Scene #8819: Voluspa: Dragonslayer

Owner	Pose
Dysnomia	Part One: http://multiversemush.com/scene/scene.php?id=8812 The party stand in the midst of a small settlement, cobbled together from a fallen starship. The letters of its name, VOLUPSA, remains still on the ship's old nose--in the middle of the settlement, in front of which stands her. The captain doesn't send word. Not out loud, anyway. But Meika can pick up the 'sound' of whispers messages without sound slipping through the air. Figures slip out from the buildings. Some of them--the most prominent, definitely--are soldiers, all of them wearing that same sigil of nine circles in orbit around a greater sphere. But not all. A young woman peeks out from the door what must have been some kind of greenhouse, dirt still on her fingernails. A child in a militaristic uniform peeked up through a window in one of the residences, daring catch a glimpse of the strangers who were filling the air with the urgent buzz of telepathy. "I am forced into an unenviable position." Blameless. Doing what she has to. "So, 'elites.' Tell me. Just how will you make this right?"
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	What does it feel like, to have ice water running in your veins? To feel the grinding pressure of the artic carve through your soul, crack you open and spill your lifeblood into the snow? It feels like it's time to start running, or start shooting--like a stroll in the jungle just ended up unearthing a pair of predatory eyes peering with ravenous intent from the brush. Like all he has is a sharp stick, versus millions of years of evolution. Which will it be? Phreak's palms sweat, even in the cold, until he feels-- Pity. Don't you dare fucking throw that at me. Don't you ever. It isn't hard to see the signs of overwhelming, pathetic rage. What else could you call it but pathetic, when it's pressed up against such an overpowering will, and stoked so very easily? The dark grey patches spread over his cheeks and to his pointed ears, across his forehead, darker still than what the cold instills. If it kills me, you're not gonna fucking-- [Vicinity] ???: How would a little bird that's only known its cage recognize a home? "You--" Phreak stops grinding his teeth, relaxes his fists, and lets the 'fight' instinct wash over him as he pushes the gently glowing visor up above his eyes. His palm rests over his eyes before it draws in, squeezing and pinching at the bridge of his nose. A sharp sigh escapes him. "You're not with the Moons anymore." His palm slides from his face. "Or if you are, you're cut off and trying to keep this place a secret until somebody swings by to pick you up." Doesn't matter, either way. [Vicinity] ???: You cannot speak for the whole of your 'multiverse,' can you? "Yeah. Actually. I can." A Herculean effort is expended not to append an insult. What effort remains to be spent is not enough to keep his 'calm' demeanor from looking like someone on the verge of a meltdown trying to maintain a thin veneer of 'I'm not mad, you're mad.' "The Multiverse is gonna exist way after the Nine Moons collapses. Which is gonna be pretty soon, if people keep defecting. Whether you're a defector or not, that's your business. Live your best life. Whatever." Phreak licks his lips, a tic to keep turbulent waters in a semblance of calm. "There's no 'scouts.' Okay?" He makes a 'zilch' gesture, one palm held flat, perpendicular to the ground, drawn sharply across the air before him. "None. That's bullshit. Not everybody thinks like it's the goddamn military." And thank fuck for that. He snaps his fingers, jerking a thumb backwards. Towards the warpgate. "Especially not them." [Vicinity] ???: Tell me. Just how will you make this right? A deep breath, in and out through the nose. Steadying. Suppressing the urge to yell until his face is an even darker shade of grey and spittle threatens to freeze on his lips. "How am I gonna make this right? You wanna big-league me? Good job, hotshot. You got the power here, over a thirty year old man with no house and no job, who picks fights with game developers. Everybody's REALLY FUCKIN' IMPRESSED--" He stops himself, having both failed to not yell and gone to the failmale playbook of adopting the 'just a little guy' posture after he himself tried to big-league someone else. No one knew that, and now everyone does.
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	"I'm good. I'm fine. Let's just talk business. Alright? You want your secrecy, I can give that to you--any warning you want, on any database that matters, fuck-with-it-and-get-got. 'The place is infested with brain eating monsters that lay eggs in the skull, keep out?' Done. I can even jailbreak that armor for you--the Moons won't know you from a hole in the ground. I just want those people back home, and I want the fuck out of here." I need a goddamn win.
Madeleine Cadrasteia	"Do you believe you have power here? How arrogant. Perhaps I should correct you?" Madeleine has, so far, been spared the full weight of the captain's mind. Even so, she bristles visibly at the woman's words, her posture even more tense than when the soldiers first appeared. "Correct us," the huntress nearly spits, her face turning to a scowl. "People don't talk to me like that. That includes you, if you want to keep being a person. Do you really think you're so much better than us? Queen of a scrap-heap in the middle of nowhere? We're the most exciting thing to happen to you in months, I'm sure, but keep your pants on." Madeleine pinches the bridge of her nose as she finishes her tirade, like she's getting a headache just from the attempted indignity. "As for what we can do for you," she says, a smirk creeping onto her lips, "It's a damn fool thing to live so close to a warp-gate if you don't want attention. I'd be willing to help you pack up and move, but I don't take charity cases." Not from people who talk to her like that.
Angela	''Do you believe you can dictate terms?'' "Ahahhh... I know you're strong and badass and all that and I know someone a lot like you, but is it really worth it for you to piss off three multiversal organizations just because they stumbled upon your group while meaning no ill? Are your lives so peaceful that you aren't kind of bored of pointless violence yet? None of us want war." Fox mumbles, "Malkuth, I'm sure it'll be fine for everyone else in the multiverse but I don't really want to be made example just because they don't realize the full breadth of what's out there yet..." ''Just how will you make this right?'' Malkuth is quiet for a moment. Phreak provides some additional explanation in his own way and Malkuth continues to be a boxbot. She's already been murdered once and she seems to think it'll be up to her officers to find their way out of it if this does turn into a fight. "Game developers...?" She looks at Phreak. "Kuroto Dan?" But Phreak makes an offer of secrecy and Malkuth sees no reason to not offer that as well. "Mm... I don't really see any reason for L Corp to have interest in this, or the Concord for that matter, so I can put a similar warning out for them. It's no cost to us." Fox clears his throat and adds, "Ma'am. The people who you have here are just explorers. Standard procedure to send people through new Warpgates and see what's up and nobody out there is gonna want to get involved with what's here if this is the sorta greeting to expect." Yuri looks between Malkuth, and Fox, and then focuses back towards Phreak. She seems chill as usual but thoughtful about it, she's figuring something out in her head. "Nine Moons?" She asks. "...Psionic presences..." She taps her cheek lightly with an index finger and then says, "...Well...We're a business. Maybe we could make a trade. Do you have any strong opinions about psionic armaments that anybody could use?" "Yuri..." Malkuth warns. "Ahah...I won't get into detail but that's worth chatting about right?" Yuri wags her hand up and down. "As long as they don't bring it to The City it's fine right?" Malkuth frowns but doesn't add anything else.
Odette Raskins	LAST TIME "W-w-we're.. Uh..! J-just here to locate some missing people, ma'am! N-no threat! Um. C... Company EMT, Odette Raskins!" She sputters out her greeting, taking a moment to just breathe in and out rapidly several times before finally managing to get some more words out. "We.. Uh. H-heard there was no contact since they came through the gate, and... We mean no harm. R-really!" NOW "Survival instinct?" "How novel. At least one of you understands what's at stake." Odette's arms are still held up at the sides of her head, held at a stiff ninety degree angle as a clear sign of her holding nothing and not being able to reach for anything on her person. It's a technique born from her most tried and true survival instinct: Pure cowardice in the face of any kind of intimidation. "Th.. Thank you! I... I made it myself!" She spouts the first thing that comes to mind, jaw tense and teeth chattering lightly even with her mouth shut to try and stop herself from saying anything else terribly stupid. Then again, maybe... Maybe saying more pathetic things would help keep her alive? "They have proven agreeable. Will you?" "Just how will you make this right?" "Good job, hotshot. You got the power here, over a thirty year old man with no house and no job, who picks fights with game developers." Maybe Phreak's onto something there. It's not as though she has any better ideas herself, and latching onto someone else's lead is the best she can come up with on such short notice while she's trying not to hyperventilate. "I... Uh. I-I haven't finished formal training yet! I mean, f-for... Paramedic-type stuff. I know how to seal up wounds pretty good, though! A-and if someone's died recently, I could try and get them... Uh. A-alive again!" Wait. If secrecy's a problem, maybe there's another angle. "Or... Wh-what if we just say we found them dead right at the gate? I-I mean, they wouldn't really be dead, but... N-nobody on the other side needs to know that, right?" She laughs awkwardly, like she's trying to play it up for the captain and keep herself from looking anything remotely like an actual threat.
Meika Kirenai	'And just what happens, when a scout carries word back home?' A quizzical look. "... Then- then they'd make maps, or something, right? And- and go somewhere else, probably." She doesn't quite get the glaring bad things there. "... You're- you're admitting to just holding them prisoner, right? That's not- even if you think you're doing something good, it's not." Firm, moralistic, nothing too close to a truly held belief beyond gutfeel worry. {'That depends on them. Doesn't it, Meika Kirenai?'} Vermillion goes dead-still, terror laced with anger flashing over her face. It's the expression of getting caught. She can't communicate back like that, obviously, but she does glare, with those awful red eyes. Why that name? You can see the costume. If you can tell, if you know, why- It's not enough to get her to stop overhearing, obviously- even if she wants to flinch back from it, stubborn discomfort pushes her to double down. It's a bad habit. 'So, 'elites.' Tell me. Just how will you make this right?' "That's not fair ..." She grumbles, about that comment and the thoughts beforehand. "You- you should be the one making it-" Even in her resplendent armor, she sounds like a petulant child. 'N-nobody on the other side needs to know that, right?' Vermillion sucks air through her teeth, and throws a worried glance at Odette. "You- you saw how worried their friends were. They need to go home. That's not- that's not an option. Don't listen to the-" It's not particularly encouraging for Vermillion to scoot closer to where Odette is, especially since she's cautioning her to be more disagreeing towards the Captain. Her expression looks a bit pained, though, thinking about those collages. "They'll get home." Despite how peaceful the town should be, in the snow, each new face, soldier or settler alike, causes Meika to shift more and more, utterly silent, anxious and scared. It's not much use trying to feel like the baseball bat she has held down at her side is something properly weaponly- not that being armed really helps.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia feels that pressure. Her attempt at negotiation apparently goes unanswered, and they are having all of the fault placed on them. She is of the same mind as Madeleine and Phreak, though. She frowns as she listens to all of this, then hmphs. "I suppose 'agreeable' is bowing to your will immediately and without complaint?" the princess says. "Well, we have done nothing wrong. Your lack of planning and unreasonable rules on intrusion while living so close to a warp gate is your fault, not ours. If you want people to stay away from you, start by choosing a better place for them to stay away from. Unjustly imprisoning everyone who comes through the gate is only going to draw more and more attention." "And as she said," she motions to Malkuth, "...there are far more than just us out there. If you actually care about preserving what you have here and remaining peaceful, I would suggest you either treat your guests more hospitably or hide your town more effectively. And as for dictating terms, perhaps it is -you- who are arrogant to think that you can so completely dictate to us and claim we are the ones needing correcting!" The princess hefts her hammer again and rests it on her shoulder. "We came here on a rescue, intending no harm unless harm had been done. It would be foolish for you to start a war with everyone in the entire Multiverse simply because of some accidental and as far as I can tell harmless trespassing."
Dysnomia	Her expression remains stoic as she meets Phreak's eyes. As he snarls and hisses, she simply waits, like a guardian impatiently waiting for a child to finish screaming and stamping their feet. "Do you understand what you are doing?" Flat, frank. She doesn't wait for a followup. "Clearly, you do not. So I shall illuminate you; You stand in a colony under the Nine Moon's soverignty. Speaking to its governor. And open to the air, you offer to help commit treason..." An eyebrow rises, half an inch. "...And and give us your 'word?' You cannot be so dense as to imagine I would bargain with my settlement as a child might bargain with a sibling for a moment's peace? I require more than your 'word.'" "People don't talk to me like that. That includes you, if you want to keep being a person." "Don't I?" For the crime of existing as herself, the ambient blizzard of her will focuses down on Madeliene, a grinding mountain of ice narrowed down into a spike behind her eyes. "Do the rest of you agree with this one?" She asks the party. "Do you care so little for your 'explorer' friends?" "Perhaps it is you who must be taken to account, for creating this anomaly you call a 'warpgate' so close to my settlement." This unmapped gate--Had it been unmapped because it was NEW? Had they ever even known the multiverse before-- "I suppose 'agreeable' is bowing to your will immediately and without complaint?" "If you are a true ruler of any knowledge, you must know the importance of sovereignty." Her eyes narrow. "And leverage." "... Then- then they'd make maps, or something, right? And- and go somewhere else, probably." "Oh, yes. It seemed like even this, itself, was enough in her mind. And knowledge is power. To know the terrain one's rival stands on is not unlike knowing their mind. The shape of their defenses. The quirks of their being. Ceding such ground is unacceptable." She leaned forward toward the elites. Noah and Levi glaring at her in helpless anger. In shivering fear. "But, I am not unreasonable. You have made your desires plain. And I have what you want." "My guests are making up for their breaking of the peace, by serving as insurance." She said, as though it were the most reasonable thing in the world. "Against the hostile action of a 'multiverse' beyond understanding. Tell me, my new guests...What could you offer me to take their place?"
Sarracenia	'If you are a true ruler of any knowledge, you must know the importance of sovereignty...And leverage.' Sarracenia's eyes narrow in return. "Sovereignty can be displayed with mercy. That is called diplomacy, another thing that is necessary if a sovereign state wishes to remain without conflict. Not to mention we are not citizens of this nation so we cannot be treasonous. Your leverage extends only so far as we tolerate. Do not pretend you have all the power here." 'What could you offer me to take their place?' Sarracenia huffs in a bit of annoyance. "I made my offers. Trade goods and proper warning signs. If you want reparations for the...trees?...that were cut down near the gate or for the trespassing, I can offer monetary compensation. And since apparently our word is not good enough..." Sarracenia lowers her hammer head to the floor again, then says, "I am going to reach into my bag. It is not for a weapon." She slowly reaches, and then pulls out...a gold coin as big as her hand. "Here. A gesture of good faith." she says, offering the coin to the governor. She steps forward slowly and just enough that it would be in reach if the governor chooses to take it. "The instigating hostile actions here have been yours. However, this can end peacefully if you are not unreasonable as you claim. Of course, knowing what you are actually after here would be...helpful." She pauses a moment. "As for the gate, none in the Multiverse can create or destroy gates such as these. They appear and disappear of their own will. Of course, I understand you cannot take our word on that. Although, we have only your word that your...guests...are unharmed or that you would ever even release them. A gesture on your part would help disarm things quite a bit."
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	[Vicinity] Jerkoff: Kuroto Dan? "Fuck him." Yeah, Kuroto Dan. [Vicinity] ???: And open to the air, you offer to help commit treason... Phreak's fist clenches until his knuckles are a pale, near-white shade, unclenching after a moment and revealing divots from his nails pressed into his palms. "Great. I'm 'illuminated' now. Thanks for that." Terse. Clipped. Trying to be anywhere but here. [Vicinity] ???: Do you care so little for your 'explorer' friends? "I'm not with her," Phreak says, jerking a thumb towards Madeleine. "Like I told you a minute ago, I just want those people back with their friends and families, and you can get the hell on with whatever you're doing out here." [Vicinity] ???: What could you offer me to take their place? "Look." Phreak drags a palm across his face again, exasperated. "This 'taking to account' shit, you've got the wrong idea. Is 'sunburn' from standing outside all day 'hostile action' from the sun?" He taps a foot into the snow. "Do you 'take the snow to account,' for frostbite? Nah. It's a natural process. Not someone deciding to fuck you around on purpose." He shakes his head. "You wear sunscreen for one, and you bundle up for the other. Prevention. So, if being on every no-visit list that matters isn't enough for you, how about that plus schematics for an iris? Lots of worlds have those. You can lock that thing up, rig up an access code, post some guards, and nobody gets through without your say-so. Anybody that tries," he says, slapping a fist into the palm of the other hand, "Gets bounced. I can get you the best in the business, no money exchanged, no one traces it back to you, no one even knows you got one."
Odette Raskins	"You- you saw how worried their friends were. They need to go home. That's not- that's not an option. Don't listen to the-" "Odette. You aren't seriously suggesting we just leave the rest of the warpgate team to live with these people, right?" At first, Odette's confused by what Madeleine and Vermillion are saying. It takes a moment before she starts to put it all together, then shakes her head quickly. "Huh? N-no! Of course we're gonna get them home. I just thought we could... G-get them all to act like they didn't see anything because they were dead when we found them." Even as she says it out loud, though, she doesn't sound fully convinced, and Madeleine brings her attention towards the difficulty of faking multiple someone's deaths. Her own idea is already falling apart in her head, but she doesn't have much time to start panicking over that compared to panicking over what Madeleine and Sarracenia say to the governor. Unconsciously, however, Odette's sliding closer to Vermillion when she does the same, one hand lowering slowly in front of her. It's almost like she's trying to nudge the magical girl behind her with just that, although that terrified gaze is still firmly locked on the captain. "W... We're just here on a rescue mission for them, ma'am. N-not scouting or exploring or anything like... Uh. Wait." The confused look returns, briefly wiping away the frightened look. "Creating a warpgate? I don't th..." She looks over at Noah and Levi briefly for confirmation of something she hasn't said yet, then realizes she's not giving the governor her full attention and quickly locks onto her again, trembling and all. "I-I don't think anyone created it! Th-those things just... Show up at random!" "What could you offer me to take their place?" Wait. Nova and Levi are explorers. Their captive friends are explorers, too. Surely that means they might have- "M... Maps of other regions?" Odette blurts out, lowering her other hand briefly to scratch her chest lightly. She experiments with just lowering that arm outright, but is quick to bring it back up at the slightest indication that the governor disapproves. "If the... Um. I-I mean, they're explorers, so they can... They've probably scoped out other areas, right? Maybe... Even some of your rivals! I-if we-" Crap. She doesn't want to get herself roped into this, too! "Th-they did that for a couple of your other rivals as a show of good will and let them go, then that'd be way better than just keeping them locked up here. A-and maybe you and their people could work something out long-term?" She's really hoping the governor didn't catch her saying 'we'.
Madeleine Cadrasteia	"I meant what I-" Madeleine is halfway through 'said', her foot halfway through raising to take a step, and her hand halfway to the knife on her belt when the concentrated force of the captain's will crashes over her. Madeleine's used to the cold, but this is different, as much a metaphor as it is a literal sensation. "Aaauuhhh," she groans, falling forward into the snow. Her knife lands just out of reach, and her grasping for it gets only a handful of snow. The huntress pushes herself to her knees, then shakily gets back on her feet. She glares at the captain, doing her best to project strength despite the show of dominance, but from a direct look in her eyes one thing is clear: a pecking order is established, and Madeleine knows where she stands. She looks at the knife, then back at the captain, silently requesting approval to retrieve her weapon. "Tell me, my new guests...What could you offer me to take their place?" "I-I'll help you," Madeleine blurts out, in open contradiction to her earlier comment about 'charity cases'. Then her brain catches up to the exchange she's proposed, and there's a moment where she looks like she's doing mental arithmetic. "For their freedom. I'll stay here, and help you move, or convince anyone who comes after you to give up, or whatever else needs doing that I can do, for... two weeks?" That's a respectable amount of time, right? Maybe she should up the offer. "A month. Or until you don't want me around anymore, if that's sooner. And after that I'll show up if you call. But the four of them go home t-today." She listens as the other Elites make their more modest offers. "Or I help them seal the warpgate so you can be left alone for good. Your call."
Angela	''You stand in a colony under the Nine Moon's sovereignty'' Yuri squints at the uniforms and is starting to put a thing or two together. "...We didn't create the warpgate. It's a natural warpgate." Malkuth says, her general Jerkass attitude just giving in to the exhaustion of the proceedings. "Well if they don't want weapons... Maybe we could tell her about--" Yuri begins. "No, that's alright. What they want is information and we shouldn't give anything for free." Malkuth crosses her arms (such as they are). "Trading maps for explorers sounds like a reasonable trade, that way you can know what's what around the multiversal sector you are a part of." She seems surprised by Madeleine's offer. "...Really? ... Gosh, you are quite brave." She seems surprised. "I do not know many people who'd make that kind of offer." The Jerkoff frowns as Phreak says 'Fuck him' regarding Kuroto Dan. The guy's only been respectable as far as she's noticed but she supposes she doesn't know him well enough to overtly defend him. "Odette's suggestion of intel trading seems the most equitable. There is not much else we could offer off the cuff but we could discuss more trades once we are on friendlier terms."
Dysnomia	"...How about that plus schematics for an iris? Lots of worlds have those. You can lock that thing up, rig up an access code, post some guards, and nobody gets through without your say-so." "And we will, of course, be studying these schematics with our oown engineers." To be sure it's not got backdoors built into it, is the unspoken assertion. "For their freedom. I'll stay here, and help you move, or convince anyone who comes after you to give up, or whatever else needs doing that I can do, for... two weeks? A month." "What a good girl you are." Her smile was thin, amused. "I have little interest in employing a dog that will roll over at the slightest prodding. But, perhaps I can find some use for you..." "Although, we have only your word that your...guests...are unharmed or that you would ever even release them. A gesture on your part would help disarm things quite a bit." The coin lifted out of Sarracenia's hand--but not because the captain had touched it. It hovered in the air, pivoting, giving her a chance to study it."As audacious as you are, with these offers on the table...I find myself compelled." She snaps her fingers--an entirely meaningly gesture, when the orders travel telepathically. "Let none say Captain Castilian cannot be bargained with." There's movement in the settlement, soldiers shift--but no one lays hand on their weaponry. A door swings open, and a pair of familiar faces stumble out into the snow--Rashid? Sam? Is it really--? "When the schematic is studied, when the maps are given to us, the others will be returned. I shall even permit them to return before our Huntress' service is finished." Benevolence itself. Her eyes drifted toward Malkuth's image, still on that tablet. "...Perhaps, if all goes as you say, such arrangements may just prove acceptable." "Now. Have we an accord?"
Madeleine Cadrasteia	Madeleine licks her lips uncomfortably, like she's just swallowed something impossibly sour. She looks disgusted - by the captain's condescension, or by her own behavior? "You will find," she begins, with a hint of real defiance in her voice, "I am more than worth four ordinary professionals." By the time she finishes the sentence it sounds more like an apology. "But my offer was that I'd stick around if they went home this very day," she says with remarkable firmness, "and I'm not moving on that." Her eyes narrow, just a little, as she mentally reminds herself that she is an Elite, and should act like it. "I'll start my... term," she says, carefully avoiding the word 'service', "when they're set free. No sooner."
Dysnomia	The Captain inclines her head toward Madeline. "I find this acceptable." She says, magnanimity herself.
Odette Raskins	Madeleine's sudden flip in demeanor catches Odette off guard. It's not as though she's necessarily against trying to placate the captain, but to see that coming from her with seemingly little (different) provocation and a great deal of strange pain and groaning actually gets a concerned reaction from the EMT. Instead of just letting that sit, she scoots over slowly and deliberately, still mindful of trying not to make any sudden moves even as she reaches her hand towards the huntress. "H-hey... Miss Madeleine? Are you okay? What happened to your..." She pantomimes falling briefly, then holds a hand out in case she needs the extra help getting up. Turning to the governor, meanwhile, Odette actually looks a fair bit calmer than before when she sounds like she's willing to let the explorers go in exchange for an iris, coin, and work. There's a moment of tense breath-holding when the door opens, but that gives way to yet more relief and regular breathing when the missing explorers are brought out. "Y... Um. Y-yes, ma'am. Th-that sounds reasonable, yeah! Er. Yes. Then we can all... Okay!" She laughs nervously, finally realizing how long she hasn't been breathing normally out of that continuing fear of doing that somehow being construed as a threat for so long. "Then.. Um. Do we need to sign anything first, or...?" Even if she's an amateur, she still knows the importance of getting things properly recorded!
Angela	Yuri feels real bashful when the Captain takes 'everything offered' thus proving Malkuth kind of right for not really offering anything Odette didn't offer herself. A lesson that she still has a long way to go before she can really try to outsmart a Wing. "Well... Sure if that works, that works..." Yuri's cheeks pinken a little, a brief glimpse into her not being the totally chill cool gal she typically presents as. "Fuckin' Wings I swear..." Fox mutters. "Yah, sure, glad everything fucking works out." He gives Phreak a look typically seen in service industry workers when a manage takes the side of a customer who has been screaming at you for hours. He lets out a long sigh and gives him a nod.
Rubi-Kan Vagrants	" Go for it," says Phreak, index bent and pressed to his thumb, held up in the archetypal symbol for 'okay.' These people are paranoid--as good as he is, the best way to make sure they don't find anything is giving them nothing to find. "Yeah," he nods. "Deal. I'll get you the schematics first. Then the warnings." He shares briefly in Fox's look of commiseration, but shrugs his shoulders, as if to say 'fuck it.' He pulls his visor back over his eyes, and the soft blue glow is interrupted by the bright white of an AR keyboard, its existence only hinted at by its 'reflection' in the visor. To anyone not focused on the visor, his hands just race across empty air, pausing every couple of keystrokes to mash a backspace or 'click' a different space of empty air. "Here we go," he mutters to himself. "You think a colo's gonna keep you safe? Maybe from some other asshole, but not from me." The visor has more 'reflections' than just the keyboard, but they come and go so quickly that trying to watch them on that tiny blue space is nothing short of dizzying. There's something that looks like a social media website, an image search, maybe, if you squint. Phreak holds up an index to the captain, turning to everyone else and holding the opposite hand out, palm level with the ground. The symbol for 'wait a sec, and keep it down.' "Hey, Drake," says Phreak, in the most pleasant (and saccharinely fake) tone he's mustered all day, pacing around. His tough-guy accent is gone, replaced with that of an insufferable vaguely American yuppie. A little waveform dances on his visor--that must be 'Drake.' "It's Marvin Coolidge. Haha. Yeah. Yeah, I'm settling in great. Thanks for asking, pal." His golden eyes flick back over to another page--looks like an 'about us,' maybe? "Well, Soukenya said she'd get an account set up for me on Tuesday, and here we are comin' up on a week, and-- No, no no, no, it's fine. No--Drake, you don't have to do that. I'm not trying to make any waves. If I could just get it set up, that's all I really need. Uh huh. No problem." A quick check of the social media page. "November 8, 1993. ...Two minutes? Wow, you're Johnny on-the-spot!" The corny praise seems to go over well. "Test it out? Sure. One second." Phreak's hands return to the AR keyboard. "Heyhey, I'm in! Thanks a ton, Drake. Yup, you too. Bye now." The call ends. "Morons," he chuckles to himself. "Alright," he says, holding out his hand. A small data drive, rectangular and compact, appears in his palm, constructed in a wave of blue light. "Schematics for an iris and the cryptographic sequencers you can key up to it. Another few minutes and I'll have your keep-out signs ready to go." He returns to his methodical type-type-clicking.
Dysnomia	"Schematics for an iris and the cryptographic sequencers you can key up to it. Another few minutes and I'll have your keep-out signs ready to go." She ignores what he's saying. What he's doing. Just meets his eyes. "You want to make me pay." Castillian says aloud, making the subtext text. "But you are willing to set it aside to help these explorers, that you have never met." "I can admire this." Her eyes on him were cool. Knowing? "Even if it is not how you intend to let it end." And then, she'd turned away. Yelled out to her men--she didn't NEED to shout, did she? Was she making a show of it?--"Ready the other two. They go free when his work is done." "And...Prepare accomodations for our huntress." Her eyes turned back on Madeleine, assessing. Daring? "We'll see for ourselves what sort of beasts an elite knows how to chase..."
Sarracenia	Sarracenia blinks in surprise as the coin floats upward. As all the offers are taken...she frowns and growls lightly. The princess's temper is finally starting to get the better of her. She holds her tongue until all four are released. Then... She grips her hammer more tightly, and makes sure she is between the captain and the four explorers. "So, this is how your nation handles things? With dishonor and villainy? Holding innocent people hostage for invented crimes in order to gain as much as possible?" The princess slams the haft of her hammer down hard enough to make a rumbling. "Vile. I will ensure that these qualities are added to the warning signs. Hopefully if any of your people step outside of this world into the Multiverse they are treated with more dignity and mercy." She turns to leave, but looks over her shoulder. "If I hear of another event like this happening because someone wandered in, you will have much more than falsely labled and wrongfully imprisoned 'scouts' to deal with. Consider all my offers of trade cancelled. That coin is all you will get from me or the Sundew Kingdom." She continues to keep herself between the four explorers and the captain as they leave, and makes sure to keep her eyes on the soldiers around them. She wouldn't be surprised if they tried to recapture them for further ill-gotten gains. And she gives Odette and Madeleine a look that says 'just what happened back there?' as they go.