αstσríα (ώίţςħέşş-şάή) (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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acatalepsy_rpg2019-01-18 08:27 pm
acatastoria) wrote in acatalepsy_rpg2019-01-18 08:27 pm
( ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ ) | ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ᴛʜᴀᴛ?
[ a message is sent out to all members of the circle -- a sudden image, projected from their wrists. and, perhaps to your surprise, it is of astoria, sitting by lake dona, staring into the water, looking as if she’s staring off into nothingness. but she seems to be talking to something -- or someone -- her voice tilting in an odd strain. ]
Alcina? [ her voice is soft, uncertain -- puzzled, confused. ] What are you doing here?
[ the only issue is that . . . there doesn’t seem to be anyone there. astoria is talking to the water, but there is nothing -- no hologram, no image, no person or creature standing there. Indeed, it just seems like astoria is talking to herself. ]
What have I done? [ her tone is immediately defensive, and her arms wrap around herself, her tone taking on a low, hissing tone -- unbecoming, really, of the normally bright and bubbly astoria. ] I am doing what we were intended to do, what we must do in order to save this universe. [ but she seems to pause, then, and she closes her eyes, murmuring to herself: ] You are not real, you are dead, there is no one here, I am waiting for them to return, they will be back soon . . .
[ there’s another gap of silence, almost awkwardly placed, before astoria sucks in a breath, looking shocked. ]
How are you speaking? [ it’s a sudden demand, as astoria lurches to her feet -- a graceless motion, from someone who typically quasi-floats through the air. ] You are dead. I am here, alone, and I was alone because of you. It lead to ruin because of you.
[ astoria’s voice sounds strained, and light dances at the end of her fingertips, digging into the flesh of her arms. vines and flowers begin to grow around her bare feet, curling around her legs, and spreading outward from her . . . a rampant sea of life, spiraling outward with every breath that she takes. the light grows as she inhales sharply, ripples emanating from astoria out into the lake, whatever energy she seems to be exuding disturbing the water. the sky darkens, a wind whipping from her fingertips, clouds abruptly rolling in . . . it almost looks as if a storm is coming, but the rain has not begun yet. ]
Leave!
Alcina? [ her voice is soft, uncertain -- puzzled, confused. ] What are you doing here?
[ the only issue is that . . . there doesn’t seem to be anyone there. astoria is talking to the water, but there is nothing -- no hologram, no image, no person or creature standing there. Indeed, it just seems like astoria is talking to herself. ]
What have I done? [ her tone is immediately defensive, and her arms wrap around herself, her tone taking on a low, hissing tone -- unbecoming, really, of the normally bright and bubbly astoria. ] I am doing what we were intended to do, what we must do in order to save this universe. [ but she seems to pause, then, and she closes her eyes, murmuring to herself: ] You are not real, you are dead, there is no one here, I am waiting for them to return, they will be back soon . . .
[ there’s another gap of silence, almost awkwardly placed, before astoria sucks in a breath, looking shocked. ]
How are you speaking? [ it’s a sudden demand, as astoria lurches to her feet -- a graceless motion, from someone who typically quasi-floats through the air. ] You are dead. I am here, alone, and I was alone because of you. It lead to ruin because of you.
[ astoria’s voice sounds strained, and light dances at the end of her fingertips, digging into the flesh of her arms. vines and flowers begin to grow around her bare feet, curling around her legs, and spreading outward from her . . . a rampant sea of life, spiraling outward with every breath that she takes. the light grows as she inhales sharply, ripples emanating from astoria out into the lake, whatever energy she seems to be exuding disturbing the water. the sky darkens, a wind whipping from her fingertips, clouds abruptly rolling in . . . it almost looks as if a storm is coming, but the rain has not begun yet. ]
Leave!
no subject
[ A few things:
1. Lucina is coughing up dirt and sea water. It's been that sort of day.
2. Despite Astoria's descriptor as a witch, Lucina's understanding of her is much more grandoise. Tharja is a witch, and she lacks the power to tug people through time and space. No, Astoria's power rings significantly more divine to Lucina's limited worldview, and she defaults to overwhelming respectful because of it.
None of that is more important than Astoria's current agitated state, however. Lucina sits up hurriedly on her knees and kind of just smacks at her watch, because history has taught her that if she does that enough, eventually it will connect. ]
Are you in danger?
[ And 3. She's dumb. ]
no subject
[ Not that Zee doesn't understand, and... Well... ]
Not that I don't understand. I've had an outburst or two, just like that. After my fiancee--
[ Much like Astoria, Zee is normally quite bright, quite bubbly, and the strain shows in her mouth and the way she stops for a moment. ]
Left.
no subject
Let's file that one away for later, shall we? ]
But we just got back, darling. [tone sobers] And I don't believe we've a place to return to.
video;
It felt like there was a lot to unpack here, but that felt like something he'd have to figure out later. Instead, he decides to quietly clear his throat. ]
Is this... [ Not normal. This definitely was not normal. ] ...usual?
[ Any of this? ]
1.
You made it.
[ faintly. ]
You made it, so she -- she was wrong. Incorrect, wrong. [ murmured to herself, her hair falling into her eyes. ] She was wrong, and you are all fine. Here, at the Temple, but Akvos . . .
[ disconnected from her. she can't feel it anymore. ]
no subject
But Akvos.. I wish I could say we succeeded.
[the screams of fear, of the dying. the faces lost as she was ripped back to this world. It's something she won't forget, no matter how much she might lie to herself otherwise in days to come.
Let's focus eyes forward, shall we?]
Forgive my manners, though. You seemed to be have been talking to someone. Was I interrupting?
1.
[ who was that -- ah, lucina, and astoria looks toward the image of lucina, her brow furrowed, almost trying to place out what . . . she might be taking about. the vines curl over astoria's arm, then, but she doesn't seem bothered by the plantlife reacting to how she moves, how she breathes. ]
No -- no, I am in no danger, I . . . no, not anymore. She is gone, she will stay gone.
[ she seems definitive, about that, before she becomes distracted, glancing back out toward the water. ]
But I could . . . hear her. I could -- did you hear her? Did anything come to your ears?
no subject
... no, your Grace. Only your voice, and her name.
[ "Alcina."
What a trip. ]
audio;
but then, within the static, a voice. it sounds a bit like a whisper, but is just clear enough to be made out. ]
No- None of this is usual. None of this is how it is supposed to be.
voice.
Alcina is going to have to wait. These people need someone who has it together and right now you're in the le-
[Excuse him. He's pausing here to vomit violently as you do.]
voice.
[ it's said with a particular emphasis, but recognition is a good thing, isn't it? the vomiting makes her cringe, slightly, before she continues speaking, her voice . . . absent. ]
The world is dead. It's gone. I can't feel it any longer, it's . . . not . . .
[ she trails off for a moment. ]
The merpeople can live in Lake Dona. They will not be harmed here. They can remain safe.
no subject
...Did... we fail?
[ Putting it right out there. It felt horrible, but that's what it feels like. ]
no subject
Yes. But it is not your fault. You-
[ but then the static ends, abruptly. no matter how he responds, there will be no further answer. ]
no subject
[He swallow thickly. Focus, Rogers. She never replies for long.] How that all went wrong... Let's talk about that later, alright? Tell me we'll talk about it later. Please.
voice }
But this ... the way things ended ...
Her voice is teetering in that place between anger, grief and shock and she opts for the most important question first.]
What the hell was that?
2. end transmission.
I need to . . . ensure that our new residents do not perish.
[ absently, distractedly. ]
The Temple will provide anything you all need to continue, and do not trust the voices in the dark.
[ the feed crackles, then closes, cutting off transmission to lucina. ]
no subject
[ it's a quiet promise, but it seems to be the most focused she has been, in a moment. ]
The loss of . . . I will talk to you about it later, I -- I will. You have my word. And nothing will harm the residents of Akvos, while they are here. I will ensure it, but I need -- I need to . . .
[ there's a silence, before her brow furrows, her head tilting -- not that steve can see it, but . . . ]
-- don't trust everything you hear, Captain Rogers. And stay safe.
[ and the feed terminates, abruptly. ]
voice }
after a few moments, zari will hear something - a voice, though distorted and far off. ]
That, dear one, is what can happen . . . . . aren't given a full understanding.
voice }
Did we do that?
voice }
It's not your fault, you didn't-
[ and then it cuts - no static, no sound. nothing but silence. ]
voice }
Hey! Hey. Are you still there? What did we do?
voice.
Not an outburst. She is not mad.
[ before it cuts out - no response, no static. just silence. ]
no subject
No, silly, she's grieving...