Rescuer Network: Truth will out

[sponsorigami]

Um... hello? Is this working? I-I'm Ivan Karelin... from, from Flowers Over Bones, one of the kidnapped, brainwashed musicians.

I... I'm not chipped anymore, but I still don't have all my memories back... I also know about Arpegius and the other ghosts, and I helped to rescue Stella from Virgo's basement... and another one possessed me to break a speaker and yell at Juno... Virgo's basement is probably where they brainwashed us. I don't know about Pride's set up, but... I'll try to answer what I can about both...

[ He takes a breath, trying to get to his main point beyond offering to share what he knows. ]

I-I can shapeshift into people and things I've touched before, including people from both Virgo and Pride, and... I can use a katana and shuriken to defend myself. There must be something that I can do... maybe something only I can do...

[ ie: Use him. He wants to help rescue people. ]

Comments

[text]

[determinate]

Are you okay?

[That's more important right now.]

[audio]

[sponsorigami]

I'm fine. Just... worried about everyone still in Virgo and Pride.

[text]

[determinate]

It's okay if you're not fine. You just got out too.

[audio]

[sponsorigami]

But I am okay. I mean, maybe I don't remember everything about my real life, but I'm... I'm a hero... That has to count for something... right?

[determinate]

Yeah! I'm friends with some heroes back home.

But heroes have to rest too. So if you're not ready to go back in there yet, that's fine. It hasn't really been that long, and it's hard to go back to normal life after things happen.

[text]

[riveres]

Hello Ivan, pleased to have you on your team finally.

[audio]

[sponsorigami]

Um... thanks?

[ Text and different names masks Oscar's identity, so he's not sure who he's talking to. ]

[riveres]

[Give him time to explain.]

It's Severin... or actually it's Oscar. I've been working undercover in Virgo as a dancer.

[sponsorigami]

... You're that guy. Um, I mean, the one I kept seeing. It makes sense now.

[connivingbird]

Hey. Did your whole band make it out? I'm Ankh. Only Nia and I got out.

They got one of my idiot humans too.

[sponsorigami]

Ankh! You're free too? And Nia? How?

[ He'll... leave that bit about "my idiot humans" alone for know as he doesn't know what to think about that. ]

I mean, yes. We're all out. We're not dead like the label says.

[connivingbird]

[He really doesn't want to call otu names even if these people might know who they are. Ankh's first response is just going to be an eyeroll and huff but then...]

A couple people from my world came to act as rescuers and managed to sneak us out using a cloaking device, though my so-called twin got his ass captured in the process.

Good. I was worried.

[sponsorigami]

... Oh no... if Virgo has him, he...

[ He might be killed, tortured, or brainwashed. And Ivan doesn't know exactly if Virgo can pry information from their heads in the process. There is a great danger hanging over their heads. ]

H-How long ago was this?

[oceantier]

[Mostly Lapis doesn't use the network -- avoids it when she can. Maybe it's how lost he sounds, maybe it's the mention of shapeshifting, maybe because the helplessness is an echo of how she so often feels . . . but she answers. Her voice is a quiet thread over the network, as though so easily she could be spooked.]

. . . Hello. [The tone rises at the end, almost a question.]

They . . . make us wait. For opportunities.

Or . . . we're supposed to.

[This concept of "supposed to" is important.]

[sponsorigami]

But... there isn't much time to wait anymore...

[ He wouldn't mind the going to Japan part, but it wouldn't be traveling the world with his friends like in Sora's song. He doesn't believe it's just a tour for the labels. Maybe it's to get the musicians away from the rescuers by putting distance between them. ]

Voice, by the way

[oceantier]

Not much time . . . ?

What do you mean?

[Definitely sounding worried over here.]

=|b

[sponsorigami]

The world tour the labels want to do. You've heard of it... right?

[hearted]

Hey there!

I'm Di from Brad's, though my real name is Minako. It might be a little trickier to get you your green tea shake now, but I'll do my best, okay? We're really glad you're all safe.

[sponsorigami]

Aw... I really liked those...

[ Sometimes, it's the little things that get to you like a thorn in your side. ]

I'm really relieved that your a rescuer too. I won't have to hide things from you.

[hearted]

Not us, either.

Any friend of Rei's is a friend of ours! So welcome aboard. Though this life probably isn't as comfortable...

[sponsorigami]

I just hope I'll be able to help save the others from out here.

[ He doesn't care about being comfortable. There are more important things to worry about. ]

[lightthedarkness]

It's working just fine, Ivan.

Oh ah... we're working on getting blueprints.

[sponsorigami]

Blueprints? Of the basement?

[lightthedarkness]

Of the building, it has to be in public records, right? I don't know if it will include the basement but we should at least know what we're dealing with.

I'm Serena Lapin, though my real name is Usagi Tsukino.

[sponsorigami]

I wouldn't be surprised if those got mysteriously "lost," but it's possible.

[ He's not too optimistic that such plans can be found. ]

Um, anyways... you sound familiar. Have... have we met before?