[video; action]

[shifting]

[shaky video at first. Sam's voice seems in the background for a moment, but it's quickly choked off with dry-heaving. The video tilts down sharply from a plaid-covered chest to bare feet, and soon after a pile of clothes. A dog lies down on them a moment later, curled up and whining softly.

The feed runs out.]



((open to anyone who wants to drop in - Sam finally caught the oubreak))

Comments

[shifting]

[- and he actually shifts back in surprise]

Really? From - ? Really?


[BUT YOU LOOK SO HUMAN.]

[thefourteenth]

[Actually witnessing it makes her sit up straight and lean forward in rapt interest. It's such a smoother and cleaner process than any morphing she's ever seen- and so quick, at that.]

Yes, really. What's the matter? Surprised?

[Edriss' eyes flicker briefly; her host's mind notices him, and how attractive he apparently is.]

[shifting]

[Sam's having basically the same reaction, if it means anything. For an alien, you make a very beautiful woman, Visser One.]

You just... made it sound like you really weren't human. You look like you are.

[thefourteenth]

[One good thing about being here, instead of at home: being surrounded by so many beautiful people, as opposed to hideous aliens, gives her host something else to focus on sometimes. It isn't a terrible thing.]

Shouldn't you, of all people, know that there's more to some than meets the eye?

[shifting]

I guess so. You just made yourself sound so alien.

[thefourteenth]

I assure you, I am. The fact that I don't look it means nothing.

[shifting]

Guess not. [Sam settles back against the pillows, watching here. There are a few lines in his head he wants to use - but he's going to hold them back until he's well again. No one wants to flirt with a sick guy.]

How've you been settlin' in? ...You get that problem fixed that you needed to?

[thefourteenth]

Yes. I'm in excellent health, actually.

[She tucks a strand of hair behind her ears and rolls her shoulders like a contented cat.]

I'm looking into permanent employment, since this sickness temp work won't last forever. Neutrality... it's not worth it.

[shifting]

[Sam... seems to wince a moment, but reluctantly nods]

No, it is rough. I affiliated when I first came here too. It made things easier for a while.

[thefourteenth]

[An appraising look.]

What happened since?

[shifting]

Well. [he leans back against the pillows. At least their conversation is distracting him from the nausea.] Bein' sold into slavery'll change your tune about people.

[thefourteenth]

Ah. AGI is a dangerous boss.

[Hm. She knew there was something homey about them.]

The slavery laws used to be much laxer, didn't they?

[shifting]

They're an even more dangerous enemy. I made the mistake of makin' 'em both. [he shakes his head] But that's a long story.

Yeah, they were. Edgeworth changed that. [...a small, genuine smile] You couldn't believe how hard he fought. 'Course, AGI can still bring you in, they just have to prove you've done somethin' now. And they're real good at findin' ways to lie.

[thefourteenth]

That must give them quite an edge in power over SERO.

[shifting]

In some ways. But SERO's got a hold on our medicine, our technology, and our food. So resources wise, I'd say they're holdin' their own.