exsilium | [video; zagreus]

Squalling children and grunting savages--this place is overrun with children and savages. Is this how this Initiative plans to fight a Time War?

[But... wait. Isn't that the Doctor? It certainly looks like him...sort of. Yet his eyes are literally glowing with a crackling, blue-white light and his voice sounds... staticky. And the expression on his face is very unlike the Doctor--cruel and twisted. Behind him is a random street, various people standing about and gawking.]

Well, not to worry. [His voice takes on a mocking tone.] I, Zagreus, will set this place right. No children, no savages, no would-be-gods, no high-and-mighty pacifists are needed, now. This place, this... Exsilium will be whittled down, bit by bit, until only those worthy of a Time War remain. Observe!

[With that, he grabs a random witness, a teenaged boy. His eyes flare, blindingly bright. The boy manages a yelp before vanishing completely. The crowd panic, fleeing.]

[Somewhere during the stampede the light in the Doctor's eyes gutters and flickers out and he moans, dropping to his knees. The netbook clatters to the ground next to him but still shows him at the right side of the screen, groaning and clutching his head. When he speaks, his voice is normal again.]

No, no no no no no no... not now, not here.... [His gaze flickers to the netbook and he scrabbles for it.] Help me, someone, please... It's trying to break free.... Zagreus is... I can't contain it much longer.... Help me....

(( OOC info lives here. ))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Swann appears onscreen. There's a lot of noise going on behind him--music, laughter, glasses clinking--he's in a pub. He doesn't look all that focused, and he's slightly out of breath.]

Ye all right there, Doc?

[He squints at the screen as the netbook falls, and yelps as the image jostles his senses. The terribly drunk (or stoned? both?) aren't fond of sudden movement.]

Och, bugger an' fuck!

[An insistent female voice offscreen, and he turns his attention to it for the moment, annoyed.] Christ woman, get offa me, 'tis not the time for-- aye, well, thing's have changed an'... right, I'll come back. Now--

Where are ye at, Doctor?

Edited 2012-12-13 21:48 (UTC)

Swann... is that you?

[The screen fumbles a bit.] I'm... outside... at the corner of... of... there's a... tall thing... the Hold. I'm outside the Initiative Hold....

[The light flickers in his eyes and he claps his hands over them.]

All shall perish, this world, this time-- Aaaghk.... Hurry.... please....

Ohhhh, bugger.

[The feed cuts off and it's a couple of minutes before Swann's tall, hairy frame slides around the corner. Something's off about him, though. No guitar.

[He looks a bit distressed.]

Christ, boy. Ye look like you swallowed a demon made of duck curry an' corn whiskey!

[The pavement is hard, and it bites into his knees as he drops to street level.]

Do ye need tae get to the TARDIS?

[The TARDIS can do anything.]

[The Doctor is still lying on the pavement, clearly attempting to get his breath back. When he looks up at Swann his face is pale and beaded with sweat.]

The TARDIS... Yes, I... It isolated me before... helped to keep Zagreus under control....

[All right, then. Swann takes hold of the Doctor's forearm, to help him up. As he does, he begins to hum an unrecognizable tune, something he made up on the spot. It may* soothe the doctor a wee bit, calming him so he can breathe easier and get to his feet.]

Dinnae worry, I won't drop ye. I've been practicing a bit, waking my muscles up again. I used tae help set up, get the tents set up and other bits arranged. Everyone had a job. Got out of the habit, 's all.

[*of course, it's always your call if his music affects The Doctor.]

[It does, a bit. His wobbly focus solidifies and he leans on Swann, murmuring something that almost sounds like poetry. At one point he manages something a wee bit louder:]

Keep... keep talking....

[Swann has seemed to have gotten stronger, as he doesn't waver when the Doctor leans on him. He puts one arm around the Doctor's shoulders to steady him.]

We'd set up the tents--now, that's a job in itself. Heavy canvas, them! I'd mostly try tae avoid setting the stakes; that's a bigger man's job, what with the sledges swinging. I was never that strong, and I tended tae swing for my feet instead of the spike. 'Twas an accident! Gave me a reason tae use my da's walkin' stick, though. I loved it as a boy; it had marbles in the handle length, the envy of any young man.

[And so he rambles as they slowly make their way to the apartment complex.]

[They're being tailed, however, and before they reach the end of the block they're overtaken by a pair of guards in Initiative uniforms.]

Sir, step away from the perpetrator.

[One of them tries to move Swann away from the Doctor, who nearly falls. The other grabs hold of the Time Lord. Not a good idea. Light flares from the Doctor's eyes and a horrible sound can be heard on the edge of consciousness, blocking out everything for a moment. When it recedes, Swann and the Doctor are alone.]

Oh, no, no, not again.... Zagreus doesn't have enough power to kill, yet, they're only shifted in time, but this will change....

[Swann had somehow missed the bit about the disappearing child because his writer cannot read, so he's confused why they're being chased.

[And why the guards are gone as well.]

Shifted, eh... what? Bloody--tch. Come on, now.

[Heave! The Doctor's arm is now around Swann's neck.]

Ye can explain all this bloody time-addling wonky shite when we're back to the TARDIS, okay? And ye better damn well have a good explanation.

[Moving faster now.]

[His feet stumble and shuffle but he keeps up with Swann as best he can, into the apartment building and its lift. Once there, the Doctor leans against Swann and works to catch his breath, trying to stay conscious.]

[He's mumbling verses again.] Zagreus sings when all is lost...Zagreus takes all those he's crossed...Zagreus wins in all it costs...The Hero's hearts he's keeping....

[Swann won't let him fall! Or if he does, he'll keep The Doctor from harming himself overmuch. It's an interesting journey from the lift to the right dorm, but they get there without too much trouble.]

Oy, Zagreus sounds like a right bastard, him. I've a few words for that bugger. Hang about, just lean on me, aye? That's a good Doc.

[He pats the Doctor on the shoulder, searching his pockets for his TARDIS key, and mumbling about alien nursery rhymes.]

[The Doctor wobbles further, light sputtering from his eyes, and leans against the TARDIS. Once the door is open and they're inside, however, he seems to steady a bit.]

Thank you, Sawnn. I just... need a moment to concentrate.

[KLONGG-GG-GG-GGggg... KLONNGG-GG-GG-GGggg...]

Oh, no....

Eh?

[Swann pauses at the control panel with the bright, coloured bits and things and such.]

I really dinnae like it when you say that. What's that godawful sound?

[The noise continues as the Time Lord lurches toward the console and attacks the controls and wee lights.]

The TARDIS has sensed the Zagreus energy... yes, I know, old girl, I thought it was gone, too, just... steady on... find me a safe spot....

[The noise continues for a few more beats before ceasing and dropping the entire room into silence. The Doctor squints at a screen.]

... Oh, come on. [Yes, he even wheedles his own TARDIS.] I don't even remember where that is. [Another screen flickers to life and displays what looks like a hypercomplicated map.] Ah. Right.

[Then another screen flickers, showing a TARDIS-eye view of the apartment's main room and Gordon, as well. The Doctor slumps a bit, appearing relieved. The more help the better.]

(( The story continues here! ))

Edited (Hurry! Follow them over there! *points*) 2012-12-26 00:24 (UTC)

[video; zagreus]

[video]

no subject

[video / action!]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject