Whale Man Tries to Turn Around And Walk Back Into the Rift

[encoreinthedeep]

Type: Text
Sender ID: encoreinthedeep (Ulpianus)
To: Everyone
Subject: Return
Warnings: None

Requesting all available information on how to return to my own world.

[ He sends this message within ten seconds of receiving his shellphone. ]

Comments

[empyrean_mirror]

If you want to take the nihilistic view of it, sure. That's not a particularly useful way to view the situation, however--you'll need to have some presence if you want to search for a way back on your own terms.

[Which--if this man decides he'd rather just waste away on turtle time and not do fuckall until he falls ass first through a rift home, that's his perogative and Kaveh won't stop him. But he doesn't get the sense that's how Ulpianus sees it.]

[encoreinthedeep]

The only thing worth doing.

[ Look he's just annoyed that he gains NOTHING from being here other than being here. What are you, some kind of hippie that enjoys the moment instead of devoting your whole existence to a goal? ]

[empyrean_mirror]

[He happens to think you can do both, you autistic tuna.]

...You know what, I'm not going to have a philosophical debate about this today. You'll have to come by the cafe later if that's what you want.

[Kaveh blows out an irritated huff of air, and then.]

Look into contacting Emet-Selch or Cid Telamon. They're both involved heavily in researching and looking for the rifts, and in charge of crews of people. There's never much to go on, but if leads appear, one of them is going to be the first to get involved.

[Kaveh is going to leave out the part that Cid is so involved because he doesn't want to return--it's not his place to talk about that.]

[encoreinthedeep]

[ He's an autistic WHALE, thank u, he has... probably has nipples. Don't ask me why male humanoid whales would have nipples this is Arknights we just do whatever's most fun here. ]

I will.

[ He will... what? Come by for a debate? Contact Emet-Selch and Cid? He doesn't clarify.

But he does know some very basic landwalker courtesy. ]

Thank you.

[empyrean_mirror]

Eh, no need to thank me. We're all stuck in this mess together--sharing what we do know is natural.

[Kaveh shrugs a bit, but then belatedly--]

Oh. I didn't catch your name--I'm Kaveh. I work with Cid, among other things.

[encoreinthedeep]

Call me a Hunter.

[ ... the man works with this Cid? That's to his advantage. The sooner they meet, the better... ah, and there is another matter to address. ]

I have two more questions. What happens if one dies here, and who is the strongest fighter in this world?

[empyrean_mirror]

Hunter, then.

[Kaveh...pauses. This is a tricky question.]

I'm not sure, as to the first one. I tend to try and avoid brushes with death, I have too much work to do to go and die.

[He hums, thinking about the second question.] It's hard to say exactly--people aren't usually interested in testing their strength on each other unless necessary. But it's probably Emet-Selch. [...] If you're looking to test your strength, he's unlikely to want to.

[encoreinthedeep]

[ So... it still comes down to those two names. ]

I will need to test his strength.

[ As threatening as he makes it sound, it's really just about finding someone who can reliably kill the Seaborn Ulpianus might turn into if things somehow go wrong. ]

But that can wait. Let your Cid know that I want to speak with him.

[empyrean_mirror]

...Yeah, that's a conversation you need to have with him, good luck with that.

[SORRY, EMET-SELCH, THIS ONE'S A YOU PROBLEM AND KAVEH AIN'T TOUCHING IT.]

I will, but he'll probably reach out to you directly instead of through me.

[encoreinthedeep]

You harbor doubts about Emet-Selch agreeing.

[ Look he's got that "questions worded as statements" thing you like, Kaveh. ]