▙oo1 . video▜

[premorse]

[When the feed clicks on and the machine hums, darkness envelops the figure standing in the middle. It's either nighttime or he's found himself a nice, dark place, shadows projected on dimly lit skin.

The glow of the tattoo is obvious on his forearm, turned to the camera for everyone to see. It's clear the man wants it to be the first thing people pay attention to.]

This thing.

[It reads 'UNSETTLED'. He lowers his arm.]

Never been a fan of being branded.

[And he's been branded, more than once. First by his brother's last breath of revenge, then by Kaena's ownership. He was a slave and he was tortured, and this reminder of her scars is in no way welcome to the man who's barely gotten a footing in his freedom.]

I want it off.

Name your price. I'll tell you where to meet me.

[Since he imagines there has to be a way, and he imagines the government doesn't want the imPorts to know about it. But where else could he approach people about it? General population doesn't seem the way to go, so this will have to do.

The feed disconnects, now as quiet as the man behind it.]

Comments

[Voice]

[heartstings]

Could always cut your arm off.

[premorse]

[Funny.]

You offering?

[heartstings]

Well I do got a sword that ain't been christened yet.

[premorse]

Got it from a TV ad?

[Those don't cut through bones, missy.]

[heartstings]

Nope, friend of mine made it.

[And man knows his weapons.]

voice;

[topslug]

I don't think I've ever heard of anyone getting their tattoo off yet. Not to say no one's ever done it, but...

[ She trails off, and finally settles on: ]

Someone might actually take you up on that offer. Be careful.

[premorse]

[He figures. Even if someone had managed it - certainly the people in charge wouldn't want the rest to learn about it.]

Always careful.

[topslug]

[ Unseen, she nods, the only sound accompanying it a soft hum of acknowledgement. Then, curiously: ]

If you don't mind me asking, how long have you been here?

[premorse]

Don't see why it matters.

[Feel free to change his mind.]

➥ AUDIO |

[nestingdevil]

Funny - neither am I.

[By some miracle, he's figured the device out. Through some pushing and prodding and Greed's voice slips through the feed. Eerie; like coal-fire recently raked back to life and left to fume as the fires kick up again.]

[And while there's no face to match the audio-feed, the smile is far too obvious.] Haven't been able to get it off myself, though if I'm being honest, I haven't tried. [A shrug and his heel thuds against something solid outside the reach of the receiver.]

But you shouldn't be offering that - wouldn't be nice if you couldn't live up to your side of the bargain. [He's yanking the guy's chain, of course. Any payment's worth it at this point.] Why don't we see if we can work something out, you and me?

Ah- [It's easy to forget. Greed's so used to doing this face to face.] - right. The name's Greed.

[A mild pause.] Pretty fair deal, no?

[premorse]

[The first thing that Hyperion thinks is that he knows this man. Not Greed specifically, but his type. He's seen it a dozen times; the man with a sly smile in his voice and daggers in his intent, waiting for the first opportunity to earn your trust and make you beg for his own. Even the name he offers fits the description in his mind.

It doesn't make Hyperion relax, but it does make him feel a little closer to home. This he knows. This he can deal with.]

I ain't just offering nothing. I got something that'll be worth your while.

['Your' being general. He doesn't quite guess what Greed wants just yet.]

Depends on your definition of fair.

[nestingdevil]

Oh-? [The voice is a little bit sing-song. Humming as his nails casually rap-a-tap-tap against a wooden surface.] You've got my interest.

[Besides - he's not too much a fan of the print-label ink either. Unsettled isn't settling in the least. It's a tracker and with things being as they are, Greed's not to keen on having a line out there for anyone and everyone to track.]

[So it's a mutual benefit tilted more on his scale. So what.] Ah-? Fair - I help you and in exchange, maybe you could help me out. What do you say?

[But he's still a bit new to this whole technology thing. Far too used to phone-booths and cars that have long-sense lost their worth at least a century or two prior. Familiar with a conversation made in the intimacy of a bar packed-high; with enough people mingling around that they'd hardly notice what was really going on.]

[This though? It's a bit too much exposure.] Not here though - isn't like they're very generous with the privacy. [The Sin shifts and both heels thud to the floor.]

By the way - didn't catch your name.

[premorse]

Like I said, [he lifts one hand and drops it - half of a shrug.] Name your price.

[But like Greed said - not here.]

Hyperion. I'll contact you in a minute.

[And as promised, a minute after the feed clicks shut, Greed's device is greeted with a text and in it an address.]

[ooc: Action, log, handwave?]

VOICE.

[enabeled]

[ He inquires, though his tone seems sarcastic: ]

Had any success yet?

[premorse]

I got time. [And patience. If anything, Hyperion doesn't sound desperate.]

[enabeled]

We all have time. Nothing but.

If it helps... during the day you barely even notice.

[premorse]

[It might be obvious by his choice of location that he's either not a fan or no longer use to just wandering about during day time. The underground operates better at night. In the dark, where the shadows can hide how sharp your teeth are.]

You ain't bothered.

voice

[toolongdidntrejoice]

I possess a magic which could, in theory, be of assistance. I could make an attempt.

But it would be very painful for you.

[ frankly, that's the whole reason he offers ]

[premorse]

In theory.

[An attempt. He isn't looking to be a test subject.]

Why haven't you tried it on yourself.

[toolongdidntrejoice]

Because I haven't felt the need; I don't take issue to being marked.

I've removed similar brands, and although those were magical in nature, the mechanic would be the same.

That is your choice.

[premorse]

Need some kind of guarantee. Can you give me one?

video

[youbastard]

I doubt there are many people that are fans of being branded like this. [Ellie's had enough done to her body herself to be even slightly comfortable with it.] But, I think anyone has found a way to get them off yet. Or at least not that I've heard of. [Not that she thinks anyone would broadcast it. She hesitates for a second before adding anything else.]

If you have any ideas for things you might want to try though, I ...might be able to help.

[premorse]

[He does have a theory. An idea that came to mind after he released this video, after he had a conversation or two as a result. Part of him wonders why he didn't figure it out before - and the other part of it knows exactly why.

Because it's what Helios would have done.]

You know any technopaths?

[youbastard]

No. Honestly, I'm not even certain what that is.

[premorse]

[Slightly surprising. He'd expect them to bring in informed people.]

Power over technology.