[network] @ASolomons; audio, evening of 205 [open]

[devoutish]

A couple of nights ago, Charles brought up a very good point. I'm sure you've all seen it by now. And I think that even if no one but the explorers is taking the food and supplies left, he's shed some light on an important issue to consider for the future.

[There's a creak of a chair as he adjusts, still struggling to get comfortable with his broken ribs.]

So what I'm suggesting here, right, is a system of accountability. Those of us who are leaving supplies will leave our contact information - names and usernames, with a request to give us a ring when supplies are taken. And that, yeah, that'll serve two purposes. One, it'll let us know when a supply point is running low and needs to be restocked. And two, if many things are disappearing without any messages to us, it'll let us know that something might be going on that needs to be looked into.

I, for one, would very much like to know if the supplies meant for the explorers are being misappropriated.

[He gives a significant pause here, wanting that to sink in. It's no coincidence that this is coming right on the heels of House's post about him. If anyone who isn't exploring new areas is taking food and supplies that are being left, he wants them to know that he specifically is paying attention.]

Now - it's true that things aren't very centralized here. Yeah, there hasn't been much communication. And therefore, I think that most of us are gonna be understanding towards those that might have taken things out of ignorance - not knowing that they were meant only for people traveling into unexplored areas, where useful tools might be especially needed and town-provided food might be hard to get to. But I would hope that now that this has been made clear by both Charles and myself, you'll all keep this in mind for the future - and, of course, return any supplies you might have taken that haven't already been used up.

Thank you.

[He cuts the feed.]

Comments

[definingfuture]

I don't know what you mean. Sorry.

[devoutish]

Sure you do. That bottle of pills with my name on it, that you're gonna give to her.

[definingfuture]

I really don't. I support your idea, Solomons, but not everything has your name on it.

[devoutish]

Would you like me to summarize the conversation for you, then? Since you seem to have forgotten.

[definingfuture]

If I did, then that must mean it was already cleared from my books. I don't have anything you want at the moment.

[devoutish]

I tried to bully them out of you, and you decided you were gonna destroy them rather than let them fall back into my hands. Destroy them. Medicine. In this town, where people are injured regularly. Ringing any bells yet, mate?

[definingfuture]

Not really. I don't have long talks with you as far as I'm aware. Anyway, if something were yours, I'd want you to have it. It's not really my business.

And I don't want you to come after me in my sleep.

[devoutish]

Stark. I am fucking done with this game, do you understand?

[definingfuture]

I don't know what you're talking about. But, since you sound mad, I'll assume you don't want me to agree with you. Right. Well, good luck.

private

[devoutish]

Do not fucking hang up that tablet.

private

[definingfuture]

Say please.

private

[devoutish]

For someone who doesn't want to be murdered in his sleep, you're doing a very good job of ensuring that a broken nose, at the very least, will be coming to you.

Did you destroy the medicine, Mr. Arms Dealer?

private

[definingfuture]

Wrong. [And he disconnects.]

private

[devoutish]

[Alfie calls back after about an hour or so. His tone is deceptively calm - almost kind, though his words make it clear how insincere that is.]

You were right, when you said you were nothing like me.

Now, don't get me wrong, Stark - you are a terrible person. We do have that in common. But you - you're just a sniveling little boy about it, aren't you? Doing things like this, destroying valuable supplies like medicine out of spite, but refusing to face to the reality of your actions. Arms dealer, saboteur-- and what else? I'm sure there's more. And you don't own up to it, you don't admit it out loud, but deep down, you know. I bet the things you've done make you cry at night, when you're alone.

I'm not gonna kill you in your sleep, or give you that broken nose. But for as long as we're both stuck in this town, I'll always be here to remind you who and what you are. You can fucking count on that.

private

[definingfuture]

Aw, thanks for thinking of me. You're only partially right, but thanks for the thought.

Do you really want to harass me that badly? I told you: I'm done with it.

@hawkguy, audio

[awwnoun]

What the fuck are you doing, Tony?

[ Alfie tattled again. Clint sounds pissed. ]

@IAmLegend; audio; private

[definingfuture]

Interesting. So you come when he whistles.

private

[awwnoun]

No, I come when you're being an idiot on the network. Why are you being so stubborn about these pills? Why are you taunting him in public? What is wrong with you?

private

[definingfuture]

I'm expressing my thoughts on his accountability plan. That had nothing to do with pills. What's wrong with you? When did you become a gangster's dog?

private

[awwnoun]

I'm not, I'm scared you're going to take this out of control and actually throw away valuable medicine just to prove a fucking point!

[action]

[hangfire]

Taunting him is just gonna come back to bite you in the ass, you know.

[There's not much he can do but listen at this point, and what he's hearing is a mess and a half.]

[action]

[definingfuture]

I know. [Out of the network conversation, he sounds a lot more grim.]

But if he's sending someone to kill me, he won't be killing a man with a cane. I'll make sure you're with someone better. Okay? I'm sorry.

I know it's bad. But if he knows the pills are there, I think he'd keep his word and hurt him to get them.

[action]

[hangfire]

Don't assume that. It sounds like he's been involved with killing over less before, and he has company who would rather see me dead.

Besides. You're not here to protect me. [There's a flicker of his normal, bristling defiance when he says that, but it dies back down to the more tired drawl he's maintained for the last couple of days.]

Why the hell is getting him to focus on you the more ideal choice here, anyway? He comes and kills you, and then what? Is it going to accomplish anything other than drawing his attention away from someone else for a moment?

[action] (cw: what do I call this? Assisted self-harm?)

[definingfuture]

I won't let him kill you.

[Tony's voice sounds pained, because he knows he's putting Lutha in a dangerous spot.]

Look, if it came to that, you could stab me. It would at least put you on their side. But I'd like to get us to someone else that can help.

I think I bought more than a moment. And yes, it keeps his attention off other people he dislikes. Maybe he'll even lose interest in them, because I hit a nerve.

I can't do much here. I know how to do this.

[action] (cw: self-harm)

[hangfire]

[He stiffens, only because the last statement hits a bit too close to home for comfort.]

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.

If he decides he's going to take action at me, that's not your damn responsibility. And I'm not going to just shed your blood like that's a decent solution. Showing that kind of aggression without a reason doesn't put me on a side, it paints me as a fucking threat.

People like him aren't simple like that, Tony. Just because he's angry with you doesn't mean he'll stop being angry at other people, that's insane. That's not how it works, not with the kind of mindset of keeping connections that he apparently has. Even if you're the loudest one in the room right now, guess what? Getting yourself killed over that just means he gets back to what he was doing, and you don't get the chance to try that again because at some point, he'll learn not to listen.