THE WARDEN AND NIGHTRIDER ARE HERE (D170)

[osteothropy]

[Sans is blue.]
[Lambert is dark red.]

[ Supervisor’s Channel ]

All right. [ Lambert’s voice is brisk and business-like, for once, though it still has that familiar edge of sarcasm to it. ]

Okay. [Sans is here, too.]

I’ll get to the point. You know the next stop’s not like our usual. [ To say the least. A beat, before he continues: ] Keep an eye on your people. Make sure they’re actually following the rules, not freaking out and getting us all into shit.

[ That feels like a tall order, though, under the circumstances. ]

That goes for you, too. Keep your head on straight. Any problems or troublemakers you can’t handle on your own, let me or Sans know. This isn’t a performance stop -- if anyone who works for you is assigned to patrol or the nightrunners, they answer to us first.

Speaking of ‘keeping your head on straight’... some of you might remember a certain stop we had a ways back where a few certain someones almost got the guillotine for failing to abide by a similar set up of stuffy royal standards. Let’s not have a repeat of that, cause from the sounds of it the RM might not be able to save you this time.

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, this is your opportunity to remain blissfully ignorant.



[ Public Channel ]

[ Lambert’s voice is terse, and irritable: ]

Our next stop’s called Heartstone Manor. We’re going to go over some ground rules to make everyone's life, especially mine, a lot easier.

[Sans is also here.]

The RM has already covered a lot of this in her announcement, but it is officially our jobs to make sure that it sinks in. Dealt with True Fae before? Then you know this isn’t a joke. Yes, your fashion sense and table etiquette are now a matter of life and death. This is me, Sans, telling you to take this seriously. Hopefully that means something to you.

To summarize the gist of what was said, here are some basic RULES. The Nightrider and I will be watching. So, even if the Prince doesn’t catch you, we will.

[Sans recites “The Rules” like he’s just whipped out a pair of reading glasses and is quoting them from an official document:]

DO:

• Follow the daily schedule
• Follow dress code
• Be polite to The Prince and his servants
• Keep your radio on you

DON’T:

• Whine about everything
• Seed rebellion or talk about rules breaking on the network
• Make any deals or promises to other fae servants
• Lay any hard disses on The Prince, ever, under any circumstances
• Don’t sweat the small stuff: this is gunna grate on a lot of us, so just focus on the end goal… which is not dying

Don’t mess it up.

That, too.

Comments

[periphrasing]

[Is Sans an honorary member of the Shorty Squad already]

Well then help a "shorty" out and tell me what to do about this!

[osteothropy]

I'm guessing this is based on some xenophobic feeling that are rooted in situations specific to their homeworld. Sometimes newbies can take a while to adjust to the idea that everything isn't always the way they know it.

They still gotta listen to you as a matter of law, but the most important thing is that they understand that whatever biases or social structures they're used to don't really apply here. Technically, none of us are from their Earth.

[periphrasing]

Okay, that's surprisingly sensible, but how do I make him understand when he doesn't even want to hear out anything I have to say?

[She doesn't know FOR SURE that this is the case, but.]

[osteothropy]

Uh... kinda depends. You wanna play soft ball or hard ball?

[periphrasing]

Are you suggesting that I challenge him to a sports game?

[osteothropy]

I mean. You could.

But I mostly meant you should consider whether you want to be nice or you want to be... Uh. Authoritative.

[periphrasing]

Well I already tried being friendly, so. I suppose logically I should try the latter option next.

[osteothropy]

Okay.

So. What you've gotta impress on the guy is that cooperating with you isn't really an option. I gather you don't want to have to go to the Ringmaster for support, but ultimately... you follow your superior or you face the consequences. You're not the only one who's had to deal with an underling who just wasn't interested in taking their Supervisor seriously.

You're part of the carnival's structure and you're not optional. He doesn't have to like you and he doesn't have to like what you are, but if he thinks that means he can disregard your authority then that's crossing a line.

You can't be an island in this, Peri. Command order is meaningless with nothing to back it up. You've got the carnival backing you, and you gotta make sure he knows it.

[periphrasing]

[OK this is all sound advice, but the more Peridot listens to him, the more she's worried that going authoritative is a bad idea.]

But what if doing all that just makes him hate me more? I mean, I want to be respected, but I'm also super cool and lovable and he should be made to understand that!

[osteothropy]

Can't win 'em all, kid.

[Calling Peridot a kid when she is much older than him is hilarious, but he's owning it.]

His issues probably don't have anything to do with you, personally. Kinda one of the big reasons that racism is bad, y'know?

[periphrasing]

So what you're actually saying is that I should dedicate a significant portion of my time to changing his mind about gems, because his perspective is obviously skewed and incorrect.

[osteothropy]

That's actually basically the opposite of what I said.

[periphrasing]

Don't care, that's what I'm hearing, so that's what I'm going to do! Don't try and stop me, Sans!

[At least she's honest about totally disregarding his advice?]