Ordinary Days

[Bjorn]

Into the minds of all of Paul, Ginrai, and Dracos:

This a bad time?

[Dracos]

~Quite.  We're in...discussion with Caber, and unless you think it's safe to contact us from wherever you are and potentially be listened in on and tracked, I think it might be better to wait for later.~

Dracos smiled.  "Quite right.  You are fairly efficient.  And I am a believer of obliterating the crap.  Mmm...  But, I do not think you do such.  Or at least not with any precision.  A blow that strikes the good with the bad is a bad blow to deliver.  The world could use a surgeon's blade but not the unskilled bombs you guys seem to drop on it.  I agree in premise, but not in execution.  You can consider this squemish, but when can't even be bothered to separate the good from the bad in a single easy operation, what's the point in assuming you'll...guarentee the safety of those we'd like to protect?  If you know a lot about us, you'd know that such an offer would fail soundly.  To paul, it would seem a fool's bargain.  Too close to many he's seen before and therefore almost certainly two-faced.  To me, it would clearly lack in precision and would indicate a lack of...understanding of my motives and movements in the past.  To Gin, well, there's many obvious reasons he'd side with nature over mass killings.  All of this though would be...easily researchable."

Dracos drained a cup of water and wiped his hands.  "So, sorry to dissappoint.  I assume the foods not drugged as that would just alienate us if we agreed, so how many of your legion is going to waste their energy to make sure we all die here?  Or are you perhaps going to let us continue for a while and kill us if we get too successful?  Perhaps hoping we'll do some damage to Seventh cabal who is...ahead of you at the moment?"

Dracos slowly stood up.

Dracos

[Brian]

"I hadn't realized you were so quick to leap to conclusions," not-Phil says dryly.  "We hardly intend to throw out the baby with the bathwater.  And mistaking a specific task for our entire methodology is ... innacurate, to say the least.

"We're not going to just blow up everyone we don't like.  We'll systematically choose the weakest-minded, the weakest will, the infirm, those with destructive tendancies.  We strike with surgical precision, and eliminate the undesirables from the world at large."

"Of course, on other matters," the girl says to Paul, then turning to Parthipan.  "If you haven't the spine to stand up for yourselves under Bloom's ... 'draconian' guidance ... you can always part ways with him and join us of your own volition.  You're not chained to him."

[Huitzil]

"You," Paul points to Phil, "shut up. I don't like it when people talk abotu me like I'm not even here."

"What I like even less is people who think that they alone posess the wisdom to know what's right for the world, and that it somehow gives them the right to do whatever they want. That gets my dander up."

[Brian]

Both not-Phil and the girl turn to look at Parthipan expectantly.

[Ginrai]

Ginrai calmly stands up.  "Honestly, elmininating the world's undesireables?  If that's the case, why don't your superiors set an example and kill themselves, *especially* if they're the ones that came up with this ludicrous plan that basically amounts to placing the world within a bottle."

[Brian]

"Don't shoot the messenger," not-Phil retorts.  "I was pretty sure that's what you were gonna say, but hey.  Make of it what you will.

"For what it's worth, we're not going to hunt you down, or try to get in your way.  We're also not going to help you out if you don't want to be a part of our team."

The girl sighs, and drums her fingertips on the table-top.  "And thanks for not killing me.  That's always an annoyance."

Not-Phil rises from the table, shrugs, and says, "Enjoy your meal, it's already been paid for."  He starts walking towards the door, the girl quickly following him.  "Oh," he says, pausing, and turning to look at the three of you again.  "Before I forget, if you change your mind, just ask your friend Ayame to send us an e-mail.  She'll know how."

[Dracos]

"Hmm..."  Dracos looks thoughtful, "I see.  A...fortunate day to you, Caber.  Thanks for the meal."

Dracos sat back down to enjoy the rest of the meal.

Dracos

[Brian]

Whistling a jaunty tune, not-Phil puts an arm around the waist of the girl he's with, and walks out the door.

You're now left alone with a massive array of sausages, mustards, breads, and numerous other assorted condiments.  There's a few clearly labeled tofu, turkey, and other assorted 'not true sausages' on a smaller platter to one side, and some water in a pitcher.

[Huitzil]

" 'Don't look a gift sausage in the mouth', I always say.

"I'm not sure if he was telling the truth about not trying to kill us, but if they're gonna go after us, they're gonna go after us whether we eat the sausage or not. And I looooooves me some Italian sausage."

[Dracos]

"That, Paul, is because you have taste."

Dracos promptly swipes one of the italian sausages and continues eating.

Dracos

[Dracos]

Finishing the meal, Dracos leads the leaden unleaderlike party folks outside and sees about finding busing or trains towards Spain for starters.

Dracos

[Brian]

You can get to Spain a number of different ways, but trains appear to be the most popular for those without cars.

[Dracos]

Trains it is then, provided the euros they have can afford the train trip for all three of them!

Dracos

[Brian]

Your euros suffice.  You find yourselves in a city in the southern portion of Spain at around 11:00 PM the next evening.