string theory [closed]

[kenosnpcs]

Without any warning or preamble, a set of messages are sent briefly over Communion.

To D and Matt, the message is simple. It’s time. Go to The Crown to meet Coalbrand. He’ll be the one getting you to the tower. And indeed, they’ll be welcomed by the demon with a glittering smile and cloying words asking if there’s anything he can supply them with. Whether they do so is up to them, but it’s not wise—that’s how you end up in debt to the house. But eventually, a magical slumber will greet them and they’ll awake within Aetós’s tower.

To Flat and Gen, the message is a bit more complicated, but it amounts to “it’s time to work”. Bring whatever you might need for a few days, since the work itself isn’t usually quick. But when they’re ready, come to The Crown. Aetós will meet them there.

Comments

FLAT AND GEN

[kenosnpcs]

( you can respond to this individually or do a group thread! )

[ When the dynamic duo (?) arrives at the Crown, it only takes a few minutes before the masked wizard emerges from a back room, trailed by Coalbrand, curiously, but the demon just gives the visitors a wave before heading off to their own business. Aetós doesn't acknowledge the oddity at all as they step forward. ]

Good. You came. There is a Cornerstone here I use. It is simply convenient to avoid checkpoints.

[escardos]

Checkpoints are rather inefficient, aren’t they? They cause so much traffic.

[ flat chirps cheerfully with a wave of his arm in greeting, coming in with a bag on his back with a few change of clothes and other things.

with the smile on his face, you’d think that aetós had asked them to host a party rather than a glorified torture session. ]

We’re all gonna be working together, huh? [ he smiles at gen, raising his hand for a shake. ] It’s nice to meet you! You can call me Flat Escardos.

[epiprocta]

[ In direct contrast to Flat, Gen shows up looking appropriately grim -- his movements are languid and weary as he slinks in with a haphazardly-thrown-together bag of supplies slung over his shoulder, other hand scuffing through his still-too-long hair.

He's just about to look for a place to drop his stuff off when Flat's cheery chirp catches his attention, and he looks over with a grunt. Squints, looks Flat over from head to toe then back up. Then pointedly does not take that offer of a handshake, only muttering, ] Minegishi Gen.

[ Then, looking to Aetos: ]

Didn't take you for the type to want a noisy little pipsqueak like this helping you. [ He says this like Flat isn't standing right there??? ] Where do I put my stuff.

[kenosnpcs]

I could remove his vocal cords.

[ There is just the tiniest twinge in his tone that makes it seem like this is a joke. But also maybe it isn't??? ]

He has interest. Aptitude is something I will assess. As I did with you.

[ He gives a nod to them both, then steps back and beckons for them to follow the way he had come. ]

You will have quarters in the tower. They are not luxurious. But they suffice.

[escardos]

Wow, would you believe it if I said that that’s not the first time that I’ve received that threat?

[ flat pulls his hand away seemingly unbothered by both gen’s unfriendliness and aetós’ joke/comment. ]

We could try making some— but until we make something I like, I’d rather keep my own, thanks!

[ it seems he took the comment seriously. he gives aetós a glance with almost-owlish eyes, before turning back towards gen. ]

So does this mean that you’ll be my senior? Haha, it’s been a while since I’ve been in this situation!

[ and then he turns back to aetós: ]

So? What are the chances for this experiment? Any chance we’ll all die?

[ he says this so casually. ]

EVERYBODY (except aetós)

[kenosnpcs]

[ Aetós's instructions to his new assistants are straightforward. D and Matt need to be prepared for the first phase of this experiment where their Discord will be raised. They'll take care of the surgical preparations. Since D and Matt came willingly, they need to be prepared themselves.

In one part, this is straightforward. There's a simple meal that's easy on the stomach that they need to eat. Especially considering one person here seems to be anemic, they'd like to counteract that as much as possible without having to resort to magic to do so.

In the other, it's less so. Aetós tells Flat and Gen that the two of them volunteered separately, but they do have a close bond. They believe it's one of a vampire and thrall, or something like it. They'd like to know as much about that as possible.

So, good luck, boys/this is a general mingle beforehand! ]

[escardos]

You know what we should do?

[ now that flat has settled into the place and assumed his role as assistant, he... hasn't changed at all. he's probably sitting on a table right now, legs swinging back and forth as he sees D and Matt. ]

Icebreakers. You know, like fun games to get to know one another. I mean, we're all going to be stuck with each other for a while, so why not get to know each other on a more intimate level?

[ does he actually know what he's saying? with bright eyes, he pulls out an empty glass bottle from god knows where. ]

We could do truth or dare. Or we could do something like a round of introductions and each one give a fun fact about ourselves. Or something else entirely. I'm very open to suggestions.

[damnpire]

[NOT ICEBREAKERS. At least Matt will be all about icebreakers. This is truly the doubled up of "someone will die" "of fun!" with the four of them.]

D.

[REALLY JUST OFFERING HIS NAME AND NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THE WHOLESOME ATTEMPT AT SOCIALIZATION. As if the other three don't already know his name is D anyway. But, like, just in case, mostly for Flat.

Gen and Matt have the unfortunate luxury of knowing him Too Well.]

Why did you volunteer to help?

[escardos]

Flat.

[ well that’s not how you’re supposed to play the game at all… Flat pouts for a second over the fact, before switching to a more neutral expression. he remembers D all too well from when springstar was attacked, how the young man saved him.

he sets the bottle down, and shrugs. ]

I’m curious about the Oblivion. That’s all. [ he tilts his head. ] Why did you volunteer?

[damnpire]

[It isn't, at least, he feels he is too edgy to play icebreaker games. They are charming in a very human way, so long as he isn't a part of them because there is nothing good from knowing anything about him.

This is what he thinks.]

I want to find out if we can stop it.

[He believes this might be a tall order, but he's stubborn enough to try anyway. There hasn't ever been anything he isn't too stubborn to try.]

Have you ever dealt with anything like it?

[Maybe this is a 20 Questions icebreaker.]

[semicharmed]

[ (Don't worry, Matt didn't take Coalbrand up on any offers. He drank water before he left Highstorm, he doesn't need anything!)

D, as it turns out, is incorrect: Matt is not all about icebreakers. He already feels like everyone here knows too much about him after the anemia reveal. So while he's generally cooperative, he's also trying to hug the wall as much as possible and is primarily engaged with the contents of the leather bag he's brought with him. Notes for Aetós, check. Handful of just-in-case herbs, check.

... There's not that much else in the bag, so his poking around in it is mostly him trying to look busy until it's time. Now and then, Matt glances around the space, on the lookout for something that looks like it might be worth stealing. If anyone looks his way, he'll offer his best fancy meeting you here smile. ]

[escardos]

Matt, welcome!

[ if matt wanted to wallflower, it's unfortunately too late. the moment that flat notices him, he goes up to him, wrapping an arm behind the mage's shoulder like they're old friends. ]

Are you nervous? Are you feeling sick? I brought snacks, but considering what's going to happen, I figure that it's probably better to wait until it's over. Cookies. What do you think?

[ is this a torture session prep or a friendly meetup? ]

[semicharmed]

[ Matt does, at least, see Flat coming, so he doesn't jump. And actually, he relaxes a little under the arm-slinging. Physical contact is one of the better ways to interact with him; Matt doesn't get so up in his head about it. ]

Well, I think I'm supposed to be getting my blood sugar up ... [ Matt's lips twitch. ] I didn't think this was going to be such an athletic process.

[ Or at least, if raising Discord is the point, why bring his body back into harmony with itself? ]

[escardos]

You should have been taking care of yourself! Maybe you should ask someone to help you find foods that are high in vitamin K?

[ but sure, if matt wants a cookie, then flat will let him go in order to go to another side of the room. when he comes back, he’s carrying a somewhat crumpled bag with a bunch of cookies. ]

It’s important to keep yourself healthy so that you can withstand the strain. It’s like astronauts— they basically have to be in perfect health before they go up in space. So if you’re in a bad state, then the risk of you not being able to withstand the procedure rises.

[ he says all of this casually, taking one cookie for himself and munching on it absentmindedly.

after swallowing a piece, he adds: ]

I think it would be a waste if you guys died. So let’s make sure that you don’t!

[epiprocta]

[ While the other two members of this merry little band are distracted with each other and Aetos is off doing god-knows-what in preparation, Gen takes the chance to slink over to where D is standing around being his usual beautiful self. And as charming as always, he just parks himself leaning against the wall right in his vicinity. ]

Hey.

[ The nudge comes through Communion -- a tacit demand for privacy. ]

Didn't think you were this much of a complete fucking idiot. What were you thinking, volunteering for this shit.

[damnpire]

[Don't bully him. Flat is the one loudly announcing they are connected and also thinking they're all on a date.

As usual, he offers Gen his attention once Gen settles beside him and shoves in through the communion.]

I could say the same for you.

[Helping Aetos torture some poor souls.]

[epiprocta]

[ Please ... let's not talk about the accusation of this being a group date. He is stressed enough about Everything without having to deal with that extra dose of stupid on top of it all.

D's response earns a quiet click of the tongue before Gen crosses his arms, keeping his gaze trained ahead. ]

I'm not the one being experimented on, dumbass. There's nothing at stake for me here. Answer the question.

[ Too bad the double-whammy of this being Communion and their vampire-thrall link means it's incredibly obvious he's lying. There are stakes here. He just refuses to acknowledge it on any conscious level. ]

[damnpire]

[GEN IS SUFFERING. RELEASE HIM!!!

Luckily for Gen, D doesn't acknowledge the lying he feels from Gen. So many times is Gen lucky D does not acknowledge some things. Also, he doesn't think Gen would be here without stakes.

Gen doesn't exactly waste his time--not like this. He does waste it other places.]

I did not want only Zenith to have the results Aetos's experimentation might find. I want to figure out how to stop the Oblivion I saw inside the Tribune.

I didn't want anyone else to need to volunteer.

[FUCKING MATT. It's fine. Gen will probably ridicule him for a hundredth time on being a goody-two-shoes.]

EVERYBODY

[kenosnpcs]

[ After their first torture (having to deal with Flat) (JOKE), they're interrupted by someone that most wouldn't expect stepping into the room. A handsome man steps in and looks at the people here with a dull gaze. Considering he only observes for a moment, it would be fair to think that this was just someone else, but when he speaks and raises a silver hand to his chin thoughtfully, it's clear. This is Aetós. One person here already knows this face, but for the rest, they might have heard of a former foreman. ]

This will have to do. We'll get started.

[ He looks to his two assistants. ]

Gen, I'm assigning you to D. Flat, to Matt.

[ He looks to D and Matt as he steps forward. ]

You came willingly. So we can avoid restraints until necessary.

[damnpire]

[Imagine willingly volunteering for bad experimentation.

A long time ago, Gen told him a certain someone's Meridian persona could help him with a prosthetic arm if he had been interested. D did not expect the prosthetic arm benefactor to be the same man as Aetós actually, so his brows do rise slightly in surprise. Well, this explains the Meridian part.

He's still accustomed to people not being who they seem at first.]

I'm fine with whatever is needed.

[epiprocta]

[ Said person who'd pointed D in Victor's direction, D might note, looks entirely unsurprised by this face reveal. In fact, he barely blinks an eye as Victor steps into the room, reacting with little more than a clench of the jaw and a hoarse exhale at what Aetos says. They're starting, then.

He pushes away from the wall he'd been leaning against, bootsoles thumping against the ground as he steps forth to where D is, coming to a halt a half-step behind and to D's side -- the perfect position to grab at him and maneuver him as Aetos requests, if necessary. Though Gen makes no move to touch him, not yet. He instead stands with his hands resting at his sides for a moment before clasping them behind his back, bodyguard-style, where he can grasp hard at his own hand to vent a little tension.

In that psychic link between them, maybe D can feel the low simmer of unease and discontent prickling through Gen's mind, rasping at him like sandpaper. Though Gen's expression and the majority of his psyche radiate a grim determination, those dog ears of his are gently tilted back. ]

[kenosnpcs]

Hm.

[ He wonders about that, perhaps. But with a nod to Gen, he gestures for them to step into the room adjacent from where they’d been waiting. It’s a door locked with magic, and Victor’s hand hovers over the handle. A teal light comes from his hand, and there’s a heavy click as the door unlocks. Clearly, this is the room that’s kept most secure.

Inside, it’s clearer why. This is a proper laboratory, and it’s also set up much more nicely than his previous one in the Below. That’s the benefit of being state sanctioned (/having a sugar daddy). There are tables set up for surgery with tools neatly set next to them, tables with mechanisms in the process of being worked on, but most strikingly, in the center of the room is a large pillar of glass filled with swirling teal light. It’s enclosed, but there’s a hatch to access it. This isn’t strictly relevant though, since he gestures to one of the tables for D. ]

Here. Get comfortable. [ literally impossible, but ] Gen will strap you in. It’s restraint for stability while I work.

[semicharmed]

[ Listen, everyone knew this was coming. Matt doesn't recognize the face at all, but his eyebrows do arch in revelation. The revelation in this case being oh no he's/they're hot.

Matt glances to Flat with a look of relief. He doesn't know a lot about Flat, really--he still considers them close to strangers--but he trusts what Flat said about humanity being important to him. The drive to preserve human beings as a group, it has to mean opposing Oblivion at least a little bit. And on a selfish level, if Matt's going to be tortured, he'd rather it be by someone he knows and likes. ]

Oh, ah--before I forget. [ Before he's too busy screaming and/or growing horns and/or turning into a patch of mushrooms. Matt pulls a slim leather sleeve from his bag and holds it out to Aetós. ] The notes I took about Oblivion. It's not a lot, like I said ... but for what it's worth.

[ Inside the sleeve are a few notebook pages, their text copied with care to write neatly. Matt has also included a drawing of the spell diagram he used to detain the shadow Tezcatlipoca interrogated. ]

[escardos]

What’s so surprising, Matt, does he have something on his face?

[ though observant, flat reaches a rather unconventional conclusion— as per usual.

even with the experiment about to start, the young man is… well, still not any different. still upbeat, still energetic, still— ]

Hey, I wanna see that, too!

[ —extremely curious. he swipes the papers from matt’s hand, turning his back on both mages. he takes about 30 seconds to go through them for information, memorizing them in their necessary files. once he’s done, he turns back towards aetós, all papers in hand— ]

Got it! Here you go, sir! [ and, turning back towards matt with a bright grin: ] Thanks!

[kenosnpcs]

[ Victor’s dull expression does brighten very slightly when Matt offers the information, so it seems there are some things that interest him. However, when Flat just snatches it out as he’s about to reach for it, he sighs. Maybe there’s just a little bit of an eyeroll too. ]

Thank you. [ To Matt, while Flat is doing his speedreading. ] I’ll review it… Hm. After, I suppose. Unless you think there’s anything pertinent now.

[ He takes the papers when Flat offers them with a bit of a withering look, but doesn’t actually scold him otherwise. There’s an impression that he (correctly) feels like it would be a waste of time. So, he nods, and off into the lab they go. ]