primrosella | Quest 172

[Accidental Voice Post]

[The recording switches on to the sound of a Network device skittering across dirt and stone, as though it has just been shoved or kicked away and it has turned on of its own volition.

For a long time, the recording is silent, save for the faint sound of shuddering, irregular breaths and the occasional high, strangled whimper. After a minute or two, the owner of the voice breaks down into a few wretched sobs, and then after a short while they are suddenly muffled again. It's clear that someone is sitting nearby, crying her eyes out and trying to stifle it. It's equally clear she has no idea that the recording is on.

After about another minute, she manages to compose herself somewhat, and the scraping sound resumes; this time, she is sliding it back toward herself, and as she picks it up, she makes a small squeak of surprise when she realizes it is already on. With a resigned sigh, she swallows hard and begins to speak, her voice thin and trembling.]

I'm--I'm so sorry. About yesterday. I know it--it doesn't make things any better, just saying that, but--

[She sniffles, fabric rustling near the microphone as she wipes her eyes.]

I was--cursed and--and Sam was too, and we took the wrong devices, he took mine and I had his and we were both cursed and all those things I said, those horrible things--it wasn't me, it was Sam, but it wasn't Sam either because he wasn't himself and I wasn't myself and we just--I'm so sorry, please, please, I didn't--

[Her voice cracks.]

The--the things I said. I didn't. Those horrible things, I didn't mean them, not any of them. I didn't know what I was saying. I...I don't really think any of that, and I'm so sorry, everyone I talked to while I was pretending to be Sam--there was a girl, one of Sam's friends--I didn't know her name, I still don't, but please, miss, if you're listening, please don't be angry with Sam, it wasn't him--it wasn't, it was me, and I just didn't know--I didn't know your name, that's all...

[Her voice rises in pitch as she starts talking faster and faster, clearly about to lose it again but forcing herself to keep talking.]

Sam's not--I didn't mean it, please, it's all just a mistake and I was cursed and we--I didn't mean it, I didn't, I didn't, I'm so sorry, I didn't know what I was doing! I never--Sam, I'd never, I'd--I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I never meant--I shouldn't have--

[She breaks off suddenly, choking down a sob, and takes a few shaking breaths to steady herself before she tries to continue.]

I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, it's all my fault, I did it, I should've known better--I should've stopped myself and I didn't and now I can't--I can't stop seeing it, over and over, every time I close my eyes...

[As she breaks down once again, she fumbles with the device. Her fingers are trembling too hard to work the switch smoothly, but she eventually manages to get the feed turned off.]

[OOC: So, um, yeah. It wouldn't be the Ides of March without somebody literally getting stabbed in the back, right? Which...is basically exactly what Rosella and Sam did yesterday, just to bring their little war to a dramatic close. Both made good use of the death exemption and are totally alive and fine now, but...yeah, Rosella's still an emotional wreck over killing her best friend, and now she's hiding out in her cave in the woods being miserable and crying forever.

Feel free to action her up if your character would think to look for her out there (since it's an old standby hiding place of hers), but she's not particularly interested in leaving it at the moment. And of course, Network for everyone else.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Sooner or later it will, won't it? It doesn't much feel like it now, but...I don't know. I'm all mixed up, at the moment.

They want us to be miserable, that much is certain. And they're doing an admirable job at it, too.

Mh, pretty much.

[There's a stretch of silence here.]

Okay, uhm... are you gonna be okay? I mean, yeah, stupid question, but... yeah.

I'm not hurt. I'm...just mixed up and sad and...don't quite know what to do, yet. I keep hoping I'll figure it out soon, but I haven't yet.

You'll find out. Eventually.

In the meantime, I think you should do what you need to heal. To deal. Or to just keep going.

Rosella...

[ooc; Might be slow, but totally wanted to backdate here ;; ]

I'm plenty healed. That was one small favor the City did for me--for the two of us.

We can't help but keep going, can we, Rin?

I'm here.

[OOC: No problem!]

No, we can't. Sometimes that's all we can do.

...No, you're right about that.

Then all I can do is try. And hope for the best. Though it's hard to hold on to hope at a time like this.

Oh, sweetie. I'm sorry. What can I do to get that pout off your face? It's killing me.

I...I really do appreciate the concern, thank you, but I'm...afraid there isn't much anyone can do, honestly. I wish there were, but there's not...

Okay. I can appreciate the use of a good mope. But you have to come out sometime, hey?

I'm afraid so. Sitting around in here won't do much of anything at all, it's true.

Well, your tush would probably go numb at least. But then you run the risk of those pesky tinglies when the circulation comes back. No one likes the tinglies.

I...pardon? I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what you mean.

I guess it's not all that important. Just agreeing with you, sweet pea.

Oh, I see. I'm sorry, I don't always, er...I'm not very good with modern sayings, sometimes, that's all.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm a bit jumbled up today, and now I've gone and forgotten all my manners, besides. Hello, I'm Rosella.

...so am I.

[ And have her peeking in on her now, a quiet and relieved smile on her face c: ]

Took a while, but I think I haven't lost my touch yet.

[ Thank goodness for a great magic teacher in the city who helped her learn tracking. ]

[She is a pretty sorry sight at the moment, what with large portions of her dress pretty much soaked in blood and her hair a mess from her run through the woods in the dead of night. But all that isn't exactly a high priority of concern at the moment, given the circumstances.]

This is a difficult place to find, really.

[With the unspoken implication being, "which is why I picked it".]

[ Maybe three years ago, that would shock her. Not any more, though, and she steps in carefully, not really worried about her skirts as she does. Once she's kneeling beside her, she reaches out and moves her hand so she can hold her shoulder. ]

Now that we've established that you have great hiding skills-- how long do you intend to stay in here?

[She flinches visibly at the touch, but doesn't move away; she just keeps her head down and her knees hugged tightly to her chest.]

I don't know. Maybe I'll stay until I do.

[ Glad that she hasn't been pushed away entirely, Megumi settles down properly and shakes her head once. ]

You're fortunate it didn't really kill anyone. Your heart is still beating-- and so is his.

What good is hiding going to do, luv?

It didn't really kill anyone...?

[That seems to have touched a nerve, since her voice, though quivering, has taken on a harsh, frantic edge.]

I put a knife against my best friend's back and pushed it in until he fell to the ground and died but it's fine, it's fortunate, because I didn't really kill him?!

Oh, well in that case! I was just saying that if you were to sit on your rear end for too long, it'll go numb from loss of blood circulation. I'll admit it was also on the subtexty side, too.

Hey, that's the nature of the City, isn't it? Big snowglobe of fun and no manners necessary. But it's nice to meet you Rosella; call me Lorne.

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Quest 172

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[ she'd probably look for her, out of worry for what she saw Cain say | Private ]

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[ she's out looking in person, you mean? | Private ]

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[ yes, that |D | Private ]

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[ hay bb omg hay sup | Action ]

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