>>5300547[There’s been enough suffering without me trying to split hairs] You reply, look back at the throng of Daughters, young and desperate. [Denying a few isn’t worth hurting the many]
{…Ha, thought you’d say something like that} Gina chuckles before turning all business. {Let us take care of this. You just rest, okay?}
[Hey, I just had the nap of a lifetime] You smile back, and though ‘lifetime’ is an easy-enough joke for you to throw out there, you still feel GG scowl. [If we’re gonna do this, then I need to talk to them personally. To let them know where we stand on people trying to take more than their share, and to tell them that we’re going to be eating alongside them, too]
{We are?}
[Breaking bread with people; it’s strong stuff, and it may be what it takes to set them at ease] You shrug, then smile. [And thank you, for thinking of all this. I’ve got to say, it’s nice to be able to take a step back]
{Well, thank Rath—it was her idea} GG admits with only the slightest hint of reluctance. {While you were up there talking, she took us aside and told us what she was thinking of}
Overcompensating for being away when you had your panic attack, or something else?
[Well, then I’ll be thanking her personally, and soon] You say shaking away your thoughts as you approach the crowd, your hand holding on to Amara’s. [But first, I’ve got some things to say]
"I'm not going to make any accusations, but I suspect some of you are claiming association with members of the fallen who you did not really know.” You announce, once again atop a pillar Gina’s raised beneath you. “We're getting too many claims for them to all be genuine, especially with the bodies from among those who disregarded the ceasefire request. I understand why this is occurring, you're worried about the Hunger and getting a meal where you can. I can't entirely fault you for this."
"However, you should know that we weren't planning on leaving you helpless.” You declare, feeling space warm behind you as Francine materializes with the Sparagmos Engine, retrieved from the Roost to further your plan. “Once the Dream Daughters have been claimed and the biomass processed, we are going to distribute it among you. You will *all* be fed. In that light, please don't try to take advantage of the system. It lowers the amount of food available for the rest of the group. Also, trying to mediate arguments and investigate claims is going to slow the process down and cause frustrations for all of us. So please, don't introduce any difficulties. Just be honest with us, and we'll try to get you all fed as quickly as possible."
You can’t deny the tension that settles in both jaw and hive as you watch your allies work both the Engine and the Daughters, but your nervous energy slowly seeps from your fingertips as you see what unfolds.
(Continued)
