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

[vivecai]

In that case... I'll be happy to listen to you.

[ there's genuine warmth in her voice, there, like she's truly glad he decided to come to her about this... whatever this is. she has her ideas, but in the end there's several things it could be. ]

As for advice, I'll do my best.

[starer]

[He just stares up at the ceiling for a moment. To the cameras tucked away up there.]

You know what's gonna happen to me once we get enough orbs.

[A statement rather than a question. It's not like this is the first time they've talked about just how much information Viveca has at her disposal.]

Sam knows. And now Steve's here, he's gonna ask too. [A pause, and he adds-]

I think I made a mistake coming here.

[vivecai]

[ to his non-question, there's a quiet hum of agreement as she waits for him to get to the point. and when he does — ]

... A mistake? You regretted everything you were made to do, and wanted to regain control of your own fate, undo everything you wish you could undo. I don't think that was a mistake. I think you already know that.

[ when she continues, it's softer, quieter. ]

But... I also think that if you do get to undo your regret, it's going to be a great loss to your world. A great loss to the people who love you. But I think you already know that, too.

[starer]

After everything I've done, the world ain't gonna miss me.

[That, he knows for certain. He's seen what people say about him. Had to sit through his hearing, listening in silence as they laid out every sordid detail they could get ahold of. And even that was only ever a fraction of the truth.]

I don't think I'm ready to give it up though. Not if there's even a chance I can use what they gave me to do... Something good.

[vivecai]

... I'm glad you think that way.

[ that he doesn't want to leave the world. that he thinks he can do good in it.

there's something very tired to her voice, though, when she continues, ]

So you want to change what you regret. That's what this means, isn't it? [ not that he's wanting to return home and leave the regret unfixed... he wouldn't leave all the people he cares about on the station. ]

[starer]

If that's an option, I guess. Though I ain't got any idea what I'd change it to.

[Which...is a lie, really. He has more than a few ideas, given some of the others on the station. But picking just one? That's a whole lot harder to decide.]

How much of a problem would it cause?

[vivecai]

Most people tend to be able to think of something.

[ which isn't to say she doesn't believe him.... but she absolutely doesn't believe him. ]

It's not really a problem... except maybe for you. [ a sigh. ] When you make the contract with the Orb, you give your time here in exchange for undoing your regret. But the Orb is not benevolent, and doesn't understand things like humans do. If you want to change your regret, it means changing the contract... which means it will demand something else of you, not just your time.

[starer]

You're talking about the orb like it's alive.

[Never mind that he's currently talking to an AI who could technically be classed as alive, depending on who he asked. But this is different. This is some glowing ball of whatever that they've been sent out to collect. So the idea of it being the one to decide the cost? That just...makes no sense to him.]

I've got a whole lot of regrets in my past. [Though four in particular ring true here, on this station. Might as well ask-] What would it take if I wanted to undo more than one?

[vivecai]

It is.

[ plain and simple. she's never understood how the concept of an alive thing like that can be so difficult for people to accept... as if magical things don't, more often than not, have a life and mind of their own. ]

You can only have one bargain with it at a time... that means one regret.

[starer]

[A huge purple alien used a bunch of stones to wipe out half of life in the universe. So maybe the concept of magic should be a little more familiar to him that it is. But rather than belabor the point-]

16th December 1991.

[The night the Winter Soldier killed Howard and Maria Stark. The night Hydra got their hands on copies of the real serum.]

If I want to undo that, what else would I need to give up?

[vivecai]

... ah.

[ a soft exhale — showing her quiet understanding of the significance of that particular date. ]

Bucky —

[ there's conflict in her voice, wanting to help him and yet not wanting to doom him to another contract, and in the end, she sighs. ]

That will be between you and the Orb. You can offer it something and hope it accepts... or wait to see what it asks you. Just, remember... you have the chance to deny it, or bargain with it. If it senses weakness in you, it won't show you mercy. The Orb isn't making the bargains out of kindness.

( ooc mod note: if bucky ends up wanting to go ahead with the regret change, please approach the mods about that and we can figure out a suitable price for the regret change! )

[starer]

What kind of things does it usually ask for? Cause it's not like I've got much to give.

[Not that he really has a choice. One way or another, he needs to change his regret. So if the orb can really sense those kinds of things, he knows he won't be coming out of it on top]

Pretty sure a couple of knives ain't gonna cut it.

[...no pun intended, of course.]

[ooc: Sure. I'll go hit up the contact post now!]

[vivecai]

It depends on a lot of things. [ what his regret is, how big it is, how desperate he is when asking for the change. ]

But whatever it is, it will be something valuable to you. For a pianist, it might be their ability to play the piano. It might be your memories of one single person. It might be binding you to this station forever. It will be significant... that is all I can say with certainty.

[starer]

I've gotta go back home after this. That's the whole reason I want to change my deal.

[Because if he's stuck between dying or being trapped here, he's not too sure there's really a difference. And his memories, well... Those will always be off-limits.]

How do I talk to it?

[vivecai]

I understand.

[ for a moment, she sounds almost wistful — but as she keeps speaking, it's very matter-of-fact again. ]

Since you're not in the immediate vicinity of any orb, the easiest way is to sleep. It'll know, and it'll speak to you... much like you were originally contacted to come here in your sleep.