unknownseas | GRADUATION

[ There’s a spark in the darkness outside the dome, somewhere. The pale rainbow of some kind of bio-luminescent jellyfish. Then another. Then two more. Then ten more.

Within moments, the seafloor around you is illuminated by jellyfish, shining brighter than nature should allow, and you find your surroundings changed. Statues, piles of gold, paintings, all of them lie scattered around for as far as the eye can see in any direction. Just a disgusting amount of wealth.

The frosted glass box in front of all of you just… vanishes. And standing at a podium that doesn’t at all match the previous silhouette, you finally get to see The Professor, in all his slightly ghoulish glory.

Honestly? This might be exactly the kind of man you pictured he would be. ]

Allow me to introduce myself properly, boys and girls. I am Professor Gunnar Maelstrom, one of the five sitting members of the Faculty here at VILE. I suppose, one way or another, this is where it ends.

[ You’re getting close, gumshoes! Don’t give up! ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You know how people can be about traditions.

How long a tradition are we talking about here?

Oh, not the longest time... eighty years or so?

So... why the shift to multiverse kidnapping, if tradition is so important?

At the end of the day, Mira, I am concerned about the bottom line. I am the leader of an international crime syndicate first and foremost - and while I'm not really interested into spreading into other worlds long-term, who wouldn't want agents who can bring valuable resources back from them?

So we're supposed to be, what — your couriers?

No. What VILE produces best: thieves.

Thieves- is that why there were all those odd rooms? The museum, the crime exhibit, the aquarium.

Were all the things in there stolen? [DID SOMEONE STEAL SHARKS?]

We've stolen several of them, but these truly are all digital copies. Our main opposition fell behind a while ago, and is still struggling to keep up.

Your main opposition?

A former student. We took care of some of her associates, but... judging by the tone of your ghost friend, she might be back in the game enough to worry us. A problem for once this is ended.

(no subject)

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[ oh, gross

(no offense therion)

(some offense therion, she's still herself) ]

Is that how you got the Rejuvenator.

Once it became clear that the two of you were here and would prove resistant to the biological approach to brainwashing, we needed options. That proved the easiest one.

You were gonna reset Pink Diamond because it was easier.

[ rip professor maelstrom, brained by pink's stupid clown shoes
... although honestly maybe this is her and rose's fault for even mentioning rejuvenators, serves her right for ever conducting any conversation whatsoever ]

[ rip in fuck everyone involved in this choice ]

Yes, well... it was never exactly a perfect plan.

[ God, she almost prefers the title. ]

... I suppose I can see the logic there. [ Hmm. ] ... Alright. Say someone recognizes one of your agents--is that worth the trouble?

Will it matter, if the agent doesn't think they could be recognized?

[ He chuckles. ]

We don't tend to send our new crop of VILE agents to their home worlds, though. Can't be too careful.

... I'd argue it does matter.

[ a pause. ]

I suppose there's credit to be given for playing it safe. You know, with the people you abducted and took everything from.