eachdraidh | video;

[ There are two brown puppies eating a Christmas pudding off the floor when the camera activates, little tails wagging as they trip over paws that they have yet to grow into. Their muzzles are oddly long even now, but they're not quite as bulky as they will be -- not yet.

A quiet chuckle from behind the locket reveals, to those who may have heard it, the surprising owner of the pups -- the Outsider. The smaller of the pups looks up from the pudding at the sound and scampers over, whining and pawing at his legs until the Outsider bends down to scoop the little one up. The locket, which is floating in midair via magic, is pushed back -- just in time for any viewers to watch as the pup attempts to burrow into the Outsider's shirt. ]

You are unlike others of your kind, little one, [ the god murmurs, smoothing a hand over floppy brown ears. The other pup is still eating the pudding, though at this point it looks more like she's getting in a fight with it. ]

In my world, Wolfhounds are kept and trained by Overseers of the Abbey to hunt heretics. That I should now have a pair myself is rather ironic and more than a little amusing. But then, they are terribly intelligent creatures.

[ The small pup licks at his chin and he starts, blinking. The locket turns off just as his mouth twists up until a slight smile. ]

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She was in good spirits when we spoke, the same as always.

[ It's a pleasant thought and it would bring her security as strange as that is. A chaos god who makes her feel safe when she's plagued with a number of nightmares. He's a good friend. ]

Good. I'm glad for all of this nonsense to be done with. Up until the next prat takes his place.

With the Fox dead and what was stolen reclaimed? Of course.

[ Still. It could have unnerved her. ]

The natives are certainly rather upset that we're here.

I cannot fault them for that.

[ Alice eventually gets tired of sitting there, carefully splaying herself right between the puppies. She's tired, she just may hang out here for a little while longer. ]

Regardless of where we stand, it is they who are caught in the middle of our war. They're the ones who suffer the most. I would be angry, too.

Yes. Though it would seem their anger is misplaced -- we were not the ones who brought us here, after all.

[ But perhaps they fear the monarchs too much to actively speak out against them. ]

Under the most dire situations, fear and anger often are the more natural emotions. It is irrational, but still something I understand. The war has damaged them enough.

[ So says the girl who was once in an asylum. ]

One can understand it and still not agree with it.

[ After all, he knows people. He's watched them for a very, very long time. The common reaction bores him. ]

Then if it is any consolation, I did take a fist to one of them. I think I'll be fine without hearing the word "shard" for a while.

[ She doesn't want to hear it; she didn't ask for the damn thing and came close to ripping it out of her chest herself. ]

[ There's a blink and then the Outsider laughs. ]

I imagine they did not expect that reaction.

Most do not expect that from me; sometimes being small has it's advantages in being deceptive.

[ With how she usually dresses, she looks younger. She loathes to admit it, but she can get through things very easy if she chooses it. ]

Certainly. You could have worked with some ferocious women, in my world.

[ Though perhaps Delilah would not have taken to her as much as he has. ]

Are they that terrible?

[ Since she's just that terrible, herself. ]

The Brigmore Witches, they called themselves. Their leader, Delilah, put magic into her art.

[ And then Daud had to do away with her. ]

Into her art, you say. What sort of magic? What was it like?

It would depend. She could speak through her statues or her paintings. Capture souls in them. Paint portals into the Void, even.

Was she one of your marked?

She was, yes.

[ Past tense. ]

[ He's so great about humoring her curiosity. It doesn't stop there. ]

So, then, was she killed or did she die?

She attempted to possess the young Empress-to-be. Another of my Marked stopped her.

[ Of course, she should asked why he would do that in the first place, but he has stated a few times before. He does it with those who are interesting. She shrugs it off -- it serves her right, doesn't it? It must get boring sitting there in the Void. ]

I suppose that's good, especially for someone so young. You have interesting followers, certainly.

I certainly do. My other Marked had grown rather boring until he fell into that role. [ Until he killed the Empress. ] It was certainly exciting to watch.

[ That doesn't make her feel inferior or anything. ]

She sounded so sure of herself, much like that man you spoke of that left you tributes and demanded your attention. Are there many mortals like that in your world?

There are many who are proud, power-hungry, yes. There are also many more who are simply trying to survive.

Is that because of a war or something else?

[ She's already gathered from his commentary the death of a political leader has happened, so things must be chaotic. ]

The rat plague.

[ Things were chaotic before Jessamine was killed -- they only grew worse. ]

[ Curiously, Alice pulls herself up, just a little, she doesn't disturb the puppies. He has mentioned rats a few times. ]

That wasn't your doing, was it?

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