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]

What a shocker. Honestly having had to go to those kinds of balls, I think you'd be exactly what's needed to liven up the place.

Seriously? Yeesh. That would explain the weird looks I've been getting. Honestly, I just thought it was the usual weird looks I get in general. Didn't know they were thinking 'oh I wonder what I can do with his blood' because why would I?

Yuri and Flynn managed to keep some of it- there was definitely ink in it, it's not perfect, but it was enough to study.

I've been feeling kinda weird, but I'd say it's sharper for me. More...paranoid, I guess? Though I've been seeing some weird stuff.
Hah you're right, Emerald would love it.

...You doing okay?

[She tends to brush herself and move forward, seeing her...yearning is a touch worrying. ]

[threelayers]

Oh, I have a few stories about wrecking them.
Maybe I'll share one or two down the road, hahaha.
Usually I just spy in them these days.

Well, they seem to treat it almost like it's a currency.
It really changes the whole idea of a blood bank, doesn't it?
Donate to the blood bank to earn street cred, hah.

I've actually been fine, more than fine I promise.
It's kind of odd, but the shadows almost seem to blend around me and I can just sit and watch for trouble.
Great for being on patrols if you ask me.
Don't need anyone for backup, like old times.

...

Ok, I'll admit it.
I miss her, a lot.
It's been longer than a month now and my apartment feels lonely.
I'm doing alright, but I've been thinking about her and Roman lately.
But that's normal.

[Right...? Normal, right?]

[droptheious]

You know, I'd actually really enjoy hearing them. Fancy balls are so boring.

I'm not really experienced in blood banks aside from what Eddie explained to me, but yeah I guess it is. I've been using my alchemy as currency here- people will give up just about anything for a well-made chemical bomb, it turns out.

Oh wow, that's spooky. I'm glad things are a little easier on you this month, at least. Enjoy your spooky shadow adventures.

I'd say so, yeah. They are people who mean the world to you, it makes sense you'd be missing them. Especially when you're starting a literal new life. I've been thinking about the people I left behind, too. Or...the people who didn't make it across. Like Adam and Amara.

[threelayers]

Hah, I'm definitely telling you the first fancy party I screwed up sometime soon.
It was a riot.

[He would be getting the annotated version, though, since it came with a lot of painful childhood memories of her fucked up mafioso family.]

Seems like folks are willing to do trades for a lot of things.
And there's a lot of "As long as you're pulling your weight" spit and handshaking if it's normal stuff.
The blood's just for that not so normal stuff if I understand right.

Hey now, I'm not spooky when I'm stalking all of you from the shadows.
Ok, I absolutely am, and I know it.
And exactly, it's normal to miss them.

[Just... not this much, even for her.]

[droptheious]

I'm holding you to that one, Neo.

[He can accept that, he knows more than enough when it comes to painful childhood memories and trying to avoid them. ]

I've noticed that- been getting good supplies for my alchemy. But yeah, that how I'm understanding it, too.

Neo, that is the actual definition of being spooky. [Neo, please.] There you go. But if it gets... I don't know, more? Or you just want someone to talk to, you know you can always come to me, right?

[threelayers]

As long as you're making crap for people with the herbs?
They'll probably be plenty happy to send you more so that they get more alchemical goods.

But I'm pink!
Pink things aren't spooky!
They're creepy!

I'll remember you're here, don't worry.

[droptheious]

That's something, I'll take it. There's five people to feed in this house, we need all the help we can get.

Oh, my deepest apologies.

Neo, that is the actual definition of being creepy.

And good, don't deal with this alone.

[threelayers]

Hah, you're starting to collect all the strays, Varian.
If you're not careful, you're going to be the crazy cat lady before me!
And I'm the one with the actual cat for an omen.

Yeah, I know.
It's a little hard to get my mind wrapped around the "Working together" thing.
I've never been especially good at it, outside of a fight.
But I'll try.

Give me a holler if you need anything.

[droptheious]

I guess I am. It makes the house more interesting at least. More people to badger me into having a semi-normal eating and sleeping schedule. But no cats yet! Only a matter of time before someone ends up living here with one though. We've still got some spare rooms.

The fact you're willing to try matters a lot. It's a big first step!

Will do. Thanks, Neo