☼ 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

[wilder]

[Gee thanks Jade, way to make his motive obvious. But if he's not needed here...well, that sure makes it awkward. He thinks about going upstairs, but honestly he's pretty sure he couldn't get past those stairs without smacking Asch with his wing so that's out. So is going outside because again, wings. Even if the main pain is gone, they still ache from the experience and his mana feels a bit off. He knows he should be good and not hide them for a bit.]

[So instead he's just gonna have to sit here in awkward silence. Wooooo.]

[clinical]

[You kids enjoy your awkward silence. Jade's doing something weird with fonons and the keycrest. Who even knows how science works?

It works by making children cry.]

[bloodyashes]

[Asch will continue being awkward for a party of three, then, especially when Luke tugs that blanket up. Ignoring the other two members of the party downstairs, he's giving a bewildered sort of look up the staircase after his replica.

He just doesn't get Luke at all. Eventually he shuffles under the blanket again and leans on the wall. His voice is a grumble, but we all know Zelos, as least, will hear it anyway - ]

Should've brought the sword down. At least then I'd know what he's doing.

[wilder]

[Zelos could offer that he can hear stuff but...no. Wings are enough for now, you people don't get to know about his most useful power ever for gossip and eavesdropping.]

[Plus yeah, all the kid is doing from what he hears is heating up stew. There's not even a skit going!! (Or is it because TOA doesn't have voice acting during skits...?)]

Why? Don't trust him to heat up stew?

[bloodyashes]

[It's okay, bro. The only one who yet knows that Asch is starting to join the weird hearing club is Jade. And it's not like he's going to say jack shit.

There's a shrug that rustles the blankets.]

I've just gotten used to knowing. He's plenty capable.

[Truth be told, he trusts Luke probably the most out of anyone. Their relationship is so weird, even they can't explain it.]

[wilder]

Hm.

[Yeah no, after what happened in the gym he sure is connecting some]

And the sword would hear enough to be sure, huh? Or at least, the sound fonons.

[....No, don't expect him to ever remember their numbers]

[bloodyashes]

Not exactly.

[EXPLANATION MODE ACTI - no, coughing.

Okay, we good? We good. Ow throat. Asch reaches up to rub at it before continuing.]

Living replicas, unlike the one Jade's got on the table over there, are unstable unless they're composed entirely of Seventh Fonons. He's the largest source of them around, probably for the entire planet.

[So when you're oversensitive to the Seventh Fonon? Luke is basically the sun sitting in a field of lightbulbs.]

[wilder]

Is that so...?

[Wait a minute, that makes no sense to a non-Auldrant!]

Wait, how the hell could someone be entirely made up of sound particles? That makes even less sense than the healing!

[bloodyashes]

It's similar theory, actually.

[This is Jade's specialty but a quick glance that way makes it clear that Asch is stuck explaining. Way to go, Colonel, making the ill redhead do your work for you.]

The Seventh Fonon also contains memory particles - healing with it works by returning the body's memory of what it should be. Replicas are created using copies of that same memory.

[wilder]

[.............]

[..............]

[Nope doesn't make a lick of sense to the guy with the glittery angel wings since when were memories particle what the hell is this anime??]

You know I'll just take your word for it.

[bloodyashes]

[Yes. Yes it is. His anime was better than yours. Asch shustles under his blanket.]

It's not really the point anyway. He's made of Seventh Fonons copying my data, that's what I can sense.

[There is no need to get esoteric really, a layman's understanding will do well enough for Zelos.]

[wilder]

Oh.

[His own arms cross and he falls back into silence. For some mysterious reason, talking about this sort of stuff is not his favorite subject. ]

[clinical]

The library here has Principles of Fonology. [Jade doesn't look up from his work.] Which reminds me: when the epidemic passes, assuming we don't all die, I have a few matters I'd like to clear up with you based on the text you gave me earlier.

[chosenfake]

[Luke appears at the top of the stairs, a lidded pot in one hand and a stack of plastic bowls and silverware in the other.]

Hey, it's ready.

[He's careful not to get anywhere near Asch as he squeezes down the stairs. Spilling hot stew on the original would definitely end badly for everyone here.]

Sorry it took so long.

[bloodyashes]

[And squishing himself up into the edge of the staircase to make room for Luke again, yep. The scent of food is intoxicating and disgusting all at once, because being sick sucks.]

It's fine.

[He didn't pass out while Luke was cooking this time, it's all good. The next word is quiet, almost like Asch is trying to pretend it isn't there - ]

Thanks.

[wilder]

[Assuming we don't all die? His wings twitch a bit- did the guy really have to put it like that]

[And we all know he's not going to read it, so let's not even address that part]

Hm? Which matters do you mean?

[clinical]

Oh, nothing important. [There is an overwhelming tendency for Jade's 'nothing important' to mean the exact opposite, but he's clearly not going to open up that discussion at the moment.] For now, you should recover your strength.

[chosenfake]

[Luke blinks at the small 'thanks' that was muttered in his direction. He thought maybe it was from someone else, but no, that's from Asch. That realization makes him hurriedly put the food down on an adjacent table.]

Did you just say 'thanks'?! -- Jade! What did you give him?

[bloodyashes]

[Damnit, Luke, you're supposed to say "you're welcome," not question if he's on drugs.

Which he is, but still.]

Quit acting like the world just ended.

[wilder]

[Why does it sound a bit scary when Jade says it...but he'll glance over at the ginger duo when Luke has his outburst, snickering a little]

Yeah, maybe he just likes you!

[clinical]

[Jade grins.] What a touching surprise this is.

[chosenfake]

[OH GOD, THAT EXPRESSION. Zelos' trolling makes it worse. It's not hard to spot Luke's blush even from across the room.]

W... what? [daks asklask;lask;lasdADF] I mean. Uh. N-no problem.

... So who wants some food?

[bloodyashes]

[Asch isn't impressed by anyone in this room right now. This is why he tried to be quiet about it.

He should have known better. Replicas ruin everything.]

I thought that was obvious.

[wilder]

[It's what happens when you let trolls onto the first floor Asch. But he'll smirk a bit at the blushing before giving a wave of decline]

None for me, thanks.

[chosenfake]

[Luke falls silent as he serves the creamy chicken stew into bowls. He sets a couple aside for people who are still able to move. Asch, however, gets his hand-delivered.]