adstring_npc | {Unified Universe Project}

[There’s a clicking noise, then a burst of static, before a moment of silence. A male voice speaks first, recognizable as Greg’s.] Did it work?

[A female speaks up.] Is it a plant? No. How should I know if it works? Mine got eaten by the Hungry Vine.

[A third voice speaks up, a new male.] He was asking in general, not you, Abbot. And yeah, I think it’s going. But not video. You’re the codemonkey, fix it.

[Greg snorts.] Fixing, fixing, bug boy. You go play with your beetles, I’ll get this… there.

[The video flickers on, showing Greg, Caroline Abbot, and another young man who resembles Greg slightly. ]

[Greg nods happily.] Guess what? We have blankets! [He holds up stiffer-looking greenish-white blankets.] We’re going to share! Abbot can explain!

[Caroline sighs.] They’re plant fiber. I modified the Hungry Vine to have stronger limbs, and—

[The other guy shakes his head.] She’ll talk for hours. Look. Plants became blankets. It’s not good weather for them, but you’ll have them. Anyone wants to pick them up, we already dropped off a load at [x,y]. Outreach and shit, since our PR department is fuc—

Matthew! [Greg’s voice is sharp.] There’s a lady present.

[Caroline blinks, staring at Greg.]

[Matthew snorts.] Fine. Since our PR department is sleeping around instead of making sweet, sweet love to all of y—

[Greg reaches over and shuts the sound of the PCD off. He and Matthew talk for a moment, while Caroline looks very awkward. She plays with a vine that’s crawling up her arm, smiling at it. The boys stop talking, and Greg rolls his eyes and turns the sound back on.]

[Matthew sighs.] The PR department isn’t doing its job. So we’re doing what we can. Better?

[Greg nods, then looks off to the side.] We’ve got to stop transmitting for now. Guard cycles. But we’ll answer questions in a few minutes. It should be safe.

[He smiles, and with a quick wave, he shuts off the PCD.]

[[ooc: There are twenty-five plant-fiber blankets at the location listed.]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Caroline! [He sounds vastly relieved.]

[The video sputters back to life, and Caroline waves.]

Al!

Caroline, they didn't punish you for talking to me, did they? They said they wouldn't, that was the deal!

Did they keep it?

[Caroline smiles.]

They kept to it, Al. Which got some of the others angry, because they talked, but then they got their files back. It got dropped. Especially when I threatened them with Acid Carnations.

[Al laughs.]

Sounds like you. Gosh, I was so worried... I never meant to get anyone in trouble because of me.

I didn't get all the information I wanted, but I did get some, so I consider it a success.

It's good to see you're doing all right.

[Caroline shakes her head, looking a little tense.]

He had a point. I did sign that contract. He wasn't... he wasn't in the wrong.

I wouldn't brag about getting info? I mean, you guys should have more than you do, but that's... That's not a safe topic right now. A lot of people aren't happy.

It's good to hear you too.

Technicalities. No harm done in the end, right?

I'm not afraid of them, Caroline. But thank you for the warning. I'll be more careful.

[She half-smiles, her face saying she doesn't think Al is getting what she's saying.]

Right.

It's not that... Yeah, all right.

[Probably not.]

... take care of yourself in there.

And you out there, Al. We're safe if we're... where we are, right?

[She's very limited in what she can say. She knows she won't be protected again, especially if this ever falls into the hands of her bosses.]

[Al pauses, and he sounds a bit young, and lost.]

I don't know. Not everyone is allied with me, and there are people here that would kill you if they had the chance. Not a lot, but they would.

I might not be able to protect you again.

[Caroline's a little surprised by what she's hearing. The suit of armor had been big. She thought Al was an adult despite the sound of his voice.]

Which is why I'm safe in here, and you're better out there. That's what I'm saying. If we all... Two cities, not one. That's safer.

[Not a child, not an adult. Caught somewhere in between.]

... safe. That's what matters.

[Caroline really doesn't know. She's willing to believe just about anything of the Outsiders at this point.]

It is.

Please ignore all the rudeness you're getting. Most of us out here are very decent people, but every city's got a few of the ... disagreeable sort.

Oh, and Caroline?

[Private//Unhackable//Video]

I'm sorry I didn't show my face before. There's a shapeshifter out here, and he doesn't know what I look like.

A bit different from what you were expecting, I'd guess. [He gives a wave and a grin.]

[Caroline's smile is weaker.]

Yeah. I guess it's the loud ones that aren't nice or something?

[She looks at him, surprised, and then her smile returns to full strength.]

Oh wow! That's not what I expected! You look... How do you wear such a big thing of armor?

{Unified Universe Project}

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