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Post by guinuspiggus on Jul 13, 2018 18:02:56 GMT
[ Oto Syrano | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Restricted Zone | Augustus Station ]
Syrano’s chamber wasn’t visited. People didn’t go there. It was off-limits to the land-dwellers, and the Lienati weren’t much for casual visitation. Claudius might pay another visit, but they could only stand each other in small amounts, so he didn’t expect it. While under the water, trying to twist his abnormally tiny wrists out of the rope bindings, he expected he’d have the rest of the day all to himself. When he heard a sound, a voice, his heart stopped. There shouldn’t be anyone in here. He glanced up and saw humanoid legs in his tank. He cringed—who knew what sort of bacteria he was introducing to this fragile ecosystem. The last time someone tried to bathe here, Syrano came down with something called "streptococcal A" and they came down with a brain-eating amoeba. He hoped he still had a few of those floating around here. Slowly he rose to the top of the tank. It took no effort on his part, his skirts navigated and kept balance for him. His antennae broke the green surface of the water first, then his eyes. He stayed at this level, mostly concealed. His staff was on the other side of the walkway, but it wouldn’t be much good with his wrists bound. He was weak and useless on land. The only way he could survive any conflict was to remain in the water, and something about this man’s voice instilled a very real fear of conflict in him. He knew so little about land-dweller body language, but his voice was...not right. He watched him. It took him a moment to gather his mind, figure out what to say. He wanted to ask who are you, what are you doing here, how did you get in, would you please remove your appendages from my water. Without really knowing why, he chose to ask something that felt more important. “What do you mean by an auspicious day for the Lienati? Surely, they’re not quite so blessed by my presence.” His skirts moved him backwards, at a distance from the man. Out of arm’s reach. If only his escorts were still here, or even that detestable Claudius...But he daren't summon them. All one of his escape routes were blocked, and also on land.
Home invasion was frightening, and as far as he knew, he was all alone here, and very helpless.
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Post by Absinthe on Jul 19, 2018 7:18:58 GMT
[ Tyrian Bull | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Augustus Station] attn: guinuspiggus The man only smiled. Though he could tell that the creature in the water could not get a read on him, he could, however, see much in the way the creature reacted. No detail of his tone or demeanor was lost on the man and none of this did not enter into his thoughts. The man was used to being both feared by some and detested by others. It was his nature, as with the nature of his kind. They made the those around them uneasy like they could never be sure of their footing. "Until this day our friends have had precious little by way of encounters with the universe. They have been sheltered, kept in a safe harbor and the tumultuous waves of the politics and conflict of the outside world have touched them not," the man said by way of explanation. " Today, well, that changes. Today they will fight. Today some will die. Today they will earn their home or they will lose it altogether." The man's tone was not that of a threat, only of a man who knew something was coming. As if he could see the storm brewing before it actually formed, or rather the storm on the horizon before it reached the land. " If they survive they will achieve something they have never had. If they fail, then it won't matter and all of his work will have been in vain."
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Post by guinuspiggus on Jul 19, 2018 13:17:48 GMT
[ Oto Syrano | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Restricted Zone | Augustus Station ]
He soaked up this information much the same way he soaked up water; like a sponge. This was foreboding. He didn’t know if he could trust this strange land-dweller to be telling the truth, but he couldn’t tell if he was lying either. He was too peculiar to be able to tell either way. Also, he wasn’t leaving. It’s like he lived here and the Pallucia was the guest.
He didn’t want to kick him out yet though. He wasn’t sure how long he had this...creature’s... attention. He might be able to work something useful out of him. If not, then he’d at least keep him from causing any harm for a few more minutes.
“You know there will be a fight with certainty, or is this more your surmise? While I would like to believe in the words of a stranger who has broken into my house, stolen my wine, and contaminated my water...I’m going to need some sort of proof.”
Under the water, he didn’t continue to struggle with his bindings. They might stir up the algae above and become accidentally visible. Instead, he stayed where he was, letting his legs float in the water while his skirts did all the directional work for him.
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Post by Absinthe on Jul 22, 2018 5:55:28 GMT
[ Tyrian Bull | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Augustus Station] attn: guinuspiggus The man smiled, not a cold smile, but it was also not very warm. He was used to being questioned, having anything he said viewed with more than a degree of suspicion. But it didn't truly matter what he revealed to the creature in the water, if the creature attempted to speak to anyone, aside from a select few, they would more than likely not believe him. " In eight hours a Krill ship will drop out Quantum Drive not 50 kilometers from this station. At which time it will attack. The station will be boarded and the Lienati will fight to keep their home," the man explained flatly. How he knew this he did not say, but there was a quality to his voice that made it clear that he was not making this up. " They will be forced to fight alongside those who have claimed their home and in this, they will either come together in survival or come together in death. The choice, such as it is, will be in the hands of the crew of this station and the Lienati. Live or die, up to them." He again to a drink of the liquid in the cup, his bright eyes never leaving the creature in the water all the same. " And I think you will have a role to play in all of this as well. Perhaps more than even you are prepared to admit. Parma trusts you, and the Union does not distrust you. It makes you the only one who can work with both," the man went on, his smile spreading just slightly. " And when the moment comes for that, I think you should be able to do nicely. After all, it is why we have allowed you to stay here."
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Post by guinuspiggus on Jul 22, 2018 18:27:08 GMT
[ Oto Syrano | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Restricted Zone | Augustus Station ]
That there would be an attack...frightened him. He had many experiences in his life, but...not one like that. And in a tank as small as his, he would have no power. The best he could do is to hide under the algae. This creature’s appearance was enough to make him feel helpless and weak, but now...he felt even more so. He didn’t even know who the Krill were, so the severity of the attack was entirely conjecture.
But he did say that Syrano would have an important role. His larger set of eyes narrowed, widening out the lower set. It sounded like flattery. Once upon a time, he was a business mogul of the most powerful kind. Everyone who knew his name would do as he asked, just to not offend the heir apparent to such a great fortune. Now he was a drunkard in a tiny fish tank.
Sure, he had a strategic position, but it was not as powerful as he liked. His planning earlier was simply to level the playing field, increase his own power. Perhaps I shouldn’t create so many waves he thought privately. With the revelation that he was allowed to stay here, it worried him what would happen if he chose to return to the callous ways he employed once upon a time.
“...Who exactly are you, and what position do you have that would decide whether I stay here or die?” He asked. It was a challenging question, though his tone suggested he was not trying to challenge him. He navigated the language with some difficulty, concepts that were easily expressed in Pallucia standard were not in this language.
He thought back to when he first arrived. He was left on the station specifically to die slowly and painfully. He didn’t remember seeing anyone other than the Lienati, and without them, he would have done exactly as he was sentenced to do.
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Post by Absinthe on Jul 27, 2018 6:06:20 GMT
[ Tyrian Bull | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Augustus Station] attn: guinuspiggus The man smiled. He delighted in people not knowing who he was or why he was far more in authority than they thought. He would never act in such a way to not be in a position of authority. " To put it simply, my semi-aquatic friend, I am one of the people who owned this station before those who now do did so," the man said, his smile not faltering. " You may call me the Tyrian Bull, I am a member of the Octavian Group and we are the they who have orchestrated all that now happens." His eyes seemed to gleam at that, not quite threateningly, but in a manner that definitely said he was not a man to be taken lightly and was, in fact, more than a little dangerous. " It was us who allowed you to stay here and us who have done a great deal to ensure that what now happens, happens in accordance with the plans we have long worked to bring to fruition," he went on. He took some enjoyment from speaking this openly, knowing that for now, no one would believe the creature in the water and by the time there was any sort of trust that the creature could truly take any steps against them, it would be far too late.
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Post by guinuspiggus on Jul 28, 2018 1:29:58 GMT
[ Oto Syrano | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Restricted Zone | Augustus Station ]
At no point did Syrano assume this man was not dangerous. The sheer fact that he was a land-dweller in Syrano’s water tank was bad enough. A good beating and Syrano would be dead. However, he could trust most land-dwellers would not beat him. This one...he’s pretty sure would. If he felt like he had to, he probably would, and his life would be over. That wasn’t the only power he held though. This entire situation was so fantastical, he was sure nobody would believe him—least of all Claudius, his fastest link to the Lienati people. And Tyrian Bull, this man knew it. He knew all of this. “And why come here to tell me?” Part of his face, where an eyebrow might’ve been raised. Both his eyes were open, watching him, as prey would search for danger. “It amuses you to give me knowledge I can do nothing with, yes? A form of entertainment...” He grimaced. It was a cruel game, made even crueler because...well, Syrano did the same thing, once upon a time. Told them the truth because no one would ever believe the victim… Until one day, they did.
So despite the risk to himself, despite his innate instinct to dismiss the man, keep to himself...he fished for more information. It was all against his better judgement, but he had a life-debt. He had payments to make. And maybe, he decided, he had too much Carwyl for breakfast.
“I suppose it’d be too much to ask to hear your plans. As the phrase goes back home, there simply isn’t enough Carwyl for it. But you know I must ask anyway. It's not like anyone would believe me if I heard them, after all.”
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Post by Absinthe on Aug 2, 2018 5:41:45 GMT
[ Tyrian Bull | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Augustus Station] attn: guinuspiggus An odd look crossed the man's face, as if he was carefully considering his next words. The man had spoken quite openly before that point, but there was a hesitation this time. His smile faltered for only that moment and it was as if a shadow moved over him. " My plans? It's almost a humorous concept, though I should think you would not know about that just yet," the man said as his smile returned and what had seemed to be like a shadow disappeared from him. " No, I shan't explain much more to you today. For now, I have told you what I have for reasons I don't think you will understand for a long time, or at least as long as you think you are the only one listening." The man then pulled his legs from the water and it seemed as if all the slime and algae of the tank just slide cleanly off of his skin, unable to stick to it in any way. He then put on his socks and slipped his shoes on. " There are events unfolding now that have been planned for a very long time, my aquatic friend," he said as he got to his feet and brushed the debris of the floor from his clothing away. " Quite soon more will come of it, but for now..." He paused and smiled a little wider. " For now it is perhaps best to enjoy the quiet while it lasts. Soon it will never be so quiet as this here again." And with that, the man began to walk away.
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Post by guinuspiggus on Aug 2, 2018 6:08:13 GMT
[ Oto Syrano | Water Tank | Deck 02 | Restricted Zone | Augustus Station ]
He would not reveal his secrets, and Syrano couldn’t blame him. The only way he would have is if he was sure his plan was absolutely, one hundred percent fool proof, or if he was so arrogant to believe that it was. Unfortunately, without the vast network of connections and subordinates he had on Pallucia, he’s entirely useless here. He remained quiet, worrying both about the man and the nasty bacteria he might be leaving behind in Syrano’s fragile ecosystem…
...but as he watched, the algae, water droplets, everything slid right off his skin. As if it was not porous, absorbent skin. Not one of the usual land-dwellers, he noted, and hopefully this meant he had nothing to leave behind in his pond. Perhaps in the future, he’d be able to find the others like him-- the ‘we’ he mentioned-- by looking for the same trait.
Syrano watched him walk away. He watched until neither set of eyes could detect his presence, not in the infrared, color, or the ultraviolet spectrums. He waited just a few more minutes, just in case he lingered. He was gone, but Syrano’s thumping heart was not. This was not right. Not at all. Instead of hiding among algae, he surfaced so his mouth was above water,
“Claudius! Claudius--” He called, hoping the computer kept his sensors on even when not in use. He rarely ever summoned the station AI, because he’d rather not talk to him ever for as long as he lived, but...there were more pressing matters than his discomfort. He closed the gap between him and the walkway with alarming speed, using his elbows to push himself up to be better heard. His wrists were bound still, bruises appearing on his skin as the rope dug into him, but that was not important either.
“Claudius, you dull hunk of scrap metal—turn on your sensors! Who was that? Who was that just here—tell me you can run some sort of scan and identify it. Do you know him? Does Parma?” He did not sound angry, nor did he look it. He didn’t look panicked either, but there was considerable concern to his voice. His skirts flapped and splashed water against the opening of his gills, they and his lungs were working overtime to support his fear response. It was not as evident under the water as it was now. "You had to have heard him speak with me. He knows more than he should-- He could be a danger to the Lienati. It’s important we keep track of him.”
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Post by Absinthe on Aug 2, 2018 7:59:28 GMT
[ Water Tank | Deck 02 | Augustus Station] attn: guinuspiggus The monitor remained black. Either Claudius could not hear him or heard but did not respond. Either way, there was no sign of life from the monitor or the speaker system.
[ Tyrian Bull | Near the Water Tank | Deck 02 | Augustus Station] Outside the water storage area, the Tyrion Bull stopped and adjusted his sleeve. From the shadows a pale-skinned woman emerged, her bright red eyes studied him silently. " If you have something to say, say it," The Bull said not even bothering to look at her. " That was very dangerous of you. I would not have expected you to be the one to decide to do a thing like that," the woman said toying with one of her strands of curly blonde hair. " We need him to be on edge today. I don't want him getting intoxicated before the events unfold. No better way to ensure that then to stir him up just enough," the Bull said flatly. " Perhaps, but you should not have tipped so much of our hand to him," the woman said admonishingly. " It won't matter. By the time those around him trust him enough to do anything with the information he now knows, that will be common knowledge," the Bull said with an irritated sigh. " He is still an asset and perhaps the time for direct manipulation with certain individuals is very much upon us." " That is for the group to decide, not you alone," the woman said her tone harsher. " Not anymore. Now it has been done. Now it is only a matter of choosing who we interact with," the Bull said with a smirk. " Keep rushing and you may ruin this, we have been planning too long to rush now," the woman continued her harsh tone not abating. " We have all the time we need, now we must act," the man said and began to walk away. " Watch your back, you may lose the skin on it," the woman said as she too walked away. " Fuck, ewe," the Bull said and continued, walking out into the main part of the station. ~END
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