[OOC] Drop Box
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Dec. 31st, 2035
Mar. 19th, 2011
[It's that time again and the rhyming couplet goes up; when deciphered it should contain Market dates 21st to 30th March and the location: Mile End Park.
Bethnal Green, Brixton, Mile End. David grew up in these sorts of places and the past three months have been somewhat nostalgic. Even now he didn't live far from these locations. They were in some ways ideal parts of London to set up the Market - suburbs notorious for crime didn't have the kind of traffic they wanted to avoid.]
There's no reason to be worried, but if you are, come during the day. As always, mail order is available.
Bethnal Green, Brixton, Mile End. David grew up in these sorts of places and the past three months have been somewhat nostalgic. Even now he didn't live far from these locations. They were in some ways ideal parts of London to set up the Market - suburbs notorious for crime didn't have the kind of traffic they wanted to avoid.]
There's no reason to be worried, but if you are, come during the day. As always, mail order is available.
Mar. 12th, 2011
[Before news of the earthquake hitting Japan started spreading, David and a nondescript canvas bag disappeared through a portal in the Library basement in London, got in contact with the Merchants in Tokyo and Kyoto, and started picking things up and crossing things off his list.
It had been almost a day since the earthquake struck, and though the list of things to do was still not complete, he took a small detour and made a stopover at Mrs. Saito's residence. He had been experiencing problems with transport, phone lines, internet and electricity throughout his stay - the Library's journal system with its complex intangible networks were the only thing he felt he could rely on.
He offered her a blank page and a pen, and she wrote a message for her husband and daughter. Despite all that was happening, she seemed more worried about the Saitos in London than herself.
He wrote a few of his own messages on a separate page, and then he left the house.]
[Saito Takashi]
I can make arrangements for her to come to London via the Library if you'd like.
[Cal]
I stood you up on Friday. Something came up. I'll make it up to you this week.
[Ces]
Chinese are handling the stockpiles in Japan. I'm almost done picking up the essentials - see you Monday.
It had been almost a day since the earthquake struck, and though the list of things to do was still not complete, he took a small detour and made a stopover at Mrs. Saito's residence. He had been experiencing problems with transport, phone lines, internet and electricity throughout his stay - the Library's journal system with its complex intangible networks were the only thing he felt he could rely on.
He offered her a blank page and a pen, and she wrote a message for her husband and daughter. Despite all that was happening, she seemed more worried about the Saitos in London than herself.
He wrote a few of his own messages on a separate page, and then he left the house.]
[Saito Takashi]
I can make arrangements for her to come to London via the Library if you'd like.
[Cal]
I stood you up on Friday. Something came up. I'll make it up to you this week.
[Ces]
Chinese are handling the stockpiles in Japan. I'm almost done picking up the essentials - see you Monday.
Feb. 14th, 2011
Praetorians killed: 0.
Some other time, perhaps. Still waiting on the Library to churn out a decent Praetorian worth killing and bragging about.
[David removed himself from the picture almost as quickly as he'd been inserted, and Julian is the one who gets in touch with Cesare Corrino about the success of their mission, the time and date the five artefacts were turned over to the buyer, and the fourteen runners with 6.2 million pounds now awaiting Mr. Corrino's further instruction.]
[Cal Bishop]
Will you be my valentine?
[Saito]
Dinner 20th Feb?
Some other time, perhaps. Still waiting on the Library to churn out a decent Praetorian worth killing and bragging about.
[David removed himself from the picture almost as quickly as he'd been inserted, and Julian is the one who gets in touch with Cesare Corrino about the success of their mission, the time and date the five artefacts were turned over to the buyer, and the fourteen runners with 6.2 million pounds now awaiting Mr. Corrino's further instruction.]
[Cal Bishop]
Will you be my valentine?
[Saito]
Dinner 20th Feb?
Feb. 8th, 2011
[It's a little late (but never too late), and the handwriting seems... shaky, childish. The scribe is a man slightly overdosed high on painkillers, mended only on the outside by glamour in a vial, struggling to stop his hand from trembling with every word written, and the message is in no hurry to spawn across the page.
It's ample retribution, he thinks with a bitter smile. A David completely without the use of his hands is a completely useless David - no writing, no phone calls, no guns, no rituals, no seals; nothing. Were you kind enough to teach David a lesson, Mr. Gryffiths, or were you only angry and wanted to share the pain and helplessness?
No codes this month. Not when the Merchant can barely grip onto a pen, let alone write with it.]
9-18/2. Near Brixton market. V-day love pots stock x2.
( Messages for Ces, Saito & Cal )
It's ample retribution, he thinks with a bitter smile. A David completely without the use of his hands is a completely useless David - no writing, no phone calls, no guns, no rituals, no seals; nothing. Were you kind enough to teach David a lesson, Mr. Gryffiths, or were you only angry and wanted to share the pain and helplessness?
No codes this month. Not when the Merchant can barely grip onto a pen, let alone write with it.]
9-18/2. Near Brixton market. V-day love pots stock x2.
( Messages for Ces, Saito & Cal )
Jan. 26th, 2011
[26th of January - one day after the end of the Market. Cal's guns arrive at his house - they might not look or feel any different, but the box of ammunition made them more than just a Librarian's toys, and they fire differently compared to before. Late, no doubt, and no note of apology attached, but. Given the circumstances, perhaps forgivable.
The phone was useless to him now since it was already disconnected. It contained nothing of value anyway - no numbers stored, inbox perpetually empty, clear incoming/outgoing list; any Merchant's phone was more or less useless to glean information from at first glance. The replacement phone had already arrived by the time he received word that his original had been returned, and so it found a new home at the bottom of the bin.
January Market is over. Back to business as usual, complete with cryptic messages, bloodshed and no small amount of profiteering at everyone else's expense.]
What's the time, Mr. Wolf?
[Cal Bishop]
5 relics in South America. The Library was alerted when we acquired 2 and attempted to intercept the rest. 2 failed Library missions, and the last one in Peru is now scheduled for extraction in February. 4 Praetorians dead, 2 in persistent comas with memories wiped clean. My superiors are becoming impatient - get the last mission called off or there will be more casualties.
[Cesare Corrino]
Acquired artifact from Argentina now en route to location 1024. 2 Praetorians dead, no Merchant casualties.
Haven business. The first man you made inquiries about regarding the [...] 'magical roof restoration' is an angel Zadkiel. Comes and goes but first recorded sighting was back in the Middle Ages. Current cover is Zachary McKay, travelling exorcist. I can have it summoned, sealed, killed and stripped for parts, but given our current track record with heaven, I would advise against harming it. Awaiting further instructions.
The second man, James [...] Bond - last seen around Hierophant 38 hours ago. Probably trying to do a deal with a demon. I can have him collected.
Were there any other bizarre requests I should attend to?
The phone was useless to him now since it was already disconnected. It contained nothing of value anyway - no numbers stored, inbox perpetually empty, clear incoming/outgoing list; any Merchant's phone was more or less useless to glean information from at first glance. The replacement phone had already arrived by the time he received word that his original had been returned, and so it found a new home at the bottom of the bin.
January Market is over. Back to business as usual, complete with cryptic messages, bloodshed and no small amount of profiteering at everyone else's expense.]
What's the time, Mr. Wolf?
[Cal Bishop]
5 relics in South America. The Library was alerted when we acquired 2 and attempted to intercept the rest. 2 failed Library missions, and the last one in Peru is now scheduled for extraction in February. 4 Praetorians dead, 2 in persistent comas with memories wiped clean. My superiors are becoming impatient - get the last mission called off or there will be more casualties.
[Cesare Corrino]
Acquired artifact from Argentina now en route to location 1024. 2 Praetorians dead, no Merchant casualties.
Haven business. The first man you made inquiries about regarding the [...] 'magical roof restoration' is an angel Zadkiel. Comes and goes but first recorded sighting was back in the Middle Ages. Current cover is Zachary McKay, travelling exorcist. I can have it summoned, sealed, killed and stripped for parts, but given our current track record with heaven, I would advise against harming it. Awaiting further instructions.
The second man, James [...] Bond - last seen around Hierophant 38 hours ago. Probably trying to do a deal with a demon. I can have him collected.
Were there any other bizarre requests I should attend to?
Jan. 15th, 2011
[The entire ordeal had been a little disorientating. Three days, was it? Spent the first half of the first day in a drug-induced state, teetering between consciousness and unconsciousness. Three days would have felt like a long time but David might have slept through half of it, so it wasn't so bad.
Home now, and it's not the same. His head isn't in the right space and he can't do any work like this. But he has to.
His canvas bag made it home before him, it seemed. His phone, however, was nowhere to be found.
It's a Friday night. There is someone waiting for him at the corner-most pool table in the Flying Horseman. Probably with his phone. It's the first time David doesn't show and doesn't offer an explanation as to why - is he really the one who needs to do the explaining?]
[The following rhyming couplet, when deciphered, should contain Market dates 17th to 25th January and the location: Bethnal Green; follow the signs along Old Ford Road.]
[Cesare Corrino]
I don't have my cellphone. I need it disconnected.
Home now, and it's not the same. His head isn't in the right space and he can't do any work like this. But he has to.
His canvas bag made it home before him, it seemed. His phone, however, was nowhere to be found.
It's a Friday night. There is someone waiting for him at the corner-most pool table in the Flying Horseman. Probably with his phone. It's the first time David doesn't show and doesn't offer an explanation as to why - is he really the one who needs to do the explaining?]
[The following rhyming couplet, when deciphered, should contain Market dates 17th to 25th January and the location: Bethnal Green; follow the signs along Old Ford Road.]
[Cesare Corrino]
I don't have my cellphone. I need it disconnected.
Jan. 11th, 2011
[They arrived at Heathrow early in the morning. He didn't know about Cal but for someone who had just returned from vacation, David managed to look worse for wear. It was all the backlogged work he was coming back to and all the 'URGENT' things that were 'URGENT' at the time and currently 'CRITICAL' or 'OVERDUE', really, that was unnecessarily adding to the stress.
He didn't even bother to glance at the bottle of water Cal offered him once they climbed into a cab, taking it and drinking it whilst dialling Ces' number, muttering a soft 'thank you' afterwards. The last thing he could remember was that featherlight feeling of fading away whilst watching the scenery slide past his eyes and listening to the dialling tone.
David doesn't get a chance to respond to the "Hello. ...hello?" from the other end of the line. The driver assumes the sleeping man slumped and resting against the awake man's shoulder was just jet lagged and/or tired from a long flight, and thinks nothing of it when Cal changes the destination from the Progressive Integrated Solutions building to the Library compound.]
He didn't even bother to glance at the bottle of water Cal offered him once they climbed into a cab, taking it and drinking it whilst dialling Ces' number, muttering a soft 'thank you' afterwards. The last thing he could remember was that featherlight feeling of fading away whilst watching the scenery slide past his eyes and listening to the dialling tone.
David doesn't get a chance to respond to the "Hello. ...hello?" from the other end of the line. The driver assumes the sleeping man slumped and resting against the awake man's shoulder was just jet lagged and/or tired from a long flight, and thinks nothing of it when Cal changes the destination from the Progressive Integrated Solutions building to the Library compound.]
Jan. 1st, 2011
[The proverbial morning-after could not get any more awkward. David left the Library at about four in the morning and it might not have been a good idea to have left Cal there, but he did his best to make Cal comfortable without waking him up before disappearing, leaving his jacket behind as a mini-Cal-blanket.
He would have liked to stay, but...]
[Cal Bishop]
I'm sorry about leaving you there, but I shouldn't stay in the Library for too long. Might have drank a little too much. I hope the [...]do you remember anythin [A straight line put through those words after a couple of minutes] other Librarians didn't kick up too much of a fuss.
Oklahoma, 4th to the 11th? I know the portals are convenient but if we fly, there'll be less questions asked.
Thanks for the Christmas present by the way. I should be able to finish working on your guns before the January Market opens on the 17th.
He would have liked to stay, but...]
[Cal Bishop]
I'm sorry about leaving you there, but I shouldn't stay in the Library for too long. Might have drank a little too much. I hope the [...]
Oklahoma, 4th to the 11th? I know the portals are convenient but if we fly, there'll be less questions asked.
Thanks for the Christmas present by the way. I should be able to finish working on your guns before the January Market opens on the 17th.
Dec. 23rd, 2010
[There is nothing more that can be done. The Merchants keep a close eye on their subject and its behaviour; and they, too, are watching those who are watching the situation - because someone always needs to keep track of those who are keeping track of things in case they decide to intervene and meddle where they are not wanted.
With all the preparations made, David leaves for the airport. He is devoting as much of the next few days as he can to Saito - neither one of them can help it if his phone rings and he has to leave early to go shoot someone in the face, but that's just the nature of his work.
There is a manila file with a document containing a few Egyptian signatures waiting on Ces' table when he returns from his own overseas trip.
These two words were the only form of a notification of a holiday 'leave of absence' that David left behind.]
Merry Christmas.
With all the preparations made, David leaves for the airport. He is devoting as much of the next few days as he can to Saito - neither one of them can help it if his phone rings and he has to leave early to go shoot someone in the face, but that's just the nature of his work.
There is a manila file with a document containing a few Egyptian signatures waiting on Ces' table when he returns from his own overseas trip.
These two words were the only form of a notification of a holiday 'leave of absence' that David left behind.]
Merry Christmas.
Dec. 17th, 2010
[Whilst preparations and arrangements are being made towards the end of the December Market for visiting clients from Cairo and the upcoming grand event, David is doing something else a little closer to home. He has already taken the samples he needed from Ophelia; 'standard procedure', he has been reassuring her with a smile, and she is ignorant enough not to object to any of it.
The research and development team are slaving away and David is the one who has to initiate the experiment. The seal is a little different this month; not different enough to be immediately noticeable, but the thing inside Ophelia - it knows. Whether it thinks David has slipped up or David is doing it on purpose - it doesn't matter; the seal won't work either way.
That was all he had been tasked to do - 'let the beast loose so we can run diagnostics' - but David is not an unkind man. He knows that everything he does is not without repercussion, but if things were going to get violent either way, the more people got involved, the messier it would get.
Delivered to Gryff is a plain wooden box with visible seals on the top, bottom and the side with the creaky rusty hinges. Gryff is the only one who can open it, and inside is a vial protected by black foam. There is a cute Christmas card inside with a picture of a teddy bear, a plush reindeer and a levitating present.
"Use only in emergencies. Hope you haven't forgotten."
He writes a line in the journal; just a token something floating in his mind that he would occasionally contemplate. He might not be a philosopher but he is, after all, like most of the people here - a mere mortal with neverending strange questions.]
Will you think lesser of me, even if I cannot possibly sink any lower?
The research and development team are slaving away and David is the one who has to initiate the experiment. The seal is a little different this month; not different enough to be immediately noticeable, but the thing inside Ophelia - it knows. Whether it thinks David has slipped up or David is doing it on purpose - it doesn't matter; the seal won't work either way.
That was all he had been tasked to do - 'let the beast loose so we can run diagnostics' - but David is not an unkind man. He knows that everything he does is not without repercussion, but if things were going to get violent either way, the more people got involved, the messier it would get.
Delivered to Gryff is a plain wooden box with visible seals on the top, bottom and the side with the creaky rusty hinges. Gryff is the only one who can open it, and inside is a vial protected by black foam. There is a cute Christmas card inside with a picture of a teddy bear, a plush reindeer and a levitating present.
"Use only in emergencies. Hope you haven't forgotten."
He writes a line in the journal; just a token something floating in his mind that he would occasionally contemplate. He might not be a philosopher but he is, after all, like most of the people here - a mere mortal with neverending strange questions.]
Will you think lesser of me, even if I cannot possibly sink any lower?
Dec. 6th, 2010
Dec. 4th, 2010
[The encrypted, coded message, when deciphered, should contain the following key features: 9-18/12/2010; old North Woolwich railway station. David's handwriting, for those who recognise it, should make it obvious that it is a Market notification. Otherwise - well, it's a random rhyming couplet on the journal communication system - funny pun David writes every month for your amusement because he obviously has too much free time on his hands, perhaps.]
[Cesare Corrino]
278 items catalogued in Mr. Ferguson's collection. 275 identified articles. 269 items will be in the upcoming London Market, 6 items of estimated value over £350,000 reserved for auction. 3 vials of unknown content, all negative on preliminary testing; express delivered to Mr. Kensington-Walker for identification.
Mrs. Ferguson and Mr. Ferguson Jr. were aware of his Market involvement and have been taken care of.
Anything else you need to know will be in the report.
[Cal Bishop]
Stop by the Market. Picked up a few things from Jerusalem and Dublin that you might be interested in.
[A good 20 minutes or so passes before David writes the following]
Didn't mean to put you on the spot when I asked about the dream-walking.I don't blame you for
I've logged it. It's going for auction.
[Cesare Corrino]
278 items catalogued in Mr. Ferguson's collection. 275 identified articles. 269 items will be in the upcoming London Market, 6 items of estimated value over £350,000 reserved for auction. 3 vials of unknown content, all negative on preliminary testing; express delivered to Mr. Kensington-Walker for identification.
Mrs. Ferguson and Mr. Ferguson Jr. were aware of his Market involvement and have been taken care of.
Anything else you need to know will be in the report.
[Cal Bishop]
Stop by the Market. Picked up a few things from Jerusalem and Dublin that you might be interested in.
[A good 20 minutes or so passes before David writes the following]
Didn't mean to put you on the spot when I asked about the dream-walking.
I've logged it. It's going for auction.
Dec. 2nd, 2010
[He had exactly fourteen hours to get ready the moment he got off the plane and set foot on London pavement, from Jerusalem to Dublin as if home was just a stopover.
Of the fourteen hours, two were spent on travelling time, one was spent unpacking, packing and a shower inbetween. Nine was spent at one of his workshops; it was never a good idea to procure anything whilst sleep-deprived but David - David knew exactly what he was doing. The remaining two hours was spent playing catch-up with emails, voice messages, phone calls; almost everything was tied over for another thirty hours before he was on his way to Ireland.
A runner - one of those faces in the Market that was incredibly efficient; never seen, never heard, never noticed - delivered the liquid panacea to the doorstep of Haven; a package addressed to Ophelia Ziegler c/o Gryffiths and/or Andley. Something to suppress the voice, as David had promised. 10mL per 24 hours; do not overdose.
He didn't have time to finish what he was going to write, so all he did was hastily pen down a name. The message would have to be filled in later.]
Ace of Cups
Of the fourteen hours, two were spent on travelling time, one was spent unpacking, packing and a shower inbetween. Nine was spent at one of his workshops; it was never a good idea to procure anything whilst sleep-deprived but David - David knew exactly what he was doing. The remaining two hours was spent playing catch-up with emails, voice messages, phone calls; almost everything was tied over for another thirty hours before he was on his way to Ireland.
A runner - one of those faces in the Market that was incredibly efficient; never seen, never heard, never noticed - delivered the liquid panacea to the doorstep of Haven; a package addressed to Ophelia Ziegler c/o Gryffiths and/or Andley. Something to suppress the voice, as David had promised. 10mL per 24 hours; do not overdose.
He didn't have time to finish what he was going to write, so all he did was hastily pen down a name. The message would have to be filled in later.]
Ace of Cups
Nov. 23rd, 2010
[He writes often, always communicating with the other chesspieces on the board, but rarely does he write something that is not encoded. His light handwriting with thoughtful pauses interspersed is fluid but still, after all this time, feels forced - like he'd learned how to write using someone else's style over years of practice with pen, paper and said someone smacking his hand with a ruler every time he made a mistake - and still his writing - not so much his script but just the way in which he writes - reflects someone who is very, very tired and very, very burdened.
Regardless, he keeps it formal, official, but hopefully not too overbearing.]
[O. Ziegler; viewable by L. Gryffiths and E. Andley]
Miss Ophelia Ziegler,
I will be in Jerusalem until December. Planning to pick up something which might be able to suppress the 'voice inside your head'. No guarantees though.
At our next appointed time, come alone.
Sincerely,
David Riedmaier
Regardless, he keeps it formal, official, but hopefully not too overbearing.]
[O. Ziegler; viewable by L. Gryffiths and E. Andley]
Miss Ophelia Ziegler,
I will be in Jerusalem until December. Planning to pick up something which might be able to suppress the 'voice inside your head'. No guarantees though.
At our next appointed time, come alone.
Sincerely,
David Riedmaier