MISSION: GRAB THE EYEBALLTAUR

[initiates]

Date & Time: March 7th, 1994
Location: The MICA campus: Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Characters: Everyone
Summary: All transports are shipped back to 1994 to steal art from art students. Also, some of them arrive bodyswapped.

The Initiative has timed the incoming waves of Transports to the MICA campus for Freshmen Orientation, but even so, the flood of newcomers gets a few surprised glances. Looks like MICA's up for a major boom in attendance next year, wow. But do some of those freshman look a little old to you? …And do some of them seem to be freaking out a lot more than usual about being in Baltimore?

The cloaking devices, with holograms visible only to the natives, will be blending everyone in with the native 90s fashion senses, and all non-humans will find themselves getting much more tame curious glances than they might back on Exsilium, as they project a human appearance to natives around them. So at least there's that. Just try not to get arrested, hit by cars, or challenged to any break dance competitions as you grab and run off with bizarre works of art, alright? The weirder it looks, the more likely it probably is to be the power source the Initiative needs for the Transporter.

Oh, yeah, and sorry about the body-swap-around. Just deal with that as best you can, because the mission really must go on. Any harried and worried Initiative employee along on the mission that you might be able to find will just sputter a hasty not-really-explanative explanation and hurry away, trading frantic messages with the headquarters in Exsilium. They'll get this all sorted out by the time you get back, don't worry.

Comments

[implying]

Why, it must be my smiling acceptance of all abuse. [ Which reminds him — the grin turns into a quick laugh, and he adds: ] Speaking of! I met a rather prickly friend of yours only the other day.

[controlledvariable]

[Something in her expression flickers at that first part, but she lets it go, distracted by the mention of Ellie.]

Ah. [She doesn't quite wince, but it's a close thing.] You managed to survive the encounter?

[She likes Ellie, but she has no illusions about the girl's temper. It's probably why they're friends.]

[implying]

Only barely. [ It manages to sound fond, though. ]

I rather like her! And I carry the fond fantasy that some day she may even like me, too.

[controlledvariable]

You weren't lying about the moth to the flame thing, were you?

[Which says just as much about Steph, that Ellie is basically the only person she actually trusts.]

I wouldn't hold your breath on her liking you, though, some days I don't think she even likes me. [That's a joke, probably.]

[implying]

My dear, you wound me! Given enough time, I can get through to anyone.

[ He considers that for a second, and amends lightly: ] Nearly anyone.

[controlledvariable]

[The correction gets a laugh, but her expression grows somber after a moment]

Don't push her too much, she's been through a lot, and I'd hate to have to break your fingers if you upset her.

[....because obviously that is what she does when people upset her friends.]

[implying]

[ And really, that's all it takes for concern to supersede the amused interest. His smile doesn't quite fade, but it does lessen, and he gives a small nod. ]

Understood. [ Not added: people who have been through a lot are the ones he falls in love with the most. ] But between the various threats of harm to my person, perhaps the three of us might enjoy ourselves for a night out at some point, yes?

[controlledvariable]

[For all that she might be a little mean about Vanadi when she thinks of him - she likes him, but he didn't exactly make the best first impression - she's grateful that he accepts the warning without question. He's a flirt, yes, but she thinks he can be a good person underneath that.]

You might want to let me gently break her into the idea of things like nights out before we add you to the mix. [Because he's... him.] But yeah, maybe we can.

[No it's a terrible idea. Someone will probably get stabbed.]

[implying]

[ Yeah, okay, he can see her possibly not... doing very well with that kind of thing. His mouth dips down into the frown, and with an amending hand up: ]

A night in, then, perhaps. I could cook!

[ c'mon Steph you have to indulge the social butterfly, he'll wilt and die without enough friends around at all times ]

[controlledvariable]

Well, she is easily won over with food. [She says that fondly, but there's a pause as she bites her lip, momentarily looking a bit awkward.]

It might also have to wait, though, I've sort of - misplaced her.

[As you do.]

[implying]

[ There's a blink under the mask, and a brief pause outside of it. ]

Ah. Did you. How did you manage that?

[controlledvariable]

That mess I mentioned? [She feels a little guilty, but, well, Ellie left her to deal with a hell of a situation, and she should be allowed to vent as long as she avoids specifics.] She had a fight with one of her friends, and disappeared. I think she's in the Outlands, and I could probably find her easily enough, but I'm guessing she wants space.

[There's a definite mood shift from a few moments ago, but she's not sure if she's annoyed at Ellie for making her deal with Fi, or sad that she hasn't seen her for a while.]

[implying]

Ah, I see.

[ Oh, friend drama. It's such an old acquaintance of his. He tips his head either thoughtfully or curiously, watching her. ]

I expect you're probably right about the space, knowing her as I hardly do. —But don't let her go for too long, yes? [ because there's basically nothing worse in his book than losing a friend through neglect. ]

[controlledvariable]

Oh, I won't. [She gives him a smile, albeit a rather wry one] Someone's got to yell at her for being a little shit, after all.

[She really does like Ellie, but that doesn't mean Steph is going to ignore how awful she was to Fi.]

[implying]

Well, naturally.

[ There's a wince that creeps into his voice with that, though. The thought of anyone trying to use bluntness or aggression back on a woman like Ellie had struck him as, well, it seems rather explosive. ]

Will you be selling tickets to that particular show?

[controlledvariable]

[She exhales sharply, because, yes, she knows it's going to end up being a hell of a fight. The yell might be an exaggeration, but she doesn't think being gentle about it is going to work in this situation, so she's planning to be a little firmer about the whole thing. She needs to make Ellie realize that her treatment of Fi isn't okay.]

No, I'm just-- [Does she really need to explain herself? Maybe.] If I don't do something she's never going to stop tearing her friend down.

[Like Cass and Tim used to do to her.

Which might be why the situation frustrates her so much.]

[implying]

[ He considers it, then nods. ]

I rather wish someone had yelled at me for that, when I was younger.

[ He remembers what probably qualify as a few attempts at it, but they'd been laughed off. ]

It's good of you to care enough to do it.

[controlledvariable]

[She shrugs, suddenly feeling a little self-conscious about the whole thing. Having friends is complicated.]

I think I'm just a masochist. [Another smile, this one a bit more of a grin, something of an invitation for him make a comment on that.]

[implying]

[ That's a cue if he's ever seen one, and one he's happy to take. ]

There are people who can help with that, my dear. I'm a qualified specialist, myself!

[ okay that's a lie he could never get into real sadomasochism, but it's an amusing lie. ]

[controlledvariable]

[You never let her down, Vanadi]

I'm not sure if that's an offer to help fix it, or to help indulge it.

[Not that she's - even remotely a masochist, either. She probably couldn't even try without having a panic attack.]

[implying]

A truly skilled man — ie, myself — could make it both. [ He grins for a second, before adding: ] Please do feel free to imagine a wink here.

[ okay so maybe there's one or two downsides to this totally rockin mask ]

[controlledvariable]

I don't doubt that for a second. [Flirting, still, but if anyone could manage it, he probably could.

And she smiles, but also tilts her head in something like questioning.] You could always take off the mask [Lightly, because she has a feeling that's unlikely, and doesn't want to push the topic. Which is why she adds:] But you don't need to worry, I imagine you winking after almost everything you say.

[implying]

[ He... could, that's true. It's really a silly habit, which he fully recognizes, but not a necessary one. Why, with Marduk, he even allowed their first face-to-face interaction to forgo the mask entirely. (But then again, Steph only knows him as he was, and he would hate to spoil that illusion...)

The sigh is internal, the smile is all that makes it out. ]

Excellent, then we're halfway there! [ He lifts both hands, one finding the beak of the mask and the other the latch at the back of his head. ] But here, allow me to provide a visual, just so we're entirely clear on it.

[ He lifts the nose up without actually removing the entire thing, just far enough to show off a perfectly schooled, calm smile, the scar, the shaggy silvered hair, and a wink. ]

[controlledvariable]

[Ah. The scar is basically what she expected, so there's no trace of surprise in her expression, she simply smiles, warm and a little pleased, that he likes - trusts? - her enough to let her see his face.]

There you are. [It's playful, but there's something genuine in her tone as well. She might be used to masks, but she doesn't think he needs to hide.] You look much nicer without it, you know. [That's definietly more genuine, a little more serious. She could have been subtle about it, maybe, but she just wants him to know that.]

[implying]

[ He lowers it again, snapping it back into place with a metallic click. Entirely unnecessary now, but — well, that first and bizarrely nerve wracking step is done, which means some other day he'll take it off more permanently around her. When they're not in a room that doesn't guarantee privacy, at least. ]

Perhaps that's the point of it, hmm? A pretty face like this can't just be shown about at any old time!

[ 'Thank you' would probably be the right answer, but the jokes are force of habit. ]