~~~ IC ~~~

::You're still on the beach ready to discuss strategy while the Pancreator finishes making his dinner::

::the doc puts on his sunblock. Wondering to himself how hard it would be to raise an army. Unit. Whatever.::

::leans against the car:: ok, Options. one, we take her by force. assuming that we can.

::nods:: ok

::winces:: Two. We find a way to make ourselves useful, and win our way into people's good graces?

two, we buy her. again, assuming we can.

Not a good idea. She might get hurt

They will likely not hurt her, as it gains them nothing.

What are you talking about? She's not being held prisoner, she's simply doing her duty to her house.

So they have told her.

I hardly think force or covert tactics or whatever is needed here.

... she's there against her will.

::clears his throat:: That's something even *I* would like to hear her say for *herself*.

I. . .

. . .really? How do you know?

Call its a hunch... ::taps his head:: a very good hunch.

Fair enough. You've had enough goin on in that noggin that I'm willing to trust your hunches.

::frowns:: I don't think we should assume either way. I think we ought to seriously consider both possibilities. And that's something I'm not sure.... ::glances around::

::shrugs::

There is also plan three, replace the noble with our friend here and they get married before the Pancreator and all in attendance.

Well. . .that presents a wrinkle.

Which is?

Simply what it is.

Who's she marrying?

I would not expect her uncle to hold her unwillingly.

That is a good point. who IS she marrying?

((Hold on. I have that name, just retrieving it))

Yes, maybe we could buy his favor.

She's marrying because her Uncle is using the grief at the destruction of her house against her.

Although, I thought that he was marring upward.

His name is Don Tyrone Maurice Augustin Castenda de Sutekh Hazat.

I'm sure he's not doing it out of spite... presumably he's trying to gain advantage for the house. Yes?

::lets out breath after long name::

He's using her to further his house.

same house, different family

Family, what ever. Its all the stupid nobility.

Is it even possible that you're wrong, An? She simply could be opening herself up to an undesirable marriage to rebuild her house. She might be sad, but willing.,

Me wrong? ... maybe...

Family.

::grin::

Better to know clearly... um. What we can do, in any given case? Rather than calculate the proabilities, then./

COme now, what is the ever presnet weakness of the nobility?

Well. . .if she's being held captive we must do something. But I absolutely will not condone violence. Enough of her families blood has been spilt. We need to find another way to help her.

the desire for Status,power and self imprtannce.

So we need to do two things. find out if she is here against her will, and find out if we can buy off her suitor.

I imagine that'd be pretty flipping expensive.

We must use these against the Hazat, making them move in the direction that we wish.

probably. but money aint everything.

::grimaces:: It can be life and death if you *don't* have it.

She doesn't want to marry this man. I know. I remember the last time they tried the marry her off.

How would you suggest we do that, Budi?

... we could kill him.

Ah, that is why we must seek out this suiter and see him for what he is and find his weakness.

::smiles:: I'm kidding.

But killing him would provide the skin graphs to make you look like him...

::exhales loudly:: I'll be party to no such.... ::looks stern, then shuts up::

Just a joke Lan.

No violence, Budi. I'm serious. And you too, An. Kidding or not.

::sighs::

::closes his eyes and nods::

I'll go many places for you, but not there.

Aaaanyway. What *sort* of advantage are they getting out of this marriage. Exactly?

I just don't know what to do. I want her out of her situation, free to choose her own path.

For that answer, I think we need to speak to ... other friendly Hazat.

Agreed. Does anyone have a nice, increadibly wealthy ally they can call upon?

Are there friendly Hazat to our cause? Does her uncle have any remaining enemies?

Perhaps we should speak to the family staff once more.

Not a bad Idea. are they allowed out of that compound?

If they do not know the exact figures about the mar... arrangement, then they can find out. Yes? Does Maria have a nurse or naddy? Someone who could pass information back and forth? Perhaps a trusted priest? A confessor or what not.

preists are occasionally bought by men like that. It might work, but it might not.

None that I know of.

::Looks at the avesti:: Did you serve her as such?

not really. and i dont know who does now either...

Without answers to these basic queries... I do not see how we are to proceed.

ok. lets go into town. we can ask there if anyone from the compound leaves it.

::nods::

((this is me assuming there is a town near the compound))

::nods::

((you mean like the town where you spent the night in a hotel.. the resort place?))

((yup))

Where is the wedding taking place, as well?

((No, no. Another town.))

I don't know. I don't know when, either.

Assuming the strike was intentional, they won't be likely to release that information.

That's a huge assumption, though.

Why? they are making it, so i think we should to. If they thought it was entirely an accident, i doubt they would be locking down to quite such an extent.

They aren't locking down. They're being sucked into a power vacuum. Unless I'm missing something? But I'm willing to ask around.

It seemed to me like they were preparing for another attack, but meybe I'm just paranoid.... just thought of a third option. What would happen if SHE got more power. Would it be possible to put HER in the drivers seat here? find her enough allies to where she could decide for herself?

::Feeling inadiquite, Budi follows behind the rest of the crowd, his eye turned to the ground while he shakes his head in answer to an unending stream of questions::

::sighs:: Is there *any* chance we can make the powers-that-be a better offer than this, Sukekhite she's marrying?

possibly.

::and generally hangs out in the back with other inadequate-feeling people::

I'm not a poor man, nor an ill connected one. I can only assume I'm not the only one here with resources?

::so... you're not driving from the beach, just leaving the car there and walking into town?::

((i thought we WERE driving))

::looks ready to be driven::

((When did we leave?))

What's the rank of who she's marrying.

((see... I saw "we should go into town" and "now we are in town" with no action connecting them))

((Allows the wind to blow through his *ahem* "hair".))

So. Are we going back to town, then?

Yuop. ::gets into the car::

::follows, eyes down cast.::

::vroooom::

::Drives impeccably well::

::rides even better::

::Sulks that he might have been wrong all this time about Maria's feelings on the subject::

::the late morning sunlight beats down into the jeep as you head into the bustling seaside town, and you drive slowly through the "strip" as people cross the street with vacationer's abandon... only somewhat muted by the tragic events a month past... which meant a bit less to the freemen at the resort than to the nobles on the bluffs::

::gets off at the local church, the largest one he can find:: I'll meet you guys in a bit. try to find out if anyone comes down form the bluff.

::there's a mission-style adobe building not too far from the center of the town, marked with the orthodox jumpcross::

Okay. Seriously, who can we ask about this gentleman we want An to displace? Guys?

Does anyone know his rank? How high he is up the noble scale?

((he's a don.. a knight... given his number of names, probably a decently powerful one, but still not baronet or higher rank))

I'm not sure. Displace? Is negotiation a complete dead end?

By displacement, I mean, put something else in his place. Not eviscerate, slay, maim, ... or the like.

... we might could give him competition.

Er, well. Someone.

I know the word displace, doctor. My question is why have not exhausted negotiation as an option? Displacing a high-ranking noble seems. . .extreme.

::raises his hands, with pointed confused look. Is clearly not making himself understood::

::Vasili, just as confused, decides to keep quiet and wait for a plan to form::

I meant, displace. As a suitor. At the altar. As a providor of some kind of perk around which this marriage deal presumably revolves?

To displace him we have three options, present a better suitor, convince him to look elsewhere or kill him. I think that we have ruled out number 3

::nods::

::takes An by the arm in an unusual show of touchy feeliness::: Gentlemen. Allow me to introduce a fine fellow, comports himself very well, in sewers and spaceports alike.

I am going to look for the local library or newpsper house and see what I can find on this Don from Sutek.

::grins and mock bows deeply::

He has friends. Lots of them. And they're all powerful, important people. And nearly as stylish as the man himself.

Where should we meet and at what time? It is now close to ... 11:00 am? Say 3, when we can take a late lunch and compare notes?

::looks to Budi:: Good idea. Maybe I'll... um. Go volunteer for a rotation at the nearest Physic Guild office, find out what... ::thinks:: Nah.

I was so close to knight hood.

::opens hs mouth as if to speak. Then shuts it. Pretty sure he didn't know that:: Maybe you should. Uh. Do something about that. You remember that vision?

::puts up his hand his thumb and first finger close together:: But of course it's hard to be seen::

::Points to the church:: Let us meet on the steps of the church when the bells toll for prayers. Then we can have lunch. Good hunting. :Budi turns and begins looking for either a library or newpaper shop::

Sounds like a plan.

::strolls out as if on cue::

::there is a newspaper stand. It also sells snorkles and flippers::

You have any plans? ::looks to An.::

::looks around for someone to ask directions to a light pulse telegraph place:: I need to send a letter to my sister.

::it is run by a grizzled beach bum with gray hair, weatherbeaten skin, and a scraver tattoo::

::nods:: I reckon I'll. Um, look around town.

::Sticks close to An.::

Hey boys. they come into town once a week for confession.

::Approach the news stand:: Morning. I'm looking for the newspaper headquarters. I need to do some research in their archives. Where would I find it?

Or.... maybe I'll come with you guys?

When?

You want to who with the what now?

I need to access some of the older papers. Almost for the last month.

::reaches under the stand and fumbles around in a crate:: hmm... the whole last month?

Well, since the spacesport event. Back to then.

::walks up and stands in line at the news stand::

Cost ya a talon an hour to read the archives... you can sit in this chair ::plops a battered beach chair next to the stand:: No clippin content without askin first

That's rather expensive, don't you think? How often is the paper published?

Every day. Twice on Saturday. I'm assumin you mean the Isabella Times.. local papers cost more since I'll have to leave the stand to get all the archives

::Pulls out his little bit of change and scraps together half a firebird.:: Is there an office, where I could sit out of the sun?

There's an awning ::fiddles with the awning so it covers the beach chair with a decent bit of shade::

Are you the publisher?

Gosh no.. but I want to direct some day

If I can not find what I'm looking for in the local paper, where is the office where I can find the main storage. ::Hands over the change::

Downtown Port Isabella. I can sell you a map for a wing. It has the location of the local holo stars' houses on it.

That is quite alright, thank you.

Suit yourself ::turns to An:: How can I help you sir?

::Takes up the first paper and begins to read::

I'm trying to find the closets place I can send a light pulse telegraph.

::whistles:: Something important come up eh?

Yeah, ::nods:: Family emergency.

Well, they can do that at the starport. They can take Reeve scrips there. I can wire it in from here, but it'll have to be cash on the barrelhead cause if you don't pay up it's my ass

::nods:: Understandable.

I think the going rate is one talon per character per jump for "in the next week sometime".. it jumps to one crest per character per jump if you want it out today

::nods:: I'll come up with a message and let you know.

::walks up to samson:: hey, you know if there are any rumors coming down from the nobles?

::thinks for a minute:: Do you have paper I can write on?

::gives a look around his stand... the look clearly conveys a sardonic "where in the world am I going to find paper in a newspaper stand?" before he pulls off a strip of newsprint and a charcoal pencil for you::

Yes, yes I know that

Hmmm. Lord Vargas Andres de Tavares had to cancel his social gathering due to the accident. Seems that most of his guess list were killed.

::takes the paper and writes a message::

nifty. y'know, sharing shows ya care. see? I'll share a wing if you share anything you know from up the hill, deal?

Depends on what you wanna know, man. You're the fuzz and all.

fair nuff. I need to know about a noble lady who is getting married off. anything you got, i'll buy.

::looks at the paper:: To the point, I guess... That'll run about 13 birds for the slow coach, 30 to get there asap.

::hands the message over with the proper payment for this day::

Sorry, 8 birds for the slow, I can never convert talons

For the fast?

No, that was right ::counts out the 30 birds, eyes slowly bugging out, then slips them all into a coin-slot lockbox:: Okay then

::to Martel:: Scuze me a sec, friend

::nods:: Thankyou. I trust it will make it there easily. ::slides him a firebird::

take yer time.

::pulls out an archaic looking radio-set with some buttons attached, begins frantic mumbled communication mixed with beeping into the headset::

It seems that Lady Dortea Lina Graciela de Acedo lost her huband in the accident and Sir Crrea Borrero de Lezama de Vera Cruz has been staying at her estate to console her.

::finishes up:: All set man, I told them to send any replies here. You wanna leave an address or just swing by tomorrow? It's still a minimum of about 12 hours to get there, assuming we hit the jump window

I'll stop by tomorrow.

::Folding the first paper back neatly:: Nothing in that issue. Mostly the dead list and who has been sleeping who whom.

:;Picks up the next issue in sequence::

::gives An a "is this guy for real?" look::

::nods::

::just kinda shakes his head and turns back to Martel:: So what was it you were wanting to know, padre?

Anything bout a lady soon to be married up on the hill.

::squints at the sun.::

More specific, man, my brain isn't what it used to be

((her name is maria, right?))

((yeah))

name o the lady is maria. she's one of the survivors of the crash. She's being married off in a month of so for political reasons, and I'm looking for ANYthing that mighta been heard about her.

::Glances around the area, checking things out::

((I'm going to be taking down notes as to what is printed in the paper about the Don from Sutek and the announcement of the wedding. Will read any of the technical stuff about the accident. If you want to ping me what what I ... ...learn for next week, that would be great.))

((okay.. send me an email if I haven't gotten back to you by next monday.. I take it you wanna shuffle off to sleepy land now?))

ANYthing?

((Correct. Long day with an early start this morning))

the works. you lay it down, I'll pick it up.

((no prob man, seeya next week))

Well, start laying it down on your side and we'll be able to pick it up together

::plops down ten birds::

((Good night all)).

((Night))

((night dude))

Geez, you people don't travel light do you?

::grins:: travelin lighter now.

Much lighter.

Okay... lessee... Petros the newly minted hope and prayer of the Eduardos is her uncle, a minor player up until all the people 'round him dropped...I wouldn't jump to conclusions about that, though... from what I hear he'd never have the pull to even help arrange something like that even if he was willing to.. he just happened to not be on the VIP list so decided to stay..home and be a petty bureaucrat.. but that's just what I've heard, not that I'd ever say anything against our lords and nobles...

::shrugs:: I'm a priest. not too many expenses.

Course not.

Of course.

Now, see, Petros finds himself sitting on a lot more political power than he's ever had access to, and he freaks something big... a big oh shit whatamigonnado moment there... Way I hear tell, not too long after things are just starting to quiet down... maybe a week or so after the incident... some other surviving Eduardos swing by, and they have some of their cousins with them.. you know, the Sutekh kids... Anyway, they kicks the servants out for the night and have themselves a long chat... next day wheels are in motions, servants are dispatching letters, and all sorts of shit's in motion...

::musing:: almost sounds like he was pushed into it...

About a week later a few of the orphaned children.. most of them in their prime marrying years, a couple of them recently widowed.. start coming up here, and I imagine to other enclaves over the planet.. wherever they've got family that can take them in. Your dame's one of them, and she's none too happy about the situation... most of the kids is worried about what they lost and can't think much beyond that.. way I hear she's constantly trying to get the folks up there to give her the news, above and beyond the rising death numbers... That there's what stuck in my memory.. seems to be waiting on someone, even though they're sure Where you want me to go from here, man? I need a little more info on where your inquiry is pertaining, and stuff

::his face sinks a little::

Hmm, actually, i think you gave me the most important part....but still, you know a way to get the dame a message by any chance?

I could probably work something out

Well An? Got somethin you wanna say?

::perks up a bit, mutters:: How could she get a response back, I guess, is the question?

::nods:: Could we get message back out?

Uhhhh... with some effort

We are known for paying for effort.

Yeah, fine, it's just not entirely a grease issue.. there's coordination and subterfuge and laundry schedules involved

::looks worried:: don't get caught for our troubles. This is important, but not worth your life

::waves a hand:: Nah, not an issue. I'm canny like a grackle fox and all of that.

::grins:: I'll betcha are.

Then I send send her this message. ::takes up the charcoal pencil and writes:: I love you. You can find us at ::addess of local hotel:: We will do whatever you want. You're unyielding, A.::

Takes the message and rolls it up without reading it:: Okay. I'll do what I can. I'll let you know if I run into any unexpected difficulties that require further grease.

((That sounded like a kinky proposition))

Good. *hands him another five* ...for your troubles.

So.. err... you guys gonna be here long? Cause I can maybe do other things.. I'm looking to retire, soon, you see...

And I'm a good part of the way there after the last half hour

::chuckles::

::rolls eyes::

I tell you what... We get this done I'll guarantee you retire.

heh. Never let it be said that the church doesnt look out for her people....and their retirement funds.

Right then. Come back in the morning, hopefully I'll have some more information for you.

((Or, on another planet. ))

::nods:: Thanks

No problem. Enjoy your day.

((and I think that's a decent place to stop))

Does, uh, that make it lunch time, then? ::is vaguely hungry::

((yep))

((Aright. Next week? ))

((yep))

~~~ OOC ~~~