[voice/telepathy, private to chosen 12 + the four mentioned in the post]

[rebells]

[The voice that comes over the signets is a young boy's voice, carefully calm, speaking in a slow, deliberate manner. He's trying to be comforting, but he's not great at it.]

Hello. This is Jay, one of the people working on the plan to get you all out of that building. We're working as quickly as we can, and we're going to get you all out safely. Please know that.

If you're feeling up to it, I have a few questions that might help us establish whether there's a pattern between any of you. This information will be shared with Percival, Dirk Strider, Roy Mustang, and 9S. I don't intend on sharing it with anyone else, and neither do they. Regardless, if you're not comfortable answering a question, you don't have to. I am going to ask, however, that you not lie.

What is your name? Age? Gender? Species?
Are you trained as a fighter, and if so, have you practiced your abilities in Shehui?
What power did Qri give you, and have you practiced that in Shehui?
What did you say to the monitors or government, to the best of your recollection?
Is there anything else you think might have made you of interest to the monitors?
How have the monitors behaved towards you so far?

[He repeats the questions again, slowly, two or three times.]

If you could also keep me updated on your physical condition, that would be helpful.

Again, we're coming for you. Take care of yourselves and each other, stay strong, and try not to provoke the monitors, Jade.

((OOC NOTE: Assume this is backdated some, to the first few days of testing.))

Comments

private to percival, dirk, roy, 9s

[rebells]

[We'll say he's sharing information with them as it comes in: feel free to discuss here.]

The line about not sharing with anyone else isn't absolute, but use your discretion. We do want these people to trust us.

private to squad.

[insubordination]

Riza Hawkeye has told me what happened to her.

[ he won't offer details, but judging from the tone of his voice, he is not happy. frustrated, heartbroken, and angry. he manages to keep his tone into a quiet and calm simple statement, but: ]

We need to move. Soon. I have to get her, and the others, out of there.

[witchhooded]

Jade Harley. I just turned 17. I am a girl and my species is... complicated? I was born human so mostly human girl but some dog is in there now.
Yes and no. My grandpa taught me how to use guns when I was young.
I can make vines and use them. I haven't been using it much aside from picking doors and stuff like that....
When we were questioned? Well, nothing really... At least I tried to say nothing. I said magic always has a scientific explanation and tried to get the monitor to zone out. Science talk always worked on my ectobrother... If you are asking me if I told the monitors and guards and other assholes to go fuck themselves then yes I have and I will do it again if I have to!!!
No. I tried to be as normal as possible.
Aside from making us endure high physical stresses or in addition??? [ :| ] If you mean the latter then not kindly. I think they are trying to find out how far my dog DNA goes and how high my pain tolerance is. Additionally, if it is possible to trigger my magic themselves. I admittedly have some thoughts on that, though I am not sure if now is the time for that. They are not treating us well but they will not let us die, I tested that.

[ and jade signs it with a signature! it's a picture of her sticking her tongue out at jay, buckteeth and all. :) drawing jay looks pretty scandalized by this display of authority... he cannot stop it... he is powerless in the face of a teenage girl. the lore... ]

telepathy; private.

[efface]

[ seeing the general's name on the list is really the only reason she steps up to respond, wanting to make sure this is the same effort he'd mentioned to her before replying. ]

Riza Hawkeye, twenty-seven, female, human.
Trained as a fighter, have kept up with my training since being brought here.
Power Augmentation. Yes, once or twice.
Nothing.
Uncertain.
Cold, calculated, like scientists. They have some fear of us and of the magic but not enough to hold them back from their current interrogation techniques. They are acting like a trained team of armed guards would towards their prisoners, with little sympathy or understanding. We are subjects, and they are hired to keep us in our places.

[ there's a pause, here, because she doesn't really want to talk about this but she understands the need for information. ]

Overall condition is stable. Some numbness and a few lacerations, bruises, possible broken ribs, possible concussion.

And Jade is in my cell, if the information is important.

[rebells]

[Oh my god.]

You tested that?

[You are not making this less stressful, Jade!!! He breathes. Right. Arguing with her won't accomplish anything, just--]

Remember what I said--we need you to be in good physical condition when we break you out. Have you had any other injuries since we last spoke?

Also, remind me whether or not you hid the ears when you first arrived in Shehui.

[ not here ]

[insubordination]

[ someone is going to die :) ]

[witchhooded]

Their guns are pretty easy to destroy and starving yourself just gets them to feed you or hook you up to IVs. Which also pretty easy to wreck!

[ she's had a really destructive time. she's almost gleeful about it - it hasn't resulted in the kindest treatment but wrecking their equipment has been one way she's been rebelling. ]

I can run. That is what matters, right?

No, I didn't hide them. I need them to hear and no one seemed all that weirded out aside from people in the coven.

[rootandbranch]

Um, you know this, don't you, Jay...?

[rebells]

I know or can guess most of it in your case, yes. You don't have to answer if you don't want to.

[His telepathic voice is quiet, thready. A little tired-sounding.]

How are you holding up? It's been a while since we last spoke.

[rebells]

[Either Jade was lying to him, or they've gotten worse. Neither option is a good one. He puts that aside for the moment and focuses on what Riza has said.

Breathe in, breathe out. His voice is level.]

Thank you, Colonel Hawkeye. I wish we could have met in better circumstances. Please take care of yourself as much as is possible.

And I knew about Jade, but thank you. Do you happen to know the groupings of the other cells?

[rootandbranch]

I don't mind answering, I just don't really know how old I am or stuff like that.

...I told them I was magic, of course. It's pretty obvious. Nothing really about Qri. They can't get much through my scales and their machines don't read anything that makes sense from me, so they're pretty mad about me, mostly. I still think I could tear down a lot of the inside of this place.

[he hesitates.]

I'm okay, but Vern's pretty angry. It's hard to remember time down here.

[rebells]

It's not just that. We also need to know how to distribute healers.

[She can't see it, but he's got his head in his hands and is rubbing his temples. Jade, why.]

. . . how are you holding up? [And then, after a pause for reflection, an awkward,] Are you bored yet?

[rebells]

. . . I'm not surprised. It's often easier to be angry on someone else's behalf.

If you need something to focus on, I can tell you a story. If you like.

[rootandbranch]

[a tiny sigh...]

I'm not so used to being awake and aboveground that I miss marking time as you humans do. It would be pretty easy to go back to sleep... that makes him mad too. I guess I see why.

I'd like that very much. Aren't you planning and things, though...?

[witchhooded]

[ there is a long pause before she answers. ]

I think my collarbone is broken. Maybe a rib or two. I am positive my wrist is broken, the restraints get stronger every time you break them. If the others have been in similar situations then I am not sure on how you should best distribute healers. I know it sounds like I am a mad dog but I really am trying to see how far they will go. They only respond to the problem prisoner, so...

I have been bored since day one. I really want to play jenga and lay in the grass, Jay.

[rebells]

[There is a long silence, almost like someone got this information and had to take a short walk. His voice, when it does come, is tired.]

We need you in one piece, Jade.

Do you want to hear a story?

[rebells]

We're mostly waiting on information and supplies right now.

[Honestly, he could use something of a distraction.]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir's somewhat-listless tone perks up a little.]

If you really don't mind--!

[rebells]

I wouldn't have offered if I did. This is a story about a line of treasure-hunters, and their search for a mysterious wish-granting crystal called the Everlight.

[He sounds quiet--Geir may have to strain to hear him through the interference--but sincere.

The story goes a little like this: there once was a treasure-hunter named Zamaran, who spent much of his life looking for this Everlight, a magical crystal said to be able to grant any wish. He took an apprentice, Sven, and started a school, all while continuing to search for this treasure. But one day, his search led him into an accident where he was blinded, and he stopped looking.

He pauses here, for Geir to comment or ask any questions.]

Re: private to squad.

[rebells]

Yes.

[Just that, and try as he might, he can't quite keep his exhaustion out of that single syllable.]

[rootandbranch]

[his reply, when it comes, is solemn and also quiet: he's been listening intently, and rather picked up the mood.]

That's what Dirk calls "ironic," isn't it? That he looked so hard his sight disappeared...

[rebells]

[That gets a smile out of him, and--perhaps more relevantly for Geir--a slight twist of amusement in his voice when he answers:]

That could be called ironic, yes.

Sven--however, even after his master had given up, Sven continued to look for the Everlight. He found an apprentice of his own, Norma, and brought her to the school Zamaran had started, and kept looking. His search led him to the moving island--the giant ship--known as the Legacy. He left for there and disappeared, never to be seen again, leaving Norma and Zamaran alone on the mainland. Everyone assumed that he must have died pursuing his dream.

[A pause, and his tone turns . . . sad, almost. How long has it been since he really thought about the friends he betrayed?]

That brings us to Norma. Norma . . . [He sighs; he's trying for arch with his next sentence, but it falls a little flat.] Norma was an idiot.

[rootandbranch]

Sven was a good apprentice.

[that ticks a box on some checklist something about the way Geir feels that the world should be ordered: that a student should go on pursuing a master's dream, even after the dream has evaporated for him. it's a bit sad that Zamaran gave up hope, though.

in the dark somewhere beneath the earth, where the monitors have turned the lights out to disorient him once again (joke's on you, monitors, he's disoriented already) -- Geir tilts his head a bit in roused curiosity. Jay has an Opinion about wherever he's going with this. Jay doesn't always like to let on about his opinions.]

What did Norma do?

[rebells]

She didn't have to do anything. She was just an idiot.

[Like the previous attempt, it falls a little flat: some combination of his exhaustion and lingering guilt. He's silent for a moment.]

Anyway. Norma was only a student when her master disappeared, but she decided that she would run away from school and continue pursuing Sven's dream, and Zamaran's dream. She learned and translated the ancient language of the Radiant . . . all without ever meeting a Radiant. She traveled to the Legacy in search of the Everlight. She found herself in the middle of a war.

[In a different tone of voice, like an aside:] This was the war between Crusand and Rexalia for control of the Legacy. The one I told you about before.

[efface]

You and I both, Jay, but it's good to connect.

[ and it's not so much that jade was lying!!! they each experienced their own types of testing. riza was just stubborn, and knew how these tactics worked, and refused to say or show anything at all. which didn't really...help her case.

and sorry, jay. the whole process hasn't exactly left her feeling very talkative, either. ]

Jade, Ruby and I are in one cell. Geir has his own. Jusis, Noctis and Julius are in another; Madoka, Shirley, and Haru in one; and Orga and Akechi in one. The cells are all along a single hallway.