[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]

I will. You're smart, Jay. Thank you for talking to me about it.

[for what it's worth, Geir's attention to the conversation has sharpened a lot, and any perception that he's not engaging with it fully has long since ebbed.

Jay's very aspirational. his personality and feelings about life aren't a ragged web of questions desperately spun out in the dark, hoping something will catch. Geir feels wistful and a bit melancholic about it, but maybe one day he'll be as sure about things as Jay.]

...I guess I'm glad that someone's really sure. Nobody else has really said that.

[rebells]

[He almost adds that Geir should talk to more people, then, but he guesses that most people have never--that they haven't really had to think about it that way. They've never . . . .

(He feels a sudden stab of envy.)

But he should answer Geir.]

You're welcome.

[rootandbranch]

[huh. that went... unexpectedly well. maybe Geir is getting better at this...?]

...do we know where we're going after we escape yet?

[rebells]

[The secret: wait until Jay is too tired to snap at people.]

Out to the outskirts of the city. There are wooded areas we can hide in. Long-term, however, we'll either have to find Qri or break our way out of this city.

[rootandbranch]

[hiding in the woods sounds-- kind of nice, actually. familiar.]

...too bad Qri hasn't given anyone the ability to find her faster...

[rebells]

That would be a very specific power, but useful.

[Actually, now that he thinks about Shirley's ability, it could fall under that, but he doesn't mention it; he's not sure she wanted anyone else to know.]

[rootandbranch]

[Geir's tone goes wry; especially in the context of their conversation, his own power from Qri never stops feeling more ironic.]

I'll try to keep everyone alive.