bravenewworld | Familiar Guests

[Odd environmental effects aside, Union has obviously dealt with much worse in the past. There's probably not much to be concerned about. Around mid-afternoon, the Warp Band network flickers on to display the faces of some guests who will surely put Union's mind at ease. They may be vaguely familiar to those who have been in Union for a while: one, a fiery-haired man in a well-pressed suit, and the other a young scientist in a lab coat bearing an expression liable to curdle milk.]

Good afternoon, Union.

[Crystal tries to appear generally congenial, although it looks just a bit forced. It seems someone didn’t realize the feed started a few seconds before it did.]

It’s been a long time. I’m glad to see this city is just as charming as I remember it.

For those of you who don’t know us, I am Rory Donnachaidh, and the two of us represent Team Evolution. We were conducting experiments in this area around a year ago and stumbled across your fair city.

[~~Yes, thank you for not introducing her, Rory.~~ She gives her colleague a cool smile before engaging the feed again.]

And I am Doctor Crystal Verdine. We are here to make sure there haven’t been any further repercussions after the accident so many months ago. The likelihood of that happening is very slim, of course, but it’s better safe than sorry.

Yes - just ensuring that our… activities did not result in further harm to the area around Union. We’ve received permission from your Council, of course.

Unfortunately, that means that we will be inconveniencing you for a little while.

We’ll be staying a few days. Of course, we understand your sentiments about our technology, so we’ll do our best to refrain from using it openly while we visit.

[Rory tries to look sympathetic, though it seems he’s smiling faintly.]

Rory and I enjoyed our brief stay the last time, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to find one of us. Unfortunately, we don’t have any plans for more flashy displays this time. [Said a bit pointedly to her colleague. Someone was a show off the last time they were there.] To that end, if you notice anything odd in or around the city, please let us know. Thank you so much for your hospitality.

[And the feed flickers off. Rory and Crystal can now be found around Union or addressed directly through the band.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He doesn't quite think Feliks can fully appreciate it at this point... though doubtless he will, soon enough.]

Political details aside, the people of Gigas claim descendence from the kingdom or empire that held this land prior to the conflict of 500 years ago. I would not comment on whether or not this claim is true.

Okay, but who actually cares if it's true? That was ages ago. Like, "centuries before anyone's great-great-grandparents were a twinkle in their great-great-great grandparents' eyes" ages.

Also? Wouldn't we all have been descended from people in that empire?

[Honestly, this all sounds pretty dumb to Feliks, and he's not exactly known for his logical aptitude.]

[Rory just smiles. ...That's probably all Feliks will need to draw his own conclusions.]

Any other questions?

[What he's tempted instinctively to draw from that is "Rory thinks you're too dumb to talk with honestly", but he at least entertains the possibility of it meaning "yeah, we tried saying that, too." It hard for him to figure out which, with his emotions pulling him so strongly towards the first one.]

...Fine. Okay.

So you told me what they think about Caldera. None of us have ever been there, so... So, what's getting said about us up there? About Union?

[He turns his tea cup around in his hands, in spite of his efforts not to fidget.]

Edited 2015-01-28 01:41 (UTC)

[It was meant to be the latter, though Rory isn't going to elaborate. It's a topic he's decided he'd prefer not to get into again unless absolutely necessary.]

Hm? Gigas's opinion on you?

[He seems thoughtful.]

I can't say I know. I am not, of course, privy to the conversations of, say, Valeria or General Cassius. However, popular sentiment amongst the citizens appears to be curiosity.

Gigas strives for progress - that is a trait it shares with our team and why we have allied so readily. They are exceptionally interested in your Warp Band technology.

[Feliks thinks that over, sipping at his tea.]

...So what if they decide that's theirs to take, too?

I kinda can't imagine Valeria isn't pretty pissed about us helping Caldera, at least.

[Not that he regrets it, or wouldn't do it again in a heartbeat.]

I wouldn't have much fear of that at the moment. Incidentally, Union wasn't easily found due to the difficult terrain to the north and the west - your people had some difficulty progressing past those barriers as well, I believe.

Marching an army across the desert or miles of swamp would be madness; Caldera also stands in the way. You are quite well protected.

[Though it'd perhaps be possible if Caldera was out of the equation.]

[With warp technology, he thinks, they wouldn't have to march across the desert at all.]

[Feliks smiles, quite sure he's not ready to share a thought like that with Rory -- which is to say, he's not ready to let Rory know he's capable of thinking that so immediately.]

So basically what you're saying is we've lucked out so far?

[Rory would not recommend helping Gigas develop warp technology for several reasons, no.]

So far.

[He will echo Feliks's last words.]

Though I hear you've been having... other issues in the last few months.

[For a moment, he looks a little nervous -- but he's talking about Union, not him specifically, right? He doesn't seem like he has the leisure time to be hanging around, gossiping about minor nobles' unfortunate circumstances.]

Well, you know. Like, the thing with Heatran was really just Citadel's thing, we just kinda stepped in to help. And then there was the deal with the Dream World, but that got worked out in the end!

[With song.]

I don't think too much else has really been going on, not that it hasn't kind of been a crazy year even just with that...

[Rory is indeed too busy to eavesdrop upon Feliks's daily life, so he can't say he knows why Feliks looks vaguely alarmed.]

I would call it a certifiably crazy year. We have not seen hair nor hide of 'gods' in 500 years, and here they are descending from the heavens at random.

I suppose they must see something special about you.

Even the gods just totally can't get enough of us!

[He sparkles, more relaxed than he's been in a long while.]

Would that we were all so blessed.

[There is a faint note of something along the lines of amusement and wistfulness in his voice. Stop hogging all the gods, Union.]

Well, then... Are there any more questions you wish to ask at this time?

[Feliks frowns a little, thinking. He has no end of questions...]

[But not really ones he thinks Rory will answer. More the sort of thing he'd already have brought up himself, if he was willing to talk about it.]

...Not really, I guess? Unless there's anything else you wanna say.

[There are several things Rory would like to say, but it is, of course, impossible at this time. The excuse by which they have traveled here is so absurdly transparent that he would be infinitely more surprised if people failed to be suspicious.

But if the gods have any mercy at all, nothing whatsoever will need to be revealed.]

I am afraid it would be imprudent to gossip about Gigas any more than I already have. But I believe... it is important that you - all of you - try to understand.

[There will come a time when they clash... not in war, perhaps, but in many other things.]

Thank you for the tea and cookies, then, Feliks, Jadwiga. [And a nod to the assorted other Pokemon whose names escape him.]

[There's still so much he's aware he doesn't know, and it grates at him, but he just doesn't know how to ask, and that answer makes him more sure he wouldn't get an answer anyway. He sighs a little.]

Thanks for dropping by.

Feel better soon.

[Rory seems to hesitate briefly at the door before he nods and briskly departs. They had some investigations to do.]

Familiar Guests

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject