[ A plain-wrapped package is delivered by courier to Tyl on the morning of the 25th. Inside the box is an elegant metal case containing an expansive (and expensive) set of titanium surgical implements.
Included with the gift is the following note: "For the consummate professional. Regards, Knock Out" and underneath which is signed a string of unfamiliar glyphs. ]
[She lets out a small Orokin curse and crosses her arms, letting her own feed switch to video only to try to be at least a little polite. Even if she's half glaring as she does.]
Hardly. I went back to the Origin System. [Arms still crossed, she grits her teeth a bit.] There's something coming. And they're counting on the mutual... disdain the Tenno, Grineer, and Corpus have for one another.
[Not what she was expecting but she tries not to let it ruffle her.]
I don't know how. I would have stayed if I could have. We were in that other world and then I wasn't. And then I was here again. You're the genius, aren't you? If there was a way, I'd expect you to find it.
[Of course it doesn't know! Ugh!] I am, and
this pace cheats! Everything about it screams simulacrum, but
then you go back? Is it real? Does it matter, though? Maybe. Maybe
not. [He's pacing in and out of frame now.]
Didn't matter. Matters even less now. [Although--]
Don't pretend you knew. You tried too hard to stop me over one more batch
of them. [Does it matter? Not really. Does the arguing feel
satisfying, though? Absolutely.]
...Why do I care? [Lots of tasteless people don't like him!
But--no, no, he knows that name.] Is that what you're
calling the Lotus these days?
"Was". Sounds like that's not a problem anymore. [He had no idea
that thing had a name, even. Learning something new every
day.] Are we going to break out of this stupid planet or not?
[That calls for a laugh. Just a little one.] Very.
[Oh no, you're not getting away that easy.] So! Lab supplies.
They're expensive. Pitiful here, really. I need materials to make
more of them. Better ones. Lots of them.
You've got a reason now. I can't go bat my lashes at the queens to get a
new lab now, can I? Until I've got the materials to fabricate the tools
I'll need, there's no lab to trash.
I don't suppose there's a legal way to get what you need? I'm not keen on getting on the wrong side of this world's laws. And Zephyr isn't exactly a stealthy 'frame.
I suppose there might be, but it'll take longer. [Only one frame, though? Interesting. Good to know.]
Got a list. It's long. Depressingly basic. [And the fact that he can't figure out where the companies warehouse this stuff has made it so much harder to get his hands on it all! And it's costing him actual money!] Thinking of selling my work to fund this stuff, [the word comes out with an audible sneer.] It's beneath me. But we're all down in the muck now, aren't we?
Wouldn't that help in the long run? More access to newer equipment and research? [Eh, what does she really know about science though? She had a foundry and Ordis for all of that.] If there's absolutely no other option... I can always duck into the Void.
[...He switches to his Old Grineer body just so he can give the little creature a proper withering look.] Do you really want me to imitate your favorite little jellyfish? 'cos I don't.
[There's a dramatic pause happening. He doesn't like those when other people do them.] Oh! Of course you could. [Devil magic! Why didn't he think of that? Well--not his field. Vor stole all the researchers with that specialty. Literally, the two halves of him did a fantastic job clearing out his old command. Stingy old flatworm.] Is the Void hiding any plastids I could use? Neural sensors? A micro-lathe? The souls of my murdered children? [Is he going to work with the Tenno? Yes. Does this preclude killing them later? Absolutely not!]
I was talking about Alad. This is why my insult creativity gets stifled, I have to keep using the same animals. [And it still doesn't work!
But good to Natah's got roots sunk so deep into its brain.]
It's the Void, there's energy in there these humans won't figure out for centuries. [Energy he could use. He's back to pacing again--feels wrong with bigger feet, though, so he's back to his normal look, and the comforting tik-tik-tik of armored composite against the floor.]
Whether this Earth's real or not, the Void breaks rules. Lots of them. If there's anything here that can tear a hole in this stupid place, it's Void energy.
[So... Wow, Regor is really looking good now! That's weird. At least he never mutilated a warframe though. At least, not for some where weapon project like Zanuka.]
Humans can't really survive the Void or Orokin Towers. Plenty of Corpus and Grineer corrupted in there. Including Vor. [In case he cared. She doubts it but, y'know.]
Really. And he took my research with him. [Because someone stole it. Wonder who that was.]]
Yes, I'm aware that the Empire's most interminable grandfather-yogwun went and found a new life as the same exact thing, except worse. I had to sit through some of his sermons, you know. Before the Queens got tired of him. [Thank you, Queens.]
[Now you've got him on one of his favorite subjects: dunking on other Grineer!] I can! He was a Void-crazed geriatric. A crumbling lump of ugly augments and miserable aspirations. The Queens gave him a chance and he failed.
Oh, you'll get the list. All of it. [And it'll absolutely regret agreeing to help. Good.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
untraceable text
Date: 2019-10-05 11:32 pm (UTC)From:s-e•-:-g-r
o-g•-s•
w-f•-h-a
o•-h-o
t-a-’-t-e
g-c-o-s-r•-r-a
c-h-h-h-m
c-o
Christmas Delivery
Date: 2019-12-24 06:32 am (UTC)From:Included with the gift is the following note: "For the consummate professional. Regards, Knock Out" and underneath which is signed a string of unfamiliar glyphs. ]
Text | early February 1st
Date: 2020-02-01 07:09 pm (UTC)From:I want a truce. Second comes after I know whether that’s possible.
Video, bc u cannot escape his voice
Date: 2020-02-06 01:58 am (UTC)From:video; nope never
Date: 2020-02-06 02:44 am (UTC)From:Hardly. I went back to the Origin System. [Arms still crossed, she grits her teeth a bit.] There's something coming. And they're counting on the mutual... disdain the Tenno, Grineer, and Corpus have for one another.
Re: video; nope never
Date: 2020-02-06 03:33 am (UTC)From:[Ha! It's mad. he can see it's mad. That's hilarious. Ooh, something must've gotten it scared if--] You went back. [He seems stunned to silence.]
[That doesn't last long.] You can go back? How? When? What happened? Tell me.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 03:51 am (UTC)From:I don't know how. I would have stayed if I could have. We were in that other world and then I wasn't. And then I was here again. You're the genius, aren't you? If there was a way, I'd expect you to find it.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 03:57 am (UTC)From:[Of course it doesn't know! Ugh!] I am, and this pace cheats! Everything about it screams simulacrum, but then you go back? Is it real? Does it matter, though? Maybe. Maybe not. [He's pacing in and out of frame now.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 04:22 am (UTC)From:[She watches for a bit.]
Do we have a truce? If there's a way back without forgetting, I'd [ugh] rather have a headstart.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 01:16 pm (UTC)From:But if we're data, that could happen! [He paces back into frame, a hand pressed to his forehead.]
Yes! Yes. Gotta figure this place out. I need more lab to do it with. Need it to not get smashed. [And the Tenno are so good at that, aren't they?]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 07:01 pm (UTC)From:Good. You should know then that the Sentients are coming.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 07:18 pm (UTC)From:Well of course they are, I let them out! [Duh! Did it think he'd forgotten that?]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 08:04 pm (UTC)From:no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 10:55 pm (UTC)From:Didn't matter. Matters even less now. [Although--]
Don't pretend you knew. You tried too hard to stop me over one more batch of them. [Does it matter? Not really. Does the arguing feel satisfying, though? Absolutely.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-06 11:17 pm (UTC)From:[Never mind that sleeping so long had left her memories fuzzy at best. He doesn't need to know.] And she doesn't like you. So that's in my favor.
[Doesn't like the Tenno anymore either but that's... fine. It's fine.]
And Hunhow was no joke.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-07 02:41 am (UTC)From:...Why do I care? [Lots of tasteless people don't like him! But--no, no, he knows that name.] Is that what you're calling the Lotus these days?
"Was". Sounds like that's not a problem anymore. [He had no idea that thing had a name, even. Learning something new every day.] Are we going to break out of this stupid planet or not?
no subject
Date: 2020-02-07 03:27 am (UTC)From:Yeah. The sooner we get the hell out of here, the better. I guess... if you need help with anything. [Y'know. Tell her.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-07 03:38 am (UTC)From:[That calls for a laugh. Just a little one.] Very.
[Oh no, you're not getting away that easy.] So! Lab supplies. They're expensive. Pitiful here, really. I need materials to make more of them. Better ones. Lots of them.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-07 04:07 am (UTC)From:I'm a barista. I don't think I can afford lab equipment and all my credits in the Origin System are there. [Also, would they even sell to a teenager?]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-07 04:28 am (UTC)From:When did you start caring about the concept of "other people's things"?
no subject
Date: 2020-02-07 04:39 am (UTC)From:All goes right though, I won't be trashing your labs for awhile. I'll make sure the other Tenno know to lay off too.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-08 07:10 am (UTC)From:You've got a reason now. I can't go bat my lashes at the queens to get a new lab now, can I? Until I've got the materials to fabricate the tools I'll need, there's no lab to trash.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-08 07:49 am (UTC)From:I don't suppose there's a legal way to get what you need? I'm not keen on getting on the wrong side of this world's laws. And Zephyr isn't exactly a stealthy 'frame.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-08 06:21 pm (UTC)From:Got a list. It's long. Depressingly basic. [And the fact that he can't figure out where the companies warehouse this stuff has made it so much harder to get his hands on it all! And it's costing him actual money!] Thinking of selling my work to fund this stuff, [the word comes out with an audible sneer.] It's beneath me. But we're all down in the muck now, aren't we?
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 12:33 am (UTC)From:Wouldn't that help in the long run? More access to newer equipment and research? [Eh, what does she really know about science though? She had a foundry and Ordis for all of that.] If there's absolutely no other option... I can always duck into the Void.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 02:18 am (UTC)From:[There's a dramatic pause happening. He doesn't like those when other people do them.] Oh! Of course you could. [Devil magic! Why didn't he think of that? Well--not his field. Vor stole all the researchers with that specialty. Literally, the two halves of him did a fantastic job clearing out his old command. Stingy old flatworm.] Is the Void hiding any plastids I could use? Neural sensors? A micro-lathe? The souls of my murdered children? [Is he going to work with the Tenno? Yes. Does this preclude killing them later? Absolutely not!]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 02:55 am (UTC)From:[Natah. Not Lotus. It helps.]
I'm not very strong, so nothing big. [She crosses her arms.] Not really anything to bring back though. Mostly just being invisible.
[Mostly. He doesn't need every detail about them.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 03:48 am (UTC)From:But good to Natah's got roots sunk so deep into its brain.]
It's the Void, there's energy in there these humans won't figure out for centuries. [Energy he could use. He's back to pacing again--feels wrong with bigger feet, though, so he's back to his normal look, and the comforting tik-tik-tik of armored composite against the floor.]
Whether this Earth's real or not, the Void breaks rules. Lots of them. If there's anything here that can tear a hole in this stupid place, it's Void energy.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 05:02 am (UTC)From:[So... Wow, Regor is really looking good now! That's weird. At least he never mutilated a warframe though. At least, not for some where weapon project like Zanuka.]
Humans can't really survive the Void or Orokin Towers. Plenty of Corpus and Grineer corrupted in there. Including Vor. [In case he cared. She doubts it but, y'know.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 05:24 am (UTC)From:Yes, I'm aware that the Empire's most interminable grandfather-yogwun went and found a new life as the same exact thing, except worse. I had to sit through some of his sermons, you know. Before the Queens got tired of him. [Thank you, Queens.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 10:36 am (UTC)From:Cough]Can't imagine why. [Won't have to worry about that for awhile. Shame that Ruk and Vay Hek didn't get 'lost' in the Void too.]
I guess send me a list or something? And I'll see what I can manage legally.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 03:15 pm (UTC)From:Oh, you'll get the list. All of it. [And it'll absolutely regret agreeing to help. Good.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 07:03 pm (UTC)From:She almost starts grumbling and sighs instead.] I'll see what I can do.
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 07:45 pm (UTC)From:Good. Have fun. [Or don't. He'd prefer if you don't.]
no subject
Date: 2020-02-09 10:17 pm (UTC)From:[A sigh and she shakes her head.] I'm sure I will.