( video o2 )

[desequilibre]

[ It's been two days.

D'Artagnan has been missing for two days.

And Athos knows this happens, of course he does. He's seen the recent slew of posts about missing persons, he's watched them even if he hasn't replied to them. He understands that it's something that just occurs around here. But that doesn't mean he accepts it. Which is why he's here, video rolling. He looks ... angry is the main thing. Angry and maybe just a little lost. Tired too, but that's par for the course when one of your dearest friends up and disappear leaving you to drink away your sorrows.

He had other questions -- ones about gunpowder mostly -- he didn't expect this to be the subject of conversation. ]

I need answers about the people who disappear. [ Short, sharp, and devoid of emotion. He doesn't slur his words, he isn't that far gone but his hand clenches around a cup out of shot. ] I know that many have vanished recently. But I want to know if there's a way to be sure they have returned home and not been taken. [ It's the usual response to something like this. But his suspicion of those in charge of this place hasn't faded at all. If someone has d'Artagnan then he wants to know about it. And he wants to run them through. ] Have any of you attempted to track them down? With all the ... technology in this place, surely there is a way. Can you be absolutely certain they are no longer in this world?

( ooc: so fair warning, athos will never ever reply to texts because he doesn't read his letters! if you text him i'm not ignoring you, he's just a failure. )

Comments

[ audio ]

[enucleation]

If their names can no longer be found on the network list, then they were Ported out. If it's permanent or not, it's matter of waiting to see.

[ audio ]

[desequilibre]

Why would they be ported out? What reason would there be?

[ He is not a patient man. Not when it comes to d'Artagnan. ]

[ audio ]

[enucleation]

We don't know the reason. The Porter decides, but it won't tell us why.

[ audio ]

[desequilibre]

The machine?

[ With an irritated sound. ] Is there no one I can speak to in person about this?

[illuminescent]

[She's not bothering to reply - instead she's just knocking on the door.]

Athos? Athos!

[desequilibre]

[ He answers the door but slowly, his glass in one hand and a haggard expression on his face. ]

Lucy. [ He takes a step back, allows her inside. ] I should have called you. I'm sorry.

[illuminescent]

I had been concerned when he-

No, it is no matter.

[She comes in, and today she's wearing a skirt, and she looks a little harried, like maybe she just threw on clothes and rushed over.]

Are you very drunk?

[desequilibre]

Not yet.

[ He lifts his glass and takes a deep swallow, draining it in one before he starts moving toward the kitchen. ] But I plan to be.

[ Athos pauses at the sink, his hand going to the tap but not turning it on just yet. He does not quite look at her. ] Is it true? Will he have gone home?

[video]

[angelfire]

Did you lose something?

[ What do you mean taking advantage of other people's pain. ]

[video]

[desequilibre]

No.

[ Do not test him today. ]

[video]

[angelfire]

Liar.

Come on Athos, darling. You can tell Daddy Lucifer.

[video]

[desequilibre]

Don't you have someone else to hassle?

video

[malodorous]

Technological tracking isn't really something I can do myself, but I do have a little experience in the comings and goings around here. I don't know if I can tell you what you haven't already heard, though.

video

[desequilibre]

That there's no way to find him, yes I've heard.

[ He might be a little bit drunk by now, but at least it does not show on his face. ] I do not like being at the whim of something I cannot fight.

video

[malodorous]

I never heard of anybody who does.

I went away and came back. Maybe the same will happen for your fellow.

video

[desequilibre]

[ He's just so used to stabbing things when he's angry. Having nothing to fight is hard. ]

And where did you go? Home? Or some place else?

video »

[verification]

I went home when I was ported out, I can vouch for us actually going back. Uh, for me, anyway.

video »

[desequilibre]

Do you know why you were sent back?

[ If there's some way, some key than Athos needs to know it. His friend has returned to a war while he spends his time in comfort and richness. He would prefer to be with him. ]

video »

[verification]

No, I was barely there at all before I came back here. Whatever's happening to your friend, if he's been here once? It's likely he could come back again.

[ She doesn't want to offer false hope, sticking to the truth. Usually, as bad as it can be, it's more reassuring than a lie. ]

video;

[notdaredevil]

You definitely return home. Or at least, it feels as though you do. Complete with new memories of your other life.

[ It's not much fun. He thinks he'd have preferred not knowing, not having to carry around new baggage and complications. ]

It can be any length of time, and it isn't necessarily equal to the amount of time you spend gone here. Which is true for any scenario in which you leave and return, regardless of whether or not you remember your previous time here.

video;

[desequilibre]

[ It troubles Athos that he knows so little and can be certain about even less. ] These memories? Do you mean to tell me time has passed when you do return?

[ Because he'd been under a different assumption. ]

How often do people return?

video;

[notdaredevil]

I was gone a month here, but remembered something like eight months from back home when I returned. It happens.

[ He's not even sure how long he'd been gone before he'd returned without his memories. ]

And most people, once they're gone for good...they don't return. People usually only leave for a few weeks at a time, up to a month. Not much longer, without the possibility of return.

video

[youbastard]

A lot of people have tried the tracking down angle when people have gone missing, but a lot of people also just rely on the listing on the network. [ Which Ellie thinks is a bit dumb over all but what can you do? ] Most people take the explanations given to them by the more experienced people here and just hold onto those. It's easier to think people just go home in some cases.

video

[desequilibre]

Easier, but not better if it is not the case.

[ And people had almost calmed him down, the shame. ] I would prefer to know either way. At least then I could act. Unfortunately like most of my questions here, the answers are lacking.

video

[youbastard]

No, not better at all. [ She shrugs. ] I think you can safely assume it most of the time. There's nothing to say the listing is completely wrong. Answers are pretty damn lacking here. If it helps you almost start to get used to it.