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[Below is a combined and archived version of a LiveJournal crosspost and related responses originally here and here, because LiveJournal became hard to impossible for me to access. Icons and threading not preserved, with an attempt to post each reply thread as a single reply.]
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto is irritated as she walks into the main part of the Nexus. Not that it's too easy to tell... the outfit she's currently wearing hides her tail, so the way the fur has fluffed can't be seen.
But anyone would be annoyed after having a sopping wet and near-dead person fall on them from a random portal. The person in question, a dark-haired boy of about eighteen, is soon deposited on a Nexus couch. He's already in better health than when he arrived, and is in no immediate danger of dying. Mikoto had used a float spell to move him, her arms still full of the few sodden belongings that had arrived in his company - a wand, and the remains of the boy's clothing.
"I have had my day interrupted by an injured stranger. Is there a simple way to identify people in this Nexus, or will I have to wait until he wakes up?" Her tone implies that if he has any friends or relatives here, she'd like him off her hands. Altruism does not suit her.
"What would you do if you found someone injured?" she adds, as an afterthought, for those who can't help with identification.
((Edit/Note: I forgot to mention it when I posted, but she has wrapped him in a Convenient Nexus Blanket, so even though she's removed his wet clothes there is no blatant nudity here))
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto is irritated as she walks into the main part of the Nexus. Not that it's too easy to tell... the outfit she's currently wearing hides her tail, so the way the fur has fluffed can't be seen.
But anyone would be annoyed after having a sopping wet and near-dead person fall on them from a random portal. The person in question, a dark-haired boy of about eighteen, is soon deposited on a Nexus couch. He's already in better health than when he arrived, and is in no immediate danger of dying. Mikoto had used a float spell to move him, her arms still full of the few sodden belongings that had arrived in his company - a wand, and the remains of the boy's clothing.
"I have had my day interrupted by an injured stranger. Is there a simple way to identify people in this Nexus, or will I have to wait until he wakes up?" Her tone implies that if he has any friends or relatives here, she'd like him off her hands. Altruism does not suit her.
"What would you do if you found someone injured?" she adds, as an afterthought, for those who can't help with identification.
((Edit/Note: I forgot to mention it when I posted, but she has wrapped him in a Convenient Nexus Blanket, so even though she's removed his wet clothes there is no blatant nudity here))
Swindle's Reply
Date: 2013-02-24 01:52 (UTC)"I am unsure about for first question," says a white and blue robot feline, "As for the second, I would repair them if at all possible, to the best of my ability."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto considers this with her usual calm outward expression. Meanwhile, she drapes the torn robes over the endtable by the couch and leaves the wand on top. "In this case, it was either that or let him die... but he is not my responsibility." Overlooking that he's a human a couple years older than she is, she speaks as if she's found a stray animal.
"I should, perhaps, make a list of identifying characteristics and post them in the Nexus. Given the injuries when he arrived, I doubt he will wake up soon."
[Swindle (swindle_blitz@livejournal.com)]
"It wouldn't be mine, either," the jaguar-sized robot says, "It's just...how I am." He does move a little closer, ears perked. "I am not well versed in organic care, unfortunately."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"His condition is no longer critical, but I expect the aftereffects will keep him unconscious for a while."
As for the boy himself, he's no longer injured but looks far too pale. He definitely needs to rest.
[Swindle (swindle_blitz@livejournal.com)]
The cat nods lightly at that. "I'd suppose that's all one can do, is let him rest."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto nods. "It was only a slim chance anyone from his universe would be here to possibly identify him, but I saw no reason not to take it as moving him to a Nexus Couch was the best option to allow him to rest."
[Swindle (swindle_blitz@livejournal.com)]
"Yes, I have noticed that when someone comes from a 'new' reality, they don't usually come in groups," the cat says, "Though there is the chance that either someone from a similar reality is here, or someone would recognize him from some other research."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"My own observations provide some things that might help in an identification. He is from a world that has magic. I could tell that when he arrived. And he has a tattoo on his left arm of a skull with a snake in its mouth."
"I suppose if no one identifies him, I will have to decide what to do with him."
[Swindle (swindle_blitz@livejournal.com)]
"The tattoo sounds...vaguely familiar, paired with the magic reality," the cat says, tapping a paw to his chin, "One of the Swindles would know, I'm sure, if it seems familiar to me, then it's probably been on one of the research discs he's picked up."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"Even identifying his universe will not locate some associate or relation if none have arrived here." Mikoto frowns slightly at that. It had been am unlikely possibility, but she had still wanted someone who knew the stranger to show up and take him off her hands. She certainly didn't know what to do with him...
[Swindle (swindle_blitz@livejournal.com)]
"That is true," the cat says, then looks at the bag now sitting about a foot away, "And I need to get these home to my daughter. I've not figured out how to time the PINPoint."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto just nods in place of goodbye, then, taking it as meaning the cat is leaving. She checks on the condition of her not-so-welcome patient.
[Swindle (swindle_blitz@livejournal.com)]
"If I find out anything, and you're still here, I'll let you know," the cat says, before picking up the bag and nosing his paw. In a PINpoint flash he's gone.
Dennis's Reply
Date: 2013-02-24 01:56 (UTC)"Er... Unless you run into someone from his reality or one really similar, you might not be able to ID the guy... As for what I'd do if I found someone who was injured? First, I'd make sure there aren't any neck injuries, and then I'd try and find ID, before tending to their injuries, in case there's some medical condition that requires a level of care that I can't provide..." The blond man frowns and moves to see if there's anything he can do to help as well.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"He wasn't breathing when I found him, and had lost a reasonably disturbing amount of blood. Something had mauled him and he'd nearly drowned, in some location with very cold water. I have enough knowledge of healing spells that I was able to stabilize his condition, but I do not expect him to wake up for at least a day or two at best."
"As for identification, he had none I could recognize. Only this," she indicates the nearly shredded black robes and the wand, "and a tattoo on his left arm of a skull with a snake in its mouth."
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
"...So he's either a Death Eater that fell into a river after getting attacked, or he's an ex Death Eater.... He's not nearly creepy-enough looking to be Snape.... " Yes, Dennis is familiar with the possible reality, if not the person Mikoto rescued.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
And Mikoto notices this. "Death Eater?" She mentally files away the name 'Snape' as well, considering the possibility of tracking anyone by that name in the Nexus down, if possible, and shoving the stranger off on them.
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
"Followers of a guy who calls or called himself Voldemort, depending on the reality and the timeline in a specific reality..." Dennis is double-checking the extent of injuries out of concern, and visually comparing his own outfit to the boy, wondering if he might have something that would fit....
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"And that is who I should attempt to return him to, then?"
Mikoto is rather good at her own world's kind of healing spells. There are no injuries remaining, though the spells she used didn't do much for the blood loss. The boy is far too pale... which only makes the Dark Mark stand out that much more on his arm.
Additionally, for the very observant, there are signs that he's been under a good deal of stress in recent history. He should recover, but Mikoto is probably not wrong in guessing he'll be unconscious for a good while yet.
He's on the small side, with straight dark hair and a somewhat aristocratic look to him. His hair is still wet, though being stripped and wrapped in the blanket is helping otherwise. Mikoto hadn't wanted to risk hypothermia on top of blood loss.
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
"No... That'd be the worst thing for this guy... If he was near death when you found him, then he either screwed up royally, or he was on Voldemort's $^#*%$#-list and would be killed on sight. Safest place for him is either here in the Nexus, or a reality that went differently... maybe even one that's nowhere near his own...." Dennis frowns, noting how pale the guy is, and wondering to himself whether the Red Cross goes to the Nexus.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto, meanwhile, is examining the remains of the robes for any clues. "So he is essentially the failed servant of someone who is very unforgiving of failure."
"This garment looks like it was once very well made..."
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
"Either that, or he got a clue..." Dennis shrugs, deciding that while some of his t-shirts might fit, there's no way he'd have any pants that would fit without falling off the poor guy... "Maybe he was rich... Tailored stuff is usually a luxury item unless you have a good friend who can do it, or can do it yourself..."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto takes note of that, apparently following this 'Voldemort' is something to be disapproved of. Understandable, if he tends to kill off his followers. Then she frowns slightly.
"There is some sort of decoration on this garment." She isn't sure what else to call it at this point. Unfortunately, the decoration in question is far too damaged to make most of it out.. some sort of vaguely shield-shaped crest is her best guess. There is something at the very bottom that might have been a motto, but it's not in Terran or Gaian...
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
Dennis blinks and moves to see what Mikoto is talking about, "Maybe it's a house badge..." He frowns as he realizes this isn't the case, "Or not... Maybe it's a family crest.... There's writing... Maybe Den would be able to tell... I can't tell what it says..."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"I can only make out some of the letters, and whatever they spell is not in a language I recognize. Two words, the first looks to be eight letters and the second three... I can be reasonably certain of a t, j, r, and possibly an s in the first word, and the second is a p, followed by either an o or u, and ending in r..."
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
Dennis considers for a few moments, "Let me call Den. She's good at figuring out words....", and then he's calling someone with his PINpoint and asking them to meet him by the sign.
Moments later, with a flash and a quack, there's a tall blonde woman who looks like she could be Dennis' twin sister standing nearby, "Okay, so what needs me away from the factory?"
Dennis indicates what he and Mikoto are puzzling over, "Can you read this, Den? I can't make it out...."
"... You know, if you just manned up and got glasses..." Den shakes her head and approaches.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"Given that it is torn and bloodstained, making out all of the letters might not be possible. It still appears to be some sort of identifying crest or insignia. At least I hope so. If I can not identify some associate or relative to locate, then I will have to make other arrangements."
She's currently examining one of the boy's hands, confirming that he isn't used to hard labor.
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
(just pretend the userpic matches the description I gave earlier... >.>;; *needs to update her pb*)
"...I know who this is..." Den's expression has gone serious once she's studied the crest, "I don't know if you'd be able to find his family though..."
Dennis gives his female counterpart a puzzled look, "So who is he? And why wouldn't his family be found?"
Den points to the crest, "The motto's Toujours Pur... In the Harry Potter series, that's the family motto of the Black family... This isn't Sirius... It's his brother... Regulus." The name clearly means nothing to Dennis, but Den continues, "And as for his family... Dennis, spoiler warning," She's quick to cover Dennis' ears at this point, "They know he died."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto frowns at this. "Clearly, they are mistaken." But she does see that this might mean Regulus is one of those cases of people dropping into the Nexus instead of dying, in which case they usually couldn't go back to their universe of origin.
Drat.
"If he cannot be returned to where he belongs, then other arrangements need to be made. I have spent two years traveling between different realities. I do not, at this time, have any place to take him."
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
"Well, I'd offer to give him the apartment at the factory, but most of us are what're called Muggles... A lot of wizards in his reality don't like Muggles... Plus, Sephiroth and Sephy are both jerks when they're in bad moods... The collateral damage would be more than I can afford..." Den says, sighing quietly. The fact that she can't help more than she already has clearly bothers her. Dennis reaches over and gently patpats her on the hand. He wants to reach up and touch her shoulder, but doesn't dare.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"Given his injuries when he arrived, he is likely to be unconscious for some time." Mikoto says. It's not so much finding a place for him to stay permanently, as it is finding somewhere to put him until he recovers. He is not her responsibility, after all.
She frowns, thinking about it.
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
Den shares a look with Dennis before returning her attention to Mikoto, "Then he might be better off in a hospital or something similar... Someplace where there're medical people to keep an eye on him or something...."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"I have yet to find one in the Nexus. And the last time I had access to a decent laboratory I was still a child." Something crosses her mind, and she goes just a little pale...
"I may know a location, but I will need to calculate coordinates. I have never been there." She retrieves her PINPoint from her pocket, and then hesitates. She dislikes asking anything of anyone, but popping into the desert and looking for holes in the sand with someone in Regulus's condition is out of the question. "Can the two of you watch him for a few moments? Acquiring acceptable PIN coordinates should not take long."
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
Den nods, "Yeah. We'll keep an eye on him." And they really will, too. Dennis manages to look a bit intimidating when he wants to, as does Den herself. Add in the AVF, and it's likely Regulus will have a peaceful rest while Mikoto gets PIN coordinates.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Regulus is too exhausted to wake up, especially not in the ten to fifteen minutes that Mikoto is gone.
When she returns, she is still dusting small amounts of sand from her clothing. Her expression, usually fairly expressionless to begin with, is now even more stubbornly blank than usual. She nods slightly. "I have the coordinates, and my brother's laboratory and former residence is still intact."
[Dennis (dens_extra_pups@livejournal.com)]
Dennis nods and then he and Den are backing up to give Mikoto room to PINpoint Regulus away, "Stay safe."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"Of course," is Mikoto's calm reply. A few moments later she and her 'patient' are gone...
Telrim's Reply
Date: 2013-02-24 02:00 (UTC)"Not unless someone happens to recognise him." Hm. Perhaps a gap which could stand to be filled? Telrim files the notion away for later consideration and moves closer to see if she can... help.
"I'd try to remove them from further danger, then seek medical aid. Do you know what happened to him?"
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"It was a slim chance, but I saw no reason not to take it."
"From the injuries when he arrived, he was mauled by something and nearly drowned. Possibly at the same time. The injuries have been healed, but between the blood loss and exposure to some very cold water I expect he will be unconscious for some time."
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
"No, of course not." She adopts a concerned frown, looking at the boy. "Mauled? As in attacked by a shark or something?"
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
There are no injuries now. Mikoto knows her healing spells when she needs them. But he's very pale and doesn't look like he'll wake soon.
Mikoto has to think about that, since she hadn't looked too closely at the injuries once she'd noticed he wasn't breathing. "There was not sufficient time for a detailed examination, but I do not think it was a shark."
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
"They leave rather distinct wounds." Never mind how she knows that. Telrim crouches by the couch, checks the boy's pulse. "Looks like you've got him stable, but he'll take a while to recover even once he's conscious. He should get checked out by a doctor..." If he can afford to.
She twists and looks up at Mikoto. "Do you think it was an animal at all?"
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto considers the mention of a doctor. Although she'd acted as one on Terra at times, that was years ago... and for Genomes, not humans. Additionally... "I will try to find a solution to that, since locating family does not seem to be working and I have not had access to a decent laboratory since I was a child." It's something she keeps meaning to see to, but somehow keeps putting off. It always seems to be after the next world, the next variation of magic or technology to observe.
She frowns as she considers the rest. "I know of no intelligent creature that attacks with that degree of savagery. But if I had to guess... the attacker or attackers were shaped like some sort of large primate. I have seen injuries that bore slight similarity when observing a 'zombie apocalypse' reality." Her frown deepens. "He was also having a reaction as if he had been exposed to a toxin. I cast Esuna on the chance that the wounds were venomous, though it is also possible he could have been poisoned in some other way and that contributed to the attack."
The boy looks a bit aristocratic, pale, and dark-haired. There is a tattoo of sorts on his left forearm, a skull with a serpent in its mouth.
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
Telrim gives her a thoughtful look that turns faintly wary at her diagnoses. "Zombies. Great. Does your spell do anything against transmitted disease? Even if it wasn't the undead that attacked him..."
She looks between Mikoto and the nameless human for a moment, then volunteers, a little hesitantly, "I work around labs, and we have a couple of doctors. Perhaps I could help."
She takes care to sound concerned, not eager. Perhaps she can reinforce an unassertive, helpful image of herself. A harmless image.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"Esuna is meant for poisons, infections, and curses. But when dealing with different realities there is always a risk of incompatibility."
Mikoto considers it, before nodding slightly. "I have one possible idea for where to move him until he recovers, but I will need to retrieve PINpoint coordinates. I have never been there, though I know how to find it."
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
"Best to check for anything nasty, then." She nods and stands, weapon hand absent-mindedly resting at her side briefly. "I can keep watch while you do, if you like. Just let me know what you need."
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
"If you can watch him, I can return with the coordinates in under half an hour." She readies her PINPoint. She knows the coordinates for the right area of desert, at least, and how to find the entrance...
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
Another, shorter nod of acknowledgment. "Will do. I'm sure he'll be fine for that long."
And if he's not, Telrim's sure she can handle it. Of course, she could steal him away now, quite easily. But as yet she knows nothing about him that would justify the risk and effort. She's going to chide herself for not asking later.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto will PINPoint away, then. She's fairly certain the anti-violence field would prevent most troubles, and having someone who can monitor the boy's condition takes care of any other concerns. Not that she'll admit she has any concerns at all, beyond that she doesn't recognize the form of magic she could sense from the boy, and would like to make a test subject of him.
As for the subject in question, he's not going to go anywhere in the fifteen minutes Mikoto will be gone.
((And I'll bring her back next round, in case Telrim wants to make any examinations while Mikoto's not there. XD))
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
((8D Does she ever!))
The instant Mikoto disappears, the Controller's full attention focuses on the unconscious boy. If she had more time and privacy, this would be a perfect opportunity to infest (and thereby interrogate) him while he's groggy. But he'd need to be conscious for her to pick through his brain... even if jumping hosts in public was any way wise.
Instead she looks around the area carefully, then PINs out herself. She's back in a couple of minutes with a handheld scanner. She runs the machine over the human to see what she can learn. She doesn't linger over the results, though: as soon as it's finished she gives him another physical check, noting that tattoo on his arm. Identifying mark, or youthful rebellion? Hard to tell with humans.
After a few minutes, Telrim circles round and sits on the arm of the couch. She checks the scanner and then hides it in her jacket pocket. Now at last she takes up her self-assumed role as guard, acting casual and keeping a particular eye out for anyone she knows. No, she's not responsible for the damaged human: she just happens to be hanging around in his vicinity...
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
When Mikoto returns, she is still dusting small amounts of sand from her clothing. Her expression, usually fairly expressionless to begin with, is now even more stubbornly blank than usual. She nods slightly. "I have the coordinates, and my brother's laboratory and former residence is still intact."
((I thought she might XD And as a note, the poor soon-to-be-lab-specimen in question is a barely 18 year old Regulus Arcturus Black. Spoilers for the last Harry Potter book in just what happened to him.))
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
Telrim stands up at her return, eyes flicking from the sand to her face. Being a Yeerk, she's practiced enough in reading non-expressions to notice Mikoto's. Which is explained when she names the location...
"Ah, that's good news. Somewhere safe and well-equipped- sounds like the right kind of place. Would you like me to come with you?" she asks quietly, glancing at the boy. The scanner got some interesting readings - where it got any. If this weren't the Nexus she'd think the device was malfunctioning. "He might be difficult to move with one pair of hands..."
((Been a while since I read it, but I remember him, sort of. :) ))
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
After a moment, Mikoto nods. "I used a Float spell to bring him here, but the PINPoints require some kind of contact, and that can disable Float." She will try to wring any remaining water out of the damaged clothing, then bundling it up as small as possible around the wand. A handy piece of twine retrieved from a pouch at her waist becomes a carrying strap for the bundle so that her hands remain free.
[Telrim 4219 (in_the_cracks@livejournal.com)]
Telrim hadn't considered the use of magic for that. But there's no chance of her suggesting a change of plan. Instead she makes a note of the bundle Mikoto's making and what's going into it. She should take a closer look at the belongings when she can.
Once Mikoto's hands are finally free, Telrim moves to get an arm under the boy's shoulders and start shifting him, tucking the blanket around him for better grip as well as his own warmth. He'll be far from the first bundled body she's had to heft around, and her host these days may be smaller but it's not all about raw mass. Besides, the body being lifted is smaller too.
[Mikoto (3rdangel@livejournal.com)]
Mikoto quickly wrapped up any other conversations as she gathered up and adjusted the bundle of belongings. Then, PINPoint in hand and coordinates set, she went to gather up the boy's legs. A button-press later and...
((Next stop, Kuja's Desert Palace...))