Audio. UN: Aleksander

[cruelyethuman]

[Sounding very much like himself, Aleksander addressesthe network after his most recent-- party]

I have had a very...disturbing conversation with one of the wives here. She mentioned that being sick or otherwise unable to complete the assigned tasks would, or could result in something unpleasant.

My first thought was the risk of dying and having one of those things turn up in your place. We were rudely interrupted and I didn't get a chance to ask any further.

The list Sabriel found. If any of you have been sick or absent, try not to be.

Comments

un: emilydyer

[medicative]

Is anyone currently ill and in need of care?

[because if it's risky to be such, then surely, to save them from greater harm...]

If they are, then help can be found and provided. I can move at night.

Audio

[cruelyethuman]

I don't know if anyone are sick, but there was something going around on the station before we left.

Are you offering your services?

[medicative]

I am. I can help with both physical injuries or illness, though I can't immediately cure an illness. But if someone needs to feign wellness, we can work with the symptoms.

[we, she says, already thinking about the others.]

[cruelyethuman]

I will be sure to mention you if I see anyone feeling under the weather. Emily, is it?

[medicative]

Yes, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Aleksander. But please, take care of yourself as well while you're looking out for other people.

audio; un: toxicodendron

[greenpower]

I had a very similar experience with someone at the speakeasy. He said that his son was sick and didn't heal quickly enough, so he was... replaced.

To keep up appearances, he said.

audio

[cruelyethuman]

Keep up appearances for whom, is the question. 'Replaced', what an awful word.

[greenpower]

Fuck if I know. The sun and the moon, apparently.

Which I guess makes sense, since they're both giant eyeballs or something.

[cruelyethuman]

If only we could fly up high enough to see it more clearly. Or, bring them down to us.

[His own symbol, the moon eclipsed.]

Or we wait, and see if any of us go missing.

[greenpower]

Where's a superhero when they'd actually be useful?

[Rhetorical.]

You don't think that seems a little coldblooded?

[cruelyethuman]

Hero is a matter of perspective.

[At least in Ravka, in all of his world - the only difference was who wrote the story.]

It is, but what choice do we have?

[greenpower]

Maybe, but it's a convenient way to describe a flying brick.

[Ivy sighs. It's not as though they need to argue the semantics.]

We could try to prevent them from getting snatched in the first place, though.

[cruelyethuman]

[He leaves the talk about heroes behind, and-]

For that to work, we all need to do our duty. Unless you have found a way to fight the sun and moon, because if you have, I am all ears.

Short of trying to blind them, I am all out of ideas.

[greenpower]

We could make sure they're never alone. Buddy system. No one saw whatshisname get grabbed—they're not going to kidnap someone in the middle of a crowd.

Are they?

audio; un: 苣屋

[dispassioned]

At our party the other night the mayor was careful to emphasize that it’s important for things here to run as smoothly as possible. She seemed to imply that we should be wary about taking on roles of responsibility in town because it will us more in the…public eye.

[Public "eye," get it.]

audio

[cruelyethuman]

She is suggesting that we do not stand out. That does present a unique way of pushing for move on behalf of whatever is replacing people here.

[dispassioned]

Not to stand out or not to mess up if we do.

[cruelyethuman]

That is a suggestion, yes. We hide and bide our time.

[or they take control of the narrative and make a spectacle...]

[dispassioned]

I think she meant it more as a warning, but you can do whatever you want.

[There could just be, you know, consequences.]

[audio, un: dr watson]

[hadbadays]

It almost makes it sound like she's trying to protect people.

[ Doesn't mean that's what it is, or that he trusts it, but it's not impossible. He's been thinking something along those lines. ]

[cruelyethuman]

What she might sound like, and what the truth really is, could be miles apart. She could be warning us, because resistance is futile.

[hadbadays]

Sure. She could be.

[ There's not much else to say. They don't know enough to be certain about exactly what's happening and what her motivations are. Whatever it is that's watching them, she could be working together with it. ]

Audio | UN: d.johnson

[morethan084]

You should test that out, see what happens.

Audio

[cruelyethuman]

Test what, exactly?

[morethan084]

Pretend to be sick, or don’t finish something you’re supposed to.

[cruelyethuman]

That sounds incredibly dangerous. Life-threatening, even.

[morethan084]

It does.

[Which is why she suggested he take one for the team.]

[cruelyethuman]

Are you suggesting that I risk my life, and, of course, the life of everyone in my family, Daisy? An entity, capable of keeping an eye on all of us, will surely target them as well.

[morethan084]

Sorry, I was under the impression that you didn't care about anyone but yourself.

[If there's one person she won't be sad to forget about, it's him.]

[cruelyethuman]

Yet, another thing you are wrong about. It must be tiring.

[morethan084]

No, you're right. There's one person you do care about.

The rest of us can die for all you care, right? As long as Alina is safe.

Not that she needs your help, or wants it for that matter.

[cruelyethuman]

[read ✔]

voice ↪ un: hicks

[preseance]

（ hope u like gettin' punched in the face with a southern drawl, aleks. ）

You reckon it's the sorta thing this lady could get in trouble for sayin' to you?

（ the fate of the collaborators never is far from his mind, no matter which side it was they were collaboratin' with. ）

audio

[cruelyethuman]

Perhaps. We were alone, with little chance of anyone overhearing her warning.

[preseance]

An' the sky's full'a giant eyeballs.

（ it's said a bit dryly. ）

Could be we're bein' watched to a greater degree than what's obvious.

[cruelyethuman]

Eye, not ear.

[As dry as the sand of the Fold right back]

We could be, but then again, we always are. Do you think the general population here is reporting back to something else, about our behavior?