𝙽𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚔𝚎 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nonscriptum) wrote2016-07-23 06:47 pm
nonscriptum) wrote2016-07-23 06:47 pm
hadriel { ic inbox }
This is Nate, you know what to do. I'll...probably get back to you.
This is Nate, you know what to do. I'll...probably get back to you.
[Lance listens to all of that, nodding a little, doing the same in shielding his eyes as they exit the building; he pretty much never bothered with sunglasses at home, but in this place he's starting to wonder if he should look for some.]
All of that is completely possible.
[Nate isn't wrong about the risks, and those are all worst-case scenarios Lance has thought about as well. He just can't get past another possibility--]
But what if it isn't, and it genuinely means us no harm?
[And is lost, and alone, and feeling emotions for the first time?]
All of that is completely possible.
[Nate isn't wrong about the risks, and those are all worst-case scenarios Lance has thought about as well. He just can't get past another possibility--]
But what if it isn't, and it genuinely means us no harm?
[And is lost, and alone, and feeling emotions for the first time?]
[Distantly, Nate realizes this is more risk-aware than he is used to being, but he is still sporting a fresh scar on his throat and arms from the attack in the alley, can still remember the sizzle of burned flesh in the air as the Null rolled through the city like a well-oiled Panzer tank. He doesn't want more people to get hurt, and neither does he want to have to go back to the gods for help. Once was enough, and even then it smarted.
Nate shifts uncomfortably as they walk, the kind of motion that betrays his knowledge that Lance's proposition is equally valid, and probably right.]
You think it's honest.
[An observation, not a question. He pauses, hands on his hips, and frowns at the ground for a moment.]
It told me it thought it would die.
Nate shifts uncomfortably as they walk, the kind of motion that betrays his knowledge that Lance's proposition is equally valid, and probably right.]
You think it's honest.
[An observation, not a question. He pauses, hands on his hips, and frowns at the ground for a moment.]
It told me it thought it would die.
I think there's a distinct possibility that it's honest.
[It's a small correction, but for the most part, yes. He nods at the last comment, giving a quiet sigh.]
It said the same thing to me. We know the Null are... Not particularly good--to put it mildly--at understanding emotional responses, considering their belief that asking us to kill each other would be seen as perfectly reasonable, and so I can't see one of them being aware enough to purposefully manipulate us in such a way.
[Which is one of the many indicators he's thought might tip the scales toward Name being truthful.]
But ultimately, it comes down to whether we want to account for the possibility, or write it off entirely. But I can't agree with killing something that asked for help, when it's only an unconfirmed possibility it could be dangerous.
[If they just killed anything that might possibly pose a threat, where would that stop?]
[It's a small correction, but for the most part, yes. He nods at the last comment, giving a quiet sigh.]
It said the same thing to me. We know the Null are... Not particularly good--to put it mildly--at understanding emotional responses, considering their belief that asking us to kill each other would be seen as perfectly reasonable, and so I can't see one of them being aware enough to purposefully manipulate us in such a way.
[Which is one of the many indicators he's thought might tip the scales toward Name being truthful.]
But ultimately, it comes down to whether we want to account for the possibility, or write it off entirely. But I can't agree with killing something that asked for help, when it's only an unconfirmed possibility it could be dangerous.
[If they just killed anything that might possibly pose a threat, where would that stop?]
[These aren't unreasonable theories, but they are theories either way. Nate has worked with less to find more. It's unfair to be critical of something like this, after all, when Nate knows a synthetic person in Hadriel.
He sucks his lower lip between his teeth, considering.]
...so what do you want to do?
He sucks his lower lip between his teeth, considering.]
...so what do you want to do?
I want to find it, and get a better idea of the situation. Right now, we have no reason to believe it can contact the other Null, so we should be safe to take some time and permanently disable its communications while figuring out more about whether it's telling the truth or not.
[Basically, he doesn't want to kill it as a first option, but he still plans to be very cautious.]
[Basically, he doesn't want to kill it as a first option, but he still plans to be very cautious.]
Okay.
[He's still wary, and for good reason. Nate has laser burns left over from Name's former buddies, but if he can rely on one thing it's that Lance has a good head on his shoulders. He wouldn't propose something like this if he didn't believe that the likelihood of honesty was high.
Nate chews his lip for a long moment, processing the direction in which he thinks this is going.]
Where do we start?
[He's still wary, and for good reason. Nate has laser burns left over from Name's former buddies, but if he can rely on one thing it's that Lance has a good head on his shoulders. He wouldn't propose something like this if he didn't believe that the likelihood of honesty was high.
Nate chews his lip for a long moment, processing the direction in which he thinks this is going.]
Where do we start?
[As soon as Lance receives the text he sends a message to Nate.]
Any chance you're near here?
[And he sends the coordinates Name sent him; Lance is on the other side of the city, and it'll take him some time to get there, but maybe Nate is closer.]
Any chance you're near here?
[And he sends the coordinates Name sent him; Lance is on the other side of the city, and it'll take him some time to get there, but maybe Nate is closer.]
Edited 2018-04-17 14:12 (UTC)
[Last-minute scavenger hunts are exactly the kind of thing in which Nate excels. He drops what he's doing to shoot a quick text back, sliding his bag back over the belt at his hip, sketchbook securely stowed away.]
on it
on it
[You're the best, Nate.]
It's not an exact location; look in about a hundred foot radius.
I'll be there as soon as I can be.
It's not an exact location; look in about a hundred foot radius.
I'll be there as soon as I can be.
[This text is a huge relief, and Lance responds as soon as he sees it, taking a brief break from racing across the city.]
Awesome. I'll be there soon.
Awesome. I'll be there soon.
How small?
[If they can move it without needed to get someone else involved, that'd be incredibly fortunate.]
[If they can move it without needed to get someone else involved, that'd be incredibly fortunate.]
[The agreement, even if--or, rather, especially because--he can tell Nate seems to be hesitant, means a lot; he appreciates the trust being put in him, even if it's a little terrifying. He's still not completely sure this won't all end up being a huge mistake.
But he believes this is the right thing to do, both logically and morally, and he takes a deep breath.]
We know that the Null is probably trapped under some rubble somewhere in the city, and Nick thinks it may be near to the god temples it seem to be feeling the emotions of most strongly. It's just a guess, but it's as good a reason as any to start looking in a particular place.
But he believes this is the right thing to do, both logically and morally, and he takes a deep breath.]
We know that the Null is probably trapped under some rubble somewhere in the city, and Nick thinks it may be near to the god temples it seem to be feeling the emotions of most strongly. It's just a guess, but it's as good a reason as any to start looking in a particular place.
smaller than a breadbox and bigger than a poptart
what do you want, actual dimensions?
hurry up
what do you want, actual dimensions?
hurry up
[Wow, that's... Definitely smaller than expected.]
Okay, I'm almost there.
[And as promised, he shows up soon after.]
Okay, I'm almost there.
[And as promised, he shows up soon after.]
[It's late at what would be night when Sam sends the text, and he does it because he can't really sleep. Ever since his chat with Elena, his mind has been racing with memories and thoughts about Avery. It's when he's about to flip through their mother's journal again that he realizes he didn't even tell his brother what his wife had dropped off. So:]
hey, you awake?
[He's not expecting an answer. But it's a start.]
hey, you awake?
[He's not expecting an answer. But it's a start.]
[Nate is conscious, as a matter of fact. He hasn't been agonizing over his recent double-crossing with a certain god regarding a certain robot, but there are bits and pieces that have been scratching at him. Anxiety isn't normally something that keeps him up at night.
He texts back sleepily, rubbing his eyes.]
yeah i'm awake
what's up?
He texts back sleepily, rubbing his eyes.]
yeah i'm awake
what's up?
jesus don’t you ever sleep?
[Although he’s glad he answered. It at least means he’s not the only one who has insomnia.]
let’s just say i recently came into the possession of something you might be interested to see
[Although he’s glad he answered. It at least means he’s not the only one who has insomnia.]
let’s just say i recently came into the possession of something you might be interested to see
look in the mirror, smartass
[Bro. You texted him.
Nate does perk up a little at the news, rubbing his face.]
what is it?
[Bro. You texted him.
Nate does perk up a little at the news, rubbing his face.]
what is it?
a collection of writings chronicling one historian's amazing theories about a certain pirate friend of ours, amongst some other theories and findings
white leather journal, dated circa 1980's, has the initials C.M. engraved on the front.
pretty sure it's worth a lot.
pretty sure it's worth a lot.
Edited 2018-04-28 06:59 (UTC)
[That's mom's work. That's supposed to be in his attic, in a cardboard box, with the Saint Dismas cross they finagled out of Panama when he was still in a stupor after the loss of...the very person who has the book now.]
holy crap
[In the dark he tries to fumble for his jeans.]
where are you?
holy crap
[In the dark he tries to fumble for his jeans.]
where are you?
my place
get a six pack on your way over
[He’s joooking. Sort of. They probably don’t even have the type of beer he likes.]
get a six pack on your way over
[He’s joooking. Sort of. They probably don’t even have the type of beer he likes.]
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