vi. video. unseelie locked. night of the 7th.

[vrykolakas]

[News has reached the front lines. The Brucolac has rubbed his face clean for this broadcast, but his pupils are blown, blood drying in his eyebrows, and he hasn't taken off any of his armour.

He looks like cold hell.]

Those at Caer Scima who got out. The Ninth Spire has room for you; if you need to avoid the sunlight, the cellars are ready. Blood, food, medical aid, a place to sleep, whatever you may need. Go via fairy ring, or else follow the Criostal down to where it meets the sea.

I can't meet you. [He grits his teeth, rubs at one brow with a spike-gauntleted hand, sounds like he's furious at himself for it.] Needed at the front lines. Give me some days. Until I return, my captains have orders to take you in and treat you well.

Comments

video, locked;

[enthraller]

I take it things went badly at Caer Scima?

[It's not like he particularly cares for the Unseelie court in general, and it's probably for the best that the Seelie strike a heavy enough blow to balance things out again. But he's been reminded again and again lately that the lockets are monarch-monitored, so his expression is professional and neutral but with just enough controlled concern.]

video, locked;

[vrykolakas]

Rubble. Reul may be dead. The Jabberwock is out.

video, locked;

[enthraller]

That's... far more badly than I was optimistically hoping to hear.

video, locked;

[vrykolakas]

Teach you to be fucking optimistic. Shit.

[He is relieved, at least, to be able to give voice to his frustrations to Saralegui, who has seen him in far worse states, without fear of looking less than reliable to any refugees who may come to his Spire for shelter.]

video, locked;

[enthraller]

[It's a rare thing, that talking with him is a relief. Especially for the Brucolac.]

Any actual details? Is the Jabberwock at least under control, or does it pose a threat to us as well? And what of those who were defending Caer Scima?

video, locked; did you know I originally saved this icon as 'u wanna go saralegui'

[vrykolakas]

I don't know, Saralegui. It's premature. Was meant to be born this spring, not...

[Shrugging, for a moment looking almost distractedly fearful, eyes unfocused, before he shakes himself back into grim determination. Swallows, flicks his tongue out to wipe a rusty streak of someone else's blood from his cheekbone.]

I got the information from the White Serpent. He may know more.

video, locked; damn i have a "u wanna go" icon but it isn't appropriate here :<

[enthraller]

I can ask him if I see him, but I can't imagine where he is or what he's dealing with in the middle of all this.

[That's... actually a bit of a worrying thought, and a hint of that crosses his face, if briefly. Tzilan is painfully selfless at best and suicidal at worst. God knows what he's doing right now.]

video, locked; damn i have a "u wanna go" icon but it isn't appropriate here :<

[vrykolakas]

—you don't have a way to contact him? Shitting hell—

[And then abruptly he laughs, scrapes his hair back from his forehead, shaking his head. It's shocky and startled.]

Don't worry about the old corpse. Coordinating Kin to help refugees, Moon bless him this once. Got to move faster, Saralegui. Get your tongue down his throat before the Jabberwock punches a talon through it. I'm serious.

I've got to fuck off. Be safe.

video, locked;

[enthraller]

[That was probably just a thoughtless joke, but for a moment Saralegui's face flushes with red, and he scowls like that'll do anything to hide it.]

Shut up. [And, after a beat:] Don't die.

video, locked;

[vrykolakas]

[He hasn't gotten away with that. The Brucolac's eyebrows raise slightly, surprised and pleased, but he's good enough or just hungry enough to cut the feed, and head back to the fray.]