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?

[superposition]

[ oh whoops i jumped the gun a little then ]

Qubit. Can you be more specific? And who are you?

[killedwithlove]

More specific about what?

[ Without thoughts and emotions to guide him, Cole finds conversations difficult to navigate. ]

I'm Cole.

[superposition]

[ About... all of it??? Qubit deals in hard facts and well-defined terminology, this poetic language doesn't tell him much of anything. He's a bit frustrated because of that, but he wants to keep Cole from hanging up if he can, so he keeps his tone of voice even. ]

I need details, Cole. You're saying this man went into the Redshift willingly?

[ There are signs plastered all over Anchor to warn residents about the danger, so he didn't do it unwittingly. ]

[killedwithlove]

No. I said it took him. And he welcomed it. I don't know why, but he suffers, a lot. He aches reach across the acres.

[ Cole also vanishes from sight again, sick of leaning over the camera. ]

[superposition]

[ For a second Qubit thinks Cole's about to hang up again, but no, he's just bad at video calls. Okay, that works too, I guess. ]

Peter tells me you're an empath. You can sense his emotions from here?

[killedwithlove]

If I need to. But I don't. I can't help him right now.

[superposition]

How would you help him, exactly?

[killedwithlove]

To hurt less.

Before I was Cole, I was Compassion. I'm still Compassion, just I'm also Cole. I help people. It's what I exist for.

[superposition]

[ He doesn't quite follow, but... tentative approval? ]

It's a worthy goal.

[killedwithlove]

Is it? All spirits try to be and inspire what they are. Are shaped by and shape in return.

[superposition]

[ Aaaaaand you've lost him. ]

What does that mean?

[killedwithlove]

[ Cole appears on the screen again, sideways this time. ]

I don't understand.

[superposition]

[ Cool cool, so we both don't understand. Qubit lacks the Thedas-specific context he'd need to realize that this is pretty specific and literal - it just sounds like a bunch of New Age rubbish to him. And he does not want to get into more of it right now, so he shakes his head. ]

Never mind. Back to "Joe" - are your abilities such that you could locate him, if need be?

[killedwithlove]

[ Cole hums and thinks about it. ]

Maybe. The Red Shift makes it hard and he likes his hurts.

[superposition]

But if he was quite nearby? Say, within Anchor itself?

[killedwithlove]

Maybe. It was easier before, he was by himself and there were less people, less hurts.

[ If he's in the Anchor, Cole might be able to find him, but he really isn't sure. ]

The Red Shift makes it hard. And he craves his hurts.