Loyal Opposition - RPLOG
Participants
Date
5/8/477
Log
A soft rumble, a small sigh as Flora sits at her usual table, flipping through her books and huffing softly, sighing lightly as she looks over her books and notes. Right now, she appears to be studying the Longtails of yore, their tactics, and what remains of their archives...
Sara wanders in from the doorway leading to the main entry way, one of her hands holding a dirty rag which she uses to liberally clean off a few spots of oil covering both hands, and her clothing, having apparently finished her work, or simply having taken a break. Noticing Flora on her way the lizard woman raises a hand in greeting and calls, "Greetings, Flora." as she walks closer to the tiger in question. Once close behind she peers over her shoulder and asks, "If I may ask, what're you reading? Anything interesting?"
Samira wanders in behind Sara, a perplexed look on her face as she sees the oil on her hands. She pays it little heed for the moment though, instead moving to the other side of the table and mumbles a quiet "Hi." to everyone present before sliding into her chair. Even her tail shows signs of a more cloudy mood, draping itself wearily over the chair's back. Her brow stays furrowed as she seems to ponder - an odd look for the normally excitable skunkette.
Brutus, devoid of his cane, waddles into the elibrary, his gait still looking rather...unsteady and wobbly, as though his knees weren't accustomed to the idea of walking. And a bit peaked, since he rushed (relatively speaking) as soon as he had gotten the summons. "You wished..." gasp, "to see me," wheeze, "Lady Longtail?" A glance over to the fellow skunk...something seems off...maybe he'd inquire after all the official fol-de-rol is done.
Flora's chair swings around, and the feline looks rather... Weary. "Flora has been studying the family's... Tactics. Miss Samira, the security-force has been sent out to collect mister Trace?" she mumbles, after a moment of contemplation, sighing lightly. "Friend Sveta has been... Attacked. In the process, she, along with miss Samira and two others rescued four separate employees working for LongTech Industries."
A brief look of startled suspense crosses Sara's features as she overhears what had happened, "Creators, are Sveta, and the others alright?" though she soon shakes her head and continues, "Actually, that can wait, so pardon my saying this but you don't look so well, you want me to get you anything? A coffee? Tea?" she asks before looking behind her to the other two that had walked in, the lizard briefly recognizing Samira, who gets a nod in greeting, the other face however leaves her perplexed, though she doesn't seem to voice the matter. Not yet anyways.
Samira mutters, "Y- Yeah, with messages cut into their backs." before resting her arms on the table and her head atop them. Her tail remains forlorn, although the arrival of Brutus earns a light flick of her ears as she lifts a hand to wave half-heartedly to him. Sara's nod earns a faint smile and a wave back, although she decides to wait until Flora and her have sorted things out before attempting an introduction.
Brutus's round face attempts to give a warm, avuncular smile to the poor skunkette as she turns to him--even when she'd been pickpocketed, she hadn't seemed half as upset as this. He waddles over behind her chair, leaning against the back of it (as much to keep him upright as to seem protective, but still!)
It didn't take long for the smile to fade at the news, however. He'd hoped he'd seen the last of this violence before, but he couldn't say he was surprised. "And you hope to outwit them at their own game, then?" he asks Flora with a hint of skepticism, peering at the scribbled notes and tactics. "With no war chest and a bunch of factory workers?"
"No. But as of right now, we are on high alert. Shifts at the store, doubled. Factory-workers head home accompanied by at least two members of security-staff. As for studying the tactics of the family... Flora is trying to predict their next move. Not to fight them, but to be ready for it," the she-cat rumbles, shaking her head lightly.
"No drinks, nothing to eat, no. Flora is studyinfg the family," she mumbles. "Miss Samira? My question? Was security-staff dispatched to collect mister Trace?" she mumbles, her ears flicking.
"Finally... Although friend Sveta is hurt, she appears to be alright. The others had superficial cuts, from what Flora has been told. They will heal, but it will hurt for a good while. Friend Sveta, however, she took three bullets... Leg, foot, and shoulder..."
"While I've yet to speak to Sir Matthews on the subject, I'd be willing to offer my services as a patrol guard, or perhaps an escort for our employees." Sara offers, "I'm a new face so I figure they won't suspect me of being a member of Longtech Industries, just yet, and will most likely have the element of surprise."
Samira lifts her head back up and tilts it to the side curiously. "I... I thought the guards were dealing with that? Or Sveta? I don't really know what happened after I brought Ayla back." she churrs softly, setting her head back on her arms afterwards. It is a little odd that Flora would ask such a thing. After all, she can't remember Sveta asking her to relay that message.
Brutus looks down to Samira below him. Poor thing! He'd have to speak with her later. For now, though..."Not again!" he murmurs. He already had this when those serial killers ravaged his family, and...well, Hartford's good company and a fair deterrent thus far, but there was something so...humiliating about having to be escorted everywhere! Especially by someone else's security detail.
"I suppose it would be overkill to draw up a list of untrustworthy Longtails and have the guard arrest them on site, hmm? Thus far, though...well, we have exchanged words on your open-arms policy..."
"Flora's open-arms policy regards those longtails that have not taken a side yet... As friend Brutus may remember, Flora has also noted that those that side AGAINST LongTech Industries will be dealth with swiftly and harshly, yes? That is still in effect," the she-cat rumbles, before looking towards one of the guards currently stationed in the library.
"Collin, go confirm that mister Trace is being recovered, yes," she calls out, before looking over to Samira and Sara. "Flora could've sworn Flora has asked this of miss Samira... Flora might be wrong. As for not being recognizable... LongTech Industries has an uniform, miss Sara."
"Mm.. guess that'll close that option then." Sara mumbles as her idea is shot down, "Either way, I do not believe I'd have much to offer, while my offer of guarding the other employees does still stand, I'll take my leave for now. Do take care Flora, and if the option does come up, give Sveta my regards." giving the tigress a nod that could almost qualify as a small bow as she finishes and makes her way out of the room.
"Yes, and how is that working for us?" Brutus replies coolly, a smug grin crossing his fat face. "We are under seige yet again from your would-be brethren. It seems bodyguards and 'we will come after you' alone are insufficient deterrent." The smile falls to a scowl. "Will you continue to play nice with these traitors?" That plain silver pendant on his chest starts to glimmer in the afternoon light. "Or are we going to be a little more...proactive in sorting out this family feud?"
"Those that oppose LongTech Industries will, as usual, be dealt with accordingly. Those that do not will be allowed to live their lives in peace. And those that wish to side with us, may... They will not be given a place in the mansion until they've proven themselves, of course. But they will NOT be turned away," Flora rumbles, her tail puffed up.
"For now, we will anticipate the family's moves, we will prepare. And we will play things safe. We will not take the fight to them, because we do not have the strength to do so. Flora's decission is final," the she-cat snaps, her ears folded back. "Flora can underrstand wanting to get whoever did this to friend Sveta. Flora would like nothing more... But there's a time and place for everything, and it's not now."
"Considering Sveta's report, this was a message to us. And this particular family-member is in it for the hunt, not the kill. But... We will not strike now. Is Flora clear?"
"Then WHEN?" Brutus declares, slamming a hand on the back of Samira's chair for emphasis. "Given your family history, this cannot possibly come as a surprise!" His striped tail fluffs up in obvious agitation.
"Yes, fine, Lina has been acceptable--I doubt she could be malicious if she tried--but there must be kin you suspect but you refuse to confront, simply because they have not attacked us /yet/--it is soft-hearted folly, pure and simple!" he huffs. "Either get your prodigal kin to work as spies, or confront every last outstanding relative and force them to pick a side. Aught else is simply sitting here and painting a target on our backs," he snorts.
"I will not strike...first, at least. But if this blood-feud of yours spills harms any of me or mine outside this company, I will not hestitate to strike back. With extreme prejudice." His normally fat, complacent face looks like a grotesque mask, contorted with anger, normally aloof gaze turned to a steely stare.
Flora snarls softly. "When we're ready. Flora may not be the greatest tactician alive, but Flora knows one thing. We are currently undermanned, underequipped, and underfunded to stage a full-on war with the family. We simply cannot afford doing such, and if friend Brutus thought on the matter for only a moment, he'd see that.
"Flora has not seen a lot of longtails that support the new company yet. Why should they? They're waiting to see if we can survive a blow like this. And finally, confronting them will force them to choose to side against us for that very reason."
"No, the proper course of action is to recuperate, and show them that we can and will survive until the end. Tactics, friend Brutus, is what the family was good at. Tactics and military intelligence. And with those two, we will, eventually, prove victorious. Until that time, we abide, we strike blows when they present themselve, but carefully so. We do not need to fall for obvious traps."
Brutus scoffs. "They had their chance, and their refusal to choose is their choice. You think their loyalty is worth aught if they are not willing to give it when we actually need it?"
Brutus rolls his eyes. "Friend Brutus has thought this over. No, we cannot afford a mercenary army to march up north, but we can afford to send a message to those who continue to sit on the fence, for free."
"Write up a list of those who have bothered to support us--all others on the list are under scrutiny the moment they step into Sweetwater, liable to be arrested for trespass should they touch LongTech soil, and marked for death if they harm a hair on any of our heads," Brutus snarls, leaning heavily on the chair, pendant dangling.
"Loyalty to no-one is still better than loyalty to the other side of the family. Flora has made her choice," the cat rumbles, before standing up, and shaking her head. "The family has eyes and ears everywhere. If, however, those eyes and ears report to the neutral longtails, we hold an advantage, however slight. Would friend Brutus trade that away?"
"As much as Flora would like to take down those that did this, placing a bounty on anyone that merely HAS the name, will simply cause everyone to side against us. As for the latter... Flora has made it rather clear before. Any Longtails that decide to harm a member of LongTech Industries will have their title rescinded, and will be hunted down as soon as resources allow. This is final. Now, if there is nothing else... Don't let Flora keep you."
Brutus's mouth forms a hard line, and (with the assistance of the chair, of course) gives a curt, just-this-side-of-respectful bow. "As you wish, Lady Longtail," he murmurs, his tone making it quite clear what he thinks of the decision to...keep waiting.
"Very well. Now, Flora would like to continue the research, yes. If anyone needs Flora, they know where to find Flora, yes."
