Aftermath - This space for rent

[Glenn]

Well, he had the gist of it. That was good. It was something at least. Glenn rather figured he was going to have to explain everything from top to bottom. "I have three thoughts for you then, Aleksei. The first is extremely simple. I need you in your current role. We need you in that role, even if your power has dropped considerably. I like you far more as a researcher and conspirator," was that the wrong word? He didn't seem to think so "as opposed to a magical stopgag. You can certainly still serve as that despite your newly restored humanity," which is of course how Glenn saw it. "I have no one else that could."

Two fingers went up at once. "Second, while so much of what we deal with is magical in nature, that's not really the point of the Militia. Certainly if we're attacked en masse, but I'm not about to see them sent against a few drow or against a possessed Karolinger, or even Catch unleashed. They're farmers and townsfolk, people who band together, who train when they can, and who will protect their homes and families against larger threats, whether that be a rise in brigands, a legion of the undead, or Thessilane coming over the boarder. I know we don't see as much of that as of late, but it can and has happened and often." In fact, there were indications that Wrexham was finally abut to fall, rumors on the wind and that could change the dynamic of everything in a heartbeat.

And the third finger. "You were a hunter. This is a military force. The aims are different. Do you have experience with tactics? With drilling soldiers? I don't." Said simply, plainly. He knew where he had to delegate. "What it sounds like you're suggesting would be a special wing of the Constabulary, perhaps, a small group of promising volunteers that could be trained in this area. I could suggest some names." Glenn had his finger on a number of them, Myrken-born, ones who were not too far from his own mindset, but that were also competent, Constables who he had groomed on some level over the last few years, just in case he needed that sort of support.

[BetaFlame]

He smiles a little at Glenn, and just listens. The man loves to talk, but Aleksei doesn't mind. After all, he has the same conceit. "Who is to say that I have to leave my current role, Glenn? After all, I would need to be very familiar with the problems to be able to effectively counter them. I realize this would cut into that time, but I have always found time before and I will continue to do so."

The second point was interesting. "Your second point is interesting. All of those things you mentioned.. are magical in nature. Drow are known for their priestess and mages. Undead, by their very nature, require a special hand in dealing with them. The Thessilane have their leashed channelers. Brigands?" He spreads his hands and smiles, "You have me there. Most of them would not require a special hand."

The third point, he gives a ground there. Secrets, after all. "In principle, if not in practice. I was expected to perform as a member of the military of Rodel. To lead, if needed. I have the training, but I have never put it to use." He considers for a moment and gives a little shrug. "I like that idea, but lets just say I would rather not work for Agnie." He smirks a little and shrugs at the man across the table. "Even with her and I having a continuing relationship, I have no problem telling her when she is wrong."

[Glenn]

As far as Glenn's speeches went, all of that was rather minimal. "It's premature, in my mind, how much time you will have. Presumably you need more rest now than you did before?" Glenn had noticed that bit with the cloak after all. "And you have more of a private life now than you did a year ago, no?" that went without saying really, but Aleksei had to acknowledge it would be a drain. "That's not to say there wouldn't be some synergies but it's a bit early to judge."

The second and third point tied in together. "There are mystical elements but there are also non-mystical elements as well. We need the militia to stand against those. As for what you learned in Rodel, your resources were completely different there. I've met people from there, Aleksei. You didn't have a bunch of farmers and shopkeepers fighting for you there. The scope is entirely different. I'm not sure anything more than the broadest bits of what you learned would transfer.

"As for Agnie, she has no immediate say over the Constabulary. More so over the militia really as she is one third of the force that makes broad policy decisions," as terrifying a thought as that is. "You would be clashing with her far more directly as Marshall than if you were to train a task force from the Constabulary."

[BetaFlame]

He considers for a bit, then sighs. "I'm not sure Glenn. Something.. changed within me, when she died. I lost a considerable amount of power for sure. But you cannot be in direct contact with a force like that, and not be altered by it. Anymore than you can stand in the direct summer sun and not burn, you see?" He shakes his head and looks a the ceiling, considering how to explain it. "My senses are better. Sharper, clearer. I'm faster, stronger." He smiles a little and shrugs, "I am sure this makes you question what else has changed, but so far its limited to physical manifestations." He had not really tested his limits yet, not with the injuries he picked up from his little journey. He was still quite sore.

He taps his fingers on his lips and nods a little. "Alright, I see your point. Training and practice are two different things. There is also the matter that you are not sure I am in complete control of myself. But I feel very strongly on this point. We can't sit by and wait for something to happen. For Galacia, the Baie, or whatever it might be to spring on us. We need to punch a hole in their plans, and drive a wedge in." Aleksei frowns a little, an odd expression on the man's face, then he pinches the bridge of his nose, "Forgive me, I am still a little worn out. I want a more active role, Glenn. I think you are picking up on that." He does have the grace to grin sheepishly. "Officially active role, I mean. Chief researcher is all well and good, but if I am going to be one of the front line people against this, having some authority to use when I need it would no go amiss."

[Glenn]

"So first off, just to make sure we're on the same page here," and his smile was calm, cool. No reason to get upset. There was free and there was free and Aleksei was more so than before but perhaps not all the way. Changed. "We're going to wait before making any big decisions, right? To play it safe, but to keep an eye on the future, because we don't know yet and what you are suggestion are big things that affects the lives of many. That doesn't mean we can't lay the groundwork but in this case we can be both proactive and conservative."

And perhaps the smile would brighten just a little there. "Aleksei, my entire regime is about being proactive. That's why we're still alive. That's why we're thriving as much as we are," which for Myrken was a real miracle, not that he'd fully be able to grasp that. Oh, if he'd been here just a few years before. "I'm willing to give you a title and a role more befitting what you're looking for, but not until we are sure. And it won't be Marshall. In the meantime, I'll suggest a few members of the Constabulary for you to begin training. They have had to face these threats time and time again, so you ought not underestimate them. They've lost a lot of their fellows to dark things and they've had to grow strong and brave in response. So we have a plan of action, and then, when we're fairly certain things are safe," him in particular, " we'll add the less important elements, like a title and a more public mandate to it. Does that seem reasonable?"

[BetaFlame]

He considers, and nods. Listening. "Yes. Though, remember if you can't get anyone else crazy enough to take you up on the offer.. I volunteered." He does give a little smile then and leans back, considering. "Would you care to observe the training? Much of the start is mental, and I think you would find it interesting." And it would allow the Governor a chance to observe what Aleksei was doing, but that part went unsaid.

"Expect.. more bursts of temper from me Glenn. The angel was a calming force in my head. A force of serenity, you understand? It kept certain human aspects of me in check. Anger, rage. That is why I was the perfect prison for that Daemon. They were counter forces. I thought it fair, to warn you." He looks at the man and gives a little shrug of the shoulders. "I'm still me, just with more baggage. I did not particularly enjoy the feeling of ramming a sword in the chest of someone I cared for, you understand? Its a strain. I murdered my best friend." No, Glenn. You weren't going to dehumanize her to him. He was there, and felt the blood.

But he does give a weak smile and shrug. "I guess I had agreed to it at some point. Its either that or she really did turn me into a puppet. Either one is not so appealing, and I am not sure which I prefer."

He rises from his chair, slowly to give Glenn time to stop him. If not, he will extend his hand out to the man, "You understand that being able to have some authority and weight behind my words will make my job easier, yes?"

[Glenn]

"I'll observer. The Constables I recommend are all men whose career I've followed, if they agree that is,. If nothing else, I'd like to be there in order to show them support as they take this step." He would rise and he would shake Aleksei's hand with a wry smile. "I look forward to meeting the more.. exuberant you, Aleksei. I'm sure Agnieszka does as well. She's one for emotion after all." Bluster, mainly.

There'd be little sign of sympathy for him, and what he had lost, now. Glenn had provided it in spades before, whether or not Aleksei had realized it. "If you want, you can call yourself a Senior Inquisitor. It certainly sounds authoritative."