thisavrou | voice;

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voice;

[There's very little preamble before the network gets an earful of the distinctive, raspy tones of a certain ex-cop. Guy sounds like he smokes his cigarettes and eats them too. He also doesn't sound exactly comfortable to be speaking on the network, but anyone who's met him in person in the past few days knows that that forced impassivity is kind of his thing.]

I'm looking for someone who can work with cybernetics. Some know-how with computers or engineering would probably help, but I figure some of that comes with the territory. [A pause, and then:] Discretion preferred.

[The way he says it, one kind of gets the sense that he'd gladly find a way to make even the most indiscreet person suddenly learn the meaning of patient confidentiality– but it's just as easy to believe that that's just the way he talks.

There's another longer pause and then, at length, he adds:] I'd also be interested in speaking to anyone who can talk about the crewman we've got in the hold.

[Spooky, scary, skeleton-like – you've probably heard of Ploiatos. Adam certainly has, and (being the security-minded guy he is) he'd love to know what having a literal skeleton in the closet entails.

And since Adam Jensen's never exactly been known for ending conversations gracefully, that's where he chooses to cut the message off.

Certainly, no one can say he isn't to-the-point.]

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[From the sounds of it, everyone being a Cole would even be an improvement; he's too used to people having motivations beyond simply wanting to help or understand. At length, he finally replies– but not before encrypting his next message. Just because Dorian's willing to be understanding doesn't mean everyone else is.]

It's alright. [Surprisingly, that doesn't even feel as much of a lie as Adam had expected it to.] Should probably get used to talking about it anyway. If I'm being honest, I'm not really used to being the authority on how my own body works.

[For a while, he'd wanted absolutely nothing to do with it– but by inches, he'd finally come to realize that that just wasn't an option. For better or worse, this is... Him. And he needs the machine parts working just as well as the rest of him, whatever ensuring that entails.

At the very least, it entails being more open than he's used to being. Trust is a commodity: requires spending it to receive anything in return.]

There're different models of augs for just about any use you could think of. Limbs designed for heavy construction, for military use, mechanical work, sports– none of them are going to work the same way as the others.

Mine weren't designed with the need for a particularly soft touch in mind. [Kind of the opposite, his tone implies.]

I suppose we all think we are the authority on our own bodies until something stops working, or until something else takes over. [Which is a constant threat for mages who aren't careful, but Dorian rarely talks about this out loud because...well...he's accustomed to people not understanding.

Not all mages were good, this was true, his home had a fair share of wicked mages due to magic and power turning into an unchecked corruption. In the south...well, in the south things were different.

Regardless, Adam's augmentations were far more attractive than a mage who has become an abomination, and Dorian wondered frequently after technology.]

I can tell, that wine glass seemed to want to give under your touch. [Dorian just smiles, the wine glass is nothing really, he could fix it. Stuff could be fixed or replaced.] So your augs were designed for combat purposes, then? Can you train them to bend to your will...over time? Control the strength behind them?

["Until something else takes over?" A question to file away for later.

Adam makes a vague noise of assent. Even as obviously-augmented as he is, none of them really advertise themselves as the high grade, combat-oriented enhancements they really are – Sarif had always seemed like someone who valued form and function in equal measure, and his designs always followed a distinctive aesthetic. Blending in among fellow augs had never been difficult, with what the man had given him.]

That's the idea, yeah.

But the adjustment takes time, and at the same time there was a lot more of me I had to relearn how to use. Should've had more time to do so, as a matter of fact– but circumstances cut my recovery a little short. [And from the sounds of it, that's another story entirely.

Wryly, he adds:] Give me another couple of months, and I probably won't break any more of your stuff.

[That "something else" would be a demon, it's one of the curses of being a mage, particularly one who was unskilled. Dorian had experiences in the fade, some experiences...well...some he didn't talk about.

As far as Dorian could tell Adam's augmentations were attractive representations, not make shift pieces attached clumsily. There was something to be said about that much.]

Sink or swim situation I take it? Maybe the training facilities aboard the ship will be of use to you. I know I'll be using them to help me focus my magic a bit, it's somewhat unpredictable out here in space, though I suspect that has to do with being so far away from Thedas. [He's burnt his hands at least once so far.]

I'm good at fixing things, Adam...well, not everything, but a glass or chair is well within my abilities.

[If she didn't have BB-9 to roll along with her and provide light from her miniature torch, Rey would surely be lost. She's traveled to and from engineering often, yes, but memorization isn't everything--there could be changes she isn't aware of, and she isn't about to get herself hurt or killed because she'd been cocky.

Besides, she isn't such a fan of the darkness.

The little droid's flashlight glints off some strange metal and her staff is instantly in her hands--but then she sees it's a man and yeah, wow, those sure are some cybernetic arms. She's brought alone her little tool kit, and her fingers are already itching to get a look. She lowers her weapon and inclines her head in greeting as she approaches.]

You're the one looking for help?

[Life or death, sink or swim – same thing.]

Yeah, I'm... Not going to forget that anytime soon.

[As far as his new experiences are concerned, he'd practically come out of the (Ingress') gate swinging with Dorian and his magic. Even as little a thing as a mended glass is, it'd certainly been a hell of an introduction to mysticism for someone who'd only known card tricks and sleight-of-hand prior to that.

He sighs.] Still. I'd prefer it if nobody had to clean up after me. [A pause and then, somewhat skeptically:] You're talking about the training simulations, though? Those actually work?

[He remembers running his fair share of VR sims back in police academy. Also remembers them being pretty garbage. But then again, that'd been more than a decade ago– and also not on a futuristic sci-fi spaceship in another universe.]

Yes, it is difficult to forget your first time, at least as far as magical experiences go.

[Dorian had been in a similar circumstance, still was actually, technology is its own magic, cooking is a mystery in the kitchen with those strange magic boxes and all of their knobs.

If Dorian can burn fish he'd be a wizard at taking out the whole kitchen area in mere minutes.]

I can understand that. I prefer to clean up my own messes as well, it makes it feel like I'm indebted to others if they try to help me. [And Dorian likes to prove that there are things he can do without the help of the Pavus name.] Ah, yes, as far as I am aware, it is a rather intense place to be, dangerous, people have been injured while training as far as I know.

I pride myself on my originality. Also, I already gave the name Robocop to somebody else. Them's the breaks.

[ Tony hops away from the machine, pocketing a soldering iron in the process and shoving his goggles up onto his forehead so that he can get a better look at his visitor. He's about what Tony'd expected, if he's being honest, but he's not ruling out surprises, either.

He shrugs at the latter comment. ]

Just making sure we don't all die in the cold unyielding vacuum of space. Usual stuff.

[ This is all said very casually, as one might discuss the weather, or the salad they ate for lunch. ]

So! What's your deal?

Sounds like a good time. [That doesn't sound like a joke nearly as much as it probably should, but– honestly? Even just two weeks of inaction's left him feeling a little like he's starting to lose his edge. What with his new position and all, it's pretty much the last thing he needs.]

When you do check it out, go ahead and let me know. Wouldn't mind seeing what you can do with bigger magic. [Something more than static electricity. He's got a feeling there's more to it than creating sparks and mending cups.

It kind of sounds like a smile, what enters his tone now– but that can't be right! Can't prove anything without a video to go with it, anyway.]

And, you know? Best part of a sim is no one has to clean up anybody's mess.

Was kind of hoping you'd tell me. [Adam fishes around in a pocket, withdrawing a data chip tossing it on the desk beside them. He indicates it with a nod.] The medical rundown from when I arrived. Figured it'd be easier. [Easier than trying to explain a body that he's only really begun to get familiar with.]

Showed up here coming out of a bad situation. "Potentially life-threatening" bad. Can't remember some of the details, but–

[He raises one arm just enough so that its surface – scratches and pits dotting what had clearly once been sleek, smooth polycarbonate – is presented. "It's pretty clear I went through the wringer" is what the damage says for him.]

Apart from the need for body work, got a couple of cranial implants that need recalibration – that much I know. [A pause – a hesitation, really.] But I also need to be sure that there isn't something else I'm not picking up on.

[It's pretty safe to infer, from the mention of cranial implants, that he's got systems that'll tell him when something's malfunctioning. But in spite of that, something's got him worried – even if him and all his careful neutrality hide it well.]

(( sorry i don't have anything less tl;dr right now, but the med report should have a rundown of all the roboparts detailed here. just limited mostly to location, very basic function, maybe structure where it's relevant, etc. feel free to pm/plurk me if you need specific info! ))

[Dorian hasn't the battle instinct or the battle lust, but he doesn't enjoy being sedentary either, he's worked very hard on sculpting his body in a certain way. Normally mages were frail, especially in the south, they didn't get out of their prisons, and who knows how much sun they get. There were few places where one could find a rugged mage in the south, Kirkwall was one of them...and Dorian, coming from Tevinter? He could train like a proper mage.]

You wish to train with me? Well, I'll chat with the man in charge and we'll get something going shall we? He wants to run a program with me at some point, one that will help train us how to fight against magic. [Of course magic was a varied thing, but anything aggressively offensive, Dorian could probably help with. Still, if strange magical things were a threat, then perhaps he should be a part of training others to fight against it as long as that knowledge was used responsibly.]

There is that. Actually I am looking forward to making a mess, had to hold back on that last planet. [Dorian seems rather pleased by that prospect as well, mages ought to be mages, but there are few places where they are allowed to be on a ship.]

["We expecting to run into many magical enemies?" he almost asks, before stopping himself. Dumb question, on second thought. He'd never really thought of the wider implications of one person onboard having magic – now there isn't really a reason for him to believe that nothing else can possess powers like that either.

In which case, yeah – knowing how to combat something like that has kind of bumped itself up a couple of spots on his list of priorities. Honestly, he can't imagine it boiling down to anything other than "hurt them before they can hurt you" – same as anything else – but he could be surprised.]

The last planet? You mean the one with the slavers? [He hadn't been around for it, of course, but he'd heard a little of what'd happened. ] Can't imagine you'd have wanted to hold back much at all.

[Adam himself wouldn't have been able to promise as much, his tone suggests. Not really one to pull his punches.] In any case, that sounds like a plan. Drop me a line once you've got the details.

[Dorian couldn't be certain if all magic was the same everywhere, but he knew that it could be dangerous. If there was anything he could do to make it less so or to have others view magic in an entirely different light? Then why should he sit back and wait for the moment when magic becomes a thing of fear and loathing.]

We were advised to be as discreet as we could possibly manage, not to bring attention to the ship. Apparently we've made enemies out there already...otherwise I would have done a flashier job of things. [And he wanted to, he wasn't terribly violent, but when it came down to Dorian and his own life or the lives of his loved ones, or even a cause he was fighting for, he would fight ferociously if he had to.] I'll let you know, then.

Yeah, I realize that. [And frankly, he's kept his hopes pretty low to as not to disappoint himself.] Kind of shooting in the dark. Hoping that there's some crossover between the MID techs and the cyberneticists on board.

[So far, the crossover seems to be rather slim, but he's still exploring his options.] But if you're saying you can't do it...

[Then there's something else that Sam might be able to help him with, in that case. Something else related to the MID. But Adam's going to wait and see what his response is first. In his experience, appealing to that sense of vanity that a lot of these tech-oriented people have on some level – this desire to see a problem solved by their own hand – can get them to change their tune pretty quickly.]

(( heads up, i did get the go ahead for stuff like this today. 8) ))

[That's certainly a way to greet someone, isn't it? Adam glances around at the sudden motion, arching a brow over his eye shields but offering little more reaction than that to the drawn weapon.

People are on edge. He gets it. Nothing personal.]

Rey, right? Jensen. [A name, offered by way of explanation and introduction, all at once. He doesn't offer a handshake or anything to go with it – he's not especially given to social niceties to begin with, but something about Rey catches his attention first.

Specifically, the fact that she's what, 18? 19? Practically a child, either way. In spite of himself, he stares for a couple of seconds before his attention's drawn to the droid by her side, his gaze easily felt even from behind the lenses covering his eyes. Must be one of her, so at least she's probably not exaggerating about the robots and the spaceship work. Maybe there's weight behind her claims after all.]

Wasn't sure if you'd need to use anything in engineering, but– [He indicates the toolkit in her hand with a nod of his head.] Looks like you came prepared. Not going to be in the way here or anything, are we?

I didn't say 'no', I said it might not be possible. If you already know that, then okay. I'll give it a try.

[ Appealing to vanity does work, to a degree. If the hardware doesn't matchup though? Well there's not much Sam could do about that. Call this informed consent. ]

((\8D/ Hurray for doing the thing~))

[ Andyr makes very little to no attempt to mask how he’s looking Adam over - particularly the cybernetics. It isn’t something unusual to him - most normal humans, without the KN gene for biological augmentation, tend to get them, though they’re generally hidden better. No one wants to look pieced together, these days, when that marks you too close to one of the Mice.

It doesn’t make a difference that Adam has them, one way or another. If anything, it’d good he’s in some way enhanced. Andyr gives a short nod, confirming, and shrugs, for the bit about his work out. ]

Don’t worry about it. Was just killing time. [ Work out or read, those are the two things he’s used to relieving boredom with. Still adjusting to having so many options, really. But he’s quick to get to the topic at hand. ]

I’m pretty sure the Captain knows more about this thing than they’re telling us, so one way or another, we’re kinda screwed. [ spoken mildly, not complaining, just stating fact. It’s good to know what ground you’re standing on. ] Might wanna talk to the people who died before from it, the ones that came back, anyway.

[Straight to business, then. No complaints there.]

Been kind of getting the same feeling, myself. [Not that he has even the smallest shred of evidence to back that feeling up. It's little more than paranoia, what this is – and once, Adam would've dismissed it as baseless conjecture – but after all he's been through in the past few weeks, he's found himself far more willing to keep an open mind.]

Shouldn't be too hard to get a list of names, assuming the medbay keeps that sort of information on file. [Why have a morgue at all if people just come back? Yet another mystery. He folds his arms.] But what are we looking for here? A way to keep this thing contained, or a way to fight it?

[Or just any sort of insight, something that everyone else might've missed? Anything to uncover a piece of the bigger picture? At this point, he'll take whatever lead he can get.]

Trying can't hurt. [And even if it does, he thinks grimly, a soft reset is just a death away – at least if what he's heard about "resurgence" is true.

Not that he's counting (or intending) on it coming to that.]

Gonna be honest with you, I really only know how to utilize my augs, what they're supposed to do – couldn't tell you much about how they're supposed to do it. [In that sense, he knows even less about his own body than most people know about theirs – he never had the advantage of a 10th grade biology class for this sort of thing.] But whatever info you need from me, I'll try my best to give.

[Rey has gotten more than a few looks based on her age before, but has never let it bother her. Besides, she attributes his stare to the droid; it seems to be most people's focal point anyway. She takes a moment to really look him over, and can already tell that she's got her work cut out for her.]

Yeah. And no, I think we'll be fine. BB-9 can keep the light up.

[The droid whistles in affirmation and settles herself next to the wall as Rey approaches him.]

I don't even know where to start. Any suggestions?

The biology bit is out of my league tbh. So I'm just trying to get the audio "talking" to the implants you said you had in your mastoid and cochlear bone. Then do something similar for voice. Text would be easy since it's pretty much just turning those retractable sunglasses into a screen.

Not sure how you would use text? Maybe voice-to-text. You'd still have to talk out loud, though.

[ there’s a moment where andyr pauses, considering the options, with his head tilted, eyes on some place space on the wall. ]

Contained, first. But we need a back up for if it gets out. [ murphy’s law - if it can go wrong, it will. He doesn’t want to be blamed for a massacre on the ship just because he didn’t plan well enough for it.

But Adam had wanted to meet in person specifically, which leads one to believe there’s more to say that can’t be done over the network. ]

What were you thinking about it?

[That gets a little bit more of his attention.]

A living warning... how so?

[Is he running out all nine of his figurative lives? Actually, under these conditions, meeting someone who truly did have nine lives wouldn't be out of the question.]

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action! this is fine for me

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