(no subject)

[wholeheaded]

Ah... hey everyone, it's Ambrose. I was Milo for a while there but I'm back to being me and one hundred percent less tree-like. So, I've gotta ask do we uh. I mean, some other folks've gotta be wondering too so--

[ a slight pause, then in a rush: ]

What's the least harmful way we can test for immortality? Cuz I wouldn't put it past the Arcana to leave people stuck with that.

[ he's totally not asking for a friend, okay. ]

Speaking of Arcana: I'd like to meet with all the folks who've been Marked by the Fool - he calls himself Don Orlea - so maybe we can coordinate or. Something. Dunno if we want to do it all together or what but either way, I'll provide snacks.

Comments

[ninjayeehaw]

Weren't Tachibana an' Lyall doin' that vaccine stuff back in mermaid world?

[claudiometer]

...Yeah, they were. You'd have to ask them if they can still do the facilities for this stuff, though.

[wholeheaded]

I'll take obvious, thanks. Other stuff can wait.

[claudiometer]

Well, if you just want obvious, drop by anytime. Sounds like you have some options if you want to kickstart other stuff, though.

[wholeheaded]

Sooner I find out, I think, the better. Is now okay?

[claudiometer]

Sure thing. I can clean up a space.

[wholeheaded]

All right then. Where can I find you?

[claudiometer]

The stable rooms ended up in the middle of the race track. Mine's the big white metal one.

I'm cool with switching to prose if you want to, or actionspam is okay

[wholeheaded]

I'll be over soon as I can.

[ and so he is! it takes a bit since he's fielding questions and speculating about stuff but eventually the guy with the zipper on his head is at Claudia's door. seems they've been circling each other in liminal space long enough. ]

Hello?

[claudiometer]

Well, sometimes people just circle around each other. In any case, the delay gives Claudia some time to make sure she has a space to do the thing properly; medical stuff isn't her forte, but given Artie's squeamishness around blood, she figured learning this much was a good idea.

"Yo. You ready for this?"

[wholeheaded]

"...actually I'm not sure." And he chuckles, shaking his head. "The procedure, yeah, the possible results? Little more complicated."

[claudiometer]

"Totally legit. I'm just glad I didn't end up anywhere near the stuff." She has her own kind of conditional immortality waiting for her back home. No point in muddying the waters with another.

"Well, might as well get on with it. Got a preference for which arm I get this from?"

[wholeheaded]

"Lucky. It got... weird."

His right forearm and elbow are blotched with burn scars, making a vein difficult to find, so he rolls up his left sleeve. "This one's easier. I'll just have a seat and we can get on with this."

[claudiometer]

"Got it."

Claudia's not exactly practiced at this, but good enough not to make a mess of things. It's not too long before they've got their blood sample - and sure enough, just like Minako's, there's silver swirling around in there alongside the red.

"...Well. You either won or lost the lottery, depending on what you think of the prize."

[wholeheaded]

And it's a good job he's used to the procedure from all sort of post-rebraining tests. Ambrose even make himself watch the vial fill, his eyes slowly going wide.

"Oh." He needs something more intelligent to add than that. "I... well, thank you for confirming. I'll call it a draw on whether I won or lost but, ah, Mother will be pleased she named me right."

He chuckles nervously and reaches up with his right hand to tug at his hair.

[claudiometer]

"Not a problem. Better to know than be in the dark on it, right?" Win or lose, at least he can plan accordingly.

"You can keep this if you want," she says as she closes off the vial. "I sure don't need it."

[wholeheaded]

"Thanks," he remarks and accepts the vial, holding it up to study more closely. It's pretty. He wishes it was gold. He has to tell Daneel. He has to know more.

"Did you folks figure out what sort of, um, limitations go along with this? I know Milo healed quickly a-and I imagine that carried over but. Do we know of other empirical pros and cons?"

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[After Kinji elbows him into paying attention]]

I can.

[wholeheaded]

Oh! Ah, you're a medico?

[triggerhappytraitor]

Medical researcher. Specializing in analysis and development.

[[It was a bit of a simplified version of his actual job, but one that raised far fewer questions]]

[wholeheaded]

[ oh good Ambrose likes minimal questions. ]

Oh, good! We've been needing folks like that for a while, even with all the magic-healing-whatsis people have picked up. Sometimes good ol' empirical conclusions are a nice thing to have.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Especially when dealing with something like that mermaid plague, yeah.

[wholeheaded]

...my infiltration helped with the vaccine for that. [ hey he's a little proud of En Zhenming Ambrose okay. ] He had a weaker strain of the whatever frenzy disease and you guys... well, you know.

[triggerhappytraitor]

That was you?

[[Pause.]]

..your overlay, I mean. That really did help a lot, having that sample.

[wholeheaded]

Yep, one of me. That was the second time I was him, so I'm glad he could help. And... glad you could be there to help those folks. They just wanted a better life.