animus_network | ♓ 001

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♓ 001

I suppose t)(e dramatics )(ave finally come to an end?
Per)(aps we may get back to business, unless t)(e lot of you are too busy wading waist deep in self-pity.
I recall assigning at least one of you a task to be done, and I don't like to be kept waiting.
You know w)(o you are, and I expect an update t)(is instant, and not a moment later.
I )(ave inquiries for two more of you, and a demand of one of t)(e same.
Dualscar.
My )(elmsman.
See to it t)(at bot)( of you respond, or locate me promptly.
I )(ave my own agenda t)(at I must see to.

[OOC: LOOKIN' AT YOU, SIGNLESS BRO]

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Sollux told himself he wasn't here to make waves, or pick a fight, but he really didn't like the way Psiioniic was cringing. Nor did he like the Condesce's phrasing.

"What do you want with uth, Highnethh?" he asked, boldly but as non-rudely as he could manage. He elbowed Psiioniic, trying to wordlessly remind him not to apologize for stupid things.

She waved off his apology, knowing full well that at this point it wasn't even close to being sincere. That didn't mean she was going to tell him to stop doing it, though. That would defeat the purpose.

"You're both aware of the service elevator the staff makes use of here, yes?" Condesce relayed, stepping toward the pair of them. "Assuming the Signless follows through with his portion of the plan, we may require one or both of you to operate it. I'm inclined to believe that it requires authorized access that we'll need to override."

A little surprisingly, that brought Ψiioniic's head up, and he stared at her for a moment. "Tho, you pulled me away from helping SS to get into and operate the elevator, tho that you could tell me that we need to get into and operate the elevator?" he asked in faint disbelief.

Really, this COULD have been said over the network. He was one hundred percent certain that the tower was well aware of their efforts, and most likely of this conversation as well. But instead she'd had to pull rank and show off her superiority, making him come to her so she could tell him to do what he'd already been doing.

"What elevator?" Sollux asked blankly. He had seen a little of Signless' post, but he'd been distracted at the time, and hadn't gotten around to offering his services.

"If you need thomething hacked, I can hack it," he added, giving a shrug. It wasn't boasting, as far as he was concerned. It was just fact.

Condesce merely smirks at Psiioniic's outburst, but doesn't respond to him directly. In truth, nothing delighted her more than pulling strings that didn't need to be pulled. But she'd never say that out loud, especially considering Sollux was with him. So she focuses on the wriggler instead, turning her eyes downward to him and offering a smile that was far too sweet to be genuine. It seemed to be default, reserved for those rare moments where she wasn't barking orders.

"We haven't any concrete information yet," she added, glancing passed them at the door briefly before looking back down at Sollux. "But there is a service elevator on the lower floors that can only be accessed by the supposed administrators of the tower. If it will lead us to our captors, then we'll need to make use of it. That would be where you would come in."

She reached down, tapping Sollux on the head with a single talon.

"DON'T touch him," Ψiioniic snapped, red and blue crackles of power building between his horns. He couldn't defend himself, but he COULD defend Sollux if he had to. Just as he'd defended Signless.

He really hoped it wouldn't come to that, considering the messy end to the last confrontation. Thankfully Sollux could probably protect himself, it was one of the reasons Ψiioniic had brought him along. "He'th not yours," he insisted quietly.

Sollux raised a hand to Psiioniic. "It'th okay," he said, though he didn't take his eyes off the Condesce.

His forehead tingled a little where she'd touched him, but he wasn't afraid. He didn't want things to get out of control again. He'd already watched Psiioniic die once, and didn't want it to happen again.

"Fine, I'll hack the elevator," he said. "What about thith couldn't have been thaid over the network?"

Psiioniic's words only entice a titter of laughter from Condesce, one talon turning into all of her fingers as she ruffles the young descendant's head in what could be taken as a gesture of affection. She was always fond of her Helmsman, though not as a person. More as a pet.

His descendant wasn't all that different.

Her tyrian irises flicker to Psiioniic in brief acknowledgement before she looks back down at Sollux. "No physical record of evidence this way."

"You really think they don't have camerath everywhere?" Ψiioniic asked wearily. "The fact that we can't find any tells me they're probably all over the place. What's the point in thetting up such an elaborate experiment and then not obtherving the subjects?"

Sollux could take care of himself, he reminded himself sternly. His Descendant was not hampered by Ψiioniic's conditioning not to disobey high-bloods.

Sollux flushed and ducked his head automatically, grumbling and lifting a hand to comb his ruffled hair back into place. At least his was straight instead of wild curls like many trolls, but still.

"Yeah, they've got to have camerath. Anyway, it doethn't matter. You want to wathte our time, Emprethh, go ahead. But that doethn't mean we'll jutht run every time you call. Nektht time, make it good." He shrugged and turned to leave.

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♓ 001

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