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Post by Oliver on Mar 31, 2009 2:21:01 GMT -5
((A little while.))
"We don kill civilians..." He mutters lowly, knowing full well the storm this will incite within Iole. "But we don have enough resources te take many prisoners... many must jus be killed... else we'd have te take rations away from our people."
Sid can't but help overhearing. "Iole, if I might be blunt. The LPA and CWP are fighting an up hill battle here. Ve do vhat ve must, for the good of all of us. Ve take high value prisoners, officers, vhat have you. Ve cannot take them all, not anymore. They von't fight vith us, so they are a liability."
Oliver sighs, knowing what he is about to say won't make this any better. "We took a'few prisoners a'hile back, tey escaped, takin wit tem some names of our officers an ot'er important party members. Commitsar Reynard ordered af'er tat all non-important prisoners be executed, saves us from information 'eaks and rations all around. Oh tat reminds me, Sid!"
Sid looks over, eyes curious to the next question. "Yes?"
"Iole and I came across a sniper in the old Anderlay building, ri'ht tere in the court'ard. Mi'te have sum competition."
"Oh fun, I'll keep my eye out."
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Post by Iole on Mar 31, 2009 2:25:57 GMT -5
::Iole's grind together, but her lower lip is quivering::
Killing an enemy on the battlefield is one thing, but those men willingly surrendered in good faith that their lives would be spared. If they had known they would be executed, they would have fought to their last soldier.
::She snaps her head back around to pin Oliver and Sid with her gaze::
How does what just happened make you any different from those buthcers that gunned down your friends in the streets? War ethics aside, that was wrong and you both know it!
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Post by Oliver on Mar 31, 2009 15:08:47 GMT -5
Oliver is visibly uncomfortable at this predicament, here he had talked so highly of the LPA, failing to acknowledge those seedier aspects that any side in any war does but never speaks of.
"Its... not right, no, but wat else are we to do?" Is Oliver's only reply; Sid interjects with his battle hardened knowledge.
"It's var, Iole. The sooner you come to terms vith that, the easier it becomes to accept it. If the Regent hadn't cut off our aid, taking it for his army, ve could hold prisoners, but he did and ve have no other choice nov. It's costly and ve don't have the resources, not to mention the security risks. Our people are starving, his aren't. Another mouth to shelter and feed is a vaste of resources." He takes a moment to breathe. "The vorld isn't black and white... you got to accept that."
The closer they get to the blue zone, the stranger the place feels this day. Yesterday, in the afternoon as they walked through the streets, it was vibrant, this late morning however, feels different. Rows of people getting their weekly rations wait in long lines at tiny shops used for rationing, its more somber, specially with the sounds of sporadic battles in the distance. There's an explosion somewhere in the "yellow zone", the area just outside the blue zone and before the red zone where the contested territories are. It rattles the nerves of the people, everyone pausing for a breath, as if expecting it to fall upon them, before continuing.
In the air, the sounds of a fast talking voice filter about. It's the "Red Regent" the CWP's pirate radio host, telling the news of the day and passing along information from the Commitsar and other party members.
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Post by Iole on Mar 31, 2009 15:25:55 GMT -5
(OOC: I know Iole doesn't like him, but I've got to say that I personally find Sid awesome ^_^)
::A chilling voice from a memory sounds in Iole's head at Sid's words::
Good, Bad, Black, White, you can't keep seeing things in absolutes.
::Iole stays close to Oliver the entire time, not really paying attention to where they're going. Sid was right, but that didn't mean she had to like it. There had to be another way. There's always an alternative. For now she tried to focus on something else, something she could handle::
Um... I've been thinking about the demon. If there is someone working behind the scenes with those kinds of resources, I'm guessing they're not bound by a whole lot of political red tape. I mean, the Regent is ruthless, but even he has guidelines to follow.
::It's the first time she's spoken since her last outburst. Because she had been so deadened at the time, she hadn't realized how close she had been to Oliver, actually resting her head on his shoulder. And she had also been unaware that her eyes had been streaming since before the walk back::
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Post by Oliver on Mar 31, 2009 16:29:50 GMT -5
"Perhaps, the Regent has been groving more ruthless every day, or so it vould seem."
Sid walks a few feet beside Oliver and Iole, keeping his eyes straight ahead and back slightly slouched, like a tired traveler with aching bones.
...*Ring* "Oysrein Noreng!" *Ring* "Peter Hough!" *Ring*...
Atop what looks to be an old gallows stand situated near the Crest center, is a CWP offical, dressed plainly but professional, reading from a list. Beside him is another man, a low-ranking LPA officer holding a brass bell, which he rings after each name. There's a number of civilians crowded around the stand, some crying softly, others watching on with static faces.
"George Hourani!" *Ring*...
The man continues to read off names for several minutes, each followed by a chime of the bell. Once finished he hands off the list to the representative from the LPA.
"As per the Commitsar's declaration, all families of the deceased will receive one-half the ration and wage of the dead till such time their need is slated."
Oliver and Sid stop during this, watching quietly till the men have finished and left their stage.
"Te dead from tee week, more tis time." Mutter Oliver, dishearteningly.
"Every veek there's alvays more, more and more. Filling the Aristocracies bellies, till burst from the flesh of our dead."
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Post by Iole on Mar 31, 2009 17:39:12 GMT -5
::With each ring, Iole's heart skips a beat. Death, grieving, loved ones left behind, children left starving because their father's life had just been taken. She tried to join the throng in their grief, if only to calm her own grieving concsience. With every ring she calls a name to her mind of someone she had known who had given up their own lives for something they believed in::
*Ring* Infinity. *Ring* Cherai. *Ring* Simon. *Ring* Melanie. *Ring* Auntie. *Ring* Rena.
::Each name represented someone who had made sacrifices because they believed in something greater than themselves. It was probably trying, but they all did it with unwavering faith that it was the right thing. And now she and Oliver had their own sacrifices to make, and their own fight to win. She had to put her personal feelings aside. This had to stop. She nestles her head deeper into the space between Oliver's neck and shoulder::
I'm sorry.
::How could she have been so thoughtless? This had to be weighing on Oliver too. She knew he was gentle, and that death bothered him as well. And here she, who had claimed to be his best friend and sworn to watch his back, had lashed him with her tongue, cutting him deeper than any blade. How could he still want her with him?::
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Post by Oliver on Mar 31, 2009 21:32:56 GMT -5
Oliver gently caresses Iole's hair for a few moments after shes speaks, is eyes staying straight ahead towards where the gallows are. He gentle nuzzles his cheek into her hair and whispers.
"I know... an I'm sorry you had te get involved..."
After the crowd disperses, Sid breaks the moment. "Vant to get some food?"
Oliver looks up, snapping out of that embracing trance. 'Uh, ya, sure. Wan'te get sumtin te eat, Iole?"
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Post by Iole on Mar 31, 2009 21:43:26 GMT -5
I chose to stay. It wasn't your fault.
::Then she addresses Sid, trying to put on a brave face::
Hey... where was that place Adrian took us once? You know, after our show where you stuffed yourself so full of meat pies you passed out and I had to carry you home?
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Post by Oliver on Mar 31, 2009 22:08:45 GMT -5
"Oh... uh..." Oliver says, trying to put this softly. "Tat place is long gone... a lot of te old places aren't around anymore, 'east not as ye remember tem. Also... no restaurants exist in te blue zone. Rations gotta go to te people, not te businesses... well except for our 'friends' Doug an Marissa but tey kinda get teir stuff tho teir own means."
"Vouldn't eat there if you don't like tape-vorm." Interjects Sid, light-heartily and half-serious.
"We cou'd go to te LPA mess. Te food tere is relatively decent if ye don't tink too hard about wat ye eatin! Tink we can'et her in?"
Sid shrugs. "She's technically LPA nov, but doesn't have the ration card. Ve can try."
"Worth a'hot."
Heading down another street, they come to a building that smells strongly of boiled cabbage with line leading out.
"Eck... tis will take fifteen minutes..."
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Post by Iole on Mar 31, 2009 22:13:32 GMT -5
::She isn't too surprised that the restaraunt is gone. She had just been trying to recall a happier memory. Whatever it took to get her mind off things until another battle came. But there's still one thing she needs to take care of. This was something she knew better than the LPA in. With Oliver arranging things so she'll be able to eat, Iole turns to Sid::
Hey Sid, if someone were to try to get into the city, how would they go about doing it? I mean, how long does it take to get in through the normal channels?
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Post by Oliver on Mar 31, 2009 22:30:31 GMT -5
Sid thinks for a moment. "Vell, the LPA and CWP has a netvork connected to the underground tunnel system betveen here and Treno vhere the PUT is located - a CWP clone. Ve smuggle through there but it's dangerous and a long journey. Once in Treno, it's relatively easy to get outside the city. They ovn half the city and have gotten into a stalemate vith their bourgeoisie. Need to speak vith Lieutenant Beck, he's in charge of all that business, vhy you ask? Have something planned?"
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Post by Iole on Mar 31, 2009 22:33:28 GMT -5
Well... I'm still concerned about who sent that Demon. I'm pretty sure whatever they were planning, it's a little bigger than the Regent. Maybe another faction trying to take advantage of the situation. And like you said, I'm technically LPA now, so I can't very well act on my own. So I was thinking of calling in someone who could. He's a good friend of mine. He still does a little... freelancing now and again. He'd jump at this sort of thing.
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Post by Oliver on Apr 1, 2009 2:56:36 GMT -5
Sid's eyes make him appear distant and vacant, as if not listening. It's a bit disconerting, nearly troubling. When he talks, its as if his voice is disconnected. "Um... sorry. I'm a bit tired."
"A'right... s'ight trouble. No rat'on card no rat'on." Oliver says as he returns to Iole and Sid.
Sid, without a word, motions for the other two to follow. At the guard checking the card, he hands him his. "Let the lady take mine for the day." He says pointing to Iole. The guard shrugs, mutters a 'whatever' and punches the card.
Walking back, passing by them he mutters. "I'm really just too tired to eat. Enjoy." And without another word, he walks off.
Oliver shakes his head. "Well... shall we?"
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Post by Iole on Apr 2, 2009 13:17:02 GMT -5
(OOC: Whew, I'm back. Sorry about yesterday. I just didn't want to risk it)
::Iole stares in bewilderment at the ration card after the guard hands it back to her, unsure of how to react::
Um... thank you Sid.
::Iole smiles at Oliver::
Come on. I'm starving.
::While the two of them are getting their portion, Iole whispers an aside to Oliver::
You know, if it's going to be a problem for me to eat every day, I could always just eat at our "friend's" place. I know what Sid said, but come on, you know what my stomach is like.
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Post by Oliver on Apr 3, 2009 14:31:40 GMT -5
((So my schools network went kaput yesterday -_- no net and it wasn't conficker!))
"I wou'din wish tat food upon te Regent, Iole. Much less you. We'll get ye a ration-card soon enough, 'alk te Connolly, see wat he can do."
Taking their seat amoungst other members of the LPA, Oliver greets a few of those around him and begins to eat. In the background, a radio plays with the Red Regent's voice coming through loudly over the speaker, when a mummer falls over the crowd inside the dinning hall, followed by silence.
"Your Red Regent here with another news update! Seems there's someone out there in Lindblum land that has gotten a spark of vigilantism in them. Guess who everyone's favorite comrade just found out? Give up? Well according to a creditable source, that bastard Pantelei Bodnarenko of the LFL got another air hole earlier. Report says that a man around six feet tall wearing a trench coat and jeans was seen exiting the building where Bodnarenko hid himself up, shortly after an exchange of gun-fire. Well, I say good riddance! About time someone took care of that sicko. And that's the news... oh one last comment, a big hearty congratulations to the men and women who took Gin Street today, keep up the good fight! This is the Red Regent, giving you the truth in the news."
"Huh..." Mutters Oliver, looking up to Iole. "Well, a'other bit of good news for today. Tat was te guy who did te suicide bombings."
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Post by Iole on Apr 3, 2009 17:43:19 GMT -5
::Iole pauses. While it's against her standard to be happy about someone's death, she can't help but feel that some good will come out of no further "sploders" taking their own lives pointlessly. But there's something else that bothers her::
A trench coat and jeans? Sorry if I'm being paranoid, but doesn't that sound like a hit-man to you? You're not even a little worried about what that might entail?
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Post by Oliver on Apr 3, 2009 19:37:15 GMT -5
Oliver shakes his head no. "One hitman in tis p'ace is no different t'en one sniper or one soldier, why be more concerned about t'en need be?" He jams his fork into the boil cabbage. "Leas'tey hit somone deserving of it. Hell, cou'da been someone jus' angry tat he sent t'eir babushka to blow up." He takes a mouth full of the cabbage, looking disappointed that it lacked really any flavor. "'ater, wa't te take ye somewhere, un'ess ye got some shoppin plans?"
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Post by Iole on Apr 3, 2009 22:23:23 GMT -5
::Iole rolls her eyes::
Don't talk with your mouth full. It's hard enough to understand you sometimes. But I guess you're right. I guess it's the whole "us against the world" feeling that's making me all neurotic. But what do you expect? I was raised by a demon. So where did you want to take me?
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Post by Oliver on Apr 4, 2009 1:47:12 GMT -5
Oliver chuckles. "Sorry, ya I'ma bit gutteral wit te talk'in, leass'im better t'en I was seven years ago!" He swallows his food with a gulp, playfully teasing Iole with the noise of it. " Not gonna tell ye, gonna have te find out, ye will!" He wipes his lips and tosses down the paper napkin on his tray. "Whenever ye ready. Sick of tis cabbage and beats."
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Post by Iole on Apr 4, 2009 1:52:58 GMT -5
::Oliver looks down at her plate to find that Iole has already downed her portion with gusto in the amount of time it's taken him to chew and swallow half of his. He didn't even see her eat it::
Yep. I'm ready. Lets go.
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