text ; @Qubit (backdated prooooobably a week-ish?)

[superposition]

[ AND NOW IN THE RIGHT COMM... ]

Qubit here. Keeping this quick: I need a few volunteers to provide blood samples for testing purposes. These will need to come from both sick and healthy individuals, please. Contact me if you're interested. Thanks in advance.

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[superposition]

[ He's... honestly not sure how to take the compliment? (Is it a compliment?) So he'll just change the subject. ]

By the way, I've got the test results from the bile on your clothing.

[abheirrant]

[Was it a compliment??? The world may never know.]

Should I be excited or apprehensive of the results?

[superposition]

[ ok but. he's not at home right now??? i mean yeah he did tell her where he lives but he's not there right now. ]

That won't be necessary. I'm out and about already, it's not as if it's an imposition for me.

[superposition]

Well, it's mostly blood.

[birdical]

[But she wanted to come over. :( If disappointed huffs translated through text, one would go here.]

I am at the park. I will await you.

[abheirrant]

Apprehensive, then. I suppose calling it the black blood is more accurate.

Should I be worried that I have been expelling that from my body for the majority of my life?

[kaballin]

Sure. But it didn't so who cares?

That little shit. What'd he give you?

[superposition]

In fairness, it's not all blood. I found a significant amount of epithelial tissue as well.

But yes, I'd say so. I'm no doctor, but chronically vomiting blood and bits of stomach lining for decades is generally not considered a good sign.

[abheirrant]

[He does not want to know exactly what "epithelial tissue" involves. He's sure it's not good.]

Seventeen years. Not decades. But your point stands. The twice-cursed do not live long, and I suppose not every reason for that is magical in nature.

[superposition]

[ would you like that epithelium original recipe or extra squamous ]

Or at least not wholly magical. It'd make sense for the bleeding to be caused by magic, though of course I've got no way of testing for that. Was it always black, even when you were alive?

[abheirrant]

Always. The wound I sustained that caused my affliction has darkened over time, though. It looked no different than a terrible scar, initially.

[superposition]

Does it matter? It was his share, he can do what he likes with it.

[ ... Hm. He was trying to subtly imply some things, but maybe he should spell it out a little. ]

You misunderstand my intent, Kabal. I'm not just here to scold you. Quite the opposite; I want to make you a proposal.

Cut me in. With my expertise, you won't run the risk of blowing up the station or setting loose some deadly xenoparasite. I'll even let you take most of the credit, and should something go wrong, I'll go to bat for you.

I don't ask much in return - just an equal share of the loot, first refusal on pieces of scientific interest, and to be included in all such attempts in future. What do you think?

[kaballin]

Worst lackey ever.

I'm already splitting this 70/30, cutting a third person in doesn't seem real beneficial to me now does it?

You just wanna get all the sciency shit first. How's that gonna be worth my while here? You're not selling it.

[superposition]

"Worth your while"? And here I thought I was being generous.

Kabal, you're lucky I'm offering you anything at all. Frankly, I'm not sold on what value you bring to the operation. As I recall, all you did last time was stand around bullying the poor fellow who did all the actual work.

[superposition]

Interesting... Where's it located, if that's not too personal?

It's odd because normally blackened tissue like that is associated with necrosis, but the cells in black bile aren't technically necrotic. They're intact, but inert. Not breaking down, but not performing any metabolic functions, either. Almost as if they're in stasis.

[abheirrant]

The wound is across my abdomen: four scars, just below my rib cage. I can show you if necessary. They looked quite normal at first, albeit a grim sight. Over the years, they grew darker and darker, from a deep violet to almost black in the end. And now, they are dimly lit from within with magic.

I assume that magic is why I am in relative stasis. It happens on occasion with gifted and powerful mages where I come from, their magic sustaining them for well beyond a natural lifespan. It can be quite tragic when it occurs to loved ones, and some casters are known to cease practicing their craft entirely so they don't outlive their families.

[kaballin]

I knew where the good shit was to begin with. And I was there to protect my little lackey should that room have been filled with guards. I'm bringing a lot, it's YOU that don't have a purpose here.

Just cuz you want first dibs on tech doesn't mean you get it. What are the rest of this little crime syndicate getting for letting you join?

[circumitus]

theyre aka LUC-x56 cells. father was the source - lucas coffey. might be why you havent heard of them.
sometimes they dont require complex manipulations for things to go terribly wrong. thats the problem.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Haven't been carted off by the bots yet - still in my room. Been coughing hard enough to bring up blood. Loads of fun.

[superposition]

[ Well, that saves him having to ask whether Reynir's had blood drawn before. Leaving the tea alone for now, Qubit opens the kit and gloves up. Some of the tools inside are higher-tech than modern-day Earth has available, but he handles them like he knows what he's doing. Today's gadget is vaguely pistol-shaped, with a disposable plastic tip covering the "muzzle," but otherwise the procedure is exactly what you'd expect. ]

Looks that way, but testing ought to tell us for certain. [ Just gonna put that air cuff on your arm there, and have another look at the glyphs while it inflates. ] I like what you've done with the place. Did you freehand all these?

[superposition]

Thanks. I'll be the man in green.

[ SORRY ELLERU NEXT TIME I PROMISE..... blame whoever put him on call 24/7 (oh wait he did that himself.) ]

[ He heads to the park within a few minutes. It's a big place, but Elleru and her bright pink hair aren't too hard to spot.

In spite of the circumstances, he's fairly well put together at the moment - sufficiently fed, recently washed, tired but not exhausted. He has loads of practice keeping his body running through a protracted crisis, after all. With him he has a white carrying case marked with the biohazard symbol and the words "BIOSAMPLE KIT." ]

Miss Elleru?

[birdical]

[Sitting near the edge of the lake, Elleru turns when she hears her name, her magenta eyes landing on Qubit as he makes his way over. She gives him a smile, one warm and welcoming... and maybe just a bit playful as she looks him up and down, giving him an obvious inspection.]

Qubit. [Key-U-beet, again.] Would you sit with me? Or should I stand for you?

[braidmage]

[ Reynir sits, patient and unperturbed by the proceedings, apart from a little of the usual restless energy that he gets out by fidgeting with the end of his braid idly in his hands - clearly not a nervous gesture, but mere habit. ]

It's always best to know as much as possible and be absolutely certain. There's a reason the quarantines back home are weeks longer than it'd take anyone to start showing symptoms. Better safe than sorry.

[ Even if it had been a complete drag, getting stuck in one of those quarantines for a solid month. Reynir just wishes there had been a bit more space, more things to do. But even then, it would have been okay... except that Tuuri had just died and being stuck in a clear box for a month isn't exactly the ideal way to grieve. Not a whole lot of distractions available. ]

Huh? Oh! Yeah, of course.

[ How else would he have painted them? But he realizes now that perhaps he should explain, and tells Qubit: ]

They're for protection and stuff. Just in case.

[ Then, with a hint of pride creeping into his voice: ]

I came up with most of the designs, myself. Who needs a dumb mage academy, anyway?

[superposition]

[ Hmph. So Kabal actually knew where to look? He wasn't just guessing and going in blind? Press X to doubt, but okay. He does have some value as muscle - that's never been Qubit's strong point, and Carlisle is literally skin and bones - but he's hardly the only guy in Anchor who fits that description.

Still, it's only fair that Qubit lay out some of his qualifications as well. Even if he does take issue with the terminology. ]

Please. We're treasure hunters. [ Can't have organized crime if you don't got laws! ]

First: you'll be getting my knowledge and expertise, which is more than enough in itself. I can find us solutions that don't risk killing everyone in Anchor, for a start. And I can identify our findings, so you'll be pawning actual goods as opposed to mystery boxes.

Second: I'm technokinetic, which means I can quite literally shape machines to my will. I'm sure I needn't spell out how that will be useful. Play your cards right, and there could even be some custom gadgetry in it for you.

Third: I have access to the security systems.

[superposition]

[ His eyes are up here, ma'am. Qubit does not fail to notice that expression, and a flicker of dismay crosses his own. He thought he'd successfully deflected her interest, whether or not it was genuine, but no, she's right back on her flirty bullshit.

Well, at least now he knows to expect it. She's not going to surprise him this time around! (Or so he thinks.) He smiles back, though his is merely polite rather than warm. ]

Tempting [ /s ], but I'd rather not perform your phlebotomy in the dirt.

[ He motions to a nearby picnic table instead, heading toward it. ]