un: trienemybest; video

[droptheious]

[The video feed opens in Varian's creepy basement lab where health and safety regulations go to die. The boy himself isn't looking that great, his skin has a grey-ish tinge to it and he looks more exhausted than usual. But that's fine, he's fine. He turns the camera around to take in some sapphires on his workbench. Some are soaking in various chemical substances, some are under a microscope, some are in various steampunk-y machines: it's clear some testing has been going on. ]

So, Flynn was kind enough to give me some of the crystals that grew on his corpse during...whatever weird new thing death is here. [He doesn't sound as excited about this as his usual projects and anyone who knows about his deeply unfortunate past will know why.] I have experience in creepy, magical death rocks -no...no I'm not going to elaborate on that- so I decided to study them. They seem to be crystalising the actual cells of the body- so not just a separate coating. I also found traces of warmblood within the crystals themselves, which I think is what Flynn is? A-anyway, it seems they're working on a cellular level, like they're what jumpstarts the reversal of the cell degeneration after death- so- so it's possible they're what reverses then entire process.

Anyway, moral of the story is, they're probably super important in resurrecting people so maybe don't mess with the process when it's happening? Of course, without having any other samples to compare this to, it's all conjecture right now.

[A beat, he turns the camera back to himself, grimacing.]

Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. Please don't take that as encouragement to get yourselves killed in the name of science.

[Another beat, then he waves a hand airily.]

Thaaaaaat said, this is October, so statistically, there's a high chance that a not-insignificant portion of the population will be dead by the end of the month. So...if you wanna donate your death crystals for science then, that would be less...morally grey. Probably? Probably.

Comments

[droptheious]

I'm gonna hold you to that. Given your track record back in Deerington, you'd be a safe bet.

...

No offence. [Probably. ] You don't look so hot, Bud.

[azurestar]

Dude, my track record was still better than Vira's, that's gotta count for something. And maybe I'm turning over a new leaf in this stupid new life.

[He's definitely more defensive than he needs to be. And grouchy. But it's clearly not really directed at Varian.]

And neither do you, but I wasn't gonna point it out.

[droptheious]

Marginally better, Lance. And I really hope so, I think you've died enough for all of us at this point.

[He lets out a soft groan.]

Yes, I know. My housemates keep bugging me about it. I figured out how to get some sleep, but it's not doing a whole lot of good right now and I don't know why.

[azurestar]

She's got two whole deaths more than me. [Well, if he doesn't count the time he died before Deerington.] And it's not that big of a deal, anyway.

[Then he frowns with some concern poking through.]

What'd you do to finally fall asleep? And how long are you sleeping, for that matter? A full eight hours is the only way to get proper beauty rest, you know. Without it you just look, well, like you.

[droptheious]

Okay, wow. I'll bump you up from marginally to slightly. Does that work? And it is a big deal! It was a bad time!!

[Varian leans his head back groaning. Why do people care about his wellbeing? Why is he cursed with friendship? ]

Maul can do some sort of Force trick where he managed to slow my thoughts down enough that my brain could shut off long enough for me to sleep. I think I got about seven hours? [he exhales sharply, rubbing the back of his neck.] But I don't think it's working. I still feel kinda weird. But thanks, really love the compliment. It was like a hug with words.

[azurestar]

Look, when you can die and come back and live in a place that can kill you literally all the time, you can't think of every death as a huge deal. If you do you're just gonna end up constipated.

[He says it easily, but he really means it. Those things will pile on and fuck with you.]

Well there's your first problem: don't let Maul into your head. That guy's got serious issues. And hey, I can fix the way you look with a little concealer, but I'm the last guy to be giving sleep advice. Maybe ask Eddie, he's usually got ideas. Or if you wanna keep using the Force, I met Obi-Wan once, maybe the light side's got a nicer touch.

[droptheious]

I'm pretty sure brushing them off isn't all that healthy either, Bud.

[There lies a bad time, he's pretty sure of it. ]

He has, but he's not the only one. He probably had a worse time going into my head. [Varian's very aware his brain is not a fun place to be in.] I have more reason than most to not trust him, but he wants to do better and I have to have some faith in that. But yeah, Sailor Moon helped me out too- I'd rather not have to resort to...basically magic to help me sleep but nothing else is working, so-

[azurestar]

Who's brushing them off? I'm doing what's called "moving on" and "living for the moment."

[That's what he calls it, and he's trying… but what he does is probably way more unhealthy.]

Good luck with the faith thing, it's a good thing to hold on to around here. And getting dependent on magic sounds like bad news to me. If it's pain or emotional stuff keeping you up, I might be able to help you figure it out.

[droptheious]

...Yeah I'm pretty sure no one else would call it that.

[He does say it gently though- there's a lot of concern slipping into his tone.]

Not sure how long I can keep it up, it's not exactly something I'm...good at. But I do believe in redemption if people want it. [He kind of has to, or how can he explain himself?] I don't want to become reliant on magic either, I mean, you know it's not my favourite thing in the world ever.

[azurestar]

Eh, tomato tomahto.

[He hears that concern and it spooks him into more flippancy, sorry Varian.]

Yeah, that's a good thing to believe in. Just don't let your guard down too much, some people would take advantage of that. [There's a story there he's willing to tell if Varian wants to know some day.] Yeah, yeah, I know. You're you're science to the bone. [Yes, he says that in the cadence of the song 'bad to the bone'.] Must be driving you nuts to end up in a world that literally runs on magic.

[Is he amused as he says that last part? Maybe.]

[droptheious]

[Lance, why are you like this?]

I don't trust people easily- I believe in redemption, but I know to be careful. [Because hooo boy does he have a story too. One day they can share them, it'll be a great day. Tragically, the carefully and perfectly executed reference is lost on him. ] Well, yeah, by their very nature, bones are science, there's this thing called biology.

[He groans, catching that amusement.]

I hate it so much, it's the worst. It's so stupid.

[azurestar]

[Lance just sort of stares at Varian bleakly when he does not get the reference and then sighs before wordlessly sending him the song.]

You still got a lot to learn about modern humor, kid. And I dunno why you think it's all so stupid, but it's hilarious that it makes you so mad.

[droptheious]

[Give him a second while he listens to this song for the first time in his entire existence.]

Oh. You were referencing a song. [Said in the same way someone might say "oh, it's raining". ] And I'm glad my confusion from being over a hundred years behind everyone else gives you joy.

[Snark snark snark.]

Still. That was a pretty good song. What else does he play?

[azurestar]

Dude, I was talking about how magic makes you mad, aren't you supposed to be a genius?

[Teasing teasing. But he'll still answer the question.]

I dunno, he was kind of a one hit wonder.

[droptheious]

[WHINE WHINE BITCH WHINE.] Oh my god, you're just the worst.

...

I'm not quite sure what that means?

[azurestar]

[Can you tell he has a lot of siblings?] I think you mean the best.

And it means he made one song and then disappeared never to be seen again. Some people hundreds of years later claim they can hear 'bad to the bone' echoing from nowhere on long desert highways.

[droptheious]

[So very much. Varian was not prepared for this. ]

No, definitely the worst.

[He blinks. Lance this is so cruel. He's going to assume that's what this is. He doesn't know any better, bless his heart.]

...Didn't anyone think to go looking for a missing person? Or...did he just... die?

[azurestar]

[Lance smirks in an obnoxious smug way siblings do when they are more than ready to dig in and fight this battle.]

Best.

[Then he crosses his arms and shrugs.]

Well, if anyone did that or knew for sure then it wouldn't be a legend!

[droptheious]

It's...no, I really do mean worst.

[They are going to be here all day.]

...So they just. Let him vanish in the desert? To become a legend.

[azurestar]

Mejor.

[Yes, because saying it in Spanish makes it more true.]

Yep. Had to be done, it's tradition.

[droptheious]

I'm gonna ask Luz what that means later.

[So there!!!!]

That seems weird. But the entire future is weird so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[azurestar]

Oh come on, you're a genius, you can't take an educated guess?

[He snickers teasingly.]

You've got some weird traditions where you're from. Didn't people back in your time use to put pigs on trial in a human court for like chewing off arms and stuff and then hang them?

[droptheious]

It really could be anything, it could be weird future slang in Spanish as far as I know.

[For a genius, he sure does suck at not-dead languages! ]

Uhhhhh no? That's never happened. That's weird, Lance!

[...]

Though they did put that horse on trial once for trying to steal from the Crown. He went to a prison barge.

[Corona, why are you so fucking weird with horses???]

[azurestar]

[He snorts.] Yeah, you got me, it's crazy Spanish slang from the future.

[Well, can't be good at everything!]

See? That's even weirder than the pig thing! A horse can't even speak to defend itself at trial, it makes no sense!

[droptheious]

[He's going to genuinely believe Lance on this one. Until he asks Luz and probably butchers the pronunciation anyway. ]

Well, they might not be able to speak human words, but we can still understand them. A horse is the second in command of the royal guard back home. He outranks all put one human there.

[Seriously, Corona. Why aren't you invaded more?]