⚔ [video]

[highfrequency]

[Raiden is crouched, holding the communicator in one hand, and empty vials in another. He's looking at the vials, his eyes never once darting towards the screen. There is a trace amount of blood on his breastplate. When he speaks, it's with a harsh edge that barely disguises a haunted tremor.

Some of the structures around him are busted up.]

Found one of those bastards in the market place, pretending he was sick. He had these.

[He rolls the vials between his claws.]

I caught him, he didn't say much though. Just "United Earth stands strong, obey and prosper!" And that the Exiles will be punished.

[He looks up into the sky, squinting his single eye, then opens his mouth slightly as if to say something. When nothing comes out, he just sighs.]

...Yeah. Guess that's it.

[He stands up, waving the vials in a "come and get it" gesture.]

Raiden out.

[Feed cuts out]

Comments

[showmeyourwreath]

No, I'm fine. I don't know why, but I'll take it. I'm guessing you're alright, too?

[highfrequency]

Mm.

One of the up sides of not having an organic body, I guess.

[showmeyourwreath]

[She looks at him at him again like seeing him for the first time.

Then, sheepishly.]

Oh...you know I'd always thought that was a suit.

[highfrequency]

I'm a cyborg. Parts of me are still human but most of me is a machine.

[He says this matter-of-factly, as if simply stating the color of the sky.]

I guess that's not something I really talked about the last time I was here. It took a while for me to get used to the idea.

[showmeyourwreath]

I see. One of my best friends would know more a lot about that, but I have heard a bit.

[It doesn't really change anything for her, aside from giving rise to a new curiosity, as well as perspective.]

It's still not something you have to talk about if you don't want to, yet, but if you'd like to, I'd be happy to lend an ear.

[highfrequency]

I don't mind. I'm not gonna stop being a cyborg any time soon. Besides, it's not like I even look human anymore.

[showmeyourwreath]

You do to me.

[He looks different, sure, but she's never thought otherwise.]

[highfrequency]

Nice of you to say, I guess. Don't think you'd be hurting my feelings if you said I look strange, though.

This chassis is for the battlefield. Not supposed to look nice, you know? It's pretty utilitarian.

[showmeyourwreath]

I try to be sensitive to that sort of thing, but everything's as normal as anything else here in Exsilium, I think.

[She ponders the remarks.]

Do you have other ones you can switch into?

[highfrequency]

Yeah.

I mean, I really only have one other one but....yeah.

[showmeyourwreath]

It's not for fighting too, is it?

[highfrequency]

Mm-hmm.

[He looks down at his claws, then at something else off screen-the corpse of the UE agent. He refrains from saying that combat is all he's good for, but-]

In my line of work I always have to be ready to fight. My other chassis is made to be worn under clothes, though. Helps me blend in.

[showmeyourwreath]

[She can appreciate that. She's a spell away from being ready to battle, but it's that same spell that lets her do other things, as well.]

It's not all you do, though, is it?

[highfrequency]

It's my job. Back home I worked for a private security firm. Did bodyguard work, stuff like that.

[showmeyourwreath]

But you do clock out, eventually, right?

[She's hoping, anyway.]

[highfrequency]

Not here.

[He sees she's a bit distressed, and offers another weak smile.]

But back on my own world? Sure.

[showmeyourwreath]

[It would be nice if there were more things to smile at, it's the first time she's seen one on him. Flora offers one in return, feeling reassured.]

That's good.

[She'd like to know more about it, and not have to think about blood and dead bodies, but...there's work to do.]

If you lend me one of the vials, I should be able to find at least some of the others, and in turn, who's carrying them.

[highfrequency]

Copy that. Be careful, though, there might still be contaminants on the glass.

[showmeyourwreath]

Thanks for the tip. I'll make sure to keep it contained. I'll be taking it with my magic, okay?

[She figures she should give him a fair warning, first. Sure enough, she raises a softly glowing hand, and one of the vials disappears in a flash and appears before her, surrounded in a sphere.]

[highfrequency]

[She did warn him, but he still manages to visibly boggle at the situation and stare into his now empty claws.]

[showmeyourwreath]

[She did warn him, but she still offers a small smile that is slightly amused, but far more apologetic.]

Just give me a minute.

[Flora raises her hands to either side of the sphere, but doesn't touch it. Her eyes narrow and a glow surrounds her as she concentrates.]

Scattered pieces, together I bind
The many made whole, mine eyes will find

[The glow travels from Flora to the vial before it fades, looking like it always has. The sphere around it shrinks until it fits the shape of the vial, like a protective case.]

Alright. I've placed a locator charm on it. The vial will glow different colours when it's near other vials. Blue for North, Green for East, Red for South, Yellow for West. They all gradate to white the closer you get. I do have a couple of places to start, though.

[It's nothing like home, or even the Earth that she knew, but what flowers and plants that exist, many of her own making, are as chatty as ever.]