011✖; (video)

[circumitus]

[From the get-go, almost anyone who knows Rey might immediately sense that something's... off, about her. For one thing, she's activated the video feed, which she just about never does. Second, she carries herself oddly than usual these days. More rigid, her jaw tight. Third, there is a stone cold expression that might startle the faintest of hearts if they're so unfortunate to wake up to this face.]

"Greetings."

[When she speaks, it's even more obvious that she isn't right. Rey is not the 'greetings' type, and her tone is different as well. Her r's roll and her voice is lower. Not that she had a high-pitched voice before, it's just -- different. Those from Earth might even be able to recognize it as a distinctive Russian inflection.]

"I skip pretenses and keep this brief: It would seem our successor designated 'just Rey' has tampered with our memory core. Up here." [As 'Rey' says this, she taps the corner of her head as if to emphasize her point.] "Present designation is Operative Safronov. Is not my desire to be here. This area of operation is successor's purview. Not mine. She messed up brain. I fix it. Is what I do.

"Do not seek us. Not now. Have only vague estimate for damage. Safety could be compromised."

[She pauses, then adds:] "Looking for successor designated 'just Rey's contacts." [i.e. friends? What those are.] "Might help. Might not. I make no promise.

"Apologies for those inconvenienced by this asshole."

[On that rather blunt note, 'Rey' -- or, rather, Safronov, reaches for her device and the screen goes black. Now that she's made her point clear, she wants to minimize any chance of people seeing and discovering her current position.]

[ooc: A quick clarification -- Rey has recently jacked into her own brain to try and fudge some memories, and fudged up herself instead. This will not be a permanent thing. More info here.]

Comments

video.

[puzzlingly]

「Classic, he comes back and shit happens.

Well, in a manner of speaking...

The hell... Rey... Why? He's not even sure what to tell this... person?」

Is she... Where is she?

「Is that even a question to make?」

voice.

[circumitus]

I have hunch. Too soon to tell.

[Very helpful, Saf.]

voice.

[puzzlingly]

「Wait what? Hmm.」

Isn't she... with you?

「In her mind or something?」

Never mind that, is she safe?

audio;

[hasitsthorns]

[ ... What in the actual fuck, Rey.

Rose had known it was bad, but not this bad. Well, she can't be mad. Not right now. That's not going to fix anything, honestly. Instead: ]

Apology accepted. I know Rey, [ because she refuses to use any past tense just yet. ] so what can I do?

audio;

[circumitus]

She tried to delete memories. Or alter them. Good news is we are neither invalid nor stuck with nitwit who knows nothing about memory altering. But I do. Knowing what memories she wants gone could be good start.

[It would have been nice if Rey had left some clues as to what she was trying to do for Safronov, but it's not like this was the intended outcome.]

audio;

[hasitsthorns]

Of course she did.

[ It makes sense after what they'd talked about. Rey had definitely seemed to want to forget the past several months. Considering the way that Maketh had left things, well- She can't blame her. It's so tempting, isn't it? To just have the option to wipe away the mental stains and start anew?

Of course, there's always a catch. It can't be that easy. Things like this - whatever this is - happen. ]

Alright. It might be a lot to try and talk about over a phone call, so- Where can we meet? You familiar with this place at all?

[audio]

[synthedick]

[Rey gave Nick a heads up that she'd be trying something unusual, hoping to rid herself of some of the pain she was feeling. Though he'd tried to be supportive, he was simultaneously apprehensive, fighting his gut to stay relatively quiet about his concerns.

He sees now that he should've trusted his instincts. Futzing with one's memory is just asking for trouble. Nick would know.

He waits to see how this 'Safronov' answers the other questions on this transmission, introducing himself in the meantime.]

I'm Nick Valentine. Rey lives with me.

[Or 'lived.' They were so much more than roommates, though. Just how much access to Rey's memories does this new personality have? And more importantly, will Rey ever come back?]

[audio]

[circumitus]

[Hoo boy, it's probably a good thing that Safronov can't see Nick for what he is right now, or she would be having a much different impression about all of this.]

I see. So you are close?

[audio]

[synthedick]

[As close as two people like them can get: they might not look it on the surface, but they have a lot more in common than even they'll ever admit. They're family.]

Yeah. We are.

Video

[badchoicesmadeeasy]

...huh...

[ That was...weird.

She's nowhere near the city, so she can't really check - and she isn't that close to Rey (at least, not yet), but, still. ]

You alright?

voice

[circumitus]

[Flatly:] Status uncertain. Last memory I recall was bullets blowing out my skull. Present state is considered better than that.

Re: voice

[badchoicesmadeeasy]

What the hell...? [ Mumbled under her breath, doing nothing to hide the confusion on her face.

She didn't sound like this, not the last time Alana saw her, not the times she hung out drinking. ]

So, huh, what's with the weird ghost robotic assassin speak? You trying out character acting, or...?

audio

[64th]

You seem like you need a nap.

audio

[circumitus]

[excuse u]

Naps will not fix problem.

[Plus for Safronov, the thought of waking up again like this is... eugh.]

audio

[64th]

You won't know unless you've tried, will you? [ she's so helpful. ]

video

[sciencelizard]

[Hey, let's play a game, it's called "how much has Alphys slept since the day previous"? The answer is none. Literally fucking none.]

Hey, so, uh... listen, we can talk about this, uhm. More. If you have specific questions, or... maybe I can help?

[She's going to die in anxiety hell until Rey's back, that's just how it is.]

voice.

[circumitus]

[Regardless of how helpful it is for Alphys' panic, Safronov doesn't regard the scientist with resentment. It's clear that this was not her idea, and the successor was stupid enough not to explain what she had intended to do from the start. Typical.]

Only need use of your equipment again.

I do not blame you.

voice.

[sciencelizard]

[It's good, seeing as Alphys blames herself enough for two.]

Of course! I mean, uhm, a-any way I can help, it, I... yeah.

[She's quiet, for a few seconds.]

... She's gonna be okay, right? Are you gonna be okay?

[audio] private

[onlyanautomaton]

[It seems that he has a lot more to learn about Miss Rey than he imagined.

After spending some time browsing the other exchanges, he responds, but not before switching their feed to private.]

Are you able to ascertain whether or not other parts of Miss Rey's programming have been affected?

[By the sound of it, the problem lies in her 'memory core' subsequent to a failed attempt at manually altering her recorded data. But what if this action has led to the unexpected impairment of other key areas and their performance?]

[audio, private]

[circumitus]

[She's just full of surprises.]

None that are in immediate risk. I cannot say that won't change.

[While Safronov is the one who comes with the knowledge of memory alternation, it also means that they're limited on time than if it were any other identity than herself. Probably.]

[audio] private

[onlyanautomaton]

[Then there is still time.]

You spoke about an 'infection' in your earlier conversation with Mr. Atem... Should it begin to take hold, is there anything that can be done to slow its progress?

video;

[closerift]

Will you be returning "that asshole" once you've "fixed" whatever she did?

[ Hi, Cecily is suspicious of you. ]

voice.

[circumitus]

Of course. I have neither desire nor ability to stay.

[And she doesn't sound so broken up about this, either.]

audio; wow this is late

[nowherewolf]

[Okay so, if he's hearing this right, Rey messed with her robot brain and turned herself Russian. Which sucks, because he wanted her to see his movie. Delight's movie. Whatever. But hey, maybe this is an opportunity. This Rey- sorry, Safronov- doesn't hate him yet.]

Hey, I knew Rey. What do you need to find her contacts for?

audio;

[circumitus]

Information. [Duh.] That tends to be first order of business when someone arrives, yes?

[Even though Safronov's version of "arriving" is a little different from most.]