ximilia | text ↪ un: 朱

（ there are a variety of reasons he has resisted making this announcement, chiefly among them that he is as fiercely protective of viveca's privacy as he is his own — however, he is keenly aware that such desire does not follow a pragmatic path. viveca must have known that sending them to this world would make her history impossible to conceal. his own tendency to withhold information from others needs to be set aside if they have any hope of bettering this — her — world.

he has spoken on the matter to a few people, those he trusts more than not — but his conversation with sam has resulted in the realization that if viveca is... upset at others learning the truth of her nature, she may as well be so with him. at least he can control the narrative, and stave off attempts at ferreting out further information about her.

thus, his delivery is entirely without embellishment — ）

E-23b is Viveca's world of origin. Those of you who have spoken with her on the matter may recall her propensity to say that she built herself — it seems she was human, and as such had a hand in the design of her digital parameters. She is the daughter of the Mayor, Jacques Reman and his wife Alexandra — with whom I have spoken directly — and was the original leader of the Fables known by the animal moniker 'Fox'.

I will not speculate on the circumstances that resulted in her being as we know her, nor explain my certainty — do not ask.

Sam Wilson is currently speaking with the Hare, confirmed to be Callan de la Cruz, and he is the source of our learning of Viveca's identity as the Fox. Presently, he appears to be an ally, and Viveca seemed to trust him — it was the symbol of the revolution that she gave Sam that sparked their conversation. If anyone can think of any information that may be pertinent to our efforts and possibly known by the Hare, please direct your queries to Sam. He is in an unknown location, and his ability to return communication is limited due to the nature of his situation. I do not believe him to be in any amount of danger, however — I would suggest that you respect both his time and his discretion in this.

（ the message ends there, for a time. some moments later, he amends it: ）

Collectively, we owe Viveca a great debt. I cannot think of better repayment than helping her home in a way that she can be proud of.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

so we're revolutionaries now?

If that is what you believe I am saying, you should reconsider my words.

（ it's never so black and white. helping does not mean allying themselves unnecessarily with anyone. it can be as simple as a single act of kindness.

he is learning that such things have an echo. ）

maybe i wouldn't have to reconsider your words if you just spoke frankly instead of alluding to things and hoping people understand and then insulting their intelligence when they misread between your very thin lines

（ the only reaction he has to that response is to faintly raise an eyebrow. she is identifiably lashing out, and he is more curious than any manner of upset or offended. it isn't as if he's ignorant of how exacting he is, nor that he lacks awareness of the fact his communication skills are not always perfectly adept. ）

If you feel I've insulted your intelligence, I apologize. Misunderstandings can arise for any number of reasons.

[ ah "sorry if you felt offended" non-apology. a classic. ]

whatever
just say what you really mean

Is there something beyond a lack of clarity I have done to upset you?

[ she almost tells him to forget about it...

but the thought to text thing is a finicky little thing, isn't it? ]

were you ever going to tell me you were taken away?

（ ah. ）

No.

It was not relevant.

these earpieces must be glitching
because i don't think that word means the same to you as it does to me

Are you concerned for me?

let me guess
you're super capable
or the mission is more important
or we don't even know each other that well
so it's a waste of my time?

（ he senses this is a delicate thing to navigate and moreover, perhaps, that it is something he has never especially needed to before. ）

Whether it is a waste of time or not depends upon your own consideration of the matter. I cannot answer for you.

（ but it does make him cautious. ）

Clarice. It does not occur to me to disclose such situations to others. This is my work, and my life. I am accustomed to danger.

（ he does not like saying that. it sounds like something couched in arrogance — but it is easier to say than the fact he has simply been alone in life-or-death situations so long that being in one of the camps has not so much as hit his lowest threshold of concern for his own wellbeing. ）

yeah, i'm also used to being alone
things change

[ but this feels like an uphill battle either way. ]

so if you weren't suggesting we side with the fables, what were you saying?

（ he's just not going to touch on that first part, thank you.

instead — ）

This planet is dying. Without an orb's interference, it may well be too late to change its fate. With an orb's interference, the cost will be unknowably steep.

I believe that some of us, inevitably, will wish to side with the Fables. Their cause — such that we've seen of it — appears to be just. Viveca has clearly retained some measure of faith in them.

But it does not take a revolution to leave this world a little better than we have found it.

（ he knows it's — preachy. but doing good is still so new to him he isn't quite sure how to go about it. words have power, so he has decided to start there. ）

[ yeah, don't think she doesn't notice that.

and — nice as his words are, they're still only just pretty. just a hint, just an implication. nothing concrete. not even a seed but the soil to put your own in, that you still have to water and tend to to grow. ]

and you?
what'll you be doing?

Well.

I am not in a labour camp for nothing.

multitasking as usual

[ this would be the part where she tells him to be careful, but she feels silly for even thinking it. ]

thanks for the info

Do you feel... better? For having had this conversation.

[ no. ]

i'm not really sure what you're asking me right now

You are concerned for me.

It lead to your lashing out. You have deemed my lack of communication as a sign I do not value your regard.

I am asking if this conversation has allayed that concern.

（ he's fuckin' great at this communication thing. ）

[ . . . ]

should it have?
all i got from it is that it's not so much you don't value my regard
but that you didn't even consider it
or anyone else's
because you're used to putting your life on the line
or throwing it away for a goal

tell me where in all of that i was supposed to feel better

（ hm. ）

I see.

I apologize.

It was my intention to convey that I am unaccustomed to... needing to account for such a thing in others.

It does not mean I am incapable of such communication. Only that it is not an immediate prerogative.

I will attempt to take your feelings into account in the future.

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