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[doesitanyway]

@trevor.belmont | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[doesitanyway]

I assume you're still in one piece if you're messaging me rather than seeking medical attention, so I probably shouldn't need to ask this, but you are alright?

'As long as she's herself' implies she was not herself when she attacked you. What caused that, and is there a great likelihood it will happen again?

[unlucky7]

Outside of being kidnapped, drugged, and dragged out to a desert? Yeah, I'm fine.

I don't know. I didn't want to press my luck and ask what set her off. But there's drugged food and water setting off rage effects.

So. That warning on the network about gold eyes being danger holds true. So does the five minute contact cure.

[doesitanyway]

You were kidnapped again as well? But I thought you intended to-

No matter. One thing at a time.

What set her off is of vital importance, Angela. Vampires don't require food or water, she must have been drugged another way...

[unlucky7]

Okay, I'll ask her. Your fault if she snaps at me.

[doesitanyway]

Well I truly hope she doesn't, but that would be definitive proof that she is a threat even when she's "herself,"

I'm sorry, Angela, I'd ask her myself were I there.

And I may as well ask now. What exactly happened that you aren't where you intended to be?

[unlucky7]

Or that she's a moody teenager and I'm bad at talking to people.

Mercenaries attacked me while I was in transit to New Oslo and dragged me to New Cairo. In a way, this works out. Now we have eyes on all four locations instead of only two, even if it means the parties are a little more fractured.

You didn't get kidnapped to Rio by any chance?

[doesitanyway]

Are you? Maybe my opinion is biased but you've done just fine by my call.

...I did. I wasn't aware that people already leaving the city were dragged elsewhere, though, I thought it was only those of us left behind. Interesting, but infuriating.

[unlucky7]

We'll see how that goes when she responds.

It seems a few people in the Everest group were diverted too. It's definitely a well-coordinated attack on all fronts.

If you get a chance, see if any of the mercenaries in Rio know anything about the situation.

Anyone in your group come across tampered food or water?

[doesitanyway]

I'd expect no less, from our captors. It makes me all the more disinclined to do what they want, however.

In the rations they so kindly supplied? Yes. We have.

[unlucky7]

I understand the sentiment. I'd also be disinclined to cooperate, but I admit I'm curious about the gates. As two of the trips were already planned, I don't want to wish sabotaging their efforts if it requires all of us to cooperate.

That's unfortunate. Same effects? Nausea, vertigo, rage with gold eyes?

[doesitanyway]

Fine, be reasonable. I'm going to continue to sulk and be pissed off awhile longer.

Indeed. At least there's a cure, as it were... but I've been trying to hunt creatures in the rainforest as a safer source of food.

[unlucky7]

You could always channel your anger into interrogating a mercenary and stealing their gear. They have good gear.

That's a good idea. Enjoy the meat while you can. I'll be over here, jealous and gnawing on energy bars, getting sand in my boots.

[doesitanyway]

They left us here, I'm afraid. If they return... well. Perhaps I'll make use of that gear, yes.

If we can cook any of it. It's quite wet here.

[unlucky7]

Really? Ours dropped us off at the pyramids, but are still around, keeping an eye on us. Want me to grab you a knife or something?

I guess it wouldn't be a rainforest without water.

[doesitanyway]

I'm not sure if that's a benefit or not, if they'd offer any assistance if you'd need it. My money's on 'no.'

...lucky me. Is that what they call this climate? It's terrible.

[unlucky7]

Hot and incredibly humid or sudden showers? Pretty typical for a rainforest from what I've seen.

I heard back from Caroline. Went better then I thought. I would definitely keep this information to yourself. Turns out she was tricked by the AI Cassius. Looks like a few people were.

[doesitanyway]

The AI... I've gotten an explanation on what those are like, they are intangible, correct? So this trickery was manipulation.

[unlucky7]

Correct to both. The guide has mentioned Cassius before. He's been responsible for other problems before, but has also asked the Displaced for help too.

[doesitanyway]

And why, may I ask, do you believe we should keep this information to ourselves? Wouldn't it benefit others to know not to trust this thing?

[unlucky7]

Because it's not my information to share with the wider populace. She doesn't even know I'm sharing with you.

And it's harder to control information the more people who know it. It could get back to Cassius or his cohorts.

[doesitanyway]

I see. I will respect that it is not our information to share, but why does that matter? Cassius knowing that we're aware he's a trickster. If everyone knows, the field is more level.

[unlucky7]

Because we need to be able to give him a reason to think he can still trust us and come to us for favors, and not everyone is good at lying.

I don't know if an artificial intelligence can be tricked or make mistakes, but no one is ever as intelligent infallible as they claim they are.

[doesitanyway]

I suppose I'm not used to doing things in such a manner. Scheming and trickery. I don't even know if I'm a good liar or not, there's never been call for such a thing.

Ah, for the simplicity of home. Where I see an evil thing and hit it until it's dead.

[unlucky7]

I like direct methods myself, but scheming and trickery is the best method against a trickster. We don't have an idea of what his field of influence is or who might be working for him.

[It's possible he has some Displaced on his side. Or even Displaced willing to sell out the others for personal gain. Ginia likes to think the best of people, but never forgets what reality could be too.]

I'm guessing it's easier knowing what's evil and what isn't when the evil is probably trying to eat you.

[doesitanyway]

Very much so, yes. By and large, evil isn't subtle where I'm from.