concept. It's an identity. It's a way of thinking and living. I have to protect that, whether it's one dwarf or a thousand. It doesn't change just because it's me, K. So go on, go away. Stop trying to read me.

Private to Ardent--Text

[timesbureaucrat]

[As soon as he gets word from Elric that Ardent is awake, Narvin writes a message.]

The axe, dwarf bread, metalworking tools, and Cube are all being confiscated. We agreed to clear, simple, reasonable conditions by which you would be allowed the weapons, and those conditions have clearly been violated.

I'm also pulling you off library work and restricting your library access. If you want books, you'll request them through me.

Re: Private to Ardent--Text

[deepdowndark]

I'd argue it wasn't breach of contract. You didn't die.

But as you wish, Narvin. I want the Cu... where did you get the Cube? It belongs in the possession of a Grag or the Low King.

Private to Ardent--Text

[timesbureaucrat]

[A bit later...after dying and after Buffy's post, in middle of death tolling...

On the contrary, was a breach of contract and your actions did result in my death, even if it wasn't immediate or direct. [Narvin will argue the fine print of the contract for as long as Ardent wants. Time Lords who engage in politics are almost Dwarf-like in their obsession with contracts, constitutions, and getting away with murder while still obeying the letter of the law.]

The Cube fell into my possession by pure chance. I didn't seek it out or steal it.

What is the meaning of the symbol you wrote? It's a mine sign, isn't it.

Re: Private to Ardent--Text

[deepdowndark]

If you died, it was by your own choice. I did not administer a fatal wound. [this could go on for days, if they can keep up with each other's bureaucratic nightmares.]

...Explain this chance, because I want to know how it got on board. Did the Admiral give it you? It should have been - should be - in nobody's possession but mine on board.

It was the sign of a man dying. [true, but so much left unsaid]

[darknessb4me]

facsismle/

talk latr

infirmary

[deepdowndark]

What happened?

[darknessb4me]

stuff