001 // voice. day 399.

[sirenae]

[ Contary to popular belief, not all of her reminders are sudsy faux pas at raising morale by glossing over the near-imminent end of days with errant chore routines and rehearsed domesticity for the sake of her team, but swapping one apocalypse for another version of the Armageddeon was enough to induce internal hemorrhaging on both accounts (granted, if a certain Assassin hadn't already beat them to the punch). Ascended Fridge Horror was an eternal trope in her line of business.

But Stillman remains composed in her attempt to infuse some vestige of credibility into her message. Professionalism didn't cut slack for even post-mortem workaholics. ]

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lucy. I'm a ... researcher. In light of everything that's occurred recently, I believe it's high time that I become acquainted with you all, if only to extend my support in our shared endeavors. I'll do what I can to help.

That being said: would anyone like self-defense lessons? I realize it's not that much to offer, but if anyone needs a sparring partner, I'm capable of handling firearms, blades, blunt weapons, and hand-to-hand combat. I wouldn't be against polishing my technique with your assistance, either. Payment isn't necessary, but I do have a preference for fixed appointments. Let me know if you're interested and we'll hammer out the rest of the details together. [ There's a nearly pedestrian, lilting pause as she invokes the real intent behind using the network system to contact the general public in the first place. ]

I understand that, for better or worse, we were chosen and forcibly brought to Asgard. But the extenuating reasons behind that decision — whether it's by chance or through ulterior motives — are completely beyond me. I take it some people have had quite a long stay here, and others, like myself, have only recently arrived, but it seems we all share an equal opportunity to leave. The thing is? It isn't on our terms. Only random selection at any given time of day.

I'm open to all possible theories you might have concerning any Traveler's sudden departure, however.

And while I'm at it, is there anyone out there who's returned to Asgard from their original world on more than one occassion? If so, I'd like to ask a few general questions about the experiences in each iteration. Nothing major. [ A beat. ]

Thank you for your time. I genuinely appreciate it.

Comments

voice;

[pushesgently]

[Is this voice familiar to her? Probably not, thanks to Abstergo's more primitive Animus.]

That's very generous of you, especially for one newly arrived here. I'm curious, though; what is it you research?

voice;

[sirenae]

[ Excuse you, she helped design that hardware. It's not intentional whitewashing, it's called being generic. Animuses Animi Those machines are extremely difficult to produce in bulk, even more so with all indigenous accents intact. ]

I might as well contribute. Having cold feet changes nothing.

To answer your question, I'm a genetic researcher. I study memories. Why do you ask?

voice;

[pushesgently]

[Well, design the next one so it doesn't give him an American accent centuries before America existed. Except don't because no one's putting grandbaby in an Animus anymore.]

Mainly curiosity. I've done a fair amount of research myself since arriving here—the library offers considerable resources.

I wouldn't have thought that memories and...'genetics' have much to do with each other, though.

[Okay yes he only knows what that word even means because of explanations from Desmond and Shaun, and even then, just barely. Mainly he wants to hear what she says.]

Voice

[secondborn]

I can't say I actually returned. I thought I did, but I woke up back here and was told I'd been asleep for a couple days when I thought I was home for half a year.

Voice

[sirenae]

[ Hope you don't mind if she takes notes, Alastair! Her work ethic would never let her live it down if she did anything otherwise. ]

I see. If I heard you correctly, this coma was sustained no longer than a week? ... I'm not ruling out your account entirely, but it may have been confabulation. False memories. Possibly repressed, if they were particularly traumatizing. Coma patients are known to be disoriented upon their initial awakening.

What exactly did you see during your return?

[secondborn]

[It's only to be expected, really.]

I... highly doubt they were false or repressed. And it was only a few days, I don't think it could have been more than four.

It wasn't a matter of seeing, I actually felt like I was there, living my life. I remember it clearly, not like it was a dream at all. It was only when I woke up that I had any reason to doubt.

The only reason I don't is because there's precedence. I've watched friends of mine age years over the course of a few days while they slept and experienced the same sort of thing.

text |

[hyakugo]

I could use an occasional sparring partner. I mostly do hand-to-hand.

text |

[sirenae]

Same here, honestly. Is there any particular type of martial arts you're well-versed in, or would you give a go at something new if the chance presented itself?

text |

[hyakugo]

It doesn't have a specific name, but I usually use a type of taijutsu. I'd give something new a go though.

[voice]

[earnedthename]

I'm trained in hand-to-hand, but it's been a while since I've had anyone to practice with. I could probably stand to brush up on it a little. Bo staffs too, if you're comfortable with those...

But don't let me get in the way of anyone who actually needs to learn, if you're short on time.

[ She will be listening in on any discussion of Travelers leaving or returning to their own worlds, but new as she is, she doesn't have much to add. Other than that the gods are apparently jerks. And Thor had always seemed so nice... ]

[voice]

[sirenae]

Gotta' admit, I'm a little rusty myself, so if you were expecting a pro, you've come to the wrong place. But no worries. I've got plenty of time left over in my schedule to take a shot at polishing my skills with you.

... Bo staffs it is, then? I can handle that.

[ She did effectively whack the living daylights out of security guards with their own police batons once upon a time (and on more than one occasion), so it's not as if she's unacquainted with blunt weapons. ]

When's your timetable free?

[voice]

[earnedthename]

[ She laughs a little. ] Don't worry. Just someone I won't feel bad punching is fine with me. With my teammates these days, it'd be like kicking puppies.

[ ...she could probably handle bruising Clint, but they don't train together except with bows. Maybe they should change that, when they get back. ]

Umm... basically... whenever? I just got here, so I've got a lot of free time on my hands and not a lot to do with it.

voice;

[goldcomplex]

What is your experience in using self-defensive or combat?

voice;

[sirenae]

Roughly two decades, give or take a year.

[ You're talking to a woman born and bred into Assassin training since early adolescence. It's a sink-or-swim mentality when it comes to the Brotherhood. ]

And you?

[goldcomplex]

That will do. My usual bodyguard has been prodding me to learn proper combat, though he has yet to show up here. Considering how unstable it seems to get outside the City, I don't think I can wait any longer.

audio;

[sicarius]

[Ah, this accent may be something familiar, isn't it, Lucy?]

Long ago, I remember being told by one of the gods that those that left were ones who could no longer contribute in aiding Asgard towards the war. Their ties to this world were severed, and more often than not, they lost all of their memories attached to here.

But perdonami, what will you use this information for, if you do not mind my asking? What will the answers for this research lead you to?

audio;

[sirenae]

[ Extremely familiar, in fact. She just left him a message a few days ago for Caterina Sforza, so encountering him again isn't as paralyzing as it was on initially discovering that he was alive and well in this dimension. ]

There's no helping it, then. Would you happen to know what makes them arrive in this world again? I've heard that some people have returned multiple times, and just like you said, unaware of their experiences in Asgard prior to leaving.

[ If frowns were audible, he would have heard the trepidation and accruing bleakness from across the network's social network call. ]

In a way, just to find out the truth, or at least, the closest I can come to it. Returning someday ... honestly, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have mixed feelings about it.

audio;

[sicarius]

[His own grief over Caterina is something he will get over in time, just as he has with Cristina. Something Lucy would know all too well.]

Unfortunately not. The most I can tell you is that the gods tend to sort us by something that defines us. For example, from what I can tell, those in Odin tend to be seekers of knowledge and hold great wisdom, whereas those in Sigyn are ones who are open to others, perceptive of those around them, and have kind hearts.

[Where do you think he was placed for his life's work? It's not too hard to figure out, honestly.]

Mixed feelings about returning home? Why would that be?

[...is he asking because he doesn't know or because of other reasons THE WORLD MAY NEVER KNOW~]

video;

[familyissues]

[ All the Assassins poking around Lucy are on fucking notice, okay. When he told you guys what happened, that didn't give you carte blanche to be duplicitous buttheads.

Desmond's out in the cold, the rooftops of one district or another in the background. ]

I haven't heard a reason, but I've not been here as long as some who might have. Some people just might not lend themselves well to the war effort, Lucy.

video;

[sirenae]

No one ever lends themselves well to war, Desmond. They either adapt to it or crack under pressure. The former is usually a precursor to the latter, if it lasts long enough.

There's never a good reason for why it starts, but as it is, I just want the fighting to stop. And learning the cause of our arrival, whether or not we were specifically chosen, is the first step to ending those battles.

video;

[familyissues]

I don't think the fighting can stop. Not yet.

[ his tone is rueful, and he glances off into the distance briefly. ]

And they chose us specifically, is how I understand it. Lost your taste for the impending Apocalypse?

[Video]

[comeonthensexy]

The gods only have so good a grip on us. Sometimes they lose it. At least, that's their explanation.

I've gone home three different times and returned after as little as a day. I've got to say that makes that much seem intentional, at least. Not sure how that works. I suppose I ought to try asking them.

voice.

[sirenae]

It just strikes me as bizarre. Why go to such great lengths to forcibly drag people out from their respective worlds, only to send them back — and retrieve them just as easily? There's no rhyme or reason to it, and if their memories of this place are wiped clean in every time, then it only holds that there's no process of learning. [ No insight, only stagnancy, reiterations predestined for disaster, like prophesies retroactively held at arm's length. ]

We're always bound to make the same mistakes if we don't learn from them, after all. [ She exhales. ]

I am curious, though — what did you see during the times you've returned? Nothing struck you as odd? Did you remember Asgard while you were there, or was it only when you came back that the memories resurfaced?

video

[womanfromacre]

[Well, unlike some family members of hers, Maria's going to be upfront and go with the video and get right to the point.

Vaguely.

She's not sure what the point is at this juncture, only she'd rather like to get the measure of this woman for herself rather than hide in plain sight.]

Would I be correct in presuming that these questions will form the basis of new research for some sort of understanding of this realm, madame researcher?

video

[sirenae]

[ Everyone and their mother (literally, now) are coming to scout her out. But thank god, someone who isn't intentionally playing bait-and-switch. She even recognizes you, Maria, as bizarre as it is to see you in this context. ]

You would. I expect some of this information to be logged down in the books somewhere, but it doesn't hurt to get first-hand accounts through the network first. [ A pause. ]

Were you hoping for a report of my findings so far, or is this a courtesy call?