Everyone at work was eager to know how I was doing and offering well wishes. It was nice to feel so much support. I wasn't the only one having a rough day, Hal's former.... not boss, and I don't want to say master, but the guy he was working under for his apprenticeship... he must have misplaced one of his tools, and a rather expensive one at that. He had everyone looking for it, and insisted all day long he had put it away where it belongs. I felt so bad for him. I hope he did just misplace it, and I hope he finds it.
After work Hal picked me up and we went back to his place where I tried to help him with his homework. We also talked about why he hadn't been able to make lunch yesterday. Tim had asked Hal to meet him at a nearby restaurant for lunch. There Tim introduced him to a lady named Brigida, saying she was also a member of The Order. Then Tim left and allowed Brigida to talk with Hal. It sounds like Brigida has a higher rank in The Order than Tim, not that there's any sort of structure. But she definitely has more pull because it sounds like she just up and told Tim she'd be doing this. We're both wondering what that means concerning the old man, though Hal hasn't seen him since he was left to Tim's training.
Anyway, Tim's training is why Brigida stepped in. It sounds like she's not happy with the direction Tim has been taking and she's going to change that. One of the first things she clarified was that they weren't The Illuminati, that she knows Tim likes to keep referring to their organization that way, but they're not. It sounds like he's got some romantic notions, and the old man is happy to indulge him, but it annoys Brigida. Since Tim has started training Hal in surveillance techniques and more cloak and dagger operations, rather than focusing on his education, this is what Brigida is going to correct. Hal's focus will return to education, and while he won't be reporting to Tim, he still answers to Tim should Tim call. Brigida will also start teaching Hal about The Order's resources and goals.
It sounds like The Order has contacts and resources, which are valuable, but it's not a very large organization. So their ability to play cloak and dagger games are limited. Brigida thinks this is why Tim was trying to train Hal in said manor, so that he could have someone working in that capacity. But it's not what they do, at least not a large part of what they do. The main thing, Brigida stressed, is that they pay attention to what's going on in their circles, not to learn how to infiltrate any circle they wished.
But they need to be able to move things around, should they find an artifact or item that needs to be kept safe. To that end, Brigida introduced Hal to a smuggler that she often works with and taught Hal how to contact the guy if needed. Mostly a matter of how to talk about what he's hiring the guy to do without letting on that he's hiring the guy.
Their time was short though, just Hal's lunch. And so once Hal was introduced to Hank, I think that was his name, Brigida said she'd be in touch and thanked Hal for his time. She and Hank left, and Hal had to get back to class.
Hal's not feeling as excited about this organization now. It seems like their structure is much more loose than he thought it might be. If one member can completely make up what they think the organization is and be allowed to continue, maybe they don't have as tight a grip on what's going on. The advantage though is that Hal will continue to receive a paycheck, and he'll have more free reign to pursue the path in life he had set out to. He just has to pay attention. So not as excited, but less stressed about it too. I have to admit, that makes me happier.
I got to thinking while we were there about how I'd been so tired this last week, and how it made me miss some opportunities to spend time with him. Not the least of which, I'm still sitting on the Valentines present I'd bought for him.
Just looking at our typical weeks, I don't know that I'll have time to really take advantage of that. Our schedules are opposite enough that we don't ever have a full day together. And we've gone out on dates just the two of us, but they're always following my shift at work and I'm still wearing my work clothes. They're nice and all for a date, but I don't generally have the time to dress up. And no, I'm not wearing that to work in preparation.
If hadn't been so tired, we probably could have had an evening together where I could have prepared before hand. And I could do something like that on Wednesdays, but he'd be getting out of class and wouldn't have a fair chance to prepare himself.
I apologized for that, thinking it'd lead into a discussion about when we could get together some time. He said it was okay, that my health is more important and that he's glad I'm feeling better now. Besides, he pointed out, we did have one nice evening together last Wednesday. That was before my operation though. I'd been running around getting chores done, and I wasn't thinking about preparing for an evening with Hal any more than making sure I wasn't dressed like a hobo.
So I didn't get to measure his thoughts on such an evening. I don't know, he's easy going enough, I could just surprise him one Wednesday evening. But I've been thinking of wearing just a nice dress with a skirt that doesn't quite reach my knees, and I'd want warmer weather for that. Spring is right around the corner, I don't suppose a little patience would be a bad thing.
Alright, I need to get to bed.
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