fandomhigh | Staff Meeting [Friday Afternoon]

Entry tags:

staff meetings

Staff Meeting [Friday Afternoon]

Zoe had met with the teenagers, now it was time to meet with the grownups after ~~handwavily~~ messaging them all about the meeting. There were more sweets among the sandwiches and salad for the staff - donuts, cookies, etc. - but no alcohol among the drinks unless someone brought their own. With this group, she pretty much expected it.

"Hello folks, thank you all for coming. I know some of you are very busy," she said. "I wanted everyone to have a chance to get together in case any problems have come up in your classes, or with any of your students. Also, we're going to be getting ready for the summer sessions soon, so be thinking about what you might want to teach and who you might want to teach it with. That's all I've got in the way of speechifying, so if you need anything, just flag me down."

[Going OCD-free today!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"She's fine," Karla said, taking him up on that hug. "Thank the Darkness, she's fine. But when I just think of what could have been stolen--"

Of course, if Kayla had been kidnapped, they wouldn't be having this conversation. There wouldn't be an island left to have this conversation on. It would have been a race to see who could cause more destruction first, Karla or Jono.

"Kayla was chewing on a toy when I woke up. The only thing that had been disturbed was my Jewel."

A hug it was.

"Have you checked with Portalocity? It would be good to know if any portals to or from Glacia have opened recently." If not, it might mean that whoever had taken the Jewel didn't know its significance.

"None," Karla said. "Other than the ones I took. Warren checked first thing."

And Karla hadn't caught any Kaeleeran psychic scents in her office. Of course, if they'd been fast and professional, there wouldn't have been anything to catch.

"And the squirrels were no help, either. They were all conveniently off playing tag with the gremlins. And none of the gremlins saw anything, either."

"Perhaps a common jewel thief, then. They may not even know what it is they've stolen." Hannibal nodded at Parker. "If anyone can help you, I imagine she can." He shook his head. "We've several light-fingered students, but I can't see any of them behind this."

"That's the problem," Karla agreed. "I fell asleep in my office because it's safe. I mean, I know I don't know everyone on the island anymore, but it's always been somewhere where I could go and be safe."

Glacia hadn't been that place in years. Still wasn't, not really. And now, the island was proving that it wasn't a safe place, either.

"If you would feel safer, you're welcome to stay with me," Hannibal offered. "Jono's been spending a lot of time there lately, so you would have both of us as well as Warren."

He somehow didn't think she'd be heading home until she found her Jewel.

"This may sound ludicrous, but have you contacted the police? If whoever stole it used conventional means, perhaps conventional detective work could find some evidence."

"You wouldn't mind if Kayla stays, too?" Karla asked. She looked away before adding, "And...are you sure Jono would want me there?"

They had some unfinished business between them, after all.

"I would be honored to have you both. Or all three, if Warren is still here." He raised an eyebrow at her second question. "Is there a reason why he shouldn't? Jono counts you as one of his best friends."

Karla gave Hannibal a wan smile. "From what I gathered over coffee yesterday, you and he had a conversation. And, well, he's not best pleased with me for not telling him sooner. Or maybe for telling you not to tell him. I'm not quite sure. We agreed that it was a conversation that we should have when Kayla wasn't around."

Because there would be yelling, yes.

"Ah, yes." Hannibal gave her a rueful smile. "I did mention it to him, though I made sure to clarify you hadn't stopped me from saying anything, only encouraged me not to. But regardless, he still thinks very highly of you." He grinned a bit wider. "And you're welcome to use the basement level for your conversation if you like. I can keep Kayla distracted on the second floor."

Or vice versa, but he doubted Kayla would be terribly impressed by power tools and cardboard boxes. Or even his wine collection.

But it was such an excellent collection! Babies just had no appreciation for things.

"That still doesn't make up for not telling him." Karla shrugged, unable to properly return Hannibal's grin. "I knew he was going to be hurt and upset when he found out. Everything has a price." She shrugged. "I knew what this one was going to be when I agreed to stay quiet."

Hannibal's smile softened. "My dear, if he can forgive me the upset, I'm certain he can forgive you."

"I'm sure you're right, it's just..." Karla sighed. "You kept your own secret. That's different from me keeping someone else's secrets from him. He's been my friend longer, he has a greater claim on my loyalty. I wouldn't be surprised if some part of him resents me for that, even unconsciously."

Not to mention how fraught things had been between them lately anyway.

"But you're good? You're both good? I'm glad of it."

Hannibal shrugged and grimaced. "Our relationship is intact. He has been less well lately, but not due to that. Whatever is going on with the island seems to be affecting him as well."

Karla nodded. "He mentioned that yesterday. We met up for coffee when he felt Kayla's reaction to the island." She looked at Hannibal. "Did he tell you about the letter?"

Both that it was gone and the significance?

"He did," Hannibal answered. "Thank you for trying to help him find it." He narrowed his eyes. "Your Jewel, Jono's letter - the one could have been taken for a number of reasons. Coupled with the other, it inclines me to believe that somebody is specifically seeking to cause panic and unease, to undermine the functioning of those who might, perhaps, spoil their plans?"

He'd heard nothing of anyone with any such plans, but the nature of the thefts was highly suspicious.

"I also heard of a hard drive gone missing," Karla said. "But Darkness only knows what was on it. It could be valuable information or it could be nothing at all. But there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to what's being stolen. And no clue as to how it fits in with the sickness in the land."

So, yeah. Best odds were some kind of undermining distraction.

"If it's related, we should be asking, what purpose does the land's sickness serve? The people who were stolen from, what do they have in common? And who would benefit from all of this?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Staff Meeting [Friday Afternoon]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject