karen sharpe (boltcutter) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2015-11-29 20:37:00 |
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This didn’t seem to be the usual sort of appointed meeting. Karen had come her for a discussion on a topic she was yet unsure of, but certainly her instincts favored something less than fortuitous. Times what they were, one big calamity after another, a mighty string of dominoes tilting downward one after the other, one could hardly think to expect less. Anything to do with the LBJ, those Austin neighbors the capitol had been on tenuous terms with, would of course be a long time in the making. She parked her truck outside, went through the details of security, and couldn’t help but wish that perhaps this once she hadn’t had to ship out here alone. That’s what these desperate times had done, but Karen ignored her own brief weakness and soldiered on. Hands in her pockets, a thoughtful and solitary figure who looked out of place, she moved past the guard detail and inside to the library. Walking slowly and deliberately, she kept an eye out for Savannah. It had been a bit of a hectic day, trying to keep panic at bay within the library after the arrest of the Hellhound officers, and for that reason she was running uncharacteristically late. She’d meant to meet Karen at the entrance and escort her up to her office for their chat, but instead she intercepted Karen in the hall. “Oh, Karen, there you are!” Savannah greeted her, waving a bit. “Sorry, busy day here. C’mon with me and we’ll have a chat,” she said, pushing the nerves out of her voice. Hopefully Day’s plan would work out and they would be riding high after their ‘victory’ of catching the Hellhounds that what she was about to do would hardly be a blip on the Capitol’s radar. Karen offered a polite wave in return. “Good day,” she said, “hope I haven’t caught you in the middle of something too important.” Solid and steady as always on the outside, the department agent had sunk into the busy tides of the crowded library like a steel anchor. Swaying from her path only to follow Savannah, she made in the instinctual direction of the office. Through her time spent here laying down the proper transactions for resources, she had memorized the building’s layout. But not near as comfortable as she was with other places in the city, there was always a tension here she had a difficulty in shaking. Hands held behind her, she asked politely, “You all getting on well?” A personal question, less for the sake of her official capacity, but with Karen of course it wasn’t as easy to tell. Despite whatever recent tensions between LBJ and the Capitol, Savannah had always respected Karen. She’s Cal’s partner and has always been polite and fair during all of these dealings. It wasn’t Karen’s fault that her boss was a power hungry monster who would rob a shelter blind for the water they needed to keep living. Karen was just doing her part. But now it was Savannah’s part to do hers--to protect the shelter that was now hers. “We’re just fine, darlin’. These new raiders in the city sure aren’t makin’ it easy on my scouts but we keep movin’ forward,” she responded as they reached her office door. If the rumors and speculation were true, then the Capitol was supplying Los Nahuales with the guns and giving them free passage around town, but Savannah wasn’t sure what Karen knew about any of this. And even if Karen did know anything, Savannah could only fight so many battles at a time. The first order of business was settling the matter their water supply. So she pulled the door open, then stepped back, motioning for Karen to enter first, ready to do just that. “Cat troubles,” Karen said with recognition, having knowledge on the changes to the terrain, the shifts in power and danger outside the walls of the capitol but little else. As an agent, she was after all a weapon -- meant to take orders not to question them. She shook her head, a hint of displeasure shifting across her posture; hyper-armed outsiders prowling the streets, she could only suspect, were a problem to all. “Ain’t easy these days, all these new guns on the street,” she continued, a short but sympathetic statement. Karen looked around the familiar office for a moment before settling into a chair. “Not affecting your supplies and rations too much?” A careful question, one to ease their way into the business at hand, whatever she could guess it might be. Savannah took the seat across the desk from where Karen was sitting and nodded back gravely. “Sure is makin’ things difficult.” All Savannah could think about was how they’d surrounded Olivia and Nadia, roughed them up and broke Liv’s ankle. It was damn lucky that Rodeo had gotten there in time before anything worse happened. “But we’re doin’ alright. That ain’t why I asked you here, though. I actually needed to tell you that my shelter no longer needs to trade with the Capitol for water. Today’s trade will be the last one the library will need to make. After that we’ll be able to handle our own water needs.” With that, Savannah paused, waiting for Karen’s response. Karen sat a bit straighter, the chair suddenly uncomfortable. Now, the agent sitting across from Savannah was not a political sort -- quite the opposite, the soldier often strayed from greasy deals and debates. So as it was then, she found herself in a poor position. Unable to quite get out a quick counter proposal or objection (there was something to be thought on later as to the particulars and whyfor) she allowed the statement a moment to sink in. “You’re certain about this?” A moment for clarification, a moment to wonder on the ramifications of the library severing its, by all appearances to her, final ties. Karen shuffled her boots against the floor. “And if you should be, I suspect you have something official written up to send along.” God knows of course, what she’d write up herself. “Quite certain,” Savannah confirmed, offering no explanation or other details as to the whys and the hows and the what nows. They didn’t need to know and it was better this way. Leaning over and opening a drawer she pulled out a folded piece of paper and slid it across the desk. It was a very diplomatic ‘thank you for your assistance, we’re thankful for your help’ ass kissing kind of letter, but it seemed a better route to go than hostility. The two shelters still had to exist in close proximity after all. “If you could give this to your department head I’d appreciate it,” Savannah said, offering a small smile to Karen. She knew it couldn’t be easy on the woman, being the messenger like this, but there was no way around it. Karen stood up slowly to take the letter, and it disappeared into a pocket inside her weathered jacket. A small thing that felt quite heavy. “Will do, alright,” she said, a simple acknowledgement (as had always been her way). Still, there felt as if there was something she ought to do in this case, even if she was not particularly equipped nor inclined to ply the leader of the library with persuasive argument. Whatever would happen, would happen of course by will of the higher-ups. Karen reached out and offered a handshake, a final goodbye and a sign of respect. “Outside the parameters of my duties,” she said thoughtfully, “if you might ever be in need of some help, I’ll do what I can. Good luck to you and yours.” Savannah took Karen’s hand in her own, shaking it firmly before withdrawing it. Giving her another smile, wider and more genuine this time, she nodded at the other woman’s words. “I appreciate that. You just make sure you take care and that’ll be all the help I need. Do you want me to walk you down or do you remember the way?” The library’s layout was pretty straight forward and she was certain Koren knew the way, but it was best to offer just in case. Karen shook her head. “Won’t be at risk of getting lost,” she said with nearly a smile. Saying her goodbyes, and with a heavy heart, the department of resources agent exited the office and took one last, slow circuit around the halls of the library. What did the future have in store for them all tomorrow? She wondered, stepping out the doors of the building and looking back, lingering for a moment in its tall shadow. |