Varian (
droptheious) wrote in
deernet2021-10-07 05:13 pm
un: trienemybest; video
[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.
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.

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[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-
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[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.
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[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.
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[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.]
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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.
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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.
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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?
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[Teasing teasing. But he'll still answer the question.]
I dunno, he was kind of a one hit wonder.
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...
I'm not quite sure what that means?
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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.
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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?
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Best.
[Then he crosses his arms and shrugs.]
Well, if anyone did that or knew for sure then it wouldn't be a legend!
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[They are going to be here all day.]
...So they just. Let him vanish in the desert? To become a legend.
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[Yes, because saying it in Spanish makes it more true.]
Yep. Had to be done, it's tradition.
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[So there!!!!]
That seems weird. But the entire future is weird so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
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[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?
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[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???]
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[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!
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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?]
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…Varian. That's even weirder.
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...I think Shiro mentioned Slav. His eye got all twitchy about him.
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Oh yeah, his eye only twitches like that when Slav is brought up. Me, Shiro and Pidge rescued Slav from a Galra prison, pretty sure I've never seen Shiro blow a fuse like that since.
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[Fern is literally made of grass and was formed from two swords but apparently, candy people is where Varian's line is. ]
I don't think I can even imagine Shiro blowing a fuse. Like...repressing bad feelings? Sure. He does that all the time. But flipping out? Slav must have been awful.
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