[audio]

[synthedick]

[In the past, Nick has usually left this kind of information either to be shared by someone else, or found out gradually out of respect for those who've gone missing; however, given who it is who vanished this time, his position within the Guard, and his time within and dedication to the city, he figures he'd best say something. Henry deserves that.]

For those who knew him, Henry Percy is gone.

[A small pause. For all they knew, he could be back in a week, in a month, in a year... or not at all.]

Guardsmen, you're reporting to me for now.

[And a quiet sigh. He's not sure how he feels about that weight on his shoulders. Hell, he wasn't sure when he was appointed to the co-head of the organization. Guess he'd better figure it out now.]

That's all.

[Click.]

Comments

[synthedick]

[Nick nods in a fair enough fashion at the mention that they had issues with another Guardsman -- it wouldn't be the first time. Even he's had issues with other Guardsmen. Wouldn't be the first time someone came in straight from a war, either. He doesn't blame folks who want to avoid any more fighting. To some, Hadriel is a reprieve.]

So long as they'll show up and put the safety of others first, that's all I'm asking for. You can tell them we're not the cops or the military.

[Because he gets that. A lot.]

[braveoff]

[ Since they seem to do that already, Drake doesn't think it'd cost him anything to ask. Signing up properly might not happen but it never hurts to know for sure if they've got potential backup. ]

It's worth a shot, right? They definitely won't stop protecting people so we wouldn't be losing anything. It's either a gain or nothing changes.

[ He leans back from the roster, crossing his arms over his chest at that last bit. ]

People really resent organization, I've found. Until they need it.

[synthedick]

It's as true here as it is anywhere. Folks back home in the Commonwealth aren't big on organization either, but even raiders have some kind of structure and hierarchy to keep them in line. It's laws made by other people that they really hate.

[And even some of those are necessary for the safety of the majority, even if they are unspoken. At least the people in Hadriel agree that rampant, senseless murder is a waste of time and resources... well, most of them, anyway. Either way, Drake is right: they haven't got much to lose by asking his contacts for help in a pinch.]

[braveoff]

I guess nobody likes being told what to do, but there's also the stuff I'd think would be obvious to not do that needs stating anyway. Kind of a fine line sometimes. My ultimate priority has always just been keeping people from getting hurt.

[ And it had seemed to him that was what the Guard was about, so he joined up. ]

Still, enough assholes abuse authority of any kind that people just knee jerk at you.

[synthedick]

[That is indeed what the Guard is about as far as Nick is concerned. Maketh may have tried to spin it in another direction in her last weeks in Hadriel, but Henry and Nick remained united on that front: the Guard was about protecting people. Now it's just Nick left to uphold that doctrine, even if people are constantly mistaking them for some kind of actual law enforcement.]

Seems that abuse of authority is true everywhere, too.

[He says that lowly, more to himself than to Drake. With what he's been through -- with Maketh here and Eddie Winter in the Commonwealth two hundred years ago -- he has a lot of thoughts on that subject, opinions he doesn't voice often. Given his perceived position of power, however mistaken that perception may be, perhaps he doesn't have room to talk. Most people think he's just coded how he is; they don't realize there's a real person under all the metal parts, someone who has been through this song and dance before... and came out worse for it.]