primrosella: (Fragile)
Princess Rosella of Daventry ([personal profile] primrosella) wrote2010-11-19 06:36 pm

Quest 234

[Accidental Video Post]

[It's just a bit past noon when the video flickers on--then off--then on again, wobbling in and out of darkness before finally bringing into focus the sight of a train compartment, and a slightly rumpled-looking girl sitting on the soft blue cushions, gazing intently out the window. Her own silence makes the noises of the train around her more pronounced--the rattling, the clanking, the whispering rush of air--and careful observers may notice that this girl's face is a shade paler than it normally would be, that her fingers are twisting in the fabric of her skirt in rhythm with the noise.

She hates this, the roar of the engines, the hum of machinery. There's a reason she never goes down to use the subway system beneath the City, even if it means a much longer walk above ground to get to the same place. There's a reason she has avoided this at all costs. She hates it here, buried underground in these tunnels, surrounded by the sound of the machines she loathes so much.

Her fingers twist again, the knuckles turning white, and the video dissolves into static.

But then, a few seconds later, it flickers back in again, and now Rosella's hand is pressed against the glass of the window as she leans toward it, as if that extra few inches will somehow give her a clearer look at--whatever it is she sees. Her voice, when she speaks, is quiet--and a little anxious.]


It's...it's a trick. It can't-- [A crackle of static; the video flickers.] --al. Can it? No, it can't, it's not...

[She slides closer, both hands cupped against the window now, her face pressed close with her fingers curled to reduce the glare off of the glass.]

They did this last ye-- [Static. But a bit of audio filters through, even if the video is still obscured.] --re we going?

[And then, after another few seconds, the video clicks on again--just in time to see a faint shape, deathly white, SLAM against the window from the outside of the train, and to witness Rosella jumping a mile at the sight, recoiling with a shriek that is half from surprise and half from horror.

Another flicker of the video, and now she is curled on the bench with her knees pulled to her chest, her hands over her ears, and she is mumbling frantically under her breath.]


It has to stop sometime. It has to stop. It always stops, don't look, don't-- [Static.] --ere, it's fine, it's fine, there's nothing there, it's nothing, it's--

[The train rattles, the door creaks, and the video flickers once--twice--and then finally cuts out.]


[OOC: So, to review: Rosella hates machinery. Rosella is currently trapped on the Death Train™. Rosella...is not a happy camper. :(

Please assume this post takes place shortly after noon in Compartment #3; word hasn't reached her about the deaths yet, but please feel free to carry word to her! Action is welcomed from anyone on the train; if you'd prefer not to find her in her compartment, feel free to assume she's wandering the train a short time after this post and run into her wherever you like.]

[And mods, if I've gotten any of this wrong, please let me know and I'll fix it. o/]

[poor-quality audio]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
Rosella? Where are you? What's going on?

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[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
Penny? Hello, Penny, is that--hello? Yes, it's me. I'm--I think I'm underground, on some sort of train. Where are you?

[poor-quality audio]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
The subway, you mean?

I'm at the Center. There're things on the network, but I don't-- ...are things okay?

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[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know. I think so? I know I'm underground, at least, since there's no sun at all, just the lights.

Penny, can you hear me all right? I can hardly hear you.

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[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:15 am (UTC)(link)
I can't hardly hear you at all. What about lights?

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[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
[She picks up her device, holding it a few inches away from her face and raising her voice accordingly, taking care to speak clearly so there's a better chance of her words getting through.]

We're underground. That's all. On a train underground.

[poor-quality audio]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
[That's better. Penny raises the volume on her end, as well.]

Do you know how you got there?

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[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
[Short, enunciated sentences appear to be the ticket.]

I woke up here this morning.

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[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Righto!]

You think it's a curse?

[poor-quality audio]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
It's certainly something. People are getting on themselves, but no one is allowed off again.

[text]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:22 am (UTC)(link)
Anytime anyone tries, they're stopped. Either by a monster or some other means. I haven't dared to try it myself.

[text]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:24 am (UTC)(link)
If there're monsters, then you'd better not. Is there somewhere safe to wait it out?

[text]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure yet. We're all doing our best and trying to stay together, but...well, we'll just have to wait and see, I suppose.

[text]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:39 am (UTC)(link)
Okay. Be careful? There's scary stuff on the network.

[text]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:43 am (UTC)(link)
I'll stay very close to Cain and Riff, I promise.

[text]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:50 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks, Rosella. Text me if I can do anything to help?

[text]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:51 am (UTC)(link)
I wonder if...no, it's a silly idea. No, just stay away from the train, Penny. That would be for the best.

[text]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 08:03 am (UTC)(link)
No, tell me. What were you thinking?

[text]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 08:06 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I woke up here, so I really don't have...much of anything with me. And I know people have made it on, even though no one's been able to get back off again. I was wondering if there might be some way to...well, sort of throw a pack of things onto the train when it stops, so I'm not at such a loss. But that's a silly idea.

[text]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 08:07 am (UTC)(link)
It's worth a try. I wouldn't even have to get on.

[text]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 08:17 am (UTC)(link)
If it doesn't stop at midnight...can you get me a few things? A dress and a knife and a few things like that?

[text]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 08:19 am (UTC)(link)
Sure. The Warehouse will let me in, right?

[text]

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 08:20 am (UTC)(link)
It ought to, yes. And if for some reason it doesn't, anything out of the Welcome Center's bins will do. Anything is better than what I have now.

[text]

[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 08:23 am (UTC)(link)
Gotcha.

If it doesn't end by midnight, I'll check out the subway's stops and try to catch you at one of them.

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[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com - 2010-11-20 08:28 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com - 2010-11-20 08:30 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com - 2010-11-20 08:32 (UTC) - Expand

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[identity profile] horrible-penny.livejournal.com - 2010-11-20 08:44 (UTC) - Expand