>>5290843[That aside, we found another skeleton in Mara's closet] You continue, eager to recap what you’ve experienced so as to rob the harsher points of their sting [We don't know how we feel about it though given the context of the recreated flashback]
{…I’m sorry} Gina offers, feeling the growing weight of Marrow Dragoon’s sins as sharply as you are, now.
[We found 'A'licija] You breeze on. [Her apparent insanity-slash-amnesia was induced by a forced hunger experiment gone horribly wrong, but the house also connects to the subterranean network which allowed us to bypass most of the forest. Turns out, 'Alicia takes frequent trips down into the underground tunnels, which leads her to becoming a routine amnesiac due to interaction with the data leakage that Morningstar stuffed into our planet's core. So, that said—I’ve got good news, silver linings, and bad news. Any preferences?]
{A stiff drink and a deliciously smutty fic, but if we’re talking just what’s on offer? Let’s go in order}
She scored a smirk, you’ll give her that.
[Good news: We got lucky on the leaked data interaction] You say, staring out at the field of spires before you, hands on your hips. [The leaked data that interacted with us was helpful. They also gave us useful info that'll help us in the long run. Silver lining; 'Alicia’s the only person who can take the leaked data and not go insane due to her Core abilities, so we don't have to worry about anyone going cuckoo. Also we traveled through the tunnel close to the surface. No deep dives]
You draw in a breath before detailing the rougher points; [Bad news: We're gonna have to update the laundry list of names to look out for, besides West and possibly Mara]
{Well, that could be something of a silver-lining too, I suppose} Gina sighs. {Hey, it looks like everyone’s ready to get moving, so do you have any preference so we cover the most ground?}
[I’m thinking that after some thorough scouting we’ll take the middle route through the canyon, so we can at least keep our footing, Can your team skirt along the edge to check the neighboring biomes?] You ask, and Gina makes a small sound that offers an unspoken ‘did you even need to ask?’ before you proceed. [Before that, though? I’d like you to give Orwell the list of names I’m sending you now, but I’d also like your touch-base to err more on the side of a check-up call. I want to let her know I’m going to get to work on the project I mentioned to her, last time we talked…I’m worried about that girl]
{Hey, if we’re lucky maybe we can pull off a pair of miracles today} GG grins in your mind’s-eye. {Getting TWO workaholics to take a fucking nap}
She laughs when you project a neon middle-finger right back at her, and with one last flash of affection across the line you snap back to reality.
(Continued)
