backdated to Byerly's abduction

[permastubble]

I— Damn. I need to apologize to you all. I screwed up. Everybody probably knows by now, but I was keeping track of things in a notebook and it got snatched. I don’t know who got it the first time, but they didn’t have it for more than two or three minutes, and I imagine most of it was spent drawing all over it. Wouldn’t you know, when I was going to destroy it, I ran into the princess and she got it away from me. I couldn’t catch her, and I burned it as soon as I did get it back. So… Yeah.

I don’t know how much she or the other thief got out of it, because it was in shorthand, dammit, but names are hard to disguise so they know some of those.

So. I don’t know what else to say. I’m sorry.

Comments

[Private]

[permastubble]

They have napalm?! Damn. And who’s Istas?

And by accepting you, do you mean that they’re also going to expect you to go criminal? Undercover is one thing, but they know who you are.

Re: [Private]

[bypartisan]

Yes. Or 'Greek fire' as they call it here. And I have no clue as to whether or not they expect me to commit criminal acts. If I do, I don't think you have the authority here to arrest me.

Istas is a rather fierce young lady who can turn into a ten-foot-tall bear-wolf. For reasons I don't completely understand, I seem to have become her walking conscience.

Re: [Private]

[permastubble]

You shouldn’t have to feel guilty about what you have to do here later. That’s— I wouldn’t arrest you; I know there’s extenuating circumstances. Just!

Oh. Yeah, I know who you were talking about. I didn’t have her name before. I don’t envy you at all for that.

Re: [Private]

[bypartisan]

I've gotten used to her. Sharing a hotel room for weeks will do that. Although I wish she'd let me sleep on the hotel bed for once. I've been permanently consigned to the rollaway.

Re: [Private]

[permastubble]

[That actually gets a little smile out of him, not that Byerly can see it.]

It could be worse? But if you really get tired of things, you could bunk with me for a while. I don't mind letting someone else have the bed; I've fallen asleep on worse than the floor.

Re: [Private]

[bypartisan]

Mm. I might consider it.

[He's surprised by the offer? And oddly touched. After how easy it had been to needle him about the liaison with Tollman, Byerly had assumed he was one of those who'd never even dream of sharing a room with By for fear he'd molest them in his sleep. It was... gratifying to be proved wrong.]

Re: [Private]

[permastubble]

Offer's open; just call me up or however this network works if you want to take me up on it.