video | unseelie

[extramural]

[ The locket, as always, is held up in mid-air when the Outsider turns it on. He is not alone in this recording, though; behind him are four women in long, gauzy black dresses and veils. With them are several children, eyes all black; the women are gently ushering them along the shore of the beach behind them while two massive dogs run back and forth.

In the distance is the black line of the Void, creeping over the ocean.

Next to the Outsider is another one of the children, and next to him the resemblance is clear: the same eyes, the same curious tilt to the head, the same bony cheeks. The child looks a bit more fey, but he sticks close to his sire, hands clutching to his arm. ]

Do not harm the children, [ the Outsider begins, and his voice is cold, shows every century of age and power. ] Do not harm the children or we will use your blood and bones, and you will be lucky if you are dead when we start.

[ A large palm smooths over the hair of his son. A daughter comes up on the other side, humming. She smiles at him and her teeth are sharp and red. The Outsider leans in so she can murmur in his ear. ]

Ah, yes. Should anyone find themselves with a need to desecrate shrines further -- the same warning applies to you. I will know, should you touch one of mine.

[ His daughter giggles and takes the hand of his son, and the two go to join the others. The Outsider watches, head half-turned. A seagull swoops down and perches on his shoulder, ruffles its wings, and the feed ends. ]

Comments

[video]

[chaoticwhimsy]

[He always sounds warm to her, but they're weird. She grins and closes her locket, and perhaps a minute later she's swirling into existence nearby in her typical chaotic crystalline fashion.]

[She doesn't come running over though, just eying the children almost tentatively, giving the girl another wave.]

[extramural]

[ His daughter waves back, almost shy. The wolfhounds come rushing over, barking happily; they know Lumina, adore her. The Outsider watches, a hint of a smile lingering along his lips. ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

[She starts forward, but only makes it a step or so before she's accosted by the two dogs, who barrel into her and knock her down with a happy shout.]

Hi, okay, okay stop, I missed you too come on stop...

[She managed to push the boy away from licking her face eventually, and then the two dogs got distracted by something and took off again, leaving her sitting there laughing softly and wiping at her face.]

[extramural]

[ All things seek out joy where they can find it. The wolfhounds rush back to the Maidenfish and the other children while the Outsider and his daughter walk forward.

She is a friend? the girl asks, and the Outsider answers in the affirmative. Her teeth are sharp, eyes intent, fingers toying with her hair. She is kind to us? To the sea? ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

[Lumina scrambles back to her feet, brushing off her dress and putting a look of mock annoyance before she turned to the Outsider and his kid again. The dark eyes were certainly a dead giveaway, weren't they.]

Hi there. [ She said with a smile, leaning down some to address the girl.]

I'm Lumina.

[extramural]

[ Brenna, says the girl, and she drops her fingers from her hair to reach out and gently touch Lumina's face.

The Outsider watches with something like pride. ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

[Luminaisn't really that good with children, mostlybecause back home there hadn't really been...any...by the time she'd come around. There were young people, sure,but that was hardly thesame thing.]

[So she freezes up at the touch,just for a moment, before she grins again.]

I guess you don't see a lot of people besides your dad, huh?

[extramural]

We see many, [ Brenna says, still touching Lumina's face, exploring. ] We eat many. We watch. Others are given gifts.

[ "hi i eat people" what a good way to be introduced ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

Eat people, huh?

[Lumina's eyes flicked towards the Outsider for a moment, even as she tried to hold still so the little girl could keep poking at her. Well, between the Outsider and their Fishmom there really probably wasn't any human going on there, but still.]

Only bad people, right?

[extramural]

People that hurt the sea, that hurt what's in it, [ the girl replies, stepping back to link her arms with her father's. ]

And so you ought to be safe, Lumina, [ the Outsider adds, still smiling slightly. ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

Well I am a fan of the ocean. [She said with a little grin, straightening back up and looking at the Outsider, thenback at the girl.]

So where's your dad moving you to, huh?

[extramural]

Away, [ says the Outsider, with a look back toward the black line of the Void. ] There will be nothing left here, soon, should the Void continue on its course.

[ Nothing left of the whole world, but he will buy what time he can. ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

That is not an answer, Lev. [Lumina crosses her arms.]

Away where? Do you need help?

[extramural]

They wish to stay by the coasts. For that, I cannot blame them, but... there are few places the coasts will be safe. I believe near the Brucolac's holdings would be the best, for now.

[ A beat, and- ]

If you wish to offer it.

[chaoticwhimsy]

No, I was justasking out of curiosity.

[She smirks, then laughs.]

Sure, get them in a group, I can pop them over there. [She looks at Brenna again.]

You want to see a magic trick?

[extramural]

Yes! [ And her eyes are wide, excited; she has seen magic, in her short life, but she is eager to see more.

The Outsider chuckles and teleports to the others, gathering them all to him. The group moves over the sand of the beach to where Brenna and Lumina are, the other children a bit less bold but each obviously staring, the Maidenfish moving protectively around them. ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

[Lumina grins at the younger girl's excitement.]

Good! Because this one will be a doozy.

[She reaches out and offers her hand to the girl, then straightens up as the Outsider and the others come over.]

Okay! Everyone has to hold hands a circle. But...not too big a circle.

[This was the most people she had tried at once...]

[extramural]

We could, perhaps, take multiple trips.

[ He's just saying. Still, the children gather close; none of them are particularly claustrophobic. Probably comes from being hatched. ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

That would probably be a good idea.

[Lumina said, with a little grin on her face, and before any of them could react, she teleported anyway. The chaos magic swept over all of them like a wave, and for a moment everything was shivering cold and crystalline light, and then they were standing outside of Bru's spire.]

Whew. [Lumina let out a breath and then dropped back onto her rear, clearly short of breath.] We made it. Go us.

[extramural]

[ Or they could do it that way. Many of the children gasp, the Maidenfish flutter a bit in distress, but the Outsider is calm, cool. He checks over them each and then ushers them toward the water. ]

Thank you.

[chaoticwhimsy]

[Lumina grinned at that, though she remained sitting, looking through the kids until she spotted Brenna again.]

See? Magic.

[extramural]

[ Brenna laughs and tugs a bone charm out, offering it to Lumina. ]

For luck, [ she says, suddenly shy again. ]

[chaoticwhimsy]

[And Lumina almost looks embarrassed as she takes the charm.]

...Thank you.

[She pulls her necklace off to clip it there, along with the other two she has been given so far.]

[extramural]

You're welcome, [ Brenna says, then, after a moment, decides to go and run toward her siblings to the sea. ]

She's fond of you, I think.

[chaoticwhimsy]

Well I am pretty hard to resist. [She grinned as she stood, brushing off her dress.]

She's cute, though. [She looked at the bone charm she had been given.] Soooo...do I have to worry about this having some kind of unknown magical power?