[sorry. he would understand this better, but he's still kind of dazed from seeing all of that, dealing with it all like it's fresh again. which it still sort of is, all things considered.
The sound of sloshing water around your running feet is disgusting. The feel of it is worse. Wet socks? Disgusting.
But there’s nothing you can do, given that this infiltration mission demands that you waste no time. Tapping against the communicator device in your ear, you make contact with the other team.
“Can you hear me, Second Drifter crew? I hacked into the system, so I’ll guide you based on your current location.” Your eyes glaze over the small, portable terminal in your hand as you search the database for an internal map. “I’ll only say each direction once. If you miss any of them, you will all die.”
“Can’t you say something reassuring like you’ll get us back on track if we get lost...?” the assistant from Courrune yells at you. You’ve already forgotten his name.
You disregard his complaints and begon to analyze the blueprint data, but...
“Oh...? Quite secure, I see...” You smile, finding a challenge waiting for you. “Looks like he modified the security system I engineered.”
It’s rather ingenious. That’s good. It would be embarrassing if you weren’t impressed. At present, you only have a compact terminal to use that is connected to the system.
“It’s no use... My terminal doesn’t have the power needed to overwrite his program,” you explain.
“Aren’t you giving up too soon?! You have to do something, or I’ll never see Rosalie again!” The butler dares to raise his voice at you.
“Y-Yves and the others will die if they're still in there when the elixir wears off...!” The small one also starts to fret. God, they’re so loud.
“Stop shouting, Claude One and Claude Two.” You scold them, rummaging through your lab coat pockets. “I already have a backup plan for this situation. After all, there’s no need for me to face him at a disadvantage. Claude Two... You have that translation book and the other one with you, right?”
“Y-Yes... I retrieved mine from home as soon as you told me to get it. Let’s see... This one here is the Drifter’s original book that Ankou and Yyves found, and... this one here is the translation manual that was passed down through my family,” he pulls out the two from his own belongings. The first is written in a language you never bothered to learn to read, but the second one is useful. Its translation assistance contributed to that Claude fortune, after all.
You nod. “I expect you to be able to use that to decipher the Drifter’s book.”
“Huh? Oh, sure... A little bit, I guess... The characters are in the translation manual.” Despite the situation, the little one smiles, pleased to be encountering new information. “It’s difficult, but it’s interesting... It keeps using the same characters, but there are so many ways they can be read...”
“I see.” You smile in return, pleased that things are going according to plan. “So you can translate everything. I knew I could count on the family of bookworms.”
“Huh?” The small one startles. “Um, no wait... I only said ‘a little’—”
"Very well,” you brush him off. “Then have Claude One help you translate the rest.”
“Hey, I’m only educated up to a point.” The taller one tries to argue with you. “I’m not huge on reading—”
“So you can? Good.” Capability is enough. They can stand to be pushed. You toss a device to each of them. “I thought that would be the case. I’ve prepared two portable terminals. I’ll give you special permission to borrow them.”
“Listen when people talk!” The tall one spluttered. “Jeeze... I have a bad feeling about this.”
“S-So, what should we do with these...?” The small one questioned.
The curious young man looked at you with a growing sense of unease, at which point you responded with a smile like a demon’s.
“What I want from you now is...”
They held their breath.
“To translate everything inside that book, with notes on technical definitions and use, and send them all to me in real time. I want at least one word translated per second, with no resting in between. Show me what you’re made of, bookworms.”
Both of them turned deathly pale.
“Huh....?!”
The next seconds passed in a blur. The two of them immediately got to work, sending the data you needed over the terminals. They were a little slower than you asked, but found a rhythm. Sort of. You could hear them screaming behind you.
Anyway.
A new programming system created from scratch using a language you devised on the spot with their notes, created in a matter of minutes. Within seconds, data was extracted. You were blocked the first time, but now, you were able to regain control. You kicked the intruder out of your system. It was a feat that only you, the genius beloved by god, could accomplish.
“What a letdown...” You sighed, ignoring the panicked arguing behind you. “He may have created the system, but the person moderating it is a third-rate programmer.”
You weren’t sure who was on the other operating side, but you also didn’t care. You made your declaration with all the arrogance of the heavens:
“He may be the king of this country, but I am its only god. Now, kneel before me.”
With the simple press of a button, you found the location of the poor excuse for a programmer. The devices in that area were under your control in a second. With one more string of code, you forced a portion of them to explode.
The programmer would likely be reduced to ashes from the explosion.
Flexing your fingers afterwards, you nodded to yourself: “That was easy." ]
[-he doesn't remember this happening. what's going on? what sort of a place were they in-- why were they all working together, as if everything was fine... how is this that man? a few things do make sense in retrospect, maybe, and later mathis will be extremely embarrassed about that time he cried on him, as well as confused about that entire encounter...
no, but more importantly, how could he have demanded a word per second! yes, maybe they managed it, but-!! no wonder he could hear himself panicking in the background!
and with all of that confusion, he ends up just blurting out:]
I- I have a name! If I'm meant to be putting together my identity then... then... at least call me Mathis!
[do you ever just not talk to your castmate about what was happening before you got here (because you didn't want to talk about the murder lab) and now you're forced to confront the potential existence of alternative timelines (murder lab status uncertain)]
he's not going to question scien. he knows something in that timeline, certainly, if camille was acting like the self mathis has seen now, and scien called him by his real surname...
but also? it's scien. he wouldn't question this anyway.]
but honestly he is still speaking with the absolute certainty of GOD ]
Be patient, mostly. I don't have all the pieces I need to recreate the machinery and collecting them without drawing the attention of the cult is a pain, so it's taking longer than I'd like. Even still, you shouldn't fall apart just yet.
There is not one singular path to some 'true self'.
[ ankou and adolphe proved that ]
I will keep my analysis to myself, but I also am not particularly worried. It is circumstances and people who shape you, and you have already had a noticeably different set handed to you.
[ to say the least. jean you fucking freak ]
I'll hit Claude One for you, when I return. [ a beat ] Well. If I return.
Then we'll have to... be sure they don't manage that, whether you return to Arpéchéle or not.
[you know. just like they have to get lucas home. mathis may be the leakiest little travel-size water bottle of the three of them but that doesn't mean he won't WORRY ABOUT THEM BOTH.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[sorry. he would understand this better, but he's still kind of dazed from seeing all of that, dealing with it all like it's fresh again. which it still sort of is, all things considered.
ALSO: SCREAMS. ME, TEEJ. I AM SCREAMING.]
no subject
You mean it hasn't been obvious?
[ the void decides to answer that question.
The sound of sloshing water around your running feet is disgusting. The feel of it is worse. Wet socks? Disgusting.
But there’s nothing you can do, given that this infiltration mission demands that you waste no time. Tapping against the communicator device in your ear, you make contact with the other team.
“Can you hear me, Second Drifter crew? I hacked into the system, so I’ll guide you based on your current location.” Your eyes glaze over the small, portable terminal in your hand as you search the database for an internal map. “I’ll only say each direction once. If you miss any of them, you will all die.”
“Can’t you say something reassuring like you’ll get us back on track if we get lost...?” the assistant from Courrune yells at you. You’ve already forgotten his name.
You disregard his complaints and begon to analyze the blueprint data, but...
“Oh...? Quite secure, I see...” You smile, finding a challenge waiting for you. “Looks like he modified the security system I engineered.”
It’s rather ingenious. That’s good. It would be embarrassing if you weren’t impressed. At present, you only have a compact terminal to use that is connected to the system.
“It’s no use... My terminal doesn’t have the power needed to overwrite his program,” you explain.
“Aren’t you giving up too soon?! You have to do something, or I’ll never see Rosalie again!” The butler dares to raise his voice at you.
“Y-Yves and the others will die if they're still in there when the elixir wears off...!” The small one also starts to fret. God, they’re so loud.
“Stop shouting, Claude One and Claude Two.” You scold them, rummaging through your lab coat pockets. “I already have a backup plan for this situation. After all, there’s no need for me to face him at a disadvantage. Claude Two... You have that translation book and the other one with you, right?”
“Y-Yes... I retrieved mine from home as soon as you told me to get it. Let’s see... This one here is the Drifter’s original book that Ankou and Yyves found, and... this one here is the translation manual that was passed down through my family,” he pulls out the two from his own belongings. The first is written in a language you never bothered to learn to read, but the second one is useful. Its translation assistance contributed to that Claude fortune, after all.
You nod. “I expect you to be able to use that to decipher the Drifter’s book.”
“Huh? Oh, sure... A little bit, I guess... The characters are in the translation manual.” Despite the situation, the little one smiles, pleased to be encountering new information. “It’s difficult, but it’s interesting... It keeps using the same characters, but there are so many ways they can be read...”
“I see.” You smile in return, pleased that things are going according to plan. “So you can translate everything. I knew I could count on the family of bookworms.”
“Huh?” The small one startles. “Um, no wait... I only said ‘a little’—”
"Very well,” you brush him off. “Then have Claude One help you translate the rest.”
“Hey, I’m only educated up to a point.” The taller one tries to argue with you. “I’m not huge on reading—”
“So you can? Good.” Capability is enough. They can stand to be pushed. You toss a device to each of them. “I thought that would be the case. I’ve prepared two portable terminals. I’ll give you special permission to borrow them.”
“Listen when people talk!” The tall one spluttered. “Jeeze... I have a bad feeling about this.”
“S-So, what should we do with these...?” The small one questioned.
The curious young man looked at you with a growing sense of unease, at which point you responded with a smile like a demon’s.
“What I want from you now is...”
They held their breath.
“To translate everything inside that book, with notes on technical definitions and use, and send them all to me in real time. I want at least one word translated per second, with no resting in between. Show me what you’re made of, bookworms.”
Both of them turned deathly pale.
“Huh....?!”
The next seconds passed in a blur. The two of them immediately got to work, sending the data you needed over the terminals. They were a little slower than you asked, but found a rhythm. Sort of. You could hear them screaming behind you.
Anyway.
A new programming system created from scratch using a language you devised on the spot with their notes, created in a matter of minutes. Within seconds, data was extracted. You were blocked the first time, but now, you were able to regain control. You kicked the intruder out of your system. It was a feat that only you, the genius beloved by god, could accomplish.
“What a letdown...” You sighed, ignoring the panicked arguing behind you. “He may have created the system, but the person moderating it is a third-rate programmer.”
You weren’t sure who was on the other operating side, but you also didn’t care. You made your declaration with all the arrogance of the heavens:
“He may be the king of this country, but I am its only god. Now, kneel before me.”
With the simple press of a button, you found the location of the poor excuse for a programmer. The devices in that area were under your control in a second. With one more string of code, you forced a portion of them to explode.
The programmer would likely be reduced to ashes from the explosion.
Flexing your fingers afterwards, you nodded to yourself: “That was easy." ]
no subject
[-he doesn't remember this happening. what's going on? what sort of a place were they in-- why were they all working together, as if everything was fine... how is this that man? a few things do make sense in retrospect, maybe, and later mathis will be extremely embarrassed about that time he cried on him, as well as confused about that entire encounter...
no, but more importantly, how could he have demanded a word per second! yes, maybe they managed it, but-!! no wonder he could hear himself panicking in the background!
and with all of that confusion, he ends up just blurting out:]
I- I have a name! If I'm meant to be putting together my identity then... then... at least call me Mathis!
[1/2]
no subject
Earn it first, you stupid little bookworm.
no subject
ooooooh the realization he sobbed on scien is coming. it isn't hitting yet but it will. oh n.]
What... what was happening-? I don't remember that place at all...
no subject
[ please be nice super genius ]
no subject
[what in the. what.]
Wait, but then are Lucas and I...
[do you ever just not talk to your castmate about what was happening before you got here (because you didn't want to talk about the murder lab) and now you're forced to confront the potential existence of alternative timelines (murder lab status uncertain)]
no subject
[ THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH SCIEN HAS HAD TO JUST
SIT HERE
WATCHING OTHER PEOPLE BE STUPID this is just canon ]
no subject
[yeah this is very true to canon
no wonder he was on the fucking ground after trial. put him in the dirt. spare him.]
no subject
[ he's not getting into it... anyway. ]
So obviously, I can help you.
[ OBVIOUSLY!!!! GOD!!!!! ]
no subject
[like
he's not going to question scien. he knows something in that timeline, certainly, if camille was acting like the self mathis has seen now, and scien called him by his real surname...
but also? it's scien. he wouldn't question this anyway.]
no subject
but honestly he is still speaking with the absolute certainty of GOD ]
Be patient, mostly. I don't have all the pieces I need to recreate the machinery and collecting them without drawing the attention of the cult is a pain, so it's taking longer than I'd like. Even still, you shouldn't fall apart just yet.
I've already fixed you once. I can do it again.
no subject
[but he is, very clearly, bolstered by the idea of this. i've fixed you once. i can do it again.
that's-- so much easier to cling to, coming from scien. it feels less like a vague hope from a stranger, more like a tangible possibility.]
no subject
[ that's practically praise coming from scien ]
Self-improvement. Carrying your weight. Not giving up.
You're a little bit more like the you that I know this way, rather than the sniveling scared mess you arrived as.
no subject
[he can be patient. he can keep trying. if scien is right, which he probably is, there's a mathis that did it.]
A-and... I don't want you to compare me to the Mathis that you know. If I heard about him, I might end up just... trying to be like him.
no subject
[ ankou and adolphe proved that ]
I will keep my analysis to myself, but I also am not particularly worried. It is circumstances and people who shape you, and you have already had a noticeably different set handed to you.
[ to say the least. jean you fucking freak ]
I'll hit Claude One for you, when I return. [ a beat ] Well. If I return.
no subject
but also, it's extremely concerning to hear him say that last part.]
If-?!
no subject
[ oh man i did not miss these little french accents ]
no subject
[stop terrifying him for five seconds]
no subject
[ SO THERE'S THAT
IT'S NOT INCORRECT ]
no subject
['they already killed death' yeah well.]
no subject
I have no back-ups here, so if they manage it, then it would actually stick.
[ the true end of scien brofiise ]
no subject
[you know. just like they have to get lucas home. mathis may be the leakiest little travel-size water bottle of the three of them but that doesn't mean he won't WORRY ABOUT THEM BOTH.]
no subject
All my affairs are in order. The curse is solved. The island is open to other countries. I'm already 26.
It's as good a time to die as any, if it happens.
[ lots of info just thrown out there at once ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)