Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 6, 2063 || Saturday

[kalikat]

[There's the official word from MayaNET first. A simple message: Brother Assassin has woken up from his coma, and appears to be in good health. The network's been exploding with joy over the news.

For you Hounds, though, Kalika's got a message. Interestingly enough, it's sent straight to your inboxes - hence, those of you who aren't Zangyaku yet are also receiving this.]

SENT: 11:05 AM
Pretty sure that Kaiser Delacroix has had Words with the lot of you already, but it needs to be said.

Bostova, Marisigan, Stevenson: you're benched, and - according to ALL meanings of the word - you all deserve it. Enjoy the break.

As for the rest of you?

Thanks. I hope to see the lot of you walking through the gates of my base very soon, with your dossiers at a ready. :)

Comments

[larue]

[ This comes late, he knows. He checked the time difference between Cape Town and Manila. ]

SENT: 07:10 PM
Magistrate Shinta. Thank you for the welcome.
Definitely looking forward to speaking to you
about licensing with Zangyaku.

[ He pauses a little before typing out the rest. ]

When you're free though, if at all possible,
I'd like to have a word with you before we all
head back to Falner.

[kalikat]

[Getting that message while she is, quite literally, flopped on the tatami mat floor in the main sitting room of her quarters at Kibo. Anton is moving around, along with his not!children. Their actual children should be coming around soon.]

SENT: 7:12 PM
I'm free now, actually. Up for ViceTime?

[She feels too lazy to bother texting, and doesn't like just taking calls.]

[larue]

SENT: 07:14 PM
okay. i can do that.

[ Backing out of his text screen and clicking on the ViceTime icon now.

He's seated at that place Hikaru took him to. It's dim, but not too dim. What the screen will show is Josh sitting in a chair outside. ]

Good evening, Magistrate. Hope I didn't wake you?

[kalikat]

[And the first thing you're going to see on Kalika's end is her cleavage. Then she's angling the screen of her tablet up.]

Evening~

[She appears to be flopped on the floor, chest propped up by a sitting pillow. Her legs are kicked up in the air; she has no regard for the fact that she's dressed in nothing but undies and a long kimono robe.

Karako is flopped on her back, playing with a game console. Sara Stiles-Shinta is munching on Pocky right beside her: her face lights up the moment she sees Josh, and she waves. There are also other pairs of feet moving around.

Be honored, Joshua LaRue: if she's this out of order with you, it means that she might just like you.]

[larue]

[ And how Josh is going to look after that initial image, because it took him a full three seconds to realize what it actually was -- is appear quietly contrite, eyes turned down momentarily before he looks up and offers a shy and awkward smile. ]

Good evening, Magistrate.

[ Wait, LaRue. You said that already. ]

[kalikat]

Hi! Again!

[She looks amused. Yes, you said that already, LaRue.]

What's up?

[larue]

[ He takes a breath. You look pretty much like you're relaxing for the evening, Magistrate. This one doesn't really like that he might ruin your mood.

But... this has to be done. ]

Two things, really.

First uh, thank you for the welcome. I already sent you the email earlier, but I know I'll definitely need to speak with you about licensing with Zangyaku when I get back to Falner.

[ He presses his lips together unconsciously and takes a moment before he continues. ]

The second thing is... I wanted to check in with you on something regarding those in my blade that are under your command.

[ Just two, really. He's got no problems with Brig, but he doesn't want to jump the gun on Yulia and Stan. ]

[kalikat]

[And while you're talking, she's propping her elbows up and sinking her chin down on her folded hands, listening, looking very much like the picture of an idle cat that happens to have the skin of a woman on.

It's that second part, though, that catches her attention. It's written in the way her legs stop swinging through the air.]

Oh?

[Saying that as she's turning away, and lifting one hand up to meet a pack of cigarettes that's being held down towards her from somewhere beyond the tablet screen.

Thanks, honey. That's what her smile says before said smile is disappearing a little too quickly behind the fag she just thumbed out for herself.]

[larue]

[ He can definitely see how you're Hikaru's sister, although--

--wait, you're not an Aoi. But Changing Breed don't live very long so that would put Kalika Shinta somewhere in the 27th life cycle... okay he gives up.

Back on track. ]

The Kaiser informed me that two of my blade mates went directly to her about their concerns over the enforced break. [ He chooses his words carefully. He doesn't want them in trouble, even if the fact that neither of them checked things by him first smarts. ] I've already assured her that I'll be speaking with them as soon as I have the chance, but their home conspiracy is now Zangyaku and--

[ He cuts off as he tries to figure out how to put it, because there's the matter of Stan and Yulia switching home conspiracies and how both technically outrank him in spite of him being the blade leader.

Multiple licenses are starting to confuse him a little. But the Hounds are a blade under Netsach. He just wants to make sure he isn't overstepping anywhere and that thought pretty much shows on his face. ]

[kalikat]

And?

[That's a quiet prompt from Kalika's end, just after she finishes taking another drag from her cigarette. Her tone is not so warm now.

Nothing personal, LaRue.]

[larue]

[ Stop stalling, self. ]

I just wanted to check in with you to make sure I'm not overstepping anywhere.

[ He's going to have a talk with them. He's said that bit. ]

The break is necessary. [ A pause as he attempts to relax his hand under the table. ] If they had any concerns over that, they really should have come to me first.

[kalikat]

Yes, they should have.

[Now there is an edge to her tone, just obvious enough to confirm the fact that the look on her face is one of a woman who is trying very hard not to start ripping into things.]

And they did not. I am not one to question my brother's decisions, which leaves me with no choice to question their motives or their worth within my conspiracy and within yours.

[larue]

[ Magistrate Shinta, you are a very beautiful and pleasant woman when you want to be, particularly since you look younger than your real age, but damn he can see why you are terrifying in your own right.

He's bowing his head quietly at that, since he's not entirely sure how to answer that last part. ]

[kalikat]

[That's all right, but she is not expecting him to say much just yet. This is not his fault.

Right, she should probably bring that up...]

You are not the problem, LaRue, and neither are Zobel de Ayala or Lopez, and surprisingly, neither is Brigade. [Yes, 'surprisingly'. You can pick on that bone all on your own, because she isn't going to explain.] In fact, I feel a little sorry for you, being in charge of children who pretend to be adults when it suits their purposes.

[larue]

[ It brings him little comfort to hear that, and admittedly, his fingers are now curling on the edge of his seat as he listens on. He does take note of what the Magistrate says and there is a brief moment where something flickers across his face when Brig is mentioned ( How is Brig not a problem surprising? ) but he listens on and marshals his thoughts into something more... eloquent. Just a bit. ]

I'll... speak to them about this, ma'am. They are, after all, my responsibility.

[kalikat]

Yes. Unfortunately, they are.

[She kind of pities you, honestly. It's difficult to be in charge.]

Feel free to tell them what you will. Of course, I plan on seeing to my own business with them if they bother to approach me.

['If'. If they do not, then she really will have to revise her opinion of them.]

[larue]

Yes, ma'am. I'll do that.

[ He's doing his best to keep his eyes on the screen. He's not a child, this is his blade, he's not being scolded per se -- but it's hard.

Dammit, both of you, why didn't you come to him first. ]

I'll make sure I have a sit-down with all of the Hounds in case anyone has concerns that they feel they can't voice through better channels.

[kalikat]

Whatever you think is best~

[Her tone is lightening up again, and not in the "She's about to kill you" way. She's also rolling on her back, and taking the tablet along with her.]

Did you want to talk to me about anything else?

[larue]

[ If Josh wasn't so unsettled by this whole Not Checking In thing, he'd probably be fascinated with the fact that Kalika is true to the name given to her as a member of the Searing Wind.

As it is though, the most he can muster is a subdued smile. It's genuine, but it just doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]

No, ma'am. [ A breath. ] But I'll let you know if something comes to mind.

[kalikat]

[You're getting a kiss for that.

Yep. Right on that screen.]

You do that. See you around?

[larue]

[ Yes, that lends a little more ease into the smile he sends over. ]

Yes, ma'am.

Have a good night, Magistrate.

[ He actually catches himself before he says "sweet dreams".

Don't ask him about that. ]