HALO 184: Red and Grey All The Way

[Recaiden]

Marin's tails reciprocate.
"Kind-of? I guess?" she says. "I feel exhausted, just...not the usual kind of exhausted, y'know?"
Getting trapped in a large void filled with eyes tends to do that to you.

"To be honest, I could probably do anything still," she agrees, but adds, in a quieter tone of voice because she's loathe to admit it, "so long as I don't have to make a lot of decisions." Plus, obviously, still need to do that report, but that just has to be done sometime today before she leaves.

Well, Honesyuckle doesn't know what it's like to be trapped in a large void full of eyes, exactly. Sure, she was told they were there, but that's not quite the same.
"Sure, I know."
She rests there a few moments, just appreciating Marin being there beside her.

"Alright, leave all decisions to me! first, we write tha report! Then, back to celebration!"
Quick, off to...wherever they left the writing supplies! Honeysuckle can get the computers hereto print out words for her, but making something colorful is going to have to be left in Marin's hands.

[5a Violista]

[By]

Harley looks over at the gloves. Okay. "Thanks." It's really considerate that he put it there instead of trying to hand it to her.
She'll grab them later.


Manja, realizing from the tone of his voice and the way he shakes his head that her father is now playing with her, turns her full attention towards him.
She makes some entergetic baby noises and reaches towards him, and kicks her legs.

Harley blinks a few times, and yawns. Rein's making a very convincing offer. "Yeah. Um..." After a few moments for her thoughts to catch up to her words, Harley holds Manja out for him to take. (Manja seems to be okay with this, because it means she gets to play with him more.)
"Yeah. Thanks. I'm going to take a shower." Showers are really effective at waking people up better.

Once she no longer is holding the baby, she grabs some things then goes to the shower.
And Manja reaches towards his face.



[[Crossing] [Crossing]]

"Okay! Marin says. She goes with, working with her to get the report all prepared and the celebration all...celebrated, and any other miscellaneous myriad things they do.

[Reinholdt]

[By]

"No problem." Rein'll take Manja and Manja... will take his face! "Oh no!"
Or just grab parts of it anyways. Rein shakes his head playfully as if trying to escape her grip. She probably has his nose or a strand of his hair. Has being a rather loose term, given her grip strength at this time. Yet Rein pretends for her sake all the same.

[Aleph Null]

[Tour]

// Not to worry, for time is of little concern for me. We can take as long as necessary. //
Aen said to Dorota before returning to Felandria.
// I can complete any required tasks before joining, if anything is needed of me. //

[Felandria]

[Tour]

// Not to worry, for time is of little concern for me. We can take as long as necessary. //
Aen said to Dorota before returning to Felandria.
// I can complete any required tasks before joining, if anything is needed of me. //

Oh, no, that won’t be necessary.

You don’t need to do tasks before you join, perhaps after.

I would like to know what your skills are so we can figure out where best to use you.

But also, I need to get you one of the new member gift bags, all kinds of neat stuff in there.

[Morty]

[Tour]

Dorota doesn't really have anything to add for the moment, since Felandria's in charge.

[Aleph Null]

Oh, no, that won’t be necessary.

You don’t need to do tasks before you join, perhaps after.

I would like to know what your skills are so we can figure out where best to use you.

But also, I need to get you one of the new member gift bags, all kinds of neat stuff in there.

// A gift bag, you say? That sounds nifty. As for my skills, I am highly proficient in the use of cosmic energies to achieve all sorts of effects -- some call it magic, but to me it is more of a science as I understand it quite well. I also have a very small portion of the Akashic Record devoted to my memories, and as such it is virtually impossible for me to forget anything, even if I wanted to. //

[Felandria]

// A gift bag, you say? That sounds nifty. As for my skills, I am highly proficient in the use of cosmic energies to achieve all sorts of effects -- some call it magic, but to me it is more of a science as I understand it quite well. I also have a very small portion of the Akashic Record devoted to my memories, and as such it is virtually impossible for me to forget anything, even if I wanted to. //

That sounds fantastic and you can tell me all about the Akashi Record later, but it sounds to me like you would be perfect to help us keep track of things around here.

Someone who can’t forget anything Is perfect for our research department.

We should show you the labs first, I’d imagine.

[Aleph Null]

That sounds fantastic and you can tell me all about the Akashi Record later, but it sounds to me like you would be perfect to help us keep track of things around here.

Someone who can’t forget anything Is perfect for our research department.

We should show you the labs first, I’d imagine.

// Yes, that would make sense. Any place where I can experiment with my power without endangering anyone is incredibly useful to me, for such opportunities rarely present themselves, and mortals, fragile as they are, are simply too intriguing for me to bring myself to endanger them with my experimentation. //

Aen then trailed off spilling some stream-of-consciousness about how mortals invoke protective instincts in him and how he sees the average mortal like a human would see a fox or cat or other cute but still relatively clever small animal. Good evidence against the 'universe is out to get us' way of thinking, at least for whatever multiverse this being came from. It also made sense, somewhat, that it would be difficult to contain all one's thoughts when one's mind had such an abundance of them. He was careful to profusely note that these folk around here (either in HALO or in the Nexus in general) were far from average and that he saw them as equals, though. Notably, he would still follow wherever you led him, and if you asked him to be quiet, you would cease to pick up any more of the strange speech (though it was quite possibly still being emitted).

[Morty]

[Tour]

"We were going to the labs before we saw you," Dorota says. "It's where I spend most of my time here. The labs seem very well-secured. I understand that there were many deity-level beings in HALO once. But that was a long time ago."

[Felandria]

Tour

Splendid, then let’s be off.

Felandria will escort them to the

Labs

Which are a top of the line scientific facility.

Dorota, since this is your area of expertise, you should take lead in explaining our setup here.

[Morty]

[Labs]

Dorota pushes her glasses on her nose.

"The most important thing is probably that the labs can be customized by different members. I've got my own corner over there. So you can claim your own section and... what do you need out of a lab?" she asks.

[Aleph Null]

Labs

// As I stated before, my main idea for a laboratory is a space where I can experiment with my power without causing harm to the surrounding environment or its denizens. Generally this would mean mechanisms to ensure my actions don't spill their effects outside, in addition to the any measuring instruments which I can describe in detail when they are needed, // Aen explained. // I am sure such materials exist that can withstand most if not all magical forces, and those should suffice here. If not, it may be necessary to create a demi-plane and link it here...I am capable of such an action myself, although by its very nature such takes a significant amount of time. //

[Morty]

[Labs]

Dorota nods.

"I'm aware of anti-magic materials, yes. I... might be able to produce some myself. I don't know if it would be cheaper than buying them. It would take more time, certainly. I'd need to run it by Felandria and Reinholdt. I understand they used to be more common, but as the number of godlike beings active in the Nexus decreased, so did the demand for them."

[Felandria]

[Labs]

Dorota nods.

"I'm aware of anti-magic materials, yes. I... might be able to produce some myself. I don't know if it would be cheaper than buying them. It would take more time, certainly. I'd need to run it by Felandria and Reinholdt. I understand they used to be more common, but as the number of godlike beings active in the Nexus decreased, so did the demand for them."

Felandria places a hand on Dorota’s shoulder.

If you want to make them, I don’t see a problem.

Especially if it’s what our new colleague needs to do their research.

Just keep them away from me, I like my magic where it is.

[Aleph Null]

[Labs]

Aen gave a sort of bow/nod gesture.

// I'd appreciate it, obviously with the proper containment measures. If that could be done, then I can use that to set aside a section of the lab for my use. I look forward to working with you all. //

[Morty]

[Labs]

Dorota nods.

"I'll make sure not to put them anywhere they might obstruct you," she tells Felandria before looking back to Aen again. "If I'm going to do it, though... do you think you could show me your power, in controlled conditions? I'll need to understand it if I'm to come up with a substance that counters it. The variety of magic in the Nexus is staggering."

[Felandria]

Lab

That would be much appreciated, Dorota.

And I would be quite interested to see your abilities as well, Aen.

If you need more time, that’s understandable, after all, you’ll still need to be shown your quarters .

[Aleph Null]

Lab

Aen stops for a moment, then replies, // In here, right now? I will produce a minor effect, then. //

As his eyes begin to glow more intensely, there is a strange, indescribable sound, as the space around him ripples for a moment, and instantly an orb of energy appeared in his hand -- a sphere of colors you've never seen before, dotted with tiny pips of light that look like stars.

// This is a rather basic projectile, but you should be able to analyze it for the type of energy and the nature of my power. //

[Morty]

[Labs]

"So it's less of a spell and more a localized alteration of reality." Dorota looks at the ball for a while. She then steps aside for a moment to her section of the lab and returns with a small ivory cube. "It's a device used by sorcerers of my homeland to measure the agitation of reality around them. It's a big concern to them. If my guess is correct, your effect should trigger it. Then I'll have something to work with."

[Purple Eagle]

[Couple Tour]

A tall brunette with vaguely British and Latin features, pale skin and green eyes strides into HALO, dressed in a business suit and her hair done up. She looks like a police detective, and is currently exactly Fel's usual height.

That's right: it's Rosie, Fel's girlfriend, who's waiting to meet her! After all, during their last date she was told to consider herself a member, which means it's time for a tour!

Her excitement is palpable, as hard as she tries to look professional.

[Aleph Null]

Lab

The effect does indeed trigger the sensor. In fact, the concentration of the power is astounding; the intensity is low outside the space occupied by Aen and by the sphere, but is extremely high near Aen, and pointing the device at Aen or the sphere directly indicates something akin to a singularity -- an extremely dense and discretely quantized region of cosmic energy that is stabilized by a counterbalancing field...in other words, don't touch it.

[Morty]

[Lab]

"...well, then." Dorota doesn't really sound particularly surprised. Aen clearly has a tremendous amount of power under tight control. "This looks similar enough to power used by sorcerers of my homeland, or rather the after-effects of their power, that I should be able to fashion a material that resists it. Nothing that would stand up to enough direct application of your power, but enough to shield the environment from any less direct effects. And it shouldn't interfere with anyone else's magic," she adds, looking to Felandria.

[Felandria]

[Couple Tour]

A tall brunette with vaguely British and Latin features, pale skin and green eyes strides into HALO, dressed in a business suit and her hair done up. She looks like a police detective, and is currently exactly Fel's usual height.

That's right: it's Rosie, Fel's girlfriend, who's waiting to meet her! After all, during their last date she was told to consider herself a member, which means it's time for a tour!

Her excitement is palpable, as hard as she tries to look professional.

Felandria arrives and immediately senses that Rosie needs a hug.

So a hug occurs.

There you are.

How are you?

[Aleph Null]

[Lab]

// Perfect, that is the intention. I simply wish to ensure no effects spill over into the surroundings, as it were. //

Aen gave a nod. // Now then...is there anything else you need from or have for me? //

He looked toward Felandria.

[Morty]

[Lab]

Dorota produces a notebook from somewhere and starts making some notes in preparation for creating the metal. She seems intensely focused on it, so if anyone wants her attention they better speak up.

[Purple Eagle]

Felandria arrives and immediately senses that Rosie needs a hug.

So a hug occurs.

There you are.

How are you?

[Couple Tour]

Rosie grins once Fel appears, and accepts the hug gratefully. It's always nice to be in the arms of someone important to you, after all!

"I'm fiiiiine, dearie!" She responds with a big grin, then looks around the area inquisitively. "How 'bout a little couple's tour?"

[Felandria]

[Couple Tour]

Rosie grins once Fel appears, and accepts the hug gratefully. It's always nice to be in the arms of someone important to you, after all!

"I'm fiiiiine, dearie!" She responds with a big grin, then looks around the area inquisitively. "How 'bout a little couple's tour?"

But of course, love.

What would you like to see first?

Fel wraps an arm around Rosie’s back, coming around to her side and gesturing to the everything in front of them with her other arm.

[Reinholdt]

[Reinholdt's Office]

Reinholdt has begun to call HALO members to his office. The stated reason? An informal meeting to see how things are going, who is working on what, etc. It's like a quarterly audit or something. Rein stressed the informal nature of this, but also made it somewhat clear it was necessary to do it anyways.

Because the primary reason for these semi-interviews is to test for shapeshifters. The recent incident with the simulation room and malfunctioning teleporter revealed the possibility of an infiltration by someone claiming to be Harley's daughter. What this shapeshifter wants is anyone's guess, but it can't be ignored that there may have been sabotage already.

So it's time to check everyone, even Felandria and... ugh... Magtok. He intends to focus on HALO first before shifting to the affiliated Fourth Tower members.

One at a time though.

[Felandria]

[Reinholdt's Office]

Reinholdt has begun to call HALO members to his office. The stated reason? An informal meeting to see how things are going, who is working on what, etc. It's like a quarterly audit or something. Rein stressed the informal nature of this, but also made it somewhat clear it was necessary to do it anyways.

Because the primary reason for these semi-interviews is to test for shapeshifters. The recent incident with the simulation room and malfunctioning teleporter revealed the possibility of an infiltration by someone claiming to be Harley's daughter. What this shapeshifter wants is anyone's guess, but it can't be ignored that there may have been sabotage already.

So it's time to check everyone, even Felandria and... ugh... Magtok. He intends to focus on HALO first before shifting to the affiliated Fourth Tower members.

One at a time though.

Might as well start with the one person that’s already established to be a shapeshifter.....

Felandria enters the office, wearing her pajamas and bunny slippers, Reginald perched on her shoulder, a cup of coffee in her hand.

Good morning, Rein.

What’s up?