aadler | Retrofic: Backstage 13, “Notes on an Opera Program”

Notes on an Opera Program
Copyright June 2003

Disclaimer: Characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer are property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Kuzui Enterprises, Sandollar Television, the WB, and UPN.

To Do:

–	conf 9AM — take extra blouse, deodorant
–	try to sched in-office massage bef. noon
–	Camber-Pyclet mtg 1PM — cashier’s chk & surveil. photos, sep. folders — (reserve VB, in case neither is enough? consult HM)
–	new enclave of Kung’r — worth acquiring as clients? ck Dichaltus Compendium
–	send for dry-cleaning before 2PM
–	arrange to have office swept
–	ditto car
–	ditto apartment
–	arrange to have sweepers vetted
–	follow FtS case thru pleading? no current advantage, no visible future use — think on it
–	at least 30 min. at range — .32, .38, 10mm

Current Impressions:

–	HM — avuncular, no tolerance, heart pumps ice water — leaning toward LMc (I think) but can still be swayed — sex a desperation move (inadvisable) but keep in reserve
–	LMc — hard, focused, soulless — wants to bury white-trash past under work & brilliance & ruthlessness — trying too hard, sure to break somewhere — keep watching for chinks
–	RP — yes-man — topping out, ready to fall — let it happen, use for small favors but w/out commitment — no threat
–	LMe — useful, but watch close — thinks he’s smarter than he is — will run gofer if he believes it’ll lead to advancement, or double-cross for same — possible patsy? think on it
–	AR — not my section, but promising — seems realistic in his ambitions, seems to know his limitations, & knows how to handle H’laat-tuuc — which way, reliable undemanding sex or controllable ally? — can’t have both, decide by Tues.

Project Status:

All in hand, except for possible AI complications (hard to avoid, psychic tipoff means they can pop up anywhere) — wish we could just kill them, I hate prophecies — what about turning tables? — open attack forbidden, but make them deal with distractions, complications — bkgrnd info thru FtS opens up possibilities — make use of SunD connection, move against that bunch, get AI preoccupied w/events elsewhere — start them reacting instead of initiating, good diversionary cast if nothing else —

Even here, better to avoid direct action — exploit weaknesses, foment discord, nourish any potential problems — bringing them down gratifying but irrelevant, idea is to make a big splashy disaster, so aim for whatever contributes to disruption —

Preliminary analysis (working from memory here, need more data):

–	BS — undisciplined, no focus, Valley Girl w/muscle — weakness for sex, loses objectivity when she’s involved w/anyone — bad experiences w/betrayal (father, lover [A], Watcher, sister [FtS]), could use to build paranoia, distrust — savior complex, wouldn’t deal well if one of her inner circle were killed (ego would make her see that as personal failure) — martyr complex (still moaning why me? when she’s a major player) coupled w/superiority complex (she is superior, just not everywhere she thinks), could work that to alienate her, build resentment —
–	RG — deliberately repressed, “wild” past — could be a mover & shaker, but lets himself be demoted to supporting role — intellectual arrogance? would certainly be justified if BS’s prideful ignorance hasn’t been exaggerated — little love life reported, but no eunuch, you don’t play w/demons unless you have large appetites — chk possibilities w/in SunD crew, but he’s probably insulated himself against that, so temptation from outside would be better approach — fired by Watchers (too much “affection for his Slayer”, chk that too), good source of injured pride & fears of failure/inferiority — now at the age where men start to question self/motives/achievements, ripe for turning if proper pressure applied —
–	XH — disregard except for ways he might be used to trigger others (BS’s martyr complex, RG’s pseudo-father issues, WR’s sexual ambiguity) — non-player, not important —
–	A? — former demon? no such thing — chk for psychiatric history — no ideas now, see what develops w/better info —
–	WR — rich field for exploitation — violating her ancestral religion w/Wicca hobby, violating her moral upbringing w/girl-girl indulgences, & still sees herself as the “good” one of the bunch — enough mystical capacity reported to make her useful for stirring things up, even though she’ll never be big league — said to be loved by all (FtS almost spitting over this part), but have to be some fissure lines there —
–	TM — little known — longer bkgrnd in earth-magic than WR, about the same level of power — weaker personality, easily susceptible to threat — chk family history, could be useful material — new to group, riding on WR’s coattails, sure to be insecurities — make her resentful of them (pump up “outsider” status), or use her as a lever to pull WR away from them — move quick if at all, she won’t be around long, just a passing tool for WR’s gratification —
–	RF — too good to be true, Mom & apple pie & America — capable of some independent thought, or he wouldn’t have separated from his unit (need more data there), but that won’t hold — follower, not leader, wants someone to tell him what to do — if BS tires of having to give all the orders, he’ll roll back to Uncle Sam — should be easy to manipulate, but best used as an accent rather than originator of conflict —
–	JS — mixed reports here — clueless victim, or firm foundation? — FtS no help, her own perceptions/wishes scrambled — study closer, family always a good source for trouble, but really useful only there — outskirts of BS’s life, unlikely to be anything else (except maybe as First Victim) —

Scenarios:

–	Promote actual or apparent involvement RG-BS or RG-JS, possibly both at once — RG being current father-surrogate for BS, entanglements would be complicated & volatile —
–	Promote actual or apparent involvement WR-XH or WR-A?, maybe both — WR sexual greediness makes nice pivot point — don’t forget possible WR-JS, that would really explode things —
–	Increase danger to (or even deliberately cause death of) WR, XH, JS, A? or TM — one or more fatalities, esp. the right ones, could open fatal rifts —
–	Promote alienation (separately or in complementary parallel) of BS, RG, WR, TM — all the big guns or those w/access to them — could do same w/RF, but that’ll probably happen on its own & w/out much impact unless artificially enhanced — either create dissension w/in the group, or actually try to move one over to the Dark Side — RG would be most valuable, but hardest to get fully committed — TM would be easiest (if there’s a backbone anywhere in there) but of least usefulness — WR best candidate overall, would make a worthwhile project herself if any real power was there —
–	Bring in “outsider” involvement to create external complications wherever possible — already happening w/WR-TM & BS-RF, but TM won’t last long & RF won’t have much impact — focus on RG for now, something to split his attention or bring his loyalties into question — or, get some significant player linked to JS, that would stir the pot — good move would be to aim ?Bryce at JS, or VBryce at RG if she should survive her father’s tribute, or both — (monitor that one as it develops) —

Many possibilities — stick to First Principles, it’s always about power, pride, or sex — they already have the power & have resisted being corrupted (unless RG’s midlife crisis blossoms or WR’s “awakening” extends past mattress gymnastics), & pride is best used in tandem w/other issues, but they’re all vulnerable to sex — BS the stupidest (the first one is True Love, the next one is Still Trying, everything after that is self-delusion), but WR the most extreme & most promising — (actually, she’s ego & sex & desire for power all rolled together, if she had power to match the craving for it she’d be the perfect weapon) — they’re heroes, think they’re immune just because they’re the Good Guys — haven’t they ever wondered why moral laws always focus on sex? that’s the opening wedge for everything else — Good & Evil sounds grand, glorious, but you can’t hold it together unless you’re solid on Right & Wrong, no intern survives a week at WRH without getting those priorities straight —

Worth following through — put LMe on getting more info — or, make him think it’s his own idea, plausible deniability between me & HM in case it’s seen as a waste of resources — hide everything from LMc, he might use as ammunition (or worse, find a way to take credit for it) — work out more details tomorrow —

Weakness, it’s always a matter of weakness — doesn’t matter how strong they are, find their vulnerable point & strike there, they’ll fall — best part is, they usually can’t recognize it as a weakness, it’s just part of who they are —

Shopping:

–	acorn squash, ghee, shining noodles at market — erbit lungs from Commissary (marinate immediately, sherry & 1 tbsp white vinegar)
–	candles (dripless)
–	bath beads
–	extra cartridges from Ordnance, .32 only
–	bag cotton balls
–	new sheets — maybe Egyptian cotton this time? think on it

– end –

[ A supplementary drabble for this story can be seen HERE. ]

Some people have indicated confusion regarding this story: too cryptic, the notes not making sense. If you’re one of them, click HERE for a listing of the abbreviations used.

And there you are. Don’t hesitate to offer commentary.

End Notes