Video [forward-dated to heatwave start]

[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus is idly tossing something--a largish, flat rock--when the console flickers on. He sets it down after frowning at it for a moment, though, to give a half-hearted smile at the screen.]

It's been a while since I spoke, we have new faces--and another one of those turns. [His expression is ever-so-faintly martyred. These particular weather shifts are difficult; he'd give anything for a hurricane. Hurricanes maybe he could try diverting or moderating or controlling or something!] It's a crowbegotten unpleasant day, so I'll be succinct.

For old faces: glad to have those of you still with us. [A shadow flickers over his face; the disappearances are concerning, especially in the face of a threat he's been trying to organize against.] Some of our departed friends were organizing against our palace squatter, like our dragons' aerial corps. If you've been involved and want to keep drilling, come find me. We'll refit something.

For new faces, I'm Septimus, and I run the hospital. I'm also trying to work out a more united front against the aforementioned squatter. We're a lot more likely to have success with practice working together. Come talk to me for more, I don't want details over the network.

For everyone: We've had a case or two of heat exhaustion, and I'm not laying money on it getting better in the immediate future. Be careful, stay hydrated, don't overreach--and don't be afraid to ask for help at any clinic or the hospital. I'm working on coldstones [he holds up his rock]. Supply is somewhat limited by my free time, and priority given to those with greater need, but drop by if you need one.

Anyone wants to talk systematic deployment of some measures against this heat, find me.

[With that, he clicks off.

When he realizes the hatchlings are suffering, priority is shifted; all turtle parents will receive a couple free stones--though Jack Frost gets the first delivery.]

Comments

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[aleran]

[He has to listen to the post twice, because the first time the part of him that's worried about things back home takes over and he can only focus on the clues the man's leaving to the point where he's kind of overwhelmed. It's not even the language. It's not the mannerism. It's not that he recognizes the strategy and way of thinking so telling of the legion. It isn't even the coldstones. All of that helps, yes, but something else gets Tavi's whole attention:

He knows that man.

Even before he says his name he's 99% sure, but to be fair there aren't actually all that many people with those eyes in Alera, so his brain is almost hard-wired into recognizing it- or, at least, paying special attention to it. (That will bite him in the ass later.) So he's a little at lost on what to do.

But hiding from what, he assumes, is his authority now that Sextus isn't anywhere to be found would be stupid. And irresponsible. So now there's +1 Aleran with a pretty big stack of papers looking for the familiar face he saw in the network in the hospital.]

action;

[survival_isnt_living]

[That familiar face is not terribly difficult to find, at least once he's coming out of the emergency area. He's listening attentively to a kedan at first, nodding, and speaking rapidly in response. He's as tall as Sextus is, too, which should make him very easy to spot.

Of course, between Tavi's own recently acquired height and that stack of papers, Tavi is also pretty easy to spot, as is the fact that he's-- well, under most circumstances the phrase would be 'a new face.' As it stands, Septimus has a distinct moment of nagging familiarity that demands to be addressed right the bloody hell now.

It makes Septimus frown part-way through answering the question he was addressing. Once he's done--and told a few other people to do things before making his way over. An amused eyebrow goes up at the papers (and if he knew how much like his father he looked, he'd probably be highly chagrined).]

You keep carrying that, you'll drop something. Need a hand with that?

[And just maybe he's glancing to see if it's writing he can read.]

action;

[aleran]

[He doesn't answer. Instead he shifts his hands so the paper on top of the stack is easily readable to him.]

I am Rufus Scipio and I wish to speak to the Princeps in private. [Written in Aleran language.]

action;

[survival_isnt_living]

[The raised eyebrow stays up, but a chunk of the amusement is gone--and his voice is not audible outside the two of them.]

With me.

[And yes, that is definitely an order, from his tone of voice. He leads the way up to his office, without really saying anything; this is not how he expected to be spending today.

Once they're in private, and the door is shut, Septimus throws up a windcrafting to silence the room to outsiders. Frankly, his experience here is that nothing said will likely put his family in danger... but then, his experience to date has not included other Alerans.]

It's not public knowledge. [Implied: don't discuss who I am with anyone, or I will be Displeased. Then, more dryly:] Welcome to the madhouse. Refreshing to see a language I'm used to reading.

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[aleran]

Nobody will know it from me, I assure you, sir. [It's a little weird that he has to reassure him from that, but then again everything in this place seems to be wrong and not quite right. Back home Septimus would have simply strutted his way into the palace with just his name- if he were alive, that is, and that's another bag of crows. And in here he's actually hiding who he is.

And it's kind of weird how much Tavi actually understands.]

Back at home, I am a Cursor of the Crown. [Putting the stack of papers aside, he shows him the coin. If he can't trust the Princeps, then who can he trust?] So it stands to reason I would serve you, in this place, sir.

I will be of limited help until I have time to infiltrate more, but I have already done some research.

video

[unetrustworthy]

[It was hot. Not unbearably so, but hot enough that Midii was lazily reclining in her chair, hair pulled up into a messy ponytail save for the strands that clung to her sweaty face. Her usual outfits replaced by a thin tank top and shorts. Practical, like the rest of her closet. She was lightly waving a fan in front of her as she spoke with an oddly calm, even tone. Despite her otherwise seemingly weary appearance.]

How exactly do they work?

video

[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus almost begins to answer, then visibly pauses.]

By how, do you mean the theory behind their creation or as in how to use them?

[Two years. It's been nearly two years and he still forgets, sometimes, that what seems so obvious to him is outside other people's experiences.]

video

[unetrustworthy]

Either or.

[The vagueness was a sign of the heat getting to her far more than she let on. It was instinct alone driving her questions. The insatiable desire to know as much around her as possible.]

video

[survival_isnt_living]

Ah. The short version, when it comes to their creation, is that I make the stone absorb heat around it. [Not really, not entirely--functionally that's what it looks like but it really isn't how he'd have normally described it.

Dealing with non-Alerans is a headache.]

As for use... how do your people keep things cold through hot summers?

video

[unetrustworthy]

[The short version made sense. Somewhat.]

That's...strange.

Usually items produce heat, not absorb it.

[fearlessherosheart]

I don't suppose you would be willing to discuss the theory behind these coldstones.

[Tazendra's experiments had convinced her that she had an idea, but was still bad at making things that gradually released.]

I, of course, am ready to join whatever assault against this squatter is prepared.

[survival_isnt_living]

More than happy to--they're related to the firestones I made over winter, I believe we discussed them somewhat at the time.

[He can't help it; he rolls his eyes.]

I'm wondering what possessed the turtle to go seeking out extreme temperatures this year. I could have done without.

When there's any kind of news, I'll send notes out; in the mean time, I'm considering organizing some regular practice sessions. We should be getting used to working with new people.

[fearlessherosheart]

Somewhat, yes. It is an interesting matter to make them release their energy gradually rather than at once.

[survival_isnt_living]

Then think of that, only in reverse--if the aim isn't to release heat stored in advance, but prevent heat from building up...

[It's somewhat more complicated than that, really, but he'd want to demonstrate and doesn't want to discuss what might sound fairly dangerous over the network.

After all, 'I make a firefury hungry for heat and then bind it to only eat slowly' probably sounds a little odd to non-Alerans...]

[fearlessherosheart]

[Tazendra would demand to see a fury before believing that wasn't superstition]

I see that; I am still working on duplicating the slow release. It is easier to quickly gather or release energy than it is to do so at a comfortable rate. But, as I ahve some sucess in other spells, I will attempt it again.

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[wintershepherd]

[ Jack's been relying on his and Zatanna's magic in the rapid increase of heat but he still looks very grateful to receive the coldstone. ]

Thank you, Septimus.

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[survival_isnt_living]

[Hey, Jack's a nice kid, the heat is actively bad for him, and Septimus is supposed to be acting as something like a healer right now, right? All part of the job.]

Just let me know if you need more.

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

I might... depending on how long this heat wave goes on for. How long do these stones last?

[survival_isnt_living]

Done properly, by someone who does this for a living and more foreknowledge and intent? Three or four months. We use them to keep things cold, even preserve ice over hot summers.

These are a quick and dirty job, though, so probably not more than three or four weeks, a month at most. [He shrugs casually. Not impressive, he knows, but he's working on short notice here.]

[wintershepherd]

[ Jack looks vaguely horrified. ]

Sep, if this heat wave lasts three or four weeks, I'm not sure even the rock is going to help me.

action;

[trainwrecked]

[ Bucky considers this post for a bit. Then he makes a neat (sort of) copy of his report on what they've found about the Palace during the infiltration, and goes to seek out Septimus's living quarters. When there's not much street traffic. He considers dropping the information inside, but is pretty sure that's not nearly safe enough. So, in the end, he knocks on the door, softly. ]

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[survival_isnt_living]

[Septimus is busy reading at the time, but he does at least hear the knock and goes to the door to open it. He knows the face, at least somewhat, but he isn't terribly familiar with the man said face belongs to. Then again, it's not out of the question that Bucky's here for one of the others, so Septimus just tilts his head very slightly.] Can I help you with something?

[He does not, at least, seem to need medical attention. Septimus hopes he doesn't sound unwelcoming, because he's not; he's just slightly confused.]

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[trainwrecked]

[ Bucky studies him, for a moment. He knows that Kyle trusted this man, and the proactive announcement certainly suggests that it wasn't misplaced. But, in the end, there's nothing like personal observation. After months of training with Natasha, he has gotten rather good, at reading people. ]

[ So he takes his moment to study Septimus, with all the skill he's learned. ]

[ Eventually, he meets the man's eyes. ]

Right now, more like the other way 'round. Do you read English?

[ Legitimate question, for Keeliai. ]

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[survival_isnt_living]

[Naturally, it had to be English. Still, it could be worse; it could be one of the other languages that Septimus hasn't learned any of. Still, either way, this sounds like it's an actual conversation which should not be happening on his doorstep.

So he waves Bucky inside and back to the room he usually uses as his study.]

I do. Not as well as I should, maybe, but after two years here I've more or less learned to manage. Come on in.

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[trainwrecked]

[ Bucky follows. And, hey, that's the other reason to deliver the report personally - if Septimus can't read it, he can make it orally, after all. It's just easier to use as reference when written down. ]

Thanks. I just brought this.

[ He takes out the folder of hand-written pages. ]

Might end up useful when tackling the Palace.