001 | ( VIDEO. ) | JULY 30th

[pubertytwice]

_{[ The feed clicks on and shows a kid appearing no older than 13 seated back in a chair, curled knuckles against his face. His eyes look tired and expression rather thin. He's wearing a uniform of some sort, though pieces of it look tattered or stained. One of his legs bounces in his seat (aren't his shorts cute?) but after a moment of mulling over what to say, he leans forward, hands folding together neatly. ]}

I already lack faith in gathering information from anyone here, and yet, here I am with inquiries. Serious responses only.

_{[ What could this boy possibly be asking for?? Where is the best place to get ice cream? Hardly so. ]}

Has anyone has ever even attempted hacking into any confidential files that could be in the government's system that operates here? Alternatively, if anyone has ever attempted to assassinate the Queen?

_{[ Oh.. what.. ]}

If not, is there any place on this goddamn planet that serves coffee? Decent coffee. Every place here is a shit hole.

_{[ That's it. No thanks for your time or anything. ]}

Comments

[biotictouch]

Still likely ineffective. The smart rats are always the ones that hide in the cage corners.

[ Unless that's his plan. ]

Guess again, dear, but don't pull your punches on stereotype.

[ It's an amusing game, but short lived with her accent. ]

[pubertytwice]

Possibly. But I like to be identifiable to other smart rats, as you call them.

_{[ And he's not really afraid of any repercussions from anyone else. ]}

If your tastes are anything like mine, you like it strong and black. Or, you know, served with a shot of something stronger. Bailey's, maybe?

_{[ Five. ]}

[biotictouch]

Bold, but I can certainly see why. I can't imagine the reasons a grammar schooler would need an espionage agent for but I've heard stranger.

Unfortunately, anyone I can refer you to are no longer in the business. They'd need significant leverage to get them to even consider.

[ His last comment earns a small laugh. ]

I've always found commercial creams to be far too sweet.

[ Oh no, he nailed it. ]

[pubertytwice]

_{[ She can probably hear the smile in his voice. ]}

It sounds like you have connections.

_{[ Useful person, it sounds like. ]}

I'd love to meet them... and possibly persuade them.

_{[ this kid.. ]}

I'm too old for anything too sugary. I don't know.. you get my age and you start thinking about your health.. though I suppose I wasn't raised on the best diet.

_{[ Cockroaches and expired Twinkies, typically. ]}

Anyway, I'm not a phone talker that much. Want to head to a bar?

_{[ So forward... ]}

[biotictouch]

I have acquaintances.

[ Big distinction. ]

Persuading them is one thing, persuading me is another matter entirely. They'll not take too kindly to me offering their names without reasonable cause.

[ His remarks are serving to make her chuckle, but also stoking her curiosity more and more. He sounds serious, and yet... ]

I would. Will you have any trouble convincing them to let you in?

[pubertytwice]

Of course. It shouldn't be that easy if they do impressive work.

_{[ Five likes to call mass murder and violence work, but you know. ]}

I can get anywhere I want. Don't worry about me. You just tell me when and where. You can even pick.

[biotictouch]

[ She pens in some coordinates; some dive on level three. Probably the best place to converse. And they had great whiskey. Coffee though... ]

I do hope you aren't in over your head.

Bring an open mind.

And at your...earliest leisure. I've no pressing matters.

( VOICE → PERMA ACTION. )

[pubertytwice]

Nothing is over my head. I'll be waiting for you.

<sub>[ So, that's where he heads. He doesn't dare to spatial jump too much since it does sap his energy on a planet like this, but he can't help but use it a few times to ensure he gets there before she does.

But who knows. She might be quick herself.

Five does use it to appear into the bar he was instructed to meet her at without even approaching the front door, landing himself right in a seat. We'll see if the staff cares to kick him out or not. ]</sub>

[biotictouch]

[ Moira's less quick than he is, taking a moment to assess just what her day has in store for her and then clearing it away. She hadn't sit in for a good long while, since before June's little escapade atop the hotel, and her weird but brief recovery period.

Dressed as casually as you'd imagine, she spots him right away---he sticks out like a sore thumb in said place, and seeing him in person is as unsettling as it was talking to him through the comms.

He seemed to respond well to being talked to and treated like an adult, so she'll bite her tongue for now. ]

Well, well.

I'm glad they've not given you any trouble at the door, then.

[ Yet. She slips off a simple coat to hang it, with a slight nod as opposed to a handshake. ]

I don't think I introduced myself properly. Doctor Moira O'Deorain.

[pubertytwice]

Well. It helps when you don’t actually use the door. You can just call me Five.

_{[ His hands folds together on the table he’s seated at and he doesn’t bother to explain himself, but instead reflects the conversation back on her. ]}

Huh. I had no idea I was talking to a doctor. What kind of doctor?

_{[ Doctors are typically very useful. ]}

[biotictouch]

Five. Vague, but alright.

[ Calling it like she sees it. ]

You'll have to walk me through that one.

[ Sitting briskly, no words are exchanged with the bartender. Just a glance, and a smile. She's done business here before. ]

My repertoire is vast. I'm a geneticist.

But I've been in combat. And other more...finely tailored situations.

[ That's bait. ]

What about you? You're very obviously not a twelve year old, looking for 'underlings' as you call it.

[pubertytwice]

My dad didn't really liked kids and couldn't be damned to name us. Mom did it.

<sub>[ Yet here he is still going by a number for a name. He missed out on the whole naming thing. In any case, Moira sounds smart and that's exactly the kind of person he wants to build relationships with if he must. Someone up to par with his kind of intelligence.

Though, he smiles. Nice going, Moira. ]</sub>

I'm not, thanks for noticing. Do you know much about the space time continuum? More so, what happens to materials when they.. I don't know. Mess around with it? Go places where maybe they weren't originally supposed to be.. time travel?

him and tracer would just go off i bet

[biotictouch]

Charming man.

[ That sentiment is dripping with sarcasm. ]

Are you always so to the point?

I'm sure you understand that biology and quantam physics aren't the same doctorate.

They're not my specialty, no. I have several colleagues and otherwise who have had intimate experiences with it. Is there something concerning you specifically?

HE WOULD RACE HER they would be frienemies

[pubertytwice]

Thought I’d ask. You just seem like you would know a lot, after all.. look at me.

_{[ hands facing upward and arms out as to display himself. ]}

And I know damn more than it seems like I would at first glance.

_{[ Five lowers his hands, folding them neatly on the table again. ]}

I guess if you know more about it, it explains who I am a little bit easier, but anyway. My natural ability is to jump through time and space. I don’t need any equipment or anything special to make it happen. I can just make it happen.

_{[ He vanishes with a small swoosh sound and pops up on the other side of Moira. ]}

Just like so.

1/2

[biotictouch]

[ She hadn't seen it in person, and she didn't know the intimate details of it, but Moira was vaguely aware that this ability was also present in her dimension, timeline...what have you.

The cogs begin to turn as she tries to make sense of it, and she sits agape for a short moment. Not startled, not in the least. But, thoroughly intrigued. ]

2/2

[biotictouch]

...So you do.

[ So this went against her better judgement. This kid was a wildcard and she now knew it, but he has some kind of...prerogative, and she was intent on finding it out.

He talked like an agent, he walked like an agent, and if it looks and sounds like an agent... ]

Natural ability. That's quite the gift. Some would work for lifetimes trying to unlock that kind of gift.

[ Like her. She couldn't transcend time, no, but space? Physical materialization? Sort of. And she'd done it to others, too.

He was curt. She'd be curt as well, and lean into the spin here. He wanted to find underlings? Moira would plant a scent. ]

Special operations agencies would kill for half as much.

1/2

[pubertytwice]

It would just be terrible if someone like me ended up in a place that was heavily guarded, or you know, off limits.

_{[ He just.. seems so smug to talk about it. ]}

[pubertytwice]

I mean, besides a bar.

_{[ Cause that's exactly how he got in so easily. ]}

[biotictouch]

So then riddle me this---[ She acknowledges, taking her drink from the bartender kindly and asking for a second. ]

If your natural ability is to transcend space and time.

[ She pauses and sips, for effect. ]

Is that why you talk like a fourty year old, and look like a twelve year old?

I know the effects of being suspended in space on the body. Not time.

Cell degeneration and suspended ageing sounds like a fascinating explanation for your---obvious demeanor.

[ Another sip. ]

How far off the mark am I?

[pubertytwice]

_{[ A second? Well. She just is wanting to have another drink, he figures. Her answer brings an expression of surprise across his face before that familiar smirk grows on his lips. ]}

Not very off the mark at all.. other than the fact I'm a little bit older than you think.
Try 58.

[biotictouch]

[ She couldn't actually fathom how well she'd guessed. Good god. Her second glass is set down, which she carefully slides over to him. Consequences be damned, really. ]

A chipper 58.

[ She sips with a smirk. ]

I'm honestly stunned. Here I was taking a shot in the dark. Eternal prepubescence must be exhausting.

[pubertytwice]

<sub>[ He eyes the drink when it's slid to him and that only makes that grin of his grow. Is.. is this friendship? Honestly, he never had the chance to have any because of Reginald's strict rule over his life.. and then he was the last person standing on Earth, so he couldn't really make friends other than his.. mannequin wife. You know.

Five looks up at Moira, seemingly genuinely content with this turn of events. ]</sub>

Maybe you're smarter than you give yourself credit for.

_{[ Look at that. An actual compliment. Honestly, Five is just tickled to have some logical conversation. ]}

I'm interested in knowing your theories about this place if you'd like to share.

[biotictouch]

Oh no, I know I am.

[ Really truly. There are few adults her age willing to listen to her more than five minutes after they knew her history. This was just as refreshing for her.

Not to mention, likely beneficial. ]

As I mentioned. I'm no physicist.

But my timeline is notorious for putting their fingers in pies too hot to touch. Time and dimensional travel. Lightspeed travel. Self aware AI and omnics.

My money's on someone made a dog's breakfast of it somewhere, and I and my colleagues are in a pocket dimension of sorts. Perhaps displaced permanently.

[ She takes a sip of her drink. ]

Yours?

[pubertytwice]

We're hostages. People are purposefully plucked from their universe and placed here to serve as a means of energy. I wouldn't go far as to saying it's slavery because of how much free will we have here, but our energy is valuable to them where they heavily endorse it— pretty soon it could evolve into legally enforcing it. That's why it happens in a monthly pattern-- searching the moons and finding new people. The rescue missions are cover ups that are obviously working to prevent treason.

_{[ A sip of his drink. ]}

I might be overthinking myself a little bit, but usually any kind of numerical patterns in a vague scenario point to clues, which can point to evidence, which can point to solutions.

_{[ Oh. He's taking a good bit from his drink now. ]}

Perhaps I'm just skeptical. I've dealt with higher ups that manage timelines. There's always something bigger than what is going on that the naked eye can witness.

[biotictouch]

A...detailed theory, I'll give you that.

[ She turns the possibility over in her mind, and starts to pick out flaws.


Wait a second back the fuck up ]

I'm sorry, you said people who manage timelines?