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]

[semiurge]

[ Billy Kaplan is always concerned when kids are at risk. Even if the kids look kind of creepy and like they can probably take care of themselves. ]

Wait, has someone been threatening your kids? Are they okay?

[video]

[extramural]

Other than the Void?

[ The children look around five years old, each and every one. The little boy peers at Billy through the locket, head tilting. ]

They are predators, each and every one. People fear what they do not understand. And gods and their worshipers clash and snarl, and are unafraid of killing those connected.

Re: [video]

[semiurge]

The Void kind of goes without saying. [ Or at least Billy thought it did.

He'll wave back to the little boy, before focusing back on the conversation. ]

It sounds like the same old story everywhere.

[extramural]

It is an old one. Human nature is not so different across the worlds, across time. I have seen it many times before.

It is only the first time in centuries that I have had cause to care.

[ The boy ducks his head, watching Billy with his dark eyes. Curious, but cautious. ]

[semiurge]

I guess kids do that to you. [ Make you care, that is. ]

Back home, people are afraid of what mutants, what people like me, can do.

[ He'll keep a friendly face on for the kid, but he's not going to bug him if he's being shy. ]

[extramural]

I am hated, back home. Those that follow me are hunted. And here, it is the same for shardbearers.

Children are often used to get at their parents. I have seen it before.

[ Isn't this just a cheerful conversation. ]

[semiurge]

[ This is the most cheerful conversation. Too bad Billy doesn't have a clue about how to turn it around. ]

Yeah, it's a lot of the same old thing. Which sucks.

[extramural]

[ That's okay, the Outsider is sometimes easily distracted. ]

We have not met.

[semiurge]

Oh, sorry. We haven't. [ Whoops, sometimes introductions are easy to forget, when the conversation starts off serious. ]

I'm Billy. I kind of still feel pretty new here, even after the last year.

[extramural]

The Outsider.

[ He nods. ]

This world takes some... adjustment.

[semiurge]

So, how important is that definite article to you? [ Outsider vs The Outsider is a very important question. ]

There's someone here from home, which helps. But adjusting is still a work in progress.

[extramural]

Call me what you will.

[ He's probably heard worse, whatever Billy decides to go with. ]

I imagine it would make it more difficult, in my case. Perhaps none ever truly adjust.

[semiurge]

Okay, I'll keep the article. Unless it gets really awkward.

[ "Hey, The Outsider" just doesn't have the right ring to it. ]

Maybe in another decade it'll feel more like home. [ His tone totally indicates his doubts here. ]

[extramural]

If we have another decade.

[ #optimism ]

But perhaps it will. Some have adjusted readily enough. I am simply... not used to being active in the affairs of any world.

[semiurge]

I'm going to be optimistically naive and keep hoping this universe has another decade. Even if I'd like to go home long before that.

[ The longer he's here, the more Billy wonders if any of them will ever make it home. ]

Yeah? I'm used to being active in my world, but not always hugely active. My team has moments.

[extramural]

If that is all this universe has, that is all any universe has.

[ Not a lot of people seem to be placing bets on that outcome. ]

I tend to observe, to wait for what catches my eye.

[semiurge]

Yeah, it sounds worse when you say it.

[ There's no real sting to the comment. ]

Something must have. [ Glances at the kids again. ]

[extramural]

Ah, yes. Many things do, in this world.

But their mother is chief among them.

[semiurge]

That's pretty awesome. Finding someone, I mean.

[ Billy's imagining an epic romance now. ]

[extramural]

There are many people here.

[ He doesn't understand what you mean, sorry Billy. ]

But she is... unlike most others.

[semiurge]

[ It takes him a few seconds, but he realizes that The Outsider didn't quite get it. ]

I mean, finding someone you care about enough to have kids with. That's the awesome part.

[extramural]

Oh.

[ Beat. ]

We did not... plan it.

[semiurge]

Yeah, that's not completely unusual? At home there's birth control and a lot more interest in planning babies out, but I guess that's a little harder here.

[extramural]

We did not plan the intercourse, either.

[ so blunt. I'm so sorry. ]

[semiurge]

[ Billy's eyes are going to get a little bigger, as he waves his hands in surrender. ]

Wow, tmi.