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High Fantasy Modern Storyhour - The Long Road (updated December 7)
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<blockquote data-quote="RangerWickett" data-source="post: 3206010" data-attributes="member: 63"><p><strong>Session Thirteen, part three</strong></p><p></p><p>After the intensity of the interrogation and resulting execution of Dick Thevenot, the Bureau office cafeteria feels hollow and subdued. The place is practically empty except for them - Robert and his group, plus Michael. There must be more agents at the door, but Robert wonders where everyone is eating now.</p><p></p><p>"If you want us to handle it," Michael says quietly, "you're going to have to either hand over Terry, or work with us."</p><p></p><p>The group of them - Robert, John, Scarpedin, Bonnie, Ian, and Wiji-wiji - are sharing a long table with Michael. There is an almost universal sigh of displeasure at the man's statement.</p><p></p><p>"I'm sorry," Michael says. "If this information is accurate, and one of the senators from Illinois is somehow involved with a plot to monopolize control of plane shifting, there aren't any other options. Except maybe we could ask the people behind all this to kindly give us rides back and forth so we can stop them."</p><p></p><p>Bonnie replies in crisp Irish lilt, "We could do it ourselves."</p><p></p><p>Robert looks at her in amusement. "Why are you even here <em>with</em> us? Aren't you a bouncer?"</p><p></p><p>Bonnie smiles and cocks her head. "Nathan said he thought I'd be useful, and eh, what else am I doing?"</p><p></p><p>Robert restrains himself, and looks back at Michael.</p><p></p><p>"Who even <em>are</em> the senators from Illinois? There's Obama, but I <em>refuse</em> to believe he's a bad guy."</p><p></p><p>"<em>Hai</em>," Wiji-wiji nods. "He seems so nice. He tarku so werru, just rike you Robato-<em>san</em>."</p><p></p><p>"There's Rollins," Michael says. "Nic Rollins, Democrat senator of Illinois since 1996. As far as we know, he has no association with the magic-using world."</p><p></p><p>Ian says, "A muggle, huh?" </p><p></p><p>Robert glares sidelong at Ian, then says, "Okay, none of that's important right now. Here's how it's going to be. We don't know who we can trust, so before Terry decides who he's going to go with, there are some favors we'd like to ask."</p><p></p><p>Michael shakes his head. "This sounds like you're making demands."</p><p></p><p>"Yeah well," Robert says, "I suppose nearly dying - <em>again</em> - brings out my inner bank robber. Thankfully, you look like you're more open to reason than your boss."</p><p></p><p>"Go on."</p><p></p><p>"Alright. We need to know more about this world. About you guys, the Bureau, and about the people who don't like you. I know that will probably take all day, so just get us, like a DVD with the information. I want to never have to deal with magic again, but if it comes up, I want to know who might want to kill me because I forgot to throw salt over my shoulder or something. </p><p></p><p>"I want a tour of this place. I want to know you're not growing secret brain slugs in the basement, so I want to see everything.</p><p></p><p>"And once we get all that, we'll decide what we're going to do. The guy we shot, he offered us fifty thousand dollars for Terry. Now, we weren't going to hand him over, but you might want to check your bank account. I'm just saying."</p><p></p><p>Michael reacts with aplomb. "I don't have much authority. Why don't we just go talk to the Chief directly?"</p><p></p><p>"We can't plane shift again until tomorrow," Robert says. "We have a two-a-day limit. Plus, . . . well not 'plus,' exactly. More like 'primarily.' <em>Primarily</em>, it's because your Chief's a dick. So how about you have your buddies get us some rooms, and then you can spend the rest of the day explaining why we shouldn't just go tell an <em>actual</em> government agency with some <em>actual</em> power, okay?"</p><p></p><p>For the next hour, Michael tells them about the history of the Bureau, about its general structure and function, and about his own experiences on the job. Along the way, Scarpedin asks if they can get cool magic weapons, while Robert subtly prods for information about the Bureau prison. Then, when the questions are starting to die out, Terry asks one of his own.</p><p></p><p>"Why is the Chief so worried about me?" he asks. "Why does he talk about me like I'm a thing and not a person? I know there are other ghosts that he has to deal with all the time, so what's the problem with me?"</p><p></p><p>Michael ponders for a moment, then says, "It all goes back to Legion."</p><p></p><p>That story takes quite a while to tell. </p><p></p><p>When it's over, they take a break to have some actual food, and the group discusses the situation.</p><p></p><p>John sums it up best.</p><p></p><p>"Why is this even a problem?" he says, "Before we knew about magic, everything was fine. Now, people who are magic can't get from Gaia to Terra, so it's almost like we're back where we started. Why don't we just say 'screw the Bureau,' and let things stay as they are?"</p><p></p><p>The idea is met with wide approval from everyone but Terry. When pressed, he admits that the only reason he stayed around after dying was to find out who was after him, and stop him. He wonders what's the point of existing as a ghost. Scarpedin tells him not to worry; they can still deal with the bad guy without the Bureau's help.</p><p></p><p>While the main group discusses whether it will be possible to avoid bringing down the Bureau's wrath on them, Robert steps aside with Wiji-wiji.</p><p></p><p>"So yeah," Robert says. "We're here, on Gaia in the Bureau, where there's supposed to be a prisoner."</p><p></p><p>"<em>Hai</em>," Wiji-wiji says. "You and I go, you pray Go, and zhen we go, okay?"</p><p></p><p>"Wiji-wiji, you do realize I don't have any idea how to play Go, right?"</p><p></p><p>Wiji-wiji stares blankly for a moment. "<em>Hontou ja nai?</em>"</p><p></p><p>"Sure," Robert says. "So what's the point? You want me to go, and lose a game, in a prison with a demon sorcerer. You're not going to tell me why, are you?"</p><p></p><p>Wiji-wiji squints, then slowly says, "<em>Sumimasen</em>. My Engrish is not werry good."</p><p></p><p>Robert nods, too tired to keep being afraid of the fey. He looks over his shoulder and shouts at Michael.</p><p></p><p>"Hey Michael? Can you let me into your prison here? I want to talk to-" he pauses and looks to Wiji-wiji.</p><p></p><p>"O-Ragumaro."</p><p></p><p>"To <em>O-Ragumaro</em>," Robert finishes, enunciating the Japanese name precisely.</p><p></p><p>Michael slowly approaches, looking like he's trying to place the name.</p><p></p><p>John walks over as well, and asks, "What's going on?"</p><p></p><p>"Nothing," Robert says. "Wiji-wiji wants me to play a game of Go with a Japanese sorcerer who is bonded to a demon, who they have in the prison here. Y'know, normal stuff."</p><p></p><p>"Oh," Michael says, "him. Why do you want to see him?"</p><p></p><p>Robert is watching Wiji-wiji, but then he looks at Michael with a start. "What? Oh, why? I don't know. Why do we want to see this guy Wiji-wiji?"</p><p></p><p>The rest of the group is watching now.</p><p></p><p>"It is a secretto," Wiji-wiji says. "I sorry, Robato-<em>san</em>, but I cannot terru you."</p><p></p><p>"Huh?" John says. He squints. "Robert, what the hell is going on?"</p><p></p><p>Robert shrugs. "I dunno. Honestly."</p><p></p><p>"Good," Wiji-wiji says. "Prease, you musta trusto me."</p><p></p><p>"Sure," Robert says convincingly. "I won't say another word about it."</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">* * *</p><p></p><p>For the next half hour, the group barrages Wiji-wiji with questions. True to his word, Robert stays quiet, just nursing a cup of coffee with a persistent smile on his face.</p><p></p><p>At the hour's end the group is frustrated, but ultimately convinced they won't get a straight answer from the fey. Wiji-wiji simply claims that what he needs to do is very important, but that for it to work no one can know what it is that he is doing. The others in the group can vaguely grasp the concept, but they don't really understand. It just seems like the fey is being contrary for no good reason.</p><p></p><p>When the conversation appears nearly over, Michael says, "It doesn't matter either way. I can't authorize any of you to see that prisoner."</p><p></p><p>"Well dammit," John says, "now I want to know what the big deal is. It will just be . . . irritating if we never find out. Wiji-wiji, can you tell us what was so important after you're done?"</p><p></p><p>Wiji-wiji nods. "Oh, <em>hai</em>."</p><p></p><p>"He's lying," Robert says, still smiling.</p><p></p><p>Ian scoffs. "Look, Uncle Enzo, I'm tired of this. Just go seduce Pocahontas, bring her back here, and have her let you do this thing. Then I can get some rest, and we can get back to absconding with 'the most valuable magic item in the world.'" He nods to Terry. "No offense, kid."</p><p></p><p>Wiji-wiji nods eagerly. "<em>Hai</em>. Werry good idea."</p><p></p><p>"So what do I get out of this?" Robert asks.</p><p></p><p>"Big giftu," Wiji-wiji answers. "I owe fava. Trust me."</p><p></p><p>Robert's smile falters. "Fine. What the hell else are we doing, anyway? Okay, tomorrow I'll go back to Terra, just me and Terry in case anything goes wrong. We'll get Jenny and just Jenny, and bring her back here. Mikey, if she gives the okay, will that work?"</p><p></p><p>Michael starts, "Ye-"</p><p></p><p>"Good," Robert says, then he drifts to a sigh. "Really. . . . really great."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RangerWickett, post: 3206010, member: 63"] [b]Session Thirteen, part three[/b] After the intensity of the interrogation and resulting execution of Dick Thevenot, the Bureau office cafeteria feels hollow and subdued. The place is practically empty except for them - Robert and his group, plus Michael. There must be more agents at the door, but Robert wonders where everyone is eating now. "If you want us to handle it," Michael says quietly, "you're going to have to either hand over Terry, or work with us." The group of them - Robert, John, Scarpedin, Bonnie, Ian, and Wiji-wiji - are sharing a long table with Michael. There is an almost universal sigh of displeasure at the man's statement. "I'm sorry," Michael says. "If this information is accurate, and one of the senators from Illinois is somehow involved with a plot to monopolize control of plane shifting, there aren't any other options. Except maybe we could ask the people behind all this to kindly give us rides back and forth so we can stop them." Bonnie replies in crisp Irish lilt, "We could do it ourselves." Robert looks at her in amusement. "Why are you even here [i]with[/i] us? Aren't you a bouncer?" Bonnie smiles and cocks her head. "Nathan said he thought I'd be useful, and eh, what else am I doing?" Robert restrains himself, and looks back at Michael. "Who even [i]are[/i] the senators from Illinois? There's Obama, but I [i]refuse[/i] to believe he's a bad guy." "[i]Hai[/i]," Wiji-wiji nods. "He seems so nice. He tarku so werru, just rike you Robato-[i]san[/i]." "There's Rollins," Michael says. "Nic Rollins, Democrat senator of Illinois since 1996. As far as we know, he has no association with the magic-using world." Ian says, "A muggle, huh?" Robert glares sidelong at Ian, then says, "Okay, none of that's important right now. Here's how it's going to be. We don't know who we can trust, so before Terry decides who he's going to go with, there are some favors we'd like to ask." Michael shakes his head. "This sounds like you're making demands." "Yeah well," Robert says, "I suppose nearly dying - [i]again[/i] - brings out my inner bank robber. Thankfully, you look like you're more open to reason than your boss." "Go on." "Alright. We need to know more about this world. About you guys, the Bureau, and about the people who don't like you. I know that will probably take all day, so just get us, like a DVD with the information. I want to never have to deal with magic again, but if it comes up, I want to know who might want to kill me because I forgot to throw salt over my shoulder or something. "I want a tour of this place. I want to know you're not growing secret brain slugs in the basement, so I want to see everything. "And once we get all that, we'll decide what we're going to do. The guy we shot, he offered us fifty thousand dollars for Terry. Now, we weren't going to hand him over, but you might want to check your bank account. I'm just saying." Michael reacts with aplomb. "I don't have much authority. Why don't we just go talk to the Chief directly?" "We can't plane shift again until tomorrow," Robert says. "We have a two-a-day limit. Plus, . . . well not 'plus,' exactly. More like 'primarily.' [i]Primarily[/i], it's because your Chief's a dick. So how about you have your buddies get us some rooms, and then you can spend the rest of the day explaining why we shouldn't just go tell an [i]actual[/i] government agency with some [i]actual[/i] power, okay?" For the next hour, Michael tells them about the history of the Bureau, about its general structure and function, and about his own experiences on the job. Along the way, Scarpedin asks if they can get cool magic weapons, while Robert subtly prods for information about the Bureau prison. Then, when the questions are starting to die out, Terry asks one of his own. "Why is the Chief so worried about me?" he asks. "Why does he talk about me like I'm a thing and not a person? I know there are other ghosts that he has to deal with all the time, so what's the problem with me?" Michael ponders for a moment, then says, "It all goes back to Legion." That story takes quite a while to tell. When it's over, they take a break to have some actual food, and the group discusses the situation. John sums it up best. "Why is this even a problem?" he says, "Before we knew about magic, everything was fine. Now, people who are magic can't get from Gaia to Terra, so it's almost like we're back where we started. Why don't we just say 'screw the Bureau,' and let things stay as they are?" The idea is met with wide approval from everyone but Terry. When pressed, he admits that the only reason he stayed around after dying was to find out who was after him, and stop him. He wonders what's the point of existing as a ghost. Scarpedin tells him not to worry; they can still deal with the bad guy without the Bureau's help. While the main group discusses whether it will be possible to avoid bringing down the Bureau's wrath on them, Robert steps aside with Wiji-wiji. "So yeah," Robert says. "We're here, on Gaia in the Bureau, where there's supposed to be a prisoner." "[i]Hai[/i]," Wiji-wiji says. "You and I go, you pray Go, and zhen we go, okay?" "Wiji-wiji, you do realize I don't have any idea how to play Go, right?" Wiji-wiji stares blankly for a moment. "[i]Hontou ja nai?[/i]" "Sure," Robert says. "So what's the point? You want me to go, and lose a game, in a prison with a demon sorcerer. You're not going to tell me why, are you?" Wiji-wiji squints, then slowly says, "[i]Sumimasen[/i]. My Engrish is not werry good." Robert nods, too tired to keep being afraid of the fey. He looks over his shoulder and shouts at Michael. "Hey Michael? Can you let me into your prison here? I want to talk to-" he pauses and looks to Wiji-wiji. "O-Ragumaro." "To [i]O-Ragumaro[/i]," Robert finishes, enunciating the Japanese name precisely. Michael slowly approaches, looking like he's trying to place the name. John walks over as well, and asks, "What's going on?" "Nothing," Robert says. "Wiji-wiji wants me to play a game of Go with a Japanese sorcerer who is bonded to a demon, who they have in the prison here. Y'know, normal stuff." "Oh," Michael says, "him. Why do you want to see him?" Robert is watching Wiji-wiji, but then he looks at Michael with a start. "What? Oh, why? I don't know. Why do we want to see this guy Wiji-wiji?" The rest of the group is watching now. "It is a secretto," Wiji-wiji says. "I sorry, Robato-[i]san[/i], but I cannot terru you." "Huh?" John says. He squints. "Robert, what the hell is going on?" Robert shrugs. "I dunno. Honestly." "Good," Wiji-wiji says. "Prease, you musta trusto me." "Sure," Robert says convincingly. "I won't say another word about it." [center]* * *[/center] For the next half hour, the group barrages Wiji-wiji with questions. True to his word, Robert stays quiet, just nursing a cup of coffee with a persistent smile on his face. At the hour's end the group is frustrated, but ultimately convinced they won't get a straight answer from the fey. Wiji-wiji simply claims that what he needs to do is very important, but that for it to work no one can know what it is that he is doing. The others in the group can vaguely grasp the concept, but they don't really understand. It just seems like the fey is being contrary for no good reason. When the conversation appears nearly over, Michael says, "It doesn't matter either way. I can't authorize any of you to see that prisoner." "Well dammit," John says, "now I want to know what the big deal is. It will just be . . . irritating if we never find out. Wiji-wiji, can you tell us what was so important after you're done?" Wiji-wiji nods. "Oh, [i]hai[/i]." "He's lying," Robert says, still smiling. Ian scoffs. "Look, Uncle Enzo, I'm tired of this. Just go seduce Pocahontas, bring her back here, and have her let you do this thing. Then I can get some rest, and we can get back to absconding with 'the most valuable magic item in the world.'" He nods to Terry. "No offense, kid." Wiji-wiji nods eagerly. "[i]Hai[/i]. Werry good idea." "So what do I get out of this?" Robert asks. "Big giftu," Wiji-wiji answers. "I owe fava. Trust me." Robert's smile falters. "Fine. What the hell else are we doing, anyway? Okay, tomorrow I'll go back to Terra, just me and Terry in case anything goes wrong. We'll get Jenny and just Jenny, and bring her back here. Mikey, if she gives the okay, will that work?" Michael starts, "Ye-" "Good," Robert says, then he drifts to a sigh. "Really. . . . really great." [/QUOTE]
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