[ she sounds.....tired. but that's most likely all he can gather from her voice. which, that alone is telling for her current state, but she'll get into that. ]
[ darn you and your perceptiveness!!!! she sighs gently. ]
It doesn't help. [ the interrogations, the testing, the front she needs to put up in front of jade and ruby, checking in with the others, keeping roy updated, a single bed and an inability to leave their cell unguarded. over the last three days, she's gotten about 6 hours of sleep. not unheard of, but not something she'd has to do for a few years now. ]
But yes, that's what they seem to be prodding. Our ability to use our powers, our knowledge of magic, how they work, how we got here, that sort of thing.
[...he has to make a decision here. She sounds tired and he can only imagine she might be in the same position he was when he had to shield the Holts. There are kids among the captured. A moment of silence and then he breathes out.]
Riza. I didn’t lose my arm in a war. [Translation: He has been in her shoes before and he understands. But he won’t say it outright. Not because it would be admitting it. Because he has a feeling she needs that front. As much as he does.]
It sounds like they’re trying to either find out what use it could be to them or how to end it. ....the tests. What form do they take?
[ there are mostly kids among the captured, and even if a couple of those kids are soldiers. even if a couple of those kids are experienced, a thought that curls her stomach. the silence that sits between them before, and the moment she gives him after the comment, is heavy. heavy, and understanding.
she understands better, now. his arm, the way he carries himself. it's just one more thing they have in common. whether or not it comes through, she lets out a slow, almost shaky breath. her front won't crumble entirely, because it can't, she can't have that, but it does allow her a moment to relax. ]
From what I can tell, they're scared of it and of us. [ another pause, another exhale. ] They vary, depending on who they're interrogating. Sometimes they are just questions, sometimes they are simple blood tests. [ another beat, which holds out a longer second than before. ] And depending on your cooperation, the intensity changes too. Extreme temperatures, physical violence, use of electricity... [ she lets herself fade off, there, assuming it's obvious. ]
[He shuts his eyes. The silence that falls is just as heavy as hers was. He doesn’t remember all the tests but when he sees Haggar the witch all reason leaves him. It’s enough to know he doesn’t want the self imposed chains to break.
He exhales. And finds himself speaking.]
The trick I found was to focus on what I could do something about. It didn’t exactly help but it kept me on course. [It didn’t help when they took his hand. Nothing helped that.]
Physical violence...arena fights? [That says way too much but he isn’t in the caring about what is sliding through into the open at the minute.]
[ it's a silence she is finding more comfort in than she probably should. the kind of understood silence that soldiers sometimes share. it's heavy as much as it is comforting, but riza doesn't have much room to be picky here. ]
Thanks. [ it comes out quietly, but appreciative. ] And I'm not sure. From what I've heard, it's been more Monitor-induced, but I wouldn't put it by them.
[It’s been a long time since he could relax and sit in a silence that is full of understanding. The closest he’s had was Keith and he isn’t here. He shouldn’t find it easier to breathe but he does. Even if what she has to tell him is about what he figured.]
Is there a pattern to the tests or do they seem to come at a random order and time?
There's no pattern I've noticed yet, but it's difficult to really know. [ her voice is still tired, and the more she talks it's almost like the more exhaustion she lets slip in, so shiro will have to forgive her of that. ]
It's planned, for sure. Efficient and practiced. But it's hard when we're all split up- the only connection we have is through the telepathic link. [ please don't ask her to make each of the kids locked up in here with her to report when they leave and when they come back and who in their cells is being taken. please don't. ]
[He...doesn’t remember if they separated after the Galra caught them. But the fact each one is isolated and treated like this. He exhales hard unable to help it. It’s okay that she sounds more exhausted by the moment. So does he. This is too close.]
That’s...then don’t worry about it. It sounds like they’re keeping each of you off balance so you can’t notice patterns or guard changes. Or they...
[He outright falters. Shit. He hasn’t done that in a while. One breath in.]
Sorry. Listen. No matter the time of day or night, you can always reach out to me. And like I said before, if you have any questions you want answered that I might be able to answer. I’m here. Even if you don’t have anything to ask I’ll be here.
Most likely. They're keeping us removed from any sense of time or day, trying to make sure we're disoriented on top of everything else. Sound doesn't make it through from the hallways, either, so it's- [ she cuts off for a second, though it's hard to tell if it's a distraction from inside the cell or a moment of settling the painful tremors of her testing. ] Impossible. To figure out their schedule.
[ it's not so much that it's hard to talk about - riza has been making fairly regular reports back to roy. talking about it isn't the issue. instead, it's the way shiro cuts off, the understanding that he knows. it feels a lot like she doesn't have to hide it, for a moment, and the relief that comes with it is nearly overwhelming. ]
It's okay. Thank you. [ her voice is a bit quiet with the show of appreciation. ] It...helps more than you know.
...I know. Trust me, I know. [He knows how he'd have felt if someone had been there to reach out to him while he was trapped and tested on. Someone had at the end, but all his questions. All his thanks. He didn't get to say any of it.]
They haven't developed the confidence that comes from doing this for eons. Or, they're so scared they think,
[Another pause, as all the stiffness and tightness in his chest eases just a hair. The Coven has been a little strange for him. People his own age, and no need to be the leader. Finding someone who understands what it was like to be a prisoner, in a way so similar to his own. It's comforting as it is sad.]
They might think whatever they do just isn't enough to keep them safe. It's difficult to say but definitely a tactic there. It's completely the opposite from how they react or speak while I was working for them on security shifts at the hospital.
[ she doesn't necessarily respond to him about how much he understands, but it leaves her with a better feeling in her chest. she's not great with words, she never has needed to be, but knowing she doesn't need to here is important. ]
They're definitely scared. [ she adds that a bit quickly. ] But scared of us, or whatever 'magic' Qri gave us, is uncertain.
[ she exhales - tired and stressed and heavy, a noise she hasn't quite let herself make whenever she's around ruby or jade. they can't know how much this is dragging on her, so it's a rare moment for her to take. ]
They were pretty pleased to see me at first. I had to fend off pushy speeches about applying to stay as a resident of the city. Kept explaining I was on R and R with orders to return once it was over.
It changed after they became suspicious of the Coven and noticed just how many questions I actually asked during the shifts.
[If he were sitting beside her, he’d have leaned back against the wall to give her that moment to look as tired as she feels. But they can’t.]
They can’t see my signet. But they started staring at my arm. People sometimes do, but not out of fear. That threw me.
So I'm guessing they had no idea about your abilities? Do they now?
[ she assumes no, but they're still trying to figure out the connection between all of those taken. though there has been no proof at all to her abilities while she's been here.
she sighs, and there's no telling if it makes it through to shiro or not. if he can hear the exhaustion in her voice. ]
Everything they're doing seems to be out of fear, but none of it seems to be from the people. Just the authorities.
They have no idea what I can do. They think I’m a soldier which is true. [He can hear the tiredness in her voice. It pains him to know he can’t do much to ease any of her burdens. Except plan and prepare.
Shiro breathes out.]
But this talk can wait a bit. You sound tired, Riza. You should get some sleep.
A soldier is still someone to respect, especially when shown prejudice.
[ she is trying to sound alert, but the current situation has made it hard. though of course her first response to being told she sounds tired is wanting to deny it, riza holds that back, letting out a breath of her own. ]
Keep me updated if anything happens on the outside? [ aka - she's admitting defeat and going to try and get some rest. ]
[ she doesn't really have a choice, does she? she knows the limits of her body, has been through something too similar before. she has people to look after in here. ]
Thank you.
[ that's probably when she's going to go and pass out, to be perfectly honest. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[ she sounds.....tired. but that's most likely all he can gather from her voice. which, that alone is telling for her current state, but she'll get into that. ]
I'm alright. What do you want to talk about?
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[Focus on now.]
I've focused on my part of the plan so I haven't heard the details on your side yet. Are they...interrogating all of you or testing on you?
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[ and it gives them hope, that's for sure. but ah...there's the question. ]
They weren't for the first couple of days, but have since started, yes.
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That’s why you sound so tired. Right? Are they after the magic?
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It doesn't help. [ the interrogations, the testing, the front she needs to put up in front of jade and ruby, checking in with the others, keeping roy updated, a single bed and an inability to leave their cell unguarded. over the last three days, she's gotten about 6 hours of sleep. not unheard of, but not something she'd has to do for a few years now. ]
But yes, that's what they seem to be prodding. Our ability to use our powers, our knowledge of magic, how they work, how we got here, that sort of thing.
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Riza. I didn’t lose my arm in a war. [Translation: He has been in her shoes before and he understands. But he won’t say it outright. Not because it would be admitting it. Because he has a feeling she needs that front. As much as he does.]
It sounds like they’re trying to either find out what use it could be to them or how to end it. ....the tests. What form do they take?
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she understands better, now. his arm, the way he carries himself. it's just one more thing they have in common. whether or not it comes through, she lets out a slow, almost shaky breath. her front won't crumble entirely, because it can't, she can't have that, but it does allow her a moment to relax. ]
From what I can tell, they're scared of it and of us. [ another pause, another exhale. ] They vary, depending on who they're interrogating. Sometimes they are just questions, sometimes they are simple blood tests. [ another beat, which holds out a longer second than before. ] And depending on your cooperation, the intensity changes too. Extreme temperatures, physical violence, use of electricity... [ she lets herself fade off, there, assuming it's obvious. ]
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He exhales. And finds himself speaking.]
The trick I found was to focus on what I could do something about. It didn’t exactly help but it kept me on course. [It didn’t help when they took his hand. Nothing helped that.]
Physical violence...arena fights? [That says way too much but he isn’t in the caring about what is sliding through into the open at the minute.]
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Thanks. [ it comes out quietly, but appreciative. ] And I'm not sure. From what I've heard, it's been more Monitor-induced, but I wouldn't put it by them.
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Is there a pattern to the tests or do they seem to come at a random order and time?
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It's planned, for sure. Efficient and practiced. But it's hard when we're all split up- the only connection we have is through the telepathic link. [ please don't ask her to make each of the kids locked up in here with her to report when they leave and when they come back and who in their cells is being taken. please don't. ]
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That’s...then don’t worry about it. It sounds like they’re keeping each of you off balance so you can’t notice patterns or guard changes. Or they...
[He outright falters. Shit. He hasn’t done that in a while. One breath in.]
Sorry. Listen. No matter the time of day or night, you can always reach out to me. And like I said before, if you have any questions you want answered that I might be able to answer. I’m here. Even if you don’t have anything to ask I’ll be here.
[You’re not alone.]
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[ it's not so much that it's hard to talk about - riza has been making fairly regular reports back to roy. talking about it isn't the issue. instead, it's the way shiro cuts off, the understanding that he knows. it feels a lot like she doesn't have to hide it, for a moment, and the relief that comes with it is nearly overwhelming. ]
It's okay. Thank you. [ her voice is a bit quiet with the show of appreciation. ] It...helps more than you know.
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They haven't developed the confidence that comes from doing this for eons. Or, they're so scared they think,
[Another pause, as all the stiffness and tightness in his chest eases just a hair. The Coven has been a little strange for him. People his own age, and no need to be the leader. Finding someone who understands what it was like to be a prisoner, in a way so similar to his own. It's comforting as it is sad.]
They might think whatever they do just isn't enough to keep them safe. It's difficult to say but definitely a tactic there. It's completely the opposite from how they react or speak while I was working for them on security shifts at the hospital.
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They're definitely scared. [ she adds that a bit quickly. ] But scared of us, or whatever 'magic' Qri gave us, is uncertain.
[ she exhales - tired and stressed and heavy, a noise she hasn't quite let herself make whenever she's around ruby or jade. they can't know how much this is dragging on her, so it's a rare moment for her to take. ]
How did they react when you worked for them?
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It changed after they became suspicious of the Coven and noticed just how many questions I actually asked during the shifts.
[If he were sitting beside her, he’d have leaned back against the wall to give her that moment to look as tired as she feels. But they can’t.]
They can’t see my signet. But they started staring at my arm. People sometimes do, but not out of fear. That threw me.
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[ she assumes no, but they're still trying to figure out the connection between all of those taken. though there has been no proof at all to her abilities while she's been here.
she sighs, and there's no telling if it makes it through to shiro or not. if he can hear the exhaustion in her voice. ]
Everything they're doing seems to be out of fear, but none of it seems to be from the people. Just the authorities.
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Shiro breathes out.]
But this talk can wait a bit. You sound tired, Riza. You should get some sleep.
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[ she is trying to sound alert, but the current situation has made it hard. though of course her first response to being told she sounds tired is wanting to deny it, riza holds that back, letting out a breath of her own. ]
Keep me updated if anything happens on the outside? [ aka - she's admitting defeat and going to try and get some rest. ]
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If anything happens, I’ll call.
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Thank you.
[ that's probably when she's going to go and pass out, to be perfectly honest. ]