36th: The of Experience Haruhi Suzumiya

[godbent]

[Voice // Filtered to the SOS-Brigade]

[Inhale... exhale. She's not saying this in person at a meeting solely because she's... well, she feels somewhat awkward to be saying this. So-]

Attention, SOS-Brigade! I... have something to tell you all.

You probably noticed, but with the Kin'coran incident, not all of us were united with our efforts. Azusa and I organized that baseball game, and a lot of you helped, but a lot of you also went out to do your own things. But the thing is, a lot of you who did that also helped people. You contributed, which is within the realms of the expectations of Brigade members. Primarily, of course, the SOS-Brigade is a unified force and that's not about to change! But...

[She bites her lip. Okay. How does she-] But, basically, that's not always practical here. So for all of you who did things which held up the spirit of the Brigade, even not under your Chief's orders, I'm giving you my commendations. Well done.

You see, a lot of the Brigade has gone home. And the... our [Her. Kyon. Itsuki. Mikuru. Yuki.] SOS-Brigade from home, from North High - most of it isn't here. Of course, at North High it wasn't 100% the same objective... probably because I've not seen most of the fantastic things I've seen here. [And she bites her lip again] Anyway. The point is that lots and lots of SOS-Brigade members have been displaced along the way. And some of you [Xion] do have other responsibilities, of course. But basically, what I'm trying to say is...

The SOS-Brigade has reached a point that I expect you all to adhere to our goals and principles even when it's not my orders! Ensure people live worthwhile lives! Ensure that people aren't just slumming through life listless and pointlessly here! And if you're doing that, you're doing your Chief proud! She can't hold it against you! [...Cough]

T-to that end, I'm working on making some SOS-Brigade badges. Not that you need to wear them al--ways. That would just be tacky, even if it would be nice. ...But! I want you to talk to people, particularly people from other enclosures you meet on missions about the principles of the SOS-Brigade, and what we've done! Maybe give them badges and make them honorary members. I'm of course the final say for this enclosure, but I'm trusting the judgement of people I've picked here for other ones.

...And that's all.

[That was mortifying. Sob. Cough] ...Aside from the spelunking trip. [She will have mentioned this in meetings before] Of course, the submarine won't be finished for a while, so we're going to be doing this first. I'm thinking we leave on the seventh or so of October. Objections?! If there are any, you have ten minutes to announce them!

[Voice // Open]

Oh right, if anyone needs flying transportation that the teleporters that Leon of the SOS-Brigade provided with some help from Sokka can't get you to, the SOS-Brigade now has a flying dragon in our coffers. Her name's Isabelle and she'd love the exercise!

[BONUS ACTION: If anyone wants to run into Haruhi jogging around town in the morning or shopping in the afternoon after the meeting you can do either]

Comments

private voice

[godbent]

What, are you an idiot?! It's not like I'm going to do an interpretive dance or something!

private voice

[menial]

Well, it wasn't a suggestion. Just a comment. Anyway, you could've made sure the little video thing was expressive, right?

private voice

[godbent]

N-no way! When it comes to things like this, the voice alone of the Chief is sufficient! In fact, you should think of it like the screens they used in the Heian period! You don't need to look at me- you're not even allowed for things like this, as lowly retainers!

private voice

[menial]

Well, the Heian period came to an end for a reason, after all. Maybe it was a communication error caused by lack of body language.

private voice

[godbent]

The poetry of that period's eternal though! Not that someone like you will have read the Hyakunin Isshu, but when the words of that period are what shines through, it doesn't matter if you miss little physical cues.

[Ignore that Fujiwara no Teika's Hyakunin Isshu was actually for the late Heian period and going into the Kamakura one]

private voice

[menial]

Are you saying your speech about the SOS Brigade was a poem now?

private voice

[godbent]

No! What, no, it's about a comparison, you moron!

private voice

[menial]

Well, if it's not poetry, then the body language does matter after all, right?

private voice

[godbent]

Then turn on the video function and give me some pantomime for your next part.

private video

[menial]

...

[His body language says something like--

'"Really, Haruhi? I need to prove/b> that body language matters?"]

private video

[godbent]

...Nope, not seeing it.

private video

[menial]

Well, you're obviously biased.

private video

[godbent]

I am not, that was just a stupid expression! [She said she she coiled her arms about herself, defensively]

private video

[menial]

Well, you're getting pretty close to what it means then.

{'Aka "are you stupid?"'

He demonstrates with further poor posture, etc.]

private video

[godbent]

Okay for that one I'm seeing "I am very bored with life and because of the lack of meaning I have in daily existence I require counseling from someone who can make sure my life is worthwhile.

private video

[menial]

['Isn't that your original problem, Haruhi?

Also, the way you say "make sure my life is worthwhile" sounds a little like you're suggesting that that life will soon be over. At least it wasn't "make sure my life was worthwhile."']

Well, that's one interpretation. What about this one?

[He does an imitation of this:

]

private video

[godbent]

Bored. But in your case, it's clearly forced.

[menial]

So I don't have a life purpose and need counseling, but I'm also forcing myself to be bored?

[godbent]

You're forcing yourself to look more bored than you are. You're talking with me, after all!

[menial]

[He laughs a little, despite himself.]

Right, yeah. That's true.

[godbent]

[She makes a little noise of approving confirmation. Of course it's true! But then...]

Kyon, can you come over to my house in a half hour? I want to test something.

[menial]

['..."Can you?" Not just "You can" at best? Huh.']

Yeah, sure. What is it?

[godbent]

You'll know when you're in a hundred feet of the house. But don't start until a half hour from now, got it?!

[Because she needs to test her Early Warning Incantation. She's tasted her sigils which serve a similar purpose, but they only cover a room and are less universal than this thing. And who better to test it out on than Kyon?! She can just add him to the list of Bad People for the spell.

...Temporarily]

[menial]

Yeah, yeah.

['I've got a bad feeling about this.'

But, sure, okay, how bad could it be.

'Pretty bad.'

He heads in that direction, thirty-five minutes from now, telling himself to be ready for anything.]

[godbent]

[Haruhi's on the porch, waiting for results. But once Kyon's within a hundred feet of house ten, in any direction, a loud alarm, not unlike a fire alarm going out, is going to echo through the entire area of the hundred feet radius. It's loud and annoying and clearly shows there is an intruder.

...Probably is bugging the hell out of the neighbors]