overjoyed_logs | Shattered ruins where this vine will flourish

[An untraceable email leading to some random coordinates out in space is never something Lapis would consider trustworthy - especially with how far out it seems to be leading her. But she's curious, and as always, Lapis lets her curiosity take over. Even if she does slightly start to regret it when she comes across the old ship, but this is the place and so she boards easily, over some muttering to herself seems to slide open the door.

The place is as much of an abandoned mess that she thought it was, and she can only just sighs to herself as she keeps poking around. It's what she finds in the table in the bridge that mostly sets her on edge, her expression turning even flatter the moment she sees those explosives. Of course, there would be explosives, of course. She's pretty sure she's seen a few horror movies like this. So she just... very gently slides the drawers shut, mentally cursing her luck, before her attention turns to the console.

At least everything still works, despite the damage, and once she takes note of the red light, she doesn't hesitate to push the button. Gold eyes blinking at the dossiers that appear for a brief moment, before the call comes through.]

I hope you know that this entire thing screams "horror movie rip-off" right now. [Hi Hyperion]

Edited 2017-02-17 21:24 (UTC)

Ah, so the songstress has finally arrived.

[A deep timbre, the voice almost bored as the screen before her flickers to life. Chin propped on the heel of his hand, the man watches her with an amused gaze.]

Is this the part where I reassure you that zombies won't emerge from dark corridors? [A beat, and then a laugh.] Not even a flinch and a steady gaze. We may have just made the right choice, with you. Lapis Fathalla.

[The voice simply gets a slight tilt of her head, gaze calm still as the screen flickers to life. Blinking at the man for a moment, humming softly and giving a slight shrug of her shoulders - faint amusement flickering in her eyes for a moment.]

Usually. Or where you say this isn't gonna be super haunted. [But the rest of his words quickly push away any amusement that she had. Gold focuses on him completely, watching him carefully, yet her voice is casual still when she speaks.]

It's kinda rude to know my name already, and yet I don't know yours. [There's some internal debate over what to ask next, his words holding so many questions. So she goes with the first one that comes to mind.]

Right choice for what?

We'll get to that.

[Shrugging a careless shoulder, he arches a brow at her.]

You, my dear, may call me Hyperion. I'm a little hurt though - we're giving you a ship, and you think we'd give you something with ghosts? Granted, it does need a little work, but I'd imagine you know someone that can help get the engines running again.

What do you think of it, aside from B-Rated Horror ready.

[Cue a flat look in response, clearly wanting to know now. But at least she has a name, or more like a title. Though the use of the word "we" makes her think it's less of his title, and more what he's a part of.

But, giving it to her, he said... Why would he, or they, want to give her a ship? That just gets her eyes to narrow thoughtfully, humming softly once more as she lets her hands rest on her hips.]

It's in the outreaches of the Quad, in pretty bad condition and I was directed here by some mysterious program. I'm certainly going to think something is up with it.

[But then she sighs, shifting back a bit to cast her eyes around the bridge once more. Well, shoddy shape aside...]

Well, it's certainly a good place to hide out if you don't want to be found easily. Though the explosives in the drawers are a bit worrying.

Those are for your use - but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Instead...

[Leaning forward, he rests his forearms against the edge of the table before him, fingers laced and expression even more somber to match her own.]

Tell me - how far do you believe the resistance can get as it is?

[Without waiting for an answer, he begins ticking off points to press his issue home.]

Disorganized, discordant. Collecting small caches of arms here and there, but no one to coordinate the efforts. How long do you think it will take the might of the Nine to wipe it out as it is now, should they focus their efforts towards it?

[For her use?

For her use.

The calm fades completely for a moment, allowing for a look of pure confusion to overtake - he wants her to use explosives? For what? But she stays quiet for now, forcing her expression back into calmness once more as she listens to him - the only change the furrow of her brows as he presses his points.

Then she sighs once more, mulling over his question quietly. And the implications behind it.]

Not long, maybe a week. It's not as if Westerley is in good shape in general, right now. [It's a thought that causes her frown to deepen, the look in her eyes becoming something sharper - gold glancing over at the drawers, before back to the man in front of her.]

But you want me to do something about that.

I want to give you - to give Westerley - a fighting chance.

[Sighing, he shakes his head, expression darkening a bit as he watches her, gauging her every action and reaction. Something in his gaze reflects approval as she begins to grasp his intent. ]

The Nine and the extension of their power, the Company, have held those weaker in contempt for too long, abused their power too long, and the entire Quad have suffered for it.

Change is what's needed now - but change that is good for the majority rather than the pampered few. You to help with that.

[Her arms shift to cross over her front, shifting her weight onto her leg as she listens. His words are certainly ones that resonate with her, her mind drifting back to the riots, how the Company okay'd lethal force on civilians.

A way to defends themselves is way the citizens of Westerley need, after being subjected to this shady infection and now being crushed under the hell of the Company. Her mind soon drifting to those close to her, how badly thing within the Company had been for them too.

But she's still quiet for a moment longer, brows furrowed as she keeps her eyes on Hyperion. It's a cause she agrees with, but there's one issue in her mind.]

I agree with what you're saying, but why me? I'm a singer and info-broker, I'm not exactly much of a fighter or anything like that.

[Wordlessly, the man drops a hand to the surface of the table, taps swiftly, and then flicks his fingers towards the woman with a crooked smile.

The screen before Lapis flickers before two files seem to leap from the screen to hover in the air before her - the first, Genji Shimada and the second, Jason Todd.]

Because sometimes, you need a soft voice and a strong will to curb the harsher reach of hotblooded men. These two have strength, combat skill, and a dogged propensity to meet and surpass the necessary call of violence... but what we need to make this work, is a sharp mind and a uniting voice.

We believe you're more than capable of taking this cell in the direction it needs to go.

[There's only a blink as the files leap from the screen to hover before her, though her brows furrow for just a moment as her eyes land on Genji's. She isn't sure how she feels about... well, recruiting someone she knows into this. But she lets her eyes scan over the files, committing the information to memory.

A uniting voice... They want her to bring them together and lead this cell. It's an idea that causes a swell of mixed feelings inside her, but that's easy enough to hide - she simply lets her eyes glance over the files, quietly listening to the man.]

So I go convince them to join. What if they aren't interested? [Though she doubts they would give her any option except making sure they join - they must've been chosen for a reason.]

We have reason enough to believe they'd be interested, though the information within their files should help tip the scales in your favor.

[The look he gives her is somber, as if expecting her to catch the meaning couched within.]

One way or another, there's enough to compel.

[There's plenty to do in the aftermath of the riots. It's good for business in certain venues and bad for absolutely everything else. People are angry. The riots have died down to embers, but the open wounds and deep resentments they left on Westerley are still burning low and poisonous.

(And why shouldn't they? Stripped away of the pretense of hope and the fiction of fair play, it's pulled the comforting rug out from a lot of people. You can't really blame them for fighting back. But the balance of power doesn't exactly make for a fair fight. The only thing that's changed is that maybe they've finally stopped pretending it is.)

The travel restrictions off Westerley have been lifted, and most of the activity in the docking bays is still comprised of the self-righteous (or, if you're more kindly inclined, humanitarian) troops of the incoming and outgoing Goodwill Corps. But not all of it. After his field trip with Lavi, Jason's back in his usual place in the hangar with his head down and his hands half-buried in an open panel on the outside of his ship. (He replaced parts of the landing gear weeks ago, but now it seems to be leaning left. Even better, among other things coming to light as the dust clears, his mechanic seems to be missing.)

He's a regular around here—keeps his ship docked in the hangar and comes by routinely for upkeep or to duck in and out on warrants. If someone were looking for him, it's not a bad place to find him. Especially if one were to want to find themselves a private place to talk.]

[So, blackmail them if she has to. Well, she isn't above doing that kind of thing if she has to. Though she really doesn't want to - hopefully she can use her... charms or something? To get them to help.]

So, what comes next after the team is all together?

[Lapis still recalls the information from the files, memorizing the face and information of the one she doesn't know - the one she's decides to seek out today. She's still exhausted and sore, her own wounds from the riots still healing, but she has a job to do today, and luckily it's easy enough for her to find who she's looking for. Being a broker has it's perks, after all.

Though part of her is still doubtful of Hyperion's decision to make her, of all people, the cell leader and the one to bring the team together. She's not exactly charismatic, after all, and while it won't be much of an issue talking to Genji, it doesn't seem like recruiting Jason will be as simple. But she'll just have to do her best.

So it's while he's elbows deep in working on his ship, that she approaches. She walks over with sure steps - as if this is a totally normal thing, as if they aren't complete strangers. And when she speaks, her voice is low enough so that only he can hear. Just in case.]

Got a moment, Jason?

[Sorry for your lot in life, Lapis. At least Hyperion was kind enough to balance out the cagey asshole getting dumped in your lap with your nice ninja buddy.

There are people enough passing through that he lets the footsteps pass unmarked until they're close enough to count as personal space. He stops what he's doing when she gets close to look up at her narrowly, tips right over into wariness when she speaks up. Not because she calls him by name—he works in this town, being shocked that someone could dig it up would be stupid—but he's not expecting visitors. And that careful tone doesn't come by chance. Even if he doesn't react overmuch, his attention does get sharper for it. No offense. He hasn't lived this long by being stupid.]

I suppose I just might.

[Dropping his eyes briefly back to his work, he wraps up part of what he's doing. Closes a valve off tightly while he talks.]

And if I did?

[She's... probably dealt with worse. Maybe. Okay, not really. But she'll still try!

The wary way he looks at her is something she considers a good thing - anyone should be wary about some stranger approaching like she is. It makes this easier, in a way. He knows she's here for something, and so she doesn't really need to beat around the bush.]

If you did, I would like to use that moment to talk. [A pause, quietly mulling over how to word this. Then after a moment, she decides to just be blunt.]

Basically, I would like to recruit you for something. Or more like, the people I'm kinda working for would like to recruit you.

Then, you focus on the mission outlined in the packet provided.

[Tapping the surface before him, he sits back and shrugs a shoulder.]

We've given you the supplies, the resources, and schematics you'll need to accomplish this. How you do it is up to you... though we will be watching.

I look forward to being impressed by you.

Edited 2017-03-08 01:44 (UTC)

[Not one for subtlety, is she? In that case, why don't they take this inside.]

Well, if it was business you should have just said so.

[He rocks back on his heels and then stands, slamming the panel shut with a clatter and knocking his knuckles against the hull of the ship. The door hisses open, and he tips his head toward it. Ladies first.]

I'll warn you now, if it's a warrant you want, you'll need to go through a broker.

[It's not, of course, or she wouldn't be so shady about it. But he does have appearances to maintain. The RAC doesn't take kindly to competition—or to bias. But killjoys are allowed to take on other jobs at their own discretion, as long as they play by the rules. Or they don't get caught.

If she takes the invitation to enter the ship, the door will close behind them, and it's a short walk to the bridge. Go on and explain yourself, girlie. He'll wait.]

Shattered ruins where this vine will flourish | Closed

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@ lapis.

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