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Delivery of news
Aug. 11th, 2009 12:13 amIt is a damp-haired and mildly disconcerted Jalen who is walking down the halls, listening to Aitanna and Celtan. You can tell his disconcerted because he's not illusioning his hair to a steady color, but is going with his usual mildly plain brown with the darker streak down the middle that indicates he's likely related to the Siam family--less subtly than the same streak in both redheads, walking on either side of him.
"...and securing the supply routes will take... about... Jalen, what's up with you?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. You were saying. Supply routes to Kemack."
"Yes. There was a--"
"Uh, sis? Hate to interrupt..." Celtan interjects. "But this one can't wait."
Aitanna eyes him. "What is it this time? You do realize that if the Kemack outpost doesn't get supplies soon, they'll--"
"But you and I can work out the maths and paths of a supply route, right?" At her slow nod, he sighs. "Good. Then let Wonderboy here deal with the politics while we do the work."
Jalen nods absently, running a hand through his hair. "Sure, Celtan, just hurry and-- Hey, wait a minute--"
At this Aitanna stops and puts her hands firmly on her hips. "All right, that's it," she says in a no-nonsense tone. "Whatever it is bothering you, Jalen, get over it. Apparently things decided to happen today, and we need your head here, and not back in bed with your--" At that Jalen's eyes flash and he straightens, glaring at her just a little in warning. Aitanna meets his gaze evenly, although she has the good sense not to continue that sentence.
"All right, you have my attention," Jalen says at last. "Celtan, what catastrophic event has occurred this time?"
"Garolesanor's dead."
The other two blink.
"The governor of Xyrea?" Aitanna says tentatively.
"Yes."
Jalen frowns a little. "Leoneria house?" Celtan nods. "...Well... I mean, this is unanticipated, but I think he had a competent nephew, and his steward's more than capable, so--"
"He was murdered, Jalen." As the dead silence stretches on, Celtan continues softly, "Brutally. Stabbing--they're never pretty. Used to see them in the ER sometimes. This was well done--precise, painful... I don't think there'd be anything anyone could have done. He'd been dead for hours before anyone even found him. They're still keeping it under wraps, but it won't be much longer."
The three of them stand there looking at each other awkwardly, silently. It's going to be One of Those Days.
"...and securing the supply routes will take... about... Jalen, what's up with you?"
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. You were saying. Supply routes to Kemack."
"Yes. There was a--"
"Uh, sis? Hate to interrupt..." Celtan interjects. "But this one can't wait."
Aitanna eyes him. "What is it this time? You do realize that if the Kemack outpost doesn't get supplies soon, they'll--"
"But you and I can work out the maths and paths of a supply route, right?" At her slow nod, he sighs. "Good. Then let Wonderboy here deal with the politics while we do the work."
Jalen nods absently, running a hand through his hair. "Sure, Celtan, just hurry and-- Hey, wait a minute--"
At this Aitanna stops and puts her hands firmly on her hips. "All right, that's it," she says in a no-nonsense tone. "Whatever it is bothering you, Jalen, get over it. Apparently things decided to happen today, and we need your head here, and not back in bed with your--" At that Jalen's eyes flash and he straightens, glaring at her just a little in warning. Aitanna meets his gaze evenly, although she has the good sense not to continue that sentence.
"All right, you have my attention," Jalen says at last. "Celtan, what catastrophic event has occurred this time?"
"Garolesanor's dead."
The other two blink.
"The governor of Xyrea?" Aitanna says tentatively.
"Yes."
Jalen frowns a little. "Leoneria house?" Celtan nods. "...Well... I mean, this is unanticipated, but I think he had a competent nephew, and his steward's more than capable, so--"
"He was murdered, Jalen." As the dead silence stretches on, Celtan continues softly, "Brutally. Stabbing--they're never pretty. Used to see them in the ER sometimes. This was well done--precise, painful... I don't think there'd be anything anyone could have done. He'd been dead for hours before anyone even found him. They're still keeping it under wraps, but it won't be much longer."
The three of them stand there looking at each other awkwardly, silently. It's going to be One of Those Days.
