01 🩸 the little crow of your lungs kicking

[pillz]

WHO: Joseph Kavinsky, and various CR
WHERE: The White Tower, generally
WHEN: ~2019, at least one fateful night
WHAT: Backdated adventures with the right-hand man of High Chancellor Stark; hit me up at shramp if you'd like something!
WARNINGS: NSFW/ish likely, references to violence, trauma, etc.


closed to josh;

[sneaking around with a teleporter is easier than it might be with someone who has different powers. one minute, you're overlooking the matter-disintegrating cosmic radiation fields of the florida peninsula, in a deserted overlook.

the next, you're snaping across a sequence of rooftops, a boy on your arm. snap, snap, snap, a dream thief's hand on your arm, teeth bright with: hello.

many hotels in the white city are utterly ridiculous. this one, they've been to before, and this is no exception: it has mirror ceilings and floor-length closed-circuit aquariums full of fish that seem to be constantly breeding. most of the furniture is black, the walls graduating ombre from deep indigo to lurid red. the bed is huge. most of their fucking takes place on it, giving the bedsprings a proper workout. if you ran a blacklight over this place, it'd look like a biological nightmare.

kavinsky smokes in here because-- of course he does. ash snowing diminutive grey flurries on the bed, blowing rings over the gold horizon of josh's temple.]

This, [he says, holding out the cigarette by way of demonstration, his hollow eyes crinkled into a smile,] I only do with you.

Comments

[recommendations]

[ Momo is halfway to pulling up her blueprints once more to show him, when Kavinsky asks about a fully realized creation. She has a few pieces in her office already made, but they're old, boring, not impressive in the least. She'll have to make up a prototype on the spot. ]

Oh, yes. Give me one moment. [ She hasn't eaten lunch yet today, but that's hardly a problem. She reaches over to the buzzer on her desk and pages her secretary. ] Miriam, would you come in here please?

[ In short order, a plump little native woman comes in the door that Kavinsky had just closed, striding over to stand obediently by Momo's desk. She is dressed in a well-tailored sleeveless ensemble, allowing for maximum skin availability whenever Momo needs it. Knowing what is expected of her already, she holds out her arm and Momo takes it, pressing a palm to her bicep and drawing out a small handheld device in a shower of bright pink and blue sparkles. ]

Thank you Miriam, you are dismissed. Go and have yourself a breakfast pastry.

[ Miriam bows slightly and walks out, looking ever so much skinnier than she had been when she entered. Momo holds the device out for Kavinsky to inspect. ]

It's a portable infrared camera with built in display, a body scanner that I was thinking we could incorporate into the next generation of our security team.

continuing only if you want!

[pillz]

[that is

fucking fascinating. kavinsky watches this whole thing in silence. since we're all capitol trash, he actually is high-key impressed with the pedigree and chic fashion of momo's secretary, as well.

and then the -- what. lifeforce? of the woman is stolen to create this thing, this lovely little device, kavinsky's eyes sharpen. he sits up. his eyes follow the secretary out, noting that she's-- smaller than she was before, and then they cut back to momo, the new prize in her hand. the magic nerd inside of him loves it. loves this.

the practical part of him loves the device. he lets out a low, admiring whistle, then puts out a hand.]

May I?

[recommendations]

[ The whistle just serves to bolster Momo's self confidence. She is feeling incredibly good about herself in this moment. Like all her hard work is finally coming to fruition.

She hands the device over to Kavinsky for him to inspect. ] Please.

[ Momo understands why those in power have been favoring Kavinsky's creations over her own. Creating something out of nothing requires fewer resources than creating something out of something, even if the something that Momo uses to fuel her creations is people's unwanted fat cells. That still requires food to allow her volunteers to regain their weight after she drains them, and there is also the issue of gaining volunteers to begin with. Sure, she is able to sway most natives to her way of thinking, but there are always those that can resist her charms. ]

[pillz]

[kavinsky accepts the device into his hands. he turns it over a few times, studying its monitor, then holding it up to try its function against what's immediately visible in the room. her. himself. the ambient heat off the nearby computer equipment.

it immediately clocks the weapons he's carrying. it's a solid fabrication. a smile spreads across his narrow face, slow, thoughtful.]

Good, [he says.] Do you have to use humans, or can other living energy sources work for you? [it's a good sign, probably, that he lets his arm fall to his side-- clearly planning to take the device.]

[recommendations]

[ The smile has her jumping for joy-- inwardly, of course. Outwardly she keeps her demeanor professionally distant. Just cold enough to seem disinterested.

He raises an interesting point, though. Momo frowns, thinking that over. ] Animals, you mean? I've never thought about it before. Theoretically, it should work the same.

[ Getting informed consent would be an issue. But then... Is that really all so important? ]