Video

[runs_on_batteries]

Good evening, Voidtreckers. I'd like to announce a council meeting in three days. It's overdue and I believe we have a number of items to discuss.

Please council members take some time over the next few days to come up with and notify me of topics we need to discuss so I can prepare an agenda. If anyone who is not a council member feels strongly about a certain topic we should consider, either tell me or seek out a council member so they may relay the information.

Comments

FIGHT ME IN THE FREAKING PIT HOPE

[irrationally]

Is that really the nicest way you could think of to explain that to a child?

[ It wasn't even that bad, but someone's a little overprotective. ]

NAME THE TIME AND I"LL BE THERE

[runs_on_batteries]

Shall I direct all the stupid questions to you then?

[irrationally]

Oh, I'm so sorry. Is dealing with a seven year old below your paygrade? [ She rolls her eyes. ]

She's just curious. As all children are, especially when thrown into situations far beyond the familiar.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

Not that I'm telling you to stop, but just to let you know what to expect. Question the leadership around here and the entire train will come down on you.

[runs_on_batteries]

Knock it off Edge. You only got that reaction for going after a kid.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

You forget the first time I said the leadership here was unworthy.

[runs_on_batteries]

[He rolls his eyes.]

I still met with you and was willing to discuss whatever you wanted. I even offered mediation but only Yuffie showed. Do you recall that?

[onehandsomeslickninja]

You told me I was only advocating for her position because I wanted to get in her pants.

[runs_on_batteries]

I still think that. But I offered to talk with you and her with a neutral party.

[irrationally]

I don't care much for questioning any leadership or anything of the sort. I just need him to not harass her.

[ Maybe a little too single-minded... ]

[onehandsomeslickninja]

That counts! Words spoken to a person who is the leader are words spoken to the leader. At least around here.

[irrationally]

You sound like you have a very personal problem with him.

[onehandsomeslickninja]

He's proven himself a poor leader.

[runs_on_batteries]

[Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.]

Do you know how many children I deal with regularly?

[And one just decided she wanted to bond with a vampire cat. The other just lost his girlfriend and is a mopey pile of teenager. Another is a cranky old man even though he's also a ten year old...

But.. this hostile woman might not be completely wrong. (In fact, she was completely right, but he won't admit that much.)]

[irrationally]

[ Maybe you've just picked the wrong kids to deal with, Tony... ]

I was initially assuming none, judging by your reply to her. [ But, you know, what he's saying apparently indicates otherwise. ] In that case you should know better than to be harsh to her. She's already having difficult enough of a time as it is.

[runs_on_batteries]

[He frowns at that and takes a moment to reply.]

I didn't know. I'm sorry about that. Did she get one of the welcome bears? What's her- and your- name? I haven't met either of you.

[irrationally]

[ Give her a moment here.

Alice is very visibly doing a double take. Because, uh. Is this an adult man who can acknowledge his mistakes? Do those actually exist? By far the weirdest thing she's seen on the train.

At least it makes her answer surprisingly honest and cooperative. ]

Her name is Alice, and I believe she did. She's still new, hence why this might be your first time seeing her. The mission was tough on her, as you can imagine.

[ Hence why older Alice is particularly pouncy. ]

.. my name is Alice as well. [ Tacked on as an afterthought. ]

[runs_on_batteries]

[He waits for her to collect herself enough to answer him.]

I'm assuming you're close with her if you know about her state of mind. Please, let me know if she didn't get one and I'll make sure she does.

[He visibly glances away from the screen so he can check what team she's on for some context. Although doing so brings up something else surprising.]

You two have the same last name too.

[He looked at her curiously.]

What's your relationship to her?

[madcuriosity]

Miss Alice, really it's alright, he's nowhere near what the Queen of Hearts was like, he's not even near what Mr. Hatter was like. He's just very straight to the point. [Look, Alice is used to mean adults, it's literally how both worlds functioned, Tony is a 2 at best on that scale.]

[irrationally]

[ Alice, why must you make it so hard for her to stay angry. :( She knows the world is terrible, but that's why she wants to protect you from it! ]

People still shouldn't treat you unkindly though. I would have said more than that to the Queen of Hearts if she were here.

[madcuriosity]

[Because anger is lame and usually gets nothing done.]

I can't help how other people treat me. I'm not them.

[irrationally]

As long as I can help how they treat you though, I'm not just quietly going to stand by.

[ She's witnessed enough bad things without speaking up. She can't repeat that. ]

[madcuriosity]

I know. I love you too, Miss Alice. I don't want anything bad to happen to you either.

[irrationally]

[ Little Alice really is too sweet. And too clever, to be able to pick up on the implied meaning in that statement enough to say she loves the older Alice too.

Said implied meaning only being emphasized by this Alice not denying any of it in the slightest. ]

Then if someone is mean to me next time, you can yell at them instead. [ Yes, that's an actual attempt at humor. ]

[madcuriosity]

[She can be terribly clever, wickedly so if she so wished, but her sweetness thankfully stops that.]

I will, but whyever would anyone be mean to you!