♪ Note 1 ♪ [BBS/Action]

[whistleconcert]

I've heard about the troubles Garden's suffered while I was gone. Good job to those of you who got through them; I don't imagine it was easy. And for those of you who are new here, welcome to Garden.

My name is Blues, and I'm the instructor for Art & Music Appreciation on Tuesday and Thursday, as well as Advanced Weapons Training: Firearms and Projectiles on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you have a question about these courses, come speak with me directly. For those of you taking Art & Music Appreciation on my days, I need to meet with you as soon as you're able.

I'll be in my office for a few hours, but I can schedule a day for meeting if you feel the need for it.

As a last note, everyone, both cadet and SeeD, need to be on their guard while outside of Garden. Sol Invictus seems to have gotten ruffled about something, and if it's enough to upset them, it's not something we can afford to ignore.

-- #47137, Blues


[ACTION 1]

[As he said, Blues is hanging around in his office, just working on some papers as well as a side project of sorts. A large case is sitting at the side of the desk, currently closed, while a robotic green cat is lounging on a corner of the desk, snoozing.]


[ACTION 2]

[Much later in the afternoon, but not quite evening, anyone who goes into the Quad will be hearing a strange, yet beautiful, song.

Blues himself is settled on the branch of a tree for lack of short buildings, whistling the song and watching the skyline quietly. His last mission has made an uncomfortable worry settle into him, and unlike back home, it's not a worry he can push away. That was the one problem about this place, wasn't it? He's gotten too close to everyone here, too personal. And it's because of that he can't just help and leave, like usual. But he's too deep in to back out now, and even if he could... he can't just abandon those here who've counted on him.

But again, that leaves that uncomfortable feeling that there's a storm on the horizon, and he can't stop it alone.

Sigh. Blues reaches down to rub Tango's head, the support unit curled up on his lap to offer some semblance of comfort.]

Comments

[bbs]

[espio]

"Ruffled"?

You know, I've never really considered Sol Invictus much of a threat. If anything they seem fairly neutral - they've pursued off-world tech pretty aggressively, but what else have they actually done?

[BBS]

[whistleconcert]

They've attacked people or places without provocation purely to take that off-world technology from them, hurting those who've done nothing at all but possess the wrong thing. Furthermore, they've attacked various SeeDs on missions, also without provocation, using those pieces of off-world technology against us. If it was just pursuing the technology, that would be worrying, but not inherently a problem.

"Aggressively" doesn't cover it -- they seem more than willing to use everything they have against everyone else no matter the consequences to those in their way.

I'd say that's enough to warrant caution with them.

Re: [BBS]

[espio]

Maybe. They are a potential problem. However, I would think if they were an active issue, there'd have been more trouble and missions related to them in recent months. The most significant thing they've done lately is contact us and warn us about that mage, which doesn't seem particularly aggressive to me.

I'll give you that they have a lot of tech, though.

[BBS]

[whistleconcert]

Deception is a matter of perspective. If you want to deceive someone, just change the way they perceive you. Humans can do it simply enough with words and programs -- how much more could someone with non-humans and technology from different worlds manage it?

What seems to be helpful could actually be a way for someone to further their own goals, just shown to us from a different perspective.

[espio]

Translated, that appears to mean "be suspicious of everyone in the whole damn world."

[Action]

[om_nom_namur]

[Namur isn't the greatest at tact, but he does know some things are best discussed in person. He half-grunts, half-laughs at the sight of a cyborg cat as he walks into the office, flips a chair around, and plops himself down. He rests his arms over the back and cants his head to the side, mouth open just enough to get a good taste.]

Yo.

[whistleconcert]

[Namur has Blues's full attention once he steps into the office, though Tango doesn't give him more than a half-open eye before going back to sleep.

Shark man. That's a new one. Garden really did get some interesting people around while he was gone. Blues shifts his sitting a little, crossing his arms over one another on the desk.]

What do you need?

[om_nom_namur]

[He gives Blues a funny look. Dude smells a lot like Little Blue, Thatch's car, but Namur can't taste anything off of him. Weird.]

Y' mentioned Sol Invictus, an' nobody ever gives a straight answer 'bout 'em. All muddyin' up the water does is make people wonder 'bout 'em more, y' get my drift. So what's their deal, d' y' know?

[whistleconcert]

[Ah, so that's what this is about.]

They're an organization at the very least as powerful as Garden. I'd guess more powerful than us, myself. They've been taking any off-world technology they can get their hands on, and I've heard rumors suggesting even to the point of outright attacking natives for it.

While I can't say for sure, from what I've seen and heard, my guess is they don't care about the natives at all, and they don't attempt to restrict the abilities of their members. You can imagine how well this goes over with those who are from this world originally, especially with the way many of them still think of us.

[Feel honored, Namur. Blues isn't exactly known for giving straight answers, but he seems to think this is important enough to talk directly for.]

Of course, seeing as we can't exactly open a meeting with them and they've both attacked and helped us in the past, most of this is just guessing. Who can say what their deal is at this point?

[eggplantallergy]

Has anyone told you that you have quite the appropriate name for Art and Music Appreciation? In any case, it has been a long while since we've have an off-worlder as an instructor for that class! [He still misses Sharpay...]

Welcome back, by the way!

-Gakupo

[whistleconcert]

You're the first, both to tell me that and to understand my name.

[Congrats, Gakupo.]

[eggplantallergy]

I would have thought someone else would have picked up on that. That's kind of foreshadowing.

[whistleconcert]

I learned that humans are one of the few things you can never fully predict long ago.

( BBS )

[black]

I am Instructor Saber, and teach both intermediate and advanced Bladed Weapons classes.

Welcome back to Garden. I do not believe we have met.

( BBS )

[whistleconcert]

Saber... yes, I saw your name on the roster when I came back.

We haven't, no. This is the first time I've been back in Garden properly in a long time.

[black]

I have been in Garden about a year and a quarter. I am certain we will run into one another.

[whistleconcert]

It's likely, yes. I won't be going anywhere for a while.

Action!

[fierybluebird]

[On a branch above Blues, Marco coolly arches an eyebrow, and waits until the song is done before bending his head down to peer upside down at the person.]

You're in my tree, yoi.

[Who knew trees could be claimed?]

[whistleconcert]

[Tango's ears go back, but Blues just pats the cat on the head again, inclining his head up slightly.]

I didn't think trees could be claimed.

[fierybluebird]

Well, now you know. And I was here first.

[A pause as he thinks it over.] You don't have to leave though. [So gracious?] Just thought you ought to know. [All the deadpan.]

[whistleconcert]

[Blues resists a snort at that. Marco wouldn't have had an easy time of getting him to leave it anyway.]

Nice of you.

[ACTION 1]

[laughafterme]

[And Pinkie just pops out of a random closet in his office, armed with a hanger pointed at him.]

So you're back now, huh?!

[whistleconcert]

[He was wondering how long she was going to hide in there before she came out. He puts down the pen, glancing at her from over the rim of the sunglasses.]

Hello, Pinkie.

[laughafterme]

Hey! What's up?! [She hangs up the hanger and closes the closet.] You should have said you would be back! I could have thrown you a party!

[She probably still will. Pinke takes up a chair from the other side of the desk and brings it next to Blues, sitting down on it.]

[whistleconcert]

You're a covert ops specialist too. Shouldn't you have seen me come back?

[He's teasing a little, and though there's no physical indication of it, he relaxes some when she sits by him.]

Besides, you know I don't like being the center of attention.

[Tango, meanwhile, has perked up on her coming over, promptly hopping over to roll around in her lap and purr happily.]