[video]

[alderwood]

As some of you may have noticed, there was an incident in Kithika that resulted in numerous people being injured or killed.

Those responsible are making reparations. Visiting hours in the prison are 1300 to 1900, for anyone that wants to see Kal or Jor-El.

[His expression flicks down to paperwork on his desk, which he straightens out meticulously.]

I'm offering compensation for any injuries sustained. This was done in my service, so if you were hurt either fighting the Kryptonians or the other dangers in Kithika, speak with me.

Comments

audio;

[mightythinice]

I think you owe me a free week in the library for this.

[a breath]

Please.

[for the broken arm, for the image of David. All of it.]

audio;

[alderwood]

Our agreed-upon currency was lizards.

[But it's a comment meant to deflect. Hardly befitting an Emperor. His mouth twitches downwards into a frown, and he resists the urge to ask her how she was hurt. He... likes Ellie, after a fashion. For a Foreigner.]

I'll consider it. Come to the palace at my next audience.

audio; encrypted 97%

[lostundercover]

You know where to find me.

[You know, if you need him for anything.]

audio; encrypted 100%

[alderwood]

[In answer, Costigan's console receives a message with an upgraded encryption program. That's it, that's all.]

video; 60% encrypted

[shorttempered]

...So, uh, this is really a completely different body?

video; 60% encrypted

[alderwood]

Yes. Would you rather be dead?

Private; video

[backinakidflash]

Anyone who takes the money is gross. Ok. Maybe for medical bills and food gets a pass. But anything else'd still be gross.

Private; video

[alderwood]

Not everyone believes in altruism.

[It's the Sahara all up in here, man.]

Video; standard encryption

[bindsthedead]

I'm uninjured, though I know I'm fortunate that was the case. [Considering the fights she managed to get into.]

I'd like to know if our actions in Kithika will have any effect on the greater realm of Death, though. And what was that dragon?

Video; standard encryption

[alderwood]

[She gets a respectful nod. He hasn't forgotten the service done to him.]

Kithika is an isolated portion of Death. Consider it a sealed glass canister in an ocean, or a one-way mirror. It could be corrupted, but not corrupt or cleanse in turn. If the actions taken there had any chance of threatening Malicant's foothold, you'd have encountered more resistance than [a slight pause.] 'Han'.

[Yes, the dragon has a name, apparently.]

The dragon is a construct, created by the monks in Kithika. It - he - was a mindless servitor at some point in his history, but it seems to have developed beyond the original parameters of its creation.

Audio; Encrypted

[parallels]

Compensation?

Generous of you but I'm not sure things can really be made up with money.

Audio; Encrypted

[alderwood]

Money is one facet of compensation, Foreigner.

lol what even is an encryption

[strategisch]

I don't expect any reparations; I was only tossed about a bit. I'm glad I could be of some service.

I would like to know more about that dragon though. What was it, exactly? Why was its health so important to the revival of the world within the bottle?

[alderwood]

[Well, this one gets points for humility, at least. There's a rattle offscreen that manifests very nearly as a small earthquake, and a shadow passes over the window behind him. Dragon indeed.]

His name is Han. He's as construct brought to life by the monks that tended Kithika. I have yet to determine why defeating it cleaned the corruption, save for the theory that the greatest amount was concentrated in it.

audio; encrypted 90%

[superieure]

Monetary, I hope.

[Dry.]

audio; encrypted 90%

[alderwood]

To be negotiated.

[Yes, hello. He likes Monet, so his tone isn't acerbic, but he does sound mildly pressed for time.]

video

[unetrustworthy]

[Midii had not been inside the bottle, thanks to Damian's last-minute request. The jury was still out whether or not this was a good or bad thing, considering what had happened to her.]

[However, this was the opportunity that Costigan had mentioned, and she would be remiss if she did not take it.]

Your Highness?

I request permission to ask a question of you.

video

[alderwood]

[Well, he really doesn't care that she got the form of address wrong, she's a child. The same one Costigan asked him to look after, so Evandau's expression stays neutral.]

You're asking me if you may ask a question?

[Really. Is that a thing small children do? He hasn't had nearly anything to do with one this young in almost a millennia.]

Speak.

video

[looksfine]

[So, somebody didn't get in on the whole New Body deal the same way the others had. So she'd had to improvise. With a little help from Kyle, whose face she was currently wearing. The voice, primarily hers but with hints of his influence behind it, betrayed their mutual Ion connection in both tone and timbre.]

I am not certain where my condition would fall under the parameters of "injuries sustained"...however, if it is possible, I would prefer the components of my previous physical form be restored to me.

video

[alderwood]

[Well, that's new. Evandau studies - her? - and purses his lips.]

You were inorganic, correct?

video;

[iwannabeadragon]

I take gold, expensive liquor, or statues in my honor.

[A beat, then a smirk.]

Alternatively I also take useful information.

video;

[alderwood]

I don't do statues.

[It's a total deadpan. Is he joking? Probably not. Because he's an ass.]

What manner of information are you interested in?

voice;

[corage]

[For a moment, there is silence.

And then, a very flat voice.]

What about somebody who got killed by their own selves?

[Hopefully you know what he means, Evandau.]

voice;

[alderwood]

Therapy.

[No, he is not kidding.]

video;

[watcheslanterns]

...Do you need help tending to the injured?

video;

[alderwood]

What form of help are you offering, Foreigner?

video;

[dracobin]

Is the dragon all right? Do you think I might speak to him? Only, I think perhaps he might like someone to talk to, and I should like to learn more about the dragons in this world.

video;

[alderwood]

He's fine, but not capable of using the consoles, given his size. I'm sure he wouldn't object to speaking with another of his kind. Come to the palace, he's difficult to miss.

video;

[definingfuture]

Generous of you. [Long day, huh? It does seem like he has his hands full.]

video;

[alderwood]

Pragmatic.

[No one works for free.]

audio

[spiderkid]

So, you're saying if we got hurt in the bottle, you'll pay for our hospital bills?

audio

[alderwood]

Essentially.

[If the child has no further idea of what he might have meant by 'compensation' it's not Evandau's duty to tell him.]