voice; un: eliasainsworth

[thornydisposition]

I believe I have some information that might be of use, or at least to consider.

[The voice is low and very even, having only the barest hint of a conversational cadence.]

My companion, Shuyi, and I managed to locate and capture Miz Poppy. We captured her and two of her Deemer companions, and as we began to take them back to Perdition's Rest, she had some very interesting things to say.

She reaffirmed that there was no way to safely separate a Taraxa from its host without the destruction of the latter. What is more troubling, however, was that she insisted that hers and her compatriots' mission of destruction was something which the TIMELINE.EXE asked of them.

Before we could deliver her back here, one of the other captured Deemers sacrificed himself so that she may escape in the confusion.

It is not my intention to offer this information in order to incite mass confusion or doubt, as it is quite possible she was lying. But I do not think we can completely discount that she might be telling the truth—or that she and her fellows are somehow deluded enough to believe that they are. It is, as I originally said, something to at the very least keep in mind.

Comments

[assent]

We may not have that choice. [ He can't see it with it being an audio call, but she's staring at the ground as she speaks, the tone of her voice dropping just slightly with it. ]

What if... [ She pauses briefly, before continuing. ] What if something we have done has made it so we are the threat now? What would you do in that case? [ Then-- ] No, that does not matter right now. We should be prepared for the worst, either way. We do not know for certain what may happen next... but it would seem we will have problems in the near future.

[thornydisposition]

[He recognizes the change in tone.

He does his best as well. Elias can emulate what he think is a soothing tone, though it is little more than him emulating the person he had first traveled with in the earliest years of his remembered life. He's attempting to replicate that as best he can now.]

While I would be lying if I said it was not a possibility, Sonia, I do not believe we are in a position where we can second-guess ourselves—not without a good deal more concrete information. Attempting to foresee the future is always dangerous. The best you can do is be knowledgable and prepared so that you may respond as best you can as things arise and occur.

[It's about as soothing as he can get, honestly...]

[assent]

[ It might be enough, but it's... something. It's a reminder to her that this is not the time or place to let her guard down, to let herself slip. She breathes out slowly, quietly enough that it shouldn't be audible either. ]

You are correct, of course. Thank you, Elias. There may be many potential routes this will lead us, so we must be prepared for the worst either way. [ A beat, then: ] I hope you have been well?

[ At least her tone is lighter now. ]

[thornydisposition]

[There will be plenty of time to let one's guard down when they are not under threat from an assaulting force.]

Sometimes wariness and readiness are all we can do, Sonia.

[He notices the change in her tone. Be it genuine or feigned, he is grateful she is attempting to move on from her momentary despair.]

I took some damage in the battle with the Deemers, but it is nothing that will not mend itself. How have you been?

[assent]

[ Well considering she feels disorientated here, disconnected from those that give her strength to keep moving on it can be easy to forget. This has helped give her another boost though. ]

Of course. I am glad to hear it is nothing too bad at least. I am quite already. I have kept out of most trouble. [ No she hasn't, but she hasn't been hurt enough for it to be worried over. ]

[thornydisposition]

I am pleased to hear this.

[A turn of phrase, since emotions don't really work out for Elias as easily as that, though he'd be lying if he said he was genuinely unaffected by the news. True affection was nearly impossible to come by for him, but the thought of something happening to Sonia was at the very least ... inconveniencing to him.]

It is a dangerous situation, Sonia, so continue to keep a keen eye about you. Should you ever find yourself in a troublesome spot, do not hesitate to reach out to me.

[assent]

[ Still, it's nice to mean enough that it would be an inconvenience should she get injured in the midst of all this. ]

Of course, I remember what you said before. [ There's warmth to her voice when she says that. ] I will not forget, however... there is still a lot I can do here.