scien and throné the french adjacents

[egodist]

Comments

[naeddre]

[it's a very clear explanation, and she's interested in it the same way she's always fascinated to hear about castti's mixtures and poultices.

she takes a glass, swirling it absently.]

Interesting. [she says, thoughtfully.] And have you discovered anything yet? Or is this a work in progress?

[egodist]

Nothing yet. I don't have the tools to perform a proper analysis. You typically need more equipment, and I can build it myself... but the materials aren't available. I wanted a sample from this time regardless, since blood can also change over time depending on the environment and now that we're awake, it sounds like things will change.

[he will take a sip of the drink first]

Your thoughts? Does a riot still sound fun?

[naeddre]

I see.

[and - at the question, her lips twitch at the corners.]

Fun, yes. Practical, no.

[egodist]

Hmph.

[a peek of wry amusement]

They've made it clear they enjoy keeping us under their thumb. All communications monitored? What tyrants.

[naeddre]

Mm. It's common in criminal organizations for the top of the chain to keep their subordinates on very, very tight leashes.

[not that she has experience with that or anything]

For the amount of leaves they're offering to pay us, it seems unlikely to me that everything is above board.

[egodist]

But they'll love to pretend it is, hiding everything with clean presentations and contracts that none of us remember signing.

What do you suppose of these Senior members? Actually capable of making changes or just puppets?

[naeddre]

Puppets.

[she says, after a moment.]

The one I spoke to seemed to have no control over anything. They just offered to pass my complaints along up the ladder. [which to her is basically the same as saying i'll see if i can find it in the back.]

[egodist]

Even my supply requests were passed off to some unknown entity...

[he sighs, exhausted]

I didn't expect to get answers but I'm surprised I still find myself disappointed.

[naeddre]

[she takes a sip of wine.]

I also find myself disappointed. [she reaches up to adjust the collar around her neck.] There must be some way to send us back without having to endure eight weeks of nonsense.

[egodist]

They'll keep saying there isn't, but I do wonder if you can just hop off at on of the world stops and run.

[but

he finds his eyes drawn to her collar again and asks very straightforwardly - ]

If I ask after what you keep fiddling with, would you answer? It doesn't matter to me if you won't. But the tick is telling.

[naeddre]

[she's also thought about that - but she's distracted by his question!

and just shrugs. she doesn't seem to mind - it's not really a secret, so much.]

... It's a collar. If I take it off, it will flood my system with a fast acting, incurable poison, and I'll die.

[egodist]

Someone's controlling you? [followed by another question right at the heels] Do you want it off?

[naeddre]

They were. [she says, with a hint of ice, and then:] Yes. But it isn't that easy. If it were, I would have done it a long time ago.

[egodist]

Are they dead now?

[sure that's a natural conclusion to draw]

What makes it difficult?

[besides fast acting incurable poison,,]

[naeddre]

Yes.

[HELP THE WAY IT IS THOUGH]

It would take some measure of sawing to get through it. Not that it would matter. Anything sharp will set it off.

[egodist]

[HELP!!!! he taps his glass against hers]

Congratulations.

[and he does seem to mean it.... he hates being controlled]

Do you know what type of poison it is? Or how the system knows when to release it?

[naeddre]

[the tap actually does make her smile, a bit!]

... Thanks.

[as for the rest:] No. I'm not sure. Like I said. The top of the chain keeps the leash tight.

[egodist]

[hmmmm.]

Inconvenient.

If you ever want to be set free, let me know. I don't mind taking on thought puzzles now and again.

[naeddre]

I appreciate that. [genuinely.] But I must do it. I have to take my freedom myself, with my own two hands. Only then will it feel... right.

[egodist]

[a nod. fair enough.]

Then I take it you're searching for leads within the criminal organization that placed it on you to dismantle it.

[just to put all the pieces together]

[naeddre]

[a nod.]

... Yes. Which is why I need to go back to my world.

[egodist]

And instead you're stuck here.

[damn. sucks.

scien will refill both of their glasses of wine]

[naeddre]

[there's the smallest scowl on her face at this. she takes a sip of wine and it's a little more aggressive than before.]

Stuck here as a delivery girl. [idly:] Do you think if the senior crew were to vanish mysteriously, we'd be able to promote some of our own to the position and redirect the ship?

[egodist]

I already told Encino that I'll side with whoever's the most efficient and annoys me the least. A reasonable company ought to do the same: follow what maximizes profit for them.

[he also sips his wine, shrugging lightly]

They've said enough about being able to earn our way to more information that's classified if we get promotions.

[naeddre]

[eyebrow raise...]

Did they say specifically how to get a promotion? [the idea makes her skin crawl because she hates capitalism but it's fine.]