four; voice + text

[boughtabookstore]

[ HELLO NETWORK Roslyn has a gift for you. that is, she is using something other than text over the network and it isn't encrypted. WHOA.

she also sounds pretty harried! what's up with that. ]

I have news.

The time equipment can't be reached. Security is too heavy even with these problems.

They knew this was coming. It's time inconsistencies, the result of our mission. Sometimes the smallest thing changes and it causes others - the butterfly effect, it's been called before. They didn't think it would be this fast, or this bad -

[ a pause, a quick intake of air. she's struggling to make sure she remembers and says everything. as she falls silent, a second voice speaks up. Tony Stark, for those who recognize his voice. ]

Their 'solution' for this problem of theirs: send us out to fix it. The ones who can be sent out, because they're not in danger of suddenly blinking out of existence due to her-mentioned butterfly effects. And that's also why all the new neighbours all the time – just to make sure there's enough people around to keep sending people out. Because the population, not growing. People coming in to replace the ones who have vanished.

[ another pause, this time filled with the noise of a hand over the mic, movement nearby and the murmur of muffled voices. then the hand lifts and she speaks again. ]

Bariyan. John. The children.

If there's a mission -

[ she lets that hang in the air and shuts off the connection.

not long afterwards, a few encrypted messages go out from Roslyn! ]

voice; encrypted to Robin Hood;

Are you all right?

voice; encrypted to Bariyan;

I asked some questions.

voice; encrypted to John;

I've heard the clinic is having some troubles. How are you doing?

voice; encrypted to Riku;

I haven't heard from you recently. Is everything all right?

Comments

[majoring]

Hold on, the children? They've been sending kids on missions?

permatext;

[boughtabookstore]

We've only been on one, but yes. They send children on the missions.

permatext;

[majoring]

That doesn't make any sense. Children aren't equipped to deal with that sort of pressure, and they definitely shouldn't be putting them in that sort of danger. Not when they're just as capable of pulling adults through to help with this situation. It was bad enough when I thought they were just taking us, but this? It's going way too far.

[boughtabookstore]

You don't need to tell me.

Nobody here is happy about it. If you have any ideas for ways to keep the children out of their reach, I would be happy to work with you on it.

THREADJACKKKKKK

[biwinning]

and who the fuck ii2 con2iidered a chiild here.
ii haven't 2een anyone here younger than 2iix 2weep2.
be2iide2 niik but he doe2n't count.

YOU KIDS

[boughtabookstore]

What is a sweep?

that is insulting to my culture

[biwinning]

two poiint fiive human year2.

GOSH

[boughtabookstore]

I believe I have met some younger than six sweeps, in that case, and either way fifteen is generally considered far too young to be fighting in a war.

Or rather, that they are capable of it is certain, but at no point should they be required to.

oh wow i meant 2.2 not .5 WHOOPS he's really 13-ish

[biwinning]

human culture ii2 2tupiid and weiird.
iif they weren't capable of fiightiing two 2ome degree then the iiniitiiative wouldn't 2end u2 out.
and iif they're two weak and diie duriing the fiight then iit'2 theiir own fault for not traiiniing more.

[boughtabookstore]

I have absolutely no faith that the Initiative has enough ability to differentiate between people who are capable of fighting and people who are not.

No one should be required to fight. It's about as unethical as it gets.

[biwinning]

and whoop2
2ometiime2 they have two.

[boughtabookstore]

Assuming that you meant "too" as that last word, yes. Sometimes they have to.

I don't believe now is one of those times.

[biwinning]

two ii2 better than to.
and iit ii2 alway2 "one of tho2e tiime2" where ii'm from.
a2 2aiid.
human2 have iit pathetiically ea2y.
iif you're complaiiniing about 2mall 2cale mii22iion2 liike thii2 you wouldn't la2t two 2econd2 iin iintergalatiic war and conque2t.

[boughtabookstore]

I suppose your typing oddities are up to you.

Your world doesn't sound like a good place to be from.

[biwinning]

twotal 2hiithole.
but at lea2t we're not raii2ed weak and whiiny.

THREADJACKING THIS THREADJACK

[caligulas_aquarium]

WWHOA hold on here thats not includin me right
i mean wwevve already established im abovve all the others in terms of usefulness RIGHT

she knew this conversation was coming sob

[boughtabookstore]

That I acknowledge your ability and in fact aptitude for war doesn't mean I'm pleased you're being required to fight.

[caligulas_aquarium]

ros wwe been through this im perfectly capable a handlin an takin care a myself
stop thinkin like that
i get wwe got different cultures an all an apparently those a you around six swweeps on earth aint all that great at killin or bein useful in these kinda scenarios but trolls are RAISED from day fuckin one for wwar
INTERGALACTIC wwar an conquest might i add
this is all nothin for me
ill be fine
you wwanna wworry about evveryone else HELL evven about the other trolls you do wwhatevver you wwant
but wwhen it comes to me you can savve it

video; encrypted

[boughtabookstore]

[ there's a long delay, and then slowly she encrypts and clicks on video. looking a little tired and concerned but mostly thoughtful. ]

Then I'll save it. You are capable of taking care of yourself and you do seem to handle it well.

But if you ever aren't fine - I'm here.

Ditto 1/2

[caligulas_aquarium]

[w...ow...

Seriously, it's gonna take a while for him not to be surprised when she says things like this.]

I...uh...

[caligulas_aquarium]

Yeah, I knoww. I told you, you're top of the contact list if somethin' happens.

[...]

Is evverythin' okay? You don't look so good.

[boughtabookstore]

Good. Just - with everything going on, I thought I'd reiterate.

[ a surprised beat. things she really didn't expect Eridan to ask, TOP OF THE LIST. she runs a hand through her hair and manages a rueful smile. ]

I'm a little tired. It's been a long - [ week? month? almost half a year? ] You haven't had any symptoms, have you?

[caligulas_aquarium]

[He's warming up a bit, so he'll be a bit more inclined towards asking from here on out.]

Symptoms? No, I havven't. None a' that seems to be goin' around for any a' the trolls actually, I wwould'vve heard somethin' about it.

[Not that they'd have told him just...well, he'd have found out. One way or another.]

[majoring]

Sorry. I guess I'm not quite used to the idea that a lot of people have been here longer than I have, I'm finding out a lot of things for the first time.

That depends on how intent the kids are on fighting anyway. Especially if they've all been given weapons. Do we know if any of them have legal guardians here?

[boughtabookstore]

Understandable.

Some of the children are intent on fighting. Some aren't. They have all been given weapons, but that means nothing. The Initiative has no concern for their mental state of being.

As far as I am aware, none of the children were brought in with legal guardians.