shockingblue | IC Inbox: Daybreak

Well, alright, maybe he obsesses over them just a little. [A little.]

And the tests aren't that hard— [Desi was arguably at a slight advantage in his classes, though, since she could occasionally apply knowledge of what she knows would work against herself.] —he's just a bit unforgiving when it comes to mistakes. [...and wasn't that basically the same thing?]

And wait— More than Professor Kiske? [Or anyone else that had joined GV these past weeks?

Marise hummed.] Partners in just about every sense of the word, are we?

We, ah— Well, he was one of the first people I met here, we got along fine even then, and it turns out that we work really well together. I make it easier for him to do his thing, he makes it possible for me to do mine. [A Candle with lightning powers and knowledge of runecrafting, and a mage with a repertoire of elemental magic and daemonic shadow manipulation, they probably sounded like a rather strange combination, but things really did work out better than expected.

She still wasn't going to go into detail on any of the things they were involved in, since it still wasn't known if the others would be alright with it or not.]

Mmm, out of curiosity, GV, what is it that you do? [Since 'GV' had been mentioned as his preferred name, that was what Marise would use for him as well.]

Sure sounds like it, doesn't it? My, you two really did become lovebirds while I was away...

[Gunvolt blushed, a little more furiously, when he realizes what he really said there. Which was more than he really meant to, though it wasn't like it was *bad* either.]

Monarch, knock it off.

[There's not really any bite to the statement, just as there's no malice in the AI's teasing. She's actually very happily bemused.]

Me? I wear a couple of hats. I started out with runic inscription work and engineering, but... mainly, I'm a Candle. My Radiance is lightning based.

[And lightning has quite a history of the hardest element to actually control in the elemental sphere, so that might actually be pretty remarkable.]

[The shadow beneath Monarch's pillow popped up by about two inches very suddenly, making the AI core jump a bit with the inertia, before that shadow immediately sank back down and put the pillow back exactly where it was. It was basically like a playful shove of sorts, albeit indirect, as the motion resulted in the hologram visibly stumbling a bit as the core had to use its hover capability to keep itself from basically faceplanting upon landing.

It was also without any warning whatsoever, so Monarch would probably faux-complain about it, but she knew that Desidera wouldn't take anything far enough that it would risk causing damage to her.]

Lightning, you said? That certainly explains how you could help her. It isn't without its own slew of issues when it comes to control, though, but I'm sure you already know that.

Plenty well. It's taken a lot of practice and some ingenuity to get as far as I have. Still got a long way to go though.

[He's not really going to divulge any of his secrets just yet, other than one thing.]

...Do have a really good teacher, though, in Professor Kiske.

[Indeed, Monarch's hologram even stumbles, and then pouts a bit at Desi, silently. She's not really mad or anything, but she will just give Desi the biggest cheek-inflating pout, followed by blowing a silent raspberry at her.

Yes. This was an artificial intelligence built by an evil corporation with mal-intent. Was she mature? Yes. When she wanted to be. Which was not now.]

[Whatever response Monarch might have been expecting, she just got a small wave instead.]

Ah, so you both have your own help aside from each other. I have to wonder, though, how does Desi help you? I wouldn't think that those shadows of hers would be terribly conductive.

They kind of are, actually? [Having to avoid being shocked after blocking Asimov's lightning rounds had been proof enough of that.] They don't act as lightning rods or anything of the sort, though, so it's not as though I simply mark targets for him or anything like that...

Getting me out of trouble, for one.

[The shadow net came to mind. And helping deal with Asimov for another.]

Beyond that, we're working on finding new ways to see how our powers and magic interact. That's still a work in progress, and might take some more out-of-the-box thinking. But figuring this stuff out is part of the fun.

GV's... rather enthusiastic about his training and work, if you couldn't tell.

That does sound rather risky, I have to admit. Using Radiance and fell power together rather than separately? That's quite a combination to be attempting. Though, if the academy itself hasn't tried to stop you...

Mother, I'm certain that the professors know what we're doing, and that they've known for awhile. He might largely leave me to do things myself, but Professor Valvatorez made it clear not long ago that he does keep an eye on me quite a bit. If he saw a problem, he would tell one or both of us.

Well, if they see no problem, then I'll trust their judgment.

Now, what about you, Monarch? Taking a hiatus to be their personal cheerleader?

We've been very careful about not crossing the streams too. The danger's not lost on us. And in the end, we might come up empty. But that's okay. Right now it's worth pursuing any lead we can to be more effective together, as long as it's not reckless.

[GV actually arches an eyebrow though, when Marise makes a comment about a "hiatus." ...Had she actually heard of Monarch?? Now that was something he was more surprised about than he probably should be.

For her part though, Monarch straightened up, and also briefly looked taken aback. But she quickly preened a little, and answered back.]

Ah, so you've heard of me before! ...Something like that. It's more that... my career as it was is on permanent hold. I had some... disputes, with my former employers, we'll call it, and a team at Daybreak was kind enough to arbitrate and get me out of a bad contract.

...If you catch my meaning. GV and Desi were both very sympathetic to my plight, so... this is where I feel I belong now.

[For her part, Desidera seemed a bit surprised as well.] When did you—

I can't say I expected to learn she was an AI, but her name and voice are both quite recognizable, dear; with you away from home, I've needed a little something to break the silence here. [In other words, Marise had actually picked up an album or two at some point over the past four months.

She was also good at reading between the lines, so when Monarch answered the question...]

Aah, I understand. I assume, then, that your enrollment at the academy needs to be kept secret. [Spoken with the same sort of emphasis to indicate that yes, she did get it.] Don't any of you worry, I'm very good with secrets.

I'd appreciate that, thank you. I know it's not in the best form to leave my fans hanging without explanation, but... the truth of the matter is. Complicated. Maybe I'll be able to discuss it more at length some other time.

[Well, that was a relief, for certain.]

I'm just glad it means we won't have more of Monarch's fans trying to beat down our door. [Did he mean people who wanted to use her, or Monarch's actually rabid fanbase? Answer: Yes.] Things have been crazy enough lately, and I'm glad they might finally slow down a little.

Maybe, though I wouldn't count myself among those who would need to know. [Or in other words, telling her is entirely optional.]

It certainly sounds as though you've been busy, though. I know there might be more to talk about, but perhaps I should go for now so you have some more time to rest. We can talk again sometime later, if that's alright?

[There's a brief pause before Desi answered, but it was less of one than there had been when she first saw the phone ringing:] That would be fine.

Mmm, I'll leave it up to you when that is; it would be easier than my trying to find a time when you can answer. Until then, addio?

It was nice talking to you, ma'am. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.

[He was still doing his best to make a good impression, so... being polite was still something he wanted to do.]

Happy to meet you, Mrs. Neroni! Hope to talk to you again sometime!

A-addio, Madre.

[And with that, the call ended. Desidera continued looking at the phone for a few moments before turning back toward the others.]

I'm...not sure how I had expected things to go, but. That. It went well, I think.

...All things considered? Yeah. I think it did too.

[Honestly... that went way better than he dared hope.]

She sounded.... pretty understanding about quite a lot of what's happened.

And there was a lot that happened. Speaking of... Desi, I wanted to ask you something, if that's okay?

What do you mean, 'if that's okay'? Of course it's okay. Do you think I'm going to keep things from you at this point?

Stupid question, then.

[He just shakes his head at that. She had a point, after all. Though, his initial smile fades away to something a little more serious, more reluctant, but he's still going to go through with it.]

It's... just something you said while we were fighting Asimov. [She probably knows the moment... but...] It was right before you slapped him. [Which... he thought was pretty cool, but frankly, now wasn't the time to say that.] You really... turned that around on him.

Oh, so when I called him a monster. You know I'm not going to take that back, he earned it. [And just about everything else that came before—and after.]

Unless your question is something else?

I would never ask you to. He deserved it.

[...Though, of course, it was never quite that simple deep down. He was still grappling to deal with the complexities of what Asimov meant in his life. Like it or not, Asimov did pull him out of the rather dim prospects of the orphanage life, Asimov did teach him a lot of what he knew before coming to Daybreak, did encourage his talents and gave him a place to belong, and did send him here to Daybreak.

...His life wouldn't be what it was without him. And he had to reconcile that with the reality of who the man really was.

And damn. It wasn't easy. But at the same time, he couldn't find himself able to argue on his behalf. Not much. Not yet. The wounds were still too fresh, and he could still feel a phantom pain in his chest where the first round struck him. It had fully healed over by now, thanks to magic, but... sometimes he could still feel that burning sensation when he thought about Asimov. That, and a profound emptiness inside.

He chose to ignore it. For now.

Instead, he'd focus on his initial point.]

...It's more that you called yourself the same thing, even if it was ironic. I'm just. Surprised, at that, I guess.

That's what he said about you on the helipad. What I didn't want to repeat to you.

[Because as far as he was concerned, it was as far from the truth as it could be. Sure, she had appearances, and might even be part daemon. But a monster? Never.]

[Ah. That. Well.] It's. Well, it's technically not wrong? The word is pretty commonly-used when talking about daemons, even if, coming from humans, it's usually meant negatively.

[That might make it sound like she's started identifying herself as one, but at the same time, she hasn't gone and denied what GV had said in response to the word himself, that she wasn't one.]

And though it's certainly not what he meant, the word could carry a sort of positive meaning too, depending on how you look at it.

[He raises an eyebrow at her saying it can carry some sort of positive meaning; he's still not immediately comfortable with the idea, but... it was more important to hear her out.]

How do you figure that?

Have you ever seen someone do something so impressive that it was one of the first words to come to mind?

[He paused... thinking on it.]

Like "Dude, that was some monster air on that jump?"

[Monarch wrinkled her nose a little before covering her face with her palm. ...Okay, yes, technically, he probably had it right, but if it was possible to sound incredibly lame....]

GV, I'm going to need you never to say that phrase ever again.

I, ah, I agree. Let's not say that again.

But yes, though it's usually something along the lines of seeing someone do something really big— [The shadow-sawblade on the Mantis. Grand Strizer. Even Asimov's Voltaic Chains, had Rex not done what he did to lessen the danger.] —or something really skillful.

There's a reason I don't skate, you two...

[Quip aside, he leans back against his desk.]

But... that's not quite what I was getting at, I think. But you just said he wasn't technically wrong. That's... more of what I'm confused about.

[Desi moved her right arm around a bit, looking briefly annoyed at it.]

Mmm, could you wait for just one moment, please? That bandage is getting to be a little too bothersome, so I'm going to go and do something about it really quick.

[She excused herself to the bathroom for a moment.]

IC Inbox: Daybreak

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