wedonot | FIFTY EIGHT ✖ VOICE

[Private to Zane]

[He's not really sure what to make of the pairing announcements in some ways, but he's hoping it's a good thing that they've already had some time to get used to each other, that there's some manner of trust there. He knows he screwed up with Felix and feels like he's been more or less useless to Morgana, but Zane seems like someone who needs some positive direction, and he's hopeful he can provide that.]

I've got your file. We should probably arrange a time to meet. Do you have a preference? [He assumes you've been let out of Zero by now, but.]

[Filtered to Erik, Jean and Alex]

[Charles sounds more serious than tired, although there's certainly a sort of weariness in his voice because this is not exactly a fun topic to be discussing.] Considering it seems as though whatever destination the Barge is heading towards isn't exactly going to be a pleasant one, I'd highly recommend everyone taking precautions in case we're left somewhere dangerous without access to our abilities or other means of defending ourselves. ["Like the Vanquish" is going unsaid, but the three of you know why he'd be overly cautious about an announcement like that, so.]

Obviously there's no guarantee that we'll be able to bring supplies with us, but in case there is, I'd strongly suggest making certain your flight suits are on hand and undamaged, and potentially even packing an emergency kit to leave with them.

[He knows he's sounding kind of bossy, but he's worried and doesn't want anything to happen - even though it probably will anyway - so he's maybe stepping up and saying something about this instead of just letting things happen. B(]

[Private to Erik]

[And now putting the other two off the filter because the grown ups need to talk.]

We should talk.

[Private Separately to Barbara and Arthur]

If your schedule permits it, I'd be very interested in upping the number of days we train. [He's assuming at least Arthur won't mind having an extra few hours a week to beat the crap out of him at least.]

[Private to Gwaine]

Are you still interested in sparring?

[Private to Bruce]

[He feels kind of awkward asking this, but.] I have a favor to ask.

[Private to Merlin]

[Wryly:] I'd say "how do you feel about heading up to the CES", but considering it sounds as if the Admiral's turned it into a bit of a minor war zone, I'm not certain it would necessarily be the best place to catch up.

[Private Separately to Rorschach and Kon]

I'd like to talk with you about what happened between Cassel and Zane.

[Private to the Admiral]

Please deliver three months supply of copper and tin to Zane's room, and a small supply of other allomancy metals to my room in case the need for them arises.

[And after talking with Erik about the upcoming port:]

I'd also like two hand guns, enough spare ammunition for both, two gun safes, and two decent sized hunting knives, please. [Look he's asking politely! c: Although just saying, he might actually appreciate a Barge shaped stress ball right now.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hm. Erik... he's uncertain of, but he's not about to deny help when something much bigger than them is coming.]

I will require further specifications.

[Thank you Bruce. B(]

I can send you some. Anything more durable would be fine. We've had pretty conclusive proof that they aren't much good at stopping bullets, [That is definitely some bitter humor there.] which I imagine might come in handy, but neither one of us requires much by way of compensating for our mutations, like Alex's.

[Yeah he's gonna fix that. And the stab-proof thing.]

Those are easier to make. Send me your old suits, I will see what I can do.

[By way of response, Charles clicks the camera on and does a slow pan of his room. It's definitely kind of fancy looking, and large, because, well, family mansion, but it still definitely looks kind of homey and lived in without being untidy. There are stacks of books and papers on the desk, a chess set, lots of bookshelves and no sign of family pictures on any of the shelves or the bedside table.]

It's a room from my family's home. I hadn't started living here again until fairly recently before coming to the Barge.

[ Looks like a noble's room. Zane knows how to be in those surroundings. ]

There, then.

[He's more than fine with that, actually. There's been a weird sort of guilt associated with getting really drunk ever since he'd been paired with Tony, and the recent discussion with Morgana hadn't exactly helped matters. He smiles at Merlin as he makes his way over and slides into the seat across from him.]

Evening. How have you been, Merlin?

I'd certainly be amenable to that if you two are.

Zane told me most of what happened and why. I'm going to try to work with him about why that isn't something to engage in and hopefully find a way to redirect the emotion in a more constructive way. Do you think it's something Cassel's likely to try to initiate again?

What exactly happened between you and Zane, and what did he tell you about Cassel? He's already told me most of it from his perspective, but I thought it would be prudent to get your version of events as well. I've also asked Kon about Cassel.

Exactly.

I suppose tomorrow, bright and early is a bit optimistic, [Because a morning person Charles is not.] but it might be a good way to slot it in to the rest of the day.

[That bastard. B(]

I wouldn't expect any less. The fact that he's trying to prepare us for it is particularly alarming.

[GOOD guess who doesn't want a repeat of that like, ever.

(spoiler: all of them)]

I'll have Erik bring his over and drop them off. Thank you. [He means it. :c]

Alright. It's still level five, room eleven. Come by whenever you'd like.

If you require an appropriate training regimen, I can draft one. This port is going to be extremely unpleasant.

[yeah, he's singing your 'we have to stick together' tune.]

[ After the location, he hangs up, no further word.

He paces, in his room. Looks to the metals that Cassel left him. Ah, he shouldn't; he doesn't want Charles to know he has a source now, and he doesn't want any further accusations to come from his associations with Cassel. They'll think that Zane is just using him. That's exactly what Zane isn't doing. He told Cassel as much, baldly.

Charles will have the copper and tin for him, Zane reminds himself. In the meantime, he picks up one pellet of steel - he's already burned one of the beads of pewter, and it's cleared his body of the symptoms of illness, for now - and swallows it. One of pewter, too, to leave in his stomach. He doesn't burn either of them for now.

And he shows up, not long after the conversation, with a knock on the door. ]

I've been working with Barbara and Arthur since last August, and Gwaine and I have made an arrangement as well. Erik certainly knows how to take care of himself, but I don't think any of the four of us would protest more suggestions.

You're still training with Alex and Jean?

Good. It will be sent with the new suits.

Yes, I am. I intend to make it more intensive.

[Charles has been busying himself with more research for the book he and Erik have been working on to keep themselves occupied so long as they're stuck here. He glances up at the knock on the door and sticks a bookmark in before getting up to answer it, smiling a little at Zane and holding the door open for him.]

How are you feeling?

Good. I want them training with anyone who's willing to help.

Better.

[ He looks better, actually, and not just because there's been fading of the bruises. He holds himself a little taller, and his skin is less pale.

He slips inside, his eyes casting around the room. He burns a hint of steel, just enough to see the translucent blue lines that point to the sources of metal inside. There's a lot of metal. But, then, Charles would never have had to be careful around Mistborn. ]

[Jean is unfazed, because of course she's a morning person.]

A good workout is always a great way to start out, even if it's...you know, preparing for the horrors to come. [She's trying really hard to be flippant here okay.]

[RIGHT.]

Considering what he didn't prepare us for, yes. I can only hope that rules out hallucinations. [She's not - yeah, she's bitter.]

[He hasn't, obviously, but he'll likely learn to be, and considering he's already witnessed Zane doing things like chewing on pipes to get metal, he isn't exactly eager to turn his back on him for too long when he has access to the stuff.

Fortunately, his own abilities give him a bit of a leg up there, even if he wasn't planning on really using his telepathy until Zane felt comfortable with it.]

Good. [He closes the door behind him and heads over to his desk, opening one of the drawers and pulling out a package.]

The Admiral's given me some tin and copper to give to you, and I've asked for more so you won't run out any time soon. [He hands it over to him.] Would you like to sit down?

[He will come to regret this life choice.]

Assuming there aren't any complaints from the other two, I guess we start tomorrow.

And I think you and Alex should continue training with Bruce.

Page 2 of 7

FIFTY EIGHT ✖ VOICE

[Private]

[Private]

[Private]

[private]

[private]

Spam

private/video

Private.

[Private -- voice]

Filter

Filter

Filter

[Private]

[private]

Re: [Private]

[spam]

[Private]

[Private]

[spam]

[Private]

[spam]

Filter

Filter

[spam]

Filter