Continuation.

[shimmermods]

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Vitali doesn't seem inclined to come much closer to any of you; there's a wall of glass between her and you, and she appears to want to keep it that way. Any attempts to breach it are likely a terrible idea; just because there aren't any soldiers with them doesn't mean that they're unarmed, after all.

"So you've decided to act up," she says, her hands folded behind her back, her posture formal and stiff in a way that doesn't suit her; her gaze remains as icy as her words, though she's refraining from making direct eye contact with any one of you in particular. She's still audible, despite the glass; it isn't as all-encompassing as the Shimmer seemed to be whenever it spoke to you within the boundary, but it's sharp, commanding. "If that's what you want to do, then fine. We can talk about that. You guys haven't wanted to settle since you got back; maybe this will make you actually sit down for a moment.

"If you're going to talk, get it out of your system before we throw you back in quarantine and figure out what to do with you. And try to keep from launching at the glass or doing anything stupid to yourselves in the meantime. We'd hate to have a reason to classify any of you as a threat."

code by vuvuzela

Comments

[shimmermods]

[...jesus christ uh- ]

Do you really think crystal growths, body parts replaced by clockwork, your blood turning into some other substance entirely, and having your insides flipped around is a strong indicator of good health and long life? You guys were not doing well in there.

[notjustawriter]

[JESUS.

What the fuck?? What the fuck.]

[blunders]

[...Oh gods. Felicia honestly didn't think anything of it, considering they'd just...been living like that for so long but...

That's horrifying.]

[klematis]

[ Hm. ]

Is it similar to...what happened to that one? [ Just points at the pink crystal among the pods. ]

[shimmermods]

[...Oh, um.]

I have no idea what that one's business is. Apparently a woman lives in there and can manifest a proper body when she feels like it.

[what the fuck is steven universe]

[notjustawriter]

That’s even weirder than the robot.

[shimmermods]

The robot was also a fun surprise down here. Apparently they sent another one in with this group, as well as that one. The second one didn't make it.

[klematis]

[ Well that even surprises him. What is Steven Universe. ]

I see. [ He does not see but now he wants to. ] In that case, are the changes to us similar at all to what happened to the others you have here?

[shimmermods]

The changes to your group are far more drastic. They had few, if any. The eyes were the main notable one.

[Whereas y'all were doing like. empathetic tattoo-switching and getting all blingee'd out. emma is turning into a rock. what the fuck is happening to yusei and rideaux. etc.]

[klematis]

[ ...yeah that's unfortunate. He will take his bling all things considered. ]

I wonder if that couldn't be aided in some way, but I'm a plain actor in this world unfortunately. [ Hmm he'll think on it though. ]

[shimmermods]

It's difficult to isolate exactly what's happening to you guys, because it's so varied and presenting in ways that we're not familiar with at all.

[She glances at N for a moment.]

There's the possibility of experimenting on that to try to get a better understanding, if he is what he says he is. But I'm hesitant to authorize that.

[klematis]

Why's that?

[ Sure we can call N an 'it'. ]

[shimmermods]

Ethics concerns. I haven't thrown those entirely by the wayside.

[pr159]

So despite our group having gone through more drastic changes, we actually seem to be in far better shape than the one before us, is what it comes down to.

[shimmermods]

Exactly. Which may be an effect of the Shimmer not being active in the way that it was anymore; their condition started improving when it went down.

So it's possible that whatever was in there was intended to stay in there.

[abysstery]

[...]

Theoretically, it shouldn't be. But all of us have remained functional, not at all experiencing what the previous group apparently did. I...

[He tails off for a moment, because the terrible pain that Yeager's apparently been experiencing this whole time hasn't left his mind since Vitali revealed this.]

I truly did not realize it was actively killing any of us.

[shimmermods]

Apparently a lot of things were..."normal" in there.

[She gets it, in some way.]

But we're keeping an eye on things. It doesn't seem to be getting any worse, at any rate, and there doesn't seem to be much abnormal activity, if any.

[abysstery]

Very much so. [...] I appreciate you being forthcoming about this much.

And I do understand the desire to not spread the Shimmer. Preferably, I would like to avoid it as well. But have you documented any spreading in either group thus far?

[shimmermods]

Whatever's happening with your group doesn't seem to be getting any worse. As for the other, it's difficult to tell. Generally we've been avoiding any circumstances where there may be cross-contamination because if it starts spreading unchecked, that's going to be difficult, if not impossible to stop, and we want to avoid things like having to set the original vector on fire.

[because if the vector is a person, they will likely not approve of being set on fire.]

Fire is all you've found that kills it, correct?

[skelkro]

It seems that way.

[... But fire setting to people is probably a bad idea. Especially with Emma in this group who just recently realized she has a track record for this sort of thing.]

[shimmermods]

All right. We want to avoid that at all costs.

[She doesn't even have a history of this, she just sort of unilaterally hates the idea of setting someone on fire.]

[abysstery]

A small mercy, at any rate. But the fact that they do not seem to be fading either is likewise something to be concerned about.

[It makes sense! It just...sucks.]

And yes, as Emma confirmed, fire is what has seen the most results. Thank you for concluding not to use it on us.

[shimmermods]

I don't exactly love you guys, but setting you on fire isn't really high on my list of fun things to do this afternoon, no.

[abysstery]

I presume you have at least taken other worlds into consideration in your search for a cure? My other self may have mentioned this, but I certainly considered it as well- magic has the potential of aiding in these situations.

[It can also make things worse, but y'know...trial and error.]

[shimmermods]

We can't let you leave for obvious reasons. Do you have a suggestion that isn't finding six alternate copies of you and letting them do whatever it is they do? Because that was admittedly my first thought when you mentioned that.