Video / un: of corpse not /day of the senate speech

[nothinglikefather]

[ Jacob is not used to these strange devices, the pocket-watch style communicator didn't come with a set of instructions and while he has used it once or twice, it always takes a few minutes of pressing the crown, turning it, and cursing at it before he realises its been recording for a few minutes. ]

This bloody thing's finally working?

Right. Right. Some of you people know me, those that don't- my name is Jacob Frye. I deal with... not very nice people who need dealing with.

I hope you've all had a chance to listen to that senate meeting. Something came up during all of that and it's got me thinking.

This arsehole- Silvanus- said we couldn't be sure that Justus might not even be in the temple. That no one could go in or out to check. So who could prove if he was praying or if he was dead?

Asked the other Speaker, Martellius, who tried to warn me off heading there.

So I'm going. Anyone want to come along?

Comments

audio | un: absterge

[downswing]

( Hello, Jacob. It is your favourite forever-traumatised cultivator speaking. )

Once found?

Perma-audio

[nothinglikefather]

Hullo Lan.

[ Yes yes, it's Wangji but it's taking him a while to get used to that. ]

Depends what state he's in. If he's safe and well, then that's good. If not... we will need to work what to do based on what we find.

[downswing]

Wangji. ( A tentative pause. ) Best to have a plan.

[nothinglikefather]

[ Bless you. ]

Alright. If he's dead, we find out how. If he's been murdered, we find out who.
If he's not there, we find out if he's gone of his own accord or been taken. Again, we find out who. Where in either case.

Then we find out the why.

@whitewolf

[northerndragon]

I'll go.

I can keep the city watch away, but no one else.

un: witchful thinking ☾ audio

[nochnaya]

There is no entering the temple to see Caius Justus.

[ A beat. ]

Not by legal or diplomatic means, in any case. Is that your plan?

[downswing]

You are unaccustomed to strategy.

[nothinglikefather]

[ There's a change, tone no longer as friendly, no longer as easy and relaxed.]

That's a bloody strategy! What do you want, an essay?

[nothinglikefather]

The whole watch? That's a pretty big accomplishment.

[nothinglikefather]

I know. That's why we're sneaking. Quick in, quick out. Unless we find what we don't want to find.

[nochnaya]

And what is it you don't want to find?

[nothinglikefather]

I suppose the worst thing would be nothing - if the guy is gone without any trace. Or his body, without any clue about the cause of death or perpetrator. I don't think that'll do Ephes any favours now or in the future.

un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

I could organise a distraction, but I suspect that would not draw out any guarding the inside.

[nothinglikefather]

I think you can probably distract anyone you choose to.

Honestly, I'll welcome any distractions you can manage. I can deal with anyone inside.

[downswing]

Direction.

[nothinglikefather]

...right.

Alright. I know that... you don't lie easy. You fight well though.

I guess the question is- what do you think you can do?

[downswing]

Attend to opposition.

[nothinglikefather]

Alright then. You can help me attend to the opposition. If we find any.

[nochnaya]

So you seek the truth.

I will go with you, then.

[ Yeah, she's inviting herself! You get no choice. ]

[nothinglikefather]

[He didn't think of it like that but... she's right.]

Great. Tomorrow night, midnight, at the gates of the Temple complex.

[downswing]

You do not ask, expecting smooth path.

[nothinglikefather]

I know whatever we come across we can deal with. But alright, what would you ask?

[downswing]

If we encounter him. Alive. In health.

( Softer: ) What then?

[nothinglikefather]

That's easy enough. Apologise for disturbing him, if that's even what we do, tell him we had reason to fear for his health, and then we leave sharpish.

[downswing]

It may not prove so inconsequential.