004 ◉ audio; dated to the 14th

[imaginate]

[ The audio clicks on and there's a long pause. When Kyle speaks, his tone is calm, perfectly controlled. It's his Business Voice, blank save for the barest hint of anger. ]

This is Kyle Rayner of the Green Lantern Corps. I apologise for the inconvenience, but our clinic at EA-3B is currently undergoing repairs and won't be able to take more patients at this time. We'll be temporarily operating a backup at WA-1A. [ He attaches a map, showing where it is. ]

Any and all hands with medical experience or healing abilities are always welcome.

[ Another long pause. ]

And if someone could come collect Avatar Korra, that would be appreciated.

[ There is a brief pause, as though he's debating what more to say, before the audio clicks off. ]

Comments

[imaginate]

What are divine beings called in your world? Not... men. Not like us.

[survival_isnt_living]

Divine? [Septimus frowns.] There are a lot of non-humans on Carna, but I assume you don't mean Canim, or Icemen, or Marat. Ah, for clarity's sake: giant wolves who speak... creatures, I suppose, who live in tundras and ice sheets, and--

[See him twitch slightly.] The Marat, they look almost human, only pale, white-haired, some other physical differences. Usually seen with animals. I take it none of these are 'divine beings?'

[imaginate]

Hm, I'm not using the right word.

[He frowns, considering.]

Legends? Things that only exist in stories - except the stories were true.

[survival_isnt_living]

[Sep gives a continuing baffled face.]

Your tone implied these... 'gods' are conscious, self-aware, thinking creatures?

[Confession: Septimus is rather less confused than he appears. He does have some suspicion of what the general point Kyle is driving at it: Great Furies, by his count, only capable of thought and possibly closer to human than fury. However...

However, that is not how Great Furies work, and he doubts they're what Kyle has in mind. So he'll let his lack of familiarity with them speak for itself: he has no special regard for divinity.]

[imaginate]

Incredibly self-absorbed, but generally? Yes. Powerful, too.

[It's really weird to him that they don't have the word or something like it, since every culture does. He figures he's just not explaining it properly.]

[survival_isnt_living]

Throw in pettiness and being in general dissolute, and I'll start recounting schoolyard brawls.

[Even all his years of training can't stop the flash of emotion across his face--rage, sorrow, bitterness, steel, and even a trace of fear flash across his face in scant moments, generally couched in clear loathing.

(Sadly, at least one of them would appreciate being likened to a god.)

One of the reasons Alerans lost their concept of divinity may be not wholly-unjustified assessments of their own strength.]

[imaginate]

[Kyle's veneer breaks as well, his voice becomes cold, but amused. Pleased at his victories which he so rarely broadcasts even the mere existence of.]

We bring them down, when they do not deserve their power.

[Most of his enemies do think of themselves as untouchable. That's why he's there, that's why he has the ring.]

[And it's a "when", not an "if", because power corrupts.]

[survival_isnt_living]

[At that, an eyebrow goes up. And that flash of suppressed emotion contains in it, for a moment, something rather like envy.]

Who do you serve?

[Because Kyle commands troops in Legion strength--but no matter what some of the other Citizens think, the Legions serve as sword and shield for their people, first and always.

One of his first lessons: everyone serves someone.]

[imaginate]

[Without hesitation:] The defenceless.

[It's more accurate to say he serves an ideal: of justice, order, peace, and freedom. But they're nothing without people to shape what they mean, and to serve as their representatives.]

[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus can't stop the brief, fierce smile which flashes across his face. Even once he gets a grip, he's smiling faintly. He can't stop the tinge of wistfulness, either.]

How do you deal with conflicting orders, politics? How much free rein do you get?

[imaginate]

[He mirrors the smile. Honestly, even with this brief conversation, he has zero desire to be on opposite sides with Sep. If that happened, neither of them would come back from it.]

[Thoughtfully:] Advice, or commiseration? Either would be better with a drink.

[survival_isnt_living]

[Sep barks a short, rueful laugh. What he wouldn't have given to have Kyle in the old fencing group from Academy days.]

Now there's truth--not that I've had the chance in a long time. [For so many reasons...]

[imaginate]

Been on the front line?

[That's his reason for not being able to unwind as he'd like.]

[survival_isnt_living]

Duty does call.

[The tone of voice is light--probably to make up for the sheer weight of how much he hasn't said.]

[imaginate]

[He doesn't need to. Kyle hears it, and his expression saddens, even over an audio feed.]

And how.

[How many times has he had to run from a loved one's side to save someone on the other side of the galaxy? Why did it have to be him who gave up so much and got nothing back? For what? A new set of laws that he didn't agree with, to see the Corps he'd built with his blood, sweat, and tears ripped apart because their little blue bosses were too proud to admit they were scared? How many was he going to bury?]

[Enough, he tells himself quietly. Let it go (And it does, it floats down the river, disappearing into the rapids).]

Found anywhere that has... ale that tastes like home? I'll buy.

[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus knows that cadence, limited to two words as it was, and he grimaces to himself.

Still, he laughs wryly.]

If you've never drunk the ale most often found around a Legion camp, I would not dare subject you to it. [As for the finer drinks, the benefit of his rank... well, that's less important.]

Besides, Mother would never forgive me if I forgot all my manners. If you're buying, by all means, I will place my faith in your choice.

[imaginate]

That sounds like a challenge.

[His voice turns playful again, and he chuckles.]

You pick the time, I'll pick the place.