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/]
fatespoken: (glancing to side)

[personal profile] fatespoken 2010-11-20 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
Nevermind. [ A pause. ] You've been here long enough. Things have always have their end here. Besides the City itself.

It is a train, right?

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
It is, yes. Or at least, it seems to be a train--and an underground one, at that. You're not on it yourself, are you, Amory?

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Well, that's something, at least. Can you hear me all right?
fatespoken: (rumination)

[personal profile] fatespoken 2010-11-20 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
Decently enough.

[ Another strain of static here. ]

I'd suggest not wandering around. You'll never know when it could crash.

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 02:11 am (UTC)(link)
[...Amory, you're a dick. Because she really needed one more terrifying possibility to think about right now.]

Crash?!
fatespoken: (∞ bored)

[personal profile] fatespoken 2010-11-20 02:18 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... Well, he wasn't intending to be a dick. It was a honest warning. He tried, at least. ]

In the case it does. I'm not saying it will.

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 02:23 am (UTC)(link)
[Well, he couldn't possibly have known that she's terrified of machines. Bad enough she thinks they're all harbingers of doom, without having the possibility that they're also speeding deathtraps on top of it.]

How will staying put make it any better if it does?
fatespoken: (glancing to side)

[personal profile] fatespoken 2010-11-20 07:15 am (UTC)(link)
You'll potentially be in a less dangerous position, if it does crash. On your feet, you have less balance; more room and chance to crash into objects around you.

Don't think about it.

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
Well, it's a bit easier said than done now.
fatespoken: (did you really?)

[personal profile] fatespoken 2010-11-20 07:25 am (UTC)(link)
I'm sure you can find something else to distract you.

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:28 am (UTC)(link)
I wish I at least had a book to read. But I ended up here by mistake, and without any of my usual things, besides.
fatespoken: (Default)

[personal profile] fatespoken 2010-11-20 07:34 am (UTC)(link)
Tough it out.

[identity profile] primrosella.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 07:42 am (UTC)(link)
[SIGH. So sigh-like that you can hardly even tell it's through gritted teeth.]

At least the other times I had proper pockets.