video | un: plushiesidequest (in which she talks about an NPC visitor)

[reincarnesiac]

( Oh look! It's that same person who melted a radio tower about two weeks ago? Alex waves to the camera, flashes a smile, then sits down on a plush chair in her apartment and leans forward, planting her elbows on her knees. )

Hey, everyone. I know more of you look at stuff here than comment, but think about doing some commenting this time, you know?

( She breathes in, then out in a sigh. )

So I sent out that signal a few weeks ago. I heard back this morning from a guy outside the barrier that goes by Scylla. He confirmed the multiverse is unraveling. He wasn't happy about it.

( Her hands lay over each other, one holding the other at her wrist. )

He also confirmed this pocket dimension of Echo's we're in has a lot of bubble cities trying to solve the problem through point based reality television style game-show setups. But Echo isn't the only one working to try and save the concept of existence. There are other people out there with other ideas. Scylla didn't know if any of them show any more promise than Echo's way, because no one's had confirmed results or failures based on attempts.

( She opens her hands, staring at the camera. )

He said he'll help us figure out how to close the tear after it's open, because that's when he can get in here. Shout out to Aurora for her work keeping us safe until Echo demands otherwise.

( Sitting back, she frowns at the camera. )

I can sum up what else we talked about if people ask, but this seemed important to get out first. He said I probably won't see him for a bit when he arrives, but anyone who does run into him, he's a guy... fairly handsome? Taller than I am, shorter than Gorgug. Paler than me too. Reddish-brown hair with waves that he wears neatly cut but not close shaven. He was scruffy. Had one of those friendly faces you know likes to tease people until he was getting more serious. I don't know, ( she sighs ) it's been a surreal morning.

Comments

[oblige]

You mistake my meaning. As I see it, the course was already set. Is that not so?

I advise only that you arm yourself, or ideally, bring a companion you trust to any such encounter.

[reincarnesiac]

Glad to if we can plan it, the problem might be how we handle what psychological effects the space radiation is going to leave us with in the meantime. I'd have to go out with someone as willing and capable of taking me down as me taking them down, if things go real bad real fast.

Just on a purely physical level. Kind of like what I said on the post up earlier, any of us with martial training is a danger to anyone else once that tear opens up.

[oblige]

Alas, precisely why I would hesitate to volunteer my aid to others during that period. Nigh half my life has been spent in military service. I could prove one such danger.

[ He has been one before, and not of his choosing. It haunts him still. The last thing he wishes some manner of repeat performance.

Even without his Eikon, lives are alarmingly fragile. ]

It is my hope that you can find someone suitable, despite the limitations of our circumstances.

[reincarnesiac]

I'm military adjacent myself. There's too many of us who could take each other out, and that's just the ones willing to admit it.

Now I hope we can manage to work through things and not leap to violence, because tamping down on everything that feels like we should be reacting to it is going to be very, very important... along with knowing that nothing we're seeing can be real. Not even a real animal. All that's going to be gone, protected by Aurora. We're the only thing left to go after each other, and that's only when we're distracted from fixing the tear.

[oblige]

It does seem many of us are skilled combatants. I worry for those who are not, or whose conditions may render them especially vulnerable without their usual abilities.

[ He worries for the Phoenix, afflicted with chronic illness, suddenly not having his restorative power to combat it. ]

I'm no expert in such matters, but might there be a way to restore focus, should it be lost? If we could devise some provision, it may aid us in seeing the task completed.

[reincarnesiac]

Works out great for us if we have something we're supposed to fight. Less great when we don't. As far as people being in poor condition without their usual abilities... they might want to hole up at the hospital. Effects are still there, but so are the bots, and the companion bots aren't going to be affected.

Uhm... yes? I'd think so. For one, sleeping in shifts and using sedatives if we can't sleep. You always do better when you're better rested. Eating and drinking regularly, so your body's in top form. Sitting and doing breathing exercises, and checking in with others to verify what is or isn't real. Ideally, we'd have partners for this, but it's... complicated with how we all do or don't trust each other. I'm not the only one flying solo from any one world, but I think those of us who do feel it a lot more keenly than the ones who have people, even enemies, that know them from home.

[oblige]

Might some of those present attack the bots? It may be prudent to verify with Aurora what might occur in such a case.

The maintenance you describe is familiar to me. An affliction in my own world that cannot be halted or remedied progresses more gradually should one take care to rest and replenish. I am fortunate to not be alone, myself. Wariness is natural, all the more when we are both poised to cooperate and compete at once. Have you someone you may rely on?

[reincarnesiac]

Yeah, there's always that... at least we don't have any abilities other than blunt force trauma or hacking to take them down, and they're kind of not easy to hack, I think? And the bots can have sedatives on them to use if needed. Really any of us can, so there's that as a back-up too, if we want to go around stabbing each other with needles.

I... have people I can trust enough, I think. Or feel. I don't know, I'll have to ask. Worse comes to worst, it wouldn't be the first time I've had to go into scary places where I couldn't trust what I was seeing all on my own. Life shakes out that way sometimes. Glad you've got people to be with!

[oblige]

A contingency plan is far better than none. Needles are preferable to knocking sense into one another, should the influence of this radiation prove stronger than our resistance.

I would question whether I should be around them, were it not for their own combat experience. I've no desire to harm others needlessly. Whoever you deem fit to trust, I shall hope they prove your regard well-placed.

[reincarnesiac]

Less head trauma is usually better, yeah. You never know when something will go wrong with head trauma. Sedatives at least most people should wake up from fine, or be slowed down enough by they're not able to react as quickly as they usually do. Can give you enough time to talk them down or around.

People who care about you are going to want to be there anyway. It's what people do. So... I'm glad you're letting them, and that you're there for them too.

[oblige]

From what you've said, having a supply at the ready would be prudent. I'll make mention of these sedatives to those I know.

[ In truth, Dion thinks it less "letting them" and more of an acceptance that Rosfield concern will not be so simply rebuffed, but he needn't broadcast this... ]

I only hope I do not burden them during this mission.

[reincarnesiac]

Good, it's at least something for people to use if needed. The more who know, the better.

That's the thing about friends, isn't it? We don't look at each other and thing, wow what a burden they are. We look at them and think, wow they did something stupid, sure glad it didn't get them killed. 'Cause we care about them, and burdens are things we try to share, or end up stumbling under because we refuse to let anyone else help out.

[oblige]

Agreed, especially since we've little time to prepare.

That may be so. Admittedly, I've little experience with those who weren't simply obliged. I feel I've troubled them more than enough in the recent past, but I suspect they would agree with you.

[reincarnesiac]

Unfortunately. A problem for all of us, Aurora included.

Yeah, there's a difference between people who have no choice but to be there and the friends who choose to be there. Trusting in it can be hard at first, but think of it this way. Are you there only when they're convenient? Or for everything?

[oblige]

I can well imagine. To be in command of so many, yet be issued orders on short notice herself, or barred from relaying them sooner... I do not envy her position.

Should they have need of me, of course I would aid them. It matters not what it is.

[reincarnesiac]

When you kind of have to manage everything, and kind of have to also participate in harming the people you protect... it's terrible. I can't blame her for it. Just glad that she's not human enough to be breaking down over it.

See? It's hard to think about it being the same for them, but you have to. You'd do anything to aid them. They want to do the same for you. So, you're not a burden. You're a friend.

( Alex, who knows she also struggles with this, specifically. )

[oblige]

When you phrase it as such, it would be undendurable otherwise. All the more when people voice their objections and concerns, yet there seems naught she can do about it.

I will endeavor to view it that way. [ The challenge is feeling they deserve it while he does not, but she has a point. ] Thank you for your counsel.

[reincarnesiac]

She's who we can reach. Sometimes just being the one in reach means you get all the anger you never did anything to earn along with the things you know you did earn, even when it wasn't what you wanted.

Yeah, sure, you're welcome. Just don't quote it back at me later with a "didn't you say," I'm terrible at swallowing my own advice.

[oblige]

My world has no such technology, but I was told early in my tenure that Aurora may have restrictions she cannot overcome by design. I try to bear it in mind. I understand constraints, though mine differed.

Now that you have said that, I suspect one day you may have need of hearing it.

[reincarnesiac]

Yeah. Most ours tend to be social, or moral. Not built into us in a way we don't really have the ability to change easily, if at all.

Oh no. Pretend I said nothing. I am a bastion of, uh, whatever that would be that would never need to hear that.

( he can't know it, but she's laughing. )

[oblige]

It's difficult to imagine what the experience would be like, placed in a position with not even the semblance of choice. We can defy orders or laws, for good or ill.

A paragon of advice remembrance, perhaps.

[ Not quite a bastion, but surely still fits the bill. Written in the spirit of what he assumes is light banter, of course. ]

[reincarnesiac]

I don't know if enough growth means growing ways around restrictions, but maybe it does.

Uh, yeah, that. Definitely that! Paragon of Remembering Advice, at all times. That's me!

( heh )

[oblige]

Do you suppose one such as Aurora could grow?

I shall remember your status as paragon then, lest I underestimate you.

[reincarnesiac]

I think so. Outgrow all programming? I don't know. That's not anything I've dived into before.

Oh I am so going to regret this, but yes, perfect. Thank you.

[oblige]

We might yet find out together then, with time.