voice

[deem]

[By now it's not the first time some people have heard 9S' thoughts filter into their minds. The first time, it was something about t-shirts, and quite without his intention to share. This time, however, it's quite by design that he speaks up...well, speaking in a manner of speaking. When he'll get used to this sort of thing, the worlds may never know]

Hey uh...everyone? If I think about everyone, it um, is everyone, right? [A pause, not quite long enough to suggest he's awaiting confirmation, before he presses on] After the recent attack, I'm sure it's occurred to more than a few of us — this place lacks a proper line of defense without us around. And that's a problem. I've been talking with Jude about it, and we've talked with the locals, and they're in support of working with us to create a barrier around the city, using the natives' magic to power it.

The natives we're referring to in particular are the Eltos. For anyone who isn't quite as well versed in Palai just yet, Eltos are a rarer breed of Palai that possess magic involving electricity, energy, power... Ideal for building something like a barrier to protect Aimintas before this tragic situation continues to repeat itself. Needless to say, we don't know how long we'll be here to help out.

We were hoping some of you would have some ideas of your own to toss at us. Feedback, input... Anything, really. We're all in the same position here. Now that we have more information than we did prior to the earlier attack, it'll be best if we work together to prevent another one before it happens.

[9S hums, some quiet sign of his agreement, before he adds something on]

I've collected data on the Uvi we've faced, so I can contribute that along with my technical knowledge. Jude here has more experience with magic than I do, by far, but this is going to take more of us to actually implement. The thing is...they're gonna need a centralized system. Something that lets the Eltos power it without being too drained for their regular activities.

Soooo... any thoughts, guys?

[Before the telepathic message is cut off, Jude decides to tack on one more thing]

I have confidence that we can make this thing work. If what happened during the attack proved anything, it's that no matter the cost, working together to come up with a game plan is always the best shot we have at making some sort of difference. Dirk and Jay organizing a solid defense plan and recon was just the beginning. Let's keep at it, everyone!

[There's some Protagonist Optimism for you before they sign off]


[ooc: Expect replies from 9S or Jude, maybe even both if you're a shortcake magnet, but feel free to threadjack/hop as well! Android-tested, mod-approved]

Comments

[ensorcel]

Do you prefer 'dear'? Or something more personal, like 'sweetheart'? I'll call you whatever you'd like.

[ it's raining underloved adolescents who need a smothering mother figure in their lives. did camilla die at the bottom of that cliff and end up in heaven?? this riku kid looks pretty sullen too. ]

Thank you, my brave boy. I will be certain to contact Riku at once. Your dedication to this task is remarkable; you're doing so very much for the Palai. You must have a big heart.

[deem]

[She doesn't know what a tremendous, and his core programming would argue quite undeserved, honor she's lavished him with. Such praise would make him glow if only androids were capable of luminescing outside of a black box reaction. And really, nobody wants one of those right about now]

I've never been called things like that, I don't know... [A pause during which he has to collect his thoughts lest they keep right on rushing ahead of him and across a network when he doesn't mean to broadcast them] It should be up to what you want to call people, shouldn't it?

[After all, how can he presume to dictate what a member of mankind should call him? Granted he wouldn't like insults, but her words are too kind and he doesn't know what to do with them]

But it's an honor to be of use, Ma'am. And I'm sure the Palai will be grateful for your help.

[ensorcel]

You silly little thing, I want to call you whatever it is you'd like. They're a little <intimate, but I don't mind 'baby' and 'honey' either. Whatever gives you the warmest, fuzziest feelings.

[ now she's just teasing him, but with such a big undertaking before him, this poor kid could use something to smile about. (gods she hopes this makes him smile and not creeped out or repulsed) camilla isn't one to take initiative like he is, so he has her respect and admiration.

stuffing down the worry, not just for this boy but for jude as well, that's starting to tighten in her chest, is harder than it usually is. maybe it's the telepathic phenomena, because a little of it slips. ]

And please, Camilla will do. There's no need to be so formal with me.

[deem]

Warmest, fuzziest feelings...?

[9S isn't even sure how he ought to answer that. He's only even had one nickname before, and he's not sure something like...baby...or honey...would be appropriate when he's only an android. It seems to him that he has only one answer to give]

Well I...my friends call me Nines?

[Sorry Camilla, he's doing his best]

If you just want me to call you Camilla then, I can do that.

[ensorcel]

Nines? What a cute name. It definitely gives me the warm-fuzzies.

[ not really, but camilla is rather curious about it. she can pry the meaning or reasoning behind it out of him later though. ]

Thank you, my sweet Nines. Let us work together to make this world a safer place for our Palai friends, alright? Just promise me you won't work too hard, alright? Let Big Sister Camilla help you whenever you're feeling tired.

[deem]

[That's the first time anyone has ever claimed something like that about his nickname. Still, it does hearten 9S that people want to call him as such, because there's a closeness about the use of nicknames that he's always appreciated.

It's why he was so bound and determined to wrestle such acknowledgement out of 2B.

But wait, there's more—]

Wh- big sister? [21O's legacy lives on, maybe, sort of...okay not really] I uh...that's very kind of you. I'll certainly do my best.