abraxaslogs | [ open ] gonna keep movin', gonna roll to town

I'm going to have to make this quick, I'm sorry. But sit down, let's see what we can get done while I have a minute.

[Much like before, Marlo offers a tired but friendly smile and instructs Sam to sit a soon as he's ushered into her office. The hunting dog in front of the fire barely lifts his head this time.

There's no indication the prime minister is bothered by this meeting, or worried about what Sam may want to talk about.]

[ the friendly smile he gives in return feels a little less genuine, or perhaps just a little less, than sam would like. a voice in the back of his head says he should have come before now, should have there be some kind of repertoire that they're building on, rather than just showing up and expecting anything to change.

get better he tells himself, stepping inside and moving over to the same seat he'd taken last conversation. ] That's fine- I don't want to take up all your time. [ he waits until she makes it to the other side of her desk and begins to sit herself before he lowers himself down in the chair, though his posture is straighter than before. not stiff, necessarily, but he's come with a topic and he's feeling a certain kind of way about it. ]

But I'll get right to it. [ a beat, a small frown. ] Do you know what is happening in the barracks outside of Cadens?

[There's a small nod in return and a knowing look from the Prime Minister. She doesn't appear to be upset or bothered by the subject brought up. Or how quickly the subject was delved into.]

I do. And I'm sure it looks bad from where you're sitting, but we're not trying to repeat what Thorne's doing. What we are trying to do is figure out a way to make sure everybody ends up where they ought to be. If we could do it with a wagon, we would.

[She leans back in her chair, her body language and expression remaining friendly but a bit tired.]

And I can promise you this: no one who ends up here while we figure this out is going to be mistreated. No one's getting locked up. No one's being interrogated. No one's ending up stuck here and having to fend for themselves or prod at the Singularity for us.

[ he appreciates how professionally she reacts to the question, if only because it takes away from of the uncertainty he'd had in how to approach the subject. now that they're into it, sam seems to not necessarily relax, but get to business. ]

Yeah- no offense, ma'am. But it does look bad. Really bad.

[ but he does listen, even if sam's frown doesn't quite go away. tired or not, he isn't sure he's following. isn't sure he gets it. so he waits for her to finish, fully, before responding himself. ]

And where does everyone ought to be, if you don't mind m asking? [ it's asked simply, without any tone or tilt. ] Because if you're trying to find a way for us to head home, that's one thing. One thing that we can probably help with, if you'll let us. But if you're still bringing people here- that forcing people into something they didn't want to be a part of, and getting them stuck here, just like the rest of us.

[ he takes a breath, resituates himself just in case he was coming across as sharper than he needed to. ]

Unless you've found some way to ask these newcomers if they want to sign up for this, you're taking people from their home. Which is exactly what Thorne did, and probably still is doing. [ which is sam's issue, at the end. that all of this had been without consent, without asking. there are kids that need to get home, people who had wars to fight. this singularity business was one thing, sure, but it's the principal of the matter. ]

And don't get me wrong- we are grateful for everything you've done and are doing. You've treated us well when you didn't need to. But bringing more of us here...it sends a very different message.

Now if you've talked to any of these folks we ended up with, you'd know we're not making them to do anything. We're even paying anyone who helps out a little on their own accord and making it clear we'll happily provide employment if anyone wants it. And I couldn't tell you where you all ought to be, we don't know that. But we know it isn't in our cities.

[Marlo folds her hands on her desk.]

I already told you that we don't understand the Singularity or what Thorne's trying to do with it. It's a process, and one we're working our way through. But if you all want to get back to your places, you should have realized by now that it's the Singularity that's going to do it. I'm sorry for anyone who's displaced in this process, but we aren't trying to kidnap anyone. This is the problem with magic, you can't predict it.

[The shake of her head and slight irritation that comes into her voice at the end says clearly how the Prime Minister feels about magic.]

I know you're not making them do anything- and that you're offering them work, and a place to stay. Again, we're thankful for your kindness - yours and the whole of the Free Cities. [ because he does - he's been talking to the newcomers, keeping everyone connected. he wants her to know they're all still in communication, that they're all updated. or at least trying to be. ] But that doesn't stop the fact that with these trials, you're still bringing people here against their will, even if it's in the name of trying to send us home.

[ he lets out a breath of his own, here, holding himself back from the sudden urge to rub at his face. sam needs to shift tactics, he doesn't know how much they're going to be able to get done with this. ]

Whether you mean to or not, you are - technically - kidnapping anyone who bring here. I know that's not your intention, but I know how the others like me are feeling, and I can imagine what Thorne is going to do in response to it, and I'm coming to you to try and get ahead of anything that might start up in response to it.

Do you know what's going wrong, yet? Why people are showing up here, instead of anything - I'm assuming you're testing it on things before you try it on people - leaving?

I'm well aware of what's happening. And I am sorry for it, but my people and my country are my first priority and I have a whole lot more to deal with than you and yours. I'm doing what I can but please understand I don't have to use any of our resources to try and help you. And there's plenty in my government that thinks it's all a waste and we ought to just leave you to Thorne's mercy.

[Marlo's tone remains friendly, but there's a tightness around her eyes now.]

I understand you're on the outside looking in, but you need to understand that, too. You haven't been here very long, you don't know our government or our current political climate beyond broad strokes. You visitors aren't the only thing happening that we're trying to deal with. And while I appreciate your concern, we're the one with the army and centuries of experience dealing with Thorne. We will handle whatever response there is because what's happening between our countries has been happening since well before you got here. If there's anything we feel you or yours can help with, I will bring it to you. If we learn anything useful, I will tell you. But for now we don't have anything concrete to share. I can't make any promises, but I might be able to convince one of our magic users to write up a report for you, but I don't know what good it would do you.

Then let us help. I've talked to some of the new ones you brought in, and I've tried to temper their reactions, but being brought here against their will sets anyone off. Involve us- or just me, I'm happy to help, just so we can help you get us home and out of your hair.

[ he knows where she is coming from - he gets it. but he also can't find it in himself to sit back while all this happens. ]

I don't want to complicate things, and I know you've got enough on your plate. The last thing I want is to add to that. But people are starting to feel tense, and I know you've got centuries of history that we don't understand. I'm not here to tell you what to do with your country or your people. I'm just trying to help stop what it feels like all of this is heading towards.

[ sam won't say the word war, but he's well enough aware of inter-country tensions, can hear julie's voice in the back of his head now. he grinds his teeth down a bit to hold back his own tension, reminding himself that this is important. that if he can just get to her... ]

There are magic users here- people who were Summoned in. They might have more information about the process. Would you consider letting one of us in the room?

The fact you're talking to me like it's my decision and only mine makes it real obvious you're not clear on how things work here. I just told you that not all of my fellow leaders agree with me about you all. I am doing what I can but I'm not a dictator or a queen and my word isn't absolute.

[Marlo sighs and holds up her hands.]

I will continue to do what I can. That is the only promise I can make to you right now.

I'm not clear on how things work here. [ he states simply. ] But I want to be. I want to help you, and whoever else makes decisions, know what is going on with these people who are being brought through that well - especially with more showing up. I can talk to the council or whoever, act as a kind of consultant. We're not on separate sides here, you all want us back to where we're supposed to be, and we want that too.

[ sam is starting to get the feeling time is running out. so he adjusts in his chair a bit. ]

We are all grateful for what you have done for us- that hasn't changed. But I can do more, too. I can talk to the other leaders, I can prove that we're not here to cause problems, and maybe we can all figure out how to get us home together.

[ it hits a little close to home, he realizes. that feeling of having decisions made for him, and the other summoned, without any of them knowing. that feeling of having things dictated, without the chance to have a voice at the table. ]

I know you're not the only one making decisions, and I know it's not just in your court, but I also don't want to do anything without your support, either. I can help, if you'll let me.

[Marlo sighs again but there's an honest look of tiredness on her face and she nods.]

I'm all in favor of taking advantage of whatever resource we can, including your brain. I am. And I know you're frustrated - you aren't the only one. Now I can't get into all the politics going on right now, I'm sure you can understand that, but I can take what you've said to the rest. And I will. But you have got to let me handle this.

I will do everything I've said I will. I will plead your case, I will try and get a report on the Singularity to you, and I will keep you updated as best as I can on what's going on behind closed doors. Right now, those are the only promises I can make. But I'm making them.

[ open ] gonna keep movin', gonna roll to town

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