2018-01-09: Half-Measures
- Log: Half-measures
- Cast: Kahm Yugh, Ida Everstead-Rey
- Where: Hotel Renais, November City
- Date: 1/9/2018
- Summary: Kahm happens to run into Ida, and takes the opportunity to search out her feelings on Riesenlied.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
The Hotel Renais was island of stability in an otherwise uncertain and chaotic role. With November City as erstwhile base of operations in western Ignas, Kahm had come to appreciate the town's premier Hotel for it's knowledgeable staff, impeccable service, and general willingness to accommodate his visits at most hours of the day.
The Gebler Major was just wrapping up another one of his check-in on the afternoon, lacquered boots making a pronounced impact on each stair step as he came down the lobby, straightening his wide-brimmed hat and tightening his jacket. An eye to eye with the concierge brought him over the desk for a few moments.
"I've a few tasks to attend to for the next several days, but you'll keep to our agreement?"
"Ah, yes sir. The guest you inquired about...i'll make note of when she leaves and returns while you're gone. Quite understandable, out here in the Badlands...is she your, ah.."
"The daughter of a friend." Kahm insisted, professionally. "He's asked me to keep an eye on her, when I can."
"Very good, sir." The concierge said, nodding as the taller man turned towards the foyer.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida sits at a window seat near the bar, a cup of tea in one hand and a newspaper in the other. The headline, of course, is about the events at the port last night, and some of the editorials and commentary inside are assessments of the same. Ida wonders how the people involved managed to get their opinions in before the morning news deadline, but then again, the quality leaves something to be desired. 'Foreign imperialism'. Feh.
Ida finishes her tea, sets down the paper, and walks back over to the bar for another cup. On the way, her eyes scan the room--there's usual assortment of employees, visitors, and Drifters, and also someone who sticks out. Ida's seen Marcus Rider around the hotel before, but she's never really interacted with him. Gwen seems to know him, but otherwise, none of the Drifters she knows are that familiar with him. Maybe he just runs in different circles?
Ida watches him a moment, and then sets down some gella for a new cup of tea.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm was aware of the skirmish near Port Solde, mainly because he'd been keeping tabs on Riesenlied and her 'ebony wings'. The status of the Fossil was concerning, as many things taking placing on Ignas were concerning, but in this he could at least be grateful that one relic managed to slip out of metal demon's fingers.
He did not seem to notice Ida when she crossed the room to grab her tea-at the least, he didn't make eye contact-but once she returns to her seat she'll find the man sitting across, hands clasped together patiently as he casually eyed the headline of her newspaper from afar.
Yes, the name cited in that article hadn't escaped him either. "Miss Everstead-Rey. You seem to be doing well." He said, offering a nod of his head, "I hadn't expected to find you here in November, but I suppose this is fortunate."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida gives Marcus an even, level look at he sits down, and sips her tea. "After a fashion," she says. "And yes, I quite like it here. It reminds me of home, even though it's little rustic around the edges." It feels like a tiny miracle that she's able to summon up the energy to stay composed, and even a little friendly-seeming. "What brings you here?"
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"November City houses a branch of my agency. I was just checking in between assignments." Kahm said, apparently taking Ida's composure for the genuine article, even if it was straining for her. "If you mean here at the hotel specifically, I was checking on the daughter of acquaintance of mine. She's a geological student, earnest and willful. Her father worries about her, in a place like this."
But that's not the direction Kahm wants to take the conversation in. He's quick to detour to the subject of Ida herself. "Seeing you here brings a few questions to mind, however. You asked me not to tell our mutual acquaintance about that discovery we made." He'll say, letting it sit in the air until Ida makes the connection. "And I haven't. But I have wondered why you would ask that."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Change some of the words ever-so-slightly, and Marcus's description could also apply to Ida--at least, Ida as she knew herself before everything went to hell. "It's a rough place, I agree," Ida says. "And it's good that someone is there to ensure she stays safe." She knows she'd resent someone sending an agent to babysit her, though. The irony doesn't escape her.
Ida's eyes flick down at the teacup, as though it somehow held an easy explanation to Kahm's question. She spends a moment or two thinking, perhaps trying to find appropriate terms. "She's irresponsible."
Goodness. Could you possibly be any more forward?
"That is, I don't trust her to respect its scientific value, or its nature as a deadly weapon of war. I know she found out, I know she plans on unearthing it, and if she does, it will only escalate matters."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
'She's irresponsible.'
The man's eyes didn't flit away from Ida as she thought. At that claim, and the following justification, he leaned back in his chair to do some thinking of his own.
"That's quite astute. I'm sure you're no stranger to assessing risk, and the risk she would take is immense, in my own estimation. I have seen what she had built...such as it is. A refuge for those who don't want to fight."
Kahm himself had been content to ignore it. Defective demons had little tactical purpose or value, and letting them be could potentially weaken the fighting strength of the aggressive demons if Riesenlied's ideas took root....but then she had to go and give that foolish speech.
"It seems to me her current actions threaten all of that."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"She wants to have it both ways," Ida says. "She says she detests fighting, but she's all too willing to do it when she feels she needs to regulate human society. She claims to want a better life for her people, but she's seemingly incapable of understanding the magnitude of what she's taken on." She takes a sip of tea, punctuating the statement. "And yet, others give her so much goodwill, even..." Ida trails off, and tries to disguise it as a demure little cough.
"Even though she's used everyone around her."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm doesn't interrupt Ida as she expounds on Riesenlied's many and numerous contradiction, compounded by her betrayals. It sounded like they were things she had needed to say, and the Major was grateful in that moment that Lieutenant Commander Hawwa had taught him something of how to listen, observe, and assess. 'Lambs' would tell you everything about themselves if you gave them the opportunity, like they were compelled to do it.
"I was at Adlehyde when it fell." He says at least, breaking his gaze to briefly look askance at their surroundings. "It seems unjust that she benefits so after that, whatever her motivations. Even so, it would be a waste for her followers to suffer on account of her actions alone."
And yet, that was how it must be. A commander was responsible for the lives of those beneath them.
"But if you feel this way, why don't you stop her?"
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"How?" Ida says. Her voice is soft, but there's a sort of quiet, understated intensity in it. She's thought about this. She's thought about this far more than she's willing to admit, especially when she knows Riesenlied is so widely-loved. "I've tried to tell her, over and over, that she's making a mistake. She's brushed me off every time."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm's next words may come out with more of his military thinking than he intends. "Talk is a half-measure. That's the mistake you're making, if you don't mind my saying so."
No matter how well regarded a leader, the results were what mattered. King Justin was much beloved, and yet his compassion saved neither himself, his kingdom, or his daughter.
The Major cleared his throat, then spoke again. "That's to say, if talk has failed, perhaps you should consider what you can actually do yourself. If you don't want to see her destroy herself, then don't give her the opportunity to do so. It would be better if that ship never saw the light of day."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida's hand tightens a little around the handle of the mug. "That's not how those around her would see it," she says. "It would be 'How could you do such a thing? She only means well!' Or 'How could you hurt her? She's one of the good ones!' None of them understand. It's just--she's decided that this is how it's going to happen, therefore this is how it must happen, consequences be damned."
Ida lets out a breath. Mr. Rider, she thinks, is a very insistent man. What's his stake in all of this?
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"I've seen plenty in my time on Filgaia, Miss Everstead-Rey. Everyone claims to have good intentions, but it's what they do that ultimately matters, and the righteous path is rarely applauded."
Kahm sees the unspoken question in her exasperation, and gestures apologetically with his hands. "In truth, i'd like to do something about this, but i'm bound my agency. No contract, no action. But you..."
The man removed his hat, and placed it on an end table next to his chair, "The day we found that thing, I could tell there was a conflict in you-and now I see why. You're free to do as you please, Miss Everstead-Rey, and I can assist with that...if you're willing to hear a proposal."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Curiouser and curiouser. Ida finishes the last of her tea, and sets the empty mug down on its saucer. "I'm listening," she says.
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
Kahm dipped his chin in acknowledgement. "It's not terribly complicated. Proper munitions set in the right places ought to render that ship completely beyond salvaging. It might take my connections a few days, but I can have them delivered to you. From there it's a matter of getting close enough to the ship to set them."
If the man had tea, he'd probably be sipping it right now. "You'll probably want to enlist some help of your own in that task, but from what I can tell you're a woman of no small resources."
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
Ida looks down at the table between them, deep in thought. This feels like the same choice that's been offered to her again and again and again--either do nothing and stay helpless, or do what she knows has to be done to change things, and hurt people in the process. It feels strange this time, as well as unpleasant. Ida knows people might die if she follows through with this, yet, there is no way that the world powers will tolerate the reactivation of a fallen war machine of this magnitude, no matter what Riesenlied's goals are.
And then there is the small matter of Mr. Rider being very well-timed.
"I don't want to make any promises," Ida says. "I'll consider it. Right now, well, you saw the thing defending it. Getting to the ship will not be an easy task."
<Pose Tracker> Kahm Yugh has posed.
"Of course." Kahm said, utterly indifferent to how well-timed his visit may or may not have been. "Terrifying as that guardian is, if I had confidence it would keep all explorers away we'd not be having this discussion. You said it yourself-Riesenlied can't be convinced otherwise."
He'd pressed the opportunity far enough, trying to do more would smother it.
"Well then, I ought to be going. If you do make a decision, leave a message for me at the front desk. I check in every few days." He said, rising to his feet and returning his wide-brimmed hat to the top of his head. "Do take care of yourself, Miss Everstead-Rey."
No one else will, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Ida Everstead-Rey has posed.
"Duly noted," Ida says. The little part of her that felt sick after seeing Riesenlied retreat yesterday feels even worse. The little part that felt vaguely satisfied at the same...
Well. Ida would be lying if she said she wasn't strongly tempted. It would be a simple matter to get Kalve in on it, and he knows exactly what they'd have to do to cripple the machine for good. No one would ever have to find out. And yet, Ida can't help but think of all the ways that could go wrong, and then she's fairly certain people would be out to murder her. How did it come to this? Why does no one ever listen to her?
"You too, Mr. Rider," Ida says.