eachdraidh | video | morning after the audience | unseelie & open non-locket comms

video | morning after the audience | unseelie & open non-locket comms

[ It's safe to say that Ariadne has never been this upset about anything in her entire life. She tends to smile, with large, gentle eyes. She does not tend to look murderous.

She does today.

Her trust has been broken, betrayed. Her people have been caught in the storm that Reynard started. Her mind has been violated, her companion dead.

When she speaks, her voice starts out calm. Cold. ]

So. When were we all going to start sharing what we know about the Cult of the Fox?

[ A breath and then she snarls. ]

Because it turns out they're wearing shard masks that let them look like anyone and they can get into your memories and mind control you to the point that you'll hang yourself.

[ It takes a tremendous amount of effort not to throw something. ]

That lying little fuck and those like him know how to use shards even when they're masks. If we don't stop sitting on our information then they're going to tear us apart from the inside. Do not trust anyone without- somehow verifying it's them, though I don't know how when they can do that much.

If you're staying at Diasbaile -- get to work or get out. I don't know how many people might still be under his spell but he's destroyed wards and rooms on the top two floors, read what was in my office if he didn't just steal it.

Everyone- be on your guard. And share your information, because otherwise we're all fighting this blind and then everyone is dead.

[ locked to steve rogers & sam wilson; ]
You need to get out of the Station. Just in case. Bucky's with me, he- we're not okay, he was with me when it happened, neither of us remember anything after a point. But we'll look after each other; he at least knows I'm me.

[ locked to grell, jason todd, loki, & waver velvet; ]
Gaff died in the Battle of Falling Fire. It was a cultist all along. Grell, can you watch Diasbaile? I can only assume that he'll know what I would do, but he didn't get in your head.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're going on about cults and foxes and shards and Vulcan mind melds.. how about you start from the beginning instead of scaring everyone?

Chloe, have you paid attention to anything at all in the past year and a half or is it only if it's something you can sell?

Since I got here, I've chased after the bloody moon, crashed a flying ship in a battle, and been on my own trying to get by for a year without much of a word from anyone. We're not all her majesty's pet, lording over land while worshipers follow us around, your grace.

The only person who's even mentioned a Fox Cult to me was Ganondorf, and he's gone, just like anyone else I ever called a friend around here.

[She hasn't had much luck with those.]

Ganandorf told me it was a cult that wanted to take over for the monarchs. You've got a cult. They threw you a festival, for Christ's sake. I just figured that was normal around here. Normal as it gets, anyway.

Then maybe you should start paying attention.

[ And she hangs up. ]

[There's an exasperated sigh as she's hung up on.]

You little bitch.

[He's not any happier, but he knows Chloe, and after Ariadne's last reply, it seems like she might need some help with this one.

Plus, he knows Chloe. So, he'll help.

Well, "knows." But at least he's a friendly face.]

Hey there, Chloe. Why don't you direct the questions my way instead? Ariadne's not really up for being the FAQ you're looking for right now, but I'm game.

[A friendly face is appreciated. She doesn't count too many of those these days.]

It's not that, Jason. You can't declare an enemy and expect everyone to draw their swords just because you say, There's the enemy! This isn't our world. We're all just trying to keep our heads from month to month. You can't expect everyone to know about everything just because you think they should. If this is such a big thing, why has there never been a meeting about it? For all of us?

She says we should share what we know, but I don't see her sharing a damn thing.

You've got it all wrong. She assumed you'd ... that everyone would know what was going on. A common base of knowledge, you see? But you don't know, and that's fine. [Something about what he's saying is not confirming those words. Jason absolutely is judging the hell out of Chloe for not knowing about this.]

There has been a Cult of the Fox 'round for a while. Once led by a man named Reynard. His goal was to set up a third court. While he's ... said to be dead now, no one knows for sure. I don't know everything, but his little posse lives on, screwing with everyone. And clearly, they're powerful.

Last year, in Daonna, they staged a show for everyone. They gathered a bunch of shardbearers, Unseelie and Seelie alike, and hung them. Or, perhaps, made them hang themselves.

They're callous, vicious, and willing to screw with anyone and anything. They send out meaningless warnings to people, showing them that they can kill them. But these aren't necessary. They just want to screw with everyone.

Both Seelie and Unseelie forces alike have been dealing with these bastards for a while. You just haven't come across it because of ... luck, probably, or a disinterest in the general ideals of the war. That's my best guess.

But here we are now.

Are we on the same page yet?

Oh right, I must've forgotten to watch the nightly news that day. My cable must be on the fritz. [She's certainly picking up on his judgment of her.]

And it seems to me they want to screw with her.

[Chloe can't say she's ever had a run-in with these people who want to screw with everyone, and aside from Ganondorf, she hasn't heard the cult spoken of, so they didn't seem like such a big deal with it not being on everyone's lips.]

The same page? [She gives him an exhausted smile.] Darling, we're miles apart.

Just.. forget it.

Word spreads. [That's all he has to say on that. Jason had done some basic detective work into the matter, but the Cult had been too tidy. And he hadn't been swift enough, forced to work at night.]

They're screwing with everyone. You can see it as her, but two of my closest friends were almost just forced to kill themselves. The Diasbaile has been my home for the last year. And all those people, all of them, just got screwed with.

How is that so damn hard to see?

I'm sure it does.

[She doubts she's the only one confused by all of this.]

Sweetheart, I'm sorry about your home. And your friends. I really am.

[She's never been to Diasbaile, but now doesn't seem like a great time to tour it.]

But watching a woman be hysterical over the lockets doesn't really tell me what we should do about all this. Except apparently not trust anyone. Which means we shouldn't even be having this conversation.

Yeah, seems like she might be upset after nearly killing herself against her will. [The words snap out like a whip. He's irritated that he has to keep pointing this out. Is she so damn caught up in herself that she can't consider the ramifications?]

She'll calm down, but you know who seems like she's calm already? You. Consider yourself in her shoes. Consider the fact that she's trying to help, and ... oh, I don't know, that maybe she's been in the dark for months about some of this. That's why she's requesting information. And right now, she's shaken and afraid that someone she cares about is going to turn out to be this guy returning, screwing with her head all over again.

[Jason is trying to ... trying to keep his voice calm and level. But he's already brimming with irritation. Chloe isn't helping with all the other factors.]

Alright, alright. I get your point.

[It's true, Chloe is not the most empathetic woman. It comes from a life of survival of the fittest. Hers is a world where you can't go around caring about everyone. You live a shorter life if you do. She's no hero. Or at least, she never wants to be.]

Ever heard of The Barrel? I've heard they've got some real nice books out there. You should go have a look at them.

[Where is Nate when she needs him? He does all the reading.]

Alright. Thanks for the information.

No problem. And lay off Ariadne for a while. [A long while. But he doesn't say it.]

Don't worry, I intend to.

But tell her I'm sorry, alright?

Can do. Can't promise she'll take it well, but time heals all things, right? That's the cliché anyway.

I don't think I believe that one, but sure.

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video | morning after the audience | unseelie & open non-locket comms

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