02/Video

[flightlessbird]

[ WELL HEY, this is a face that hasn't popped up in a while! Artika's looking a little dirty, ragged, and generally unkempt, and not terribly pleased. ]

They need to stop— they all need to be quiet. [ uh. okay, Artika, if you say so. she darts a glare over to the side. ] I said to leave!

[ When she's satisfied that... whatever is over there got the message, she looks down into the camera again. ]

Killing them does not work. I tried. I hate them.

Comments

[flightlessbird]

[ She sees them along the way, lurking, staring. Each time she glances sharply up at Bariyan, but... he doesn't react. Sometimes he even seems to stare straight through them. And since she's too tired to keep up the belligerence, she opts for shutting her eyes and ignoring them, trusting Bariyan to lead the way. ]

I want a... [ what's that word. She pauses, mutters a few musical notes, and suddenly finds it. ] —Blanket.

[stonefaith]

Got it. [ There's... everything on the bed. He looks at it, momentarily confused by all the layers of sheets and covers and things, but opts to go for the thickest layer. So he pulls the quilt out, and brings it over to Artika, draping it around her shoulders and pulling it over the rest of her.

Then he leans down to look at her. She looks ragged. Where has she been? How long was she running from... monsters in her head? Well, he can question her later. He gives her a gentle nudge towards the bed. ]

Get some sleep, girl. I'll keep watch.

[flightlessbird]

[ Artika shrugs into the blanket and stares right back as she's studied, unhappy and drooping, from her shoulders to the tips of her tufted ears. She likes to look out for herself. It's better that way, when you don't need anything from anyone. But... Bariyan is nice. He doesn't even seem to expect anything from her.

So she nods and, for once, doesn't argue, only quietly heads away to stake a claim on the bed. They're still there, but maybe, with Bariyan nearby and watching, she'll finally be able to sleep regardless of their lurking. ]