[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

[rootandbranch]

You don't live for very long, but you look for things... oh, I really like humans. Mortals, I guess.

[rebells]

I think humans and Radiant are more similar than not. But I don't know about other types of "mortals," as you put it.

[He wants to keep the conversation going, for Geir's sake if nothing else, and something occurs to him:]

Did I tell you about the Oresoren?

[rootandbranch]

[maybe their dying not being the end of the world gives people who aren't gods a different perspective. Geir wonders how you would ask about that, or test it. it's not like he can change his nature to be something else, and see...]

No, I don't think so...

[he searches his memory, but he doesn't remember it coming up.]

[rebells]

They're another species of . . . mortals, I guess you'd call it. They look like anthropomorphic otters. They come up to about my hip. They have music, and martial arts, and they're very good at mechanical things.

I lived with them, when I was on the Legacy.

[rootandbranch]

[something about this -- the context, the fact it's something Jay has never brought up before in discussions of the Legacy, the tone of his voice -- tells Geir that this is important. somewhere in the darkness of his cell under the earth, he slits an eye open, pondering it.]

...did they come to the Legacy too, then? Or did they come with it...?

[rebells]

They've been on the Legacy a long time. Much longer than the fifteen years since it was discovered by humans. But I don't know whether they came over on the ship, or if they were originally from Melfes.

[rootandbranch]

It sounds like home for them, either way.

[Geir's mental tone has softened a bit, sympathetic. they're all very far from home right now. separated from Vern, even Geir is feeling it.]

[rebells]

It is. [And after a pause, searching for something to say:] They live in a village in a cave. The mouth of the cave is large--I think you'd fit, although getting through the streets would be tight.

[rootandbranch]

You think I could see it?

[a DEFINITE lift of interest there.]

Is that where you stay when you're on the Legacy--?

[rebells]

Yes. I don't know how welcome I'll be on the Legacy after . . . . [He trails off rather than finish that.] But the Oresoren should be welcoming.

I think they'd like you. I think you'd like them.

[rootandbranch]

[*Jay shoves all the cute things together

Geir sounds a little wistful himself, now.]

I'm sure I would.

[he wonders about that trailing-off. Jay betrayed peace on the Legacy -- and he was pretty clear, even if he didn't say it outright, that it was done in order to protect something, something or someone at risk of being hurt. Geir doesn't have enough information to conclude for sure that what Jay is trying to protect is these Oresoren. among other things, Jay seems to care about a lot more people and things around and about the Legacy than just the Oresoren. but the Oresoren are one of them.]

Did they tell a lot of stories, too?

[rebells]

They had their fair share of legends, yes. About explorers, mostly.

[rootandbranch]

Oh! No wonder you went treasure hunting, then!

[rebells]

That wasn't the reason. But I enjoy exploring.

[rootandbranch]

[there's a lot Geir could say here, but in the end, he'd have to assume something to go with any of the things he thinks about. he'd rather not, so he might as well ask.]

. . . hey. . .

Why'd you tell me this now?

[rebells]

Which part? The story? Or about the Oresoren?

[rootandbranch]

Yes.

[rebells]

[There's a pause before he responds.]

. . . I simply thought you could use the company.

[rootandbranch]

Thank you.

I like your stories a lot, you know. You're an apprentice skald for sure.

[rebells]

I don't know about that, but I do try.

[An apprentice skald is a better thing to be than a lot of what he's been over his short life, anyway.]

[rootandbranch]

You like information, but you don't ask a lot of questions, sometimes. Is there anything you want me to talk about...?

[rebells]

There's a lot I don't know about you, I suppose.

. . . were you awake before Vern summoned you?

[rootandbranch]

Not for long, and not for a very long time.

[pauses, not really a hesitation, just trying to get it straight in his head...]

I was born in Jotunheim, of Angrboda the giantess. When the gods realized me and my brother and sister were alive, they took us from Mother's hall and brought us to Odin's in Asgard. Dad would visit us there sometimes. When I was a little bigger, Odin threw me in the sea to wait for the end of the world, and I swam around down there till I saw a hook. Thor was fishing. I was still so small, he pulled me right up.

[still kind of glum at the memory tbh!!!!!! ugh, he'd felt like a goldfish, and when he'd tried to bite Thor out of pique, Thor had just laughed. Geir wasn't so much bigger than a man that a man couldn't hold his jaws open. Thor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

I wasn't very old then. Anyway, Dad got really angry after Hymir threw me back. He said I couldn't be trusted to the sea till I was big enough not to make more of a fool of myself than I already was, and he buried me. Then I fell asleep. Then Vern called me, and I woke up. It was too early.

[...sigh. it's not a very long or exciting story, and Geir knows it. the exciting part of his story was supposed to be the end.]

[rebells]

[It's strange, to hear this myth-like story retold as something that actually happened to a--well, surely Geir counts as a person. To think about how it did happen to a person.]

He buried you? Literally?

[rootandbranch]

[DOES GEIR? DOES GEIR THOUGH??? great question, Jay.]

Under a hill. He raised a cairn of stones on top, but I don't believe most of the gods were sure quite where I was. Maybe he thought Thor would try to fight me or talk to me again if he knew.