Expiation Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
expiationmods) wrote in expiationlogs2025-05-13 12:07 pm
It stands to reason that someone, or something, else could have gotten their hands on the simulation, yes.
[ Not unreasonable. Or perhaps the AI somehow splintered. There are too many variables, and it’s driving him mad, not having all the information. ]
Stars, what a headache.
[ Not unreasonable. Or perhaps the AI somehow splintered. There are too many variables, and it’s driving him mad, not having all the information. ]
Stars, what a headache.
Careful what you wish for. These snakes have no qualms giving you a name outright.
[ They’ve whispered as much to him, but he hasn’t been interested enough to pursue it. He would rather do his own legwork first, before up and doing whatever these creatures want him to do. ]
[ They’ve whispered as much to him, but he hasn’t been interested enough to pursue it. He would rather do his own legwork first, before up and doing whatever these creatures want him to do. ]
[Altius's expression darkens; it's not unexpected to hear in the least, but it confirms that it's vital to stay in one piece in this place.]
Small enough they seem fine externally, but...
[He doesn't want to consider what will happen if this affliction succeeds in killing him. Certain people can't afford to have their souls degraded any further than they already are.]
Have you told anyone else?
Small enough they seem fine externally, but...
[He doesn't want to consider what will happen if this affliction succeeds in killing him. Certain people can't afford to have their souls degraded any further than they already are.]
Have you told anyone else?
Only the two directly involved. I thought it was pertinent they should know.
[ He doubts Ragna would have said much of anything. He can't speak for Ellie, though. If she told someone, they have not come forward about it. ]
They both described feeling "off" shortly after their revival. A feeling of missing something, though not knowing what that something was.
[ He doubts Ragna would have said much of anything. He can't speak for Ellie, though. If she told someone, they have not come forward about it. ]
They both described feeling "off" shortly after their revival. A feeling of missing something, though not knowing what that something was.
< You're telling me. >
[Everything to do with the AI is a little beyond them already. Add in all these new problems with snakes and other factions...
Air slips from a vent in their head as they sigh]
< I wonder what's going on in that garden place, anyway... >
[Everything to do with the AI is a little beyond them already. Add in all these new problems with snakes and other factions...
Air slips from a vent in their head as they sigh]
< I wonder what's going on in that garden place, anyway... >
All of us should know.
[This feels like something he should be doing something about. Putting the warning out himself—or trying to make sense of this revival mechanism that leaves pieces of them behind. But his head feels like it's spinning; he brings a shaky hand over his eyes.]
Is this why the other cycles failed...?
[This feels like something he should be doing something about. Putting the warning out himself—or trying to make sense of this revival mechanism that leaves pieces of them behind. But his head feels like it's spinning; he brings a shaky hand over his eyes.]
Is this why the other cycles failed...?
[ He can see the signs of a man who has his fingers in everyone's business wanting to continue the trend, a busybody who's body is not so keen on him being busy right now. ]
Ere you tie yourself into knots, 'tis my intention to make sure everyone is informed. However, right in the midst of all the chaos, where it might be missed or lost, is not the time.
Ere you tie yourself into knots, 'tis my intention to make sure everyone is informed. However, right in the midst of all the chaos, where it might be missed or lost, is not the time.
[ A moment passes. It's true they're likely too scattered to focus on their tablets, even if everyone else has avoided getting bitten. He lets out a breath, then, ]
... You're right.
[ He's certain enough from his conversations with this man that he'll follow through. That much he can let go of. ]
Thank you for informing me.
... You're right.
[ He's certain enough from his conversations with this man that he'll follow through. That much he can let go of. ]
Thank you for informing me.
[ Emet-Selch won't hear very much argument from Altius about his attitude, at least. And unfortunately he does need to rest, and there's not much else he can do for now. ]
I'll contact you later.
I'll contact you later.
< Yep, sure does. >
[They reach into their pocket and pull out a capped syringe filled with green liquid, the glass etched with a green, black, and white logo.]
< It's been awhile, but... You remember shortly after the whole doppelganger incident? I think I mentioned one of these things to you in a roundabout way. That I wasn't really used to needing to worry about recovery time. >
[They reach into their pocket and pull out a capped syringe filled with green liquid, the glass etched with a green, black, and white logo.]
< It's been awhile, but... You remember shortly after the whole doppelganger incident? I think I mentioned one of these things to you in a roundabout way. That I wasn't really used to needing to worry about recovery time. >
The technology from your home?
[He does recall, and he looks at the syringe, squinting slightly. Hm... not just technology after all, he can see. But supernatural concepts seem not uncommon in their city. Perhaps they're already aware?]
That is good to hear. [Reassuring, certainly. He trusts that they'll be able to use it when they need, for all their pain tolerance.] I got something of a souvenir myself, but I'd say it's less impressive than yours.
[He does recall, and he looks at the syringe, squinting slightly. Hm... not just technology after all, he can see. But supernatural concepts seem not uncommon in their city. Perhaps they're already aware?]
That is good to hear. [Reassuring, certainly. He trusts that they'll be able to use it when they need, for all their pain tolerance.] I got something of a souvenir myself, but I'd say it's less impressive than yours.
[They cock their head to the side, syringe still in hand.]
< Really? What was it? >
< Really? What was it? >
[Altius explains as he reaches into his inner jacket pocket for the engraved watch he'd recently found waiting for him. It felt like more of a mockery than a reward—but he's glad that Dante got something useful, after all that mood they'd been put in.]
Something I bought for my ward, Ferran.
[Holding it up for them to look at if they like, he pauses and realizes something. With an amused hum, he remarks:]
It matches you, too. [The colors of Dante's prosthesis are fairly close to the red and gold of Garnet's costume... which is what probably drew him to buy this watch in particular for the boy, with its red face with gold numbers and hands. The silver band matching Ferran's pendant made it all come together.]
Something I bought for my ward, Ferran.
[Holding it up for them to look at if they like, he pauses and realizes something. With an amused hum, he remarks:]
It matches you, too. [The colors of Dante's prosthesis are fairly close to the red and gold of Garnet's costume... which is what probably drew him to buy this watch in particular for the boy, with its red face with gold numbers and hands. The silver band matching Ferran's pendant made it all come together.]
[ Having complied with the snakes' request already, Arlecchino can't exactly complain about others doing the same. And having done a bit of browsing on her tablet, she's aware that the man now pointing a gun at her is — charitably — a bit of an odd bird.
She looks at him evenly, scrutinizing him with crimson eyes. If there's any truth to the snakes' claims, it will benefit them all to let Fandaniel commit some form of crime against her. Not the crime of getting shot in the face, because she is rather attached to having a face. But something.
After a moment, she brings a plaintive hand to her chest, her posture melting into that of a feeble gentlewoman. ]
Oh, I beg of you. Anything but that.
[ The dramatic lilt to her voice is overly sweet. He did ask for drama. ]
Please, you can have my valuables, but do spare me my life.
She looks at him evenly, scrutinizing him with crimson eyes. If there's any truth to the snakes' claims, it will benefit them all to let Fandaniel commit some form of crime against her. Not the crime of getting shot in the face, because she is rather attached to having a face. But something.
After a moment, she brings a plaintive hand to her chest, her posture melting into that of a feeble gentlewoman. ]
Oh, I beg of you. Anything but that.
[ The dramatic lilt to her voice is overly sweet. He did ask for drama. ]
Please, you can have my valuables, but do spare me my life.
[She shakes her head.]
There's some gear that would be helpful. But...there's only a few things with any sentimental connections.
[And now that she thinks about it, there's probably nothing for Beta. The only thing she can think Beta had was the implant the clone had cut out of her own body.]
It would probably be a bad idea for the AI to let me have some of those.
There's some gear that would be helpful. But...there's only a few things with any sentimental connections.
[And now that she thinks about it, there's probably nothing for Beta. The only thing she can think Beta had was the implant the clone had cut out of her own body.]
It would probably be a bad idea for the AI to let me have some of those.
It's made a number of mistakes, from my understanding. Maybe it will make some to your benefit, next.
[Who knows what the tools they're given are capable of in terms of helping them get out of this place, though. In some ways he has to be satisfied with monopoly money and keeping himself alive.]
How have you been doing, Aloy? Not harassed by any of these snakes, I hope.
[Who knows what the tools they're given are capable of in terms of helping them get out of this place, though. In some ways he has to be satisfied with monopoly money and keeping himself alive.]
How have you been doing, Aloy? Not harassed by any of these snakes, I hope.
[Altius certainly didn't look at his best when Kurt came across him; the dark circles under his eyes and weary posture undoubtedly paint a picture of his poor health, though he's done his best to keep himself maintained otherwise, and he's insisted he'll make it through. But he needs to know what's inside those gates—if there might be some kind of cure for this affliction that's resisted his attempts to heal it.
Kurt and his glass were the key inside he didn't have before. He couldn't let the opportunity pass.
He scrutinizes the surroundings, arms folded as he suppresses a shudder at the chill coming over him.]
Which begs the question of why it's here at all...
Kurt and his glass were the key inside he didn't have before. He couldn't let the opportunity pass.
He scrutinizes the surroundings, arms folded as he suppresses a shudder at the chill coming over him.]
Which begs the question of why it's here at all...
[ He gives a dismissive wave, moving to step out of the room. Before he can fully leave, however, he casts a glance back. ]
I cannot see yours, you know. Your soul. So pray, do not do anything stupid.
[ Not gonna even stay to elaborate on that. Byeeee. ]
I cannot see yours, you know. Your soul. So pray, do not do anything stupid.
[ Not gonna even stay to elaborate on that. Byeeee. ]
[Wait, what?
Emet-Selch is gone before he has the chance to even process that enough to ask about it. So now he's going to try to work through all that mess with a brain that's only somewhat cooperating with him.
Thanks, buddy!]
Emet-Selch is gone before he has the chance to even process that enough to ask about it. So now he's going to try to work through all that mess with a brain that's only somewhat cooperating with him.
Thanks, buddy!]
[This was a waste of time, but it was still the place where people gathered to waste time on skills that they either had or didn't. Still, it was a place that Richard had set up and thus could be a basis of searching out like-minded individuals. That's why he stayed to the shadows of the trees and looked within the ground.
The beginnings of smoke drew his attention, and he moved in that direction. Small blaze, possibly someone playing. The second blaze was far more intentional, larger and meant to spread.
As for the wind? Silco twitched his fingers at his side and the air around him stirred, nudging the flames to greater life, pushing them around to spread across grass and up trees, to other ignition points. Nurture the flames with air movements to push them along even as he stepped aside and disappeared back into the foliage and away.
A spark then a flame then an inferno. The start of every good rebellion.]
The beginnings of smoke drew his attention, and he moved in that direction. Small blaze, possibly someone playing. The second blaze was far more intentional, larger and meant to spread.
As for the wind? Silco twitched his fingers at his side and the air around him stirred, nudging the flames to greater life, pushing them around to spread across grass and up trees, to other ignition points. Nurture the flames with air movements to push them along even as he stepped aside and disappeared back into the foliage and away.
A spark then a flame then an inferno. The start of every good rebellion.]
Shut up, I'm not leaving you. Just hold on, I already called for help.
[Maybe he can at least start dragging Altius away from the entrance of the garden? Away from the dead snakes? Don't want more of those guys to come slithering about and try to attack the feverish man. Of course he could take them, but he'd rather not tempt fate.]
I'm going to move you. [It's about the only warning he gives before Scott slides his hands underneath the older man's shoulders. With a great pull (and grunting just slightly in the process), he starts dragging him away from the garden.]
[Maybe he can at least start dragging Altius away from the entrance of the garden? Away from the dead snakes? Don't want more of those guys to come slithering about and try to attack the feverish man. Of course he could take them, but he'd rather not tempt fate.]
I'm going to move you. [It's about the only warning he gives before Scott slides his hands underneath the older man's shoulders. With a great pull (and grunting just slightly in the process), he starts dragging him away from the garden.]
[Kurt's definitely expressed his concerns at some point! Ultimately, he's accepted his insistence for now. It helps that now that they're in the garden, there's no sign of anything trying to attack or chase them. He's passed the glass to Altius regularly so he can see things the way he's been, though he hasn't yet caught a glimpse of the man himself through it...
He frowns while checking the surroundings, and his thoughts result in a shrug of his shoulders.]
I'd sat it's some kind of trap. But I don't know what kind! It doesn't look like there's anything really harmful around.
He frowns while checking the surroundings, and his thoughts result in a shrug of his shoulders.]
I'd sat it's some kind of trap. But I don't know what kind! It doesn't look like there's anything really harmful around.
[Fandaniel glances up from the grass snake hanging daintily from his fingers to blink owlishly at Emet-Selch.
The question strikes him as funny. The Unsundered surely knows his answer.]
Do I...really strike you as the sort of man who would disobey a talking snake, milord?
[He chimes.]
Would you like to be made victim to a crime? Ah, wait, is it still a crime if you consent?
[A thoughtful pause as he stares into the middle distance, then looks back with a wide grin.]
Guess what I'm about to make you an accessory to!
The question strikes him as funny. The Unsundered surely knows his answer.]
Do I...really strike you as the sort of man who would disobey a talking snake, milord?
[He chimes.]
Would you like to be made victim to a crime? Ah, wait, is it still a crime if you consent?
[A thoughtful pause as he stares into the middle distance, then looks back with a wide grin.]
Guess what I'm about to make you an accessory to!
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