most_unwanted | [Voice]

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[Voice]

[There's a quiet crunching sound before Mulder speaks up, sounding thoughtful.]

Show of metaphorical hands. Or antennae, whichever you're partial to: Who here has been kidnapped for a special one-on-one date with our captors? I'd like to arrange an off-journal meeting to speak about your personal experiences if anyone happens to have some free time. It shouldn't take long, just a few minutes. I'll be hanging around the shops in town most of the day, I've got some... supplies I've been meaning to find. [Still looking for a basketball, woe and alas.] We can always head elsewhere from there, though.

I understand that it's a sensitive topic for most people, and it's all right if you'd rather not talk about it. Or if you'd rather be anonymous, just slip a note under my door detailing anything you can remember about the experience itself. Anything at all, before, during, after. Your answers will be kept in confidence. I'm in Community Building 7, Floor 2, Room 10.

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[In Luceti, it seems less calm and more storm, most of the time.

Robert nods at the wave, trying to manage something like a weak, quick smile in greeting. It comes out a little strained due to the topic, but he manages.]

... It... it was something she had... e-expressed interest in, and so I thought it would be a... fitting tribute.

[Something small and soft. Something sweet. Pinks and yellows.

It'd be like having a little bit of Vivi around beyond that letter in her delicate handwriting and the replica of her beloved hat.]

... At any rate... what exactly are you looking for...?

It sounds very suitable, that's a good way to pay tribute. [Mulder looks a little thoughtful.] You know, it's strange... we all get in the habit of talking about the people sent back as if they'd died, when really they're the ones who are now free, with us still stuck captive...

[Mulder glances around the area and shakes his head.]

I'd hoped to find a basketball here, but so far I'm out of luck. I got some fish food and something for my tank, though.

[Softly, and mostly to himself:] It is... because I feel as if I have lost her forever... when people are sent home, they do not retain their memories, as far as most people are aware. Though some may remember when they return here... others do not.

... So it seems... quite permanent, to me.

And perhaps it is some... selfishness on my part. [Selfishness for wanting what felt like his foster daughter back.

Mulder's odd request distracts his attention, though.] ... A basketball? ... [He thinks he recognizes those, actually...]

What do you need one for?

Yeah. It's... never easy losing someone so close, especially family... [Mulder trails off a moment, family issues are at the heart of a lot of his personal issues, so he leaves it there for now.] I still don't think it's selfish to want to be with those you care about.

[Another glance to the stuff in the shop, but he's thinking no luck for today.]

Mostly, just for something to bounce around when things get tedious and dull. I also like to play, but I know better than to wish for a hoop and a ball both to pop up out of the blue together.

What makes it hardest is that there is nothing predictable about it... nothing I did, and nothing I could have done to prevent it. [For Robert, it's closeness that is an issue; relationships are difficult for him in general. And Mulder might notice that he seems generally more anxious in close proximity. ~~Is this the first time they've met face-to-face?~~

Robert scans the shop's shelves for Mulder's sake, trying to locate what he vaguely thinks a basketball looks like, but... nothing. He sighs a little in defeat after a moment.]

Ah, a sport... I, er, was never particularly effective with th-those. [And by that Robert means he's hideously terrible at every sport ever, if it wasn't already blindingly obvious. To cover up his own awkwardness, he starts systemically searching the shelves for tubing and the like for his homemade hydroponics system.]

Basketball isn't so bad when you get the hang of it. Maybe if we ever get the equipment, I'll show you how to play. That or baseball. I wouldn't mind hitting a few balls and pretending they're the Malnosso's heads.

[Mulder is one of the rare geeks who is also rather sporty. And man does he miss watching games, in addition.]

...Anyway, about the Malnosso and their abductions. That's what bothers me too, there appears to be no discernible pattern, no sense to it at all.

[~~The mun now has the hilarious picture of Robert trying to play basketball. This clearly needs to happen.~~]

I... I might be amicable... P-Provided that, er, the audience is disinclined to, er, make a mockery of me...

...

And, yes. There really does not seem to be any sort of pattern. It is random noise.

... Though several of their decisions appear to be motivated by deliberate cruelty and exploitation of our anxieties... [Like vivisecting Raphael.]

~~[We'll find a way to make it happen!]~~

Don't worry, there doesn't need to be an audience. We can just play one-on-one, or with a small group.

[Mulder winces at what Robert says, figuring what he's referring to.]

Yeah. That's one of the worst cases I've heard about so far. Have you come across other such... effects or tests they've run on anyone?

Ah... I would not m-mind that. [It seems... less embarrassing that way, though Robert is still horrendously self-conscious.]

I... actually have.

...

A friend of mine, a magician - Mr. Sprensonne - had one of his eyes blinded temporarily and had his magic modified to do harm to him when he used it, which forced him to not use it for awhile - something that caused him significant amounts of stress.

... Another friend of mine, Mr. Giles, was blinded by the Malnosso entirely.

[Robert exhales slowly.] Definitely... targeted attacks.

Yeah, I ran across Giles too, when he was sent back. He was in bad shape, and it's taken time for his vision to return... [Mulder thinks things over.] That magic modification is an awful one, too. I have to wonder what exactly they were testing, to have these aftereffects...

Ah, you know him as well? I am not entirely surprised; the intellectuals of Luceti do tend to be affiliated. [Makes Robert's job a bit easier.]

... His vision is still not particularly serviceable either, but it has at least improved.

And I believe it is a direct attack on Mr. Sprensonne's psyche in that case; after all, the Malnosso have such detailed access to our mental workings that there must be some sort of analysis they have for all of us.

Exactly, and I'm sure they store any data about us in those barcodes... [Mulder glances at the things in front of him at the moment, but his attention has turned more toward what they're discussing.] It sounds like the effects always wear off eventually, but these personalized experiments are very specific, very targeted and focused.

Yes, specific and focused indeed - to a nearly insane degree at times. [Robert lightly bites his lip.] It begs the question as to how much the Malnosso actually have access to when it comes to us...

... One wonders if anything is truly secret from them. [And he shivers a bit.

What do they have planned for him?]

I know what you mean. I'm still not sure that they're not watching every move we make in here. Although I have yet to find a trace of surveillance equipment, that probably doesn't mean much with their technology...

[Yeah the anticipation of what could happen is pretty unnerving. Mulder knows it's exactly what they're going for, instilling those feelings in their test subjects.]

[Robert shakes his head a little.] I have seen no evidence of the sort for surveillance within the compound itself, but you are right - with the advanced technology of the Malnosso, they may be easily surveying us with something that is difficult to detect.

... Some of the things they seem to know, though, are beyond even external analysis. It is as if they can analyze the data from our brains directly.

... [Thoughtfully:] Unless whatever they do is filtered through our brains, but it seems so deliberate...

It's possible they could have made some other alteration, something else that we haven't yet detected. A way of getting into our brains, like you're suggesting. Mind-scanners, other psychic-type devices... Even our thoughts wouldn't be safe if that were the case...

[It's all too easy for Mulder's imagination to get away from him and think of the ways that this might be done.]

It is possible. [Actual horror crosses Robert's features at this. The idea of them being able to know everything about them, with impunity, is terrifying on so many levels.]

...

I wish we had some way to find out beyond any logical doubt, but...

... [He cringes.] At any rate, I s-suppose I will see for myself how the kidnappings go if I am ever taken.

I hope you don't have to have that experience.

[Mulder knows that unfortunately it seems that it happens to everyone eventually, though.]

It... seems an inevitability in this place, which is the most frightening thing. As is the fact that there is no way to tell who will be next, as far as I know...

[Robert has been methodically searching the shelves during the conversation, and he already has a collection of parts for his hydroponics garden.

It's a welcome mental distraction from everything that's happened.]

There's no way to predict anything, as far as they're concerned. That's the worst part about all of this.

[As they go along, Mulder finds a few more things for his aquarium, as well.]

...Looks like you're going to be well stocked up for that garden.

[Robert tries to give Mulder a smile at that part. Despite all the uncertainties... he has people who care about him, and that seems to be a more-or-less constant right now. It helps.]

... I certainly hope so... perhaps you might even wish to come over and see it when it is finished.

...

Er. If you wanted and d-do not find the request... unprofessional.

[Suddenly a little awkward, here. Robert is still unused to inviting people over, but it just felt... okay to ask.]

Of course I'd like that. It's not like we even work together, in any official capacity. A little downtime would probably do us both good.

[Especially since Mulder is in WORK MODE constantly around here. He can't help it, it's an ingrained habit.]

You are right, of course... though I would like to work with you, given the opportunity. It would c-certainly be a fascinating opportunity...

[So is Robert. He knows the feeling all too well.]

And you are gathering parts for an aquarium, correct? What exactly are you housing in it?

I'd like that, too. It's just that we don't have to worry about answering to the Bureau or any other supervisory positions. We don't have to worry about being too formal.

[Mulder looks at his things he's collected.]

Back home, it was full of fish, but so far I've only gotten my hands on one goldfish that's survived, I got it back during that little Malnosso shindig.

Ah, well, I... I am simply used to f-formalities. [And for awhile he kind of relied on them, even here, even with people he trusts extensively. Like Helios.]

... I have become... r-rather unprofessional at times, here, though.

[Robert looks over at the aquaria paraphernalia as well, thoughtfully.] So the Malnosso allow keeping of small domestic animal companions... Well, I had seen a few others, like cats, b-but... [Almost curiously:] They are very r-rare on Terra.

...

I wonder what it might be like to keep one...

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