@clarke.griffin

[strove]

I think it's best to get this out here as soon as I can. Last month before I disappeared, four of us held a meeting with a mysterious man named Ball. He was able to serve us coffee and good baked goods, and he told us a little about ourselves. He believes that we've either been touched by gods, or that gods are why we're here. That likely sounds ridiculous. But he said there's a way to test it. To prove it to ourselves.

The way to do that? Gates. I don't entirely know how, but I was given one of four locations to seek out. Mine is in New Oslo, and I'd like to be headed there soon. Markus, Loki, and Ojiro have the other three. I haven't been back long enough to find out what those are.

But here's a few things to think about before you dismiss this out of hand. It may be tempting to do so. If I hadn't been here for a while, I would have done so.

First, when many of us dreamed? We changed things. We changed reality. I covered some of those changes here, and Johnny asked for some more here. I'm willing to go over that later. We can't deny that reality isn't what it was before, and that we're the only ones who remember it. And think about it. I just went home and came back six years older.

Second, as Rey and Loki pointed out here, there are people making art of us. I know that some of those people think of us as proof of god. That may be ridiculous, but look back at the reality bending. Think about it.

So that brings me to my main point. As much as I've personally fought against it, we've been put into a position where we have a unique power and ability to enact change on this world. Right now, we're in a position where we're trying to hide. I think—no matter who you back, no matter what you believe—we're being foolish if we don't use that to our advantage.

This world is dying. Cassius made that obvious to all of us, though I think he also made it worse. But what we've learned is that we can do something about that. I can't even begin to suggest how we tap into that power, but it's possible that someone in this world will know how.

This is my plan, then, in no specific order:

1. We need to seek out those gates. It might tell us more about ourselves.
2. We need to find a way to separate ourselves from Morningstar and protect the people who are making art about us. We need to protect the structure of Morningstar because what it means to this world, and we need to protect these people. Not just because they have answers about us.
3. We find a way to harness our powers to help this world. To keep it from dying. Some people don't want to leave. And I'll add this: I want to bring my people here. I have a feeling that I'm not the only one. I know that's selfish, but I have my reasons for it. You can ask.

I don't know how to execute on every part of this. If you want me to come up with a plan, I will. But I'd prefer if we worked together. I know Damian has a plan on a different level, but perhaps this can dovetail with what he's doing. Maybe we can work in tandem with Morningstar while not endangering them. We'll have to see.

Obviously, we start with New Oslo, unless one of the other three locations is more ideal. I think that's the logical place to begin.

Comments

[resleeves]

nowhere public.

and whenever.

it's not like i'm that busy.

[strove]

Tell me where you live and I'll bring over some wine.

People here tend to like wine.

[Or is that just Bobbi-Katelin? Well, whatever.]

[resleeves]

i like booze.

doesn't matter what kind.

[ but he sends over his address as requested. ]

[strove]

I'll grab whatever's easiest along the way. I'll let you know when I'm close.

[That's precisely what Clarke does soon after, just as she's approaching his building. She has a tote bag in hand. At least she knows that Kovacs will probably like whatever it is, if he's really not that picky.]

[resleeves]

[ kovacs, being a lazy ass that he is, leaves the door open for her so he won't have to get up and open it. when she pushes her way in, she'll find him on the couch, legs stretched out in front of him and head propped up by a pillow. ]

I'd give you the tour but you have two legs.

[ he smiles over at her, trying to push down how what he's about to tell her makes him feel. ]

[strove]

Well, I'm glad to know that I don't get any special treatment. [As Clarke draws closer, she pulls out a bottle of whisky. It's nothing high grade—she can't afford anything too fancy—but she once had a heart to heart over whisky, and it feels right. And it was easily gained along the way.]

Do you have glasses? [As if there is a chance that he doesn't.]

[resleeves]

I'm not a complete heathen. Sit down.

[ he gestures towards one of his chairs before hefting himself up and disappearing into the kitchen. the glasses he returns with are clean and hands one to her before he takes a seat again. ]

I only drink out of the bottle when I'm really fucking depressed.

[strove]

Hey, back home we didn't have a lot of glasses, either on the Ark or the ground. I wouldn't judge. [Though Clarke certainly did set it up as if she planned to judge.

She sits, stretching her legs forward, placing the bottle between where he was lazing and where she's sitting. Easy for them to pass it back and forth as needed.

She takes the glass when it arrives, only putting about two fingers of alcohol inside. That's good for now.]

[resleeves]

[ he's probably gonna drink most of that bottle after this. ]

What was I going to tell you again?

[ hedging. so much hedging. ]

[strove]

The time between iterations of Takeshi Kovacs. [The way she refers to it makes it apparent that she's begun to see it at least one way. To think that there might be downtime between lives ... it makes it seem more and more like Sanctum. After stating it, she takes a sip of the whisky. It burns, but she doesn't seem to mind that.]

[resleeves]

Right.

[ he scratches his cheek and just decides to go be blunt about it. ]

Prison. That's where I was before this sleeve. They rip out the stack and put me on ice and that's where I was until someone decided they had a use for me.

[strove]

I assume that's because of the terrorism. [Clarke doesn't seem to be fazed by the reveal of him as a prisoner. The last time they danced around this subject, it was in public. There wasn't much Clarke could ask, what with the risk of the potential association with Morningstar.

(More than the norm, anyway.)]

Is that how people like you are punished? You're put on ice for a long period of time? In your world, anyway.

[resleeves]

Mmm. I did some work as an assassin too.

[ after the terrorism and before the whole working for bay city pd thing. he'd liked that sleeve and he'd done good work. ]

But yeah, it's one way. Other way is they just smash your stack. No coming back from that.

[strove]

[The hard part is knowing what it means to have brought him back. If he was just a destroyed stack, they would never have need of him again. Clarke knows why they brought him back. Is it fair to say it? To call him a tool for someone who would bother to do that?

That's likely what needs to be put on the table anyway.]

They didn't destroy your stack because they knew they could use you again. You don't have control over your own life.

[resleeves]

Yep.

[ the word is short, sharp, but steady. he's not lying. he knows they would have kept his stack on file in case they could stick into a different sleeve and make him dance like a puppet. ]

I like to think I do but — [ he shrugs. ] I have more control here than I did there. No one to dangle things I need in front of me.

[strove]

[Need. An interesting word. Right now, Clarke is certain that he lives every day without what he needs. All he has is control. No wonder he wants to go back.]

You realize that when someone dangles those things, they have no intention of paying up. Is there a way to get out of that?

[resleeves]

Aside from killing them all?

[ probably not. he shrugs. ]

Not sure. But, I think this one will pay up. He needs me just as much as I need him.

[strove]

You think.

[The fact that he brushes it off as if it's nothing gets under her skin. She can't help it.]

You have time to come up with contingency plans.

[resleeves]

No, I know. I'm the only one that can do what he needs done.

[ bancroft had him by the balls just as much as kovacs did. ]

It's why he went through all the trouble of having me thawed out.

[strove]

So, it's at great personal risk to himself. And you're sure of this?

[Yes. Clarke sounds genuinely worried.]

[resleeves]

I'm sure.

[ no other envoys left for bancroft to mess around with. ]

And yeah, there's a risk. But if there anything worth doing in life that's not a risk?

[strove]

I know that's just a phrase, but I can think of a long, long list of things that could be risk free. Unfortunately, getting there would likely include a lot of risks.

[So, yes? No? She finishes her glass of whisky.]

[resleeves]

Okay okay, fine you got me there.

[ was he getting philosophical in his old age? gross. ]

Pretty sure everything's got a fucking risk attached to it here.

[strove]

That's not the first time you've said that.

[Or something like it. Clarke has a hard time seeing this world as a true survivor's threat. That's because she's seen far worse.]

What's happened to you here? Or does it remind you of something you know?

[resleeves]

What's happened to me here is the same shit that's happened to everyone.

[ with a few differences especially for him. ]

It reminds me of shit I'm familiar with from back home. But am I wrong? There's a risk here for nearly everything.