℘ Dear Anon [text; anonymous]

[immortalrose]

[After much plotting and planning behinds the scenes, Augustine finally decides to put his plans into fruition. He's done enough investigating regarding this manner to feel confident enough to act.

Time to cause a little public discourse. He must keep the conversation going. Maybe the perpetrators involved will slip up. Augustine can only hope.

No one can resist a good bonfire after all, especially the firestorm that Marco vows to bring.]

Why does it take such drastic measures for one man to seek the justice that should come freely?

[He's referencing the chaos transpiring within Genessia City as of late.]

Is it because he's deemed unworthy in your eyes? Or is it because justice has a price that only be paid for in red bills?

Either way, you spectators should feel some sort of shame here. Marco's character shouldn't come into question when he's a victim in all this.

Surely if you were missing a loved one, you would scorch the earth in search of them.

Comments

[immortalrose]

I suppose you could say that. [See those fangs peeking out as he smiles? He's a little annoyed with you, Cassian. Think of those chompers as subtle threat.] Ah, so death isn't so insignificant after all.

[This certainly worries Augustine more than it should. If a person was to die, they could potentially lose everything that makes them unique. That's...terrifying. Moderately terrifying. Death almost feels kinder than becoming this mere shell of a person in the long run.

Augustine does his best to keep the disgust off his face.]

...I see. [He whispers. Clearly it bothers him but he won't admit it.]

[Augustine peers into the screen once he sees that Cassian is changing location. Now that he has a better view of this quaint little home, he cannot help but feel oddly charmed by the fact that it's in such disarray. It brings a smile to his face to see all those toys upon the couch. It seems that Cassian has a very big family.]

Then perhaps I judge them too harshly.

[Augustine the critic.]

The lab rat angle is certainly better than the "nothing" the scientists uncovered during the years. I would rather that explanation than none at all but to what means? That is what nags at me now.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ So he's bothered by the kind of death this place has in store for them. Good, Cassian decides, maybe this will make him think twice the next time before he tries to stir up violence. Unlikely, but a small hope is better than none.

For now he's momentarily distracted by catching sight of a tiny white and blue fluff ball curled up at the far end of the couch, half buried under a pillow but watching him with eager, gleaming eyes. He has just enough time to brace himself before the little fluff ball explodes into motion and rushes him, clinging to his chest. He grumbles to himself and holds the Pachirisu cradled against his chest; he really doesn't want to have a bushy tail smacking into his face for this conversation.]

I have no idea what our purpose is. Well, we know the purpose of the cities, to some extent. The fear generated by Everglade holds up the barrier. It stands to reason that our presence plays into it. That we too are batteries of some kind. Or maybe we are just pets. There's no knowing at this point. There was a scientist, a Doctor Moore, who dedicated her career to uncovering the past of the cities and she made good progress. [ He pauses for effect. ] But what do you think? Just as soon as she was getting somewhere she was gone... That's part of the problem. Knowledge keeps getting lost before it can be effectively shared or filed.

[immortalrose]

[Augustine shifts a little in his chair. It's been a long day already and it's not over just yet. The evening is slowly approaching about he's starting to feel mildly constricted in his beautiful office. Usually Augustine is already on his way home. The journey back to the apartment is an arduous one since he does live mildly far out.]

Aw. [Augustine's seemingly icy exterior melts a little once he sees glimpses of that cute ball of fluff. The creature reminds him so much of his little darlings a home. These two share that in common and that mildly worries him some.]

I've read that nearly everything in this realm is fueled by our presence whether it be fear, happiness or sadness. The barriers need our energy to keep things afloat here but I didn't it would be true. [He's a skeptic.] We could be both lab rats and pets, couldn't we?

[Augustine states as he pushes away from the desk. He rises out of his chair in favor of stretching his legs some.

He's been sitting down most of the day. One thing that Cassian probably knows already just by looking at Augustine is that he's eccentric as hell. The vampire or rather "dhampir" has a quirky sense of style that borderlines avant guarde but seems just too practiced to be experimental. That explains why despite the fact he's in this stylish gothic suit that he chosen to wear a dainty pair of "red-bottom" stylish black heels. He's a very odd fellow but he damned if he doesn't look like he shouldn't be on the catwalk.]

Doctor Moore? [A curious hum escapes him as he moves towards the window. He's just gazing out the window for now.] Now that's a name I haven't heard.

[He frowns some.]

That's vexing. How is anyone expected to solve the riddles here if the clues keep getting lost? We're in a dire situation, one that seems utterly inescapable but for some of us, I can imagine most are complacent.

[captain_by_the_book]

It's not that people are complacent, there are plenty of people working on it. It's just difficult under the circumstances and they have better things to do than to make a public spectacle out of their work.

[ It's work being done quietly and efficiently. Cassian's mood sours again at the reminder that it's the same with their Guardian work - but if it isn't advertised all over the network you get slandered for inactivity. His Pachirisu seems to sense the mood shift and butts her little head under his chin to demand more petting. ]

There's the Genessia Scientific Research Foundation, for which Doctor Moore used to work as well. It's headed by Weiss Schnee these days... yes, Schnee as in Schnee Corp, but the company is her brother's.

[ He lets his eyes wander over Augustine's clothes, taking in the attire which is bizarrely elaborate to him. It looks like something that would fit right in on Naboo. Nothing like his own outfit of off-white shirt and fatigues, clothes fashioned after the uniform he's worn for half his life and still feels most comfortable in.

He heaves a heavy sigh. ] Either way, I'm sure you won't find your situation here all that dire. You feed off strife so you will do just fine with the regular catastrophes inflicted on us. It should keep you entertained for as long as you are kept here.

[immortalrose]

[Work being done quietly, hm? Augustine can understand that at least. Not everything needs to be placed on display for the world to see. It's more respectable for these researchers to keep some semblance of secrecy among them. It makes sense for them to do so, doesn't it?]

...I suppose. [Augustine mutters under his breath as he leans against the wall.] However, silence can be seen as inactivity to those not in the know. It's easy for assumptions to be made...quite similarly to what I've done.

[Is he admitting faults here? Heavens no! Augustine would never---]

Ah, the GSRF. I heard about them briefly from another. They're a nonprofit organization, yes? I didn't know about their ties with the Schnee folks.

[There's a lot he didn't know but he doesn't want to admit it.]

Pardon but I do not "feed" off of strife! [He glares ito the screen as he approaches the desk now.] The whole truth behind this little ruse is to keep Marco out of prison! Can you not tell?

Sway the public's opinion to save a man who's desperate for answers.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ Deep breaths, Cassian. Deep breaths. Do not go off on the rant that has been building for days and has, so far, been blessedly contained to venting to the boyfriend in the privacy of their own home. ]

I'm not interested in debating this topic with you. My stance is well-known, if you need clarification you can read up on Attleton's laws.

[ He puts the Pachirisu firmly back down on the couch and stands up himself, presumably to go check on the soup though he really just needs to release his frustration in the only way available right now.

It had been nice enough to pretend that this is a pleasant meeting of minds. Reality hits all the harder for it, with an aftertaste of disappointment which Cassian knows is all on him, for ever having relaxed during the conversation. ]

If you require nothing else of me, I'll let you return to your rabble-rousing now.