Scene #2012: Roses and Divinity

Owner	Pose
Elphelt Valentine	Elphelt Valentine is /not/ having a good day. It started out easy enough: a morning spent maintaining her guns, dress, and other things, followed by a bit of shopping and socializing. But reports of someone matching her sister's description has had her tromping all the way to Naturia in a rush. Arriving on the large, rocket-like Bridal Express in the village of Elmiria, that's about when her troubles started. As it turns out, the leader of the tree-top village is in fact, a spitting image of El's sister right down to the very large eyes and slightly spaced-out appearance. The height's even right. Though initially dissappointed, the woman proved far more energetic than El's sister, and they've been talking until the late hours. The civilization has been /distinctly/ cut off from most of the Multiverse, but enough outworlders have crossed their paths to create legends. Thus, it's a group of multiple elves, humans, and mixes of both that are bowing to Elphelt as she summons up her conveyance in preperation to leave. They're all right in the way, a good half of the village chanting the praises of "Eleph-Elet-El, Goddess of the Home." It takes five minutes for Elphelt to wipe the slack-jawed, ramrod-straight-limbed pose off of her. She tries to ignore the irony of /other/ people tossing flowers at her and calling her a deity of homekeeping. The Ramlethal look-alike is already approaching with a crown of roses that's slipped over that bunny-eared bridal veil of El's. "W...wait! I'm not a Goddess! I swear! Just a regular...uhm...okay, that part's not /entirely/ true, but you get the point! Just a human! Yeah!" Then, one of the children of the village walks up to her, and hugs her legs in thanks for some of the bread she gave them a few hours earlier. Elphelt blushes, stammers, but despite the situation feels a little warmer inside her techno-magical-info-heart. "...This is a little embarrassing! I mean I like helping people, and you're all very nice, but this is a liiiittle too much!" The villagers /aren't/ listening. It's about then that Elphelt sends out a distress signal: a non-violent distress signal, but it's there.
Lou	Contact with 'primordial' civilizations isn't Lou's usual forte. In fact, with her usual, seeming lack of most social graces, she's normally the one furthest from the mind to summon to help defuse a situation requiring a more delicate touch. Nonetheless, as the beacon rings out across near space, the flyer craft that one particular field unit is flying is the one that happens to intercept it, coordinates and the vaguest of natures of the distress being displayed as a holographic projection, over top of the normal cockpit's displays. "That's odd," she remarks to either herself, or the potentially hundreds of her 'sisters' that share her mindspace. "The database contains no information on operatives in this sector." Despite her having no real obligation to respond, she's still a Guardian where it counts, literally created for this sort of thing. A few mental gestures, and she's set the heading. A few minutes later, the flyer makes its approach. A slick, blue craft with the contoured body of a jet airplane, its propulsion is nonetheless distinct, and apparently able to be vectored to an extent, as a large, almost runic-looking 'magic' wheel appears around its circumfrence. This seems to act as an inertial dampener, bringing it to a gentle rest amidst the trees without incident. ..unless it's disturbed mid-landing, that is. While she had beheld the gathering during the landing sequence, it's only once Lou opens the hatch and hops out that she gets a good appraisal with her own sensors. Elphelt herself definitely stands out among the locals, and she makes the calculation that she must have been the one that activated the beacon. Even with that guess, she's still taking her good, easy time stepping towards the commotion and idolatry, eyes never wavering from her straight forward gaze. "What is the manner of the disturbance," she asks, in a lightly reverbed voice, once she gets to where she believes she is in an earshot? As if she can't see it for herself!
Elphelt Valentine	Elphelt looks up, dodging another over-enthusiastic worshipper with a light dusting of pink sparkles and roses. The poor elf coughs a bit, but otherwise doesn't seem too perturbed. All the more unfortunate for Elphelt! By her increasing blush, how her feet are pointed in and her smile looks increasingly nervous, the poor Valentine looks close to overheating. But the sight of a proper piece of (magi?) technology has El breathing a sigh of relief. She waves bouquet and hands alike around in exhuberance, calling out as she puts rose-petals amidst the light winds of the forest. The little display of joy at first only seems to fuel the people's love for their new 'goddess', only to fade as they gasp at the arrival of Lou and her ship! The yellow-eyed, dark-skinned village leader walks up to Lou, pointing to Elphelt enthusiastically! "The prophecy has been fulfilled! The Goddess, El-El has come to us! Who are you outsider!? We won't let you touch the Goddess!" For a non-Elite, she's a stubborn-looking woman, stamping her carved ivory staff three times. The villagers are starting to get up, now, protectively huddling around Elphelt. They're armed generally with either hardened wooden spears, or some crude axes. That's even when they /are/ armed. El looks increasingly disturbed by the impending violence! Then, hands and bouquet alike are held to her chest. "Waiiiiit!" She calls out, and stands up taller, frowning. Lou might notice some oddities about the woman, aside from her unusual manner of dress. She seems to move in a slightly robotic manner, graceful in a way but repeating in a somewhat limited number of patterns. Her features, too, are a little /too/ perfect in that uncanny valley-ish way, and those eyes have an odd machine-like look to them. They wink to Lou as a plan forms in the woman's mind. El's tongue sticks out briefly, a slightly playful, cattish look on her face before she settles down and regards the villagers seriously. "This is my Sister-Goddess, Ram-ram, the Goddes of Flight." Another, vaguely desperate look to Lou. Hopefully she picks up on it! "We came here because we're impressed. Impressed with how you've managed to live such a wonderful, peaceful life here. At one with nature, and the world. And even then, you took a chance on a stranger. You brought her into your home, fed her, talked with her like you were family." Elphelt's voice cracks up just a little here. A tear escapes her eye. For all her robotic traits, there's real emotion there. "And tried to help find one of her sisters. Even Goddesses get lonely. So...thank you. But you don't need a Goddess hanging around. Do you know why?" Here, she smiles, wide and cheerily. "Because I'm in each and every one of your hearts. That's why I came here. I wanted to see if you /really/ were my people. And...I think, in a way, you are. I have a lot to do, being a Goddess, so I can't stay as much as I want to. So remember this day. And don't forget that I'm watching, and that I love all of you, and anyone who opens their homes to friends and those looking for family. Never forget that, and you'll always have my blessing." The crowd, for their part, are a mix of fascination, heartache, and pure sobbing on the part of many. El uses the opportunity to make her way over to her vehicle, turn it back into a bouquet, and throw an arm around Lou. "Isn't that right, Goddess of Flight!? We should get going~." El can't help it. She giggles a bit.
Lou	Subtlety is another thing that isn't one of Lou's best attributes. As the village folk close ranks around their newfound living deity, the CAST does at least slow and eventually halt her hydraulic-softened steps, coming to a full stop well short of a distance that could, hopefully, be considered threatening. She is seemingly unarmed, empty, gloved hands patiently hanging at either of her sides, as she simply stands watching for a time. The outer calmness couldn't be more different on the interior; processors constantly beaming information back and forth wirelessly over subspace to the central Guardians computer. Calculations. Algorithms. Database accesses. All flying around unseen, but in furious spikes of activity, as the rings in Lou's irises spin and readjust to all the locals' faces, as well as Elphelt's. Finally, a quorum of appraisal arrives: A case of mistaken divine identity, a sticky situation requiring social skills from processors she keeps idle, at best. No frown comes to Lou's almost mask-like facial expression, but she realizes she's outgunned in this arena. At first, Lou moves her attention to the apparent elder, and comes oh so close to simply introducing herself as Lou, and defying that this other outsider is likely to be divine in nature, which no doubt would have lit the torches and raised the pitchforks higher. 'Waaaait!!' Caught in the middle of opening her mouth, Lou closes it, as Elphelt begins spinning her yarn. The best course of action in this situation, then, is to - ironically - allow the one that sent the distress beacon to do the talking, as it seems, despite her own almost animatronic-like movements at times, she's quite the orator. "I'm --" She looks again between the elegantly and eccentrically dressed woman, and the expectant and suspicious faces of the natives. Another calculation. She does not care for the product. "I am Ram-Ram, come to retrieve and escort El-El to the divine lands beyond." Thankfully, any internal discomfort with such an erroneous statement is paved over smoothly by her near monotone way of expressing it. Despite the pseudonyms used, at least the intention isn't a complete fabrication. It isn't her nature to deceive, but in this case, it seems to have had the best chance of a successful, and peaceful, resolution. Likewise, the display of familiarity by this person she'd only just met will simply be endured, as Lou glances slightly up at her now seemingly fellow divine interloper. It's hard to tell with her blank expression, but somehow her words seem a bit more strained, "Yes, you will have to tell me all about this, on the way, for the divine record." Her sensors, meanwhile, remain open, in case of any sudden moves by the villagers that have suddenly had their new goddess move to leave.
Elphelt Valentine	By now, El is slowly backing away, giving a smile, a wave, and watching mostly enthusiastic faces return the waves. By now, the poor Valentine's embarrassment protocols are about to overload as she yanks Lou into her own ship. Then she's leaning in towards the fellow artificial being. "Close the hatch before they realize what's going on!" Whispers the woman frantically, worry in her face. Once it does? She'll lean against the side of the ship, slooowly slide down, and bows her head in pure exhaustion. "That...was really, really close! Oh, I'm not even married yet, how could I be a Goddess!?" She laments before perking up. She'll reach out to try to grab Lou's hands, shaking vigorously! "Thank you so much! I mean, they were nice and all, but I don't really fit a Goddess, you know? I'm more of a stay-at-home type! But, uh, anyway! I'm Elphelt Valentine! Who do I owe the rescue to?"
Lou	Despite the slight bit of manhandling involved, there would be no complaint from Lou for the hurried escape, not from a situation she's also ill-equipped for. There's a bit more inertia to her frame than one might expect, given its rigid internal construction, but she's not hard to move once she basically consents to it. Once inside the safe confines of the Flyer, and even before Elphelt had told her to, she was already hovering a black gloved hand over a smooth panel near the door. Another of those 'magic circles' briefly materializing over it, and causing the panel to close and seal with a satisfying, pneumatic sound. "They should not be able to breach the Flyer's hull with their crude weapons," comes Lou's tactless appraisal. "In case they possess magic, however, it is best if we leave quickly. What of your own conveyance?" Leaving that line of question hanging in the air, the shorter girl leaves Elphelt to catch her breath and senses where she is, taking the few short steps into the cockpit area, which has adequate seating for up to five people, if the last two were to somewhat squeeze in. Landing in one of the front seats with access to the consoles, with a minimum of wasted movement, she finally realizes she hadn't made proper introductions, with the circumstances they had just been extracted from. "I am Lou, of the Guardians," she explains, from her experiences not counting on the name of that organization to mean much to her sudden ship guest. "According to my databases, the qualifications to be considered divinity vary between cultures. It is curious, however. Many would have stayed to reap the rewards of the mistaken identity, and yet you were in such a hurry to leave." With another hover of her hand over what counts as the controls, the main engine fires up, barely making a sound at all for its apparent size relative to the rest of the ship, and the subtle increase of gravity would clue passengers in that it had just lifted from the ground. If Elphelt were intending to leave on her own, post-rescue, now would be a good time to express that! Otherwise, Lou makes a mental note to help organize a retrieval crew later. One that will hopefully not be mistaken for a visiting goddess.
Elphelt Valentine	El chirps up a bit. "Oh, it's fine! It'll turn back into roses in about an hour without me around." Rose-based rocket ships. What /will/ the Multiverse think up next? As the ship lifts off, El wobbles a bit, regaining her balance after a moment. The Magical runes are stared at curiously, a finger on her chin. "Hmm! It's just like the ships back in Illyria. Is this kind of thing common in your world?" She asks, curiousity high in her voice. Elphelt follows into the cockpit, sitting down beside the woman and crossing her legs daintily. A deep sigh, and she settles back into a prim-and-proper posture. "Nice to meet you Lou! Uhm, what's a Guardian? Is it some sort of knight?" Strange perhaps, to see a robotic-like woman speaking so openly of knights! She does so with an utterly straight face, too. If one counts a cheery smile to be 'straight'. Her head tilts slightly, confusion in her face. "Why would I want to be a Goddess? I mean, I'd have to be all 'Oh, here's some edicts, do this!'. 'Listen to my eternal wisdom!'. 'Love by these laws'!" She waves her hands about dramatically before putting her hands back in her lap. "I'm not wise, smart, or anything like. And besides, I'd be taking advantage of their trust. I meant what I said. They really did take me in, even if I looked well, weird by their standards. So I couldn't take do that to some really nice people, you know?" The entire time, the woman is open and honest. No guile in this one. It's a miracle the villagers didn't pick out her lies.
Lou	Miracles, eh? Sounds like a mark of divinity! Lou isn't a social sort, but she does have vast amounts of patience. Accordingly, once she's set a new course for a slightly more..advanced place to set Elphelt off, she doesn't seem outwardly bothered by the questions and suppositions. "Roses? A strange material to make a vessel from." Through her extensive databases on the multiverse, she was aware of various plant-based spaceships - most of the 'living ship' clade. It didn't make it seem any less unlikely. The name of Illyria, likewise, does trip several query marks as she interacts with her vast banks of collective memory, but none that really fit the context. Her conclusion, as she turns cold but even eyes on her passenger, "Illyria returns no relevant results. However, Photons permeate all aspects of Gurhalian technology, from weapons to clothing." The slight emphasis on the term might indicate that with 'photons', she means more than just the quantum packet of energy. Once the Flyer reaches cruise speed, it's a comfortable enough ride. Lou herself ceases being busied with displays that pop up, most of which are red-tape style forms that she has to sign off on, for bringing an unexpected person onto a Flyer. Her state of slight privileged access helps. "We are not knights," she dispels quickly, "Nor are we mercenaries as some have tried to claim. We protect the security of the Gurhal system in ways the primary military forces can not, or will not. For many, compensation for this is secondary to a will to serve." While the CAST doesn't actively realize it, that certainly does fit some worlds' concept of a knight. Funny. She once again levels her gaze on Elphelt, and states simply, "There are many far less scrupulous, and that would have no qualms with taking advantage of the situation. That you were willing to extricate yourself speaks well of your character and maturity, Miss Valentine." And perhaps, with that lack of any veneer of intrigue, perhaps a bit simplistic, not that she dares speak this much. While she'd already set a course, it was primarily in the interests of getting the Flyer going. And now that they're in proper space, Lou can make more fine adjustments. Resting her hands on the consoles, and bringing up another display charting nearby stellar systems, among other curious, inhabited objects of the multiverse's in-between regions, she wonders, "Is there a preference for where I should leave you? There are many outposts where you are less likely to be misidentified as a Goddess."
Elphelt Valentine	Elphelt giggles a bit at the mention of her strange roses. She twists side to side, showing off those various ribbons, ribbons made into rose shapes, and the bouquet on her hip holstered like some kind of gun. "Mother just programmed me that way! With the flowers and stuff. Besides, roses are the most womanly of all flowers you know? And they smell so good! Making them into vehicles just leaves you with a pretty, feminine conveyance!" Here, she hugs her bouquet, only to sneeze and send rose petals all around. When she pulls her face out of the thing, she quite literally sparkles a bit. Pink magical sparkles. She smiles the entire time. But then she rubs the back of her head as she calms down again. Excitable, this woman. "Oh, uh, yeah. My world hasn't...converged? yet. It's, um, just me as far as I know and a few stray Gears that arrived. But if you do hear of a Mister Ky Kiske, or Illyria, or...a place called the Backyard, let me know, ok? It's really important." Her smile here dampens just a bit. She's terrible at hiding her emotions, even though she tries. "Mmm, what's a Photon? It /looks/ close to the magic from my world. Everything runs on it back there. Heeh, you could probably pilot this there and now even get a weird look!" Her gaze returns to the ship and the controls, curiousity etched into her features. "Clothing too, huh? That's cool! Even Illyria doesn't do that, at least that I've seen. Er, um, sorry. Seeing other worlds like this other than Illyria is just all so new and exciting!" Her smile lights up a bit more. Her tongue sticks out the side of her mouth a little cattishly again at the description. "Not a knight. Yeah!" Comes the woman, laughing slightly. She /definitely/ doesn't buy that bit. "I think you'd get along with Mister Kiske. He does the 'duty and selflessness' thing too!" There's no small amount of admiration in the woman's voice.
Elphelt Valentine	Both hands go up, Elphelt leaning back in her seat. "Er..um, no, nothing that great! I was just programmed to be nice and honest and all that. I'm a terrible liar anyway, I was kinda amazed that I didn't get called out. Thanks by the way. I hope it wasn't too much trouble. You ever need a ride or a gun repaired, or a new dress picked out, I'm your woman!" She pumps her fist in the air enthusiastically. Elphelt's lips purse thoughtfully. "Hmm. You're with the Union, right? Maybe at Njorun. It's where I've been staying when I'm not out looking for my world, or my sister." Then she looks over Lou again. "Um, would it be rude if I asked what you are, Lou? You don't really look like a Gear, or a human either. Oh, right! A Gear is a human combined with animal DNA. Usually pretty violent. And insane. Apparently that doesn't tend to work out. I'd almost say you look like a Valentine."
Lou	It's a good thing that Lou is practically impossible to annoy, because there's suddenly a whirlwind of questions and observations by her passenger. Of course, it seems that Elphelt means well. Maybe she just has some manner of impulse control issues? The contrast, the pink curls of Lou's hair settle as their wearer similarly slides away from the console, now that the Flyer is set into cruise mode. She doesn't look at her guest for the moment, seemingly still distracted by the displays which seem to spring up seemingly from nowhere - though certainly there must be a projector of some kind, somewhere. "Femininity processors are inactive," she explains, not sounding at all off-put by this. "I maintain only a minimum basement level to avoid upsetting social balances. Needless distractions would negatively impact my performance." A real party girl, she is. Her eyes finally pivot away from the terminals, the concentric rings that make up their irises noticeably not human, especially as they appear to spin to adjust to the change in focus. Appearing to opt for direct answers to the endless font of questions and insight Elphelt produces, her responses are sanitary and clean, maybe even formulaic. "It is unusual, but not unheard of, for individuals to unify before their worlds of origin - but it is also typical that they have simply become misplaced from one another. I can monitor the situation for you, provided you can give further details, but the chances of finding your specific iteration after losing contact with it are less than three-tenths of a percent." That's spoken with the cold monotone of a truth she's poured over countless databases of information to discover and tabulate. Despite remaining fixed in that mask-like state, somehow, her expression seems to soften a bit, as she does add one caveat, "Young Guardians often defy my calculations, however. Do not let me stop you from your quest, Miss Valentine." After that brutal punch of words, she once again slides her seat up, hands resting against the console surfaces. It's apparent by now that she's more interfacing with the ship, rather than interacting with it, as if any further clues were needed. Something that she'll soon confirm, when specifically asked about it. "Photons are the basis of my stellar system's technology," she reiterates, before extrapolating, "It is a substance that gathers in the living organisms of the Gurhal system. Plants, animals, and even people. Beginning over a thousand years ago, the people there figured out how to harness it to construct the technology you see now. Before being well-understood, it was mainly a topic of mysticism and reverence, and can enact what we call a 'technic', though I've found it would more commonly be considered 'magic' to most." So she can be wordy, after all, even if it sounds a bit dry, like she were reading from a textbook on the subject. The subject of her own nature is finally addressed, as her hands still from what little movement they had made, though it doesn't seem to annoy her. Rather, it appears she's taking the moment to ponder how to articulate it. "I am a CAST. It seems the more common multiversal term would be cyborg, though I was created in this form, rather than born wholly flesh. The ratio of my specific model's organic to other components is classified, so I cannot disclose that information. Our kind were made by the humans of Gurhal as efficient companions, but we have existed as equals since the 500 Year War." Perhaps even Lou can eventually tire of history classes, though, as she shortly after turns her attention to more timely matters. "I am with the Union, yes. You can think of it as a pilot program for the rest of the Guardians to evaluate our relationship, but our core values are coherent. In time, I believe other Guardians may join. --my apologies, Njorun will be an adequate landing."
Elphelt Valentine	Oddly enough? Lou's lack of femininity processors has El smiling a bit sheepishly. "Then I'll just have to compensate!" Comes the woman, perhaps a little tactlessly. Her eyes scan those various displays, not quite able to hide her wonder at it all. But finally she gets back on topic. Her eyes slowly widen at the utterly dismal statistics. "It's...that low!?" By now, her smile's utterly gone, a pure look of despair creeping into her features. She trembles a bit, for quite some time, before clearing her throught. She wipes her eyes, and takes a deep sigh. "I'm not going to stop searching for my Sister or my world. They have to be out there! Yeah. I probably just got lost. It's a big multiverse, right? I mean, huge! I doubt Mother would just let me off the hook anyway." It might sound a little pathetic, the way she's trying to convince herself. "Honestly? I kind of like that better than Illyria. They use the magic from an alternate dimension called the Backyard to fuel everything. Real effecient! And practically unlimited. But sometimes I think Mister Sol is right, and that it...kinda makes people lazy sometimes. You know, having an unlimited energy source. I hate fighting over resources, but, well I've noticed humans are really good at inventing reasons to fight." She shakes a bit sadly. El winces here. "Ew. Well I'm glad things turned out okay for your kind. I try to live by 'help each other out' and 'live and let live'. Buuut then again, I'm just a Valentine, and getting into the mindset of actually living in other's shoes is a little hard when all you know if what you were programmed with." Pause. "Then again from the sounds of things maybe you can relate." Finally, sufficiently distracted, she's smiling again. "I hope so! I'd like to see these 'younger Guardians'. You're pretty interesting! Gotta work on those femininity protocols though! Er, uh, too much of a good thing you know...efficiency..heh. Heh heh heh." By now, she has her hands at her lap. Even she knows she's making a wash of this.
Lou	"It is only a calculation," Lou once again admits, but something about her tone is just so authoritative. Probably because there's so little shift to its pitch. Everything that leaves her mouth sounds like fact, which does make it hard to get a good joke off, even if those processors were active. "Yes. The young Guardians that I observe have a habit of exceeding my expectations, even as they often disappointment me with their distractions. Adolescent humans and newmans are particularly susceptible to drifts in good judgement." It's somewhat weird to come out of her mouth, considering she looks no older than sixteen, herself. But, well, machine people. There's no telling how old she actually is. "If the join the Union, as I believe they eventually will, you will no doubt get to meet many. The Gurhal system is also open to travel..to an extent, if you wish to visit in the future." Now that she's done figuratively shaking her cane at the youngsters from her front porch, the route to Njorun set, and the cruise not only continuing but likely soon to be complete, she once again seems to settle back into her seat. For the first time in the last hour or so since they had met, she finally removes her hat, to reveal two prong-like 'horns' of metal that were beneath. Despite her words that those sorts of processes are idle, she still reaches a gloved hand up to smooth at her cotton candy pink hair for a few moments. It's still important to be presentable. "No wars, to my knowledge, have been fought over access to Photons. They exist almost everywhere in Gurhal. Rather, the 500 Year War was one of freedom. I will not burden you with the details, however." From how abruptly she cut it off, it's more like she's purposefully holding it back than out of courtesy. "However," and there's always an exception, isn't there, "There is argument over a new kind of Photon, excavated recently from Relics sites, called an A-Photon. It is a lot more energy dense than standard Photons, which has obvious applications. The concern is it could be weaponized." In fact, she has her suspicions that such research has already taken place, but even her privileged security clearances can only reach far. "--My apologies. Such matters aren't likely to interest you," she continues after a brief mulling over, and returning her hat (radome) to its proper place. "I suppose, to a degree, I can relate as you put it. I was created to be a Guardian. It is the only life I have known. I am...happy with the work, however. Are you?" While that poignant question hangs in the air, an audible indicator beeps the approach to Njorun.
Elphelt Valentine	Elphelt latches onto the authority of the woman just as quickly. "Right! Calculations can be wrong! I like believing in my heart before my mind anyway." That might explain a /lot/ about El. If this woman is really a robot, she's possibly either the worst robot, or simply has /far/ too good of an AI. Hands go into the air exhuberantly! "Great! I mean, I'd really like to see 'home' again, buuut I have to admit it's really fun seeing new places! Hee hee, it'll be a blast! Definitely!" All of that previous sadness is dashed by now. Oddly, it seems Lou has cheered her up. She actually manages to look a little pale at the mention of the war. "Yeah. I don't like stories like that. I like stories about knights and princesses, oh and the great big dragon and the knight fighting!" She hugs herself a bit. "But then the knight and the dragon find a long-lost ancester, and then they realize the dragon was just lonely, and then the knight and the princess get married and the dragon comes to the wedding! The lovely couple then /throws/ the bouquet and the dragon catches it, fated to meet a lovely dragoness and everyone lives happily ever after!" Elphelt Valentine is lost in her own little world. Her eyes go wide, and she nosebleeds. "...Uh, mmm, heh heh." She's deep, deep red by now too. She'll need a minute. But she leans in a bit. "I don't like things that can hurt a bunch of nice people. So I don't really like 'weaponizing' things, but...I know it's a little hypocritical, but if something like that can be stopped, well..just let me know if I can do anything." Comes the woman, dead serious for once. El sighs, and leans back in her chair. "I was created to infiltrate society by my creator, my Mother. And if Ram's actions are any indication, no, I don't like that. I don't like hurting people, and I don't want to see people die. I'm just glad my programming got all scrambled. So, you could say I'm a bit of a failure for what I was designed to do. But I'm happy that I am. I don't want to be. And I don't want Ramlethal to be a killer either. So I'm going to stop my Sister." There's a small nod, and she's staring off into space.
Lou	Any resemblance of Elphelt's spontaneous tale to persons alive or dead is purely coincidental, for certain. It also goes completely over Lou's abilities to comprehend. Allegorical subprocesses, as one might expect from her response, are currently not active. She looks at her passenger dead straight and unflinchingly, and produces her dryly logical analysis, "The knight and dragon could have avoided unnecessary loss of productivity, had they simply taken time to understand their situation." ..or maybe she does get it, after all! Aaaand then her fellow 'robot' appears to have sprung a leak from her nasal passage. While she had been holding back, Lou's programming in this situation is to quickly assess the health of the individual, which means an internal scan of her sensors, even as she's standing and reaching out with a deceptively fast hand to steady Elphelt, in case she were to spontaneously lose consciousness. For once, Lou's face manages to give a slight bit of expression, as her eyebrows very subtly crease. Her sensors are being 'rejected' by something? (It must be the influence of THAT MAN.) But at least enough on the surface is readable to let her know that the damage is localized to a sudden, harmless increase of blood pressure. It's still enough to prompt a warning, "Please do not overexert yourself. I would not wish to have to carry you out of the Flyer, Miss Valentine." The unexpected proximity makes it fairly easy for Elphelt to lean in with her support of any anti-WMD campaigns, which is quite a rapid 180 for such a whimsical personality as hers. Releasing any brace remaining, Lou gives a slight nod of her head, "I will record your willingness to assist. I have often employed the assistance of outside Elites to deal with sensitive issues. They are less likely to be beholden to Gurhal's entrenched power structures." She's awfully forthcoming with this, her eyes once again having their irises spin to refocus, but this time it appears more like she's focusing on something in the distance, unseen. In that, it seems, they also have some common ground. "I am not one to talk, as I am fulfilling a duty I myself was created for. However, I calculate a high probability that, if you are doing what you enjoy and what you believe in, you should not consider yourself a 'failure', Miss Valentine. I am personally unable to believe in things like destiny or fate, that things 'happen for a reason' - but so long as one is performing to the best of their abilities, it is an erroneous judgement." She has little time to settle back into her own seat, as the Flyer has already begun projecting what appear to be glowing tracks in front of it, as it automatically ferries itself toward Njorun, which is now visible on the monitors. The shorter CAST turns toward the image, but remembers Elphelt's compromised state well enough, "We are here. However, I have enough overhead in my schedule that you should take the time you require before disembarking. I have taken the liberty of sending ahead to have someone meet you, as well."
Elphelt Valentine	Even /with/ that unflinching tone, Elphelt is smiling as she claps her hands together. "Exactly! Not how I'd put it, but, you see people just need to take the time to understand each other! And then true love can blossom!" It's a horridly naieve way of looking at the world, perhaps, but El isn't exactly old as far as machine-people go. Or maybe her Mother was just a jerk when she made her. Thankfully she manages to not pass out this time. Leaning a little bit on Lou, she barely manages to not end up a blushing mess. "I...I'm fine! This just happens occasionally. That's all. Fine, fine, really!" She tries to convince her host. Somewhere out there, That Man is likely facepalming. It's something El tends to induce in many people. She gives two thumbs up. "Good! We won't let any /jerks/ get ahold of dangerous weapons! Or, well, at least try. You know what I mean." Lou's words visibly take El aback. As they fly into the glowing tracks that ferry them to Njorun, she too stares out a bit. She's silent for a while, before she turns to Lou with a smile that's more appreciation than the usual ever-present cheer. She'll reach out with both hands, and if Lou lets her, she'll squeeze Lou's own. "...Thanks, Lou. Maybe there's something better to judge myself against than what Mother willed after all." Then she lets go, and she stands up. Somewhere, she's pulled out a rose-red hanky to wipe her nose. Seems this is a common problem indeed. "I'm fine! Though if you want to get some food or something, well, getting out from tribal villagers really does drain the mana batteries!" Grin! Then she's off towards the ramp!
Lou	While she might have some machine form of empathy, beyond what she typically lets on, Lou can still seem rather cold at times. One of those would happen, with Elphelt's continued reassurances, as the CAST is escorting the Valentine down the ramp. "I do not require food or drink at this time," she remarks evenly, missing any social cues at all that lunch is more than just eating. "If you were to require it for your own means, I receive compensation enough from the Union and Guardians to cover your expenses." She eventually comes to a stop at the space dock, her head and eyes scanning the vicinity for the one that was supposed to be receiving them, and dealing with anything further Elphelt may require. Certainly, they will make themselves known soon enough. "It will not be easy," comes her warning, apparently unworried of any that might overhear now that they're aboard the Njorun complex. Somehow her normally deadpanned facial expression takes on a new degree of grimness, "And to make matters worse - it has already happened once." That definitely ups the ante, somewhat, even if her vocal tone doesn't reflect it. Some nearly latent change of topic subroutine likely kicks in, then, allowing her to transition to more light-hearted things, "I should return to my flight soon. If you would like to meet again at a later time, however, my world has what we call a Partner Card, that you may use to contact me." With this, a gloved hand is wafted in the air between her and Elphelt, and that same glowing 'magic' circle appears hovering in the air. Ars Magus!? After a few moments, it appears to take the shape of a rectangular card, before coalescing into a solid object that can be retrieved, should Elphelt wish to. Indeed, it looks just like an identification card of some kind. "Guardians typically exchange Partner Cards after missions as a way to build social networks. I have no need of such things - but it is part of my training and programming. It is understandable if you do not wish to accept it from a complete stranger. Not many in the multiverse have." Unspoken, and unseen on her face, she happens to think about something Elphelt had just said, however. Their circumstances are similar, in a sense. If this woman is able to express herself like this, and even make the best of her situation..might she eventually be able to, as well? 'Why am I thinking of such an impossible thing,' comes the voice of at least a hundred other versions of herself. 'It is - impossible.' "..." Was she just spacing out for a moment? "Please be well, Miss Valentine."
Elphelt Valentine	Elphelt sighs, just a little as they step off of the flier. There's a luck of uncharacteristic patience in her features. It's as though she's been here before. It all comes with having an 'emotionless' sister. "Then we'll just have to catch each other another time then!" Comes the woman, unloading her gun of everlasting optimism and cheer. Elphelt stops, standing straight, and looking about as serious as she ever gets. Which, as it turns out, is pretty serious by her severe, slightly melancholy expression. "From what I've read, things like that never are." Wince. She doesn't bother hiding the pain that causes her to hear. "Then let's not let it happen a second time. Send me any info you have on what happened last time? Two heads, and all." But then she perks up a bit, and with a flash of magic, there's that card. She reaches out, taking it in her white and red hands. She laughs a bit, staring. "OH, that's so awesome! You remind me of Ram, so, of course! You know. Without the whole 'Kill all the humans' bit. Eh heh heh." Awkward. "But yeah! It's a pleasure Guardian Lou! May you continue to be a good Guardian, with...uh, honor that all Guardians have!" Lots of the knights of Illyria liked talking about honor. Surely Guardians like that kind of thing! Then she's offering her personal radio number. It's on a small stationary card, just simple paper. But it's all pink and red and white, perhaps unsurprisingly, with silver script. Apparently El has really good handwriting. "You too, Lou! Don't be a stranger! I'll take you shopping some time!" Here, she'll spin around on one foot in a little flurry of artsy sparkles and roses. Hopefully it doesn't break any of Lou's fashion routines with the thought of /El/ giving fashion advice. Then the woman is off towards the innards of Njorun.
Jin Kisaragi	Njorun Station was an immense construction with an even more immense bureaucracy supporting it, fueling the endless hustle and bustle of agents, operatives, ensigns and others busybodies that pushed themselves tirelessly through every channel and corridor of the Headquarters as individual blood cells mights do through a larger body's vascular network of veins and capillaries. The arrival of Lou's ship is but one of many entering vessels that have been verified, scheduled and assigned their proper place in a (theoretically) clockwork runabout of coming and going. The Cast's request for reception was similarly received and delegated on downwards, alluded to with a soft hiss of reflective steel door near the end of the landing bay just as two artificial women touch down from their landing craft. Perfect polished boots step across the sleek station surface with a beat that somehow communicated a lack of urgency paired with a strange sort of weariness with the direction of their task. The Union agent cut a familiar figure, at the least. A remote, regal sense of command and authority suffused the soft aura emanating off the blonde-haired man's flowing and official-looking robes, his face a youthful mask of austerity one might expect to find in a prince...or even a King?! A sword slept in its scabbard by his side, surely kept for romantic dueling with only the blackest villains, his eyes partially open as they drew across the pair, glimmering with what could only be the desire to pursue justice unerringly in all things. A single white-gloved, regal hand extended forwards as if in welcome... ...then close into a fist and settled squarely into Jin Kisaragi's side as he exuded an irritable sigh, "Well then." He clucked his tongue, "Would someone like to explain to me how this is worth my time?"
Elphelt Valentine	Most might have been put off by Jin's words. 'Most' is the last way to describe the flowery woman that is Elphelt Valentine. Jin would find those oddly curled boots rushing towards him as Elphelt hikes her dress an inch or two, and the inhuman woman in literally running in a sudden dash at the sight of those blonde locks. To anyone who knows Elphelt, they might be able to predict the sudden trip, collapse, and then rolling tumble that has the robo-bride landing literally at Jin's feet. "MISTER KISKE!!!!" Calls out Elphelt in a voice that's half utter hope, and half utter disbelief. There's also a side of extreme volume. Right in Jin's ears. He might want to see Medical after this. After a few slightly dazed moments of being a ball of weddingbot down there, she slowly gets to her feet. She looks Jin in the eyes, and her limbs go utterly straight. The sparkles she gives off are ones of pure embarrassment. "...Erm. You're not Mister Kiske. Sorry! I'm so sorry! You just looked so much like him, you've got that royal, regal bearing, and you're blonde, and you have a sword, and..." El finally has the self-awareness to stop digging herself a hole. She hides her face with her bouquet. Achoo! Suddenly rosepetals and feminine pink sparkles are floating in Jin's direction. She looks from behind the flowers. "...Uh, let's start over. I'm Elphelt. Elphelt Valentine. Let's get lunch! It's nice to meet you!" Her tongue sticks out from the corner of her mouth, she turns about and waves at Lou, before trying to take Jin's hand and pull him towards the cafeteria. Nevermind that she doesn't know where that is. "To food and TRUE LOVE!" Jin's day has no doubt gotten much, much longer.
Lou	As if a shadow in the night, a glimpse of pink curl can be seen far in the background, as Lou - satisfied with the arrangements - turns to re-enter her Flyer, closing the door behind her. It turns out she'll have a lot to think about, herself..so perhaps not keeping company is best for the time-being. That is, with anyone else but her 'sisters'. Really, way too much in common.