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.]

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[He scuffs in, and speaks before he sees her]

Come out, Rosella.

[She is huddled about as far back into the cave as she can possibly manage, the lit screen of her Network device casting a dim glow on the ground a few feet in front of her.]

I'm not. I'm s-staying here.

[He walks into the cave towards her. He's got his homelands outfit on, boots and tunic, and he moves in close to her]

Come on, Rosella.

[Lorne's got a weakness and strange girls crying is so it.] Oh, sugar. Whatever happened, it can't be that horrible.

[From the way that she's hunched over, hugging her knees and pressed up against the wall, it's difficult--but not impossible--to see the rip in the back of her dress where Sam's dagger went in. The blood soaked into the fabric and around the hem, on the other hand, is unmistakable.]

I can't. I...I don't want to, I don't want to do anything. I just want to take it all back...

It really was. Is. It still is.

[Calling out from the mouth of the cave, Sam sounds pretty frantic.]

Rosella? Rosella are you in here?

Uhm...I think you're talking about me?

Rosella? Are you okay? I'm sure no-one minds, it was a curse, after all. Don't worry about other people, okay? Well, it's good that you are, obviously but...this is how curses work, right? You're not really responsible for what happens while you're cursed.

[Oh, boy. She reeeeeeally doesn't want to answer that, 'cause she knows that voice and she's definitely not feeling ready to face Sam yet. But it's pretty clear that she's inside, given that her Network device is lighting up a small area of the cave with its faint glow.]

I think so. I'm so very, very sorry--it wasn't Sam, it was me, honest.

It's not--not so simple as that. Not this time.

Rosella? Are you all right?

[It's taking all her willpower to hold it together, but she's managing it. For the moment, anyway, since this is another conversation she's currently worried sick about having.]

I didn't mean it. I didn't mean any of it...

Once midnight came, I was rather sure you didn't, somehow, since I rather didn't mean anything I said.

[He leans down and gently puts his arms around her]

Sam is really worried about you.

[Sam knew she was in there after seeing the glow of a network device and stepped in further.]

Rosella, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it, any of it...

We switched. Our devices, I mean, we...Sam got mine and I had his. And then we fought and we were going to settle things once and for all and...

[She almost tries to pull away, but it's Blue, so she just hangs her head and lets him hug her instead.]

I couldn't stay there. Not after--not what I saw what we'd done. What I did. I didn't know what else to do and I just...came out here and...

So everything that 'you' said was Sam and everything that 'Sam' said was you.

That rather changes things. Perhaps I ought to be angry with him.

Isn't it? I'm sorry.

[After a minute, she finally manages to find the words for an answer, even if it isn't a very good one.]

You're...you're okay?

Instead of angry with me?

I did...something I shouldn't have. Something that can't be forgiven so easily. That's all.

[He holds her tightly]

I know. I know.

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Quest 172

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[Voice] | Notifcations are running slow, so I'm sorry if I'm slow too ._.v

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[Voice] | Mine are too, no problem.

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