IC Inbox

[tergiversant]

[The message that plays when you receive Rufus Barma's inbox is simple, curt, and almost annoyed to have to do this.]

Be succinct.





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Comments

[velveteened]

( it's something else entirely that makes his own eyes narrow. )

Not at all. If it's not valuable information, you don't want to hear it — isn't that right?

[tergiversant]

Perhaps. [Not at all. He had found in many years that all knowledge had its value, all trivia had its place, often in the most unexpected ways. But for Oz to neglect a detail he'd already revealed, their first meeting no less... The unlovable brat was hardly off his game, as much as...]

What Oz Vessalius neglects to mention may be so commonplace as stones in the ground. [He closes his fan and sets it in his lap.] But what he doth not wish to say? That hath value to mine ear.

[velveteened]

Its value should be worth your cooperation, so long as you're here. ( picks and chooses his words carefully, knowing their weight ) Frankly, I don't trust you at all, and there's no reason for either of us to be loyal to one another. But bringing the conflict between the Baskervilles and Pandora here benefits no one — and that includes you.

( one show of cards for another, perhaps, though the greater of oz's is yet to come — almost promised, now. )

1/2

[tergiversant]

[For what it is worth, it gives Barma a pause. He stills, almost entirely motionless to consider Oz.]

[tergiversant]

Very well. As long as both thee and thine companions [The emphasis is subtle, barely even a rise in his tone.] wish it, I shall work towards thy goal.

But be it clear, is it survival or triumph that ye seek?

[velveteened]

( he — exhales at the question, and what's ironic is that were barma any of a number of other people (those who care) he wouldn't respond as he does.

because there's less a flicker of something wry in oz's expression than something that lingers, deep-rooted, and his posture becomes more brittle than straight. )

It's both. Victory would be impossible without survival, of course.

[tergiversant]

[Neither the posture nor the curious phrasing was missed.]

Then, we have an accord.

[velveteened]

( that's one thing settled, at least. )

Good.

( there's the matter of oz holding up his end, now, and he realizes it; seems to make his pause now seem especially obvious. )

[tergiversant]

[Unfortunately, Barma is not exactly one to make these things easy. As the pause stretches out, he simply raises an eyebrow and trades his fan for his tablet, opening it with a practiced swipe.]

I imagine thine tea is becoming tepid.

[velveteened]

( oz shoots him a dry look, mostly directed at the tablet. )

Am I interrupting something?

[tergiversant]

[A single gloved hand raises to motion the sentiment away. He doesn't look up.]

If thou art to hesitate, tis best if only one our times art wasted.

1/2

[velveteened]

( AND THEN THERE'S THIS ASSHOLE )

[velveteened]

( it'd be exceedingly, exceedingly obvious — more than he has been already — to offer the information written or at another time, so

well

he gets on with it. )

When the United Earth destroyed Exsilium, it wasn't a random attack. Probably, something like that had been planned for a while...but to do it at that time, was in retaliation for something. A counter-attack on the part of the people here.

[tergiversant]

[He sets the tablet back on his lap, folding his hands over it.]

A counter-attack? So something wert so severe those in this organization felt it necessary to throw caution aside?

[velveteened]

( oz isn't sure if it's better or worse that barma's visibly paying attention now. )

That's right. I never found out how many it was, exactly, but the UE had kidnapped a lot of Transports — ( assumes barma's heard the term by now and doesn't pause to elaborate ) — and so there was a rescue operation.

[tergiversant]

[It took little time at all... a group he'd already said took no allies, needed no assistance, taking hostages. It didn't matter where and how they struck back.

... The question was, was it actually a counter-attack, or did they now have, from one of the kidnapped, what they needed? And no longer needed to tolerate a troublesome neighbor.]

I assume thou hast not been so foolish as to tell them anything of our world.

[He certainly had not missed the Initiative's description of the UE's goals or their ultimate threat.]

[velveteened]

Of course not. ( sharply. ) Though — they weren't asking questions, exactly.

( it's less a matter of slipping into an implicit admission and more a matter of consciously doing so. )

They had scientists, not interrogators. The idea was to learn about the Initiative's 'special trump cards' ( not without some irony, ) being used against them. And — if possible, to replicate any special abilities.

[tergiversant]

Science, again.

[The fundaments of that arcane art still eluded him, no matter how much he read on it. A situation of information can be countered by misinformation. But science? He had no idea what science could do.

Had but one person been here, he might not have cared so much... or in all actuality, only reluctantly seen fit to care after she did. But she was bedridded of the injuries he, himself, gave her and in no position to be the last competent member of Pandora.

His tone is sharp, urgent.]

Dost thou know what they hath learned of you?

[velveteened]

No.

( it's as cold and brittle as a lake frosted over, an admission made to his hands with lowered eyes even if it's a blatant show of weakness in every sense to someone he'd admitted only moments ago he doesn't and can't trust. )

It was only a matter of days, though — not nearly long enough to understand something like B. Rabbit, let alone replicate it.

( which is another admission, even if he doesn't realize it. )

[tergiversant]

Oz.

[It is simple and direct, not referring to him in third person, by 'his' chain or even Child of Vessalius. Direct and far more familiar than Barma seems to ever be.]

Unless thou hast killed every man and woman there and burned it to the ground, they hath had more than two days.

...

We hath a target of attack, then. Erasure of the events or program.

[velveteened]

( he's started into looking up by the direct address, finds himself listening closely to that answer. )

No — 

( there's almost an "of course not," except there was the matter of his own anger, of b rabbit's, at the indignities; the moment of freedom b rabbit had before whatever they did interfered. but it's been months since then and such easy talk of murder, no matter that it isn't unjustified, is sincerely enough to make him recoil. )

I haven't.

( but barma's right, of course, that they've had all this time to work; and he's only saying what oz knows already, and hadn't chrono mentioned something of the sort not long after their rescue and escape to the moon? haven't others? he still doesn't like the idea of such a change to the past, so immediate to all of them and touching closer to tales of illegal contractors, but what else is there to be done?

he swallows and seems to consider saying something but, instead, nods. )

[tergiversant]

[Answered many questions and opened many more about Jack and the peculiar situation here. For now, it was a lesser concern. The still innocent reaction was good enough for now.

His stark and obvious attention drifts away from Oz, as he takes the lazier stance he keeps as a custom.]

I will wish thy best accounting of the details sent to me. Take thy time, even the smallest hath potential.

I will begin mine research in the mean time.

[velveteened]

( there's the space of a breath, and then he nods again. )

Alright. ( he exhales a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, then drinks some of the much cooled tea. ) I'm sure you know how to contact me on the tablets by now.

( that's all there is to say, really, so he stands and only then corrects, offhandedly —  )

Four days.

[tergiversant]

[He raises an eyebrow, but accepts the correction.]

An impressive feat of theirs.

I do wonder if their means of suppression could be grasped.

[velveteened]

( that is not at all ominous. )

Ah, ( he says, and it's bright again. ) You should be careful where you say that — you wouldn't want people to get the wrong idea, right?

( and, with that, moves to leave. )