i am a cage in search of a bird

[crocodiline]

[ The figure inside the frosted glass snaps her fingers, and the glass falls away, sliding into grooves in the ground below. Inside, behind additional bulletproof glass, sits a woman, legs up on a transparent glass desk, absentmindedly petting a... whatever this thing is.

Say hello to your mastermind, everyone! ]

Hey there, everyone. Nice to talk to you in person - my name is Cipher, welcome to my city. Sorry I took so long to show up in person. No need to get up on my account - how about we talk business?

[ Let's drive. ]

Comments

[sastruga]

We need to get the animals out of the aquarium...

[specialyellthing]

… I’ll leave that to you guys.

[crocodiline]

[ Cipher sets something down on the table and starts typing, as a holographic screen appears. ]

How about this... I'll let you all pack normal stuff, but what do you all want to keep from the city?

[inaclearing]

...is the vending machine still there?

[Like Brett's sort of been assuming she does not need anyone's help in coming and going, but - ]

[crocodiline]

I don't think I could stop her from leaving with you all, she literally has a Lutece Machine built into her, along with the... five other things Valerie and Peridot did.

[inaclearing]

Well, whatever she wants to do.

[YEAH OKAY SURE]

Uh...how practical would it be to get those trees out? Just seems like a shame...

[crocodiline]

[ She exhales. ]

I can... make an arboretum very confused and happy somewhere, sure.

[inaclearing]

Hey, you asked.

[If this shit was supposed to bring out the best in him, we've established that consists of "stupidly sentimental" and "makes dumb decisions".]

[crocodiline]

It's fine, it's just going to take a little work, that's all.

[inaclearing]

Okay.

[.....]

The Founders' offices. Do you want anything from them?

[crocodiline]

... I'll go pick up a few things myself, if that's alright?

[inaclearing]

...I don't have an issue.

[visiblepattern]

I still think keeping the Lutece machine is a good idea, if it helps us facilitate seeing each other.

...We don't need to keep them, necessarily, but can we at least put Gunnar's jellyfish back into the sea or ensure they don't otherwise die?

[crocodiline]

Sure. That's easy enough.

[sastruga]

The aquarium... or, everything living there, anyway... They should go somewhere safe.

[crocodiline]

Sure.

[ A beat. ]

Do you want them released or moved somewhere specific?

[sastruga]

I wouldn't really know where to send them. Well, there's probably some aquariums back home, but...

[crocodiline]

There's not really aquariums on this world, so... I'll just go ahead and release them, unless you want them for your Sekai or something.

[specialyellthing]

… I’m not worried about things.

More worried about our people, y’know?