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

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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?

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.

[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.

You don't know how really charming I can be. It doesn't have to last forever. Just long enough to make the rest mean a little less. As for the rest... I just need to move the target.

It's my responsibility to make sure you don't get drawn in because of me. You're not guilty of anything.

[Of course he's going to protect Lutha!]

He's right about me. He's right about who and what I am. But he doesn't know how much I want to be better. And this--if one person gets a little less pain--it's something. For as long as it lasts, it was something I could do for someone else.

...You're being an idiot.

[That about sums up his thoughts. Expounding more would take energy he just doesn't have, so he resigns to a frustrated roll of his eyes, weakly settling back against the wall he'd situated himself against for the evening.]

If you want to show him how much you want to change, even if it's just to spite him, then you need to keep yourself alive long enough to do that. Be smarter than that. Otherwise, it's not going to make the impact you think it will.

You think I really care what he thinks of me?

I don't want to make an impact. I want to help. Even if it is small, it's still something. A day. A couple days where there is a little less pain is all I want.

[Tony keeps to his side, talking to Lutha across the distance quietly.]

For a short time, I had something important and I kept him from forcing his way into taking it. It doesn't make me any better and it doesn't change anything here except for a little while someone hurt less. No one gets saved.

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

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