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

[hexcope]

That's not how friendships work. Sure, it's nice if it's more equal than not, but we don't keep owing one another back and forth, forever. Unless...

[Pause for dramatic effect. Might be pulling a bit of a mansplain, manipulate move here-]

We're not actually friends?

[rudelanguage]

[she shrinks at the ask guiltily, sputtering.]

I--I, I, I'm not, uh-- [Worth the time? Y'know?] I mean--! [still flinching, she grimaces over her shoulder.]

Ain't you sick of me by now? Like--like, like! Even if I wanted to be a friend, isn't that annoyin'? For you? You don't even like how I live! Ain't I the only one gettin' anything good outta this?

[hexcope]

I don't have to like everything about someone to be their friend. And I'm not sick of you, or I'd leave. I'm not being trapped with you against my will, Antigone. I'm here because I want to be and I like being around you.

[rudelanguage]

...

[despite the effort to look blank (which yields just big eyes staring at nothing), Antigone's features go on a bit of a journey. ears perk, then flatten, then droop with a shoulder sag. it's like she's trying to figure out how to saddle some ill-shaped weight on herself, but no matter the shape Knife takes, it'd feel hard to grasp.

lots of things come to mind.

Yes you fucking ARE trapped with me, dumbass, we're in a giant prison! but that's not what he means.

You got TWO Viktors and a billion other friends or whatever, why the FUCK would you-- he just said what he said.

Okay, but what about if this Echo fuck is deciding to nuke either YOUR world or mine, what then? Knife doesn't even believe that's what's happening, so that's just a goddamn excuse to hide.

Yeah, but, but what if Soliton finds out and thinks I don't want to see him again because I got friends here? they can't speak to that to anyone, not ever, so that's just gonna have to stick in their heart like a serrated knife.

in a last-ditch effort to parse a lie, she shoots those big, glossy eyes up at Jayce with unblinking scrutiny, waiting for the 'just kidding' to drop. the pause is dramatic enough!]

[hexcope]

[He waits.

And waits.]

… Hello? Are you still in there?

[rudelanguage]

Ih-- [she twitches, blinking rapidly. belligerently:] Ye-yeah, obviously! I was just! [her voice thickens, prompting a gulp and a hasty shake of her head.

she sniffles, looking pointedly in another direction.] Okay, okay! I hear you or whatever! [sniff.] You got bad taste, I get it!

[hexcope]

[He waits a few seconds, gives her a chance to gather herself together.]

Be nice, or you'll get a noogie instead of a hug.

[rudelanguage]

[without missing a beat:] I will poke you so full of holes they'll use you to make noodles. [sloppier sniffsnort, a cough, and then a huff. Fuck. Ass. Shit. Fuck.

she throws back the remains of her tea and then throws the cup behind her, using an arm to scrub at her eyes and mouth before scowling his way.]

You're a friggin' weirdo. [it is not spoken with bite, even if it is grumpy.]

[hexcope]

For the hug, or for the noogie? Not sure which one you'd be more mad about.

[But he's laughing while he says it, not taking any of her threats seriously.]

Not the first time I've heard that.

[rudelanguage]

For wanting to get your giant owlbear hands on something that hasn't bathed in four weeks.

[hexcope]

Antigone!! Take a bath! Oh my God!

[rudelanguage]

Maybe MORE! [she flaps both arms.] I have no concept of the passage of time anymore!

[hexcope]

Take a bath or I'm going to pick you up and dump you in a river.

[rudelanguage]

You try and I'll jump on your face, lick my hands, and pet your hair.

[hexcope]

I had to eat raw salamanders for weeks, you think hand germs are going to scare me?

[rudelanguage]

[she flaps her arms.] I don't care, I'll still do it! Don't touch me unless I say so!

1/2

[hexcope]

Fine, relax, I'm not going to touch you.

[hexcope]

But I'm going to tell everyone you smell like farts until you bathe.

[rudelanguage]

[LOUD SCOFF.] Pffthhh! Like I even talk to anyone! Say whatever you want, I don't care. The more you tell me to do it, the longer I won't. [simple as!]

[hexcope]

I guess you'll just find out the hard way what happens when you don't wash enough.

[He gestures down toward his fucked up calf.]

[rudelanguage]

[she squints at leg. then at him. then at leg. there's a "you're pulling my leg" quip to be made, but Knife's not that kind of witty.]

Pretty sure I can handle things before I wind up nasty like you were. But like, if you want to be all toldja-so about it, I can letcha know?

[hexcope]

Thanks, I'll absolutely say "I told you so."

[This is a joke because if she actually did get that hurt, he'd be so worried he'd probably throw up.]

[rudelanguage]

[well, as long as SOMEone is being disgusting around this friendship...]

Yeah yeahyeahyeahyeah... Wait, so that's why you were so fuhh--fussed up? Not washin'? That didn't look like just a bathing problem, I gotta say.

[hexcope]

No, not really. But not having clean water to wash in didn't help.

Take out that magic detection device you have.

[rudelanguage]

[she frowns, wary. last time she had that thing out, he was in Sliepnir's company and she got fuckin' flashbanged.]

I, uh, take it you already know what I'll see? [she has to fish through a couple layers folded over, but procures the planchette partway, hesitating still.]