reach the residents

[ximilian]

● ● ● REACH THE RESIDENTS

For any questions you want to ask Viveca or Degar and receive an IC response, please direct them here. Please indicate in the subject line who you are trying to contact.

// VIVECA

Hi, what can I help you with?

// DEGAR

Today was gonna be the day, but they'll never throw it back to you. And by now, you should've somehow realized what you're not to do.

▶ NAV

Comments

[stationmaster]

Oh, uh. That one —

[ there's a general gesture towards the unused bed near the back, next to the only bed in the room actually in use (presumably degar's). the one in use hasn't been made, and there's a lute beside it, standing on the floor by its side, along with a few other random knick-knacks.

he lets itachi go first, following behind. he's curious to see this scroll at work, half-lamenting not reading up on his file a little closer tbh. ]

[blackfire]

( wordless, itachi lays the scroll on the bed and plants his hand in its center — over a black spill of ink written in a stylized kanji that says summoning.

he releases it with a word, and the android body manifests in the middle of the scroll.

he lays the holodisc beside it, and steps back. a glance at degar, with faintly raised eyebrows, implies the question he does not ask — satisfied? )

[stationmaster]

Well, that is pretty fuckin' cool, man.

[ never mind that the android body ... he almost can't even look at it, because it looks exactly like her.

it's weird. ]

[blackfire]

( his mouth twitches downward at one corner. the vitriol of the people on viveca's world did not truly affect him — he was born to a clan reviled long before his birth — but he is not exactly in the mood to suffer praise, either. )

Inconsequential, I'm sure, compared to some of what you've seen.

( he shakes his head faintly, and then after a moment he gestures to the lute. )

You should join us occasionally, as duty permits. I know both Newton and Gwen play.

[stationmaster]

Doesn't mean it wasn't still cool as hell to see.

[ a shrug —


— which then becomes a wide-eyed blink of delight. ]

Really? I have been thinking a lot about that band idea you brought up a while back. Never really seemed like the right time, but maybe there'll never be a right time. Just excuses, huh?

[blackfire]

( just excuses.

he gives the man a considering look. rather disastrous first meetings aside, it had lead to — wherever he stands with viveca now.

perhaps he owes her an attempt. )

Distance is easy.

( it served him well enough for years. given the man's responsibility, he cannot say he blames him for a lack of presence. )

However, moreso after this mission than others, the unit cohesion of the crew is at risk of fissure, and trust is in short supply. It may be of benefit not only to them but to yourself should you decide to... engage. 'No time like the present'.

( clearly a quote he's heard elsewhere, an awkward but well intended panacea. )

However, I do not know what minding the orbs entails. Perhaps the others could bring a band to you.

[stationmaster]

Given how increasingly more intense those lil guys are getting, I'd say we keep band practice out of earshot of them. Not that they have ears, but they have a pretty good knack for hearing.

[ he rubs at his chin. ]

Guess we never did get that music room set up, huh? And it may just have to wait for a little longer, until Viv's — feeling more herself.

But I don't disagree with you, things are getting real.

[blackfire]

There is no reason the Simulation Room cannot serve until such time.

（ that is a curious point about the orbs, however, and he files it away for later.

there are any number of topics he could pursue in light of the man's statement, but instead, ultimately — ）

How is she?

（ it's asked softly, while he maneuvers the android body so he can retrieve the scroll beneath it. he can extrapolate, of course — but if he is certain of nothing else where degar is concerned, he does not doubt the man cares for viveca as few others do. ）

[stationmaster]

She's ... processing.

[ which is almost a funny thing to say now that the team knows that she hasn't always been like this; hasn't always been an ai.

degar shifts to move forward and help itachi lift the body, mostly an arm or a leg, while he retrieves his scroll. the android is a heck of a lot heavier than it looks, and he still can't help but marvel at how realistic its — her — features are. all the way down to that reddish curly hair, and the dusting of freckles across her cheeks and her nose. ]

This whole arrangement will only be temporary, don't worry. [ he pauses. ] And when she's ready, she'll let you all know herself.

[blackfire]

（ he opens his mouth to say i wasn't worried, but closes it after a moment with a soft click of his teeth. he is not certain it would be truthful, and in the hallowed hush of the moment he finds he does not wish to lie. ）

She does not owe us attention, time or information. The mission was not executed to the fullest extent of our abilities, and I understand that must be frustrating to her, given her connection to the world and its peoples and cause. We let her down.

（ what he says is not censure of the others — he blames himself strongly in part for how things went. there are things he should have done better, differently. what occurred with blue could not have been avoided, but if they had been more diplomatic perhaps the situation would not have worsened as it did. yet — this approach to him is still a new and delicate thing, and as with his lack of aptitude for healing he finds that he is clumsy at it.

he shakes his head after a moment, rolling up the scroll again. he has precious few, and wishes to conserve them with care. the android gets one final, thoughtful look and then — ）

I will take my leave. Please give her my regards.

（ and with that, he uses shunshin to depart. ）