#oc tai barraf

[frankdraw]

from a roleplay with @the-tenno-tripped and conversations with @of-profit trying to draw a Volatile Runner version of my hapless disgruntled retail worker. might even make a ref sheet idk

[frameposting]

Post-Debriefing

[Beginning recording regarding incident number [REDACTED] with Crewman 1-A Tai Barraf, present during mission.]

[Crewman, state your name, serial and position?]

Barraf, Tai. [REDACTED], Crewman Class 1, Invisible Hand XLVII, Callisto Home Station.

[Thank you, Crewman. Do you understand why you are in this session?]

You wanted to discuss a recurring dream I mentioned during the debriefing for the [REDACTED] Tower incursion.

[That is correct. This session is being conducted by request of Cultural, so anything you say here will be recorded for the general archive and cannot be disclosed outside of this room. Do you still consent to continuing this session?]

Yes, yes I do.

[Okay. So let's begin, tell us about this dream.]

It starts with a bright light and someone leading me somewhere. I can't make out the figure immediately but I can tell he's very ornately dressed. And they're walking like they're starting to feel their age. Kinda like a Grineer after a couple of years but...they're not Grineer.

It's only when the light fades that I can see that person is Orokin. He has to be, there's no other culture that wears that kind of clothing in the system today. But he's also getting old. He doesn't look old or Grineer old but he's starting to lose those traits that we hear about in the legend. His beauty is starting to fade, that's the word...

[And what about you?]

I notice I'm dressed in simple robes. I have darker skin, probably the shade I used to have before I enlisted.

There's someone behind me, a Warframe. Athletic build, a blend of aquatic and deep blue shading. I don't look for long though, I know I have to keep following the Orokin.

As we approach the source of the light, he begins talking, and I presume it's to his Warframe. His voice is calming, reassuring. Yet what he says, how he thinks of me, it's...very...

[You can be honest here.]

Impersonal. He sees me as...not even a pet? Like an artifact. A prize or trophy? It's hard to find the word...

[What does he say to describe you?]

I only remember phrases of what he says because he's saying them to the Warframe escorting him. Something about it being good fortune, the first batch in the Yu-vin, Ye-von, something and the end of a war.

[And you were of this so-called first batch?]

"Worth the price," yeah, now I remember that part. Like I'm a living statue or something and then he mentions the person that sculpted me was a master, he's thankful that the master survived the war to make me.

[All right. So to summarize, you're dreaming that you are some kind of living statue purchased by an Orokin.]

Yeah, but I know I'm a flesh and blood human. Not grineer or infested or a Warframe.

[I see. He's leading you, his prize into a light, and what does it reveal?]

A small room, it's prepared for a simple ceremony. Like some kind of very private tea ceremony for two people. There's a small table and some simple mats. It's small and quiet, I can hear water flowing...gold trim everywhere and the light bathes it like I should feel happy for what's going to happen.

But on the tea table there's just a black vial...it's completely the opposite of the warm ambience.

[A black vial, you say?]

Yes. It pulsates with a red, spotty glow every now and then. He beckons me to sit opposite of him, and I comply. His Warframe takes a ceremonial seating position behind him and to his side.

[So what happens?]

He begins telling me something. It sounds rehearsed, like he's said it before. That I should know why I'm here, and that it is an honor that I was "chosen" to drink it.

[That's when you drink from this mysterious black vial.]

No, not immediately. I take the vial in my hands and I look at it, it's cold as Venusian glaciers and I know drinking it will kill me but something inside says I should feel proud I've done so.

[Proud to die from this liquid?]

The Orokin man...he says I shouldn't hesitate, yes.

The fluid tastes mildly sweet, it goes down fast yet has the consistency of...tar. And as it goes down, it feels like it's...hollowing...

[Are you experiencing any distress from this?]

It hollows me out. A kind of cold, numbing...like I'm filled with coldness, dread. It doesn't carve out or burn out my insides but, more like whatever it comes into contact with just...doesn't feel there anymore. I can't bring myself to scream but I can feel myself crying as I see him smile.

I put the vial back on the table and it takes all of my effort to keep it from tipping over. Once it levels out, he leans forward and puts his hand on my cheek, and I can feel the decay in his breath.

[Does he tell you anything before it ends?]

This...this is the sentence I remember. "There is nothing to be afraid of, this will be the last you will ever see of me. Now sleep, for your despair is at its end,” and the last I see of him before I close my eyes and collapse is him also drinking from the vial.

[And this is where your dream ends.]

No.

[I beg your pardon?]

The world flashes red for a moment, but then suddenly stops. I hear a tinkling of metal, and a moist hand on my chin, pressing upward to tell me look up at him.

I open my eyes and I see the Warframe face to face, he's standing up and bowing down at me. But I can't see what's behind him. I don’t have the strength  to adjust myself and see what’s behind him.

It says...in the most hissing, ominous voice I can think of... "You're free." And then I wake up.

[You're sure this is where it ends.]

Yes. And I've had this dream since the incursion. Maybe not every rest interval...but I know when it happens.

[I see. In any case, it appears that Cultural is satisfied with this information for the time being.]

Is the session over?

[Yes it is. Again, be aware of course that what we have discussed here cannot be disclosed to anyone once you leave the room.]

I understand.

[Good. Thank you. Normally this kind of session would be regarded as non-compensatory, but it also appears Cultural will be providing normal work rate for the time lost. May the rest of your shift be as productive.]

[frankdraw]

a close-up of disgruntled retail corpus boi Tai Barraf

i was surprised at how a Hard Light layer of the background gradient in the reverse direction caused the lighting you see here after the skin shading

warframe (c) digital extremes

[frankdraw]

Name: Tai Barraf Allegiance: Corpus (Crewman Rank 1) Bio: The vast majority of Crewmen are genetically engineered specifically for interstellar duty, but any organization that at least puts on the facade of upward mobility will attract its share of "consenting" hires. These hires are usually sourced from once-independent colonies “acquired” by the Corpus by various means, and budget-minded Corpus managers can reduce their expenses and wait times compared to requisitioning Crewmen directly.

Tai is one such recruit, having joined the Corpus to provide for his family unit. He does his job, and does it well enough to not get killed, but often ends up on probationary watch for one reason or another and is barely able to save for leave funds or the vaunted “live retirement.” This has left him with a cynical demeanor which allows him to find some kind of camaraderie with his crewmates of similar rank, made even worse as he manages to constantly survive missions involving one or more of the Grineer, Tenno or Infestation.