theoracleoftheperiphery

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< No, not at all. One of my coworkers is cascadian as well. We call him Espresso due to how much coffee he drinks. >>

<< Oh, you survived! Had a little bet with some Icarus Armories folk if you survived Rowsdower getting swallowed by the cordium rifts. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

I for one definitely got swallowed by the cordium rifts…

[He shudders.]

Not a pleasant three weeks. My hands still ache from the climb. What did this bet entail, exactly?

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< Oh you know, 125 credits if you actually survived or not. Nothing too much. Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Oracle, one of Crimson Squadron's 3 AWACS Operators. Nice to meet you. >>

<< Oh, you survived! Had a little bet with some Icarus Armories folk if you survived Rowsdower getting swallowed by the cordium rifts. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

I for one definitely got swallowed by the cordium rifts…

[He shudders.]

Not a pleasant three weeks. My hands still ache from the climb. What did this bet entail, exactly?

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< Sure, give me like 10 minutes and I’ll be there. >>

i wanted to make something for crimson squadron but ended up with an absolute dogshit cake. just completely fucked it up. im so sorry. (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠)

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< The ball's in your court, kaiser. What are you going to do now? >>

@notarnoldfrenken

<< I told you you'd be wearing hearing aids in your mid 40's if you didn't stop firing off weapons without proper hearing protection! Last time you did that, you nearly went deaf that time you fired off that .44 Magnum! >>

<< It's obvious who I am, so either wear your hearing aids or I'll get Vegas to persuade you. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

<<I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m fine. I don’t have any “hearing issues” or whatever you and Vegas are under the impression of.>>

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< I will bring in your kids to hear about the fact you have hearing loss. >>

<<Monarch, come over here for a second, please! >>

@therealhitman1

<< I told you you'd be wearing hearing aids in your mid 40's if you didn't stop firing off weapons without proper hearing protection! Last time you did that, you nearly went deaf that time you fired off that .44 Magnum! >>

<< It's obvious who I am, so either wear your hearing aids or I'll get Vegas to persuade you. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

<<I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m fine. I don’t have any “hearing issues” or whatever you and Vegas are under the impression of.>>

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

You know, when I see fictional characters who repress all their emotions, they're usually aloof and very blunt about keeping people at a distance, sometimes to an edgy degree—but what I don't see nearly enough are the emotionally repressed characters who are just…mellow.

Think about it. In real life, the person that's bottling up all their emotions is not the one that's brooding in the corner and snaps at you for trying to befriend them. More often than not, it's that friendly person in your circle who makes easy conversation with you, laughs with you, and listens and gives advice whenever you're upset. But you never see them upset, in fact they seem to have endless patience for you and everything around them—and so you call them their friend, you trust them. And only after months of telling them all your secrets do you realize…

…they've never actually told you anything about themselves.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< Cool, I'll give you a line to him. Hey, Espresso, I found another reservist! >>

@federation-awacs

<< ### ###### ## >>

<< w## k god damn i#>>

SLAM

<< Aight I think it’s working.. yeahh hehe.. apologies for coming back so late, communication isn’t that great here.. should be able to get this thing working properly soon. Glad to hear you’re doing well, sir! I am okay, I’ll try my best to message you more. For n## #### ## # >>

<< #### ## ####k ##ho ### >>

<< #### ## #### # >>

[SIGNAL DISCONNECTED.]

<< Well, I think that's for the best. No offense if you're reading this, obviously- >>

<< Otherwise, I'm in no dire need of...contact. Have a great rest of your day, week, month- uh, whoever you are. Didn't catch that part, actually, but it still stands. >>

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< I could try to get one of my coworkers to trace your signal to find out where you are. By the way, how long have you been off the radar for? >>

<< ### ###### ## >>

<< w## k god damn i#>>

SLAM

<< Aight I think it’s working.. yeahh hehe.. apologies for coming back so late, communication isn’t that great here.. should be able to get this thing working properly soon. Glad to hear you’re doing well, sir! I am okay, I’ll try my best to message you more. For n## #### ## # >>

<< #### ## ####k ##ho ### >>

<< #### ## #### # >>

[SIGNAL DISCONNECTED.]

<< Well, I think that's for the best. No offense if you're reading this, obviously- >>

<< Otherwise, I'm in no dire need of...contact. Have a great rest of your day, week, month- uh, whoever you are. Didn't catch that part, actually, but it still stands. >>

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< There's more of you? I met Nine yesterday, will admit, I didn't know there were more than the 8 man squadron and Nine. >>

<< Ah, where are my manners? I'm AWACS Operator Oracle, 1 of 3 AWACS assigned to this squadron. It's a pleasure to meet you. >>

<< ### ###### ## >>

<< w## k god damn i#>>

SLAM

<< Aight I think it’s working.. yeahh hehe.. apologies for coming back so late, communication isn’t that great here.. should be able to get this thing working properly soon. Glad to hear you’re doing well, sir! I am okay, I’ll try my best to message you more. For n## #### ## # >>

<< #### ## ####k ##ho ### >>

<< #### ## #### # >>

[SIGNAL DISCONNECTED.]

<< Well, I think that's for the best. No offense if you're reading this, obviously- >>

<< Otherwise, I'm in no dire need of...contact. Have a great rest of your day, week, month- uh, whoever you are. Didn't catch that part, actually, but it still stands. >>

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< Nice. Hop in. >>

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< You can meet the others! They'd be glad to have someone else to talk to! >>

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< Come on then. >>

[They open the door for them]

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< You get everything you need so far? The building's just me, the youngest and convy because despite what you think, we don't like them. Specifically One and Four. Those guys are admittedly the worst of the squadron. >>

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< Man. They still haven't renovated this place? it's been 15 years and it still smells like wallpaper paste. >>

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

[They get out of the car and move over to shake his hand.]

<< Nice to meet you, Nine. I'm Oracle. >>

[They look like someone who would work in IT}

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

[3 minutes later, a car pulls up and makes a beep.]

<< Hey, you there, Nine? >>

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.

[theoracleoftheperiphery]

<< Sit tight. I'll be there in about 2-3 minutes. >>

<< Hey. How have you been doing? I know we don't talk much but, honestly i'd take you over talking to some of crimson squadron. How does being a reservist feel, not having to deal with crimson squadron and their... antics. >>

-@theoracleoftheperiphery

Not great, I’m too valuable to leave base and this shit place only has a gym and poorly stocked commissary, and there’s genuinely nothing to do because the computer i was provided only had Federation government sites and this, and any other devices are contraband. And because of how command words the exceptions for crimson to give them stuff to do like have private devices, i get none of that.