“An interview? Me? Like, why would you want to talk to me? You sure you don’t want to talk to one of the scientists? They have like, interesting things to talk about an’ stuff. I just take orders and kill shit.
Well yeah, for the Templars of course. And Gaia. But specifically I work for- uh, I should probably like, get clearance or something to talk abo- what? Oh, you already spoke to the director. Do you have verific-
Oh great. You do. Okaaaay. I guess I can like, answer stuff for you then.
My name is Lari, I just turned twenty-five, and I’m originally from LA. I work as a field agent for the Scarlet and Cross Research Institute. Our “front office” is like a center for paranormal research, but on the Secret World side of things we mostly fight the good fight and recover and study artifacts. Our scientists are like, totally awesome and are always coming up with great new ways to help us battle the Filth.
Me? I mostly protect the research teams and help secure locations. If I don’t have a specific mission, I’m usually in Tokyo fighting the Filth. The docks are a fuc- umm, freaking mess still, but we’re finally getting closer to the tower.
Hmm? Oh I typically use my assault rifle and elementalism.
HA! No, I certainly didn’t have any combat training prior to joining the Secret World. Like, at all. Unless you count like, having to deal with stupid retail customers as ‘combat’. Though seriously, I like fighting zombies better because you can shoot them in the face when they come at you all, “Arhgkfkugh these shoes were supposed to be half price! Aururghh!” BAM!
Pfft, I have no clue why Gaia chose me. Was it some kind of weird bee lotto? Maybe Gaia’s like, an equal-opportunity employer and was all, ‘Gosh, we need some low-income cashiers from the inner city to help fight the coming darkness.’ I don’t get it, but who am I to question Gaia? Not that I’m complaining, mind you. My life freaking sucked before I got bee’d. I’d spent my entire adult life supporting me and my sister, just barely getting by. I mean yeah, now I occasionally get mauled by werewolves, but at least it’s something I can like, just deal with. BOOM. SPLAT. Problem gone. You can’t shoot overdue bills. Well, I guess technically you could but it like, wouldn’t really solve anything and then the neighbors would like, call the police and crap because there’s gunfi-
What? Oh well yeah, of course it took a while to get used to. Like, seriously, the first time they took me into the Crucible I freaked out so bad that they literally had to drag me out because my hysterical screaming was ‘upsetting’ the other newbees. There was also like, other shit going on with me that was making things worse, but I like, don’t want to get into it or whatever. Um, next question?
My motivation? Um, hello, end of the world? Yeah, I’d like to stop that.
Personally? Well, umm… it’s kinda like this: Filth is like mutated anima, right? So I see the Filth as like, Gaia having cancer. And when my mom was in the hospital I learned that white blood cells are the kind of cells that fight off bad things in your body. And I think when the Filth started attacking, Gaia needed more ‘white blood cells’ and that’s why there’s so many bees right now. I dunno. Maybe that’s why Gaia chose me. Because she knew I’d fight for her.
Why? Because… because I couldn’t save my mom. By the time she got diagnosed, she only had about three months left. There was nothing I could do. I’d drive her to her appointments and I got a second after-school job, and cooked and cleaned and took care of my younger sister, but I was powerless to stop the cancer that was killing her. I felt so helpless. But now I have a second chance, ya know? To save Earth-mom. And she’s given me the ability to fight her cancer, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let her down. Even if I’m surrounded by an ocean of Filth, I’m going to be throwing everything I’ve got at it until the moment I die and don’t come back. Speaking of which, I’d need to get going. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Source: The Secret World #IAMTSW Backstory Entry for Lariane “Lariane” Simmons
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