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]

Often they were just a trap to get us all in one place before something awful happened. Like having a prom ghost try to set everyone on fire or being stuck in an endless time loop or being drafted into a literal war.

[Varian's been to the best parties. He heaves out a sigh, rubbing his face with a hand.]

Yeeeeah, I know. I've been struggling with sleep since I got here.

[thinkfirst]

[ Well, that... puts the rest of the damper on Flynn's excitement about the party, at least for now. He sort of visibly wilts before catching himself and clearing his throat. ]

What a horrifying thing to do. And multiple times, it sounds like? Every time?

[droptheious]

[Sorry, buddy, Deerington parties are The Worst. ]

Multiple times. The only parties that didn't end badly were the ones Sleepers organised themselves. If you ever get a mysterious invite from nowhere to a party... well, I'd say ignore it, but those things usually compel you to go anyway.

[thinkfirst]

Compel?

[ Why is this only more horrifying the more Varian explains about it! Flynn doesn't like the sound of that at all. ]

This parade seems to serve a protective function, but I'll certainly be on my guard for anything that seems... overly-compelling.

[droptheious]

Compel. Like you might not have considered going at all, but as time goes on and on, you start to think it's a good idea- even if you know it's not- and eventually you can't resist going.

[Varian is not a partygoer at all, and that's how it usually got him.]

I would. And be careful what you eat! Sometimes the food in the Dream was drugged to create...weird effects on people. Emotional changes, physiological alterations, anything, really. A good rule of thumb is to watch someone else eat something first, and if nothing weird happens to them, then you know it's pretty safe to eat.

[thinkfirst]

I can't do that!

[ IMMEDIATE PROTEST, Varian!! ]

It would be incredibly wrong to let someone else take the hit for me in that way! If neither food nor parties can be trusted, surely the best idea is simply... not to partake.

[droptheious]

[Oh. Right. Morals. ]

Well, some people are gonna eat it anyway, even if you tell them it's probably laced. And if you're compelled to go there...well, you're kinda stuck there. It's never killed anyone, anyway.

...

Probably? Pretty sure it's not.

[thinkfirst]

That is not very reassuring, Varian.

[droptheious]

I can tell you in a chipper musical number if you'd prefer.

[thinkfirst]

I am not at all certain that would help.

[droptheious]

Probably not. Anyway, the moral of the story is, avoid parties as much as possible.

[thinkfirst]

Understood.

[ Spoken like a true soldier, even if... Flynn is definitely frowning at the fact that he can't go to the party without worrying. ]

Please try to get some rest, alright? In exchange.

[droptheious]

[Sorry, Flynn- here's Varian being the ultimate party pooper. Ruining parties he isn't even attending! ]

Hah, I'll do my best to get on that. Much as this place will let me, anyway.