![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[ Silco wonders about how much Aetós has taken stock of what was lost from the raid, or how much the shard bearers have revealed. He doesn't expect that Aetós knows of their (game) shard-bearer-wide communions, but he plays it cautiously, because of course he does. Communion with Silco is cold, like being dunked under oily, polluted water, as always, but there's an inscrutable something kept just out of reach, below the surface. (Rage. It's rage, he's Not Happy and wants answers.) ]
I wonder if you've heard anything about all the... discoveries that my fellow shard-bearers are sharing from their recent raid of your labs.
Did you leave all those little bits of information on purpose?
[ In his office, Silco has two things of importance on him. One is the Hag's eye from Aetós, which sits on his desk right now, the other... he rolls on the desk, right in front of it, one finger on it. It's something that he normally keeps locked away, for fear of losing it, but right now... he's keeping it close. ]
I wonder if you've heard anything about all the... discoveries that my fellow shard-bearers are sharing from their recent raid of your labs.
Did you leave all those little bits of information on purpose?
[ In his office, Silco has two things of importance on him. One is the Hag's eye from Aetós, which sits on his desk right now, the other... he rolls on the desk, right in front of it, one finger on it. It's something that he normally keeps locked away, for fear of losing it, but right now... he's keeping it close. ]
[ Communion with Aetós is strange. At first, Silco might think he’s being ignored, because there’s no sense of connection or presence that he’s come to expect, even from the Shard-Bearers that are more muted in their expression. Yet, Aetós’s voice comes through clear and calm as ever. It’s just devoid of anything else. ]
Lab. [ A correction, though a small one. ] Some parts were intentional. Some were not. I expected that they would come fetch Vander in one way or another, but the timing I couldn’t guess. I wouldn’t stop work because of that.
[ A pause, and then: ]
What makes you think I left them on purpose?
Lab. [ A correction, though a small one. ] Some parts were intentional. Some were not. I expected that they would come fetch Vander in one way or another, but the timing I couldn’t guess. I wouldn’t stop work because of that.
[ A pause, and then: ]
What makes you think I left them on purpose?
Oh, of course they would come for Vander.
[ Even in his fury, Silco saves a small moment to be petty and catty as hell. Don't mind him. ]
I suppose, though, I assumed that it was intentional because I couldn't imagine that you would be in operation for so long, if a little raid was enough to lose information.
Or was it that inconsequential to your grander work?
[ Or was it a message? That Jinx was on there is important. It holds significance, even if Silco has never told anyone. Yima knows, so... perhaps Aetós does as well. ]
[ Even in his fury, Silco saves a small moment to be petty and catty as hell. Don't mind him. ]
I suppose, though, I assumed that it was intentional because I couldn't imagine that you would be in operation for so long, if a little raid was enough to lose information.
Or was it that inconsequential to your grander work?
[ Or was it a message? That Jinx was on there is important. It holds significance, even if Silco has never told anyone. Yima knows, so... perhaps Aetós does as well. ]
[ wow… petty… is this Aetós judging or just me ooc, who knows because it does not come through Communion! ]
Hardly. It went better than I expected, in fact. I expected a small rescue party. Not a large group. The material there was due to be purged regardless, so having Shard-Bearers take care of it was excellent data. Even your demon was kind enough to provide valuable insights.
[ Though that’s not why Silco is “calling”, is it. There’s a sense in their tone that even Aetós knows that, but they’re similar in meandering to their point to not be the one to say what they mean. ]
But regardless, it’s no information lost. Small bits and pieces shared. Meanings they’ll have to piece together. But nothing I would not share, were they able to ask. So. What do you want to ask, Silco?
Hardly. It went better than I expected, in fact. I expected a small rescue party. Not a large group. The material there was due to be purged regardless, so having Shard-Bearers take care of it was excellent data. Even your demon was kind enough to provide valuable insights.
[ Though that’s not why Silco is “calling”, is it. There’s a sense in their tone that even Aetós knows that, but they’re similar in meandering to their point to not be the one to say what they mean. ]
But regardless, it’s no information lost. Small bits and pieces shared. Meanings they’ll have to piece together. But nothing I would not share, were they able to ask. So. What do you want to ask, Silco?
How magnanimous of you, to be so willing to share.
[ Dryly. Even in communion, that comes through. But he cannot dance around this for that long, he knows that Aetós will cut him off if he plays for too long, or tries to get them to come out and say it. Silco is not the one with the power here, and it's after a moment that he finally says: ]
There was a list of names. "Too Unstable To Survive", I believe.
[ And then: ]
Do you still have access to all of them? I know Amos and Voryn Dagoth are both here still, the other two, however...
[ He doesn't care about Barnaby, but it's an easy cover. Her name isn't Powder, he thinks to himself, but does not voice it, and does not name the names because of that. ]
[ Dryly. Even in communion, that comes through. But he cannot dance around this for that long, he knows that Aetós will cut him off if he plays for too long, or tries to get them to come out and say it. Silco is not the one with the power here, and it's after a moment that he finally says: ]
There was a list of names. "Too Unstable To Survive", I believe.
[ And then: ]
Do you still have access to all of them? I know Amos and Voryn Dagoth are both here still, the other two, however...
[ He doesn't care about Barnaby, but it's an easy cover. Her name isn't Powder, he thinks to himself, but does not voice it, and does not name the names because of that. ]
Is that what you believe?
[ There’s a laugh, though it’s short and soft as it’s always been. ]
I remember the note you’re referring to. But that wasn’t how they were labeled. They weren’t labeled at all. [ which just to be OOCly clear, may be an IC miscommunication! The full description of the journal can be found here, for reference. ] Amos Burton, Barnaby Brooks, Powder, Voryn Dagoth. Interesting individuals. Potentially. Leaving Kenos doesn’t always stick, as I’m sure you’re aware. However. How interesting that you decided to reach out over a list of names. Especially when one of them is a connection I discovered through Vander’s memories.
[ There’s a laugh, though it’s short and soft as it’s always been. ]
I remember the note you’re referring to. But that wasn’t how they were labeled. They weren’t labeled at all. [ which just to be OOCly clear, may be an IC miscommunication! The full description of the journal can be found here, for reference. ] Amos Burton, Barnaby Brooks, Powder, Voryn Dagoth. Interesting individuals. Potentially. Leaving Kenos doesn’t always stick, as I’m sure you’re aware. However. How interesting that you decided to reach out over a list of names. Especially when one of them is a connection I discovered through Vander’s memories.
[ When Amos responds to Communion, the sensation that comes is strange in that… There isn’t much of a feeling at all. It’s distinctly different from the brief connection with Adelfoúla since with her, there was something. Here, it’s a distinct absence. There’s no sense of connection or presence that he’s come to expect from Communion.
But a familiar voice rings out clearly and calmly in that void despite: Aetós. ]
Good. I wasn’t sure whether you would accept.
[ ignore the false pretenses. anyways, ]
I’ll put it simply: you have something that belongs to me. I’d like it back.
But a familiar voice rings out clearly and calmly in that void despite: Aetós. ]
Good. I wasn’t sure whether you would accept.
[ ignore the false pretenses. anyways, ]
I’ll put it simply: you have something that belongs to me. I’d like it back.
[ And let's be real, Silco has NO logic in his brain when Jinx is involved. He's reading a LOT into this. As is evidenced when there's another major spike of irritation from communion at the name "Powder". You can imagine Silco grinding his teeth to the tune of 'her name is jinx'. ]
Vander has been dead for nearly a decade, in my world, and his memories are that much out of date. [ A beat. ]
I'll ask again. Do you have access to the ones no longer here?
[ In real-time, Silco's fingers tighten on her shard, as if he's afraid it's going to disappear. ]
Vander has been dead for nearly a decade, in my world, and his memories are that much out of date. [ A beat. ]
I'll ask again. Do you have access to the ones no longer here?
[ In real-time, Silco's fingers tighten on her shard, as if he's afraid it's going to disappear. ]
No.
[ It’s an answer given simply and immediately. ]
I can observe the Timestream. Pull out things and creatures whose beings do not crystallize into a Shard. Those that do are beyond me. It would make my research much less worthwhile if it were that easy, hm?
[ There’s a pause, longer this time, but finally, there’s an emotion. Thoughtful. Curious. ]
I'll take a guess. You have her Shard?
[ It’s an answer given simply and immediately. ]
I can observe the Timestream. Pull out things and creatures whose beings do not crystallize into a Shard. Those that do are beyond me. It would make my research much less worthwhile if it were that easy, hm?
[ There’s a pause, longer this time, but finally, there’s an emotion. Thoughtful. Curious. ]
I'll take a guess. You have her Shard?
I see.
[ The emotion is gone again as quick as blowing out a candle. It therefore makes that “I see” very difficult to read. Whether Aetós takes Silco at his word (or even cares), who knows. It’s at least not something they press on more. ]
Is that all you wanted to know?
[ The emotion is gone again as quick as blowing out a candle. It therefore makes that “I see” very difficult to read. Whether Aetós takes Silco at his word (or even cares), who knows. It’s at least not something they press on more. ]
Is that all you wanted to know?
[ Amos is familiar with absence — or at least, he thinks he is.
Rather, communing with him carries of sense of mutedness, of regular human emotions lurking far beneath the surface, there but faint. It could easily be mistaken for something empty, except when faced with something that distinctly is. Because Amos is, after all, still just a regular human. Traumatized and repressed, but human.
So at first, there's a sense of surprise. And when that voice speaks out, identifies itself: anger, low and simmering, but definitely above the threshold for what he usually feels. ]
Fuck off. So you can kill her again?
[ Yeah he's not having this at all. ]
Rather, communing with him carries of sense of mutedness, of regular human emotions lurking far beneath the surface, there but faint. It could easily be mistaken for something empty, except when faced with something that distinctly is. Because Amos is, after all, still just a regular human. Traumatized and repressed, but human.
So at first, there's a sense of surprise. And when that voice speaks out, identifies itself: anger, low and simmering, but definitely above the threshold for what he usually feels. ]
Fuck off. So you can kill her again?
[ Yeah he's not having this at all. ]
If that's your concern, I can soothe it. She's not dead. I wouldn't discard her so casually. She's my greatest innovation.
[ The way they speak is rather clipped, but to the point, at least. It's probably not much of a relief considering it's talking to someone so unpleasant, but. ]
What I destroyed is merely a vessel. She is not restricted to a single body.
[ The way they speak is rather clipped, but to the point, at least. It's probably not much of a relief considering it's talking to someone so unpleasant, but. ]
What I destroyed is merely a vessel. She is not restricted to a single body.
[ Something that belongs to me. Discard her. Innovation. It sets his teeth on edge, hearing a kid being spoken about using those words. The manner of speech is one thing, but... it'd probably be worse if it was anything but clipped, actually. To the point is a fuck of a lot better than justifications.
Even so, he's not biting. ]
Great, she's not dead or restricted to a single body. Then you can let her go.
[ It's not a request. ]
Even so, he's not biting. ]
Great, she's not dead or restricted to a single body. Then you can let her go.
[ It's not a request. ]
That implies that she is my captive. Adelfoúla is my creation, but she is the finest because she has free will. She is my assistant. She would seem my work done for her own reasons as well.
[ They’re getting the sense that this may be a lost cause and that Shard fragment may not make it back to their hands… A waste, truly, and there’s an impression of a sigh, though muted. ]
Though I am perplexed. Why does it matter to you? If I were to “let her go”, what then?
[ They’re getting the sense that this may be a lost cause and that Shard fragment may not make it back to their hands… A waste, truly, and there’s an impression of a sigh, though muted. ]
Though I am perplexed. Why does it matter to you? If I were to “let her go”, what then?
Cut the shit. She's a kid. You say she's got free will, but then you do shit like destroy her body or keep another one locked in a closet. Maybe you call it free will to justify it to yourself, but that's you taking advantage of someone who either doesn't know better or can't fight back, and that shit isn't free will.
[ That simmering anger of Amos' is slowly ramping up, because it isn't so much a nerve being touched on as openly poked and prodded. The sigh is met with enmity, with disdain, with murderous intent. But hey, at least he's direct about it. ]
You let her go. She lives on one of the islands. Goes to school, makes friends her age, has a life. None of this shit where you treat her like she's your puppet and act like it's okay.
[ Yeah, short of coming and taking it for themselves, they're probably not getting that shard fragment back. ]
[ That simmering anger of Amos' is slowly ramping up, because it isn't so much a nerve being touched on as openly poked and prodded. The sigh is met with enmity, with disdain, with murderous intent. But hey, at least he's direct about it. ]
You let her go. She lives on one of the islands. Goes to school, makes friends her age, has a life. None of this shit where you treat her like she's your puppet and act like it's okay.
[ Yeah, short of coming and taking it for themselves, they're probably not getting that shard fragment back. ]
Mostly.
[ He said, and it's a bit of an odd admittance. Was he really bothering Aetós about someone who was clearly not here, and therefore not a concern.
He knows that Jinx isn't here, because he has her shard. It is precious, and it is currently in his fingers. Silco's grasp on communion is tenuous enough that what slips through is something that could actually be called relief if the man could be honest with his feelings for even a millisecond. ]
There is one more thing that I should ask about. The person you observed, that you...mislabeled. [ Clearly just an accident, Aetós. ]
Why? Do you do so with everyone? [ That part is just genuinely curious. ] And more importantly: why that name? There is...significance in choosing the wrong one, and you are not one for mistakes.
[ He said, and it's a bit of an odd admittance. Was he really bothering Aetós about someone who was clearly not here, and therefore not a concern.
He knows that Jinx isn't here, because he has her shard. It is precious, and it is currently in his fingers. Silco's grasp on communion is tenuous enough that what slips through is something that could actually be called relief if the man could be honest with his feelings for even a millisecond. ]
There is one more thing that I should ask about. The person you observed, that you...mislabeled. [ Clearly just an accident, Aetós. ]
Why? Do you do so with everyone? [ That part is just genuinely curious. ] And more importantly: why that name? There is...significance in choosing the wrong one, and you are not one for mistakes.
I do not.
[ There’s a pause that’s clearly consideration with the muted feeling that comes through, but Aetós seems to decide that it’s fine to elaborate. ]
When a Shard comes into my care, I expose it to the Timestream directly to see what can be observed. It is a way to direct the Timestream. Consider a Shard a lens with which it is focused. I can witness pieces of the Shard’s past as well as the potential future it was taken from. Multiples of both. I can also see connections in those memories. If one of the souls has been touched by the Timestream before, it is visible. So, a constant in many of Vander’s memories was two girls with that connection. But one was stronger than the other. It is why I noted it. They called her Powder. It is as simple as that.
[ A thoughtful noise, and then they add: ]
It is worth noting that the names in that list share nothing in common for my interests in them. That list was truly just notes. I always carry such a journal with me.
[ There’s a pause that’s clearly consideration with the muted feeling that comes through, but Aetós seems to decide that it’s fine to elaborate. ]
When a Shard comes into my care, I expose it to the Timestream directly to see what can be observed. It is a way to direct the Timestream. Consider a Shard a lens with which it is focused. I can witness pieces of the Shard’s past as well as the potential future it was taken from. Multiples of both. I can also see connections in those memories. If one of the souls has been touched by the Timestream before, it is visible. So, a constant in many of Vander’s memories was two girls with that connection. But one was stronger than the other. It is why I noted it. They called her Powder. It is as simple as that.
[ A thoughtful noise, and then they add: ]
It is worth noting that the names in that list share nothing in common for my interests in them. That list was truly just notes. I always carry such a journal with me.
Ah. I understand.
[ Not Amos’s demands, but Amos himself and the misunderstanding, so far as Aetós sees it. ]
She’s not a child. Shaped like one, yes, but that was merely a matter of optimization. The minimum amount of material needed to make a humanoid shape but retain the structural integrity needed to perform her duties. A practical matter. Not an emotional one.
[ As it is for you is carried in the tone. ]
But thank you for the insight. It is a testament to my progress that you’ve humanized her.
[ Not Amos’s demands, but Amos himself and the misunderstanding, so far as Aetós sees it. ]
She’s not a child. Shaped like one, yes, but that was merely a matter of optimization. The minimum amount of material needed to make a humanoid shape but retain the structural integrity needed to perform her duties. A practical matter. Not an emotional one.
[ As it is for you is carried in the tone. ]
But thank you for the insight. It is a testament to my progress that you’ve humanized her.
[ There's a stutter-stop to Amos' emotions as Aetós elaborates, fury replaced by bafflement the more he talks. And normally, he can respect practical matters like this. Hadn't really cared about any of these goings-on until Vander, his friend, had gotten nabbed — and until he'd seen Adelfoúla's body get destroyed, upon which that had become his entire focus. As it is for him.
In the real world, where he's moved from his shop to the room where he keeps a small safe for items he's been entrusted with — Adelfoúla's shard fragment now among them, he's entrusting himself with it — Amos blinks, still confused, kinda blank as he tries to parse this info. Until the notion of humanizing her, as if that was something she'd needed — and after a blip of nothingness from his end, disgust floods in. ]
So that's how you justify it to yourself. Haven't heard that one before. [ His voice is dripping with revulsion, because yeah, there's no way to make this not personal now. And, in a mocking tone, ] It doesn't matter because she's my property. She's mine to do with whatever I want.
[ It's a straight line to the versions he has heard before. ]
Then why does she have a soul.
[ That's what all of this is about, isn't it? Aetós wants that piece of her soul back? If this was strictly practical then she wouldn't have one at all. He's operated drones before — and that's not what she is. ]
In the real world, where he's moved from his shop to the room where he keeps a small safe for items he's been entrusted with — Adelfoúla's shard fragment now among them, he's entrusting himself with it — Amos blinks, still confused, kinda blank as he tries to parse this info. Until the notion of humanizing her, as if that was something she'd needed — and after a blip of nothingness from his end, disgust floods in. ]
So that's how you justify it to yourself. Haven't heard that one before. [ His voice is dripping with revulsion, because yeah, there's no way to make this not personal now. And, in a mocking tone, ] It doesn't matter because she's my property. She's mine to do with whatever I want.
[ It's a straight line to the versions he has heard before. ]
Then why does she have a soul.
[ That's what all of this is about, isn't it? Aetós wants that piece of her soul back? If this was strictly practical then she wouldn't have one at all. He's operated drones before — and that's not what she is. ]
I created it.
[ It’s a simple, factual response, but also cold. There’s no arrogance or pride in the admission, no conflict, just a simplicity as if they were describing the weather. ]
However. Calling it a soul is overstating what it is. Like the Shard you have, it is merely a fragment of a soul. It is not complete, nor will it ever be. It is still a great achievement, yet also a failure. But an interesting one. If it were more whole, it would not be possible to transfer her consciousness between the fragments such as the one you took.
[ Or at this point, own, but. ]
[ It’s a simple, factual response, but also cold. There’s no arrogance or pride in the admission, no conflict, just a simplicity as if they were describing the weather. ]
However. Calling it a soul is overstating what it is. Like the Shard you have, it is merely a fragment of a soul. It is not complete, nor will it ever be. It is still a great achievement, yet also a failure. But an interesting one. If it were more whole, it would not be possible to transfer her consciousness between the fragments such as the one you took.
[ Or at this point, own, but. ]
[ It's odd, seeing parts of himself reflected back at him like this. Aetós is decidedly not Amos, nor is the reverse true, but in any other situation, he'd be responding just as simply, just as emotionally uninvolved. If Adelfoúla had been in an adult's body, they never would have reached this point at all.
But this is the one case in which he can't be cold. Can't divest himself from acknowledging personhood, can't treat this like it's nothing. Because... she's still a kid. ]
So you created a kid [ sometimes it's in one ear and out the other with him, huh ] to do what your bidding, and dispose of her when she's inconvenient. I get it, you got a way to bring her back, but that's still basically what you do.
[ He can't keep the disdain out of his voice, out of his feelings bleeding through communion, but a little something contemplative begins to slide in as well.
Because for as bullheaded as he is on this, Amos isn't stupid. He can tell they're about to go in circles with neither of them getting what they want; Aetós not getting the shard fragment back and Amos not strong-arming them into letting her go. So. Probably time to start changing things up a bit from his end. ]
What do you need the one I got for? You have others, don't you?
[ To use, but he stamps down that rising anger within seconds. However successful he is, he's attempting to slide back into who he usually is — someone who normally would be able to have a perfectly reasonable conversation with this guy. ]
But this is the one case in which he can't be cold. Can't divest himself from acknowledging personhood, can't treat this like it's nothing. Because... she's still a kid. ]
So you created a kid [ sometimes it's in one ear and out the other with him, huh ] to do what your bidding, and dispose of her when she's inconvenient. I get it, you got a way to bring her back, but that's still basically what you do.
[ He can't keep the disdain out of his voice, out of his feelings bleeding through communion, but a little something contemplative begins to slide in as well.
Because for as bullheaded as he is on this, Amos isn't stupid. He can tell they're about to go in circles with neither of them getting what they want; Aetós not getting the shard fragment back and Amos not strong-arming them into letting her go. So. Probably time to start changing things up a bit from his end. ]
What do you need the one I got for? You have others, don't you?
[ To use, but he stamps down that rising anger within seconds. However successful he is, he's attempting to slide back into who he usually is — someone who normally would be able to have a perfectly reasonable conversation with this guy. ]
[ That he keeps notes is... well. Truly an afterthought from Aetós and it is from Silco. Aetós reminds him of Singed, in far too many ways. Singed if he had been given more power and ability, perhaps, but Singed all the same. The man did not exactly hold many scruples when it came to his research, and Silco suspected that they would have gotten along swimmingly.
Though this answers a lot for Silco. He bites back the impulse, though Aetós is sure to see the shape of it, before Silco drowns it yet again -- Her name is -- he isn't going to give Aetós that much. He wondered, if it was the fact that he was here, that made the connection to Jinx stronger, or if it was the fact that he had so recently stolen those memories? There are infinite possibilities, but Silco doesn't share them.
As much as he is working with them, Silco doesn't trust Aetós, but he figures it goes both ways. ]
Fascinating. I do wish I could tell Vander just how -- she -- [ A slight halt in communion, amending from Jinx to she ] ended up in your notes.
Well, perhaps the wondering and fretting over it will be better. [ A beat. ] Just so we are clear, however. If she were to ever return.
I would consider her off-limits. Just a friendly suggestion.
[ It was not, in fact, friendly in the slightest. ]
Though this answers a lot for Silco. He bites back the impulse, though Aetós is sure to see the shape of it, before Silco drowns it yet again -- Her name is -- he isn't going to give Aetós that much. He wondered, if it was the fact that he was here, that made the connection to Jinx stronger, or if it was the fact that he had so recently stolen those memories? There are infinite possibilities, but Silco doesn't share them.
As much as he is working with them, Silco doesn't trust Aetós, but he figures it goes both ways. ]
Fascinating. I do wish I could tell Vander just how -- she -- [ A slight halt in communion, amending from Jinx to she ] ended up in your notes.
Well, perhaps the wondering and fretting over it will be better. [ A beat. ] Just so we are clear, however. If she were to ever return.
I would consider her off-limits. Just a friendly suggestion.
[ It was not, in fact, friendly in the slightest. ]
Friendly.
[ There’s a short, laughed out hm, but the little twinkle of amusement is there, though also cut off almost sharply. ]
It’s good to know that she’s so important to you as well. Unexpected, but good to know. [ Is that a threat made in return? Who can say. ] But so long as you deliver on our agreement, then she will be. Despite what you may have guessed because of the journal, I don’t antagonize those I work with purposefully.
[ There’s a short, laughed out hm, but the little twinkle of amusement is there, though also cut off almost sharply. ]
It’s good to know that she’s so important to you as well. Unexpected, but good to know. [ Is that a threat made in return? Who can say. ] But so long as you deliver on our agreement, then she will be. Despite what you may have guessed because of the journal, I don’t antagonize those I work with purposefully.
Page 1 of 2