#IC: ZOVARIY.

[apexulansis]

@alteia-underground

If there was one thing that Zovariy preferred to do alone more than anything else, it was scavenge for resources. There was no lack of it back home; they barely had to do anything to have their developments fully funded. Yet in a way, they couldn't help but feel that it defeated much of the journey starting somewhere so easy. They were never afraid of getting their hands dirty, regardless of what those who knew nothing of them outside of their origins assumed. Working with what you've built yourself instead of what was simply handed to you — that was much more rewarding. They didn't need or want the hand holding. The assistance.

That meant they didn't want to encounter others, and they didn't bring any beyond their own bio-drones (carcasses of predacious creatures reanimated by Dominion technology). Zovariy made an effort to avoid prying eyes; the Head-Hunter was cloaked and so were they in their armor until they reached the innards of a cavern system. Their figure was obscured by the metal plates, seeming more synthetic than organic right down to the extra pair of limbs that functioned as rotating drills, ones they put to use by the time their cybernetics finally located a vein worth harvesting.

It was dark and enclosed. It would be pitch black were it not for the subtle red glow of their armor and their eyes. For a kariian, it was familiar. Especially when they happened to be mining. But this was still an alien world. And so, while they had managed to avoid sapients, even though their cloak of invisibility was now dropped, they weren't yet off their guard. Besides... Sound carried easily through these stony halls. The sound of their drilling, but also of unwanted company.

[apexulansis]

Zovariy gave a noncommittal grunt. In technicality it was good not to have an immediately hostile first encounter — but they would have been lying had they said the fact hadn't been a little disappointing. It was more fun when they fought by threat or simply terror.

“Stay curious, then.” A simple way to say they weren't going to be elaborating. One ear flicks. Elaborating... much. Despite their brusque nature, they aren't entirely without answer. “I won't be staying. Once I have what I require, I'll be gone.” The hand still clutching the golden-green mineral pocketed it. “Fortunately for you, that isn't much. I'm not supplying millions.”

"Well clearly" He seethed, not quite baring his teeth but certainly looking distasteful, feeling rather uncomfortable with their gaze...

He flinched again as their arm moved, covering his head again for a second before uncurling to look at the stuff on the wall then back to this very unwelcome newcomer... "Yes, Yes I'm from around here, but you certainly aren't- no problems, no problems- But I am curious..."

The rat slowly stood to all fours to creep backwards, edging behind a rock formation to peek out. He was not planning to get shot today.

[byanyan]

@apexulansis ✧ ∘ ˚ sc.

ㅤㅤ" love the fur. it's really giving arctic cat vibes. "

[sentinelcmdr]

First dash meme, Pokemon meme:

A few more fun facts about a potential Pokemon verse

Kariio itself is mostly populated by ground, rock, steel, ice, and dark types. Dragon types as well, albeit more rarely. Fire, grass, and bug types are just about non-existent naturally.

Zovariy’s Steelix used to be their mother’s, hence it’s immense and intimidating power.

Hydreigon was one they got when they were very little, and when it was a Deino. It was their first Pokemon.

[apexulansis]

nah. i think its more of a 'birds of a feather' situation. you hung around ardaka too right? the fake kariian?

Zovariy figured that was another Earth saying, and rolled their eyes. Different saying, different species, same shit. Same attempts at digging under their fur. Seems some things transcended everything else.

“Am I supposed to care about your opinion? Or theirs? You're all just as worthless as each other.”

[apexulansis]

“You can use the droids if you’re so frightened of me.” Sometimes, Zovariy used them for more than just sparring, anyway. They leer at Kjoll, the amusement dripping from their tone. “You’d not be so reluctant for me to throw you about were the setting different.”

" And give you an excuse to break my wrists again? My ribs?" Kjoll snorts, " Hard pass."

[apexulansis]

rats, bastards, keeping all kinds of low company lately aren't we zov?

“Hard to avoid things that breed in excess.”

[apexulansis]

@byanyan

This place was rife with fools who didn't mind their business. Now they almost expected it — but it was usually those big, strong enough to consider themselves some sort of equivalent threat to them, never creatures that were barely half their size.

This one had been tailing them half the night. Zovariy had noticed the familiar scent early on, following them now even into the more abandoned areas of the factory district, to one of the rooms they'd considered their lair.

By the time the stranger would find them, Zovariy was already turned to face them, their glowering eyes cutting cleanly through the darkness. In fact, they'd already turned their stare from the obvious entrance toward the more inconspicuous catwalk above — the coward's way in.

“You're not as subtle as you think you are, sekha.”

[apexulansis]

♦ all for xaallo :3c

FIRST WORD MY MUSE THINKS OF WHEN YOUR MUSE IS MENTIONED

“Reflection.”

“Negligible.”

“Lacking.”

[apexulansis]

Zovariy regarded the visuals with the same curious look, though it was a comparatively monotonous expression on their face, even without the mask (which was, for the moment, on).

They deduced it was something virtual reality quickly — from the headset, it wasn't hard to guess — but the severity of things clearly hadn't registered. They blinked once, glancing over what was presumably Qessyn's familiar-but-foreign frame.

More combat ready than usual, that was for certain. Except that hair, Zovariy noted. And those shoes. But then, the way she moved was so efficient and graceful, it didn't seem to matter. Their head tilted.

“Mm. This is a game?” It was almost a shock someone like them was familiar with what a video game was. They were, even if they hadn't bothered with them. Zovariy stared at the variety of weaponry with some bored amusement. “Where is she that's so dangerous?”

Reflection was so strange. So different from reality.

Qessyn, or Cruel Virtue as her callsign went, examined the surreal landscape, looking for the source of the disturbance.

A rumbling told her that it had found her first.

Fragments lunged out from the surrounding structures, making a beeline for the Thal’ni princess. Cursing, she leapt into the air, forming her Arm into a machine gun and opening fire.

~*~

ACU made a noise that sounded like a beepy scream, nearly jumping out of his chassis, before he turned and looked at Zovariy.

Zovariy…Domion…Qessyn’s betrothed! Help! It was help!

[The Princess!] he chirped out, [she needs help! She’s fighting! Alone!]

It was supposed to be a secret, but this was her betrothed. ACU was sure they could be trusted, and activated a holographic screen display, showing Zovariy what exactly was going on. Though her body lay motionless in the bed, her mind, it seemed, was far from resting.

The sounds of combat were the first thing to greet Zovariy, Qessyn’s Avatar dancing across the field of battle. The weapon she wielded shifted with seemingly a thought, going from firearms to blades and everything in between as the situation called for.

She looked different; taller, stronger, longer hair—but it was her. And something about the situation felt a little too real to be some sort of video game.

Her voice from within the screen made the little droid jolt. “ACU! These Fragments are too coordinated!” She slashed one on half with a sword, “I think there’s a Gestalt somewhere nearby! But I don’t see it!”

ACU began to run a scan, a subroutine to search for the entity. [Danger! Attack! She’s fighting alone!]

[apexulansis]

❗ What Yeskiv say to you, Verbatim, after you got mauled Zovariy? :3c

HONEST ANSWERS.

“Rew sauh ohht zek inar'vaw.” Why am I not surprised.

[apexulansis]

where do you like being pet/touched?

“Anywhere, if I like you enough.” But he was partial to ear massages. They got sore being pressed under a hood all the time.

“Nowhere. Don't touch me.”

“Nowhere you can reach.”

[apexulansis]

He's still beaten up (and missing a hand) from his training bout with Zovariy. Beaten up is nice word for it-- his leg is broken, several ribs are too and every so often there's a sharp pain in his torso as his body tries to reset and rearrange. Regrow.

Fortunately he has more hands and uses them to bother Zovariy with his Omnitool. The bastard did this and so he must pay the price.

[Kjoll: I know you're near the kitchen. Bring me some water.]

[ CMDR-Z: This isn't room service. ]

Despite the literal trauma they'd put Kjoll through, Zovariy only felt annoyed that the Margaven had their personal contact. They make no motion to fulfill the request — at least not on their own feet. They wouldn't waste their time with that, busy doing something else already. Still —

With a grumble, they assign one of the droids to do the task instead. Just before it leaves the room, Zovariy adds, “Don't put it too close to him.”

[apexulansis]

@therxtking

Zovariy is certainly no easy creature to sneak up upon, especially in a cavern. The drills means it takes longer than a mere moment to notice an additional presence, but that moment in itself is short.

If the sound doesn't reach them, the smell does. It smelled like a creature; something alive and covered in fur. The kariian mused that this being must have been thinking something similar.

The drills on their power-armor retract, and Zovariy chips off a piece of ore. A golden-green shimmer ran through it, and they tilted it in the red light of their visor, watching the hue shift from one to the other under its harsh glow.

A fortunate thing about the current space is that there were only two entrances to the long 'hall' they stood in currently — the one behind them, and the one ahead. Silent and near-invisible tripwires line the way behind them, tuned to their signature. Not explosives, but certainly dangerous.

As they examine the ore in one hand, the other extends an arm, shooting a bolt of red plasma down the cave. It wasn't a shot of hostile intent— even if it did hit anything, it wouldn't hurt — as it stuck harmlessly to a surface across the way and lit darker areas a dim, glowing red.

Still. They did ready a weapon. Most fauna (or sapients) weren't fond of finding kariians intruding in their land.

The sounds did carry. Far and deep into the caves and crannies in the rock. Smells did too. The smell of something strange, something that didn't belong... From the sounds of their footsteps, it was clear they were a biped. It was clear they were armored. And it was clear they were confident being places they were not meant to...

With all of these dreadful and strange pieces to an awful puzzle, the rats fled on quick silent paws. Typically, they would merely gather their alpha to lead friends and family through the danger. But this pack was especially lucky, because at this moment, there was a bigger, meaner, higher standing member of the species visiting. Their king. So the little band of scavengers told their mother, who told the alpha, who ran and told the lord of the land, who then quickly slipped in the intriguing information to the monarch himself....

Gordon shortly left their stronghold to follow the trail of the little underlings, all on his lonesome. It took some time to get all the way there, but when he arrived at the first rat's original place, he could hear it too... He could smell it. And he did not like it. Sinking lower to prowl, The silver beast, no ordinary rat, crept closer. His nose and ears twitch as he silently makes his way towards the invading misfit, unable to glean anything clear about them through scent... And that only served to make him more wary. The collossal rodent is not so much hiding as he is merely keeping a safe distance and trying to inspect them as he stalks on soundless padded feet into wherever this... Thing. Is messing about.

[apexulansis]

Zovariy is such a sassmaster I love them

“I don't need credit for that. It's everyone else who makes it so easy.”

[apexulansis]

Brooding. Thinking. Contemplating.