un: jaycetalis | video

[hexcope]

[In a rare moment of using video on purpose, there's Jayce. To those who know him, he looks the same as he always does. To those who don't- he's an early 30's man with seemingly a permanent five-o-clock shadow, bright golden eyes, and perfectly coiffed hair. The background is out of focus, but to those who know it, it's clearly a part of S.T.A.R. labs. Normally a little more jovial or at least less serious sounding, Jayce looks into the camera like he's giving a press release.]

We’ve got about forty-eight hours or less until Aurora allows that toxin into Etraya. Which means if you haven’t started taking precautions already; start now. Get easily carried food, medical supplies, whatever you think you'd need. Better to be over-prepared than under.

Considering what Aurora's told us about the "mission"... If you’re someone prone to having weapons, do us all a favor and throw them into one of our many, lovely lakes, before you wind up using it on someone else. Or, if you’re going to be touchy about it, let me know, I’ll talk with Harold about how we can get them locked up somewhere for the mission’s duration.

As a reminder to those who don’t want to think about it, and maybe new information to those who are new: if you die here, for whatever reason, you lose something. I don’t know what, you won’t know what, and you might not even know what it is you’ve lost even after you’ve lost it. Maybe it’s an eye, maybe it’s the memory of your best friend. Either way, whatever you're afraid of by not having your weapons on you isn’t worth what you’ll be making someone else lose because of your bad decisions.

If you have any special concerns, worries about any specific denizens in this upcoming mission, now's also the time to voice it.

Comments

[rudelanguage]

You, uh. You might... I mean, if people get antsy to cast. You might become everyone's favorite focus? [sounds handsy. sounds horrible. sucks for you Jayce.]

[hexcope]

You're the only one who's made that determination so far, so I think I'll be fine.

But focusing is part of the point of why I brought it up. It might not work the way you expect during this, even if it does technically "work," but I was going to recommend using it for a different purpose. Have you ever heard of a "centering object?"

[rudelanguage]

Yyyyou're gonna have to explain that one. 'Cuz it might be like...familiar but called something different?

[hexcope]

It's a technique for calming anxiety. You have something you hold or touch when you're feeling stressed out or anxious, and you focus on it. Helps calm you down. Or at least, it does for me.

[rudelanguage]

...

[...]

What does that have to do with people maybe gunning for the magic stuck in your guts?

[hexcope]

It doesn't! You brought that up! I was telling you about this because you always seem borderline about to have a nervous breakdown. I thought it would help you calm yourself.

[rudelanguage]

[?? ?? ? ?/ / ??

CONFUSION.PNG]

W-why are we talking about me now?

[hexcope]

It's why I brought up that magic tool to begin with. I was already talking about you.

[rudelanguage]

[clearly rugpulled:] I. I thought that was because you. Like. Wanted me to do something for you. [y'know. like. the only reason people are supposed to reach out to them for?? ? ? what is with you people. you and Kaeya and--what the heck--]

[hexcope]

If you want me to make it a request, I can do that.

[rudelanguage]

Wh--[What the--] Little late, Long-term!

[hexcope]

So you only accept requests from people if they ask you for it before you're aware they're about to ask?

[rudelanguage]

A-dyuh--wh, wha-what? I'm! Stop! Talking words around in circles and making my head hurt! Jerk! Drughhh, I just-! [GNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--] FINE! Fine, finefinefine! Whatever! I'll!

[...]

...What are you asking me to do, again?

[hexcope]

...I want you to find a way.

...To calm yourself down.

[rudelanguage]

...

[...]

Oh.

[hexcope]

Fear and paranoia amplify from cortisol- that's the chemical your body makes when you're stressed. You can only reduce cortisol levels if you calm down. So, give it a try.

[rudelanguage]

[Man, what the FUCK do you know 'bout my body chemicals?!

er--] I, uh. You, uhhh...know I'm not. Not human, right? Guy?

[hexcope]

Do you breathe air? Drink water?

[rudelanguage]

[...

just to be a shit:] I've been known to, maybe.

[hexcope]

[He knows he's being fucked with a little, so he brushes past that.]

Short of you secretly being a fish or a reptile, you've got cortisol.

[rudelanguage]

How would you know! Don't look at my guts without my permission, weirdo!

[hexcope]

I'm not-- it's science, Antigone. If you breathe air, you're a type of animal, and if you're not a reptile, you have cortisol! That's just- biology!

[rudelanguage]

[ohhhh the compulsion to ape his voice iTs SCIyence anTigoKNEE it's so strong, but Knife will not do it. they will not!! do it!

they'll just huff loudly.

wow they're less panicky. egging nerds on is actually good for your health turns out.]

Maybe on your world! You don't know! You could be making half those words up. Cord-issall and all.

[hexcope]

[Now she's stressing him out. But it's just teasing, at least. Jayce takes a deep breath, and exhales slowly.]

Yeah, well. I bet if I studied your chemical structure, I'd find more anions than cations. Because you're so negatively charged.

[rudelanguage]

You're just making words up now! Those sound like onion species!