[9]

[savethedarkness]

[Filtered to: Queen Anne Boleyn, His Highness Robb Stark, Arya Stark, Pixy Foulke, Conan Edogawa, Brock Samson, Molotov Cocktease, Frodo Baggins, Freelancer New York, Agent Kelly-087, Gary Sitterson, Phoebe Halliwell, Kate Beckett, Mitsuru Kirijo, Lara Croft, Ashura, Blues, August Booth, and Katniss Everdeen]

Everyone, this is Emma. I need to inform you all that a very dangerous man has arrived in Paradisa. His name is Raoul Silva, though he has also been known as Tiego Rodriguez. He is an ex-soldier and notorious terrorist from my world, and is responsible for the deaths of .... [she stopped counting before he even left her employ] many, many men. By this point I am rather certain the count of innocents is higher than the count of those he killed in service of his country.

I am writing to you this morning not only to warn you of his presence, but to ask a favor of you: to not inform him of my own. It is inevitable that he will find it out on his own, of course, but I am playing for time. Shortly before I arrived in Paradisa, several months ago, I was running for my life, and I am quite certain he will still want to take it from me. Any time that you can aid me in buying would be most appreciated, and I will be in your debt.

[a pause, and then:]

He also has a very annoying habit of calling me his mother. I assure you, that is not the case.

[Bond]

We're going to need more than some dynamite and shotgun shells.

Comments

[bronwe]

You could not forgive him?

[savethedarkness]

I was not the only one he betrayed: his actions led to the senseless death of many of my colleagues. So for their memories, and the families they left behind? ... No. I cannot. And I doubt I ever shall.

[bronwe]

[ He thinks on this for a moment. Really, he doesn't even want to be involved. ]

You have many pledging to protect you already. I'm sure whatever strength or skill I have fall short of theirs.

[savethedarkness]

I'd never ask for you to put your own life in danger, Frodo. But you've been kind to me, and you deserved a warning. In his eyes, anyone who is kind to me could be his enemy. He's not well, and has not been for a very long time. .... I simply wanted you to be aware, so that you could be careful.

[it's not an easy message to deliver, by any means. she knows the sort of light it must cast on her, how she must have changed in his eyes, simply by this]

I'm sorry that it had to be mentioned at all.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo is not one to judge, before he would easily dismiss her as someone not so kind and deserving of less by extension, but nothing is ever that simple. People can fall and they can rise and they can prove themselves good before the end. ]

May I still make you your tea?

[savethedarkness]

If you still wish to be so considerate, after all I've told you? ... I'd be honored. [he has a genuinely good heart, and honestly, that is why she fears for him the most. there is something fundamentally pure about him, something she's frightened of ruining with too much jaded talk of war and secrets]

[bronwe]

[ He knows more of those than he lets on, but then sometimes a little lightness goes a long way for those with heavy burdens. He thinks he knows enough of it. ]

If you promise to still help me with the top shelves, I think we are agreed.

[savethedarkness]

Of course we are. .... Thank you, Frodo.

[bronwe]

Much obliged, Emma.