[network] @guardian; Afternoon 77; [open]

[phaseshifter]

[ After a day and a half of complete radio silence, Angel and Rhys are back. If anyone was worried about a potential repeat of the whole kidnapping incident, it looks like those worries were unfounded - they both look happy, healthy (ish), and maybe even a little smug. Angel's wearing a flower crown, man, that's about as un-distressed as it's possible to get.

And, you know. Rhys is singing and dancing in the background with Dumpy. That's also a pretty good indicator that they're doing okay. Angel beams at the feed before speaking, clearly EXCITED AS ALL HECKIE: ]

She's a woman! The administrator spoke to us, with her voice, and she's a woman! She didn't even sound robotic - which doesn't mean she isn't an AI, of course, but ones that can imitate human cadence and tone in their speech tend to be more human in other ways, too. As in they tend to have feelings and emotions! So even if she isn't human, she's definitely a person. And a woman! We called it!

[ She pauses, shooting an excited look back at Rhys. Her brief silence makes it a lot easier to hear what he's singing - this, for anyone who might recognise it. He sings pretty well! It just sucks that Dumpy's enthusiastic screaming is drowning out a lot of it. Angel snorts, looking back at the tablet. ]

Um, yes. What... what they said. And now we know she's a person, I think... I mean, I'm pretty sure that she needs rescuing even more than we do. Right?

Comments

@prettypinkflowers; video

[lacecase]

[Ginger has processed everything important that comes with this post. Yes, absolutely. That's why her response to the incredible revelation is insightful and on topic and overall just a good one!]

You're so cute! [She's beaming like a lunatic, her face filled with excitement.] Where did you get that flower crown? It's, like, totally sweet on you!

[And she guesses that the admin being a woman is good to know, too! But...flowers!]

@guardian; video

[phaseshifter]

I - what? Oh, um, geez. Thank you!

[ This is an acceptable derail. Mostly because Angel is aware that the crown is kind of silly but goshdarnit it is cute okay!!! ]

It was in one of the houses - pretty far south, but not so south that we'd hit the tunnels. Iunno why it was there, but, um. I'm not complaining.

[lacecase]

Aaah! That's so good to know! I hope I find one too, sometime, I miss having flowers in my hair. [Flowers are just so pretty okay? And it's nice to see colorful plant-like things after being here for so long! It's, like...refreshing or something!] I'm, like, super far north right now, though, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. Oh my gosh, I bet if everyone had one they'd totally be way more happy!

[Her bubble is so big and yet so hard to burst, made from the steel of pure blind optimism.]

[phaseshifter]

Oh... Um, I'll probably be wandering around here a while longer. I'll see if I can find another! And if not, maybe we can just share this one. You know, just switch over who has it every week or two? To spread the happiness a little!

It's just a shame that it wouldn't be practical for everyone to share. I can think of a whole bunch of people who'd be way better off with a flower crown or two.

[ Hi Doctor House. Hi. ]

[lacecase]

Goodness!

[Ginger brings her hands up to her chest. She's so moved! So touched! Angel you are just...well, you're living up to your name really nicely, okay?]

That would be lovely! You're, like, so thoughtful! It's no wonder you have so many friends.

[So sharing is totally caring, after all!]

I can think so many people who would look really cute with flowers in their hair. Beckett, Enoch, Rydia, Steve...oh, and Clayton, of course!

[Can't forget the bae, never ever. He has a beard that just screams "adorn me with flowers like a Grecian God". Yeah! Don't mind her as she daydreams a little.]

[phaseshifter]

[ Oh no. Oh Ginger honey no. No. What have you done. No. No. Angel's eyes light up (LITERALLY BECAUSE THEY GLOW, I'M HILARIOUS) and she bites her lip in an attempt to restrain her glee. GUESS WHAT TIME IT IS! ]

Oh, um. I'm pretty sure Beckett would rather puke up his internal organs than wear a flower crown. But you really think Clayton would do it?

You guys are really cute together, by the way. Supercute.

[lacecase]

Maybe he'd think that but then he'd do it and it would be like a whole new world opening up, you know? And then he'll want to wear flowers forever!

[Yes. This is exactly how it would play out. Ginger laughs happily, both flattered and a bit embarrassed by the compliment.]

Of course I think so! He's so chipper and sweet. I'm sure he'd think it's fun! [Her smile spreads wider across her face...just not as much as her blushing does.] Oh no, no, he's so much more cuter than me! He's, like, a cute two-for-one deal!

[She's totally forgotten about that time she (basically) kissed him on live camera.]

[phaseshifter]

[ Angel is on the verge of gurgling and hugging herself like a giant nerd because this is so cute oh gosh look look it's too sweet everything is adorable. She might never be able to experience this stuff firsthand, but it can't be much better than getting to coo over people who do get all lovey-dovey. Right? ]

Noooo, you're equally cute! And extra cute as a pair. Are you okay with talking about this stuff? Because I have so many questions. How did you get together? Who kissed who first? Have you said I love you yet?

[ aNGEL PLS, ]

[lacecase]

I don't mind talking about it! I think it's fun!

[In public, this is in public. She totally isn't even thinking about the fact that this is on a public network but hey, why sweat the small stuff? Or ever think about the small stuff to begin with?]

Um...I'm, like, not totally sure! I mean, he was super nice to me since, like, the first day I got here and I posted to the Network. And we started cuddling together like, right away after we met! I mean, it just kind of feels like we've been together since the beginning? [She'd actually never thought about it that way but...she guesses this is the closest thing to dating that you can get here.] He kissed me first, and, ah...no, we haven't done that yet!

[Is that a thing that's actually going to happen? Another thing Ginger hadn't thought about! Not that it doesn't feel like it would be so totally easy to say to him...but she's always been so bad at keeping boyfriends, she's kind of nervous to take that leap.]

@CaptSteveRogers; video

[starsandtights]

[Steve feels reeeeeaaallllyy awkward about trying to talk to Angel and Rhys, as he's pretty sure they're still pretty damn upset with him. But. Well. He's gonna try.

He clears his throat. He probably looks a little awkward, too.]

What happened, may I ask? How'd you get her to talk to you?

@hjack69; voice

[youarethebandits]

Okay, first of all - you look frickin' adorable.

[HE HAS THE CUTEST DAUGHTER YOU GUYSSSS]

And second - what did you do. Please tell me you didn't get her to perform surgery on you again.

[phaseshifter]

Da-aaaaaaad...

[ PLEASE, JACK. YOU'RE EMBARRASSING HER IN FRONT OF THE COOL KIDS. It's okay when Ginger says it okay but when it's your dad it's just super lame. ]

We didn't do anything dangerous. In... in that way. No surgery. No physical risk involved on my part. We might have just, um.

Hacked the network server.

A little.

Little bit.

[phaseshifter]

[ Angel's expression cools dramatically on seeing Steve's response. Fortunately, she's past the super mature ignoring stage of being angry, so he's getting a response!

A very clinical, emotionless one. Naturally. ]

We gave her no other choice. We jacked Rhys into the network via his headport and hacked through the security on the network server.

To kick him - us - out before we could go any further, the administrator had to short out our tablets. Which meant that the only method of communication left to her was speaking with us directly.

[phaseshifter]

[ Oh geez. Oh geez, if that isn't the sweetest thing. And that means... ]

Wow, so he wasn't exaggerating when he said he - you know, that he had feelings for you the moment he saw you? I didn't think that was even a thing that really happened. You know, outside stories and bad movies I've streamed off the ECHOnet.

[ Siiigh ~ ♥ ]

So. Freaking. Cute.

[youarethebandits]

[Jack takes a deep breath. He can do this. He can stay calm and reasonable and not freak out at Angel for taking huge risks. She's not his responsibility anymore.]

...Find out anything juicy? Aside from the admin being a chick, that is.

[phaseshifter]

Mmnnnnthhhaat. Depends.

If you view it as an experiment, then we learned a lot! Like how to hook Rhys up to the tablets directly, how easy it is for him to wriggle his way through the security measures, how there's something beyond those measures that was watching him, and how the admin had no better, faster way of booting us out of there than shorting out our tablets. Which implies some kind of desperation, don't you think? Especially with her actually speaking to us afterwards.

 

But she told us not to do it again, so obviously we aren't going to make another attempt. A more organised one. That I already have a bunch of ideas for. Because she told us not to, and you know how I feel about always obeying authority figures.

[ She's like

five seconds away from winking

and saying EHHH??? EHHHHHHH?????? GET IT? WE'RE GONNA FUCK SHIT UP ]

@LELRIC; voice; private to Angel and Rhys

[armoured]

[While this information about the Admin is huge news, and one he really does want to discuss when given the time, he can't right now. Seeing Angel and Rhys only brings to the fore his need to speak with them both, voice guarded and not too happy.]

I need to talk to you both. It's about Stephanie.

[There's disapproval in his tone, but also a questioning worry. He can't deny that he still finds it hard to believe these two would hurt and then abandon a friend that way.]

private til further notice etc etc

[phaseshifter]

[ Hrrrrm. Angel's tone becomes a touch more guarded, but no less friendly. ]

Go ahead, we're listening. She's still okay, I assume?

[armoured]

She was bleeding and scared when we found her.

[Yep, definite disapproval there.]

What happened, Angel?

[Steph has already told him, but he's trying so hard to stave off from immediate judgement. Angel and Rhys were his friends too and he wanted to hear their side of the story, he didn't want to ruin a friendship without all the pieces of the puzzle.]

[phaseshifter]

I assume she's already explained it to you, but. Okay. She attempted to steal from us and attacked Rhys. The situation continued to escalate, as evidenced by Steph's nose, forcing a split.

I stuck with Rhys. I've apologised for the situation, but I won't apologise for that.

[armoured]

[He sighs, the sound an audible hiss over the speakers.]

She said she had to steal because you weren't going to give the pills to the person who needed them, is that true?

[It's the same story but with different bits in emphasis, also Steph hadn't mentioned attacking Rhys, only trying to take the pills.]

[phaseshifter]

[ Ah. ]

Dr. Epps asked us to retrieve the pills. We did that. Nothing else was discussed until the attempted theft occurred.

[ She shrugs lightly, dispassionately. It's almost comical, with the dumb flower crown on her head. ]

[youarethebandits]

Well. Obviously I'm glad you to hear that, since I'm not a fan of you endangering yourself.

[Which is completely true. But if she's going to fuck shit up anyway...]

Even if you did make another attempt, I'm guessing you wouldn't want my help. Not that it matters since you're not going to.

@gardenGnostic; text

[eclecticbassist]

[ Hm... The administrator being a real person has interesting implications, and it sounds like there is helping to be done! Jade should ask abou- is that a cute robot friend. And flowers??

She's overwhelmed by all the interesting things she wants to ask about all at once right this very second!! At least five minutes are wasted staring vacantly at the wall as she tries to focus. ]

that is an exceptionally cute robot!!! :0c
but more to the point, what do you mean by the administrator needing rescue more than we do?
and how did you discover this?

[phaseshifter]

[ Hrrrm.

Her first instinct is to cut Jack out, naturally, but there are definitely benefits to keeping him in the loop. The more people involved in Operation: Distract The Admin the better, and besides - isn't offering an olive branch for Jack's recent good okay not super terrible behaviour a good idea?

Plus she'd kind of be bossing him around and making him follow her plans for a change, and that's a far more appealing prospect than it should be. ]

Well. If we were going to try again, which we're not, we'd keep you informed. More help is always welcome.

I guess.