raisetheearth | Entry #A-3: "Ask" [Video] [Shepherd's Haven]

[It's getting easier to tell Ryuzaki and Lazarus apart; the latter looks significantly thinner and more unhealthy than the former, and instead of breaking into easy smirks, his face is placid and serious. The two share a Number, but little else.]

Regarding recent events, Saretha has given these aspects thought and is asking you to do the same. Please pay attention to what she has to say, whether or not you've missed these events in real time. It's all important.

I'm one of the people who was contacted by the informant from Thunder Corp, and I know of some others, but there's a question I'm very interested in at this time. I want to know if anyone was both contacted by this informant and approached by a representative from the company, and if there are any Numbered currently active on the Network who experienced neither of these things.

If you're not comfortable sharing this information on the Network, especially considering that I have a particularly destructive and untrustworthy doppelganger who can see even my private network messages and just took a job with someone I have a very bad feeling about, I can meet with you in person to discuss this regardless of your location, or speak with you on a private line. If you've agreed to help Thunder Corp, I'm not not here to judge harshly... at this point, I just want the data I've specified, and your answer one way or the other is something you're welcome to keep to yourself.

To reiterate: Were you contacted by Thunder Corp's rogue informant, or a recruiter? Were you contacted by both? Were you contacted by neither?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I can fight really well.

[Plus, the whole magic knight thing-- Hey, it was easier to show it.]

I can use this. [Focusing for a moment, a bright sheen covered Arthur for only the length of focus he needed.

It had been months since he actually used any of it, but it was there all over again--a well-made set of armor coating him, pristine and white.]

Ah, so you're one of those. It seems like everyone else has been lucky enough to get that kind of stuff back... myself, I can speak ten languages fluently but can't block a punch.

[He sits back and watches the transformation, wondering if Arthur wants applause or something for it.]

[Arthur reached into his breastplate, scratching at his collar bone.

Unlike a proper knight and more like a southie with bad habits.]

It's a little itchy since last time... Wait, ten languages?

[To his credit, Lazarus isn't put off or perturbed by people who aren't particularly polite fidget-wise. Hell, he's one of them.]

Counting English and Hebrew, which I knew before, yes. Ten.

[By some miracle, Arthur didn't admit he didn't know Hebrew was an actual language. He was growing.]

Oh.

...Why don't you work for the government? Couldn't you be uh... a diplomat?

I do that kind of work sometimes, when I need to. I'm decent at it but I'm no Kissinger.

[Arthur offered Lazarus a bit of a prolonged stare.

He had him until Kissinger which, fortunately, was the last part of what he said.]

Oh. How much do you travel?

[He added, wondering--]

Is it fun stuff to do?

Not as much these days. But it used to be a lot... it even took me to space, when the aliens were attacking us and someone had to talk to The Boy.

And I don't know if I'd call it "fun." It's rewarding, because it's necessary, but it's stressful if anything.

I get it. [Now that he thought about it, the whole process of interacting with people in official positions was a pain in the ass. He had done a number of interviews with FBI agents and the police as a Numbered who didn't disguise himself and it had often times ended with a sickening taste in his mouth.

But, for Lazarus--what he was doing as an ambassador was a lot more serious, wasn't it?]

But, uh... [Moreover--]

...Was space fun?

[Arthur was still a teenager in many ways.]

[There's a pause as Lazarus really just... looks at the guy and considers what he's asking.]

I guess. I wasn't thinking about that aspect of it at the time.

Entry #A-3: "Ask" [Video] [Shepherd's Haven]

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