einselective | Hadriel IC Contact.

Keep your hands to yourself.

[Marian warns anyway, keeping an eye on Malkus. There's few people that she'd trust touching the equipment to begin with, but individuals with Malkus' level of technological expertise... even more definitely not.]

There isn't any good path. The parasites have to be stopped but...

[For all her blustering, she doesn't really want anyone else to get killed. And from what she's read, it sounds unlikely that people here will escape an encounter with the Null completely unscathed.

She shakes her head.]

All we can do is try to help ourselves... or stay out of the Null's way.

Honestly, cruel as it may sound I wouldn't mind if the opportunity to cause both downfalls were to arise.

[ In response to her warning, Malkus nodded and made no further effort to get closer to her stuff. ]

I would have hoped to side with the Null, but you sound as if you have you have more experience with them so... I suppose I ought to defer to you on that judgement. I must ask, though.

What is your motive with this? What drives this study out here, with this... technology?

[ He made a small swirling motion towards the electronics. ]

Under other circumstances, the discovery of interdimensional travel would have been a breakthrough prompting numerous research projects of unprecedented scope...

[Marian half-mutters sourly.]

As it is now, however... if the parasites won't tell us anything about it, we'll have to make our own attempt to locate the Door with the limited resources available to us.

[ Any tiny shred of sass caused by a feeling of hopeless desperation vanished from the doctor as he listened to her idea. That cool demeanor he was trying to show, having his arms folded all contemplatively, completely fell apart. ]

Really! That’s amazing, an amazing idea! That sounds… difficult, though. You know, they may have buried it.

[ It’s what Malkus would have done, if he had anything he needed to hide. Consequently, there are a growing number of dirt piles hiding cans of food in Hadriel. ]

You’ve got my support, at least. For what it’s worth. Even if my role is to keep the silence at bay.

[ If there was one thing Malkus was good at, it was filling a space with mindless chatter. ]

Marian sighs, deeply. Although the ominous atmosphere of the arena does get nerve-wracking over time, silence is perfectly fine. And while on some level she appreciates that Malkus agrees with her... she's not exactly sure that's helpful in any way.

"The parasites have continued experimenting with it one their own, according to all accounts, as well as discussed one or another hiding it. While I wouldn't say with any certainty that the Door isn't buried here, it seems more likely that it is hidden within the city proper in some other way. The arena is likely just a spatial weak point that facilitates the actual connection between this world and others," she clarifies.

[ That sigh was all Malkus needed to know that Marian appreciated his presence here. He puffed up with satisfaction and dense obliviousness. ]

Could it be hidden in quite the literal sense, I wonder? Or obfuscated- obfus- Is that the word? Made invisible to mortal eyes. Hope it can be destroyed, at any rate. After we... er you figure it out, anyway.

[ Malkus pulled up a piece of disturbed rubble and took a dainty seat. It was hard not to look like someone just tossed a marionette on the ground, with how his gangly arms and legs lacked any dignified grace. ]

Do the people of your world all tackle things this technologically complicated often? It's quite exhausting to think about.

[Marian shoots him a sudden wide-eyed look at the mention of destroying it. Admittedly, it was the first thing that came to her mind, and while she's not entirely sure what the plan is once they find it, well...

She coughs slightly, trying to act like she didn't just totally give away her big thought on the issue.]

Only a few. Most live very average, mediocre lives, at least in my country. I will say, however, that the technological level is considerably higher. It's simply that the average person doesn't have to consider the complications much...

[She trails off, clearly reconsidering her words. Still talking like everything was still fine. Like nothing had happened at all. But it had been so fast, and in comparison, she'd been here for months now...]

[ Malkus caught that look, and returned... a shrug. To be honest, he was just spinning the gears. Brainstorming. Her reaction made him feel like the notion had some substance to it, though. Come to think of it, making sure the parasites couldn't use such a device again was extremely important.

Maybe Malkus would have to bash this door against a rock or something. ]

It sounds nice. Mediocre as it may look to the elite like you, I've had the privilege of living such an existence once. [ He straightened up, running a hand across his mask as he continued. Maybe it was some attempt at looking prestigious? ] Hard as it may be to believe now, I came from a modest upbringing! There is a peace in simplicity.

I hope I can help return you to your home. I will return to my work restoring humanity, and you can return to your work... doing... science 'n whatnot I assume.

Restoring humanity...

[Marin has a bit of a sour look at that, although a bit different than usual, downcast. There's still the question of whether or not anyone is even left alive on her world. She doubts it, not with the way things were when she left...]

What happened in your universe?

Mm. Well. Story is kind of long. Please feel free to work while I tell it if you please.

[ He pressed his hands together, idly feeling the edges of his talons under all of that leather that made up his gloves. ]

Something had awoken from the west. Presumably from the sea. And it carried a blight that spread so quickly, folk did not even have the time to die properly. It's...

[ Malkus initially started with a matter-of-fact tone, as he had before, but speaking about it always put the man in a mood. A confusing mood. ]

It manifested in a web, gossamer like cobweb, that blanketed everything. Field of white everywhere you'd look. It drank the life from every little thing. Like salt. Just dried it all up. My flocks were formed from what was left, after the actual doctors and whatnot died or fled further inland. But eventually...

[ He lowered his head, hiding the upper half of his mask underneath the brim of his hat. ]

So those that are left are settling beneath, in caves and a network of tunnels. Kind of like this. Cept me. And those like me. We're not allowed. Yet.

[Marian does listen, solemnly, without interjecting. Although it's hardly proof on its own, she recalls hearing the idea that the Door attempts to bring in chaos, disorder... and can't help but feel a chill at the tale of another world ruined by some unknown thing devouring all life in its path.]

But you'd still go back, too.

[It's less a question, and more a confirmation. Even though she's not sure what's left of her own world... that's where she belongs, after all.]

[ Malkus sat with his hands in his lap. He quietly stared ahead, occasionally looking at Marian's electronics from his spot on the ground. When he spoke, he had a strangely optimistic tone. But far too noticeable was the pained tremble in his throat. The sound of a man trying not to break. ]

Of course. It is my home, is it not? I toil in the plagued lands for those who are still alive. Though they can no longer stand to look at me, I'll bring them the resources to start again.

[ There were times Malkus wanted to lay down in a field and let the blight overcome him, but he would always get up and trudge on. He couldn't quite explain why, and certainly he wasn't always so hopeful, but words were easier said than done. ]

[Starting again. Maybe all the materials were still there, scattered and broken under the snow. But even if the cold had ended, were there even enough people left to start again, on her world?

Marian's used to taking a bluntly pragmatic approach to her troubles, just doing what needs to be done. Under most circumstances, maybe she wouldn't have said it, but hearing the tone in Malkus's voice, her own look when she replies is haunted.]

If the resources still exist...

[She's not optimistic, and neither is he from the sounds of it.]

It doesn't matter. There's other people here who'd be going back to something better than us...

[And right now, trying to find the door... maybe that's the thing to focus on.]

[ Oof. That one dug in a little. The resources surely existed! Malkus had seen them. Gold. Cloth on the bodies of the deceased. Glass instruments in the abandoned labs. Bone. Wood. It was all there. But he never stopped to consider who was left to utilize all of it. Aristocrats obviously were some of the early settlers. They'd been the ones most protected by their walls when the plague first swept over the land.

It hurt to think about. But Marian had a point. ]

That is what is truly important. There are those here who have families and whatnot, I'm sure. Gracious, that's another- Ogh, lord above. That's a regret for another time.

[ He mumbled under his breath, and almost had a laugh at the absurdity of such a thought popping up. ]

Your work is goodhearted. And nonsense with that us! You've a lot to return to! Just imagine the knowledge you can impart from this experience when you go back! ... Maybe I can even learn something. Can you imagine!

No... I'm quite certain that there's little to go back to now.

[Considering how fast everything happened, and how late it was by the time she managed to close the gate... her own delivery of the words is flat.]

[ Well shucks, Malkus stepped in that one. He wasn't aware that Marian's world shared a similar fate. The doctor grew quiet for a moment, clearly trying to determine the softest way to continue the conversation. He gently scratched at the back of his head, carefully aware of his sharp fingertips. ]

Oh... I am... Sorry, Miss Tenebris. Truly I am.

[ He respectfully kept from looking up at her. It was an unfathomably uncomfortable thing, speaking about your ruined world. ]

I will not ask for the details of your world, if you would not like to speak of it. That you continue to work towards this goal is selfless and admirable.

[ Was that the appropriate thing to say? Once the words left his mouth, he felt heat on his face. Was that sweat building on his forehead? Malkus wasn't very good at this sort of thing. ]

[Marian's hardly sure that's the case. Out of some probably misguided sense of justice and guilt, more likely. She doesn't even bother to correct the "Miss" to "Dr." It just doesn't seem as important anymore.]

Are you planning to stay here all day?

[She asks, changing the subject abruptly. On another day, to another person, it might have been snappish. But she can't quite muster the ire after all they've spoken about, sounding more... tired than anything.]

[ Abrupt enough to send the message across, certainly. Malkus nodded at his feet before rising up from the rubble he was loafing about on. ]

I-I suppose I don't need to be. I just ah- I had figured you'd want- er...

[ It was clear his company hadn't exactly been the most jovial, after their talk. There was a tinge of guilt at that. At least he'd gained a better understanding of the situation with the Null, which was what he'd initially come out for! Malkus dusted the front of his robe and cleared his throat. ]

Your equipment likely requires concentration, my apologies. I can ah- excuse myself. If need be.

I'm certain I'll see you ...around... later.

[She replies dryly. One way or another... on some days, it seems very unfortunate just how small the city is.]

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