☼ 003 ☼ | Filtered Video

[wilder]

[Filtered to Sheena, Emil, Allen, Cheria, Kallen, Asch, Jade and Nill]

[Kaneis has been busy since the virus started, between looking after his sister and his clinic duties. Both was causing strain, though it was his sister that had him more worried. Already he had to take her to the hospital, and with the news that the UE was behind this? There wasn't a lot of hope for the doctor's pulling out a miracle cure even if you were a trusting individual- which well, is the opposite of what Kaneis is on a good day]

[And so he's been looking for a solution on his own. A solution at the very least, to make sure Seles can stay alive until they find some cure. Thinking through every option, looking into every resource the clinic and hospital has to offer- there's not a whole lot. He's not about to trust offers over the network or from strangers, his world was way too full of people who would take advantage of situations like these. So in the end, his mind keeps falling back to one option he was most familiar with- the option he had really hoped to avoid. ]

[The filter is addressed to the list of people he's talked to before multiple times and knows could maybe possibly have some use. When the video feed comes up- while his eyes have no bags or redness, everything else indicates how tired he is, how deflated. And partly, how disgusted he is that he's been driven to this. ]

...I need help.

[Wow that was really odd to say and probably to hear for a lot of you. He has to take another breath before he can continue]

My little sister showed up this month. You see, ever since we were kids she's been sickly. It was bad enough that after our parents died, she was sent to an abbey in the countryside for her health. So you can imagine with this virus the UE sent... [Yeah, prognosis not so good] She's in the hospital right now, but I'm sure you all know how that place is faring.

[Not well. They could help her more than staying with him could, but...]

There was a treatment back home, something to help her. Our home was isolated for a long time from the rest of the world, but there was this group that'd bring in these things called Exspheres for trade. [He's not gonna talk about the mine, Regal doesn't deserve that kind of reputation connection when he didn't know] Exspheres work a lot like some of the weapons given by the Initiative- if they're equipped with an item called a keycrest they enhance a person's physical and magical capabilities. Think of it like being able to perform like you can when you're running on adrenaline, but all the time and without the extra strain to your body. For my sister, this meant she could actually do normal day activities without her health causing trouble and be less susceptible to illnesses.

Of course, it turned out later they came from something terrible. My sister's a bit ahead of me in the timeline, and she said the King rightfully ordered all Exspheres to be collected and disposed of, so she doesn't have hers anymore.

[There's a pause before he steels himself enough to reach into his pocket and pull out a green crystal and hold it out in his palm for the feed to see]

...But I still have one.

It still needs a keycrest, that's why I'm calling. I don't know if this world has the right kind of ore, or if anyone with the skill to make a keycrest- but I have to ask. If she can get one or some alternative to one, then at least she'd have a good chance of getting through this. Normally I wouldn't condone this, but...I can't really think of any other option. So if someone could make a keycrest or know someone who could or offer some other alternative to help her...

[he sighs and looks down, shaking his head. Even if he has slightly more trust than the random people on the network- it's not complete trust and it shows. Everyone has their own problems and agendas after all. He even wonders how many bothered to listen to all this.]

I know everyone right now have their own problems, so I don't expect catering. So if you help, I'll do whatever you ask in return. Work, money, favors- I don't care. I'm not sick and can be pretty useful when I want. Just ask and I'll do it.

Just please, help her.

...That's all I ask.

[And he'll cut out the feed there]

Comments

[chosenfake]

[... Luke is totally fretting. He makes a face that indicates he's pretty guilty, but he shuts up about it.]

You kept it a secret and you changed your name. I don't know your reasons, but I can't really blame you. [a touch quieter, as he remembers something--] The last time I heard anything about being 'chosen' on my world, it wasn't a good thing.

[wilder]

[he'll give a look over at Luke] Heh...you're not wrong.

[ugh, he hates explaining, but he doesn't have much choice does he?]

It's a long story, but...to most people, Chosens are known as children of angels sent to save the world by becoming angels themselves and awakening the goddess Martel. Even the Chosens are raised to believe that.

[he shakes his head]

But it's a fraud. My world doesn't have fomicry, but it's believed that if you can get someone with a matching mana signature- think of that like a fingerprint- you can use their body to resurrect the dead under the right circumstances.

Well, someone with a lot of power? Decided he wanted to do just that. And so he made up the story of the goddess Martel, the church of Martel and the order of the world so he could create a lineage that could be used to bring back his dead sister - with no one suspecting a thing.

[bloodyashes]

Perfect isofons.

[The phrase slips out before he can stop it, and Asch glances at Luke, and then a longer one at Jade. He doesn't need to explain that train of thought - if "mana signature" is anything like fonon frequency, then he's sure Jade, at least, is thinking the same thing.

It's possible for them to occur outside of fomicry - Asch himself is evidence of that - but the amount of time it would take to produce someone with the same frequency organically...]

Sounds like the guy had a lot of time on his hands.

[A rough snort follows, with a choked off hitch in the end that only barely doesn't lead to another fit. They know for certain that that old story is true, but Asch isn't going to be the one to say so. Not right now.]

[chosenfake]

[Luke's breath catches in his throat. Asch says what he's thinking. Either way, it's not a good situation.

Why is it that someone always has to play god? The reminder is painful. It's not that Luke regrets that he exists-- he's past that point-- but to hear that something similar happened on someone else's world... it feels like a blow to the stomach.]

So the Chosens... they're like replicas.

[Born only to die, or to replace... Luke has his own existence now, but still-- but still. No wonder Kaneis changed his name. No wonder he didn't treat Luke strangely, even though he knows his secret.]

You're like me.

[clinical]

[Jade has quietly observed, letting the others pry into Kaneis and Kaneis reveal what he felt he needed to explain. Frankly, Jade only has one question he thinks they need an answer to; Kaneis has no obligation to say what he has. So he has preferred to sit back and enjoy the show.

This comes closer to home. He meets Asch's gaze, and his eyes fall on Luke.

Jade's hands stay in his pocket, and he waits for Kaneis to decide if he will say more.]

[wilder]

[he has no idea what Isofons are but sure Asch, if it helps you understand the concepts go for it. Call it that.]

Like I said, a lot of power. Immortality was part of it.

[he's not going to explain how. Because yeah, he doesn't trust you people enough to advertise that he has an immortal making rock on him. People go crazy for that stuff]

[He'll look over at Luke. Stop looking at him with those puppy eyes god. He knows why this might be upsetting to the kid though]

...Yeah, I guess so.

[What did you think he's gonna just spill more unless prompted? Haaa]

[bloodyashes]

[...Welp, yeah, immortality is plenty enough time.

Sorry, though, Kaneis, Asch is going to metaphorically prod your soul rock until it spits up the relevant answers.]

Doesn't explain those.

[Replicas do not get wings. If they did, Luke would probably literally hover over him. So there's clearly something else, something more directly tied to the gem on the other redhead's sternum.]

[chosenfake]

[Luke falls silent for a moment, not sure of how to proceed. He never knows the right thing to say. His hands, now fists, faintly tremble at his sides.

All of this makes him feel sick.

So what are the implications for Kaneis-- Zelos? What are the implications for his sister if he puts that thing on her?]

[clinical]

[Jade finally speaks up, ignoring the looks on Luke and Asch's faces.]

That comes to my question, actually. Will the use of an exsphere have a similar effect on your sister?

[He would have assumed Kaneis thought that part through, but he is getting the very strong impression that Kaneis thinks nothing through as far as his sister goes.]

[wilder]

[At the implication, the wings seem to ruffle up a little in annoyance.]

Of course not. I wouldn't risk that on her-

[breathes, oh right they just don't know what the hell is going on. Though the wings sure keep the stance of annoyances]

I have wings because I went through the angel transformation, a ritual for Chosens using a special type of Exsphere. It...changes a person's body a lot, so I guess that's what happened.

On anyone who doesn't go through that, Exspheres won't have that sort of effect. Remove them with a keycrest and there won't be any consequences. I've seen it many times.

[bloodyashes]

[Well, that satisfies Asch, at least. There's plenty more questions he could ask later, but for now, it's enough.He leans against the banister, pulling his blanket back up over his shoulder.

The chill is just because he's sick, okay. He's as unfeeling as a rock, or possibly Jade. It's certainly not because of his own experiences with replication and complicated, immoral plans by crazy dudes.]

[chosenfake]

[That's what Luke needed to hear, too. He lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding, relaxing visibly.]

Okay.

[He glances over at Asch to make sure he's not about to fall over, then returns his attention to the other redhead.]

... Do you want me to call you Zelos or Kaneis?

[clinical]

Then if you'll excuse me, I have to finish testing the replica.

[That's Jade, bowing out of any conversation that involves feelings. He's going to his science table with the keycrest to do science that is as unfeeling as Asch is going to pretend to be.]

[wilder]

[He'll look over at Jade just briefly, a bit relieved that at least one person is leaving the question segment. And yeah, getting the thing he wants done.]

[And then it's back to Luke]

...Kaneis.

I know I deceived you guys, but I didn't mean to harm anyone. I just...wanted to have a normal life.

[bloodyashes]

[Asch's snort might be ironic sympathy or sympathetic irony. It's kind of hard to tell.

Either way it makes him cough kind of a lot.]

You and the rest of us. If you manage it, make sure to let me know your secret.

[chosenfake]

You don't have to justify it. [He smiles at his friend, trying to be encouraging.] It's like Asch said. That's what I want, too.

[He glances at the wings, all ruffled up and...]

... You know, they're kinda cool.

[wilder]

Heh...you'll be the first to know.

[Since really even his life as Kaneis the mercenary has been really effing weird. But he'll give a slight amused look at Luke]

You mean the wings?

[chosenfake]

[The corners of his mouth tug into a grin.]

Yeah. They're pretty, and... the glow they give is... sort of comforting. It kind of reminds me of a campfire.

[wilder]

[Zelos is used to getting compliments on his looks. He's hot, he knows it- no argument there. But the wings? Well, he's never really gotten compliments or someone liking them before. Mostly because he's only had them out around Cruxis members who don't give a damn and you know...that last fight thing with the group...yeah...wasn't much time for compliments there.]

[And so he's not really sure how to respond to it. It's not like he's proud or fond of his wings like his other features that get complimented. What do you even say? "Thanks, they were only the biggest bad life choice I've ever made"? He knows Luke isn't saying like their meaning was good, so lets try not to be snarky. Luke has been really kind of him after all.]

[His awkwardness probably shows in the wings fluttering a little as he rapidly tries to think of what to say, because what is wing poker face]

Heh heh, thanks...don't think anyone's said that before.

[clinical]

[Jade has only been paying as much attention as he needs to to know what is going on. The rest of his time has been spent making sure this keycrest isn't going to do things it shouldn't.

But he has paid enough attention to those wings to know how expressive they seem to be.]

I'm surprised. Given your conversational habits, I imagine most people would appreciate you keeping them out.

[Yup he's teasing Zelos about the lack of wing poker face.]

[bloodyashes]

[Asch is with Jade in the amused corner. He thinks they're pretty too but shhhhh about that.

But unfortunately, he has to be the party pooper and go back to the discussion he and Luke were turning into an argument when wings interrupted.]

If you have a minute, I would still like that healing you mentioned earlier.

[chosenfake]

[Wow, Zelos is... awkward. It's kind of entertaining. Luke grins even brighter as Jade starts digging in.]

I think Jade likes them, too.

[Luke glances back at his original.]

... Yeah, could you heal Asch, please?

[wilder]

[Yeeep, sure getting that annoyed feather ruffle again]

Please, there's nothing wrong with my conversation habits.

[Oh, he'll do his best to ignore Luke's request to give Asch a look. ]

Seriously? You just watched me go through excruciating pain, demanded an explanation for business that's not yours and now you want healing while I'm still recovering?

Could you possibly be anymore self-absorbed and demanding?

[bloodyashes]

A "no" would have been enough.

[You wanna get annoyed, he'll get annoyed right back. He's pretty much too sick to do anything more than that, though.]

[chosenfake]

[Oh hell. Luke waves his arms.]

Hey, it's fine. I think everyone's sick or tired or both. [He glances at Jade, who is never sick or tired.] Most of us, anyway.

Let's rest a little while. I'll make something to eat and drink. When Kaneis is up to it, he can look at Asch.

Sound good?