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[Jackie appears on the network, looking agitated and wearing an outfit that makes him look like he just stepped out of Carrie.] So, for real, does anyone think we’re not dead and this isn’t just some fucked-up section of hell? ‘Cause I’m not buying it. Between Life, Dreaming, and Death...nah. I know I died. [He still looks shaken when he thinks about it. Given how traumatized he seems and the state of his clothing? The manner of his death wasn’t pretty.] I just think whoever runs this place has a weird sense of humor.

Also… [He looks at his clothes and grimaces. Dammit, this was his favorite hoodie.] Does anyone know how to get bloodstains out? Like...really bad bloodstains? [He shows off the bloodied hoodie, tank top, and jeans he’s wearing.] That healer lady, Milyn or whatever her name is, don’t get me wrong, she fixed me up real good, but she’s no laundromat.

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No kidding. [A small, quirked smile.] It varies. There have been missions to make contact with other cities and civilizations, to see what aid they might render. There are more violent missions, rescues or infiltrations, but I don't have the details of those. Most are relatively confidential.

[She does turn a little graver as it comes to the subject of the lanterns, though.] A wise decision. I can't say I like the idea of the lanterns, but it seems to have been the only available option, and I don't think there's any changing it at this point.

[Jackie's thinking. The little hamster wheel in his head is going. Go, hamster wheel, go!] Huh.

So I'm walking around without a...a soul in my body? What the fuck!

[Raine regards him dispassionately, without apparent concern on the topic of souls or lack thereof.] You're still you, aren't you? You haven't been left an empty shell, it's simply that your essence is anchored to an external vessel. It's unsettling, but not harmful, if care is exercised.

[Probably no one should be this calm about not having their soul in their body. Not pictured here: several hours of staring at her own lantern trying to get to grips with the issue.]

[Jackie still looks rattled. Raine's spiel hasn't really done all that much to calm him down...but he trusts her, because she helped him.] Yeah, well, I'm not exactly cool with having my soul hanging out somewhere that isn't in me! Is there any way we can like, fix that?

[She opens her free hand palm up, gives a little shrug.] The magic appears to be... particular. The person to talk to about that would be Evastelei, the one who moved them, but my understanding is that the person initially responsible for the appropriation of our souls is, unfortunately, dead. There may be little recourse for tampering with the spellwork, and the backlash has the potential to be unpleasant.

[There's a pause, as Raine studies him thoughtfully. Then she adds,] At any rate, this method for keeping a soul separate from the body does seem benign.

[Left loudly unsaid: this could be much, much worse.]

[Jackie frowns mutinously. The person who started this whole soul-removal business was dead...of course.] What happened? How'd they die? [He's not inclined to think it's old age.]

[She remains calm and even, but her speech gains a sort of careful delicacy.] Understand I'm not privy to details, as it was before my arrival here, but the previous Emperor was murdered by a foreigner. I'm... unclear on whether or not he was under the influence of the enemy.

[She really dislikes not knowing anything, but especially those kinds of details.]

[Jackie's eyes go wide.] What the fuck? One of us actually killed the Emperor?!

[That reminds him a little too much of the life he'd known before arriving here. Once you got to Red Pole and above, you had to start watching your back, because people would come gunning for you. And sometimes...they'd come gunning for you anyway, regardless of rank.]

Damn. So they caught the guy?

[Raine nods at that, a careful dip of her head.] I believe the person in question was permanently executed. [Not for the first or last time, she really wishes she knew more about what happened then, but many people simply don't know, and those who do aren't the chatty sort.]

I should have liked to meet her.

You...say that like execution wouldn't usually be permanent, [Jackie says uneasily.]

So what's with the new Emperor? He's a cop, right?

[Raine, feel free to rebuff his questioning at any time.]

[Whoops, she didn't make this as clear as she thought she did.] Usually, yes; here, as I said, death can behave a bit unusually, for us. [Really not something she likes thinking about, but she keeps relatively calm, voice even if quiet.] So long as your soul is anchored here, there's a good chance of... returning.

[Far be it from her to discourage curiosity! Even if she doesn't have all the answers she'd like to give him. One doesn't just blow off people who want to learn. On this one, though, she simply doesn't have the parlance.] I'm sorry, a cop...?

Oh good, [he says uneasily. Jackie, for one, is not about to test that theory. In fact, he is going to actively not think about it.

When she asks, he pauses and tries to think of a different word.] Yeah, you know, the fuzz? Police officer, [he clarifies.]

Edited 2014-07-10 01:42 (UTC)

[She nods a little to Jackie's initial response, looking sympathetic. She knows that feeling, or one much like it.]

[Police officer she can get, even if his parlance is a little weird.] Ah. Yes, I believe our Emperor previously headed up the local law enforcement. Why do you ask?

[Jackie grins.] Yeah...he seemed like the type. Back where I come from, the cops are diulan useless...I was kind of wondering if the cops here were the same.

I wouldn't say useless... [Ignoring the fact that it's possible that the Emperor leaving the palace during the bombings was what enabled the enemy to slip in.] I haven't had cause to encounter the guard often, but I believe they've been of help in some situations.

[Is he implying he's been on the wrong side of the law, or simply that he has little respect for its enforcers? Something to ponder.]

[Honestly, Raine? A little from column A, a little from column B.]

Well, so long's they don't overreach, know what I mean?

[Oh good, she's on familiar ground.]

Ah. Yes. I believe I take your meaning. [A grimace. She's been on the wrong end of something like law enforcement overreaching itself.] I haven't seen that they do, though of course everyone here is a little more tense of late.

[Hey, all right, she gets it. Not one of those goody-two-shoes types that Jackie's still not entirely sure exist.] Huh. Yeah...guess I'd better watch myself, huh? Don't want to get judged by my appearance. [His criminal, criminal appearance.]

[She gives him a blank look for a moment. She isn't really sure what he means about his appearance, save perhaps that the state of his clothing lends him some air of disreputability. He looks... relatively normal for a human, honestly.] Would your appearance mark you as someone to watch in your home world?

Regardless, if you refrain from harming others, you should be fine for the most part.

[Jackie shrugs.] Yeah, pretty much. Got my tattoos, you know? Back home everyone can tell I'm Sun On Yee.

But uh, I don't think that'll be a problem. I don't wanna hurt anyone, you know?

[She has no frame of reference, but she can extrapolate that being Sun On Yee does not give one a reputation for being kind and law-abiding.] I see. Well, if that's the case, you should be fine. Have you been to the welcome center yet?

[No, Raine, it really doesn't.] Yeah, met that Jack Frost kid. He's all right, you know?

[Raine nods agreement. She's never actually met Jack, but the quality of his work and the usefulness of the welcome center speak for themselves.] So he is.

[A pause, to size him up. He seems calmer than he did, and is definitely less injured. He should be all right for now.] Is there anything else you're wondering about?

[Jackie shrugs.] Nah? Not really.

Thanks for fixing me up again. I really appreciate it.

[She nods by way of acknowledgment.] Of course. Take care of yourself.

And don't hesitate to return if you encounter other trouble. [She's here to help, after all, when people let her.]

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