text; @0988

[fratropathic]

I know you're here. I've felt your presence ever since I arrived. Don't you think it's rude, making me wait this long to hear from you?

[This was absolutely meant to be public, and absolutely meant to be too vague for anyone to guess the intended recipient. Riverview, meet Regene Regetta and his flair for the dramatic.]

Comments

[permaprivate]

[fratropathic]

And I did.

Hello again, Tieria 💕

[Oh, it's him, alright.]

[manmade]

So you've arrived here, as well.

[It's a little disturbing how he isn't as surprised as he should be. His senses have never been that attuned to other Innovades as he, in hindsight, suspected they should've been, yet subconsciously it seems that he was already aware of Regene's presence.]

What is the last thing you remember?

[fratropathic]

The last thing I remember? What an ominous question.

[And given that he's already met both Neil and Lyle Dylandy under the title Lockon Stratos since he arrives, Regene's not even kidding with that statement.]

But since you asked, the last thing I remember is the trouble you caused me by leaving Ribbons Almark's party via defenestration. It was fairly pointed, as insults to the host go.

[manmade]

[Well that... complicates matters. He's not sure if he would consider Regene an ally even after he helped Tieria recover Veda, let alone during a period when Regene's motives were more dubious. And while he obviously can't ignore him, he just as obviously cannot trust him.]

People arrive here at inconsistent points in time. For example, that event happened months in the past for me.

[fratropathic]

Ah.

And you won't ruin the surprise, will you?

[manmade]

What surprise?

[fratropathic]

Whatever surprises might be hiding in those months. I could hardly know the details from my current position.

[He could find them out, but Tieria knows that, and how easy it would be for him. He doesn't want to stoop to threats over a bunch of question marks.]

[manmade]

[Is this dramatic bullshit really necessary.]

If you want to know, you could try asking me.

[fratropathic]

[As necessary as it is likely to stop.]

Maybe. Eventually. You've already eased my mind regarding a few encounters I've had since I arrived, but I wouldn't want to start having to depend on you for all my information here.

[manmade]

[The growing pattern of vague replies isn't promising, and it's only because Regene is a security risk that he's willing to tolerate it. But that doesn't make their conversation any less of a figurative headache.]

What encounters?

[fratropathic]

Both Dylandy brothers, for starters, both identifying themselves as Lockon Stratos.

[How's that for a straight answer? He just times them for maximum impact, that's all.]