maskormenace | 003 ✿ Video

[ The video is of Raina. At work. On a Sunday evening. Lit by the glow of her computer screen, and even as the feed begins -- she's finishing off her typing. Workaholic, much?

But she does give her attention to the communicator then, offering a sweet, charming smile. ]

Hello, fellow imPorts. I just have a few questions for the community as a whole -- a curiosity, if you will.

[ Her fingers lace in front of herself on her desk. ]

How many of you are satisfied with the power set you received upon arrival? For some of us, powers are new and strange, things we have never encountered in our own world. But for others, we're used to having far more. Abilities that were lost in translation either because they were far too strong or far too destructive. Some abilities may seem relatively useless. Some may be uncontrollable. Some require more thought, practice, and skill than others. While some seem like almost something of a joke on the porter's behalf.

All of this to say, these abilities of ours don't really share a common pattern. But they have become part of our identity as a whole and something that has branded us all as imPorts. And like our identity, there may be things about them we dislike -- things we wish we could make different. So if you had the opportunity to change your powers or alter them in some way, would you? If you could enhance them and make them stronger, would you do that as well?

Please consider my questions something of a survey to measure who may or may not be interested in my next leg of research. Thank you for your time.

[ With a friendly wave, she cuts the feed. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're forcing my hand, Raina. You have no idea what you've done. I could kill him whenever I want to, but if I take him down while he's under Lucifer's watch, it's only suffering from here. Good luck dealing with the Devil by yourself, you and your boyfriend are both fucked. I can no longer associate with you whatsoever.

You are overreacting. Everything about this conversation has been one, huge overreaction on your behalf. If you want protection from Crane -- you have it in us. What do we three have in common? A shared, mutual hatred for this man.

But should you chose to walk away, you subject yourself to him. Move behind us, Abduxel. We become your shield. We become the agents that you can hide behind. How do you get in trouble with Lucifer if you move in the shadows of two people who are moving against him on their own? Two people who aren't affiliated with the devil.

We take care of him, and all you do is reap the benefits.

So move against Crane, then, and thereby show that I can trust you, and you'll have my support.

Otherwise, I'll need to be with Lucifer. Those are the choices you've forced upon me.

I'm working on it. What do you think this post is about? The projects I am working on will be very essential to the destruction of Crane -- if he does not destroy himself first. His instability grows deeper by the day. The more we poke. The more we prod. The more he ruins himself.

Okay. I'm listening. How will your work take him down?

To counter science, you must use science.

[ Raina didn't trust Abduxel one bit in regards to her true research. Not when he's already so emotional. And so she makes something up on a whim because she highly doubts Abduxel understands the chemical processes involved in all of these things anyway. But it will seem as though she's confiding. ]

Paralyzing agents gleaned from the cells of imPorts with related abilities, mood altering chemicals stolen directly from a chemical altering source. And all of this sprinkled with a slow moving, serum that fires up pain nerves for hours. Crane will hurt. Crane will suffer. Crane will wish he had never laid a hand on any of us as the agonizing hours stretch on with no reprieve.

I'm working on it, trying to ensure the side effects will be with him for nearly as long as that of the toxin. But also trying to find the appropriate imPort volunteers.

[It works. It takes him a little while to reply, as he hesitates and weighs his options. He tries to simmer down.]

I'm still unhappy how you've outed me to Crane. I'd have preferred to discuss it beforehand.

But if there are any ways I might be able to help you with your research, don't hesitate to ask. I'd like nothing more than to see him suffer.

I'm truly sorry. It was an emotional outburst on my behalf. He had provoked me -- both then and now.

But you have nothing to worry about. Like I promised, you will have protection. And I might take you up on your offer to help should I come across a pretty girl, or boy for that matter, who needs your particular brand of coaxing to donate some cell samples.

There are only so many battles I can win with my own charms, haha. Attractiveness can be very much attached to gender, after all.

...I understand. He can be particularly infuriating.

[Yeah that's some nice complimenting ohhh yeah. Tell him more how pretty and charming he is.]

Sounds right up my alley. What kind of samples do you need? Maybe we could just take them.

While I'm not above using force, until I establish myself here, I would much rather everything I receive be voluntary.

Though voluntary can certainly be persuaded. Especially at the promise of a much greater reward.

[ We're both pretty manipulators, bro. There's solidarity in using sex appeal to get what you want! ]

There are subtle ways to "use force."

But it's your operation.

[So I'll do it how you want, is the implication.

Abduxel usually just uses sex appeal to have sex, but hey. Whatever works.]

Oh, I know all about "using force" subtle and not so subtle.

But at any rate, I do appreciate your assistance. I know I will be able to count on you.

003 ✿ Video

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