[voice, ota]

[rebells]

Hello there.

This is Jay. If we haven't spoken yet, I've been with this "coven" more or less since its beginning, and I helped coordinate defense during the first Uvi raid. Feel free to ask me any questions you don't want to bother Genette or Brie with; a more informed group benefits us all, after all.

I'm talking to you all in interest of that, actually: a number of us have expressed that a comprehensive listing of everyone's abilities, particularly those granted us by Qri, would be useful to have. If you'll come talk to me about yours, either over telepathy or in person, that would be much appreciated. Genette should know about your Qri-granted power, if you don't.

I'll be in the house we're staying in for most of the day. Please do take care of yourselves, and be careful not to get shocked.

[Indeed, Jay can be found at a table near the entrance to the coven's house, with a stack of papers that read:

NAME:
CAN YOU FIGHT?:
QRI-GRANTED POWER:
OTHER POWERS:

He'll be handing them out to anyone who passes by, although what you do with yours is of course up to you.]




((a thing for you to fill out))

Comments

[talim]

[ he's sort of surprised jay remembered a detail like that. jude nods. ]

I was. The first time I was running solo, but during the second attack Madoka was working tirelessly alongside me.

[rebells]

[He was organizing things! And also fighting during both of them. He definitely kept track of healers, since the coven doesn't have many.]

I see. I should thank both of you, then; I doubt we'd have gotten through the raids as well if you hadn't been there.

[talim]

[ jude looks a bit embarrassed. he rubs the back of his neck, smiling down at his shirt. ]

It's no problem. She was more remarkable than I was, in all honesty, but I was just doing my job. And I'll continue to do it for as long as I need to.

[rebells]

We appreciate it. Or I appreciate it, although I'm sure the others do as well.

[Well. Most of the others, anyway.]

This was your job on your world, then?

[talim]

Then I appreciate you appreciating it.

[ jude offers him a grateful smile. ]

Hm... I wouldn't say that. I went to med school and got my degree; it was going to be. My parents run a clinic, and I was just planning on following in my father's footsteps. But once I realized that there were more options available to me, other things began to catch my interest. Science, namely. I work in a laboratory.

That's why it's been nice to be able to put my skills to work here. I know they aren't going to waste.

[rebells]

You like helping people.

[With a small smile.]

[talim]

... So I'm that easy to figure out, huh?

[ that earns him a laugh. ]

[rebells]

Or perhaps I'm just perceptive.

[The smile widens.]

I'll allow you to believe whichever one is less damaging to your ego.

[talim]

Maybe it's just a little bit of both. You seem like a pretty smart guy.

[rebells]

Oh, do I?

[He seems cheerful about that assessment.]

Well, I've always thought so, but my own impression of myself is biased, of course.

[talim]

Well, I'd argue that it's good to have a little self-confidence.

[rebells]

Do you?

[He smiles in response, and turns back to his notebook, flipping a page.]

What exactly did you do back home? Were you researching in particular?

[talim]

Hm... I'm not sure about my own self-confidence, but the people I tend to admire most have a lot of it themselves. Maybe there's a pattern there.

[ thinking of milla brings a fresh smile to his face. he hums in thought before answering. how can he put this? no matter how he phrases it, it's likely that it won't make sense. ]

I was researching environmental science. It might sound strange, but I'm working on an invention of sorts to bring dead trees and plants back to life without hurting the sick and disabled in the process.

[ ... ]

I'm sure you're wondering how in the world those two subjects tie into each other, but... I've found that the foundation of the two worlds I come from—

[ yes, worlds, plural. ]

—is very different from the foundation of other worlds I've heard about here. I'm sure I don't need to tell you there are all kinds.

[rebells]

[It's okay; someone attempted to explain Homestuck to him, so this is nothing.]

So there's an overall exchange of life and decay on your world--worlds--which has to be balanced?

[talim]

[ oh phew. ]

That's exactly right. You summarized it better than I could.

[rebells]

[There's a flash of a smile from him, which slides into a curious,]

How were you hoping to circumvent that?

[talim]

It wasn't necessarily that I was hoping to, but explaining the same thing over and over again can admittedly get a little tiring. That doesn't mean I wouldn't be willing to do it.

What about you, Jay? We've spoken more than once and I still don't know the first thing about you.

[ a pause. ]

Besides the fact that you're intelligent, of course.

[ of course. there's a teasing glint on his eyes, but it's not like he doesn't mean it. ]

[rebells]

[TALES PROTAG THE TALES TRAITOR AT YOUR OWN RISK, JUDE. No, um. That is a complicated question for him, not least because the next-to-last thing he did before arriving here was blow his previous life, the one he'd built up over six years, to smithereens. He could say, "I'm an information-gatherer," or "I'm a strategist," and it wouldn't be untrue, but it wouldn't be the truth.

He's not a bad liar, but he can't quite cover that moment of uncertainty. So he deflects: after a beat, he flashes a bright smile and goes into a,]

Oh, I don't know. Perhaps I'm quite boring.

[talim]

[ jude can recognize that snap pivot, jay, but he won't push him. if jay wants to open up, someday, he'll open up. if he doesn't, that's alright, too. he doesn't need to in order to be jude's friend.

and that's what he'd like to call him. they're only just getting to know each other, but already... ]

We'll have to agree to disagree there. I think you're plenty interesting.

[rebells]

Do you? Already? Well, I'll take that as a compliment.

[He stretches casually; the moment of uncertainty is gone, at least for now.]

I worked as a strategist and information-dealer in an informal capacity. It's fortunate that I've been able to put that skillset to good use here.

[talim]

[ jude's eyes widen just the slightest bit. he looks... impressed. ]

No wonder you always seem to have things running so smoothly. From what I've seen, you're always one of the first people to step up to the plate.

It's a good thing we can both put those skillsets to good use, then.