#viriverse

[alteredsilicone]

Nice Tenno of the Week:

Operator Virgo has opened up and showed Loid how much she loves peppermint tea.

Naughty Tenno of the Week:

Drifter Virgo is not new to the timeloop and is back to her old ways: bullying Albrecht.

[chronicler-of-narrative]

I just realized, i don't have a Chosen Operator Oc for interacting with WITW.

Honestly, it could really be either Chronicler or Samuel.

On the one hand, being the Chosen Operator could really help the Chronicler deal with some of his past-related issues (if the Viriverse doesn't already do that for him, shout out to @alteredsilicone for having my little sciencey guy/s)

On the other, having it so that the one person who can defeat the Indifference and win the war is a downright sadistic gremlin whos only joy in life is messing with people would be really funny, and also cause Loid some massive headaches.

Yknow what?

Also, should it be necessary, ill provide more context on both of them, since this is assuming ya'll know about both of them

(Also also, no guarantees ill make it so, i just wanna know what you all think)

[alteredsilicone]

Painting

The waxflowers were blooming, filling the halls with a gentle, pleasant smell. Loid was arranging dried flowers in a vase, he was most at peace when allowed to fuss with the small things. The afternoon sun was gently dancing in his hair, creating a radiant halo around his head. He was beautiful.

Before Loid had entered his life, Albrecht never saw the worth in fragrances or decorations or the art of flower arrangement. Perhaps it was yet another fault of his - frigid pragmatism. They both agreed on the merits of the written word, yet Loid also had an eye for the visual arts, thus Albrecht had allowed him to express himself in the Necralisk. Perhaps he liked seeing little reminders of Loid everywhere he went, a selfish indulgence Albrecht allowed himself.

"Loid." The moment his name escaped Albrecht's lips, Loid turned his head, dried rose still in hand.

"Yes?"

"Have you ever sat for a painting?"

Loid smiled, then uttered something under his breath. Not offended, but amused.

"I am not nearly important enough for anyone to desire to capture my likeness. Is this about the commission?"

Not quite. The true purpose of Albrecht's question was to stay hidden, for now.

"Yes," Albrecht decided to move the conversation along. "I cannot seem to decide which artist to pursue, perhaps you could help me with that. I was thinking of either Polonia or Timofei."

Hearing Polonia's name made Loid grimace, but he quickly composed himself and returned to finishing the flower arrangement, clearly a way for him to pretend to be mulling over the question, but Albrecht knew which choice would be made before a single word was said.

"Polonia is an excellent wildlife artist. The birds she paints are one of a kind and her use of color is creative, however..." then came the truth. "Her figures are gaudy, exaggerated and occasionally lean into the pornographic. I am afraid she might take some creative liberties while painting you and then we will end up with wasted money and a worthless painting."

Polonia was an eccentric, that much was true. An old family friend of the Entratis, Albrecht kept contact with her for only one purpose - she knew people in less than polite circles, which often proved valuable when procuring reagents for some of Albrecht's more alchemical experiments. She would not ask questions and never kept a paper trail. Unfortunately, she was also an Orokin eccentric and harbored a disdain for Loid, which he was not afraid of returning.

In the name of objectivity, however, Albrecht had to weigh all the options that were offered to him.

"Timofei is the better option. He is classically trained, he has painted portraits for the Galleria before," Loid pointed at a painting mounted on the wall. "He is reliable."

Albrecht turned to face the painting Loid had pointed at. Euleria's graduation portrait. Timofei excelled at accentuating his subjects in a way that was true to life, yet also had an air of uniqueness that couldn't be captured neither by photograph or hologram. His daughter, ever the critic, tormented the painter at every step of the process, yet he endured with reserved professionalism.

Truth be told, Albrecht had no interest in being painted, yet the Galleria demanded a painting of him. His great scientific achievements beckoned to be immortalized as oil on canvas, that's what the Archimedeans told him. At least he had Loid to help him with the headache of picking an artist.

"Call Timofei. Have him come as soon as possible."

"Of course."

---

The doors to the Sanctum rumbled as the Tenno returned from their mission. Another Netracell run, with Tagfer leading the squad. Loid was already used to the routine, his assistance was not needed so he could busy himself with other tasks.

"Loid!"

He turned his head. Artemis was floating nearby and holding something that looked like a folder.

"What is it?"

"Viri wanted you to have this. Knowing her, a bunch of sentimental junk."

Loid took the folder from the Wisp and looked over it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, just a standard folder for keeping documents.

"Viri was so excited to show you this. I didn't even look inside, I don't care!" Artemis declared. Loid secretly appreciated her disinterest - he had heard his fair share of snappy comments and had no interest in finding out what creative epithets Artemis may conjure this time.

"Thank you, Artemis."

"Don't mention it," she floated off, joined her squad and the Tenno left for another round of Netracells.

Loid was curious, yet also scared. The Netracells were treasure troves of Albrecht's most personal possessions. Things that were so close and personal to him even Loid was not allowed to see inside.

It was just a folder, Loid told himself. It was light, so probably only a couple documents inside. Maybe another collection of poems Albrecht had written and then tossed away in self-critical shame.

The Tenno occasionally brought some of Albrecht's personal affects that they deemed Loid might find interest in. They were mostly related either to him, Euleria or literature. Nothing Loid didn't know about, just things he was surprised Albrecht bothered to keep.

Inside the folder was a single page. It was a sketch - of Loid. Drawn in the middle of a motion - he was reaching for something out of bounds of the canvas. Around his figure a mixture of flowers were hastily scribbled, Albrecht was not particularly good at natural objects. Yet Loid's face was lovingly rendered, a halo was carefully drawn around him. At the bottom of the page was what Loid assumed to be the title of the illustration - three times crossed out, four times rewritten. The fourth title simply said: Loid. Unlike the previous titles, it was carefully calligraphed. The final choice.

[alteredsilicone]

Albrecht put a little Deimos heart in Viri because she had to work as a backup generator, Pavel got eyes and ears because he had to work as the backup Auricle and Vitreum.

They were both hooked to Warframes via transference bolts to work as backup security in case the murmur awaken before Loid does.

Both entered a secret pact with Albrecht to protect the labs (read: Loid) and wait until the rest of the Tenno show up to continue the Plan. Viri and Pavel were the only ones who believed Albrecht when he was warning all of Duviri about Wally and agreed to leave with him.

Artemis was CONVINCED that neither Virgo nor Pavel were dead and she was dead set on finding the Scholar again. Eir got entangled with the Entrati family. Artemis and Sela found operator Virgo but she knew nothing of Eir.

When they discovered the Sanctum labs and awakened human Loid they later ventured deeper and Drifter Eir found Dante and that's how he discovered what happened to the other him.

Then they finally found Viri and Pavel - turns out they were fully conscious the entire time (Albrecht bluffed to Loid that they're locked away in stasis) and they were already fighting off murmur for literal centuries. They were just stuck because without Loid activating the labs properly they had limited access to the higher levels (Loid essentially was entombed so if every level of security fails at least he sleeps until Albrecht returns or until a "death signal" is sent to Necraloid and he bails Loid out).

And that's how everyone meets each other. Yippee!

[alteredsilicone]

Midsummer Love

June 27, 1999.

The pastry from the baker was a little bit stale, but the strawberry filling was just the right amount of sweet, if a little sticky. Albrecht had suggested they buy the sweet pastry and now he and the Drifter sat on a park bench on a sunny June afternoon, eating in contemplative silence. When she first caught up with the Orokin, at least a hundred 1999’s ago, his fondness for sweets came as a surprise, but eventually Virgo put two and two together - the Sanctum had an abundance of sugared biscuit tins, yet Loid never offered them during tea time. Virgo didn’t complain about the sweet pastry, however. It was a little respite after Midsummer madness. She had ignored the Scholar’s teachings and advice many times, but perhaps, just this once, she could indulge him.

A curious thought wandered into her mind.

"What kind of pastry does Loid like?"

Silence. Albrecht chewed his treat and looked inside it, as if the answer could be divined from the strawberry jam.

"We would usually eat the same thing. I ate what he liked."

"Or did he pick out something that you liked and made himself like it too?"

Silence. Albrecht stopped eating, a third of a pastry still in his hand. He stared off into the distance, his gaze turned away from the Drifter.

In Duviri, when the Jester asked a question she wasn’t supposed to, the Scholar would lead her to the exit of his laboratory, sometimes grabbing her by the scruff to not-so-gently lead her onwards. Now there was no way to get rid of her, nowhere to run either, so Albrecht chose silence. He sat there like a statue and kept staring, surely captivated by the pigeons bathing in the nearby fountain. Virgo waited, the summer days were long and she would not enable his bad habits. She was no Loid, bound by duty to endure his silent treatment.

"You don't know." Virgo spoke up. It was as simple as that.

No answer. Albrecht didn’t even turn his gaze to her. The pigeons flew away.

“I don’t know.” It felt like a lifetime had passed once Albrecht finally spoke.

Pathetic.

Virgo was no longer hungry. She hastily discarded the remains of her snack.

Disgusting. Wretched little man. Do you even care?

A knot in her stomach. Nausea.

Loid. Loid, however. He is good and soft and kind. He deserves better than me.

The Drifter jumped up from the bench and walked a few good meters away from Albrecht, until the nausea retreated and the knot in her stomach dissipated. She swung her arms, stretched her legs, as if she had suddenly remembered there was a marathon due in a few days and she needed to prepare. She focused her mind on the fountain, then on the trees and then started counting the tiles on the pavement. Eventually, all foreign thoughts left her.

No more stupid questions, Scholar. Got it.

Albrecht finally stood up and turned his attention to the Drifter. The remains of the pastry were thrown in a waste bin by the bench.

"Tenno. We should go."

---

The sixth cycle of Sol, xxxx.

Virgo watched as Loid tapped at the terminal, logging her most recent trip to 1999. Another doomed timeline, stopped sometime in November, due to a very stupid mistake.

There was a door. A door meant a gateway, often to Duviri, sometimes to the Deep Void. What Virgo had not anticipated was the infestation, lunging at her and Albrecht as the door flung open. By the time she could react, Albrecht was already pulled inside, the door had closed and disappeared into the ether. Then there was a moment of oblivion and she woke up in the Sanctum again.

“Another death. I logged it in Albrecht’s report. The next one’s on you.”

Loid worked tirelessly and diligently. Virgo knew how hard it was for him to watch her fail again and again. To watch his love die over and over again, with no way to help him. He had to trust the Chosen Operator, he had to trust the Sequence and most importantly, he had to trust Albrecht.

Loid was good and soft and kind.

She felt safe in his presence, calm. It was strange. Virgo did like Loid, despite the rocky beginning of their acquaintance. She found a way to endear herself to him, find common ground. He seemed to find some respite in having someone who also remembered the long lost past of the Orokin Empire. They would talk of symposiums and menial work in the laboratory - Loid quite enjoyed her tales of the Virmink domestication programs in the Orb Vallis laboratories. Virgo did her best to entertain him, to take his mind from the Kalymos Sequence, if only for a moment.

This sense of safety, however, was a new sensation.

My strength, my support, my sanctuary.

A failed timeloop left a mark. Virgo must have taken a little souvenir with her once again.

Talking to Albrecht was infuriating and difficult, getting anything out of him was like pulling a rotten tooth out of a lion's maw, armed with nothing but a pair of pliers. If Albrecht had been a Corpus aristocrat, Virgo would have thrown in the towel long ago - this much effort for this little payback would not have been worth the diplomatic headache. She had dealt with all sorts of problem clients, but Albrecht was like every flavor of nightmare rolled into one human being. Yet now, she had somehow gotten something out of him. Something priceless, more valuable than any of the baubles she had eyed in his laboratory on Scholar’s landing.

His love. The softness she felt, standing at Loid's side as he was fussing over mission logs, that was an echo of Albrecht she had stolen, unknowingly.

How embarrassing, perverse even. Like sneaking up to the bedroom door of the lovers and peeking through the keyhole, into the scenes of their most intimate moments. Love. Love was something that made Virgo dizzy and mad, it was unlike any feeling she picked up from other people.

If only she could show that love to Loid, to expose his mind to Albrecht's. Connect them.

Virgo walked away and sat down. No. That was not for her to decide. Those were the thoughts of a greedy and selfish person, perhaps another thing she stole from Albrecht. She needed to cleanse her mind and clear her head.

"Loid?"

"Yes, Virgo?"

"What kind of pastry do you like?"

[alteredsilicone]

My headcanon is that Corpus was a coded, artificially created language in the Orokin era, meant for Corpus-to-Corpus communication only. Learning it was basically a rite of passage in on itself.

Which means that Viri has to teach it to Loid in the current era, much to his frustration.

"Tenno, how can you differentiate between yuyy and yuyy?"

"In writing, of course. Corpus is not really meant for conversation."

"Ugh."

"In Corpus we say uyyyyy."

And Loid is not sure whether Viri is pulling his leg or it really is like that.

[alteredsilicone]

Nightmares

Albrecht looked down at him, his face contorted in a scowl of endless disappointment.

“Loid, I will have to relieve you of your duties.”

Loid’s body felt like lead, he wanted to get up, to run, to prove his worth. He couldn’t, his body was sinking into the abyss.

“Al– Master Entrati, I will make it up to you. I can be of use. I can be a test subject!” desperate, empty pleas.

“Test subjects have utility. You do not.”

—

Warm tears trailed down his cheeks as Loid slowly shifted awake. The knot of anxiety in his stomach loosened as his body adjusted to lucidity. Just a bad dream. He no longer felt afraid, but a little ashamed. Loid adjusted himself and wiped his tears on the silk pillow. Embarrassed, he pushed himself up, turned the pillow around and plopped down on it again. This was the third night in a row he was roused by a nightmare. He felt miserable, his body unrested. Even if he knew what he saw was a dream, a vestige of anxiety still swirled in the pits of his stomach. He should get up and get to his morning routine, but he simply did not want to. Loid allowed himself five more minutes in bed. Hollow comfort.

Fate was gracious and there was no breach in the Sanctum, whatever horrors pestered Loid, they were simply in his head. Bird 3 was excited to see him, greeting Loid with a “Good morning, crew!” he had enthusiastically copied from Virgo. Loid answered by urging the bird to his feeding station. Tagfer was less irate today than he was the previous days, another little blessing. Loid lingered and watched the cervulite ravage a pomegranate, seeds and juice flying everywhere. Good thing the Necramites were here to clean things up.

“Good morning Loid.”

“Good morning, Fibonacci.”

The fish insisted on being treated like a person, that is, he demanded a little bit of conversation before Loid offered him his breakfast. Unlike the other two, Fibonacci lived where he ate, perhaps the norg felt undignified as he chomped on the small crustaceans Loid dropped in his tank. Loid had thought about expanding Fibonacci’s tank, adding new segments to it. An apartment for a fish? Ridiculous, but not the worst of thoughts that managed to worm its way into Loid’s mind as of late. Might as well start building an apartment complex for a talking norg.

“You look a little unwell, I hope you are not sick again,” the fish tried his best at sounding compassionate.

“Don’t worry, I just didn’t sleep too well,” Loid waved him away. “Freshwater or saltwater?”

“I feel a little salty today.”

Loid retrieved a packet of dried crayfish and poured out the contents in Fibonacci’s tank. The norg circled the crustaceans, imitating a hunting maneuver and then quickly devoured them. Loid watched as a solitary claw sunk to the bottom of the tank.

“Missed one,” he pointed at it.

“Why thank you,” the norg used one of his feelers to prod the claw and whip it up in a current, then swallowed it whole. 

Fibonacci was entertaining to watch at times, but Loid knew better than to tell that to him. Bird 3 and Tagfer were messy eaters, whereas the norg would gallantly swim around his prey and always made sure to leave no crumbs behind. Maybe that was his way of mimicking human behavior - an idea of a sophisticated, gentlemanly dinner. Despite his persona of genius and sophistication, his actual understanding of human customs was entertainingly naive.

Loid sat down with a cup of tea and toasted bread. He always relied on routine to get his mind off things, but it was obvious that three nights of nightmares had left him weaker, focusing was much harder. He did not want to work, he ate his breakfast so slowly the tea went cold. Time was dragging on. Something clawed at the back of his mind.

“Test subjects have utility. You do not.”

The phantom of Albrecht was watching over him, Loid could feel that. He now knew it was the Indifference, amalgamating a homunculus of his fears and dressing it up in the face of the one whom he would fear hearing those words from the most.

Even at his worst, Albrecht never berated him. Loid reminisced on his time as a fresh recruit in the labs: when there was a particularly troublesome problem, Albrecht would call out the new lab hands one by one and demand an answer. Still, the ordeal never felt like a humiliation ritual, it was more like a frustrated teacher dealing with a bunch of under-studied students. He never singled anyone out, never made an example out of anyone. Albrecht made it clear that if everyone was on the same page and collaborated, work would flow better. It was in his interest that everyone pulled their weight or at least made an honest attempt to do so, all in the name of science.

Loid had seen his fair share of Orokin masters while at Albrecht’s side, screaming at their assistants and labhands and servants, some even raising a long, clawed arm. Loid would usually avert his eyes when that happened, unlike Albrecht, who faced his Orokin contemporaries with stony silence. The screams and pleas for mercy, however, could not escape Loid’s ears.

Despite all he had seen, despite all the scorn and judgment other Orokin had shown to him, it was Albrecht whom Loid feared the most. Why? What made him feel like a small prey animal in the jaws of a predator?

“Loid.”

Albrecht’s voice called out to him, somewhere out there, beyond the Vessels. Yet it was also inside his head, rattling around his skull. Loid ignored it.

“I need your help.”

Loid took a deep breath, he had to pull himself together. He could not afford distractions.Yet the voice kept clinging to him. Let it cling, Loid thought and finally got to work.

The Cavia had long finished their first meal and were antsy to receive today’s agenda. Fortunately for Loid but unfortunately for the adventure-hungry creatures, nothing dire had happened during sleep hours. The murmur had not overloaded any systems, Culverin and Arcocanid numbers were within optimal range and no Necramechs had been summoned. Loid finished checking the systems awfully quickly. Everything seemed alright. That was suspicious. Loid knew that his nightmares and the voice in his head did not come from thin air - it was the Indifference’s influence. Yet the murmur seemed to be more quiet than usual, three days of nightmares for Loid should mean that the void-cursed fragments would be all over the labs, yet, nothing. All systems were green.

“Loid.”

The voice was everywhere now.

Did the Cavia hear it too? No, they would have started complaining long ago. This was just another trick - make it sound like whatever was inside Loid’s head was in fact, everywhere. Everywhere and nowhere. Nowhere and everywhere. Everywhere and nowhere. Nowhere and everywhere. Everywhere and nowhere. Nowhere and everywhere. Everywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeverywhereandnowherenowhereandeverywhereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

“LOID!”

That was not the phantom’s voice. That was his own voice. Loid blinked.

“Loid?! Do you hear me?!”

Loid was standing at the edge of the Sanctum, the vastness of the Void waiting on him. Unseen beasts bellowing from the deep below.

Loid opened his mouth, but only a stupid sound stumbled out: “Ya..?”

“By the Void, get away from the edge!”

Loid obliged and took an unsteady step back, then another. He turned his head, looking for the voice. The Construct was floating nearby, its lights flickering erratically.

“Loid! I ask again - do you hear me?!”

“Yes. Yes I hear you,” finally, a coherent thought. A heavy fog was slowly lifting from Loid’s mind. He did not remember how he had arrived at the edge of the Sanctum, he didn't even notice the Construct approaching.

“What did I just tell you?”

“You asked if I could hear you.”

“Good. Seven Emperors, what has gotten into you?” The Construct berated him.

“I… I heard a voice, and then…”

“Understood. I am calling the Tenno,” the Construct flew off without even waiting for an answer from Loid. Loid sheepishly followed it, not in the mood to fight back.

Graciously, Eir answered the call and not even an hour passed when he arrived at the Sanctum. The Drifter jumped out of his Xaku and approached the Loids.

“Necraloid told me you almost jumped off the ledge, is that true?” there was concern in Eir’s voice. Loid felt a tinge of shame.

Knowing the Construct, it had probably conjured a situation of life and death, and would have probably told the Tenno that Loid was bleeding out on the cold stone floor if it meant Eir would arrive faster. Eir looked concerned, but not in a hurry, so perhaps the Construct had dignified Loid with a story that was more truth than lies.

“I heard a voice and then the voice was everywhere and then I found myself at the edge of the Sanctum,” Loid recalled the events of the early morning as clearly as he could.

“Heightened Void exposure,” Eir concluded. “How long have you been here alone?”

“A week or so,” Loid said.

“That’s a long time.”

“Why didn’t you call for me sooner?” the Construct chimed in.

“Virgo told me that I was not in danger until I started seeing things. I thought I could simply… will the voice away,” Loid answered the inquisition.

“Clearly the Tenno underestimated your abilities! How can you kee–”

“Necraloid, please calm down,” Eir cut the Construct off. “All that matters is that Loid is safe now.”

The Construct relented. Loid could tell it was still displeased with the situation, but, after whispering something to Eir, it decided that it was far too busy to keep “babysitting Loid” and retreated upstairs.

Eir offered to have a walk around the Sanctum and talk to the Cavia. That’s how Loid discovered that Bird 3 had noticed him wandering off into the sandy landscape and promptly started pestering Tagfer about it, who in turn went to Fibonacci and it was the fish who called the Construct down to the basement. The Construct took it upon itself to check on Loid and found him unresponsive, standing at the edge of the Sanctum, staring off into the distance.

“You said you heard a voice. Only one?” Eir quizzed him. “Who was it?”

“Albrecht.”

Eir nodded and said nothing.

Loid was happy that it was him who answered the impromptu call. Virgo would have already staged an intervention and talked off his ear. Eir was much more reserved, definitely not used to offering comfort to other people, yet in this situation, Loid was grateful for a more introverted approach.

“Did he ask anything of you?”

“He just asked for help.”

“It was just a voice right, he didn’t actually appear? He didn’t lead you to the edge?”

The idea of an apparition of Albrecht appearing in the lab terrified Loid. He knew that the Indifference could wear his skin, and Loid had been warned by the Tenno to call for help immediately if the entity appeared in the labs. Yet, as far as Loid knew, he went to the edge on his own free will, however compromised it may have been.

“No. It was just a voice. In my head, but also not.” Everywhere and nowhere. A strange echo of words. “Sorry, Eir, I think I am not feeling too good after all.”

“I understand, perhaps we should sit down and eat something. If you are hungry, that is,” Eir tried his best to be accommodating. He did not have Virgo’s extensive personnel training or cutesy charisma, but Loid appreciated his efforts all the same.

The two retreated to the lounge area and Loid prepared some tea and pulled out a box of eclairs Virgo had brought him the other day. Usually saved for special occasions, but Loid decided that surviving a near death experience was special enough. He prepared them both some chamomile tea with wildflower honey and the two enjoyed their drinks and snacks in quiet peace. No more voices. After three nights of nightmares and tears, Loid finally remembered what a sliver of peace felt like.

Loid knew the Tenno worked like lightning rods - they could accumulate excess Void energy and redirect it somewhere, presumably their own bodies, and distill it in a way that brought no harm to others around them. Loid’s newfound calmness was all due to Eir’s presence. This is why he and the Tenno had an arrangement - the Tenno would visit Loid every other day to maintain optimal Void density in the labs, as well as to clean up any errant murmur. Virgo had warned Loid that, if he were to start seeing things, he should immediately call an alarm. Alas, things worked out differently this time. Worse - this wasn’t the first time Loid stayed alone for a longer while. He thought he could easily manage a week, he knew how to maintain his emotions, he knew how to manage Void exposure. Perhaps something was shifting, it was the nature of the Void after all. Ever-changing.

Loid took a sip of his tea and let the flavor linger. “I think we'll need to work on long term Void protection. I can't endlessly rely on you three,” he studied the contents of his cup as he mused.

“You're right. I have something in mind. I'm not entirely sure it will work, but it can't make things worse that's for sure,” Eir’s answer didn’t instill confidence in Loid, but he was willing to hear the Tenno out.

“Anything that will keep me from jumping down into the abyss,” Loid said.

Eir put down his cup and took off his gloves. He stretched his fingers and Loid couldn't help but notice that silver, void metal scars covered Eir’s fingers. He made a gesture in the air, whispered something and summoned a shawzin out of thin air. Its design was nothing like Loid had seen before - rounded shapes, green and white and gold colors, with void scarring littered here and there.

“It's been a while since I last played,” Eir picked at the strings. “Good that this thing is never out of tune.”

Loid smiled and answered with a slight nod.

“Close your eyes, please,” Eir settled in his chair so that he could hold the shawzin comfortably.

“Stage fright?”

“Not at all, trust me.”

Loid set down his cup and closed his eyes. Eir started playing.

Loid sunk into his chair, he relaxed his muscles and let the music wash over him. He had never heard anything this beautiful in his life. The music was everywhere, it echoed through the Sanctum, filling the vast space with a gentle dance of notes.

—

The afternoon sun dipped diagonally towards the horizon. Loid sat by the windowsill and looked over Deimos. The family had gathered in the living room after dinner, each lost in their own little world. Kaelli was practicing piano, filling the room with a familiar tune. Kermerros was surrounded by a pile of books, preparing for his next exam. Loid glanced over at Albrecht, who was diligently editing a manuscript, his pen moving with swift determination. Grandmother just as diligently was working on a new embroidery. Euleria and Vilcor had found a cozy spot on the couch and were simply enjoying their daughter’s chamber concerto. Everyone was in their place. Loid was happy.

—

The nightmares stopped. Loid finally slept well. Whatever Eir played on his shawzin not only stopped the voices and the phantoms but left Loid feeling content. Even the Cavia seemed happier than usual. Work improved. The Tenno brought him new materials and the Vessel project moved forward.

Hope. 

Loid hoped that soon Virgo would step into the Vessel and go back to 1999. 

And then. 

And then.

He might see him again.

[alteredsilicone]

did i say that, while in Duviri, Albrecht wrote a profile on all nine Drifters to judge them for viability for his Project and he put Viri as dead last?

as in, she was least likely to be the Chosen Operator-

[alteredsilicone]

Jade Shadows spoilers but spinning ideas for my Viriverse

Jade in Nidus' colors.

Stalker arrived at the Orbiter but instead of the Operator he found Voland and Umbra who were ready to kill him but Stalker actually decided to Tell His Story and Voland was all "By the Stars, bring her here STAT" and Stalker was all "I can't" so Voland went with him back to Uranus, used parasitic link on Jade and they transported her to Artemis' Orbiter where Voland used Helminth infusions on Jade to heal her.

She regains her strength and is no longer in mortal peril. She gives birth to the Warframe baby and doesn't die and is no longer pregnant.

There, happy ending that I am satisfied with. Stalker and Jade and their baby return to Uranus and live happily ever after.

Artemis returns and Voland and Umbra tell her about the Warframe Birth and she is just all "you GOTTA be shitting me".

Artemis, Iris, Virgo and Eir go do ascension missions and when Green Stalker appears they all collectively shit their pants (metaphorically).

Voland promised Stalker and Jade he would not make a Huge Deal out of this ordeal so the couple can live in peace, but once Parvos appears and tries to steal Jade's light powers, the two are forced to act. That's how they team up with the Virisquad.

[alteredsilicone]

Loid didn't know about the Old War which means he also didn't know about the Rebellion.

Artemis: did anyone tell him we wiped out the Orokin?

Eir: No...

Artemis, running away

Virgo: TEMI NO!!!

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thinking of a concept that once the Drifters leave Duviri, citizens that take their place manifest

The Bard is what Eir used to be, also now there's a Judge and a Knight and a Botanist and a Jester.

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The Operators wake up during different times in the post-Fall era, but by the time Lotus is gone everyone is already awake and integrated within society, so Lotus' disappearance doesn't leave them completely helpless. Viri is with Ergo Glast, Pavel is with Amaryn, Artemis is with Teshin, Sela is with Simaris.

At the same time the Drifters are living their life in Duviri until Albrecht and Teshin appear - Albrecht takes Viri and Pavel away and stashes them away somewhere in the labs, meanwhile Teshin becomes a mentor and protector of Artemis and Sela (until they too become a fugitive and a prisoner, respectively). Eir was closest to Dominus Thrax and when the King turns against the Drifters he is the first to be locked up in Dominus' tower.

Then the New War/Duviri Paradox happens and the Operator and Drifters are interlinked via the timeline collapse.

Sela, Artemis and Eir escape Duviri and later they find Viri and Pavel in the labs and then together they solve the 1999 issue. Now all Drifters and Operators are united. They coexist in some weird void-shenanigans way.

That's the simplest way I can condense the timeline without going cuckoo bananas.

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Drifter Artemis and Operator Artemis met on the Zariman during the New War (D!Artemis had broken out of Duviri).

Drifter Virgo and Operator Virgo make first contact after Whispers in the Walls (Operator protects Drifter from a Whisper via a Void mirror). They use the Paradox to communicate between 1999 and the current era.

Drifter Eir is alone, he meets Dante and learns of Eir Cain's ancestral memories.

Drifter Pavel meets Operator Pavel in Duviri, he is the first to witness the Paradox.

Drifter Sela never meets Operator Sela. Operator Iris never meets Drifter Iris. Their other selves are deceased.

Artemis, Virgo and Pavel are the only ones who can use the Paradox, as they have the correct timelines connecting.

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Albrecht as the wizened wizard and Drifter Viri as his jester travel companion

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Viri: You know what's my favorite thing about you?

Arthur: ...?

Viri: YOUR SISTER!

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Albrecht had calculated a million possible variations and outcomes and he was still surprised when it was Viri who waltzed up to him in 1999.