❪ introlog: #6 ❫ city of secrets

[natha]

You've spent the last few days on Thesa Station, taking in the knowledge that your world is no more. Now, the time to put all your survival training into practice has arrived: El Nysa needs you, and you're here to help the planet thrive. Are you ready? THE DESCENT     All refugees on the station are called to the hangar, where a large-scale teleporter awaits. Simply step onto the space between the arrays and wait; everyone will be sent down to the planet together. Before they depart, all refugees will be given a cold weather survival kit with warm clothing, rations, and bedding. The arrays build into a brilliant wash of light, creating a column that travels all the way from Thesa Station to the surface of El Nysa, teleporting the refugees to the planet on an aurora. Once on the planet's surface, refugees receive one last message from Darma. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet we must ask you to brave further peril. Within Nadril are the secrets to how poor Ysverai's revival was hidden from our sight and how this disaster has come to our star. Find the first refugee from beyond this planet, a man named Magda. He will not speak to us, for much has come between us, but to you… If you prove yourselves, he may be willing to answer your questions. We beseech you, for there is a veil over Nadril that hides all within from us. There may yet be more untold dangers waiting to befall this planet. For the good of all who make this world home, we ask you to lend us your aid. There is yet one more favor we would ask of you. In warding off the Storm's encroachment, the physical aspect of ourselves that you call Thesa Station was damaged. We must remain to continue repairs to El Nysa and to deal with Ysverai, but there should be suitable technology within Nadril that could be used for spare parts. If you have the chance to find it and can return it to us, it would hasten— Darma's message crackles with static, another image overlaying hers — her broadcast is cut off and replaced with another. A more sullen and alien voice takes Darma’s place, overlapping on itself in an ominous reveal. It has been a long, perilous year for you, refugees. And yet you’ve only just arrived here. To say I’m not disappointed in your… generation would be to lie, and I am nothing if not an honest creature. But I suppose these have been unusual circumstances. You must ask yourself this — are you only here as Darma's lapdogs? I can assure you, it's not worth being on the Natha's leash. With time, that will be something you'll have to learn for yourself. If you're so determined to come find Nadril, then follow the path north, and you'll find the border. What awaits you is revelation, if you're up to the challenge. A FROZEN LAND     The refugees land on a literally frozen world, both in temperature and time. Curls of icy wind hold swirls of snow aloft and an uncanny silence is broken only by the crunch of hoarfrost underfoot. Only Darma's protection allows the refugees to move through this frozen world — and movement is very necessary. Bitter cold sneaks through even the thickest clothing and without warning, a snowstorm rises: unnaturally quickly, a wall of white howls directly in the refugee's path. Bizarrely, the way back is perfectly calm; it's obvious that this storm is no product of nature. Magda's challenge becomes clear: the only way to Nadril lies through this storm. Visibility within the storm is near zero, the whiteout hiding any landmarks from view and making navigation near impossible. The only guidance refugees have is a sporadic path of faint, greenish lights, easily lost in the raging storm. Refugees need all the survival skills they practiced on Thesa Station to survive, for getting lost alone is a death sentence. Luckily, those separated from the group can happen upon guiding lights Magda has planted throughout the tundra. These blue-white sparks cause frostbite if handled recklessly, but they also serve as directional anchors, turning into ghostly flames that lead lost souls back to the path to Nadril. The trek through the storm will be no mean feat and will last for the better part of three days. By the time the refugees reach Nadril's gate, most will find themselves exhausted and running on fumes. As the snowstorm dies away and a gap in the glittering forcefield around the city opens to usher the refugees inside, it's clear that Nadril is a different beast. A WARM(?) WELCOME     I. Despite the unforgiving journey, entering Nadril is painless. Once inside, characters will be greeted by their predecessors: the original refugees who made this advanced city. They'll immediately be offered medical attention, as well as warm cider and blankets. But it's obvious that the Nadril citizens prefer higher tech to fend off the weather: they also offer wristlets and ear cuffs that that double as mittens and earmuffs by creating warm bubbles of air. The earrings also feature a few quality of life programs, such as timed alarms and thought-to-speech messaging. However, both programs are in beta stages so it's not unusual for a stray thought to accidentally slip through or an alarm to accidentally ring at an inopportune time. II. Refugees are offered free lodging in a large, crystalline building crafted from ice. Despite the coarse building material, the ice is unmelting and surprisingly well-insulated, and the beds are as warm and cozy. The rooms are, however, small. The sleeping quarters house two people, and are some cross between an igloo and a capsule hotel. Though built for efficiency over comfort, all rooms are also outfitted with the latest Nadril AI, RoboAlfred, or Ralf for short. This helpful program is installed in practically all the furnishings: the closet tells guests to bundle up, the bathroom sink reminds them to brush their teeth, and the mirror offers helpful fashion tips. Ralf's personality matrix still needs polish, though: it may very well insult your clothes and passively-aggressively question your lifestyle choices for the entire stay. III. Though not as advanced as Thesa Station, the colony has technology far beyond the rest of the continent, such as rudimentary AIs and mechanical transportation. Nadril's skyline is a point of pride — refugees can take a (literal) lightrail that gives an aerial view of the colony, which is hewn almost entirely from ice and rock. Despite its tech, Nadril is much more sparsely populated than Olympia and Wyver, and its residents stay near a central hub: a Natha refugee drop ship, Central, which has crashed and long embedded itself into the earth. Central is similar to an older, smaller, grounded model of Thesa Station, in functional order with round-the-clock solar power. Within Central are lounges similar to ones on the Station, though many of the damaged areas have been converted. They include repair stations, different wings dedicated to science, botany, astrology, and mechanics, and a research and history facility, which has a smattering of technology from planets beyond El Nysa — including your own. The staff here don't mind if anything is sampled and studied, but objects cannot be taken from the labs. IV. On the outskirts of the central hub, many will find several curious looking bots with insect-like wings perched about high traffic walkways. Simply passing the bots will cause a dizzying flash before a series of photos print out. Upon closer inspection, people will find that these images reflect stills taken from their home worlds as they remember it. Unfortunately, these photos only last a couple of hours at best. At that time, they will revert back to regular pictures of the refugees. People will be encouraged to share these images of their worlds. The residents of Nadril comprehend the value of remembering one's origins, and will be pleased to see that people still hold memories of old homes close to them. RECREATION IN NADRIL     I. Small, mechanical creatures scampering through the city are a common sight. Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you that they come from a shop called Paws About Town. They’re very useful, as companions, gophers, and couriers (though the more mischievous will note that they’re just small enough to keep tabs on people without being noticed). Premade robotic pets are available on display inside the shop. They come in all shapes, but small sizes; one may be able to find robots that even look like miniature creatures from their homeworld. These are a part of a new, highly customizable line with programmable personalities. Customers have the chance to take pets for a one-day trial run. Those who don’t know how to program may want to enlist more knowledgeable aid, but the pets come with instructional pamphlets for basic personality traits such as obedience, helpfulness, playfulness, and bloodthirst. For returns, the switch to wipe the robot's personality to a blank slate is on the back of its neck, right between a switch to invert all traits, and a switch to have them learn by observing. Try not to press the wrong switch — you might wind up with a pet with a mind of its own! II. A. The Frosty Tap Cantina is a thriving hub of activity, but one of the major draws is the self-service bar: molecular mixology is wildly popular here. Playing with drink compositions can be a game in and of itself, and newcomers to the cantina will find that the bartender — a cheerful woman with lilac skin and three eyes — is always happy to give them a few tips on how to use the wide array of tools within reach of the barstools. All manner of drinks are possible — from glowing, layered cocktails, to clear drinks with colored, spherical bubbles and vividly-colored shots that give off their own smoke. There's a nightly contest in the cantina for the most creative drink created by a team — this may be as good a time as any to partner up with someone and see what can you come up with. Winner gets all their drinks for the night free! And, hey, even if you don't win, you get to drink whatever you make. The well-lubricated patrons of the bar are eager to challenge anyone nearby to a different sort of drinking game… Just how well can you hold your liquor? B. Holo-screens in the cantina are nearly always broadcasting some match or another of a game that looks very much like hockey, albeit played with sticks that light up and a puck that changes shape from time to time. Colonists here merely refer to the game as "the sport," and one of their favored pastimes is betting. However, they don't use currency — they wager dares. Nadril colonists are a tough, weathered lot, and they prefer to speak with actions over silver. Colonists will urge the refugees to take part as well. Common dares range from the ridiculous (lead a sing-a-long, attempt to make someone with a poker face smile) to the suggestive (kiss the person in the cantina you find most attractive, strip off a piece of clothing), to the outright reckless (venture out into the snow for a certain amount of time, and no one will judge if you find some company to keep warm). The colonists are unfazed by even the most insane or tawdry of dares — but you'll certainly be called a killjoy for refusing too often! Why not grab a friend and give it a whirl, or challenge a rival to a dare yourself? THE MISSION     I. On the outskirts of Nadril is the communications tower of the old refugees. This is where Magda resides, monitoring Nadril's technological protections, the extent of the Natha’s influence, and running his own personal projects for El Nysa’s technological advancement. It is isolated, filled with research labs and relics of the past refugees who have come to El Nysa — a living mausoleum of worlds swallowed up by the Storm whose peoples have refused to forget where they came from. Crew photos line the walls of the tower: pictures of alien families and friends, the refugees who came to Nadril before you. Each group of photos gradually becomes smaller in number, and the most recent of the pictures are from half a century ago. Magda's picture can be found among the first group of refugees, an unusually small cluster of photos dating back centuries in El Nysa's past. I have been on this planet for nearly two centuries. Life has come, evolved, and collided in an ever expanding culture. But Darma fears interference, and made this place a prison, with she our warden, stifling the growth of the creatures native to this world rather than encouraging them to flourish. She sent you here for answers in her stead because she knows I'll spurn her, and after seeing what that fool Raysc has wrought, I'll give you them — not for Darma's sake, but because I trust after all the Natha have done to you, you'll understand my decision. Mistakes were made, and I won't hide them. You've made it here so there's some mettle to you, and unlike the Orbiters, I'm not interested in hiding the secrets of the dangers we face. I gave Raysc what he needed to keep his actions hidden from Darma's eyes — what he needed to advance the primitive magics the Natha had doomed him to. It was old Natha tech, Darma's very own used against her. Hilarious, isn't it? Raysc learned of Nadril, and like you, braved the snow to find his way here. He proved his worth and his determination, and he spoke of a brighter future, El Nysa coming into its own, its people realizing their true potential, unhindered by the shackles that had been put upon them. I believed him. He had vision — or so I thought. In truth, he was a fool. A madman. He wasted the opportunity I gave him on his petty vengeance. But not everyone on this planet is such an idiot. Surely you lot aren't. The Natha are hiding things from us — about the Storm, about everything. And here in Nadril, we're going to find all those secrets. What's it going to be? Will you help us, or are you going to stay obedient dogs on Darma's leash? Magda isn't too talkative yet; after all, the new flock of refugees may just be here as eyes and ears for the Orbiters. But what he has said leaves you with plenty to talk about, and if you can earn his trust by helping out around Nadril, he doubtless has a great deal more to reveal. II. Central isn't the only Natha ship that made its way to El Nysa — another, crashed just outside Nadril's borders, is little more than a junk heap. It's here that you'll find the spare parts Darma asked you to retrieve for Thesa Station. What remains of the ship's hull serves as a windbreak, and snow has built up against it, turning the piles of old Natha tech inside into something of a snowy morass. Holes in the deck offer would-be scavengers passage to the ship's innards, barely illuminated with flickering lights — the tech is old, but hardy enough to withstand a crash landing, the severe weather, and the passage of centuries. Deep in the wreck are the remains of living quarters, research labs, VR arenas, mecha bays, cafeterias, and a host of other rooms, many of which may seem familiar from Thesa Station, albeit with a decidedly older feel to what remains of the smooth curves and sleek surfaces of the Natha architecture. Most of the ship's systems are damaged and the technology is nonfunctional, but that just means there's plenty of spare parts to be found. The wreck isn't in the best shape, its structural integrity damaged, and the drifting snow threatens to block off exit routes. Be careful while exploring and be sure to bring a partner. As it turns out, Darma isn't the only one interested in the wreck — Magda is also eager to get his hands on Natha technology. In his own way of taking some responsibility for Raysc, he's asking scavengers to bring him parts, muttering about seeing what he can do about Ysverai's curse. Bring him anything that looks useful, and he may have a chance to succeed, though whether he'll be more effective than the Natha Orbiters is up for debate... FINAL OOC NOTES     An AC-eligible thread with a new character as a participant for 2 NADRIL REP POINTS may be submitted from this log. SUBMIT THE THREAD HERE BY AUGUST 5TH, 11:59 PM EST. As always, feel free to create your own prompts and explore the Nadril location page! There are a variety of activities made available, including fishing and cave exploration! Please direct questions to the questions thread below! Thank you! QUICK NAV premise ● faq ● lore ● map ● npcs taken ● atp/emp ● application ● rep/acp calendar ● hiatus/drops ● modbox [ FULL NAVIGATION ] elnysa nysalogs nysaisles nysaooc elnyan

Comments

[hellzone]

Nnnnnnnope. [ she 100% is. And there's an awkward pause before, a bit under her breath, Yoshiko admits, ]

...okay, I am, but it's a bit more complicated than that!

[ It really isn't. She doesn't want to talk about this so much in the open so Yoshiko very tentatively skates closer towards Diva. ]

[fisherwife]

[Mipha laughs softly, pulling the blanket she'd been given before a little tighter around herself] Yes, I understand that. I fear I may never be warm again sometimes.

[She looks interested in the talk about the sports and the bar though] I'm afraid we don't have such a sport where I'm from, but I think I saw a glimpse of it. It was played on the ice, wasn't it? The people here have certainly made the most use of the ice and cold...

[colorature]

_{[Noticing that she's trying to come close again Diva stops moving, slowing to a stop on the ice. How exactly, was it more complicated? Was she able to grow wings or something of the sort?]}

How?

[hellzone]

[ Yoshiko frowns a little. The circus had to disband? Well that's definitely not good. Whatever the reason was, it probably was something a lot more sudden than Aqours's inevitable disbandment thanks to things like 'people graduating' and 'the school being closed. ]

Why'd it disband?

[stuns]

[ juno smiles just a little bit at that. he tries not to, really hard even, but it happens, like the muscles in his face can't quite help themselves. the tonality of her voice, and the way her voice in his skull babbles with delight is... refreshing. not at all like the martian pill, he reminds himself. nothing even close to the sounds of the theia calculating aim and precision.

after a while, she seems to lead their way, trotting up ahead in her excitement, waiting for him if he's too far behind, his fingers brushing her coat now and then. it's mostly accidental, sometimes uncertain if she's even real, pulling back at those moments to shove fingers in his pocket again. ]

Ever seen a city like this before, Ammy?

[hellzone]

How'd he summon a zombie dragon in the first place?

[ everything. She wants to know everything. ]

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket's teeth bare just a bit at the word "birthplace," but that's more out of his own sense of personal insult than it is for Prompto's sake. Though without knowing Rocket's own sordid history with biological experiments, one would firmly believe he's just very protective of Prompto.

But sure. Let Rocket pretend that's not even some of it.

The simple fact brings his expression back down to an agitated, conflicted expression. It's true- Ardyn didn't exactly do anything but be a gloating dick, for the most part. It could have been worse. Or maybe it was worse and he hasn't seen that part- it was one memory. But... he can base an entire perception of a person on one memory, whether it's illogical or not.]

You're still a dick. And I seriously hope you're not gonna try to appeal to my better nature with that simpering crap.

[Spoiler: He has no better nature. And he's also a dick.]

[givingback]

[ Hearing that settles something; Bree isn't sure what, but she feels better, strangely. She thought that with people needing Claire - like at the hospital - things would gall back into a familiar pattern of knowing her mother was there for her on the peripheral but also knowing she was needed for very important things.

Closing her eyes, Bree finds herself actually snuggling close, content and happy, exhausted but finally warming up. ]

[givingback]

[ She honestly can't tell if this is all an elaborate joke on his part, if her joke landed somehow and now the conversation is over her head. Maybe they get dumped from the ship and challenged to a snowstorm hike every month for all she knows.

Once the biting cold stops in the flimsy shelter of the rocks, she sniffles from the cold, lips just a hint of blue before nodding. Bree can also take him in a bit more. She's seen comic books, at least their covers, and she can't help but be reminded of all that post-war memorabilia she remembers seeing. ]

Big fan of Captain America?

[beatupgrass]

Build weapons so we don't get beaten to shit by a dragon again, to start. [THAT IS WHY THEY LOST. THE ONLY REASON.] And then, eh, maybe I'll work on some useful gadgets to sell to people. I've been lookin' to get into a decent business.

[and then he looks at Roxas, as if really seeing him for the first time.] You need anything?

[givingback]

That actually does sound better. My mother didn't tell me much about either place.

[ And it's not like Bree's going to head off into the unknown by herself yet. Give her some time though, because Wyver sounds much better.

Also, his humor - she gets it. And she appreciates it as someone who can, at times, be a bit dry herself. ]

And maybe if I move there, I'll already know someone who can show me around?

[torchwoodteaboy]

It takes a moment for that to sink in for Ianto, because he actually had been readying himself to peel away from the other man's side and give him the space he'd assumed that he'd want. He turns to glance up at the other man, his blue eyes searching John's face in the attempt to find whether this is just something he has resigned himself to or whether it's actually an invitation. He's... Going to hope that it's the latter. He really would like for it to be, anyway.

He'd like to pretend it's the chill in the air that brings the color to his cheeks, but they both know better than that anyway. There's about a thousand questions that go through his head as he meets John's eyes. Are you sure you'll get any sleep if we do? Do you resent the fact that I want this? Do you want this? Would you promise to tell me at least if you didn't?

"Well..." Ianto says at last. "You... Are very warm..."

[colorature]

<sub>[This sassy Brit...

When he lets go she gives herself a little shake, much like a dog would. It's a full body movement sort of deal, a mitten reaching up to push her bangs out of her eyes.]</sub>

Of course I'll survive, Eggsy.

[beatupgrass]

[That is a wise decision.

Though more likely it would cause a tiny concentrated black hole.

...i mean what.]

They're expensive too back where I come from. I should really be charging for this experience.

[impavid]

"I am," John confirms. His expression is mostly locked in a tiredly neutral expression, not giving much else away. "And --"

There's a gentle digital tone, and John's expression immediately drops into cynical irritation.

In cold weather, it is advisable to --

"Yes, thank you," he says, trying to talk over it. He takes a deep breath and lets it out in a sigh, dropping his arm from around Ianto and pushing to his feet. "Why don't I see if I can kill off our friend here while you re-arrange the furniture?"

By kill off, John really means force a shut down. He can at least try.

[beatupgrass]

They sure went out of their way to save a lot of shitty people. [Is he bitter? Yes, he's bitter.] So, yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if they skipped out on some decent ones.

[He waves a dismissive hand at the Nadril, fur bristling due to cold and due to huffiness.] That Magda dude sounds pretty done with them. I wonder what he's gonna say for himself.

[thedarkbond]

[That actually makes Ren glance over to him briefly, expression somewhat sympathetic and overall much more realistic than it's been for most of the conversation up until now.]

Well, I could if you really wanted, but I don't think it'd be right. [It sounds like he probably would have sounded wise even without going through all that, if he's saying things like this. It's almost funny how much it suits that serious air he's got about him.]

It seems like you haven't lost sight of the things that interest you, at least. [He indicates the wires sticking out of the panel. Yusei's been handling the technology here in such an intuitive manner that it's hard not to be a tiny bit jealous of the knowledge.] Still being able to see yourself is also important.

[thedarkbond]

Well, no, that's what I said... [It does kind of sound like this guy has experience in the subject, and Ren would normally consider asking, but this is a relatively touchy situation and so he decides to save it for now. Also it's probably kind of rude to ask sensitive questions like that about two sentences after meeting someone for the first time.

In the end, he just shrugs, that unconcerned smile not shifting just yet.] I'm sure you won't be around here the whole time, but why not, while you're here? You seem like an okay person to rely on for a little bit.

[Rough, yes, jaded, probably very, given the attitude so far, but Ren's never been fussed about that sort of thing. Besides, he's pretty sure if this guy was going to do something nasty to him, he could've quite comfortably done it by now.]

[thedarkbond]

Mmm, that isn't really what I meant... [Also it's obvious. Like, really obvious, enough that Ren would be very surprised if most people didn't spot it on first glance. He makes a faux-thoughtful face as he pulls out the end of the wire and follows it along to the other end to start doing the same thing he was doing to loosen it.]

Centaurs don't really exist in my world, so people don't have that much of an idea of how strong they would be. A lot of people just seem to think of them as something that would look pretty, but that always seemed shallow to me.

[His tone is still as cheery as ever even though he's talking about something he disagrees with. It's kind of sad that when humans are presented with the idea of a centaur without the actual being there, they're considered more of a "half-and-half" than a complete creature.]

[thedarkbond]

I agree. [Ren tilts his head, manner cheery once more. It really is a waste of time if you can't just enjoy your life - he hates being obliged to do things or planning in advance, because it takes the fun out of it.

He quiets down to listen attentively to the reading, though. Atmosphere helps a lot with these things, and far be it from him to ruin the mood any more than doing a reading in a busy bar would. And he can't help but wonder what kind of answers might come, whether they're born of intuition he tends to assume a good tarot reader would have or genuine connection to the cards.

To his credit, the only reaction he gives to the first card's description is a slight twitch of the fingers. He could take it as having survived the trek here, of course, but there's something nobody else here could know too, the victory that had come back in his home world just before it ended up being destroyed anyway. It feels a bit too close for now, so he focuses on the next card as soon as the opportunity presents itself.

That one certainly sounds a little bit accurate, and his smile widens slightly. It's in the manner of someone pretending he doesn't have any idea what could possibly be getting referred to there, but it's also pretty easy to identify as insincere.

When it all comes together at the end, it feels apt enough - very general, of course, but he expects that from tarot readings. The more specific you are, the more chance there is of insinuating something that might be disagreed with. Ren gives a prolonged, thoughful hum and leans back, lacing his fingers together in his lap.]

I always thought I was pretty generous already~ [Trustworthy is another matter entirely.] I don't think you had to worry too much about inaccuracies, though. I think all of that works at least a little bit. But then, it's harder to do things like this if someone isn't willing to admit they're thinking about the kinds of things you bring up. Some people are just difficult, I guess...

[Ren, for his part, has no interest in getting into detail about why he considers the reading reasonably accurate, but he's perfectly happy to admit that he considers it such.]

[thedarkbond]

[Ren frowns a little concernedly at that initial huff of breath, but he's not one to judge if someone wants to test their strength. It's more interesting this way, anyway - not something he would've initially expected out of a guy like this, and he's very fine with having his expectations challenged in this particular way.

He can't help but laugh at that request, though.] I think that would be pretty rude anyway, so I'll just have to hope my arms don't give out on the way there.

[He's probably fine to just do this, though - his arms are a lot less strained than his legs are currently.

After a few moments, he tilts his head up and blinks, like he forgot something.] Oh, that was rude of me too...what's your name?

[thedarkbond]

[Ren laughs a little at that.] Well, humans mostly do, but we probably feel different about it. And sometimes we need to, as well. I think my hair wouldn't do very well without washing at least most days...

[It's extremely long and very thick, which is never a great combination for hair if one doesn't want to trouble themselves too much having to maintain it. Ren doesn't mind, but it would probably get harder very quickly with less washing.

Ren blinks slightly when Keaton rests himself against his shoulder, but he just laughs quietly and reaches his other hand up to touch Keaton's other ear too while he's in easy reach.]

I do. They're beautiful and strong, and I'm pretty fond of that combination... [Ren doesn't have a great deal of shame or reservation about what traits he likes, though he at least refrains from putting "strong" before "beautiful".]

[thedarkbond]

[That's another name he hasn't heard before, and Ren hums in faint interest.] Khalo? I don't think I've heard anyone mention that one yet...

[Maybe he missed it, but the two main cities the dragon ended up frozen over seemed to be the main topics of conversation. Maybe Khalo slipped through the cracks somehow.]

It sounds a bit like Nadril wants to keep its secrets from any comers. A magical barrier is amazing and all, but some people aren't affected as much. But days of hiking through snow...even strong people would have trouble with that, right?

[thedarkbond]

[That last one does sound a little bit funny, and Ren can't quite hide an amused smile at the mention of it. It seems like a bit of a missed opportunity to not do one like that, honestly.]

Mmm, mostly wondering what people are asking for the most. It's kind of boring that so many people are asking others to stand out in the snow when it takes three days of standing out in the snow to get here anyway. And if this game is popular here. I'd get really over that dare getting thrown out so often...

[Sure, it's a test of endurance, but it's not a very interesting one, and even less so if it's getting repeated again and again. There are better and more fun ways to test that.]

I wonder how long it's been since they had new people to dare.

[thedarkbond]

[Ren smiles in a manner that seems like it's meant to be apologetic, but isn't quite, at Diamond's reaction to him calling it boring. Maybe he's seeing it the wrong way, but one of the things he finds most exciting about people is their ability to change themselves, so he's not sure how it would be for a species who can't.

At the explanation of what Diamond is, though, he brings his hands together with a rather pleased smile.]

Oh, so it is that. It's nice to meet you, Diamond-san. [He usually uses "-san" for women, but Diamond's a little hard to pick, and it's a safe enough neutral option anyway, so he's going with that.] I'm Suzugamori Ren, but just Ren is fine. And you already figured out I'm a human, since it's pretty obvious, right?