video;

[keep_smiling]

[Exsilium might not be expecting to see a smiling face on their network so soon after the battle, but that's what you get with this guy being among your ranks. He gives the camera a little wave.]

Hello! Is everyone recovering from the battle? It's good that the Initiative can resurrect people, don't you think? Otherwise that would have turned out rather badly.

Anyway, I wanted to say thanks to the people who tried to come to the rescue of my world. If we've not met, I'm Elmer C. Albatross, the person who was sent back. After what happened, it might be hard to think about this positively. But there's a few things we can take to heart! Like the fact that people can be ressurrected, or that while one world may have been taken over, it probably wasn't your world, and you might still be able to return to your own someday!

As for mine, well... Not much can be done about that, now. I suppose Exsilium is my home, now. The friends I was travelling with are like me, so they'll survive no matter what. I just hope someday things will return to normal there, so the survivors can find reasons to smile again! You're all still here, fellow transports, so I hope you continue to smile on as well!

Comments

[whatsupcroc]

Why?

( She does want to know. What makes him want to live for as long as he can? Not just in the 80 years old sense. More like the 800, or 8,000? )

[keep_smiling]

[He grins broadly.] For smiles, of course! Also, it's just fun. It's fun to see all the changes that happen. The difference in three hundred years of history is astounding.

[whatsupcroc]

Is it fun to be alone all that time, too? Knowing the friends you've made aren't going to be around? Heck, not even knowing where your immortal buddies are!

[keep_smiling]

I'm not lonely. I meet all sorts of people along the way. And after three hundred years, you sort of get used to how life goes on. There's nothing you can do to change that. [He smiles down at her sernely, but when he looks up again, he points at a nearby building.] Ah! Is that the place?

[whatsupcroc]

Yeah, this is the place!

( She's just confused at how he talks about this. )

Do you really get used to it, though? Really used to not having anyone around? No longtime friends or family you can call up and hang out with, just 'cause?

[keep_smiling]

I stopped seeing my family long before I ever became immortal. [Collette, this is a can of worms you don't want to open. He also doesn't want to talk about it. His Tragic Backstory is certainly not conducive to smiles.] But honestly, think about it. If you didn't become used to it, you'd go mad! So of my friends do get a bit melancholy about it, but I just keep them smiling and remind them of all the fun things we can do.

[He'll lead them both inside and find an empty table.]

[whatsupcroc]

( Collette moves one of the chairs out of the way as a matter of making room for herself. She's gone quiet, considering what Elmer's said. )

But you didn't even see them for so long. Who were you reminding all that time? Yourself?

[keep_smiling]

[He laughs at that.] I guess so! And anyone else I met. Smiles aren't reserved for immortals. Everyone should do it.

[whatsupcroc]

( She's pretty sure a screw's loose up there, but smiling is something she does, too, to cope, to help others cope, to do whatever needed doing that she could do. Like ignore reality.

Yeah, if that's what Elmer's up to, he's certainly not the first. )

Then you're used to losing people, huh.

[keep_smiling]

[Elmer is a walking pile of loose screws. He shrugs at Collette, smile never fading.] It comes with the territory. Now, that's enough about me! I believe we had some business to discuss during this meeting.

[whatsupcroc]

Yeah, we did! Which could start with you asking questions, I guess, since that's as good a place as any.

( Her hands drop down past the table, settling in her lap. She plucks at the material of her shirt, watching Elmer the whole time. )

[keep_smiling]

You'd asked if I wanted my world back, and I said yes. Most people seem to think there's nothing to be done about it, but I think if we manage to perfect what the Initiative is trying to do with this world, then someday we can do it with mine. The idea of covert operations was brought up a well, both on our side and theirs. That's when you suggested we meet in person. For me, I just want to help however I can, but I'm no soldier or super scientist.

[whatsupcroc]

( Good. That's everything she was hoping to hear back, and so with her hands still folded in her lap, Collette nods. )

It's not that I don't think the Initiative can help, but talking where anyone can see, it's not so good, you know? Because you don't know who might find the easy information.

( She huffs some amusement, mostly at herself, for taking other people's paranoia and making it sound like her own. She really just preferred having these conversations in person. )

The Initiative has someone in one of the bases out in the UE with access to the world-portals. Or at least who had seen evidence of them being used before, I'm not sure about the access thing.

We know we can get over into the United Earth. With enough time and preparation -- ( she borrows from Caesar, pretending to have restraint where she has little of her own ) -- we should be able to find those places, and figure out if the technology has always been there. Even before the Initiative gets their win, if they ever do, you know? We can stop what the UE's done by never letting it get that far in the first place.

[keep_smiling]

[He nods as he listens.] So you need someone to cross into enemy lines. How much planning has gone into this so far? Do you have people in mind, any sort of plans yet?

[whatsupcroc]

We've already crossed over before, but we need to... ( She sighs. )

Talk to Caesar, actually! I'm an idea girl. He's the plan guy. But we're going to need to have guys of our own really get in there, over there.

( lbr, an immortal would be pretty useful that way, as long as they weren't self destructive or out to screw over the world(s)! )

[keep_smiling]

Caesar... Ah yes! I've met him. Nice lad. He brought me a present from the trip to my world. Alright, I'll give him a ring later.

I'm willing to give it a shot, if you need someone to do it. I'm sure we can find other people to volunteer as well!

[whatsupcroc]

What'd he bring you?

( Now that catches her interest. Huh... )

I know we will, and I know there will be more! As long as they're not, you know, liable to kill people for things not sticking strictly to schedule, I don't even mind working with them!

[keep_smiling]

A bottle of wine from Paris. I want to keep it sealed until we save my world. Then it'll be a celebratory drink!

Do you have any other people in mind, or do we need to start recruiting?

[whatsupcroc]

( Her smile is softer. That's... sentimental, for Caesar. He wasn't fond of unnecessary things, which made the act and the gift giving itself something for her to notice. Elmer's loss affected different people differently, but she wonders what exactly compelled Caesar to action.

She has a small suspicion, but it's neither the time nor the place for that. )

A few, ( she admits. ) But recruiting in the conversational way is a good idea. People who know how to work in foreign environments, who've traveled a lot, who're good at blending in... I guess more like good spies, since that's what they'd be.

( She thinks on Nash, considers, perhaps, a few others she knows. )

Can anything kill you? Or remake the stuff that makes you immortal out of you yourself?

[keep_smiling]

There's a lot more soldiers and those used to war here than you'd think, so I bet we'll have no problem finding someone who can handle this. I think I might know some people, but I'll have to ask around!

I've died a lot of ways, and nothing so far as stopped me from coming back. The only thing that can destroy an immortal is another immortal, and I'm guessing it has to be a kind like me, so I should be safe. [Little does he know about Keith Gandor.] As far as making the elixir... Well, I helped work on some incomplete versions not too long ago. Without the other scientist who was spearheading the project, and the proper equipment and supplies, I don't think I can recreate it.

[whatsupcroc]

That makes it dangerous if you get caught... ugh! Now I'm thinking, and that's always a pain. We really need to talk to Caesar.

( Her hands rest on her head in a gesture of comedic "ah!" Then she nods, like that settles it. )

At least there's no way for them to pull that off you. I don't think it'd be genetic, either, unless it changed you on a genetic level... can you donate blood to normal people?

[keep_smiling]

They'll never get the info from me! There's not much you can do they can do to me. [He grins. You should be worried.]

Anything they take from me will go right back as soon as it can. They'd have to keep it completely air tight and then hold on to it.

[whatsupcroc]

( She is.

... But she figures she'll let other people do the bulk of the worrying later. )

Good! Then they won't get to study you easily. No repeating the same process!

( Because Immortal UE Soldiers would make Superman cry. )

What're you best at, Elmer? Best at doing.

[keep_smiling]

I'm very knowledgeable about holidays! I'm very good at giving nicknames. And I can play the violin! Sort of. But as far as spy-related skills? I'm best at talking with people! And getting them to smile.

[whatsupcroc]

... I don't think much of that is useful against the UE soldiers. Hmm... are you good at listening, too?