015 ♍ VIDEO ♍ backdated to monday evening

[glowsferatu]

[ The feed opens on a video that looks like it was recorded by something much higher quality than the standard imPort communicator, as a dark-haired woman walks down a runway in a very colorful drape dress. The colors blaze across the fabric in a way that seems both orderly and wild, passing from the hottest pinks and yellows at the shoulders to a blues and purples at the hems, mixing and mingling in the middle like the angriest possible pastels. A few of the colors even hit hues that don't look like they're naturally occurring, at least not on this planet.

It's the centerpiece of the Maryam Spring Collection, being showcased tonight in New York.

But, as the model nears the end of the runway, she looks disconcerted for a moment, as if suddenly struck by indigestion. She does her best to keep going and playing it off, but eventually she has to stop and turn her head toward the ceiling...as she burps out a large puff of flame. There are sounds of awe and shock from the audience as everyone's phones start flashing and snapping away, and the model turns back to walk as briskly as she can back behind the curtain.

The clip ends, and the video cuts to a frazzled Kanaya, broadcasting from her communicator backstage. She's wearing the biggest, fakest smile her fangs will allow, eyes wide and distressed. Behind her, the same model can be seen in the changing room, still wearing the dress, guzzling bottled water while steam pours out of her mouth. Kanaya glances back at her, smile unwavering, and the woman is clearly very upset that she can apparently breathe fire now.

Satisfied that the extent of the situation has been conveyed, Kanaya turns back to the camera, letting only one word escape her grit teeth. ]

Help.

Comments

video

[superposition]

[The absurdity of the situation is almost comical, but looking at some of the other comments...]

She's not an imPort?

voice.

[glowsferatu]

If she were an imPort, we might have had room to expect this. But I'd certainly never seen her before we started working together, and she doesn't have a tattoo.

[ If she were an imPort, Kanaya might have been able to use her dampener here. Too bad she lent it to Nike last week. ]

[superposition]

[Meanwhile, he's already forming hypotheses as fast as he can think. The poor girl clearly wasn't expecting it, which rules out a few. A surprise "gift" from an imPort? from the Porter?from aliens? Or is this world starting to develop metas on its own?]

Kanaya, this is unprecedented. Does she have any idea what could have caused it? -Is she all right? [which really should have been his first question, in retrospect]

[glowsferatu]

She's breathing fire, Qubit. Of course she isn't alright!

And there are some existing precedents. Though the only ones I'm aware of, she probably would have been able to attribute them to a cause.

[ Like vampirism in humans usually first requires a bite, and generally doesn't include fire breathing. And she's pretty sure Vulcanus took recruits to make their Meta-men, she can't imagine how a subject would be unaware. But then, the imPorts they go their first samples from were, so who knows. ]

[superposition]

[sdslf] I know that, I meant is she injured.

And can you be more specific on those? [out comes the tablet. you better believe he's gonna take notes.]

[glowsferatu]

She hasn't been burned internally, from what I've been able to determine, and she's being very careful to keep her hands away from her mouth.

[ She tried to examine her more closely, but didn't have much time, and wouldn't even know what to look for, either. ]

The existing precedents aren't really relevant to this situation. She's almost certainly not a vampire, and the only known source of that has already been plugged. The other wasn't even on this universe, and if they were to announce their discovery of this dimension, this would be a really imprudent way to do it.

[superposition]

True, but I want to be sure I can rule it out.

[glowsferatu]

Qubit, it's a very long story, and I'm in somewhat dire straits at the moment! Digging that up isn't the sort of stress I need to add to my plate right now.

Ask me about it later. Please.

[superposition]

[BUT KANAYAAAAA]

Fine - fine. Can I speak to her, then? What's her name?

[glowsferatu]

Her name is Talia, and she isn't feeling particularly talkative at the moment. Given that the attempt would probably melt my communicator, I can't really hold her under any fault for that decision.

[superposition]

[A sigh, slightly frustrated. It's annoying to get data-blocked, but if it's not a good time, it's not a good time. He has to respect their wishes there, however grudgingly.]

All right. [beat] I'll let you go, then, but if you need any help, don't hesitate to ring me back. Or once Talia's feeling up to it. Poor girl.

[glowsferatu]

I'll leave her your number, in case she wants to find out more once we have it better stabilized. But it will have to be up to her.

[ She's not really sure doing it the other way around would be a good idea. She doubts Qubit would give up. But Talia will probably be motivated to call him anyway. ]

[superposition]

I understand. [And that's the best he can do for now. Patience is a virtue, probably.] Thank you. Talk to you later.

[glowsferatu]

Yeah. Take care.

Sorry. [ Because he's definitely the one who needs to be apologized to. ]