hadriel | 011✖; (video)

[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.]

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「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?」

[ ... 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?

[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?]

...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?

I have hunch. Too soon to tell.

[Very helpful, Saf.]

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.]

Edited 2018-03-02 03:03 (UTC)

[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?

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

You seem like you need a nap.

[excuse u]

Naps will not fix problem.

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

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?

[Safronov is hesitant at first, almost more inclined to hang up than to take the risk. But if she wants out as much as others would want her successor back, she's going to have to trust the contacts.

[She'll just keep herself armed, just in case.]

Familiar enough.

[Pause.] Need time to stabilize. Head is not right. Give me day or so. Will send you location then.

[Rest assured, within the next 24 hours, Safronov will send a private message to Rose of her current coordinates: A little abandoned shop on the other side of the river, near the orchards.]

Edited 2018-03-04 01:47 (UTC)

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

I fail to see how this helps current problem.

[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.

Then you may know why the successor does this.

[More of an observation than a question.]

Can access previous logs and messages on this device. Only dates so far back. Need more information. What she wants changed. And why. Don't want repeat incidents. [It's pretty obvious that Saf doesn't want to be here any more than anyone close to her successor would want this version of her gone.]

[Nick switches the feed to private; Rey doesn't need her business discussed over the network, especially when she's... well, like this.]

Don't you have access to her memories?

[And if she does, shouldn't she be able to figure it out herself?

Forgive him for being a bit terse, Saf. He wants to know his family is still in there somewhere, and that this isn't the result of some kind of failsafe.]

No. Only the precursors' memories. And mine end where hers began.

[That being the blackness of her own death. And judging from the way Nick switches this line to private, Safronov suspects he knows something.]

I have theory for why this happens. But I need intel. Time.

「Wait what? Hmm.」

Isn't she... with you?

「In her mind or something?」

Never mind that, is she safe?

It probably won't but you'd be less cranky.

[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.]

Doesn't work that way. We do not get symbiotic communications with precursors let alone successors.

[You know, unlike some guy who has shared a body with another dude. Because that'd just be too convenient!]

No. Is also not possible to delete her. None of us are. So that possibility is negated.

Edited 2018-03-03 23:46 (UTC)

You assume I am not always like this.

[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.

「Not everybody gets the fancy 2 x 1 deal... Thankfully she does go a little further, explaining what he was afraid of. She's good...」

... What do you need?

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