So you have returned, Kate. I am sorry for your misfortune.
[But Henry's tone of voice is sombre enough that it's obvious this isn't a social call.]
A incident of great import occurred in your absence. I know not if you are already aware, but I wished to inform you nonetheless. The gods' enemies are named the Null, and eleven days ago, they spoke to us over the network. In secret.
( By the time she left, this place's madness was starting to seem normal to her. And coming back, safe in the knowledge that they've solved the instability back home somewhat - that there are signed agreements and a new, hopefully better version of The Agency permanently set up -, is a weight off her shoulders.
But...
Oh boy.
There's a prolonged silence on the other end of the phone, nothing but breath and the shifting of papers - it's only been a few days since her memories of this place resurfaced and everything still jumbles up, gets lost in between the memories of three years spent back home. The mentions of something that killed the gods, of the city splitting in two, stuck with no power and nothing to hold back the monsters which infect the caves outside. Because they were trying to get away from something.
That they would eradicate the gods, whom they called... "paras...ites"? That they did not want to spill organic blood. That they did not know us as they knew the last "hosts", hence their communication. That they would not kill those who did not threaten their way of life, a courtesy they shall deny those who stand with the gods. That they will speak with us again.
[Henry huffs.]
Should you like to see their words for yourself, I can show you.
( That sounds accurate, really. And Henry's words make her more convinced that her offhand comment to Sans - that they're not at all ominious (what sarcasm) is correct. )
Sounds like they were 'oping for help.
( Honestly, she would have, had they got in touch before Faith was dragged here, before Kate started to see the gods as more than just kidnappers looking for an easy meal in their prisoners. )
... Not about to stop until this place is wiped out of existence. Co-existin' is too much for 'em.
( She knows too much about that mindset to keep the dark tone from seeping into her words, to make that last sentence anything other than a statement.
Yeah. She remembers too much about working under that mindset. )
[He remarks, noting the darkness of her tone — it's expressive, by Kate's standards.]
They all but spake as much: "Many of you will die." Encouraging words to bestir a rebellion.
[With that piece of sarcasm done, he sighs. As much as he dislikes the gods, there is no question on which side they should fight. The Null's goals are evil, plain and simple.]
But one does not declare war until one is ready to battle. When they return there may be more information to gain from them. Nor would it hurt were the gods to decide they must treat with us to win our aid. It is well past time that they be open with us.
( Great. That's just great. And exactly the thing she needed to hear on her return. )
What were they like?
( She agrees with Henry's point of view. She's spent too many years seeing what happens when you don't properly think things through. But do they have time? Would the Null decide to just nuke this place, now they've managed to establish contact? )
[The is a few moments' pause as Henry considers her question.]
They but wrote, and wrote as one. I saw no sign of individual personality. Any questions posed to them they answered with measured words. They made no promises other than death to those who sided with the gods. They likened us to tools... either rusted or of use.
( That's... creepy. And very black and white. And too familiar in the description of tools.
But she can't think about that now. Just about this. )
Could cause a lot of in-fightin'. ( Sans mentioned that there were probably some people who'd be quite happy to side with the Null, even if it wipes them - all of them - out. There are probably people who'd join with the Null hoping for freedom. A million things. )
( What a disaster. Being brought back to Hadriel itself is one thing, with the constant sensation of being stuck and the gods' attempts to gain energy, but the impending reality of this Null - their pursuers - snapping at the heels of this cave-
Fuck. It's still surreal to realise that she doesn't want these gods killed, even without the uncomfortable parallels her mind draws between The Agency under Rosenberg and these Null. On her first visit, years ago, she'd have sold this place up the river if their pursuers had offered even the slightest hope of going home. But now the very idea makes the base of her spine itch and her shoulders tense - this place will never be home, but the people in it are acquaintances, friends, and Kate's heard from day one that her powers are here to do some good, to protect her family and all she holds dear if need be.
The good they've done back home may have been debatable when she was younger, but things change. The world moves on and she gets another chance at everything. )
Nah. ( It's tempting, but she has her own things to do. ) Give me a summary after.
( There's a pause for a moment. Having left and come back, Kate isn't ready to speak on behalf of the Clinic in its entirety, but- ) Here to give yous a hand with whatever.
( Her powers are here to do some good. And the skills she's picked up along the way, well, they can do some good too. )
[Knock knock, Kate. Guess who it is this morning, holding some papers in his hand and looking as put together as he can be, given he's living in a murdercave.]
( What, is this her eviction notice? She's been quiet, okay. But Carlisle knows her schedule well enough, probably, by now, to know that he's caught her before she leaves to work herself to exhaustion, to stay busy long enough that she doesn't get bored or start dwelling on that entire murdercave and they're being chased by robots trying to kill the glowclouds keeping them alive thing.
Which is to say that Kate answers the door with her hair half-styled - one half of her hair in a tight braid, the other hanging loosely over a shoulder - and a cup of coffee in hand. Crappy coffee, but still. )
What's up?
( Eyes flicking from Carlisle's face to those papers, brow raising slowly. This is not how she expected her morning to go. )
( Well. That's not the phone call she was expecting at all, her heart skipping a beat at the news, silence lingering over the line for a long moment.
Well, it's not like her preferences for the gods have exactly been secret ever since she got past the whole trying to kill them to get home thing. )
... S'pose I better spar more.
( Her voice is as casual as it gets, but after the contents of her Fear dream, it might be a little easier to detect a forced quality to it. Dying is painful, and she doesn't want to go through it again. )
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
audio;
[But Henry's tone of voice is sombre enough that it's obvious this isn't a social call.]
A incident of great import occurred in your absence. I know not if you are already aware, but I wished to inform you nonetheless. The gods' enemies are named the Null, and eleven days ago, they spoke to us over the network. In secret.
audio;
( By the time she left, this place's madness was starting to seem normal to her. And coming back, safe in the knowledge that they've solved the instability back home somewhat - that there are signed agreements and a new, hopefully better version of The Agency permanently set up -, is a weight off her shoulders.
But...
Oh boy.
There's a prolonged silence on the other end of the phone, nothing but breath and the shifting of papers - it's only been a few days since her memories of this place resurfaced and everything still jumbles up, gets lost in between the memories of three years spent back home. The mentions of something that killed the gods, of the city splitting in two, stuck with no power and nothing to hold back the monsters which infect the caves outside. Because they were trying to get away from something.
Right. )
Sayin' what, exactly?
audio;
That they would eradicate the gods, whom they called... "paras...ites"? That they did not want to spill organic blood. That they did not know us as they knew the last "hosts", hence their communication. That they would not kill those who did not threaten their way of life, a courtesy they shall deny those who stand with the gods. That they will speak with us again.
[Henry huffs.]
Should you like to see their words for yourself, I can show you.
audio;
Sounds like they were 'oping for help.
( Honestly, she would have, had they got in touch before Faith was dragged here, before Kate started to see the gods as more than just kidnappers looking for an easy meal in their prisoners. )
... Not about to stop until this place is wiped out of existence. Co-existin' is too much for 'em.
( She knows too much about that mindset to keep the dark tone from seeping into her words, to make that last sentence anything other than a statement.
Yeah. She remembers too much about working under that mindset. )
audio;
[He remarks, noting the darkness of her tone — it's expressive, by Kate's standards.]
They all but spake as much: "Many of you will die." Encouraging words to bestir a rebellion.
[With that piece of sarcasm done, he sighs. As much as he dislikes the gods, there is no question on which side they should fight. The Null's goals are evil, plain and simple.]
But one does not declare war until one is ready to battle. When they return there may be more information to gain from them. Nor would it hurt were the gods to decide they must treat with us to win our aid. It is well past time that they be open with us.
audio;
What were they like?
( She agrees with Henry's point of view. She's spent too many years seeing what happens when you don't properly think things through. But do they have time? Would the Null decide to just nuke this place, now they've managed to establish contact? )
audio;
They but wrote, and wrote as one. I saw no sign of individual personality. Any questions posed to them they answered with measured words. They made no promises other than death to those who sided with the gods. They likened us to tools... either rusted or of use.
audio;
But she can't think about that now. Just about this. )
Could cause a lot of in-fightin'. ( Sans mentioned that there were probably some people who'd be quite happy to side with the Null, even if it wipes them - all of them - out. There are probably people who'd join with the Null hoping for freedom. A million things. )
audio;
[It's a real possibility, Henry knows, but there's not much that can be done except to keep an eye on those who might side with the Null.]
The Guard shall intervene if we must.
[And speaking of...]
We are about to hold council about the Null, if you should wish to listen in.
audio;
Fuck. It's still surreal to realise that she doesn't want these gods killed, even without the uncomfortable parallels her mind draws between The Agency under Rosenberg and these Null. On her first visit, years ago, she'd have sold this place up the river if their pursuers had offered even the slightest hope of going home. But now the very idea makes the base of her spine itch and her shoulders tense - this place will never be home, but the people in it are acquaintances, friends, and Kate's heard from day one that her powers are here to do some good, to protect her family and all she holds dear if need be.
The good they've done back home may have been debatable when she was younger, but things change. The world moves on and she gets another chance at everything. )
Nah. ( It's tempting, but she has her own things to do. ) Give me a summary after.
( There's a pause for a moment. Having left and come back, Kate isn't ready to speak on behalf of the Clinic in its entirety, but- ) Here to give yous a hand with whatever.
( Her powers are here to do some good. And the skills she's picked up along the way, well, they can do some good too. )
[action at Kate's apartment]
yes good
Which is to say that Kate answers the door with her hair half-styled - one half of her hair in a tight braid, the other hanging loosely over a shoulder - and a cup of coffee in hand. Crappy coffee, but still. )
What's up?
( Eyes flicking from Carlisle's face to those papers, brow raising slowly. This is not how she expected her morning to go. )
I missed their interactions, let's be real.
I have lost all my students in this place, and I was hoping you could place these at the Clinic.
[He offers her the papers: they look like applications.]
hard same ;;
Sure.
( It's not a big deal. But, if you want students, there's a very effective way in the city: )
Making a post on th' network about it?
( People pay attention to things there, more than they might simple applications. )
no subject
[Said with all the confidence of someone who does not want to do that.]
no subject
Easiest way to broadcast that you're looking for people.
no subject
I mean, I'm not looking for many people. Maybe just one who would be willing to help the Clinic.
[More than he does, obviously.]
no subject
It's still the easiest way to find that one. Be specific.
( The phones aren't that scary. Hell, you can ask her for help if you want. )
no subject
Does the Clinic have many healers these days?
no subject
Seems like there were quite a few turn up recently.
( Either in her absence or just as she turned up again. )
no subject
[Then they don't need help, and he doesn't have to bother with applications and students and the network—
But this isn't about all that, he reminds himself.
He stands there awkwardly another second.]
Well, I'll leave you be. Thank you, Kate.
no subject
Sure. See you 'round.
( She'll have to drop by his place sometime. It's only a few flights down. )
voice; private
[He sounds... angry? Like he's just past the conclusion of an unpleasant conversation.]
The Null are attempting to provoke us into murdering those they view to be in league with our hosts. Your name is on their list.
voice; private
Well, it's not like her preferences for the gods have exactly been secret ever since she got past the whole trying to kill them to get home thing. )
... S'pose I better spar more.
( Her voice is as casual as it gets, but after the contents of her Fear dream, it might be a little easier to detect a forced quality to it. Dying is painful, and she doesn't want to go through it again. )
[Audio][Private]