un: jaycetalis | video

[hexcope]

[If anyone hasn’t seen Jayce within the past few months, he looks quite a bit different. His hair is longer, he has a beard, and doesn’t seem quite as full of energy as he might have in the past. He’s also not dressing as uptight as he used to— a lack of vest and tie, exchanged for just a simple button up shirt. The background is once again S.T.A.R. labs, although he’s not trying to hide it this time.]

Hey, Etrayans. For those new to this whole thing, welcome. I’m Jayce Talis. For those who came from Pollux, also welcome. I can say with full confidence Aurora’s better at this than Castor is.

[Aurora probably won’t appreciate that comment, but whatever. He stands by it. But that aside…]

I’m putting out a call for fellow scientists to come together and work collaboratively on research involving what we know about Etraya, and more importantly, what we don’t know. This could also include strategizing developments to improve our lives here, and solving problems with our understanding in our respective fields. 


Something that we have here that we lack in our own worlds is the variety of perspectives. In my world, some of our greatest achievements are beyond what’s possible in other worlds, but we don’t have plastics or microwaves. Think of this as an opportunity for all of us to better ourselves, in this… transient existence we’re all stuck in.

Meetings would be here, in S.T.A.R. labs, every Thursday morning. No requirements if you want to participate other than an open mind, and a good attitude. No shooting down suggestions without hearing things out, and if you happen to have some sort of grudge against any of the participants here, you leave it at the door when you come in, or you’re not coming in.

[OOC: Feel free to threadjack around if you'd like!]

Comments

oops

[hexcope]

If you don't flag your every concern the same way as you do a genuine one, then yes. I'll respect it.

If she thinks you're going to be a problem for me, then yes. She's very protective.

[sweetmilk]

You will know when I have a genuine concern.

[ Viktor doesn't reemphasize his promise to be more collaborative. If reassurance is needed already, then he'll know how far this truce goes. ]

What exactly does she think she will be able to do?

[ Intellectual curiosity. ]

[hexcope]

Fine.

[He doesn't ask for more reassurance than that, because he does, inherently, trust Viktor.]

She's a mind reader, and can manipulate people's thoughts. She's learning how to be less invasive with it. I assume, unless your brain has been fully replaced with a machine, still would be susceptible. She also... has a grudge against Viktor. My Viktor.

[sweetmilk]

Good.

[ Viktor hums contemplatively. ]

There is enough machine that she may find it difficult, but no, it has not been replaced. Simply augmented. [ There has never been a need to test how well the augments would work against mental manipulation, but admittedly, he is morbidly curious. ]

What did he do?

[hexcope]

He wasn't in his best state, and we were in a world where someone's 'morality' could be a little... different.

[Does he go into this... no. This should be something Viktor talks about himself.]

You should ask him. I don't want to, um. Fail to represent something correctly.

[Political Avoidance Activated.]

[sweetmilk]

Different? Do you mean compromised? Or not apparent?

[ Viktor just stares at him, unfazed. Politics has never been an area of interest for him and he only ever learned enough to deal with the Chem Barons and ]

You do know that if I ask, unprompted, he will suspect where I learned this from.

[hexcope]

Compromised, by his normal standards.

I know and I know he doesn't like to talk about it. But if you want to know why Sophie's this way, and you're clearly avoiding her, then your only other venue is Viktor himself, or Quentin.

[sweetmilk]

Compromised. Hm.

[ Viktor says nothing more on the matter. ]

I do not particularly care why she is the way she is. It is not my concern and if she wishes to persist in her ill will for this other version of me, that is her prerogative.

Tell her I have agreed to play nice. That should suffice.

[hexcope]

Can't say I'll ever doubt your ability to cut-to-the-chase.

I will.

[sweetmilk]

I do not have the interest or desire to waste my time not saying what needs to be said.

And good. Because I will not hesitate to defend myself as I deem necessary.

[hexcope]

She's not going to physically attack you. Or psychically. But she is a telepath, as a heads up.

[sweetmilk]

She can attempt it and accept the consequences. I will consider the attack a threat the same as any other.

[hexcope]

I'm saying she won't do that! She'll maybe send you some messages in your head, probably read your thoughts a little...

[sweetmilk]

You can allow someone into your head all you wish. To me, that is an invasion of my autonomy and I will react as I see fit.

[ That is a very real threat. ]

[hexcope]

How about next time you speak to her, assuming there's a next time, make that clear instead of just leaving her on read.

[sweetmilk]

That she needs to be told not to invade someone's mind is... telling.

[ Viktor leans in closer to the camera, the glow of his eyes through the mask washing out the picture slightly. ]

You know her. Would my request mean anything? [ The pause isn't long enough to Jayce to actually answer. ] I do not think so.

So you may warn her if you wish. I will not waste my time.

[hexcope]

Hey, don't cut me off before I can even answer! You're so stubborn. Yes, it would mean something, because she does respect boundaries if you set them. I'm not going to be some messenger boy between you two, but you can't be mad at her for not knowing your limit if you don't tell her it.

[sweetmilk]

It was a rhetorical question. Do I need to direct you to a dictionary?

[ His tone is unimpressed but he is still attempting to be amenable. This is just how that looks from him. ]

I would have assumed the boundary is implicit. I do not operate on people under the assumption they have provided consent simply because I deem the surgery beneficial.

[hexcope]

Ignoring that dig. What's surgery got to do with any of this?

[No, that's off topic, hang on-]

To her, it's just another way of talking. Another kind of language someone can speak it. Try not assuming you know everything about a person.

[Peaceful negotiations are going swimmingly, clearly.]

[sweetmilk]

[ He was so close to making another comment. This conversation is rapidly twist back into irritating. ]

Consent. That is how it relates to this conversation.

It is not an assumption. It is... what did you call it? A boundary. One I did not realize needed to be defined.

In the effort of not seeming pedantic, it is not my responsibility to need to ask that my autonomy not be infringed upon. I have fought all my life for it, and it will be respected.