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

( 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.

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And he could be. I admit it. There's a lot I'd do for my friends, my family, that makes me know how that'd feel. But it just... didn't feel like an act. Or else the parts that felt more like someone good at being social wasn't the act and he acted the rest of the time, but I don't have enough time in my day to play twenty shades of paranoid.

I'll stick to like, three.

And he's already in Echo's pocket dimension. Aurora is what keeps him out of here. Which says a lot about what she's doing for us, you know?

If Aurora is keeping him out, and you think Aurora is actually trying to take care of us, that doesn't suggest Aurora trusts him, either.

And don't worry, I can be paranoid enough for both of us.

If he is moving around in Echo's dimension freely, it's because Echo allows it. The question is still, why? Unless Echo is not allowing it, which leads to more questions and a potentially powerful person you've come into contact with.

Either way, I still say use lots of guards and interrogate the stranger.

Good, please be my paranoia stunt brain, I'm better at just tackling things because someone's got to.

It also begs the question of what Echo's attention is on, or why we're going past a nebula. Because I'm wondering about that too. As far as power, I just won't know until I know.

Definitely not saying meet him alone, but also saying interrogate might be the too strong approach? But the buddy system, yeah. Please. Just saner all around that way.

You think Echo isn't holding the reins?

[ Great. Just what they need. His voice then takes on a hint of amusement. ]

And interrogate is definitely not too strong. I could suggest you hold him down, and I stab him until he talks, but I figured we should at least give him a chance, first.

I think Echo might be balancing enough to not have time for micromanagement. Or else why do we all have independent AI run cities?

( Oh, can he hear her groan when he says that. )

Wow, remind me next time it's relevant that you are either the best or the worst person to take into a bar where I'm expecting we'll have to fight our way out? Yes, not going for immediate violence and instead using our words is preferred. By a lot. I just don't know that interrogate will mean much when our leverage is "we'd rather suffer the space radiation than work with you until you answer our possibly increasingly paranoid questions."

So save it for after the vent?

I don't know a lot about this place, but I've never believed the whole 'end of the multiverse' reason. Maybe I can't trust anyone who puts me on a leash and expects me to quietly go along with things. Why should I?

And I've fought my way out of plenty of bars, for the record.

[ Too many, but that's just how it is with his group back home. ]

In the end, there's fuck all I can do about the situation, as usual, but my dagger will be ready. Just in case.

Just means you believe this is for someone's amusement instead of any purpose slightly less outright insulting. I can respect the choice, even if I don't personally get it.

Yeah, that's why you're perfect as a second for future barfights!

Again yeah, I won't tell anyone not to be ready. Just maybe not murder first ready?

[ They have no real proof that Echo is lying, but as far as Vax is concerned, they have no proof that it's true, either. The evidence they've been offered so far could have been rigged. He's known enough thieves and con artists not to take everything at face value. ]

Well, at least I'm good for something.

Hey, I'm sure we can think of a few more things when not currently staring down the line to a pretty terrible time we're all going to be having. Scylla aside.

[ She would probably be appauled at what bar fights look like where he comes from. They can get lethal quickly. ]

I definitely can't do that.. tower thing you did. Is that something you learned where you come from?

( Ah, so everywhere is the N109 Zone for him. If only she knew. )

Uh... the science behind radio signals, sure, but the actual energy thing? That's just... me.

[ Vax only has a vague understanding of technology, which simply comes from being in Etraya. His world has nothing like that. The energy, though? ]

Is it a form of magic?

Edited 2025-09-17 20:10 (UTC)

( Given what she's been saying with someone else in this post, and really, how Protocore Energy can be used? )

Yeah, basically! Only I don't need to say spells or anything to use it, I have to focus and have some kind of... structure, or item, or individual I'm channeling it through. To different effects. Do you have any magic of your own, or objects that have magic?

So you're like one of those batteries. Got it.

[ He might be teasing her a bit. There's a smile in his voice. ]

Sure. I can't cast spells, but my weapons and my armor are enchanted.

( She laughs at that; he's honestly not wrong, given the perspective. )

Yeah, definitely can be. Wouldn't recommend trying to plug anything into me though. I'm not that kind of girl.

( ... She has no plugs, so it's taking the dumb joke along for a ride. )

I could probably 'super-charge' your weapons and armor if the enchantment allows for it, so yeah. Kind of a buff?

Really? That sounds useful. Thanks.

[ His armor is powerful, so he can only imagine what a boost would do to it. ]

Won't necessarily last past a discharge unless your armor stores effects... do either of them? We can try having me resonate with them before we know everyone's abilities are suppressed by the nebula nonsense.

( Since it's technically possible, as long as something in the weapon or armor is acting as storage for it... or is the storage, probably. She's never made anything explode for that reason, excess energy just sloughs off. Sorta. Very brightly. Little details, not that important! )

I don't think it'll hold the energy indefinitely, but sometimes, all you need is one good shot.

[ Getting a bit of a boost before everything goes to shit does sound like a plan. ]

I'm willing to give it a try.

Sure, we can try the evening before this whole thing is set to happen?

Works for me.

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

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