Radio; Foreigners Only [Forward-dated to the 14th]

[purered]

I have spoken with the Grand Justicar on the matter of removing the bodies. She has agreed to allow it. I will be contacting a mortician forthwith.

I speak now to all the foreigners here; Please do not act rashly. I understand your anger at the Justicar. It is justified. Risking your own lives and those of the people here, however, is not. The situation now is precarious at best.

We are guests in this city the same as the Justicar. I would hope we can show more consideration for Keeliai's denizens than her, however.

Comments

[insertdadjoke]

Oh, you saved me the trouble. Thanks.

[ The words are light, but tone isn't. Not really. ]

[purered]

'Trouble' is one way of putting it. She is a very... shrewd individual.

[insertdadjoke]

[ He understands that sort of wording. ]

Shrewd as in she didn't allow custody out of simple diplomatic interests.

[purered]

Correct. Though this is probably not the venue to discuss the matter in depth.

[insertdadjoke]

While I agree that our communication channels probably aren't safe, it isn't as if she doesn't know whatever deal she just made.

radio;

[lasergrenades]

Thanks, Klaus.

[Pepper's tone is genuine, but edged with tension. She's not liking this new turn of events, not one bit, and she had nearly jumped into her armor after Valdis' radio broadcast.]

What was she like? What are we up against if this doesn't go well?

radio;

[purered]

Her numbers are what we've seen around the city. However unpleasant she is, she's not an idiot. She will likely have reinforcements if she has ulterior motives for being here.

[lasergrenades]

I was really hoping she was an idiot under all that authoritative melodrama. Am I the only one who thinks ulterior motives are definitely a thing?

[As it turns out, Pepper did not need to go to the Tomorrow Academy to learn how to add.

[purered]

You're not. But inciting an incident now would only get the people of Keeliai killed. It may be bravado, but the Justicar is very confident.

[denyamenti]

So she can be at least minimally reasoned with, then?

[purered]

'Reason' is not the word I'd choose in this situation.

[denyamenti]

Bartered? Bribed? Bullied?

[purered]

[It may be radio, but it's not impossible to picture the way Klaus is just kneading the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger.]

Bartered is the most apt. [Though 'bullied' might also fit.]

Keeping this situation from veering out of control came at a cost. I'm wary of discussing the details, however. I suspect she may either be aware of this network or have access to it.

[gistful]

Do you need anything?

[Help with the bodies. Tea. A listening ear.]

[purered]

[He needs to go calm his pillowy manbosoms. And then-]

If possible, I would like to speak with you.

[gistful]

Certainly. Name the time and place.

[purered]

Are you in your office and have a free moment now? I can come to you directly.

[risingwinds]

I'm glad you worked things out, but I still can't believe they...

[There's a pause. It's difficult for him to really talk about execution. As a concept, it's just so... wrong to him.]

I mean, I heard those invaders did a lot of bad things, but it's just so... extreme. I don't understand it.

[purered]

Soldiers are trained for such brutality, however unnecessary. Should we act rashly, it is not the foreigners or the deserters who would suffer the Justicar's wrath, but the civilians.

She is ruthless, efficient and intelligent, but she isn't exactly subtle.

[risingwinds]

Mm... I guess I understand. Keybearers are trained to fight, too, but we're only supposed to go that far if someone's really dangerous. The kinda person who'd hurt lots of innocent people...

[Saying "kill" is just too harsh, even though he knows that some people are that relentless.]

But why would she wanna take it out on the people here? It's not like they've done anything wrong.

[purered]

It's a psychological tactic. Those who are feared are rarely opposed.

My apologies - I have encountered individuals like this Justicar in the past. She is the kind who likes to be in control, and if she isn't, she will do a great deal to at least make it seem she is.

It is best to tread carefully when a person like this is in a position of power - they strike the most vulnerable.

[highprofilerichkid]

So do you have some cool and collected acting planned, or does does "not acting rashly" just mean "sit around with our thumbs up our asses while a foreign force declares martial law and executes people on public grounds"?

[Tony's clearly angry and frustrated, but at least he doesn't look furious enough that he's actually going to immediately run out and start repulsoring things. He's pissed, but he's trying to think things through.

Which means he also wants to know:] What did you have to do to get her to release the bodies? [Is the Justicar more reasonable than she appears, or does Klaus have some kind of leverage?]

[purered]

To release the bodies, I had to negotiate.

Not "acting rashly" means considering the consequences before doing something. The Kedan have allowed the Justicar to stay. Grudgingly, but they have allowed it. Keeliai is their home - I would ask that you respect their decision.

However, do not mistake my words for complacency, Mr Stark. Open acts of defiance would only bring her wrath down upon the Kedan.

I would speak with you in person, if I may?

[highprofilerichkid]

[Concern that the Justicar might start adding kedan to her execution roster if the foreigners mess up is the only thing that's stopped Tony from taking action so far. If Klaus has bargaining chips, or plans for not-so-open acts of defiance, Tony wants to hear about them.]

My house is in the Sky Sector. Can you meet me there? [He sends Klaus the address.]

[purered]

Yes.

[And very shortly, Klaus will be knocking on Casa de Stark to continue this conversation where he's relatively certain the Justicar's ears can't reach.]