eachdraidh | 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

[Okay, next question. Steve's taking them one at a time as much for his own sanity as theirs.]

Are you somewhere safe now? Is it just the two of you?

Diasbaile still. Loki went to see what she help she could get from Caer Scima. There are others here -- shardbearers, natives, people I know and people I don't.

[ The cultist could be any of them, or none of them. She doesn't know. ]

We were going to go hunting after him, but- um. Bad idea.

[The fact that she just referred to Loki as 'she', that's something to get back to later.]

It is a bad idea. It's the sort of thing I would do.

[Just to let her know how bad. To maybe relax her.]

I promise you they won't get away with this. They failed, and they've made a lot more enemies.

[ That gets at least a twitch of a smile. ]

You're right. Terrible idea.

[ She shudders. ]

We can only hope. It's- this is big, Steve. I'm getting information that suggests they can pretend to have the shard of either court. And the monarchs just threatened everyone for so much as speaking to the opposite court, but the only way to beat this is if we're all trying.

It's all just one thing after another.

[It's a start.]

I'd bet that the monarchs know a lot more about this cult too. They want to keep us focused on the war. They know something like this would distract us. Maybe even unite us.

[He pauses to just sort of gaze at her, the way he always does whenever he gets the chance.]

He hurt you.

[ Immediately, sharply: ] Morla is the one who told me, when I said who I thought he was, that he wasn't. The Cult being after shards makes them a threat to the courts and the war, too.

[ She is not in the mood to argue about her mom, Steve.

But a moment later and she doesn't so much relax as slump. ]

He- I thought he was a prisoner, someone who needed my help. I rescued him. I healed him, I looked after him, and he... He played with my mind, with the minds of my people, of Bucky and Loki, he-

[ Her trembling is almost violent now, and Ariadne has to take a breath, gripping Bucky's hand off-screen. ]

He wanted me specifically. And if I get half a chance...

[He's not going to argue. Not everyone has had the secrets and lies experience from the higher-ups the way he has.]

You'll get that chance. He thought your kindness was a weakness, but anyone who knows you knows that you're stronger. Smarter too.

Just focus on being safe right now. Please? For me.

[ A conversation for another time, maybe. ]

I- yeah. I'll try.

[ She slumps a little further, dragging a hand through her hair. ]

Not a lot of things feel safe, right now.

You won't get much safer than Bucky.

[Steve knows he won't hesitate to eliminate anything he deems to be a threat, would kill without a second thought. He's grateful for that right about now.]

Take care of each other.

[Because Steve can't, and nothing about that feels right.]

We will.

[ Another little smile, still strained, still pained, but- it's a start. ]

Always do.

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

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