002 ♌ [video]

[fundemetal]

[Once again, Leo's face appears on the screen, his eyes looking full of energy as always. He's tapping his fingers on the desk in front of him, tapping out the alphabet in morse code.]

Hey everyone, Leo here. So, uh... [He scratches his head with his other hand, trying to think how to explain his idea.] I noticed that there's not really any sort of protection put on these like cellphones back home to keep you from butt-dialing people. It's bad enough that the curse is making people tell others things they don't want to... [A pained look.] Can't do anything about the curse, but I thought it might be a good time to do something that might help against those accidents.

I made an application that I can program onto your starfish communicators that will give you a sort of lock on your device. Unlocking won't automatically post anything, you'll have to get at that the same way you do now. Locking it will keep you from accidentally calling anyone or making a video that everyone on the network can see when you're not intending to.

If you want to meet me to get it, I'll be out in the park the next few afternoons. If you're busy while I'm there, but want it, just let me know and we can work something out. I'm asking for 5 starfish coins in exchange for the installation. All things considered, it's a really good deal. [With that, the recording ends.]

[ooc: there will be an open log post going up soon, so you can reply here or there, depending on if you want to talk over the SFC first or jump right into action. Action can be hand waved via commenting here, but you gotta talk to Leo in some form IC if you want it installed. The app is completely optional and has mod approval. So if you or your character doesn't want/need it feel free to move along. He's just trying to help people out.]

Comments

[fundemetal]

[Leo notices her failed attempt at being natural.]

Spill it. That's not what you meant. What do you mean you haven't seen anything?

[findsrisks]

[Stupid truth curse.

Well at least there is one event she can refer to, though it's pretty obvious it's not what she meant before, since she gets out a few false starts as she tries to word it without getting tripped up over not being able to lie.]

Well, there was, ah, a couple months ago there were monsters in the city. But everyone got powers and it was kind of like an RPG so they weren't so dangerous.

[fundemetal]

That sounds like a combination of fun and insanity. Also not too different from back home.

[He pauses.]

But I'm pretty sure that's not what you meant. [He nudges her in the side.] Whatever it is, it can't be that bad.

[findsrisks]

[Fuck.

By now she's slowed to almost a stop, and she's looking down at the ground as she slowly shuffles along.]

...it's not easy to talk about, okay? I'd be better at avoiding it entirely if it weren't for this stupid curse.

[fundemetal]

Yeah, I've had to talk about some hard things because of this curse, and it sucks. If you want I can answer whatever question you have for me after you get this out, ok?

[findsrisks]

[She really is curious about Leo, and there's a lot she wants to ask, but she's already decided to wait until after the curse is over. She can appreciate the power of a lie, and she knows how awkward it is if that power is taken away.]

Mmn, no, it's alright.

[But then again, maybe this curse is a good thing. Leo will have to believe her, because she can't actually lie here.

So yeah, her demeanor changes as soon as she realizes that, and she stops trying to stall. Leo said they could be friends, and he had trusted Nanaki with the half-god thing. The least she can do is trust him with her secrets.]

When I look in mirrors, I see how people are going to die.

[fundemetal]

[Leo's eyes widen and he stops walking.] Dude, that must suck. Does it happen every time you look in the mirror or only when someone you know is close to biting it?

[findsrisks]

It's not even just people I know, it's everyone. Strangers, friends, anyone.

But the visions only come when someone is close to dying, so it's not a constant thing.

[It's why her hair is often messy, though. If she sees someone's death in a mirror, then she can't see her own reflection.]

[fundemetal]

It's good it's not constant, but can you get around that by looking in other reflective surfaces that aren't a mirror?

[findsrisks]

Actually no, one time I saw a vision by looking at someone's eye at just the right angle to see a reflection.

Don't worry about it, I've seen it all my life and I'm used to it. The reason it's tough to talk about is because people don't usually believe me when I tell them they're about to die.

[fundemetal]

[Leo frowned.] Damn. I was hoping that wasn't the case. I'd offer to make you something that was reflective but not technically a mirror.

[He claps a hand on her shoulder in a consoling manner.] Generally, people don't like dying. So being told you're going to die... you wouldn't want to believe it. I don't think it's just 'cause you told them.

[findsrisks]

[The touching comes as a surprise, and it gets her to finally look up at Leo.]

...so you believe me?

[He's not yelling that she's wrong, or telling her she's imagining things, so that's a good sign to her.]

[fundemetal]

Even if the curse wasn't making you tell the truth, I'd believe you. There's a god of prophecies where I'm from. I bet if you were a demigod, you'd be one of his kids. Not that they're the only ones who ever see anything. But they're the ones who would probably have a power like that.

[findsrisks]

[For a moment, Nanaki looks surprised at Leo's answer. But that surprise gradually changes to a small smile.

It feels good, to know that people trust her and believe her.]

See, the funny thing is, my powers are tied to mythology in my world. That's why I was so surprised to hear that you and the others are half-gods, back when you told me.

[fundemetal]

[Leo returns the smile and drops his hand from her shoulder.]

Really?

[findsrisks]

Yeah, ever heard the story of Cassandra?

[fundemetal]

The name sounds familiar, but I don't really remember anything about her. There's a lot of Greek myths and I haven't really bothered to learn them all.

[findsrisks]

Okay, well basically she was given the ability to see the future. But the Apollo wanted to marry her and she said no, so Apollo cursed her so that nobody would ever believe her predictions.

She also happened to live in Troy, and she saw the fall of Troy, but nobody listened to her when she tried to warn them. She died alone and bitter, cursing everyone who had called her a liar.

Then some idiot dug up her body and thought it was a good idea to use her bones to make a mask. That mask ended up housing her soul, and she uses her new mask-body to possess people and make them change the future. When people die because of the changes she makes, those are the deaths I see in my visions.

But I think it works for anyone who changes the future, not just Cassandra. That's why I've been looking out for visions here. We've got half-gods and weird scientists and a hunk of coral which zaps our powers. if anything really bad is going to happen here, then I'm bound to see it before it happens.

[fundemetal]

[Leo does his best to follow along, but given that it's about Greek mythology and something he should know about, he's able to stay focused.]

It's good to know you'll see if it's gonna happen, but I really hope you don't see anything.

[findsrisks]

Honestly, I'd rather see it and know ahead of time than not see anything and be caught off-guard. As horrible as some of the visions are, being able to prevent them from happening makes it worth it.

[She had thought about joining the defense force, so she could warn them if something came up, but other than Hubert she didn't really have anyone she trusted enough to share that secret with.]

[fundemetal]

I just meant that I hoped there'd be no reason for one of your visions.

[He shrugged.]

Anyway, where is this ice cream place we were headed to?

[findsrisks]

Oh yeah, it's right over here.

[It's about a half-block from where they are, and it's a small stand with some tables outside around it.]

[fundemetal]

Awesome.

[When they get over to the stand, Leo steps up and orders himself a chocolate ice cream cone before adding] And then whatever she wants. [He motions to Nanaki then flashes the mark on his right arm.]

[findsrisks]

...you know, the whole 'buying her food' thing doesn't work quite as well when everything is free anyway.

[But she will take her vanilla cone anyway, because ice cream.]

[fundemetal]

Huh? [Leo looks confused.] Oh. I was just making things easier. No need for both of us to show our marks.