maskormenace | [Video]

[It's the middle of the day and somewhere in a city park, greenery behind her, Tefé finally ends up turning on the video feed, scowling. Under other circumstances, finding herself in a whole new universe might have been like some kind of omen, a fresh start. But the military thing sticks in her craw, and frankly, so far Tefé hasn't seen anything to indicate that, in a more planetary sense, things are much different than back home, which leaves her back with the same dilemmas as ever.]

How many of you Registered Heroes actually believe it's a good idea to basically be signing up with the military? You know, the guys that come up with new and creative ways for humans to keep killing each other, along with the rest of the planet as a hapless casualty? Do any of you even think about how completely fucked up it is being tagged like this? Knowing they've got a file on you is creepy as hell, too.

[Even though there's signs of anger on her face, she honestly sounds more pensive than anything, with one other question on her mind.]

And has anyone else found out that some things just... stopped working since they came here? Things you used to be able to do, I mean.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Got onto what?

[She's not really the kind of person that's down with tech, and the internet was just barely becoming a thing in her time.]

Ummm. [does he want to make this girl paranoid, forever? not really] It's nothing. Did you take the government housing?

[People are so confusing sometimes.]

Yeah. I'll stay there until I figure out what I'm going to do. Why?

[She sounds confident in that, at least. If she grew a giant treehouse in the middle of the park somebody would probably cause problems.]

Just wondering where at. Some places are more safe than others, so, that's something you gotta know. Day One stuff.

[What is this even]

You don't have to worry about me being safe.

[Also sounding quite carelessly confident in that, as well. But from the little bit of scenery over her shoulder, if you squint, is probably a small park down by the canal of Maurtia Falls, though.]

There are some other benefits. Not ones that will matter to everyone, though.

[Plant talk. Huh.]

Maybe the plants are different here? It could be them, not you.

Who said I was?

[pretends he's Blind and Can't See that, this next statement is just a coincidence]

I work in Maurtia Falls, and it's a crappy neighborhood. De Chima's nice in the country. Heropa's probably the nicest city. They have a ton of different take-out places, and one of those stores where all they sell is coloured sand in weird-shaped bottles. Which I can't believe is a thing, honestly?

Like what?

[She can do way more than just talk to plants, but that's enough for the conversation right now.]

It's more like, if plants exist then the Green should, too. I guess it's not totally a bad thing. But it's not a good thing either... I don't think. [Tefé curls one strand of her white hair around a fingertip, still a little bothered by this.]

[Hey, look, don't try to distract her with stories about weird shit humans buy. She's got you now, cool guy.]

It's a city. [She shrugs. None of them are very nice from a plant's perspective, although some are a lot worse than others.] I thought you just said you did whatever you wanted, and now it turns out you have a job? Where?

[he actually has three jobs]

An imPort garage. It's not through the government, and I have a job because I don't use photosynthesis to eat. I prefer tex-mex or schwarma.

[A grave-faced elderly man with a remarkably deep voice greets her in the video, looking sympathetic.]

You are far from the only one to recognize how unacceptable the situation is, I assure you. Unfortunately, naming the problem is far easier than successfully resolving it.

You're excused. [That's another weird offhand remark that doesn't really come off like a joke either. Excusing him for having to eat food? Yeah, that's right. Wheat died to make your schwarma wrap, you animal.

But she likes his attitude. And doesn't really like talking over the network, the more she uses it.]

Are you there right now?

[More matter-of-fact statements. Look, Magnus is getting a visit whether he likes it or not by this point.]

I figured that much out myself, thanks.

[Trying to expel the nanites from her bloodstream at first was unsuccessful... and messy.

But snide remarks aside, at least this guy sounds like he's on the same page.]

How many people don't go for the registration option, anyway?

Yeah.

[a matter of fact answer. He's probably thinking about Schwarma wraps]

Registrations isn't about joining the military. No one is forced to fight regardless of their status.

As for the file, that is Lachesis doing, not the government. They certainly take notes, of course, but what you read on it, is what they know. [ nothing else. ]

And as for powers, it's also Lachesis' doing. It's not strange that powers have been altered, limited, or removed completely. Or that new powers were given.

Housing, employment, the increased stipend, health care—those of us who come from worlds that aren't so different from this one might not need those things so much. But I've also met people who come from completely foreign places with no concept of how to support themselves in the modern world.

[She had to introduce a friend to the concept of pizza. What a deprived soul.]

There are a lot of things that seem the same, but aren't, not quite. I'm from America, but definitely not this America. It might be the same with plants.

Are you going to tell me where it is, or do I have to find it myself?

[She says petulantly. Not like there can be that many imPort owned garages, but he's talking to her right now, geez.]

[lmao! what a brat. he is instantly endeared]

-- Oh, do you need your car fixed?

[nah just joshin]

It's at [ ADDRESS ].

I don't have a car.

[Yet. Oh, sorry was that a joke? It sure didn't register as one with her -- the moment she needs to go on a road trip, it's hotwire central in Tefe's immediate vicinity. Which, come to think of it, is just another good reason to go check out this guy in person.]

Don't go anywhere. I'm coming over.

[It's more than a few minutes, really. She's used to schlepping it by foot even when she still could access the Green to move between places. Dad always had some greenery somewhere around that he could build a body out of, but in her case, finding a corpse to use as a base body is a bit harder.]

Even if you don't fight, you're still being asked to swear allegiance to a bunch of goons advocating for warfare. So why should I? And whoever this Lachesis is, she's sure telling them a bunch of shit she didn't need to.

Sure. And being used to show the world we support USA. Which is why many imPorts simply don't register. However, others prefer to because they either trust the government or prefer the perks or war simply does not bother them all that much.

And Lachesis is the Artificial Intelligence controlling the Porter. We don't know how, but there is a theory she scans our brains and DNA.

Did you register?

No. I'm the kind who didn't sit well with the idea of being used to show off how strong and mighty USA is.

You're right. Those don't matter to everyone.

[Dismissive. The implication being that she's included in that group. Not that permanent housing isn't nice.]

And this isn't the America I remember, either. [She looks pensive again. In a way, it means a whole fresh start. The good: putting her past behind her. The bad: back to square one on her search for what she's supposed to do with her life.] I'm guessing everywhere else is like that, too. The same but... not.

[So far, not compelling reason at all to register, then.]

Have you ever heard about anything happening to people who didn't?

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