89. Voice
Construction is going a little more slowly than I expected, at least in the past few days. I can't speak for everyone else, but I personally think it has something to do with that missing girl. Um, not that it's her fault! I just... I find it really hard to keep my head straight when it comes to construction when I'm worried about her. I know a lot of children go missing... I know that. But seeing her everywhere, and that message she left here... I don't know. It's unnerving, and... sad.
But! I got a carousel horse.
[Video turns on briefly, and behold... you are looking at a rather small - not actually ridable - fancy carousel horse, including the stick that should be attaching it to the, well, carousel. All you see of Priscilla herself is her hand, currently wearing her customary white gloves, and the edge of her pale grey cloak.]
[And then... no more video.]
I found it at Berand's today. I don't know why I liked it so much... maybe because it's kind of cheery and everything has been a little sad lately. Anyway, I think I'll put it in my room when the Headquarters is done. I want to try to live a little less like a soldier, and a little more like a person. I don't know. It seems right, somehow. Maybe I just want to feel a little more human.
[...]
I went to the Greenhouses this morning, but the roses were all gone.
[Private to Patrol Members]
I'm sorry for the delays on partnership updates. It's been... well, the past few weeks have been very trying. We've lost a lot of people, and... suffered a number of personal... well, anyway. The lists are done, now.
[Behold a link!]
...and just so you know... there will be a few changes implemented to increase our security in the future. Well, what I mean is, we'll be talking to potential members instead of giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. I'm not sure it will help in all cases, but... just reducing the chances of another incident like this will be good. Even if it's impossible to reduce the chances down to zero.
Um, also... after speaking with Jack Dawkins a little, I've agreed to ask you to contact him if you're willing to discuss your experiences with the mist while patrolling in the ruins, since all of you are out there more frequently than most people. I haven't given him any of your names, and don't intend to, so please don't consider this in any way coercive! You can get in touch with him... just a ... Hrm.
[Clickclickclick. She types on the Forge... not very quickly, and then a text link appears.]
[ Like so.]
...also! I think we've settled on the first outpost! Um... here.
[She fiddles with the Forge a bit - there's the sound of dropping, and the sound of... well, fiddling. And then the screen fills with this picture.]
Isn't it nice? I'm sorry about the gate.
[Private to Priscilla-sitting volunteers]
I will be practicing on five out of every seven days. I've assigned each of you one day out of every two weeks to watch over my practices. Teresa, thank you for agreeing to a second day. ...if anything is difficult or unacceptable, please let me know, and I will adjust the scheduling.
[She takes a breath, and then reads off the list.]
Sundays: Teresa
Mondays: Arthur or Senji
Tuesdays: A day of rest.
Wednesdays: Helen or Iolanthe and Remus
Thursdays: Clare or Sophia
Fridays: A day of rest
Saturdays: Irene or Dietrich
In each case, the first name would begin on the next named day. Um, so.... Helen, you're tomorrow. And then Iolanthe and Remus... would be next Wednesday. I hope that makes sense... and is acceptable to all of you.
...thank you again.
[Private to Rigaldo]
[There's a long silence... and then a frustrated little noise.]
Rigaldo.
But! I got a carousel horse.
[Video turns on briefly, and behold... you are looking at a rather small - not actually ridable - fancy carousel horse, including the stick that should be attaching it to the, well, carousel. All you see of Priscilla herself is her hand, currently wearing her customary white gloves, and the edge of her pale grey cloak.]
[And then... no more video.]
I found it at Berand's today. I don't know why I liked it so much... maybe because it's kind of cheery and everything has been a little sad lately. Anyway, I think I'll put it in my room when the Headquarters is done. I want to try to live a little less like a soldier, and a little more like a person. I don't know. It seems right, somehow. Maybe I just want to feel a little more human.
[...]
I went to the Greenhouses this morning, but the roses were all gone.
[Private to Patrol Members]
I'm sorry for the delays on partnership updates. It's been... well, the past few weeks have been very trying. We've lost a lot of people, and... suffered a number of personal... well, anyway. The lists are done, now.
[Behold a link!]
...and just so you know... there will be a few changes implemented to increase our security in the future. Well, what I mean is, we'll be talking to potential members instead of giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. I'm not sure it will help in all cases, but... just reducing the chances of another incident like this will be good. Even if it's impossible to reduce the chances down to zero.
Um, also... after speaking with Jack Dawkins a little, I've agreed to ask you to contact him if you're willing to discuss your experiences with the mist while patrolling in the ruins, since all of you are out there more frequently than most people. I haven't given him any of your names, and don't intend to, so please don't consider this in any way coercive! You can get in touch with him... just a ... Hrm.
[Clickclickclick. She types on the Forge... not very quickly, and then a text link appears.]
[ Like so.]
...also! I think we've settled on the first outpost! Um... here.
[She fiddles with the Forge a bit - there's the sound of dropping, and the sound of... well, fiddling. And then the screen fills with this picture.]
Isn't it nice? I'm sorry about the gate.
[Private to Priscilla-sitting volunteers]
I will be practicing on five out of every seven days. I've assigned each of you one day out of every two weeks to watch over my practices. Teresa, thank you for agreeing to a second day. ...if anything is difficult or unacceptable, please let me know, and I will adjust the scheduling.
[She takes a breath, and then reads off the list.]
Sundays: Teresa
Mondays: Arthur or Senji
Tuesdays: A day of rest.
Wednesdays: Helen or Iolanthe and Remus
Thursdays: Clare or Sophia
Fridays: A day of rest
Saturdays: Irene or Dietrich
In each case, the first name would begin on the next named day. Um, so.... Helen, you're tomorrow. And then Iolanthe and Remus... would be next Wednesday. I hope that makes sense... and is acceptable to all of you.
...thank you again.
[Private to Rigaldo]
[There's a long silence... and then a frustrated little noise.]
Rigaldo.