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Guest Psyber     Mashu had mentioned in her report that Velya would possibly be interested in the Union. Because of this, Psyber had conscripted Mashu (as a friendly face) and tried to get in contact with Velya to set up a meeting. It had taken a couple days to arrange a proper location, but hopefully it had all resolved smoothly.

    The meeting location was on the planetary plains. It's a small diner in one of the many rural cities that dot the area, famous for its fresh blackberry pie that was always in season. The half-angel is currently seated in the diner booth waiting, idly stirring his straw in the vanilla malt that was delivered to him just moments ago.
Shielder     No armor on Mashu today! But given the distinctive pale hair and her voice, it's doubtful Velya will have any trouble recognizing the girl. Wearing a black one-piece dress with a red tie and a white-grey hooded sweater over it, and with her magical signature mostly concealed from not being transformed, she certainly seems a lot less assuming than last time though.

    Having no doubt spent the last ten minutes asking Psyber all manners of questions about being an angel and everything it might entail or imply, she can be found already seated with him, holding a bowl of strawberry ice cream that on account of always asking questions, she hasn't touched much yet.
Velya     Velya is dressed... oddly? For a dark elf, anyway. Shorts and a t-shirt, actually! But she still has a lot of jewelry, a large satchel, and a staff, just like a wizard should. The worst part is probably a horrible thing for Psyber, because there is tiny lettering over her left breast, which a normal human will need to lean over and squint to see well enough to read.

    "Ah... hello," the elf manages, spying Mashu. She slides right into a seat, not sure if she should be haughty or friendly. "That was easy to find. These new worlds have such interesting fabrics and designs! Greetings again, Mashu. And hello, human."
Guest Psyber     Psyber, being used to teenage girls, has answered every single one of Mashu's questions with a calm patience that is almost serene. Up to, and likely even including, if she asks for a black feather that she can keep. She gets her questions answered, though, and he doesn't seem put out by it.

    "Hi, please sit down," He says, gesturing towards the seat across from him, "Amusing t-shirt, by the way. I'll be sure to get you one that says 'I got crabs in Boston' some time to go with it."

    He looks towards Velya a moment later. He lets the human comment slide, not wanting to correct it or get into semantics, "I'm a Reserve Colonel for the Union. My callsign is 'Psyber', since I'm a paranormal investigator. Mashu mentioned that you might be interested in joining. Have anything off the menu, on me."
Shielder     Mashu would never ask for a feather. Her questions were probably on the tame side, and it'd be obvious to Psyber it's a mix of trying to control her urges and trying to be polite. There's a lot more on her mind than comes out her mouth! But she's obviously worried about going too far.

    Velya arrives, finally, and Mashu waves hello. Her attention shifts to her ears again, and so the t-shirt goes unnoticed. EVENTUALLY she realizes staring is rude.

    "A-Ah, yeah! I... t-told you I'd get you in touch, so here we are!" Here they are indeed, although she's still not sure why she's there.

    She stares intently at her bowl of ice cream and retreats into it for a moment, while Psyber presumably questions the elf.
Velya     "The humor of the upper world is strange, but I am starting to like it. Is Boston a great fortress in your world?" Velya asks, completely straight-faced. "I am Velya, of the Underdark. I ah... am surprised at how willing some people here are to work with me. It has been a pleasant change."
    Mashu's stare doesn't bother her! Velya lets her stare at her ears, and instead she points at the ice cream. "I would like some of that. It looks like frozen milk, and milk is one of the treats I have not seen in my home. But you must have questions!"
Guest Psyber     "Sure. You can get a Sundae. And no, Boston is more like a coastal fishing city in my world that became a major population center. It's not a fortress." He stops and thinks, "Well, mine sorta is, because I live there, but it's not USUALLY." He scratches the underside of his chin.

    "Oh right. Yeah, questions. Well, I mean. If you want to work with the Union, I do have one standard question I ask people now," Psyber comments, thinking on it, "Do you currently plan to work with us for a sequential series of events that ostensibly is to neutralize the threat of a dark god, only for you to eventually betray us to steal that god's power for yourself to harness it in a world changing fashion, wherein you cause multiple years of debate about your morality and the ethics of your reaction that causes me to nearly sunder my social connections in a protracted bid for redemption that ultimately succeeds in a pyrrhic victory because you sacrifice your life in an act of redemption that means I get to see you redeemed, but am robbed of the chance to appreciate your ultimate redemption with you in person?" He asks her in a very point blank fashion. You'd think this was a hypothetical situation. It's not.

    That question asked, he looks over at Mashu and says, "Do you have any questions for her?"
Shielder     "A-Ah? Um." Psyber puts Mashu on the spot, while Velya ponders the questions and possibly orders a sundae. She fidgets on her chair, her spoon traces circles in her bowl awkwardly as she considers if she does, and what would be polite to ask.

    "T-That is, what about... a-ah... the stories I read, they said, dark elves are usually e-evil, um, and they live in their own dimension, and they did bad stuff with Loki and..." She trails off, obviously unsure how to ask what she's trying to.

    "I-I guess I'm curious about... y-your people? The svartalfar, r-right?" She is such a mythology nerd she gets that word right without stuttering.
Velya     "W-what?" Velya stares at Psyber. "NO! I just... I found an evil merchant on another world, that's all. He's dealing secretly with the Confederacy, and that's a bad thing for your people, isn't it? I thought we could ally with one another. I have proof if you like. A... device which contains their version of a ledger."
    And so, Velya says her needs! And orders a sundae. Just a regular sundae. But while waiting for that she stares at Shielder! Because she knows mythology too, but Velya, the elf persona, isn't from that one! "Ah? That is only partly familiar. My kind live underground and make sacrifices to the centipede-god. They take pride in ruthlessness and think all surface-dwellers should be their slaves. I was one of the ones who disagreed, and managed to escape."
Guest Psyber     "Perfect. You've passed most of my qualifications with that question alone," Psyber says, giving her a thumbs up before taking a sip of his malt, "And what merchant is that? I'm sure that once you're all set up, you can make a report about it and get some people to help you out with your merchant situation." He replies, considering it before letting Mashu ask her question.

    "Sounds about proper for Dark Elf culture," Psyber agrees, thinking it over, "But I see no reason to hold the culture against you if you disagreed and rebelled. So tell me, Miss Velya. Do YOU think you'd fit well in the Union?"
Shielder     "Oh..." Mashu listens, when she's told she picked the wrong mythology. Centipede-god? This all sounds odd, and nothing she's read about either! Now she's very curious, and functionally hangs off Velya's every word, sponging the knowledge hungrily.

    What little of it there is, but it's better than nothing. "Y-Yeah, it's good you disagreed! I-It's... h-hard to imagine people really choose to live like that..." Poor idealist.
Velya     "Alexander Hayden," Velya replies, holding up a small chip of some kind. "His world has many strange magical devices, but it is not very... friendly. I don't think his dealings are public knowledge..." She shakes her head, which gives Shielder a nice look at her ears! They are pointy, very pointy. Not quite anime elf pointy though!

    "Ah... they really do act that way, and most of the surface knows it. I try to show them that we aren't all like that, but it's very hard. I suppose one must do what one can though. I know my kind are not right about what they think, but I have many, many years to prove myself." Tragic sigh.
Guest Psyber     Psyber tents his fingers and listens to Velya closely, "I see. Alexander Hayden. Artifact smuggling." He taps his fingers together and considers it, looking long and hard at Velya before thinking, "I have one final question for you that will determine your morality more directly than I can through any other question. Answer within acceptable parameters and you will be allowed to join."

    The truth of the matter is that he's been making judgment calls based on other aspects of Velya's personality and her presenting morality, but he likes to mess with people, so he continues.

    "You are at a food cart. You can choose between a bratwurst and a hotdog. A regular bun and a pretzel bun. And all the toppings on the cart to pick from. What do you order?" He leans in close, "What. Do. You. Order."
Velya     The problem is that in her world, these questions CAN be windows into the personality. Velya stares. The elf leans her head to the side. How should she answer this?
    "... I don't know what either of those are."
    Good call, Velya. Why would she know what a hot dog is?
Guest Psyber     Psyber tries to rethink this question. Or ask a different one, "You're at a candy shop and you can get one piece of candy for free. What do you choose?" He asks as a variation of the last question.
Velya     That question is so much easier! The answer might surprise him. It comes immediately, with Velya replying, "Buttescotch Cashews." Her sundae comes about now and she digs the spoon in, looking satisfied at answering the question and scooping a huge mouthful into her mouth and-
    "COLD!"
Guest Psyber     Psyber nods his head slowly, "Decent sweets choice." He replies a moment later, leaning back again to sip at his malt. He seems satisfied with her answer, "I prefer peanutbutter cups, myself."

    "So. Do you want to join up?"

    He can't help but laugh a bit loudly as she puts a scoopful of icecream in her mouth and promptly freezes her tastebuds.
Velya     Velya swallows, face bright red! "Mmf!" Wiping her lips with a napkin she nods, "I think so. Having allies that don't mind what I am... that would be different. I could do so much more working with you than alone, right?" It's practical anyway! "I'd like to prove myself, but more than that I just... want to see things better. Or maybe I just want to prove myself. I don't know any more."
Guest Psyber     Psyber nods his head and gives her a warm smile, "I think that's as good a reason to want to join up as any I've heard," Psyber says as he rests his chin on a closed hand and watches her eat the ice cream, "I do just have to ask. As a personal favor, don't do something that makes me look dumb for bringing you in. I take that really personally, when I put myself out for people and they burn me."