[ this doesn't help narrow things down, but he listens to the story anyway. ]
And this drifter brought the abnormality to your island. [ well. ] People live almost four times as long as the people on your island. Things are busy here, people have jobs and families and rules in place to keep the country running. I think I told you a little about how trials and the law work here. There's a lot about this country that people may or may not like, depending on where you stand on certain things, but there are some places that're quieter than others. You kinda just happened to step into one of the busiest cities around.
More like the drifter brought with him the truth...
[ And so set the spiral of the people on the island, learning that they should be living longer than what they do. Ignorance is bliss. Adolphe doesn't seem that sympathetic to those plights, though. ]
It was very loud and crowded where I showed up. [ If he had a choice, he'd show up somewhere quieter with less people. It's fine. ] That means everything is normal here?
If you'd never met anyone outside of your island and nobody's ever come before I guess that would definitely turn everything upside down. [ which is its own headache. ]
That's just Los Angeles for you, but... yeah. People are busy and there's always a lot going on. Most people probably don't even think about death until it happens to them. Or they're about to be murdered. [ a pensive frown. there are many murders. ] "Normal" might be a stretch, but things are average here, let's go with that.
The fact that someone had to appear from the outside to even give you an idea people can live longer... [ your island is truly cursed. but he does appear to be thinking because while this is very unusual, apollo does find it interesting and would ultimately like to have some idea. ]
As much as we're an anything agency, I don't know if any of us personally know much in the way of development in technology. I may have some people to refer you to though? At least one. She's a detective with a forensics background, so she would know more about DNA and stuff.
[ me having been logged onto caleb lads like wow it really is very brunette in here ]
I'm not sure how long this has gone since there's a lack of records before the drifter showed up. Even then, books around that time weren't the most detailed.
[ When you die so young people probably didn't think much about recording history? Or does this seem very strange for whatever reason? ]
I'll take it. There are some samples I brought along with me... Arpéchéle has its share of geniuses, but an outsider's opinion might be what we need.
Probably because people thought maybe a solution would present itself and by the time they realized it wouldn't, it was too late. [ gloomy, thanks apollo. but he takes out his phone and begins to text someone. ]
It's a start. I don't know how much Ema might be able to help, but if she can't I'm sure she'll have some idea of who can. She'd probably kill me if I didn't at least give her the chance to look into it anyway. She goes nuts for this kind of stuff. [ ... ] What... kind of samples?
[ apollo is also brunette and OKAY. JUST WENT GLOOMY, except Adolphe doesn't think it's gloomy. He simply nods because he can see that happening to that fucked up island.
Well, he thinks to himself that he's glad he isn't the one to meet Ema? Apollo will buffer them in the middle in this case, though Adolphe may be trying to see what Apollo is texting. Just not too obviously looming.
He's paranoid. For reasons. ]
It's nothing grotesque... A couple of blood vials and some lycoris noirge.
[ leave his hair alone, we have too many brunettes here. here's the thing, he deeply appreciates that adolphe is really just like "yes, sure, this tracks." likely because so many of his clients like to panic about the smallest things, so someone calm and rational is far more his speed.
he should also be glad he is not the one to meet ema, yes, although apollo is not always a good buffer. he may peek, the text is really just "tell your boss i need you for a while, i have something you might wanna see." ]
The fact that it's in vials makes this easier at least... but what's a lycoris noirge? [ apollo is smart in a lot of ways, but he is not good at identifying plants. ]
[ Unfortunately, Adolphe is quite used to doom and gloom... He comes from an island that must face death at twenty-three, so there is a lot of screwed up circumstances around it. Considering all possibilities, or likely possibilities, is a good habit.
His nerves are placated, so he falls back a bit. ]
It's the flower of death. [ Casually. ] It grows all around the outskirts of the island.
Many people think so. When the flowers are picked, symptoms come up and ultimately they die.
[ That does sound like a flower of death, doesn't it? An ill omen. Adolphe delivers such gravity calmly like it's an everyday thing because it is for him. ]
People don't and actively avoid them, but sometimes a flower bends to a breeze.
[ And, implied, people die to even that. While he was casual about it earlier, he does look a little apologetic as he delivers how easily this can happen. Flowers are delicate after all.
Frowns. ]
I don't think anyone knows. The drifter likely went into hiding to avoid becoming a test subject.
If you're on an island, the wind comes off the ocean almost too easily. [ this is muttered to himself as he seems to be letting his thoughts drift and puzzle some things out. ]
This is gonna sound a little crazy, but do you think maybe the drifter's still alive somewhere? [ the look on his face says he does not blame this person for not wanting to be an experiment though. ]
[ But if no one is close to the flowers, it isn't a problem. Adolphe thinks it would be stupid for people to go prancing around in those death fields, anyway.
An eyebrow arches as he entertains Apollo a bit. The pause is contemplative, considering... ]
[ apollo would also think it's stupid for people to be tempting fate by being around death fields, but he also knows some people really do things with no fear. he knows it's crazy, but he is still thinking about it anyway. ]
I just mean... if their lifespan was already unusual compared to everybody on your island, how do you know it wasn't also weird compared to normal people? Maybe they're immortal, or there's something else about them...?
[ it sounds farfetched and even his tone makes it sound like he thinks it's far-fetched, but he has to ask. ]
There's no way for me to refute that. I'm not privy on the scientific advances of the outside world...
[ He hasn't considered it despite reading up on the Drifter, but there are only so many books about this mysterious figure that showed up and then disappeared.
[ he's not a scientist, so he does have to pause and consider what they could potentially do with that. ]
Immortality's not a thing here, so if they were maybe it'd be something to look at and figure out how they did it? It might be an answer how to expand somebody's life expectancy. But that's just a guess.
[ his expression flattens a little with the question. ]
I'd have to know how to get to your island first, and that's kind of out of the question anyway. But I guess I was just thinking if somebody knew more about his lifespan it might be easier to work backwards to try and extend yours. That's probably more Ema's thing though.
[ he is simply a lawyer who also happens to be something of a problem-solver and sometimes-bleeding-heart. ]
[ Adolphe thinks that he has said enough about their situation and the implications of experiments on people different from citizens on the island. It would spell a bad ending for Apollo if they got their hands on him. Don't let your heart bleed to this extent, Apollo.
It's a sacrifice to make and Adolphe doesn't blame the drifter for disappearing from existence. ]
Yeah, I... yeah. [ his antennae sort of droop because yes, he can see why this would spell bad news and yet this is now a new mystery to solve. even if he isn't saying much about it, it is obvious his mind is going all over the place trying to think of connections. ]
She'll be here probably in half an hour or less. She'd be here sooner but I think she and Klavier are arguing somewhere else and I'm not getting in the middle of that.
[ How does your hair do that... Adolphe blinks a couple of times as he watches Apollo deflate. He had been thinking the guy kind of looks like a parrot, but even parrots don't do that? It's so cartoon-y, but he doesn't know what cartoons are. ]
All right. [ Debates whether he wants to check out the world outside or stay indoors where it's safe (but a mess). Thinking about what he experienced earlier is daunting, though half an hour isn't long.
Another thing crawls into his mind. ]
How would you like to be paid? I don't have relevant currency, but favors. Labor.
[ WHAT IS THIS ICON. also don't just compare him to a parrot, if anything he's a bunny.
anyway, the question about being paid surprises him which is probably not a great sign. ]
Oh. Uh. [ UH. ] ... Mr. Wright takes a lot of cases pro-bono, so... I guess a favor is fine? [ is he concerned about his rent? yes, of course, he lives in los angeles. is this particular case interesting enough for him that he's willing to say fuck it and go along for the ride? yeah, kinda. ] Wait, what kind of labor?
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no subject
And this drifter brought the abnormality to your island. [ well. ] People live almost four times as long as the people on your island. Things are busy here, people have jobs and families and rules in place to keep the country running. I think I told you a little about how trials and the law work here. There's a lot about this country that people may or may not like, depending on where you stand on certain things, but there are some places that're quieter than others. You kinda just happened to step into one of the busiest cities around.
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[ And so set the spiral of the people on the island, learning that they should be living longer than what they do. Ignorance is bliss. Adolphe doesn't seem that sympathetic to those plights, though. ]
It was very loud and crowded where I showed up. [ If he had a choice, he'd show up somewhere quieter with less people. It's fine. ] That means everything is normal here?
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That's just Los Angeles for you, but... yeah. People are busy and there's always a lot going on. Most people probably don't even think about death until it happens to them. Or they're about to be murdered. [ a pensive frown. there are many murders. ] "Normal" might be a stretch, but things are average here, let's go with that.
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It did, yeah. It jumpstarted research and development in technology to prolong lifespans.
[ The fear of death ran RAMPANT. ]
That seems normal enough to me. [ A pause. ] I'm guessing that isn't something your agency would be able to handle...
[ He knows it's an odd request. Frankly, he isn't sure where to start, much like how he wouldn't know where to sit in this room if he wanted to. ]
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The fact that someone had to appear from the outside to even give you an idea people can live longer... [ your island is truly cursed. but he does appear to be thinking because while this is very unusual, apollo does find it interesting and would ultimately like to have some idea. ]
As much as we're an anything agency, I don't know if any of us personally know much in the way of development in technology. I may have some people to refer you to though? At least one. She's a detective with a forensics background, so she would know more about DNA and stuff.
no subject
I'm not sure how long this has gone since there's a lack of records before the drifter showed up. Even then, books around that time weren't the most detailed.
[ When you die so young people probably didn't think much about recording history? Or does this seem very strange for whatever reason? ]
I'll take it. There are some samples I brought along with me... Arpéchéle has its share of geniuses, but an outsider's opinion might be what we need.
no subject
Probably because people thought maybe a solution would present itself and by the time they realized it wouldn't, it was too late. [ gloomy, thanks apollo. but he takes out his phone and begins to text someone. ]
It's a start. I don't know how much Ema might be able to help, but if she can't I'm sure she'll have some idea of who can. She'd probably kill me if I didn't at least give her the chance to look into it anyway. She goes nuts for this kind of stuff. [ ... ] What... kind of samples?
no subject
Well, he thinks to himself that he's glad he isn't the one to meet Ema? Apollo will buffer them in the middle in this case, though Adolphe may be trying to see what Apollo is texting. Just not too obviously looming.
He's paranoid. For reasons. ]
It's nothing grotesque... A couple of blood vials and some lycoris noirge.
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he should also be glad he is not the one to meet ema, yes, although apollo is not always a good buffer. he may peek, the text is really just "tell your boss i need you for a while, i have something you might wanna see." ]
The fact that it's in vials makes this easier at least... but what's a lycoris noirge? [ apollo is smart in a lot of ways, but he is not good at identifying plants. ]
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His nerves are placated, so he falls back a bit. ]
It's the flower of death. [ Casually. ] It grows all around the outskirts of the island.
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Flower of death, huh. You don't think maybe that has something to do with your curse? What do you think might happen if you harvest all of them?
[ because to him this sounds like some sort of barrier, and stranger things have happened. ]
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[ That does sound like a flower of death, doesn't it? An ill omen. Adolphe delivers such gravity calmly like it's an everyday thing because it is for him. ]
It didn't affect the drifter, though.
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Maybe don't harvest them then... [ if they're just going to cause death anyway? damn. but he goes back to the original subject at hand. ]
How long did the drifter live? You mentioned this was a century ago, but how much do the people on your island really know about this person?
[ how valid is all of this? ]
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[ And, implied, people die to even that. While he was casual about it earlier, he does look a little apologetic as he delivers how easily this can happen. Flowers are delicate after all.
Frowns. ]
I don't think anyone knows. The drifter likely went into hiding to avoid becoming a test subject.
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This is gonna sound a little crazy, but do you think maybe the drifter's still alive somewhere? [ the look on his face says he does not blame this person for not wanting to be an experiment though. ]
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[ But if no one is close to the flowers, it isn't a problem. Adolphe thinks it would be stupid for people to go prancing around in those death fields, anyway.
An eyebrow arches as he entertains Apollo a bit. The pause is contemplative, considering... ]
Just a little?
[ Dryly. ]
no subject
I just mean... if their lifespan was already unusual compared to everybody on your island, how do you know it wasn't also weird compared to normal people? Maybe they're immortal, or there's something else about them...?
[ it sounds farfetched and even his tone makes it sound like he thinks it's far-fetched, but he has to ask. ]
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[ He hasn't considered it despite reading up on the Drifter, but there are only so many books about this mysterious figure that showed up and then disappeared.
Maybe because ultimately, ]
What would we do with that?
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Immortality's not a thing here, so if they were maybe it'd be something to look at and figure out how they did it? It might be an answer how to expand somebody's life expectancy. But that's just a guess.
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[ It's hard to want more than just a regular life when standards are in shambles. He is pensive about it, though.
Then shakes his head. ]
Either way, no one knows where the drifter went off to and there are barely any records about him. [ ... ] Are you thinking of searching for him?
[ Obviously unsure about this considering how his shoulders square and tense. ]
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I'd have to know how to get to your island first, and that's kind of out of the question anyway. But I guess I was just thinking if somebody knew more about his lifespan it might be easier to work backwards to try and extend yours. That's probably more Ema's thing though.
[ he is simply a lawyer who also happens to be something of a problem-solver and sometimes-bleeding-heart. ]
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[ Adolphe thinks that he has said enough about their situation and the implications of experiments on people different from citizens on the island. It would spell a bad ending for Apollo if they got their hands on him. Don't let your heart bleed to this extent, Apollo.
It's a sacrifice to make and Adolphe doesn't blame the drifter for disappearing from existence. ]
So when will she be able to pick up the samples?
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She'll be here probably in half an hour or less. She'd be here sooner but I think she and Klavier are arguing somewhere else and I'm not getting in the middle of that.
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All right. [ Debates whether he wants to check out the world outside or stay indoors where it's safe (but a mess). Thinking about what he experienced earlier is daunting, though half an hour isn't long.
Another thing crawls into his mind. ]
How would you like to be paid? I don't have relevant currency, but favors. Labor.
[ Starts with this. ]
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anyway, the question about being paid surprises him which is probably not a great sign. ]
Oh. Uh. [ UH. ] ... Mr. Wright takes a lot of cases pro-bono, so... I guess a favor is fine? [ is he concerned about his rent? yes, of course, he lives in los angeles. is this particular case interesting enough for him that he's willing to say fuck it and go along for the ride? yeah, kinda. ] Wait, what kind of labor?
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