genessia | [Audio] Filtered to everyone but Weiss

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[Audio] Filtered to everyone but Weiss

WHO: Bridget
WHAT: Taunting crime bosses
WHEN: March 1
WHERE: Genessia
WARNINGS: Nyah nyah nyah!

[The background starts with the deliberate clink of teacup on saucer. And then after a slight pause... Bridget is going to actually laugh.]

Roman Torchwick, was it? I've been doing a bit of research into your antics and I must say I am amused! There's absolutely nothing to dispute the possibility of you being thwarted or caught at least three times by teenage girls. I have yet to find such an embarrassing display by someone working under the law and I must admit I've had a lot of years to consider.

I am just a bit curious as to how you actually manage to stay in business.

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...Is that actually true, or are you just trying to make him mad and get him to respond?

[So totally relaxed, and enjoying her first cuppa the day evidently.]

Mainly the former, not counting on the latter. I'm really just making myself known to him without expecting a response much like dangling some string in front of a cat. And it is true, I've studied many who moved under or outside the local or global law, or even used holes in those same laws to their benefit. Usually the occurrence of the newly powerful were met with adjusted tactics or the suspicious end to said interruptions. This Roman Torchwick fellow potentially failed on multiple occasions to adjust his efforts and was actually caught on one occasion. I'm just testing his pride at the moment.

[Armin hasn't really gotten the 'relaxing' thing down yet. The closest he comes is reading - and half the time that's research anyway.

Normally, he might be worried about taunting a criminal in such a way - but if anyone is safe, it's Bridget. That much had been pretty obvious after the incident at the castle.]

I see. Are you planning on going after him?

[Does she need to drag you to a spa sometime?? Though reading is a totally legit thing sometimes...]

Not really. I told that Weiss girl I'd track him and I do find his idea of fashionable outfits to be a crime... Well, I doubt he'd rise to such childish bait in person. My main goal was to call attention to him as well as his potential past failures, and draw attention to the idea that I might be competition. It seems telepathy isn't known in their world so he would have no idea that any form of contact with me would tag him for future tracking.

[A slight pause.]

Do you know someone named 'Jean'? Uptight military type and prone to questioning tactics?

[Honestly, that would not be a bad idea. Armin's never even heard of a spa before.]

Oh, all right. [He's not sure if learning that Bridget can track anyone she comes into contact with is troubling or comforting. Probably both, at the moment.]

Jean? Yeah, he's a friend of mine - we're from the same trainee squad.

[Poor Armin, he might end up with painted toenails some morning...]

Armin, I really do hope you and those new to the idea of telepathy would let me know what you're thinking someday. Weiss gave me a similar non-answer.

[A bit of a reluctant pause.]

Jean is being an idiot, questioning every possible chance he gets. I could understand that for some things but he has no idea how to lock his channel.

[...He'd be so confused. There's a pregnant pause at her words as Armin considers whether or how to respond, examining his initial reaction. When he speaks, he sounds hesitant and pensive.]

I... I was thinking that I'm not sure whether your ability to do that is comforting or troubling. I'd like to trust you, Bridget - but I don't trust easily. And I've had too many people mess around with my mind to be entirely comfortable with people who can do the same.

[At the mention of Jean, Armin gets, if possible, even more troubled and uncertain.]

...I'd say I'd talk to him about it, but I don't think he wants to hear from me right now. He definitely wouldn't listen.

[It's subtle, but his soft voice has a note of genuine hurt in it at that.]

Thank you, Armin. [Her voice has softened a bit and she's certainly smiling ruefully.] Outside of my squad there aren't many who can admit that so directly. It is both a comfort and a discomfort to everyone, including myself. I seem to have misunderstood your questions about telepathic networks as a desire to be connected to one, and reacted too strongly. I suppose my best advice would be... don't trust me. I have my own priorities, my own interests. However, I did dearly love a man who taught me to respect the minds of others. Also, I can't connect to anyone outside the same gate or city as myself and I tend to wait out the daylight in either Everglade or Genessia.

[A bit of a sigh.]

He's a bull in a glassworks is what he is. Maybe I should hire him...

[Armin shakes his head, even though it's an audio post and she can't see.] You didn't misunderstand, exactly - I don't mind being connected to a psychic network like the one I'm used to. Not if it serves a purpose - and you said you'd have an easier time forming an opinion on the titans if you could take a look at my memories. Given your experience, your perspective on them would likely be very valuable if I ever make it back home. I could share memories in the network I'm used to too, though I rarely did - but I had very good psychic defenses, and so was entirely in control of the transfer.

Your network... your network sounds different. You can do things we couldn't, and it reminds me more of the Trumps, and the things they did to us. It's harder to be comfortable around things I'm not sure I can defend against, especially given... my experience.

Yeah, you... you told me that the first time we spoke. [Before he'd even known what a gate was - but he'd remembered and later found out what she meant.]

...Depends on what you're looking for in an employee. You work with... jewelry, right?

[She listened intently and took her time considering it all. It really would be so easy to justify some little bend in the 'rules' in a world of non-telepaths. And one bend could lead to another, and then a question as to the logic behind that rule. Absolute power and all that.]

At the beginning... Twelve hundred years ago, it was just a way to communicate with my squad. Like having mental radios linked to a central person, namely myself. I was the second youngest grand general in remembered history and I worked out a way to make more stable and permanent telepathic links that used places rather than people. Then the Corrosion happened. [There's a slight catch and a pause, even now it's difficult to fully pass off that event with a shrug.] I spent a thousand years trying to capture and execute a madman with every advantage over me. That's why my network is different, it had to change or face another Corrosion. Buuuuuut...

[A moment to shake off the weight of the past.] There is a way we can work around full mental contact that would probably make us both more comfortable. It's more like that word game councilors play, where they say a word and the other person says whatever comes to mind first. You could write down a list of words with significance in your world and I would read them off and just watch what comes to the front of your mind.

[And she's totally forgotten his last question, sorry Armin!]

[Not for the first time, he's struck by how useful such a link would be. The whole formation for the Survey Squad is based on maximizing visibility and communication, but they're limited to using signal flares and messengers.]

That... I think I would be okay with that. [He sounds a bit tentative. As long as she kept it to that - but if she really wanted to invade his head, he's not sure what he could do to stop her anyway. And in this case, the possible gain - a perspective like hers on the matter of the titans - outweighs any risk to himself.]

[Congratulations, for once he is actually at a loss for words.]

[After a moment.] Are your battle tactics always this elaborate?

Edited 2015-03-06 06:00 (UTC)

Battle tactics? Hardly. I'm just insulting those who evidently deserve it.

Where are you going with this?

Absolutely nowhere. I'd laugh myself to death of this man actually responded, but I'm sure he's listening. Anyone with hair like that would certainly be listening to any potential ego feed.

You're trying to piss him off. How could you even think that's a good idea? Even if you're not at risk, it wouldn't stop him from lashing out on someone else.

I'm not at risk to succumb to anything other than boredom, actually. Yes, I put a business up recently but I'm hardly one to keep my income dependent on one source. I'm sticking my tongue out on a child's playground just to see if he'll pout.

[Suddenly, very locked]

And I'm one of the oldest and strongest adults dumped in a box of sand with a group of children. Armin said you are one of his friends so I'll allow you a little bit of actual information. Please continue with your line of reactions, it actually assists me in the end.

I don't give a shit about your business, so you're not at risk. Other people are going to be if you keep this up. You think he's just going to sulk after that?

[Locked]

Armin? [He pauses and scoffs. Armin can say whatever he wants.] Sounds more like you're a spoiled child who thinks we're your playthings.

You said you have a business? You probably have some employees working for you. Do you want them to get involved in this? He might not go after you if he bothers to go after anyone, he could target any of them. If you want to get involved in this whole mess, go ahead, but don't try to drag innocent people down with you.

Right now I'm the only one employed in my business, so I'm really only putting my neck to be cleaned. So... Yes. I really don't care about the money, and I don't care if my help wanted ads are filled.

[Locked]
[A long, drawn out sigh.]

I've forgotten how it is to deal with the young... I'm nearly thirteen hundred and I've been learning before my double digits. I can read minds, I can turn every bit of a room into ice or fire, I can make a city block explode, I can certainly protect anyone in my employ from a human with a handful of advanced technology. However, I do find your line of public questioning to be worthy of a very public response. Unless you have anything potentially constructive, I'd rather have you concentrate on washing dirty laundry.

[Not that he has any room to talk but.] No one's going to want to be loyal to someone who doesn't care about their wellbeing at least to some extent.

[Locked]

You said you'd offer me information but you're still being awfully vague. What is it you're planning to do?

True, and maybe some day I'll find someone here worth caring about.

[Locked]

Calm your horses, I told Weiss I'd look into tracking the fashion disaster. She mentioned species based discrimination in his crimes and as someone who's faced genocide before it is a sore spot for me. Right now I have far fewer liabilities around than she does and I have tools at my disposal she does not. My store is called Rocks because that's what I sell. Pretty rocks I dug up and put some metal around, but people buy them in droves. Since this peacock can't hit me with hostages, he'll probably retaliate against my business. And then he'll be a tagged bird I can follow back to his den.

I don't know, in my experience teenagers tend to be pretty powerful. And huge pains in the ass.

Once, yes. Teens can be an unpredictable factor once or twice. But three times with actual capture by official militant forces? That could only be a lack of preparation and inability to alter plans to fit a changing situation.

I dunno, I don't make plans. Not really my job, but sometimes teenagers are the ones with all the power. Depends on the world, you know?

I wasn't even a teen, but I see your point.

[ She got a good laugh out of this before she actually turned on the thing to reply. By the time her reply pops up, she's got a good, healthy control over her enjoyment of seeing Roman taunted. ]

As one of the teenage girls who handed him over to the military, it's a relief to see that someone here is calling him on it.. but are you sure you should be taunting him? I wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt.

Is there a reason I should not tell someone they are an idiot after repeated examples of failure? I have nothing in this world he could use against me for more than a second or two.

Taunting your enemies is a little dangerous, that's all I'm saying. Unless you're trying to get him to come to you.

I really hadn't considered that... [LIES. Seriously, she's taking a bit too long to consider this possibility to be unexpected.] I doubt he'd come in person though, even with provocation. So few places to run and hide. And I have so little against him other than his lack of fashion to make my provocations more than a tongue-berry across the playground.

I don't know, from what I know about him, he has a pretty big ego.

[ She's trying so hard not to laugh. Luckily, she just manages to sound worried. ]

There's a bird on my world called a peacock. Flashy colors, big egos, loud calls, but they were just posturing birds. We kept a few to impress visitors.

[A soft chuckle.]

Good luck then. It'd be great if someone caught him.

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[Audio] Filtered to everyone but Weiss

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[Audio]// locked - speaking of the incident at the castle, are we continuing that?

Re: [Audio]// hells yes! already responded, thanks to new compy!! XD

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