outer_divide | [Video] Week 37

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[Video] Week 37 - Tuesday Evening

[Hi there people of Verdana. There is a man with a dog, both trying to look especially harmless. In fact the dog's main purpose on the screen is to reassure everyone that Atticus really is nothing to worry about.]

Well this has been barrels of fun, huh? [He can't hide the slightly sheepish look, he's trying really hard to though. Publicly taking the blame for the whole... altered time reality thing isn't something he's really looking to do but he's gotta know how much of this is him and how much is... anyone else.

Someone had to screw up something along the way right? It wasn't just him.]

Just out of curiosity did... anyone [And there's just enough emphasis on it that someone remarkably perceptive might catch the quiet anyone else that is faintly implied by his tone.] do anything in particular that might have caused any of... well... time shenanigans? Not the traveling bit but the arriving part of the deal.

[Private to Belle]

Hey, I know you're probably busy with all the changes but can Oberon hang out with you for a couple days? I guess the lakes are still intact but I've gotta see it for myself.

((OOC: Fari warning! Genesis might be threadjacking periodically as she is staying with Atticus now and likely hovering nearby laughing at him.))

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[Christine didn't know what they were seeing, but she stayed still until Atticus moved forward. Then her body reacted before her mind and she stiffened completely. It was better than skittering back away from him, but she didn't like how she froze.

Swallowing hard, she managed to speak.]

So I take it you finally believe me.

[Now that her fear was wearing off, her body relaxed, but there was a brief stab of annoyance that he hadn't believed her. Still, if he had any sense of all, he would have the good sense to feel guilty about scaring the daylights out of her. Sighing, she closed the distance between them and stepped into the hug.]

You've got a lot of explaining to do, Mister.

I should understand? You think that because I care about plants that I don't care about people? You think I'd sacrifice a person to save a tree? Lakik's teeth, can you even hear yourself? You came here asking what other people did to change things, like you was trying to escape the fact that you was the one that did it, and you killed people doing it!

Briar looks away for a moment. He takes in a deep breath, and tries to unclench his fists. He can understand, really, even if he hates it. And the anger is hard to let go.]

Maybe what you did was necessary - but necessary ain't the same as acceptable.

[What, they couldn't be curious to see if any one else had changed anything? Genesis scoffed, looking away. She also never said it was acceptable, just that it was necessary.]

People are dead if the Planet is dead.

[It was a very real fear of hers for whenever she is able to go home. That she won't ever get to stop ShinRa before the damage was irreversible. She would rather not trigger Omega, thank you. But since it was very clear that her temper was getting the best of her (something she hadn't felt in a long time since her degradation was healed) she was floundering and not sure what to do with herself. She crossed her arms, almost looking petulant but not quite. She was annoyed with herself that she wasn't articulating well. Finally, she made to stand and leave the room, preferably to go outside.]

Well. [She made a small grin.] I would think that would depend if they can travel through space too and even find Earth. After all, if you made enemies of those on Gaia, you wouldn't have to worry.

We don't have the tech for space travel yet. ShinRa tried but then closed the project after a mishap. Not sure if they'll ever try again.

[She nodded and closed her eyes. And then, she saw green. And herself, in green. Whoa, now that was weird. It really was a bit disorienting, her body swaying a bit as she felt like she needed to get balance even though she wasn't moving. As Atticus told her about the white light around her head, she grinned a bit. Huh, that was pretty neat.

And it was so weird seeing herself grinning despite the fact that it was almost like looking at a green tinted mirror. But, regardless, she kept silent as Atticus turned to look at Christine. She didn't see anything, which... was a good thing? Hopefully? The binding was gone and Genesis opened her eyes, hearing Atticus apologize.]

He's paranoid, a lot more than I really realized. [She said, not really an explanation but she said it dryly for amusement's sake.]

Oh... I'm sorry.

[He knew the feeling, even if Sandy had eventually returned.]

[Christine steps in to meet him and he squeezes her tightly and just this once he can manage to keep his mind from wandering. The fear and anger fade and now, having her in his arms like this, he finds himself a little choked up. There had just been so much... so much had happened. Almost a year now and it felt like he hadn't had a single chance to catch his breath, never mind resting. Over ten years of peaceful Arizona sunshine and then-]

I'm sorry. [Tight and a little shaky and he has to swallow hard before he can trust himself to say more, squeeze her a little tighter briefly before he can trust his hands to be steady again. Then he's finally letting her go, giving her a bright smile that doesn't quite mask everything underneath. Too many friends in too short a space and no time to grieve for any of them either.] I'm glad you're okay...

[So glad that he didn't have to watch some malicious spirit twist and corrupt someone like Christine. Someone sweet and kind... Then he's glancing over at Genesis.] It's only paranoid when there aren't people after you.

[It's a joke, it really is. He smiles and laughs it off but she knows enough about who he is and what he's done that of all the people there she'd probably be able to see through it. It's a joke... but there's a disturbing amount of truth to it.]

[Genesis was struggling and so was Atticus.]

People were dying. [He snapped sharply. The he was sucking in a breath, letting it out slowly, trying to calm down, trying to do exactly what Genesis was trying to do. He nudged Oberon and the hound trotted dutifully after her while Atticus took a moment to just breathe.]

I was simply asking if anyone knew of anything else that might have effected this outcome. Just because I'm not advertising that I'm responsible for the changes doesn't mean I'm not able to take that responsibility. I've been to the library. I've looked into the historical changes. It was the first thing I did. I know what I am responsible for. [Just breathing didn't do any good when he started building momentum though. He was angry, mostly at himself. Briar was one of the few people he thought would be able to understand and... he had forgotten how very young the boy was.]

Have you ever been in a war, Briar? Have you ever had to sit back and watch people you care about die because you can't do anything to save them? Not that you're physically or magically unable to but because you know you shouldn't. It's enough to drive a person mad. Four months of telling myself that it wasn't worth the risk. That it wasn't my place. Knowing I could stop all of it if I could just tell my friend to save himself. I was condemning the people with me, all of the people outside the domes, two elementals, and the planet herself to death if I did nothing.

If you really want to condemn me for it you go out there and you look at the bay, all of the land around it. Go out past the mountains, look at the lakes, look at how beautiful it is there. Talk to all of these people living on this land that was nothing but dead ruins before. And tell me you would willingly destroy all of that for the sake of people that had slaughtered your friends over bogus treason charges. [And if all of that was met with more indignant outrage... he'd have to hang up on the kid before he said even more that he shouldn't. Aside from the Morrigan (and occasionally Leif but thinking of the vampire now would be more detrimental to his control of his temper) he hadn't really explained himself to anyone in centuries... but he wasn't used to so many people knowing just who and what he was.]

Edited 2013-06-15 05:49 (UTC)

[She senses the fear and relief all in this one hug, and she presses her hands to his back, assuring him that everything's all right now.

When he pulls back, she gives him a weak smile, but it fades quickly and she reaches to place a hand on his shoulder.]

So I am. But, Atticus... What was all that? Using special sight on me and thinking someone was possessing me; what happened in the past?

[It's like a dark cloud crosses over Briar's face, and when he speaks his voice is flat]

Yeah. I've been in a war. And you ain't one of my sisters, or my teachers, or... [he takes in a deep breath. and clenches his jaw] You ain't someone I'm gonna talk to about that. I don't need you trying to tell me what war's like.

[and then Briar cuts the feed himself. Which he'll soon feel a bit ashamed off - here he is, running away, just because he doesn't like the conversation. Just like he kept running away from everything else that might make him confront what happened, before his sisters stopped letting him]

I know. [Does she ever. Leading an army will teach you little lessons like that.] And given the choice, I may have done the same things.

But I would have liked the choice. [Don't mind the sulking. Philosophical leadership conversations are the only kind she lets herself have with most people, this is just Wanda's version of whining.]

We didn't have it as bad as some of the others. The people that went forward in time? I guess...

Well, as I understand it things were pretty bad. [Regardless of how much he'd joked with Thor about it. Or... well he supposed he was more laughing at Thor. He'd have to apologize about that... eventually.]

But what about you? At least someone got to have fun. What were you up to?

[Philosophical leadership conversations inch a little too far into the realm of "reasons to feel guilty as Hel for all of this" for Atticus though so he just shrugs it off, his answer noncommittal at best.]

Wouldn't we all. [But if everyone had had that kind of choice he was pretty sure there would still be a lot of dead land and a lot of people that were going to die because of it.]

Still what's done is done. Guess we're all just going to have to get used to the new way things work.

[Obviously, something similar had happened but Genesis chose not to comment on it. Instead, she gave Atticus a wry look.]

Yes, well, no one was after you this time, though I can see why you would think it.

[Still, it was very relieving to see that Genesis had been correct. Not for the sake of being correct but that it also meant that Kurt really was truly fine, even if she still felt guilty over what happened.]

Yeah, I heard.

[He blinked before shrugging.]

Not much, really. Was spending a little more time adjusting to the sudden season change at first, then Akito and I explored the place for Pepper since she was able to get high up in the food chain at a manufacturing type place, I think. Helps that Akito and I were invisible. [He also stole some pretty expensive things for Neeshka buuuuut, he was gonna keep that to himself.] Other than that, just checked the place out. It was pretty neat, way back when.

So we are.

Do you think we can trust the Authorities any more than we used to be able to?

[He shot Genesis a sheepish look. So he's paranoid. Live a few centuries and you would be too. But when he spoke he addressed Christine.]

It... it's kind of a long story and one that's not entirely mine to tell. [Which was only partly true.]

I've just got a couple little tricks up my sleeve, that's all. Reading auras isn't really that unusual, there's probably a dozen hotlines for it in any given state where I'm from. [Also not exactly true but no one needed to know that.]

I wasn't here long enough to have any dealings with them before so... Your guess is as good as mine on that one.

It might be safer not to openly distrust them, though.

[Christine pursed her lips, giving him a look that said she didn't buy it.]

Then maybe you should tell me the part that is yours to tell before I decide to give you the silent treatment for threatening me.

It might be safer, but trying would be much more informative.

[Genesis sort of makes a "Oh." sound as she covers her lips with her fingers. Christine sort of got him there! But at the same time, Atticus was the type that pretty much knew how much to give in terms of information. It had taken quite a while and a lot of trust to learn what she knew about Atticus.]

You don't need to go that far, Christine. [She gives a bit of a sympathetic look] Just let him tell you what he feels comfortable in sharing.

Maybe. You might have noticed but... I'm not too big on the trust thing, myself so. I'll let someone else take that leap.

I have... reservations of my own on that regard.

What I don't have is any fear.

Look... [He sighed heavily, glancing back at Genesis and giving her a look. Let him handle this.]

I had some bad shit going on awhile ago back home. A very- [He paused abruptly, pushing back the memory of sweet old Katie MacDonagh's mangled form as Hel burst from it.] Very dear friend of mine... wasn't allowed to rest. Her family wasn't allowed to bury her. Someone wanted to get to me so they used her body.

Between that and vampires... well. One can't be too careful.

[Christine lets out a sigh, looking away for a moment. His past experience meant that he'd been hurt and when he thought it was happening again he lashed out. She nods a little, satisfied.]

Okay. But if you ever have a suspicion like that again, just ask to see them in person. Don't start threatening them until you know they're not who they say they are.

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[Video] Week 37 - Tuesday Evening

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