Voice

[ghostly_heiress]

[There's this girl again, with her far too young, but steady voice.]

Robyn is my friend. When the message first started, I wanted to run to save her.

Until Albero made the promise.

I'm not saying fear him. I'm not saying we take his deal to leave town. All I care about is Robyn right now, the rest will come later.

The one who has the best chance of getting Robyn out of there unscathed is Cure Phantom and anyone with his power set. However, it's also known that the mob knows the powers that would do it and if they have even an inkling of belief he will be sneaky, they likely have a back up plan for it.

But this is the thing: Albero is a business man. He's not just some psychopath off the street, he runs an organization, an effective organization. That requires intelligence and the ability to manipulate.

Robyn is meant to manipulate us, but it's to manipulate us to his advantage. If we rush in and get her killed, that is a hit to our morale. A 'look, you tried OH so hard, and what do you get? A dead girl.' I know that won't break some, but it will break others, and that means the numbers who would go against him are down.

If no one rushes in, Robyn will not be hurt. If he hurts Robyn once we listen to him, then he's the only one at fault. Anyone who cares about Robyn, to anyone who cares about innocents, to anyone who just hates people doing what he does, will be against him, and with a personal vendetta. He loses if he breaks his promise. All he has to gain in killing Robyn is one dead Numbered who doesn't even have the truly terrifying powers.

If Robyn is let go, then there is a chance people will believe him. People will leave without thinking this is some trap to weed us out, that they'll be safe if they're gone. He wants this because if even some take this deal, that still means numbers are down, and he's winning. There is also the possibility he could find out unknown Numbered because they'll sure to tend to her, so be careful when you do go visit Robyn.

In the game of manipulation, you need the other side to be confident to trust you to act a certain way. Which means keeping your word until you can pull off a decisive win. He can't right now, so he is telling the truth.

The best chance Robyn has to get out relatively okay is to wait. Not because of fear, but because it's what's best for HER, and because it puts us in the best position to deal with him AFTER she's safe.

Comments

voice;

[purestambition]

You're wiser than some. [ Maybe most. ] You sound as if you know your way around business types.

Re: voice;

[ghostly_heiress]

I'm a heiress for a company. Learning how to deal with these types has been part of my education for years.

[Audio]

[prismaticdestruction]

...But..She saved me. I can't just leave her there...

[Also..very obvious numbered person.]

Re: [Audio]

[ghostly_heiress]

We're not. The point of rescue is to make sure the person you're saving ends up okay. Making the move that most ensures her safety is the most important part of rescue.

You might want to think of how to cheer her up after? Either way, she's going to be very upset.

[Video]

[scramasax]

[Quick and tense and raspy following a swallow - ] - You were saying that like Danny would be the only one who'd go.

-- Or who they should have any -- reason to think would go.

Re: [Video]

[ghostly_heiress]

They do. They know Robyn and Cure Phantom are associated with each other.

I bring him up because that is what any attempt would need to keep in mind. They are prepared for someone who can normally be wholly undetectable and untouchable. If they have a means to notice him, they will most likely notice anyone else.

And are prepared to keep her from them.

Any other attempts will be more easily noticed.

It doesn't matter how many go, doesn't matter how many want to save the day, they have a hostage within arm's reach. All it takes is a few seconds and she's dead. If they don't some other means to actually trap him, that's probably their go to plan to keep Robyn from being rescued.

[Text]

[professorwolf]

[Lyall really, really wants Robyn to be all right, and he would normally be all behind prudenct, but he's also suffering some pretty big trust issues right now when it comes to people treating people like them well.]

I can't follow your logic as to just why you feel it will be in his best interests to let her go unharmed. If he truly can anticipate and combat us and our varied talents, then what does he have to fear from us if he doesn't keep his word?

Re: [Text]

[ghostly_heiress]

I suppose I should have brought up the time issue in the main post.

We have until the end of the day. That is a very short time limit. The fact is no, no he cannot combat all of our varied talents. The fact also is that in this instance, he doesn't have to.

All he needs to be able to do is delay us long enough to kill Robyn.

Robyn doesn't have anything that makes her hard to kill. All it would take is a few seconds and she's dead.

We don't have the time to have a good plan to prevent it. That's why that part is so soon and not something like 'I'll let her go at the end of the two weeks.' We can plan and save her in two weeks, we can't do that today.

As for why it's in his best interest, it's a numbers game. There are a lot of us. There are a lot of us with super powers, who are playing superhero. It doesn't matter how effective we are, that's still a bunch of people he can't control, he can't track, who could break up some of his jobs. If he can lower the number of people playing hero, it's still to his benefit. That's still more jobs he gets done he wouldn't before.

If he kills Robyn or really even tortures her, that will just anger people. It will make people want to take him down, target him. Part of being a good criminal is knowing when to keep your head down. That would be the opposite of that.

[ursoreckless]

I hope there are a few people listening in on this and having second thoughts about charging on in.

[ghostly_heiress]

I hope so too. I thought laying out the reasons might work better then the...well, sort of vaguely threatening, ambiguous message.

I'm glad you agree. [That means I'm not totally off base in my line of thought. '-']

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Her safety is the most important thing but it sets a really bad precedent in negotiating and following the orders of a terrorist.

[wonk]

it doesnt matter bc im going 2 break all of his bones afterwards

[ghostly_heiress]

It is, but I doubt people are leaving. Then we can really make a statement then.

audio;

[charcoalfeather]

...Yeah, I think that's right.

[She had to agree with this. It was much more convincing than someone being moderately threatening.]

Re: audio;

[ghostly_heiress]

[See, that's what she thought too.]

Yes. As hard as it is to do.

Voice

[icy_heavens]

[A sigh, one part frustration, one part resignation.] This is sick as all hell, but it makes sense.

[He doesn't even like Robyn, but just . . . Ugh.]

Re: Voice

[ghostly_heiress]

Yes, it is. I hate it, but this-

This is something I know. This is a business deal, a bet for future investments. That's way to look at it, as horrible as it is.

[stopinthenameofawe]

Thank you.

[That's all Melissa has the energy to say, but she is behind this all the way. An she, obviously, has Robyn's best interests in mind.]

[ghostly_heiress]

...

You're welcome.

She'll...she'll be okay.

I was thinking of inviting her over for a sleepover. Maybe invite some of her other friends. You know, something fun.

Voice

[sjokolade]

Even so...it still sucks that we just can’t do anything but wait for what will happen next.

[She gave a small mumble] I only seen her once or twice on the network, this just isn’t right…

Re: Voice

[ghostly_heiress]

Yes, it does, and it really isn't right, but out of all the options, it's the one most likely to keep her safe.

[voice]

[ruleorserve]

We could be wrong, in thinking he can't win. But I agree with the sentiment.

Re: [voice]

[ghostly_heiress]

There are probably some other contingency plans, but getting the point across seemed most prudent.

[nowi_wins]

Yeah but what's gonna happen when everybody doesn't leave? Like, did this guy actually expect this to work?

I mean, you keep saying he's smart and stuff but nobody smart would pull something like this!

[ghostly_heiress]

That will be something to deal with after Robyn's safe. The leaving is a whole other kettle of fish right now and I'm sure there will be discussions about it.

You haven't met a lot of businessmen, I take it?

[Voice]

[gobybessie]

If we do wait for her to be released, someone ought to be nearby to pick her up.

Re: [Voice]

[ghostly_heiress]

Yes.

Probably better for someone whose already out or related to her. In case they're watching her.