information specialist

“There’s not enough scientists here.” Curiousity didn’t have very many people to whine to about the lack of science folk on the Island. Nobody seemed to fully understand; Ai seemed like he would come the closest, but even he made weird expressions when she mentioned anything about Aperture, so she tried not to bring it up much. 

An actual scientist? Using words smart enough Curiousity didn’t know them all? He would understand!

“Don’t even have the other Spheres or Her to replace them with. I keep collecting information without anyone to give it to!”

“I’d argue there’s probably a few too many scientists here, but we probably wouldn’t be here or have a conceptual notion of where we are or what exactly is going on. Although those are still only active hypotheses.” A shrug.

Lots of information had been offered to her without her even asking that many questions! She had known blue hair had to mean he was at least partly Logic Sphere!

And, more importantly, he had offered knowledge even more important than anything to do with her move.

“You know how to set up tech? Are you a scientist?”

He was about to continue talking about the wards when she asked two more questions. Pushing his glasses up on his nose, he chuckled.

“Well, after a fashion.”

He tried to peek down below. Really tried. But one glance was all it took to send him reeling again. Something was off here, and he didn’t feel like his usual self. Not really.

But waking up in a stuck elevator with a glass bottom at the top floor? That’s too much. He hates heights.

“Houka.” He responded, clearly agitated on the phone.

“The last thing I need from you right now is sass. If I could get out of this myself, I would. As it is, I’m completely blind up here.”

Mostly because he refuses to open his eyes.

“You can get praise after I’m out of this nightmare–and for the record, Darling, you do in fact hack into random things. You rigged the TV to play one of your streamers the other day to catch him skipping in a speedrun.”

Oh, but of course Shirou couldn’t peak down below.

Not for any extended period of time anyway, but that was okay. It was just Shirou. And Shirou’s aggravation got an amused hum out of him as he listened. But he was being promised praise from his completely blind partner, so how could he refuse?

“I wouldn’t call that random - it was absolutely necessary. Inflated egos getting by on praise for false accomplishments should not stand, especially not in my neck of the woods. Platformer speedruns are sacred.”

There was a small pause and a click on his end, followed by the distinctive sounds of an industrial elevator.

Employees only, of course.

“Really?”

Sure enough, if he took out his camera, he could zoom in and see the vague resemblance of a person.

“Really. So, you’re asking me to do something illegal because you got yourself stuck?” He waves up from the street and starts walking into the building, paying attention to local cameras. “You know I don’t just go around hacking into things randomly, right?”

“You are incredibly lucky that my hyper-selective romantic interests chose you - or maybe you’re less lucky and more just yourself.” He hums as he continues walking. “Or, that you have an incredibly talented partner who’s chosen to use his innate talents for the good of people around him.”

“Archimedes is my favourite, with all the different tech everywhere; it feels the closest to home. I don’t care which place brings more questions or less; I can bring my own. I don’t want a lot of people there, though,” she volunteered freely, even though it wasn’t strictly answering a question of his. “The main wards are too crowded; visiting is fine, but I don’t want my house to be there. Humans can’t be trusted not to destroy it.”

“Archimedes is interesting at least. Luckily with transportation, most of the Island is pretty easily accessible. If you find the main wards too crowded, I’d think Sunset Circuit might be fun for you.” He taps his chin.

“Ooor, maybe City of Glass would be a good change of pace - since you could bring your tech with you. I wouldn’t even mind helping you set it up.”

To his greeting, Satsuki gave a bow of her head to him.

“It’s good to see you too, Inumuta.”

“I appreciate the caution, but I’m not a mist illusion.” Came a snarky retort back to him (even then, it sounded just a smidge playful.)

“Am I a mist illusion?” “I’m unsure. I don’t believe so, if you came with the ever-present eclipse in the sky. Then again, so did that student earlier… And that one was wearing a goku uniform. But Lady Satsuki dispatched it easily enough.”

With that bit of knowledge, the tailor motioned to Houka to lead the way. Though as he walked, he did so with a bit of a limp.

“Iori filled me in on the way here. This seems to be a test from those Stars that run the island, if all the prior information lines up. If that’s the case, remnants of the past are indeed leaking into this city.” “As Inumuta said, it’s something that happened before. It’s strong enough to resurrect the Primordial Life Fiber, even, though last time we routed it into a power grid.” “Smart thinking. But if something as small as a power grid took it out, it may not have been as powerful as the one we all fought.” “Right.” “That’s good, we may have a chance with the three of us if it arrives again. Let’s try not to get separated.”

Shirou has joined the party! Satsuki has joined the party!

… …..

“…Are you not referring to him as Houka anymore?” “Er, it’s more of, ah.” “It’s interesting hearing you trying to explain yourself. Your words are usually very sure of themselves. As I’ve said before, I don’t mind. In a week, we won’t be students of the same school any longer anyway.” “…Right.” “Have I permission to call you ‘Houka’ as well, Inumuta?”

“Illusions are pretty common when these sort of ‘events’ happen. Roughly once every two months or so there seems to be something odd occurring. It is as though there is a cooldown period - which statistically makes sense given how long it can take to analyze data and compose a follow-up to prior data collection. Many have come to the conclusion that this is some sort of mass experiment taking place over many years. Shirou and I are inclined to agree - especially not-mist-illusion Shirou.” While the entire dialogue was delivered in his usual tone, that was part of the joke.

And while there were no readings of a Primordial Life Fiber, it was still a potential threat, particularly with three of them. He does lead the way, looking back to the two having that conversation, brow quirked at Satsuki’s question. “I suppose so - Shirou and I are long graduated if we account for this world’s timeline. While your situation signals to me that you are not quite caught up to us, it is as you say that we are no longer classmates. And given our prior situation has summarily ended, there does not appear to be a need to fall back on formalities.” He takes out his phone again, sensor reading indications in the mist. His little hoverboard follows along with his samples.

His phone blips once, twice, and then continues to repeatedly blip.

No bygone specters, no evil assholes popping out of the mists to come and get him. He was pretty lucky, damn lucky, really.

“If only they had just resurrected our Life Fibers so this could go so much more quickly.” The glass jars were put into his pack as he loaded onto the latch he had built into his hoverboard. Looking around, a furrowed brow as he wiped away one of the scenes.

And then went to wipe away another, but it didn’t go anywhere. Ah, Shirou and-

“Lady Satsuki?” She had appeared multiple times, but now was...

Hm. Convenient.

“Well, this can only mean that we’re being run through the same gamut as before, don’t you think?” He walks over to the two, his hoverboard following behind him on its own.

“Or it’s just a pleasant coincidence. Either way, I’m glad to see you. Both of you.” He wiped away another residual scene playing. “No signs of Life Fibers out here yet. And even the smallest mist still provides a bit of a prickle. I imagine where it’s thicker provides similar results to our previous excursions.”

“You think if birth certificates and medical documents were obtainable cross-universal, we wouldn’t have them in the archive already? Besides, I didn’t catch onto the ‘doctor’ thing fast enough.”

He folds his arms!

“As touching as that offer is, I’d rather not be in the system. The Stars may know who I am, but people like you,” and he pats his cheeks affectionately, “don’t. And I’m keeping it that way.”

“The offer is still there for whatever information is available about you - namely none, since your fiance is sooo good at keeping tabs on everything.” He chirps, and then pats Shirou’s head in response to the cheek patting.

“Besides,”

“I’ll deal with him later–I’m too busy for that sort of thing when it isn’t necessary.”

“You, though. If I get dragged into this, I’m taking you down with me.”

“Oh, no, your guardian angel isn’t that worried about me, and we both know what he’s like when he gets his mind set on something.”

“Don’t you start!”

“Yeah! I got it a while ago. I forgot I had it, and now I need to find somewhere to use it.” Curiousity had meant to use it immediately, of course, but then she’d likely gotten distracted. She didn’t know for certain, as the memory had gotten deleted in one of her purges. It didn’t matter. She’d found the key recently in one of her little hidden nooks around the city, and now she needed to find a spot to use it before she forgot again.

“Did you ever get a key? Where do you live? Who do you live with?”

“I never got a key myself, but my partner did. I live in Fibonacci ward, up in a penthouse apartment, with the part who received the key. His name is Iori Shirou - family name Iori, given name Shirou - and he runs Dressed to Kill.”  He’d given her the answers to all of her questions, he believed, counting them off in his head.

“If they’ll grant such a thing to those not wearing masks, you mean.” He smirked, picking up his dress ever so slightly as to not trip on the stairs.

“Maybe we should be on different sides next time. It almost feels like stealing, doesn’t it?”

There was a reason the two of them weren’t allowed on the same team when the Elites held a game night. Unless everyone wanted an insane challenge.

After reaching the top (and catching his breath), and a quick chat with the pixies…

“…Seems they will allow it. You’re the more athletic of the two of us, did you want to try them on first?”

“But how could we take a proper challenge away from those who think they’re the best at what they do? I wouldn’t ever want to take a learning experience away.” He certainly makes it up the stairs with ease, and is sure to offer a hand to Shirou who would surely struggle much more with such things.

A surprisingly gentle smile while the other catches his breath, he watches as Shirou chats to the pixies. Far more amicable than he would have been in the past, Houka couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched the exchange.

The cellar had been a big hit for the both of them, as both had their own strengths. While Houka’s poker face was not quite as good as Shirou’s, Houka himself was excellent at counting cards. Between the two of them playing off of each other, small tells that only they would recognize, or speaking in code, they had taken much of anyone who would have decided to part with some dust for what they were offering.

Honestly now, what a terrible idea to challenge the two of them, although Houka himself was endlessly amused, one arm linked with Shirou’s.

“Probably not the best idea to go back down there this evening. Tomorrow might be a better option.” The stairs leading up extended for a while, and he had heard rumor about the top of the castle.

[I am a healthcare companion. I am programed with a myriad of medical procedures and sensors to best take care of  people. I help with both yes, as mental health is as important as physical health. I am here to listen though I am not a licensed therapist.]

“Well, even if you were licensed - which you should definitely go for so you can add that to your list - I have no intention of talking about myself.”

[Hello. I sense a rise in your heart rate and a rise in many hormones. Are you…. Excited]

“Well, it’s an odd mix of feelings at the moment, to be frank. But, I have no intention of getting into that with you.”