video; @Qubit

[superposition]

[ Yeah, so, Qubit looks a little put out for some reason! Almost as if he took something personally that definitely wasn't meant that way. ]

Qubit here. In light of recent events, I'd like to remind everyone that circumventing security measures makes the station less safe for all of us.

[ Holds up his index finger- ] Now before anyone starts, I'm by no means disputing your fundamental right to privacy. No, there should not be cameras in your private rooms. But the cameras in public spaces are there for a reason - to detect things like, say, an intruder planting surveillance where it shouldn't be.

[ He pauses for a moment, debating whether he should go for this next part. But... yes. Yes, he absolutely is this petty. ]

... On a side note. For anyone unfamiliar with Earth mythologies, "Loki" is the name of a Norse trickster god, best known for repeatedly deceiving his family and friends for his own amusement. More fool them for trusting him, I suppose.

[ Then he shrugs, with a wry expression that isn't quite a smile. ] Although if memory serves, his little pranks generally come back to bite him, sooner or later. Food for thought.

Comments

[killedwithlove]

[ The thing is... Cole knows how to use a phone and use the video system. He doesn't, because he doesn't like it, but he's quite capable of doing this thing.

But he heard this and now he's confused, so he actually replies for once. The camera shows mostly a ceiling and a part of the brim of his hat. ]

We're all intruders. None of us are meant to be here.

[superposition]

[ A+ camera work buddy. You're doing great. ]

You know what I mean. Intruders from outside Anchor. We don't yet know who or what else might be living on this planet, or what might happen if it got in here.

[killedwithlove]

No. I didn't know what you meant. You weren't very clear.

Are you talking about Creepy Joe? Twisted, trapped, tired, he is the Shift and he is here and that is...

[ He trails off, not sure how to finish, everything snaring around the shifting world. ]

[superposition]

[ Somehow, this is the first time Qubit's heard of this guy! And he just... raises an eyebrow. The name has a certain "man door hand hook car door" about it, not that he'd know that meme. ]

"Creepy Joe"? What are you on about?

un: cole (because I forgot before)

[killedwithlove]

The man outside, in the RedShift. He gave himself to it. He had a name once, but he's Creepy Joe now, eye eaten by his own mouth...

[ He trails off again, and then hums. ]

[superposition]

So there is someone out there? This is someone you've seen?

[ If he sounds skeptical, it's because he is. Cryptic spooks aren't really his style, and also he's starting to wonder if Cole's high on something, which doesn't help matters. ]

[killedwithlove]

Yes. Creepy Joe. Peter and Drake found him. Ben and I met him. But the Red Shift has him. I don't know what people here call him.

[ He leans over, looking at the camera, pale and deathly. ]

I don't like the machine talking, so I'm going to stop now.

[superposition]

Wait! What do you mean, it "has" him? Hello?

[ Did he just get hung up on? Come on. Guess this is another thing he'll have to ask Peter about. ]

[killedwithlove]

[ Cole has not hung up. He was about to, but now he stops and looks at the screen again, vaguely curious. ]

The Red Shift has him. It wormed and wriggled and wrapped and he welcomed it. Who are you?

audio; un: r.shepard

[queenofthegirlscouts]

Qubit, I know you mean well. But I think you're forgetting a few things that go hand-in-hand with security cameras here.

[superposition]

I don't think I am, but go on.

[queenofthegirlscouts]

One, these cameras are not backed up anything or anyone. There is no security force here. As a group, we haven't decided to implement any system, either. Until then, these cameras are just gathering footage without anyone authorised to view it.

Two, none of us are here willingly. Emotional or not, that is a key factor in how people view things. Things like, well, being watched by strangers. And this whole... video doesn't do much to reassure people's paranoia.

Three, there are bigger security measures which need to be followed than the cameras. Like the radiation issues, or the aggressive animals on other levels. If we're gonna focus on anything, we should focus on those.

[superposition]

[ Qubit almost starts to interject after points #1 and #2, but in the end he bites his tongue and hears her out. And he really has no counterargument to #3, she's just right. ]

... All right, fair, on all counts. But it's the principle of the thing. I don't want people getting in the habit of circumventing security measures. Next thing you know, someone could decide to bypass decontamination, and suddenly we've got an outbreak on our hands.

[ But now that she mentions it...

Honestly, a formalized security force hadn't even crossed Qubit's mind prior to this. He just sort of... authorized himself? Like, he's already given himself admin access to the security systems, that's absolutely a thing he's done. His plan - if you can call it that - was to monitor the feeds himself and do his vigilante thing. Somehow. In addition to all the other shit he's doing. Which really isn't sustainable no matter who tries to juggle it. ]

Shepard, why don't we have a security force?

[ Because they should! That is a great idea and they should do it. ]

[queenofthegirlscouts]

[ ...oh, no, that's not what she meant. ]

As a community, we haven't organised one. I can see the merits of something more organised for the agriculture levels. We do actually need those levels to survive.

[superposition]

[ Oh, it's not? Well, too late now, he's running with it! The longer he talks, the more animated he sounds. This is what happens when you give him ideas, Shep. ]

Yes, of course that could be part of it - but I meant for the station as a whole. Think about it! Having a real security team would solve every one of the issues you raised. We could keep eyes on developing threats, respond to them faster and more efficiently - put the right people in the right place at the right time.

And in formalizing it, we're also providing our fellow residents with a measure of accountability and transparency. They'll know not only that they are being protected, but by whom and how. Everyone benefits.

Audio; UN: Spides (private hi there)

[itsnotaonesie]

Oh my God, okay, two things.

One, we're not removing the public security cameras. They are staying right where they are, don't even worry about it.

Two, please, for the love of God, do not start shit with the friggen God of Mischief right now. What even in the world is wrong with you.

such private, wow

[superposition]

[ Okay, good that we're not removing them, but allowing people to circumvent them is almost as bad-

Wait, what's that? Hang on, we're getting an emergency signal from SHH ONLY BEEF NOW. ]

What's wrong with me?! Don't tell me you've bought into his self-aggrandizing nonsense, too! You're smarter than that.

nobody can see us we're invisible

[itsnotaonesie]

Okay, sit down. He's from my universe, and while I really don't know him personally, I really don't see him having a reason to screw with us right now. He screws us over, he screws himself over, it wouldn't benefit him at all.

I'm not saying to just trust him blindly, but I am saying that if you piss him off and he starts causing trouble as a result, I'm gonna be annoyed.

[superposition]

[ That actually shuts him up for a second! It's a miracle. ]

Wait, what? He's from - you - that -

[ It's too bad this is an audio conversation, because Peter, you should see the look on Qubit's face right now. You know, as he realizes there's a nonzero chance he just provoked a supervillain for no real reason.

But hey, when in doubt, take it out (on someone else). ]

When were you planning to tell me this? Who is he?

[itsnotaonesie]

I'm telling you now.

[Yeah okay maybe he should have mentioned it sooner, but also Qubit's not his supervisor get up off his ass!!!!!]

He's Loki, God of Mischief. Legit. No bullshit. He caused problems back home at one point, hasn't since then as far as I know, and then he was killed by the guy that murdered half my universe. That's about all I got on him.

[superposition]

[ Waaaaaait wait wait wait wait wait. No. He refuses, this is not allowed, he rejects your reality and substitutes his own -

Qubit goes very quiet all of a sudden. There is a lot to unpack in there. Any asshole can call himself a god, that doesn't mean he is one. But also, um, can we back the hell up for one second? ]

Did you say half your universe?

[ Cause holy shit Peter he hopes you're exaggerating. ]

[itsnotaonesie]

I didn't tell you about that?

[The Thanos thing wasn't really a big fat secret, so he doesn't really mind telling people about it. There's been kind of a LOT OF SHIT going on lately though, it had totally slipped his mind.]

God, okay, uh. Long story short, there was this big alien dude called Thanos, and he gathered up all these magic like, space stones that gave him unlimited power, aaand he used them to kill half the life in the universe because of some bullshit he said about the universe running out of enough resources to support everyone or whatever. I wasn't paying close attention, I was more focused on getting ready to ambush him. So he won aaand trillions of people died.

According to Loki, though, the Avengers were able to reverse it, so I guess everyone's alive again? Which is good, that means I'm alive again. Or I... will be? In like four years? I-- I don't know, man, it's confusing and I'm tired.

[superposition]

[ GOOD LORD PETER this conversation has sure gone places. Here he was trying to be a smug bastard on the internet and you come into his post and do this to his feelings.

A lot of people can't really conceive of a tragedy on this scale. After a certain point, "trillions of lives" is just another big number. But Qubit's very good with big numbers. He thought his own universe was in bad shape, but ... this absolutely dwarfs the body counts of the Plutonian, the radiation cloud, and yeah, most likely even Qubit himself - combined.

Half of all life in the universe. Dear God.

Yet the real punch to the gut is "I'm alive again." The realization that Peter was one of the victims. Peter tried to save trillions, and failed, and paid the ultimate price.

It's tempered, somewhat, by the knowledge that someone managed to reverse it. His own world hasn't had that luxury. But if he knows anything about Peter, dying wasn't the worst part for him. Qubit can conceive, too, of that scale of failure.

He doesn't say anything. What can he say? Obviously it's not actually Peter's fault, but he's sure Peter knows that, intellectually. And it's one thing to know it, another entirely to believe it. No wonder the kid works himself to the bone. No wonder he tries to be everywhere, do everything, save everyone. He didn't even know it had been reversed until Loki told him, which can't have been more than a month ago. How long had he been carrying that guilt? How did it not crush him?

... He's still here, I promise, he just needs a second. ]

[itsnotaonesie]

[And as soon as Peter realizes that everything he said was extremely fucked up, he's just over here mentally kicking himself for saying shit that would make people all worried about him. There are more important things to focus on QUBIT.]

...Sorry. I didn't mean for that to get... to get all dark like that. I'm fine.

[He probably doesn't need to specify that he's fine but he feels like maybe he should??]

( video | un: tricks )

[dothelokimotion]

[ dryly. ]

Oh no. I've been outed by a nobody. What will I do now.