(8:29:22 PM) ***Claire seeks out the highly intelligent scientific mind that more than a few people suspect isn't just tinged with madness; it bathes in it.
(8:29:34 PM) Claire: Then after she makes sure Alexa is alright, she sets off to find Doc, instead.
(8:40:20 PM) Ikiryo: She soon hears the sound of laughter comming from one of the spare labs...
(8:41:17 PM) ***Claire heads that way, tracing the sound. She'd long since left Tisiphone to her own devices, figuring the green-haired Claire-copy was enjoying being big again.
(8:43:08 PM) Ikiryo: Judging by the fact that last Claire saw her she was playing about with Claire's wardrobe, yes. The laughter grows louder as she approaches the lab, a few flashes of light from within being sighted...
(8:44:15 PM) Claire: She hesitates just outside the door. "...Doc? Who are you snapping photos of in there?"
(8:46:36 PM) Ikiryo: "Huh?" The laughter stops. "What? No? I'm catching up on myrmidon wars. I DID miss a good chunk of time."
(8:47:44 PM) Claire: "Oh." Seeing nothing wrong with this, Claire enters through the doorway. "Mind if I watch with you?"
(8:48:18 PM) Ikiryo: "Sure thing. Have you reached season three yet?"
(8:48:30 PM) Ikiryo: She's lazing on top of a bench like it's a bed.
(8:51:08 PM) Claire: "Uh..." She thinks as she steps over to stand near Desdemona. "I...don't think so? There's really only what I've seen at Theia and Nike's place. I think that was just one and two."
(8:55:14 PM) Ikiryo: "Three started a few weeks ago. It's the one with Lady Yvenne and Sephia brought in, as the TSAB needs to call in an evil greater than itself. Belkans."
(8:56:19 PM) Claire: "No way," she grins. "They actually got the two for the parts, right?"
(8:57:26 PM) Ikiryo: "They definetly got Yvenne." She nods. "So far she's kidnapped Theia and is dressing her up." Sounds like Yvenne.
(8:58:18 PM) Claire: "Poor Theia, she always wanted a more impressive part. On the other hand it sounds like they just, y'know...caught Miss Yvenne in her natural habitat."
(8:58:56 PM) Ikiryo: "Just a little." She slides to the side to let Claire sit down.
(8:59:24 PM) ***Claire plops down next to her. "How far through the season are you?"
(8:59:44 PM) Ikiryo: "Episode two. I could go back one if you want."
(9:00:21 PM) Claire: "That's fine, I'll catch up when we get back to Mid."
(9:02:07 PM) Ikiryo: She grins. "So, how are you?"
(9:04:31 PM) ***Claire blows out a long sigh as she makes herself comfortable. "I've...had better spans of a few days," she admits. "I didn't mind coming out here to help friends in Asalah and Nasira, but...there was WAY too much stuff I didn't understand on the other side of that portal. None of us understood it. And now, well..." She gestures to herself and shrugs.
(9:05:41 PM) Ikiryo: "Might have worked better if you'd gestured at Tisiphone." Her grin becomes a smirk.
(9:08:00 PM) Claire: "Well, she's doing her own thing. Plus I didn't get out unscathed; there's some...weird mind stuff going on with us." Her cheeks tinge a bit at that. "I think she's happy being normal-sized, though, which is...well, her being happy is important. She kind of...didn't take it well when we learned Indra is still alive."
(9:08:51 PM) Ikiryo: Desdemona's face clouds over. "None...none of us did."
(9:10:42 PM) Claire: "We'll get her back." She grabs one of Desdemona's hands in both of hers and squeezes it, voice full of earnest confidence. "I know we will. Look at the crazy things that we've all already pulled through...like Miss Athena and--how's the work going with Hecate, by the way?"
(9:17:26 PM) Ikiryo: "Oh...right. She's up on the ship!"
(9:17:49 PM) ***Claire blinks. "...Really? As--Hecate's alright? Like, alive?"
(9:19:28 PM) Ikiryo: She nods. "I am NOT letting my dad ruin another life." Her voice is hard.
(9:22:00 PM) ***Claire perhaps surprises Desdemona with a solid hug, throwing her arms around the other woman's neck. "He can't anymore, Doc...and you're just amazing for all you've done."
(9:22:50 PM) Ikiryo: She hugs back. "Still...he was my dad. I need to make up for all he's ruined...and Hecate was a good start. She doesn't deserve to be unhappy."
(9:25:28 PM) Claire: "Not at all. Um...can she come down? Some time, I mean, not right now, we have a show to watch. I just owe her some promises." She lets go and sits back. "How's Miss Athena overall? We met a...fork, I think she called herself. A split-off copy or something."
(9:27:43 PM) Ikiryo: "I...sort of fixed her." She shakes her head. "It's not the same."
(9:28:31 PM) Claire: "You've got plenty of time to figure it out, though. I know you'll manage it some day."
(9:29:27 PM) Ikiryo: "Her current situation is less hive mind than before. She can split off copies and join them up again to share experiances but she doens't know everything another her knows right now."
(9:34:35 PM) ***Claire nods. "Now that you mention it, that's I think exactly what she told us, too. Probably you could just put in the same stuff to make calls from here to Hyperion, though, to let her be a little more, y'know, real-time, right?"
(9:37:43 PM) Ikiryo: "I was on my way to install a system for that on mid-childa...part of a deal with the TSAB."
(9:39:31 PM) ***Claire cocks her head to the side. "What sort of deal? Or is that above my pay grade?"
(9:41:44 PM) Ikiryo: She shakes her head. "They want Hecate on-planet. She's a mage, even if she doesn't understand it. That and they seem rather terrified of the idea of her...even if she's not likely to kill herself with her new body."
(9:44:03 PM) ***Claire smiles a little at learning of another new local friend. "She's still got the LAC built in somehow, then? I mean, if so, I can't really blame them, but I thought she had to be plugged into those reactors to use it."
(9:45:39 PM) Ikiryo: "No, no. That's gone from her new form." She pauses. "Mostly."
(9:47:56 PM) ***Claire quirks an eyebrow at that. "'Mostly?'" she echoes.
(9:49:02 PM) Ikiryo: "...she might have a severely toned down version I was tinkering with." She looks guilty.
(9:50:12 PM) ***Claire giggles. "I wouldn't believe you were involved in helping her otherwise, Doc~"
(9:51:13 PM) Ikiryo: "It's got safeties to prevent her using it to hurt people." She pouts.
(9:52:11 PM) Claire: "You don't have to justify anything to me!" She nudges Desdemona's shoulder. "So...why is the Bureau so terrified of her? Is it the same ones at the top who might have been in on this whole conspiracy thing with Caledfwlch and Atalanta Alpha and them?"
(9:55:07 PM) Ikiryo: She nods. "That and the same reasons they want to keep MY Atalantas. Magic potential."
(9:57:01 PM) Claire: It's Claire's turn to pout. "I don't want you to take my Epsilon away though..."
(9:58:18 PM) Ikiryo: "And I don't want the TSAB to take her away either~" She taps Claire's nose. "You excepted."
(9:59:48 PM) ***Claire flips that frown upside-down, grinning. "Yay~ Anyway, um...I'm glad to hear Hecate's alright. Honestly, I thought it would take a LONG time to get her better. Like how long it's taken Henrietta."
(10:00:59 PM) Ikiryo: "Well, I don't know Henrietta's systems...I know what my dad does when he makes things."
(10:04:01 PM) Claire: "Fair enough. Also Miss Sephia and Miss Yvenne have been shepherding Henrietta's code while it heals, and I know Miss Sephia's smart as a whip, so I'm not sure it could go any faster. Still, I'm looking forward to her waking up again."
(10:06:37 PM) Ikiryo: "Mmm...Miss Sephia with a whip...that's an image~" She sticks her tongue out at Claire.
(10:07:16 PM) ***Claire giggles. "You know, she probably does know how to use one. Just not in the fun way. How else do you think she keeps Miss Yvenne in line?"
(10:08:12 PM) Ikiryo: "That's not an argument against it being the fun way~"
(10:09:00 PM) Claire: She laughs again.
(10:10:20 PM) Ikiryo: "Am I wrong?~"
(10:10:50 PM) ***Claire shakes her head. Calming down after a moment, she leans her head against Desdemona's shoulder. "You know, while you're gone, I miss you. I know Hyperion is home and all, but you're a really cool person and I'm glad we had the chance to get to know you."
(10:12:09 PM) Ikiryo: "...thanks." She smiles. "I mean that."
(10:15:53 PM) Claire: "I mean it too~" She returns the smile. "So. We have a season to watch, yes?"
(10:17:21 PM) Ikiryo: "Oh, yes." She grins. "Episode two was starting off with a throw down between Sephia and Achilles. I think the TSAB and Hyperion lost a few battleships in the background due to the fight if the animation is right~"
(10:18:24 PM) ***Claire giggles. "Couple of invincible juggernauts, there's bound to be catastrophic collateral damage."
(10:19:59 PM) Ikiryo: "A little~"
(10:21:15 PM) Ikiryo: Sadly the entire season isn't out but the pair watch a good few episodes, Desdemona clearly enjoying Claire's company.
(10:23:30 PM) Claire: When the final episode draws to a close, Claire stretches from her spot leaning against Desdemona, then rises from the lounge. "It's been fun, Doc, but I should go be a responsible cadet for a bit and see if the people who asked us out here need any more help. If you want, I last saw Tis in my room here; she was diving through my closet."
(10:26:15 PM) Ikiryo: "I suppose she likes not having to raid dollhouses now~" She nods. "I'll be sure to send some...we'll call them clothes...over for her."
(10:28:29 PM) Claire: "That doesn't sound ominous at all," she teases with a wink. "But thanks. You're a lifesaver in many ways~" With a wave, she twirls, heading out of the room and composing a message. [To: Nasira, Asalah - Hello, ladies. How are things going? Need any help?]
(10:29:20 PM) Ikiryo: [From: Nasira - Just taking care of the Djinni!]
(10:29:44 PM) Ikiryo: [From: Asalah - I'm arguing with the TSAB. They want to send a cruiser over.]
(10:30:22 PM) Claire: [And we...don't want that? Also, Nasira, does this one have a flamethrower?]
(10:31:46 PM) Ikiryo: [From: Nasira - Nope~]
(10:32:35 PM) Ikiryo: [From: Asalah - Because they are trying to get this place declared Lost Logia and take control of it. I'm possessive.]
(10:36:48 PM) The account has disconnected and you are no longer in this chat. You will automatically rejoin the chat when the account reconnects.
(11:05:46 PM) CelestialDoggie [[email protected]] entered the room.
(11:06:00 PM) You are now known as Claire
(11:06:20 PM) Claire: [Ah. Well, given what we found over there...]
(11:07:23 PM) Ikiryo: [From: Asalah - It's still my site. I'm not getting tossed out of yet another base I'm supposed to be in charge of.]
(11:10:25 PM) Claire: [Alright, fair...maybe whomever's being sent is reasonable.]
(11:11:26 PM) Ikiryo: [From: Asalah - I doubt it. Anyway, I better get back to arguing.]
(11:12:34 PM) Claire: [Good luck.] Well, that's two more down. She goes through a mental list of people she might know who would be down here...
(11:14:13 PM) Ikiryo: Nasira is working on her Djinni and Medraut is likely about somewhere.
(11:15:34 PM) Claire: Ah, yes, Medraut. Another one she'd like to find. Changing directions, Claire heads outside and takes to the air, looking for elevated spots for the redhead to be found brooding on...
(11:16:38 PM) Ikiryo: She spots her sitting under a tree, the jaguar cub in her lap as she feeds it roast beef.
(11:20:43 PM) ***Claire touches down nearby, dismissing her spell. "Hey, Medraut," she calls. "How are you doing?"
(11:21:34 PM) Ikiryo: She looks up, the very large kitten mewling as she stops feeding it for a moment. "...beyond keeping my eyes out for odd plants?"
(11:31:24 PM) Claire: "Yes," she answers, smiling slightly as she gets close, taking a seat with respect to Medraut's personal space. "And other strange Belkans and their bizarre ancient artifacts."
(11:31:58 PM) Ikiryo: She pets the cat gently. "I'm tired."
(11:33:05 PM) ***Claire watches her for a moment. "More than just needing to go take a nap, I take it."
(11:34:59 PM) Ikiryo: She nods. "I...I don't want to keep looking after the runes but there isn't anyone else who knows how."
(11:43:23 PM) Claire: "You mentioned, back in the crystal city there..." Pursing her lips, she thinks for a moment. "What are the runes for? Aside from 'We always maintained them,' or something like that. What do they do?"
(11:44:31 PM) Ikiryo: "They keep the worms away and they keep our home hidden...some of the keep the water pure."
(11:48:02 PM) Claire: "Would you...accept help, if it meant being able to step away for a bit? To be with other people and live your life?"
(11:48:55 PM) Ikiryo: "No one else knows the runes...I'd have to teach them...and it took me years." She sighs.
(11:50:26 PM) Claire: "I meant machinery," she says frankly. "Filters and pumps for the water. Passive camouflage to keep it hidden. That sort of thing. And when your fellow survivors are well enough to go home, all of it can be removed, in favor of using the runes."
(11:51:57 PM) Ikiryo: "...oh." She pauses. "I didn't think of that."
(11:53:49 PM) Claire: "Neither did I, honestly, until just now," Claire admits. "I guess I didn't even think about it because somewhere I'd assumed you'd be offended and just say no, but...I guess that just shows what happens when I assume, huh?"
(11:54:54 PM) Ikiryo: "...maybe if Tazzari offered. I still don't like her. She acts like she knows better than everyone and then ends up a plant."
(11:57:20 PM) ***Claire sighs heavily. "In fairness...it wasn't *entirely* her fault. And she *is* my friend and roommate. She means well...even if it's impossible to tell sometimes."
(11:58:30 PM) Ikiryo: "She still ended up a plant after telling me she knows better than I do." She gives a hint of a smile.
(8/15/2017 12:00:03 AM) Claire: "Well yes. I am *never* going to let her OR Alexa live that down. Tisiphone can confirm, I called that exactly that would happen."
(12:04:26 AM) Ikiryo: "...a few months ago, all I wanted was to make my dad proud. Now things are strange and everyone treats me like I'm an idiot just because I never learned about something they are talking about. Like that odd doctor lady talking about 'Moe' and 'nekomimi' when looking at me feeding her." She pets the jaguar cub.
(12:05:37 AM) Claire: "..." She quietly facepalms. "I don't even know what those mean but I can guess exactly who you're talking about. She IS a good doctor, though...if you wanted, she could probably undo the things Alexa did to you. Accidentally. Again."
(12:06:45 AM) Ikiryo: "...can I trust her more than Alexa? I don't trust Alexa not to do it again...or make me a plant."
(12:08:48 AM) ***Claire opens her mouth to answer positively...and then sighs. "I would love to say yes...I trust her with my life...but you're right. She's...odd. You might wake up back to normal but with bigger breasts."
(12:09:57 AM) Ikiryo: "...what?"
(12:10:30 AM) Claire: "I said might! It's not a guarantee."
(12:18:25 AM) Ikiryo: "...right." She looks very unsure about that.
(12:20:01 AM) Claire: "Yeah." She sighs again. "I guess...I could ask her, if you wanted. Or the worse option: leave everything as-is."
(12:20:08 AM) Claire: "At least, I assume you think it's the worse option."
(12:20:48 AM) Ikiryo: She nods. "I have weird skills in my head. Like dance."
(12:23:06 AM) Claire: "Dancing can be fun...but I can see not wanting it *put* in there. Saint-King knows, with me and Tis, I understand some of that."
(12:23:59 AM) Ikiryo: She raises an eyebrow.
(12:25:11 AM) Claire: "Long story with some weird crystal homunculus thing, but part of that involves apparently some...shared personality bits between us."
(12:25:41 AM) Ikiryo: "Like how she's now as big as you are?"
(12:27:09 AM) Claire: "That's the crystal body thing, yes." She nods. "Whatever....magic animates it, is also why she looks like me so much."
(12:27:47 AM) Ikiryo: "If I understood at all, I'd try to help...but I've never seen anything like it."
(12:28:58 AM) Claire: "Neither have we!" She grins. "It's okay though...for now, at least. Tis is enjoying being person-sized."
(12:29:46 AM) Ikiryo: "I suppose that would be new for her." She nods. "...I am sorry for being angry at you all so much. But...Alexa and Tazzari don't make it easy."
(12:31:09 AM) Claire: "No, it's okay, I understand. We barged in and more or less took away everything you had left after Caledfwlch and Atalanta Alpha and all them took away your people." She falls silent for a second. "...Honestly I don't think I'd have been able to keep it together as well as you have."
(12:33:14 AM) Ikiryo: "Still...I've not been honoring my family, acting like this." She shakes her head. "I'm just...I'm so tired."
(12:36:12 AM) Claire: "Well...we'll still be here for a few more days, I think. Get some rest. We can talk to Doc about trying to fix your head. If you decide she's trustworthy, I think she'll do a fantastic job. And we can have another chat about how to take care of your home." She reaches out to pet the kitten, then moves her hand to pat Medraut on the shoulder. "And I promise, I won't subject you to turning into a plant or throwing weird mind control machines at you."
(12:36:22 AM) Claire: >machines at you."
(12:37:25 AM) Ikiryo: "Alexa promiced the same thing." She smiles though.
(12:38:46 AM) Claire: "I'm not a Belkan, though~" she teases.
(12:39:07 AM) Ikiryo: She pouts at that. "I am."
(12:43:40 AM) Claire: Her teasing smile widens inexorably into a full grin. "So doesn't that mean I should be the one wary of you~?"
(12:44:52 AM) Ikiryo: "No, why would that be?" She looks suprised.