NIETZSCHE; DEAD PHILOSOPHERS' INBOX

[explosivecombat]

[TEXT; LOCKED TO doitrockapella]

The offer for conversation is always open, should you desire to take me up on it; I can't guarantee that I'll respond immediately, nor will it necessarily be the response you want, but I'll always respond in some way.

In the name of enlightened discourse.

Comments

[explosivecombat]

He does, yes. He's highly skilled in hand-to-hand and close-range combat, and he usually uses his alchemy to make weapons and shields from his surroundings, from what I understand.

He also lost an arm and one of his legs in some sort of unfortunate accident as a child and was fitted with those prosthetics I mentioned; he likes to make his metal arm into some sort of blade.

[doitrockapella]

That makes sense. It'd be easy enough to just engrave the circle into the metal and activate it whenever he needed it. I wonder what it looks like.

Not that I intend to ask, mind, but people's circles are fascinating to look at, now that I understand them a little better.

[explosivecombat]

You wouldn't get an answer even if you did; he doesn't use one.

[doitrockapella]

He does alchemy without one?

[explosivecombat]

He does.

It's not something you want to be able to do; it's a sign that something very specific happened that runs the risk of killing the alchemist. I personally couldn't do it, though I was offered an opportunity at one point. It wasn't a serious offer, I believe, because the ones offering were fairly sure I wouldn't take it; they were correct in that assumption, because the results are so unpredictable.

[doitrockapella]

...

Did he lose his limbs in a rebound?

[explosivecombat]

I didn't ask him about it, but that's what I've heard.

[doitrockapella]

How awful for him.

Oh, that reminds me. Speaking of things I've heard, have you met a Soviet major recently?

[explosivecombat]

I have. He goes by Ocelot, I believe?

[doitrockapella]

That's not how he introduced himself to me. But if he was the one asking about Tselinoyarsk, it's the same one.

[explosivecombat]

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't give any sort of genuine name - or code name, as the case may be - to either of us; he doesn't seem the sort, let's put it that way.

Is 'Tselinoyarsk' something you recognized? It's completely unfamiliar to me, but that's more or less to be expected, I think - I didn't recognize anything he put out there.

[doitrockapella]

No, it's the only thing I didn't recognize, actually. Whatever it is, it's a signal to someone from his own world — no one would've recognized it except the person he was looking for.

I have a feeling he's one of your coworkers. He's probably dangerous, too; not that it comes as any particular surprise to you, I'm sure, but I thought I'd do you the courtesy anyway.

[explosivecombat]

I thought as much; he talks like I do.

But I appreciate the warning either way, Locke.

[doitrockapella]

Infiltration and assassination was one of the things his particular branch of the military was known for.

Like I said — not that I thought you'd need it, but I do happen to like your back in one piece.

[explosivecombat]

...Honestly, I'm surprised he's lasted as long as he has, given how freely he seems to be offering that information to pretty much everyone who asks.

[doitrockapella]

Please. After trying to get information out of you, everyone else in the world is a piece of cake. He barely even tried to sidestep me once I started landing accurate guesses.

Of course, at that point I had the home-field advantage, relatively speaking. When he's settled in and isn't as disoriented, my touch might not be as good.

[explosivecombat]

Ah, but that's the concern - someone working in infiltration offering so little resistance in the face of things not going exactly his way.

If anything, I'd think he'd clamp down if it were a matter of being disoriented.

[doitrockapella]

Well, they did lose the war.

[CARMEN DON'T SASS THE SPETSNAZ]

[explosivecombat]

[...okay, you know what, he'll actually turn on audio for a moment because that made him laugh.]

Well-played.

[doitrockapella]

[How utterly charming. And worthy of recognition, really.]

Это приятно слышать ваш голос.

[But even a single sentence is much harder in voice than it is in text, so it isn't long before she switches back.]

I'll have to be careful with that in the future. He'll understand Drachman.

It wouldn't do to have our hypothetical audience become a little more choate, would it?

[explosivecombat]

Oh, certainly not.

I imagine I'll see you reasonably soon, then?

[doitrockapella]

Will Lisa need to put in an appearance, or can I come as myself?

[explosivecombat]

My superior is present, but I'll ensure he's busy for the duration.

[doitrockapella]

Then yes. You can expect me soon.

It'll be nice to see you.

[explosivecombat]

Likewise.