[video]

[bird_brain]

[Aubri speaks with an urgent clipped tone, though it's fairly obvious there's something distracting him: he looks to the side every now and again before his gaze flits back to the locket.]

Has anyone seen or heard from a woman named Ariadne? [There's a hint of desperation there; he's really like someone to answer him in the positive here.] She disappeared--

[And his distraction strikes again: Ariadne's bandersnatch cub is apparently doing something dumb off-screen.] Straton. [Aubri turns back to the locket.] She disappeared last night near the Station Ring. I fear--

--Straton, enough. [There's a bit of rustling off-screen and then Aubri hisses. Just before the broadcast ends, there's one more thing said -- and it's obviously not meant for the wider audience.] That is my tail. Thrice-blighted little--

[And the locket closes.]

Comments

[bird_brain]

She stepped into the shadows. [To travel, he means.] The creatures were attacking and she made to travel quickly. She never returned.

[gordianknots]

--These things are made out of shadows though, right? If she was trying to use that means of getting around then--

[Fuck.]

[bird_brain]

[A pause. If Aubri knew that word, he'd be using it.]

I am worried.

[gordianknots]

Mm. They might have simply run interference, but that's a best case scenario.

[The worst case is a place where Waver's refusing to send his mind to at the moment. Really, the only way he knows to deal with this is to try and work through it, get a solution, try and be productive in the face of someone in danger.]

Okay, the reasonable hypothesis is that this ability's been compromised. The question becomes who to talk to about determining the precise manner of what's occurred. Someone with similar abilities would be ideal.

[bird_brain]

If they did so, then she could be anywhere. [Aubri huffs and momentarily turns his attention from the locket; Straton is pouncing on something nearby and Aubri takes a moment to make sure he's not about to run off or something.]

If that is the best case scenario... [He shakes his head.] I do not know who to ask.

[gordianknots]

She could, and I have no specific names that come to mind either.

[But there's bound to be ways to ask.]

I presume other people might chime in. The subject might be worth asking after. If they don't know, they may know someone who does

[bird_brain]

I hope so. I cannot begin to guess at what might have happened.

[He can think of terrible possibilities, though.]

[gordianknots]

[So can Waver. And he doesn't like it.]

Is your fuzzy friend in the background there managing?

[bird_brain]

Managing to make a bloody mess of my tail.

[gordianknots]

Maybe find a low hanging branch and attach some string and a ball to it? It might prove to be a better distraction than your tail.

[bird_brain]

I will try it. [But he's not really focusing on Straton - that is, until the cub attacks his tail again.]

If you hear anything of her...

[gordianknots]

I will come running. And please, please keep me updated.

[bird_brain]

I will. I hate to be the bearer of such news.

[gordianknots]

This is one of those times where bad news is preferable to no news at all.

[bird_brain]

I would rather hear good news.

[gordianknots]

Hopefully it'll be forthcoming.

[bird_brain]

And soon. I will be heading for the Station. I cannot stay in the open with Straton.

[gordianknots]

Please, travel safely. And could you let me know when you get there, so I know that nothing else awful's occurred?

[bird_brain]

I will contact you.