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[huntedby]

[Vanessa's face appears. It is clear from any that are familiar with her from times before, that she looks slightly older, a bit more tense. The careful mask is in place as usual, of course, but is pinched in certain places, cracked a bit. She's been through a great deal at home, before arriving back here.

But she is stronger for it. That is all that matters.

She will never be cowed by anyone ever again.

Still, she smiles softly looking all affable. It does't reach her eyes completely. Just along the edge of the picture, Neith can be seen, her large spider. Oh yes...her spiders are still here.]

Well well. Seems the more things change, they stay the same. We go back in time, and yet there is still the hart hunt. Constants, variables. Different facets of the same things. Truly, I suppose we can't be surprised, given the outcome of it all now, can we?

But if any of you were wondering, Arachne's Eye is still here. I'm not far from the La Llorona Ring, a day's ride or so. The town and the trade is still available, so if you are looking for a place to reside, we would be more than welcome to have you. My guards and soldiers came with me, so I can offer you safety, as well. For as usual, we have no idea what might happen.

While this is the past...the future is still unwritten. We have all the chance to shape it, now, do we not?

And those new of you to the Drabworld, that I have not yet spoken with, I am Vanessa Ives.

As someone who has been here a long time, a bit of advice: heed what you say on these devices. You may trust your fellow shardbearers, but allegiance does not always go both ways. And that goes in all things.

[A beat, then, she tilts her head, and a brighter smile hits her lips.]

On another note, Balem is no longer here. So it seems I am now a widow. A terrible shame, but, well.

We suffer on as we must.

Comments

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[desperate_times]

[Chloe looks a bit amused.]

You must be devastated at the loss of your husband. However will you go on without a man to lean upon.

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[huntedby]

I am utterly dejected, as you can well tell. [She smiles, glad to see you, Chloe.]

I'll have to somehow manage again, like all us women without men do. It is a struggle.

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[desperate_times]

[The smile is returned.]

Yeah, sure is. Sometimes I'm not sure how I even get out of bed in the morning.

But it sounds like you're struggling on. How brave of you.

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[huntedby]

That is one thing I have always found about us women. No matter what sort we are--we are always brave.

...and how are you? We have not spoken since the strange regression.

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[gordianknots]

[Waver's been trying to reassemble the past history since he arrived in the Drabwurld, nineteen year old and only hearing stories about his much older self. The mention of devices being monitored has his attention, but the best way to phrase it is a bit beyond him at the moment.]

How much damage have these devices caused in the past?

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[huntedby]

[Vanessa looks at the device name. And--

--what--]

Waver?

[Oh good god, what has happened.]

[gordianknots]

[And like that, all the air's out of Waver, making him more like a deflated balloon, full of utter disappointment.]

Let me guess, you knew older me as well.

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[huntedby]

[The video flashes with someone who looks like they've lost something profound. After what happened back home? This cuts too close to the quick.

She shuts the video off quickly.]

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[huntedby]

[She comes back ten minutes later, composed once more. She looks a bit red in the eyes, but her face is stone.]

I did, yes. We were good friends.

But as you do not remember that, it doesn't matter. We should start anew.

[fuckchild]

I guess a black widow suits you better than a scorpion.

[That's horrible Dante.]

[huntedby]

Well, you do realize that many scorpions are black as well, Dante.

[A little hint of amusement.]

[fuckchild]

Do scorpions kill the guy and eat them whole?

[Yeah, yeah, whatever with that logic stuff]

[huntedby]

Yes, actually, if the men do not leave quickly enough.

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[depicted]

[What to say to that. The world has changed and hasn't; they have changed and are the same.

But perhaps some air has been cleared between them. Perhaps there was a chance to walk forward after all of this.]

It'll be a terrible shame to see you locked in black parramatta for the next couple years. You wear colour so well.

[Also, crape is a bitch. At least whenever Dorian was made to go into mourning, he just ended up stuck in black suits. So nice they aren't in Victorian England anymore.]

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[huntedby]

[The joke should land, it should.

But instead, her smile falters.]

I have other reasons to wear black, Dorian.

You look well, though. I am glad to see it.

[wakens]

Have shardbearers been known to betray each other?

[ pausing, but wanting to be polite: ]

My condolences for your husband.

[huntedby]

Humans betray eachother every day. Why would a shard change that?

[She has betrayed shardbearers, herself.]

I was sarcastic.

It was an arranged marriage, one I didn't want. I'm sure he's back in his own world now. [He never did tell her that he was dead.]

[wakens]

You're right, of course. I was making the assumption that people with something in common in a foreign place tend to stick together.

[ his mistake, and he should know better, after all. ]

Oh. Then...Congratulations? [ he looks uncertain, but he tries to pass that off with a smile. ] Was it something your court arranged?

[huntedby]

That lasts only for so long; then people go back to their own nature. Goodness without practicality is rarely rewarded in the world.

[she should know.]

Yes it was. As punishment, for something I had little control over--but that is old history now...something that happened in the far future. And something that will never happen again.

It must be strange for you newcomers to know that you are in the past...but it isn't that for you, at all.

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[benumbing]

A shame. You have my condolences, Baroness. And what of your late husband's bees?

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[huntedby]

I haven't seen them; but if they are still here, I'll take care of them.

I'm royalty--they'll answer to me.

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[fulminants]

[ Aw, it's a shame that her husband isn't around anymore; but she doesn't look too broken up about it, so it's a good thing, yeah? Johnny brightens when he sees her, grinning. ]

My lady. [ He remembers the manners she's taught him. Nothing like a babe who's good at whipping him into shape, yeah? ] Well, you're a sight for sore eyes.

[ Okay, so mostly into shape. He just can't help flirting with beautiful women. It's a thing. ] I'm definitely hoping you're not doing much of the suffering, yeah?

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[huntedby]

[Oh Johnny. She missed you. After everything she went through back at home, your lightness is something she truly needs.]

I missed you as well, Mister Storm.

And no, I am not. I am always moving forward. It's the only thing to truly do, isn't it?

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[fulminants]

That, and party. [ Johnny tells her cheerfully, because they've got an immense lack of that in the past many months, what with all the deaths and war and all. ]

Though I'm sure you're not so on board with the second one. Anyway, I got kicked out to Everwinter; Gailleann's there now, so if you'd like to come and visit, my doors and my finest rooms are always open to you.

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[huntedby]

The last party I went to went...very poorly, Johnny. I fear you'll find my a bit skiddish towards such things, myself.

[Hallucinating people dancing in raining blood...

Still,]

And you, of course, are always welcome to visit Arachne's Eye. Which is in a much more hospitable area, near the Lascgrian Mountains.