Who: Aetós + Appointments What: A catch-all for threads with Aetós in April Where: Various When: April Notes: NPC Interactions can be requested via the this page!
[ There's a little spark of amusement, and even a laugh, though it's oddly stilted even though it's clearly genuine. ]
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Who wouldn't be interested in a group of names?
[ They're amused because Amos is the second person to ask at this point. But it's a statement that remains cryptic, since there's no reason to share that detail. ]
I keep notes. As any scientist would. That list are those that caught my attention. For various reasons. Yours was because you were the first of this generation to Harmonize further.
Seriously? That's it? [ Amos' laugh is clipped — more of a single bark, really — but genuine in its own right. ] Makes sense that'd catch your eye if we got more potential, but shit, you had people worried that you were going to kidnap and experiment on me or some shit.
[ Haha, which is totally crazy and funny, right? Because they wouldn't do that. That'd be a stupid thing to do.
His good humour fades into something more contemplative, because it's not like he's forgotten the reason behind why Aetós had pinged him in the first place. (How.) But now that he's learned a little more... and he still has something else to enquire about... ]
Got two more questions for you. Pretty sure you're gonna care about the second one more, but I'm gonna need answers for both.
First: What's it about Powder that caught your attention?
[ And, after a second's pause, ]
And second: What are you willing to give up to get Adelfoúla's shard back?
It’s not out of the question. But that’s true of any Shard-Bearer. Some of you hold more interest, true. But your use to me is largely equivalent.
[ At least they’re honest? Hm, ]
Powder was here as a Shard-Bearer. Her sister as well. When I observed Vander’s memories through the Timestream, I noticed their connection to Kenos. Powder was worth noting because her connection was stronger.
[ It’s all true, but also not the full answer. That had been given to Silco, but it’s enough. At least, by Aetós’s measure. They do pause before answering the second as they consider it, but the response doesn’t take long. ]
Information is the most valuable thing to offer. I created Kowloon. That should give you an idea of how long I have been in Kenos. What I know. But I will not answer any question you may ask. Some things are far more valuable to know than others.
[ Well, as long as they're all equal opportunity victims, then that settles that. The notion isn't great, but at least he probably doesn't need to take extra precautions because he's being specifically targeted or whatever.
(He's also confident that Yima would not let anything happen to him, but that's something else entirely.)
There's the sense of acknowledgment from Amos regarding Aetós' explanation of Powder — also not great, but probably harmless all things considered, so that'll be good to take back to Vander — but his mood noticeably darkens at the answer to his second question.
Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. Aetós is not a single-minded man focused on a single project held within his captivity; they're someone still out there with their own free will, fingers in an unknowable number of pies.
Still. ]
So how did you think this was going to go? You ask me to give you her shard back, I say yes, and we're all on our merry ways? You thought that'd work?
[ It's said matter-of-factly, but naturally, Aetós hadn’t expected anyone to get attached to Adelfoula. It makes things more complicated, but not uninteresting. ]
Unless there is something specific you want, and that is why you asked. I'm open to negotiations. I simply cannot offer a blank check, however. There is much in Kenos that is more valuable than her semblance of life, much less the fragment of it.
[ It really is funny how Amos can converse perfectly normally — or whatever passes for his normal — with Aetós as long as they're not talking about Adelfoúla, but every time she comes up... every time Aetós regards her as little more than a tool...
He inhales, deep, doing his best to suppress his frustration. The way he wants to reach across and through communion and grab Aetós by the neck, strangle them to death here and now. If only; not like he could reach through a hand terminal any time he talked to someone who sucked, either.
Okay. He's fine now. They're negotiating. He can work with negotiating. ]
Well, I want you to let her go. That's kind of a non-starter for me. Sounds like it is for you too, so I'm wondering if there's a way we can come to a compromise there. If there's a replacement you'd accept I can get for you or anything like that, or if we're done here.
Perhaps. It is not a replacement, precisely. But it is a way you could be useful to me. Eventually, if you find that acceptable.
[ With the way Aetós says it, “no” is clearly an answer they’ll accept. ]
I have an associate that may become troublesome to me one day. If that happens and you bring me their Shard, I’d find that to be acceptable payment. I don’t know when this might be. It might not come to pass. But that’s the price for Adelfoúla. If you’re willing to take it.
[ He doesn't even hesitate in his answer. Doesn't even matter that Amos can back out, that they can go their separate ways and leave it at that — the conditions are acceptable to him. He's used to being used as a tool; what's another usage when it could save a kid? ]
So how's this work? There a contract to sign or something?
[ Which is a real question; the way they're separated by distance, Amos still with her shard fragment and Aetós still with every other part of her, he is wondering what the next step is. ]
Since it’s not a service I’m completely certain that I’ll need to call upon, there’s no need. Unless you want one, I suppose. But you can keep the fragment until then. It only seems fair.
[ There’s a thoughtful pause again, and they add: ]
If she wishes to contact you, I’ll also allow her to do so.
[ There's a sense of demurring at first, because that's... not good enough. It doesn't guarantee her release. It doesn't guarantee anything; all it does is put Amos on Aetós' retainer, and there's something unpleasant about that. And he doesn't really care who it is he might have to take care of one day, he just wants Adelfoúla free.
So that second statement ends up carrying a lot of weight, easing a significant portion of Amos' doubts. ]
Alright. That'll work.
[ It won't, and Amos is going to have to keep an eye out for other opportunities to free her — something that he knows is going to be difficult, and take time, because Aetós is a slippery motherfucker. There's the vague memory of them holding their hand to his shard when frozen in time, the knowledge that he won't be able to just bust in somewhere and kill them. It gives Aetós almost all of the cards, save for the one Amos presently has in his hand.
He's not going to thank them for this scrap, this morsel, of basic decency towards Adelfoúla, her personhood — but there still is a faint sense of gratitude from his end of things. As long as she has some freedom, then there's that. It's more than she had before, and he can take that on its own for now. ]
Very good. I’m glad we could come to an agreement. I’m not unreasonable.
[ There’s a smile in those words, though. But, before it can be questioned, Aetós says his farewell and the connection cuts. ]
Until you’re needed, then.
[ Even though Amos may have been able to reach out to other minds through Communion after being contacted, he’ll find that isn’t possible in this case. It’s not even that Aetós isn’t picking up, so to speak. Reaching out to that sensation, that presence, simply returns nothing. It’s more akin to the sense one gets when trying to reach out to someone that has left Kenos entirely. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ There's a little spark of amusement, and even a laugh, though it's oddly stilted even though it's clearly genuine. ]
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Who wouldn't be interested in a group of names?
[ They're amused because Amos is the second person to ask at this point. But it's a statement that remains cryptic, since there's no reason to share that detail. ]
I keep notes. As any scientist would. That list are those that caught my attention. For various reasons. Yours was because you were the first of this generation to Harmonize further.
no subject
[ Haha, which is totally crazy and funny, right? Because they wouldn't do that. That'd be a stupid thing to do.
His good humour fades into something more contemplative, because it's not like he's forgotten the reason behind why Aetós had pinged him in the first place. (How.) But now that he's learned a little more... and he still has something else to enquire about... ]
Got two more questions for you. Pretty sure you're gonna care about the second one more, but I'm gonna need answers for both.
First: What's it about Powder that caught your attention?
[ And, after a second's pause, ]
And second: What are you willing to give up to get Adelfoúla's shard back?
no subject
[ At least they’re honest? Hm, ]
Powder was here as a Shard-Bearer. Her sister as well. When I observed Vander’s memories through the Timestream, I noticed their connection to Kenos. Powder was worth noting because her connection was stronger.
[ It’s all true, but also not the full answer. That had been given to Silco, but it’s enough. At least, by Aetós’s measure. They do pause before answering the second as they consider it, but the response doesn’t take long. ]
Information is the most valuable thing to offer. I created Kowloon. That should give you an idea of how long I have been in Kenos. What I know. But I will not answer any question you may ask. Some things are far more valuable to know than others.
no subject
(He's also confident that Yima would not let anything happen to him, but that's something else entirely.)
There's the sense of acknowledgment from Amos regarding Aetós' explanation of Powder — also not great, but probably harmless all things considered, so that'll be good to take back to Vander — but his mood noticeably darkens at the answer to his second question.
Of course it wasn't going to be that easy. Aetós is not a single-minded man focused on a single project held within his captivity; they're someone still out there with their own free will, fingers in an unknowable number of pies.
Still. ]
So how did you think this was going to go? You ask me to give you her shard back, I say yes, and we're all on our merry ways? You thought that'd work?
no subject
[ It's said matter-of-factly, but naturally, Aetós hadn’t expected anyone to get attached to Adelfoula. It makes things more complicated, but not uninteresting. ]
Unless there is something specific you want, and that is why you asked. I'm open to negotiations. I simply cannot offer a blank check, however. There is much in Kenos that is more valuable than her semblance of life, much less the fragment of it.
no subject
He inhales, deep, doing his best to suppress his frustration. The way he wants to reach across and through communion and grab Aetós by the neck, strangle them to death here and now. If only; not like he could reach through a hand terminal any time he talked to someone who sucked, either.
Okay. He's fine now. They're negotiating. He can work with negotiating. ]
Well, I want you to let her go. That's kind of a non-starter for me. Sounds like it is for you too, so I'm wondering if there's a way we can come to a compromise there. If there's a replacement you'd accept I can get for you or anything like that, or if we're done here.
no subject
[ With the way Aetós says it, “no” is clearly an answer they’ll accept. ]
I have an associate that may become troublesome to me one day. If that happens and you bring me their Shard, I’d find that to be acceptable payment. I don’t know when this might be. It might not come to pass. But that’s the price for Adelfoúla. If you’re willing to take it.
no subject
[ He doesn't even hesitate in his answer. Doesn't even matter that Amos can back out, that they can go their separate ways and leave it at that — the conditions are acceptable to him. He's used to being used as a tool; what's another usage when it could save a kid? ]
So how's this work? There a contract to sign or something?
[ Which is a real question; the way they're separated by distance, Amos still with her shard fragment and Aetós still with every other part of her, he is wondering what the next step is. ]
no subject
[ There’s a thoughtful pause again, and they add: ]
If she wishes to contact you, I’ll also allow her to do so.
no subject
So that second statement ends up carrying a lot of weight, easing a significant portion of Amos' doubts. ]
Alright. That'll work.
[ It won't, and Amos is going to have to keep an eye out for other opportunities to free her — something that he knows is going to be difficult, and take time, because Aetós is a slippery motherfucker. There's the vague memory of them holding their hand to his shard when frozen in time, the knowledge that he won't be able to just bust in somewhere and kill them. It gives Aetós almost all of the cards, save for the one Amos presently has in his hand.
He's not going to thank them for this scrap, this morsel, of basic decency towards Adelfoúla, her personhood — but there still is a faint sense of gratitude from his end of things. As long as she has some freedom, then there's that. It's more than she had before, and he can take that on its own for now. ]
whoops forgot to put a bow on this
[ There’s a smile in those words, though. But, before it can be questioned, Aetós says his farewell and the connection cuts. ]
Until you’re needed, then.
[ Even though Amos may have been able to reach out to other minds through Communion after being contacted, he’ll find that isn’t possible in this case. It’s not even that Aetós isn’t picking up, so to speak. Reaching out to that sensation, that presence, simply returns nothing. It’s more akin to the sense one gets when trying to reach out to someone that has left Kenos entirely. ]