genessia | video, earlier today (prior to K-2SO's post)

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video, earlier today (prior to K-2SO's post)

[ Cassian still looks like someone who hasn't had a good night's sleep in months and just plain weary in place of his usual severe officiousness. But hey, he's no longer in Imperial white or hiding. Yay progress. ]

You all know what happened.

[ He goes silent again, lips pressed together, gaze lowered for a moment before he faces the camera again. ]

Our town has suffered an unacceptable death toll and violence we have not known for a long time. For now, we are grieving, we are healing. But the message has been heard loud and clear. We have been reminded of our vulnerability. We have a lot of work left to do, and it will be done, whether by me or my successor.

As you could all see I was affected. I'm myself again and have returned to most of my duties, but for my absence in Attleton's times of need I can only ask for forgiveness. I can't promise it won't happen again if I remain in office, none of us can make such promises. All we can do is prepare, and make sure there are fail-safes.

[ Still feels like a failure. He couldn't even bail out Mobius once he returned, as he hasn't been formally reinstated yet by the one who suspended him. ]

In mundane news, the lake in the Attleton park is now safe for ice skating. The Red House Foundation's emergency shelter in the Attleton Academies' gym will remain open until the end of the cold spell.

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If you somehow have a "successor" in this election, then I'm not serving alcohol for a while because people clearly got too drunk.

[Is that a sign of Gale supporting Cassian? As close of one as he'll get.]

... by the way, has anyone in your city reported a missing cat? I think I picked up a stray last week but I wanna be sure I didn't accidentally take in someone's runaway.

[ There's a moment of stunned silence - he really doesn't know how to handle Gale saying something nice to him after their long-standing feud. He nods after a moment, still a little hesitant and stiff from uncertainty. ]

Thank you. I saw that you are running for Nova City.

[ And he'd taken it for a joke, but if he's willing to look past personal annoyances he might be taking this more seriously than Cassian had given him credit for. This month just doesn't stop being strange, huh. ]

I hope we can work together well for the good of our cities, if we are both elected.

[ Wait, what had that been again? He blinks. Cat. Right. ]

I haven't heard anything about a missing cat, but I'll check the files and see if anyone reported one missing while I was... indisposed.

[Cassian certainly isn't wrong for thinking it was a joke, because it was partially one. Gale's being just serious enough to see what happens.]

Your opponents are an ankle biter and a radio guy, you oughta wipe the floor with 'em. If I somehow pull a victory outta my ass, I think we'll work together just fine. Just remember that you don't have to pretend to like me.

[He said he'd cooperate with other Guardians- he said nothing about liking them. It just makes things easier on everyone involved.

Gale glances down and pulls up a maine coon into view of the feed.]

Lemme know if there's a report on this fluffball. I don't wanna go namin' her and gettin' attached if she's someone else's.

Are you in need of any assistance?

Not at this moment, but thank you for the offer, Deputy Grievous.

[locked]

I'm slowly getting better, General. Well. Maybe not better. But you have to keep going.

[ Cassian arches a brow a little. ]

I'm not going to say anything in response to your... opinions on my fellow candidates. Democratic elections and freedom of speech are both precious freedoms. I'm glad that we are all able to enjoy them.

[ Such as when certain other candidates make light of the murders in Attleton. He's not planning to get pulled into some tit for tat fight. ]

I know I'm going to spend a lot of time enjoying your freedom of speech if you get elected.

[ Don't worry, Gale, he won't ruin a good enmity by making it weird. ]

The cat looks distinctive enough alright, if there's something on her in the reports I should be able to find it.

A large vulnerability, if we're being kind.

[They give a small smile now.]

You'd better win this election. I like my job.

[Dante is sounding decidedly less like himself at the moment. The event had fucked him up too, he just managed to avoid running into anyone during the time.]

It was a troubling time for us all.

[ There's some silence before the transmission is locked. ]

I like my job, too. I don't know if the people still trust me... after everything.

You sound fragged.

My money is on them being more forgiving considering it hit damn near everyone.

I am. The 'event' hit me hard, and honestly we're lucky the city is still fucking standing.

[ The smile chills him, a stark reminder that he is Not Okay. But life has never waited for that.

He forces his face into a neutral expression, head dipping in a slight nod. ]

If we're being kind, yes.

[ It had. But damn near everyone wasn't relied on to contain the damage in such an event. ]

I... Kriff. I didn't even realize it had hit you. [ His voice turns to a low growl. Other him had been useless. Astounding incompetence you'd expect from Imperials. ]

I'm glad you... didn't. Kriff. That would have been bad.

[ Major understatement. How do you even stop someone of Dante's powers. ]

It was a terrible time for all of us.

You have recovered, I take it?

[No one is ever Okay, Cass. Not even Chara.

One just gets better at hiding it over time.]

Hey, at least despite everything it's still you.

[ That's very different tone from the campaign message, and such confusion's making it harder to cling to the pretense. But snapping at them to come to the point would just give that away. ]

This place has reminded us that we are at its mercy. That this is not a benevolent prison.

True and... I'm saving my good stuff for the debate.

[They have a hunch that Cassian wants them to not beat around the bush and be a little shit. But they can't help it, being a shit is great.]

[ Yes. Yes. He would really like to get it over with so he can go back to his meltdown, kthx. Instead he's stuck in small talk hell. Oh joy. Shoulda stuck to being an assassin. ]

That is a wise choice. Your audience will be larger.

[ Ugh. He can imagine what he'll be hearing there, not like he hasn't been berating himself. So. Much. Joy. ]

[Man this is great, they haven't gotten to bother someone with words in a long long time. ~~Their usual punching bag for that is Sans, and he's just a sad sack and no fun.~~]

That it will be. Good luck to you, Mister Andor and do take care of yourself.

Thank you, Chara. Good luck to you, too.

[ And now he's got one more reason to be tense about the debate. Yay. ]

"Enjoy" is one word, I s'pose.

[He actually hates them, especially that annoying nagging the phones do when it's voting time. It's a wonder Gale hasn't broken it.]

Buddy, if I don't get people shit-talkin' me at all, then I'll clearly be doing the job wrong. We'll just have to see how the debates go, yeah?

[His most important deal for that is less figuring out what's going on in Nova City to produce accurate answers...... and more what he's going to wear.]

Device is always on, shoot me a line at any time.

[He hopes the cat's a stray. She's adorable and floofy and he wants to keep her.]

[Hey look, Cassian, it's your favorite! Winter's expression is as dispassionate as always. She's listened to his message. Considered it. And listened again.]

[Her conclusion is as follows: she cannot offer sympathy because it would sound foreign coming from someone like her. She's not good at it in any case. But she's efficient if nothing else, and it seems like he wants to do better. In which case, she thinks she can nudge him in the proper direction without outright seizing control and giving him a detailed list of what she thinks would be best.]

What sort of 'preparations' did you have in mind? Your plan is somewhat vague.

I am myself again, yes. Or at least the one you know.

[Because in a way the alien was also himself, just much further back into the past and with a happier alternate timeline. He's actually saddened to have to leave that behind.]

Yeah.

[He's quiet for a long moment, suddenly realizing he wasn't sure how much he'd told Cassian about his past. He figures this much is something he deserves to know.]

See, I have a brother. A twin. Vergil. When we were kids, demons came after our family looking for our old man. Only found Vergil, our mom, and me. Our mom died buying us enough time to get away, but in the process, we got separated. I didn't see him again for about 20 years. In the meantime I'd grown to hold on to my human heritage. To blend in at first, to keep me sane later.

Vergil... didn't. I don't know what happened to him, but he apparently was painfully aware of the legends of our old man. Of the legendary demon who he was a successor to. He latched on to his demonic heritage. Probably to keep himself safe. When we met up again, he'd been consumed by his lust for power, going so far as to open a gateway between our world and the Demon world just to get his hands on our old man's sword. ...At least that's what I thought at the time.

Last week, this place decided to see how I'd fare in his shoes. I spent the week researching everyone I could. Cataloging their powers, what gave them their powers, and what curses or spells I could use to steal them. Thankfully that sort of thing takes time, and I can't make heads or tails of the notes I made at the time. Burned 'em anyway.

You're back to work?

[ But said gently, for her, anyway.

Because what she's not saying, not wanting to repeat herself: are you all right? ]

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video, earlier today (prior to K-2SO's post)

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I figured as much. <3 [locked]

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