forgivetheinsubordination | IC Contact

[ Sebastian has been doing some light reading since Ciel gave him something of an ultimatum, and after stumbling upon a few particularly interesting tidbits, well. It's time to pursue some leads. ]

FROM: michaelis.sebastian@cdc.org

Mr. Vakarian, when you have an opportunity, I would like to speak with you in regards to a few questions that have popped up for me recently.

FROM: michaelis.sebastian@cdc.org

That said, they are not pressing, so it is at your leisure and recovery. I extend my well wishes, though I imagine you may be as happy to receive them as my young master. [ so not at all ]

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

I don't see why I wouldn't want well-wishes. But I'm all right. What's up?

FROM: michaelis.sebastian@cdc.org

Pardon my assumption, in that case. You have them in earnest, for perhaps I spend too much time with the young master's bitterness.

[ don't even ask, garrus... ]

FROM: michaelis.sebastian@cdc.org

Just a question of history, but the amount of text we are limited to makes it somewhat inconvenient. May we speak in person?

FROM: vakarian.garrus@cdc.org

Definitely. I'm ending my outpost duty in five; wanna meet outside our so-impressive fence?

[It's not impressive. But sometimes he amuses himself...]

FROM: michaelis.sebastian@cdc.org

Certainly. I can think of no better spot, so I will meet you there, Mr. Vakarian.

[ at least sebastian likes the joke...

Though regardless of bad jokes, Sebastian will absolutely be at the fence promptly, though that's no surprise. His attention to manners and detail was a given by now, at least. ]

[As the day goes on, Garrus is moving better and better. There's still a few aches and pains, but he's managing, so by the time he gets to Sebastian his pace is almost normal.]

Hey. What's going on? You really needed a break from Ciel, if your comments were anything to go by.

[ In comparison, Sebastian is as perfectly put together and composed as always, though he of course hasn't had as rough of a past 72 hours as some... When Garrus approaches, he smiles, though the comment gets him to laugh with a helpless sort of shrug. ]

Well, he is an an understandably poor mood. And so it is my burden to take the brunt of it, though that is hardly anything I complain for.

[ He asked for this... sort of... ]

But my question is on an unrelated matter, actually. I have been doing a bit of reading, and a conversation you had quite a while ago piqued my interest. Pardon my imposing on the matter, first of all, but I was hoping you could perhaps provide a bit of context for me.

[Eventually Sebastian will have what he wants from Ciel. Why would he complain?]

You're gonna have to be a bit more clear on what conversation that was, since I've had a lot, but I can probably give you context. What'd you need to know?

[Hopefully it's not something he can't talk about, too. He knows he's edged close to one matter.]

A conversation with Mr. Dagger, as a matter of fact. The original message was in regards to the odd pets that he gave away, though your conversation did not pertain to that.

[ At this point, Sebastian's particularly perfect memory may become clear, since he quotes a few things verbatim: ]

Particularly in reference to Dagger being trapped under a tarp, taking a souvenir, and just who it is that does not talk to Mr. Dagger as much lately.

Edited 2015-05-10 04:17 (UTC)

Mm.

[Garrus' memory, however, isn't exactly perfect. He gets some of it, the general drift of where he was going, but not all.]

When the Almina got destroyed her captain came here. Or not here. He went to Ajna, where we were. Fought Dagger and Rogers, lost. But Dagger was pretty badly messed up. I wound up guarding him while he was down.

[And now they're here, with Dagger announcing harsh punishments when just about a year ago Garrus could have ended him. Garrus doesn't regret not taking the opportunity. He's not a cold-blooded killer. But there are times he wishes he got a little more credit for what he's done. To be called not trusthworthy... It's ridiculously stupid. And he's still irked.]

They kept his head for someone to pick it up. Almina's head, I mean. And it sounds like Dagger and Gliese don't talk so much anymore. Why?

[ Sebastian listens with a sharpness in his gaze that's a bit subtle, but for someone looking at him directly, it's not hard to miss. It's brief, however, since it's just a sigh that he's listening especially intently and linking puzzle pieces strewn out randomly before him. He's quick to close his eyes with his smile, since he knows his eyes are more telling in matters like these. ]

I dislike being ignorant, so I have taken it upon myself to look into what I can.

[ It's an answer to why, albeit a very vague one. With Sebastian who measures his words so carefully, that's a clear enough sign that his real reasoning is something he doesn't want to talk about. ]

However, that is quite interesting. Do we know why he came to call?

We don't know.

[There's a beat.]

I don't like being ignorant either. You mind filling me in on things that seem important, when you figure them out? Because I could use the help. And who knows, maybe the pieces I've got from being around this long will help in return.

Like the fact that the Almina, the ship, sent a distress call out and the Neheda didn't respond to help. We got feed of it being destroyed, instead. They sought out the Neheda and her crew. Says maybe they had expectations.

[Maybe they were allies in rebellion and the Almina just moved too fast. Though after this last order, this punishment, Garrus isn't quite so sure in that anymore.]

[ There's a pause as Sebastian considers it, but he ends up nodding, since there's something he can gain here. ]

I would appreciate that greatly, actually. There is an issue of access, so while I am happy to comb through information for quite a while, there is a limit to what I can read through... If you would keep your messages and would be willing to allow me to read through older notifications on your Blackglass, I can inform you of anything I find.

[ Or forward it to Sebastian?? idk how this works ]

Though I understand that is not quite fair, so in confidence of my ability, I can at least give you what I have discovered from what I have accessed thus far. It would take about... twenty minutes or so to transcribe it, give or take.

[ He has it all in mind, after all, so it's just a matter of transferring it to paper. ]

But that alone is very interesting in line with certain things I have discovered, I will admit. They are all simply pieces, but together, they certainly imply something quite intriguing. We are pawns here, of that I have no doubt, but the more I look into the larger game, the more I am interested by what we play at.

I can let you read through things that might be relevant.

[There are some conversations that should be private. Like almost all of the ones between himself and Noh-Varr. Some of the ones he's had with Armada as well, so long as the topic is himself and not larger matters. Garrus doesn't want the demon to see his insecurities, see weaknesses. He respects Sebastian. But he's also familiar with what stories say demon nature is.]

Especially if you've got something specific you're looking for. Can try to see what might line up there for you. And when you've gotten things written down, I'd appreciate that look.

[ It's about the answer he expected, and as such, Sebastian doesn't seem to be put off by the condition there at all. If anything, he seems perfectly gracious, smiling as he nods with clear appreciation. ]

I understand, and thank you for this much concession. I need not dig into anything that was not publicly available to begin with, nor will I be looking through the writings of fellow recruits... I wish to look through only those made by the instructors or otherwise. I felt theirs would be the best place to start.

Of course. There somewhere you'd like to start? About a year's worth of messages is... a lot.

[Then again, the demon might not even know where he wants to begin. You never know what you don't know, after all.]

Basically, if you've got a purpose in mind with it, might be able to figure out where to begin from there.

Ah, well...

[ His smile becomes a bit tighter, more awkward, which implies just that idea. Sebastian doesn't know just how much he's missed, and with how Garrus phrases it, he's concerned it might have been even more than he thought. ]

Forgive the underwhelming answer, but I suppose the beginning? Were they a bit more inclined to chat at the start...?

They were. Well.

[There's a beat as Garrus reflects.]

Some of them were. Gliese and Dagger. Heard from them a good amount. Ghost some, too. Armada, not as much, never heard from him unless you went to him all along. Warriorhead... think he's probably about the same. Not really sure anything's changed with Neheda, though. And then Gale's new, never heard from him.

[ Sebastian nods, since that's roughly what he had expected, considering the general attitude towards certain instructors. He seems to consider something for a moment to himself with a momentary furrow of his brow, but it also passes fairly quickly. ]

That does explain why recruits are especially enamored with Dagger, if nothing else... And Captain Gliese commands respect.

[ He smiles, then laughs softly into his hand. ]

Actually, she is quite fearsome, it would seem to me.

[He really doesn't know what he feels about Gliese anymore. There'd been a time when he'd felt closer, worried a little about her, but it seems that hadn't ever been mutual.]

She can be, when she wants to be. Which is most of the time.

[Honestly, he's been disappointed with how cold she's grown, but he doesn't want to talk about that. He'd made friendship overtures, she'd never responded, so... that was that. Probably easier that way, really.]

You seem to be a fan.

[ He shrugs helplessly, and his expression says he is, at least somewhat, rather easily. It takes him a moment to think of how to explain it, but he starts coolly: ]

In a manner of speaking. I am rather enamored with pursuits of revenge. It is a mixture of anger and despair that calls to me particularly strongly, to be quite honest. There is quite a bit of ritual to it, and I will not bore you with the details, but to summon a demon at all, you must have a great want for us. So revenge is a common motivation. When you cannot seize it with your own hands, you must grasp the hands of those who hold the power you seek.

[ He chuckles softly, but it's with a thoughtful and pensive look towards his glass. ]

So our Captain's situation struck me is familiar. Some grasp at a demon's outstretched hand. Perhaps she grasped at the CDC's. Either way, I think you would lose your soul eventually.

Mm.

[That... makes a whole lot of sense, considering Sebastian's knowledge and background. When Garrus had sought revenge, what wouldn't he have done? If Shepard hadn't been there he's sure he would have killed Harkin even as the guy begged for mercy. And he's sure that if he'd gone the whole thing alone, he'd be lost too.

Gliese dwells on revenge. What if she's already lost to everything other than it? It would fit. It would fit a lot of things.]

The CDC is her demon. She made the deal, she's sold away everything, and she's still on that path.

[And there's no turning back. She's already come too far. It really makes a lot of sense.]

I can see that. Damn, I can see that.

That is my thought, at least.

[ He cants his head to the side lightly, a different sort of thoughtful gesture, though it's hard to guess what he might be thinking of. ]

It interested me, seeing this side of her, but it also gives me a better sense of how we fit into this ship, in a sense. If our leader pursues revenge, then every weakness amongst us is a setback to her goal, yes? So perhaps she would rather purge her first ship than see her pursuits go unrealized.

[ He shrugs. ]

Only a guess, of course, since it is harder to see how our Instructors fit in. I have not seen any sign that they are disloyal or even discontent, which would imply to me a particularly strong loyalty.

Edited 2015-05-19 04:07 (UTC)

[There's a long pause as Garrus ponders what to say to that. No signs that they're disloyal or discontent. No, not from them. But... He finally crosses his arms and looks over at Sebastian.]

The captain of the Almina came to find the Neheda's crew. He went to Ajna. He sought them out, after sending a distress call.

[It's not concrete and he knows it. He keeps coming back to it anyway.]

If your ship had just gone rogue, was going to be destroyed... You go for help. You go to someone you think is an ally. Dagger killed him. But he came to us.

[ He's heard pieces of this story before, but never in this way. It gets Sebastian's expression to turn to light surprise, though only briefly. Sebastian thinking through the actions here is almost visible with how his expression shifts. The surprise is replaced by a smile that extends to his eyes, one that's sharp, but in a way that makes it seem like Sebastian has connected two pieces of a puzzle.

He feels he has, at least. He might be wrong, but he has a theory as to how these things might fit together. But how they fit is also something he wouldn't wish to say so candidly. ]

...How interesting.

[ It's all he gives at first, and there's a pause as he thinks through how to use his words carefully. ]

What would make an ally turn so drastically, I wonder? Perhaps... To protect something else?

d120, later

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