( 01 ) video.

[oversleeps]

[ when the feed clicks on, marduk is in what appears to be a ruined building near the edge of town. there's snow on the floor and holes in the walls, but he's not wearing a single scrap of winter clothing. more importantly, he doesn't look especially pleased to be doing this. ]

Recently, one of the locals here went missing. Don't ask me what his name was, I'm not the one who gives a shit. I'm just here to solve the mystery.

He's missing because he's dead, and he's dead because I killed him.

[ he pauses here. it looks like it's for dramatic effect, but really he's just trying to figure out how to end the announcement. ]

Most of you would call that murder, wouldn't you? Can't remember if you all figured out what to do about that, but-- if you want retribution, you can come and get it.

[ good enough. the video ends there. ]

Comments

[miscreant]

[Cutting the feed just makes her cackle in victory. When he turns it back on five minutes later, she looks genuinely surprised.]

Oh, you're still here? Aren't we the masochist.

[oversleeps]

[ it is such a blatant struggle not to just scream no in her face. ]

I'm not allowed to have curiosities of my own? [ the last few words are barely intelligible under his snarl. ]

[miscreant]

[Her eyelids lower, and she looks just a bit sad.]

I don't know -- you were not very cooperative, after all.

[oversleeps]

[ what does she have to be sad about? his eyes narrow further. he trusts nothing of this. ]

The conversation is still continuing, isn't it?

[ and ... ]

It's time that you answered my question.

[miscreant]

[The smile returns, but the serene stare doesn't change.]

It may be within my abilities to return the dead to life in undeath.

[oversleeps]

[ OK NOPE HE IS NOT DOING THIS ANYMORE BYE SEV ]

[oversleeps]

[ haha jk

but he's back to text, and the message is delayed by a good thirty minutes. ]

How nice for you
Assuming that's not just bullshit.

[miscreant]

[She only sighs this time, no laughter. She hadnt even done anything exciting! But then he comes back, and so she tilts her head again.]

Oh dear, did I frighten you?

[She doesn't look all that sorry about it. When he questions her on necromancy, she simply raises an eyebrow and turns the camera just a bit to the floor behind her. He might see the flick of her hand with black and purple tendrils of magic dancing around them before a rune circle appears on the ground.

A few short seconds later, a hand bursts from the ice and stone, followed by a hulking ghoul who looks like he would hit very hard. She turns the camera back to her, eyebrow still raised in expectation. YOUR MOVE SIR.]

[oversleeps]

[ he's aware that switching back to video now makes him look even more ridiculous, but that's the sort of thing even he can't justify responding to in text. when the feed clicks back on, his teeth are bared defensively; he's obviously caught somewhere between distraught and furious. ]

Don't fucking come near me. [ this, like everything else, is the probably wrong thing to be saying to her. oh well. ]

[miscreant]

[Sun above, why isn't she doing this in person? A pit in her stomach hungers to feel his fear. Watching it from this screen is absolute torture.

And for that reason alone, her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes.]

Can't make any promises, darling.

[oversleeps]

[ he stares hard at the camera, grinding his teeth. the worst part is easily the pet names, but-- ]

Th'laarik. Perhaps you should learn how.

[miscreant]

[This is getting dangerous -- thank the sun this was encrpyted, or someone would surely have her head for this. But she cant stop herself, even knowing somewhere in the back of her head that she was thinking dangerous thoughts.]

Are you too proud to disconnect, precious? Or do you think I will hunt to down for daring to disengage? Maybe I will -- you look easy enough to pick out of a crowd. I could find you...perhaps bring that man back so this will all go away.

[oversleeps]

You will not find me.

[ possibly the biggest bluff on this post. ultimately, there's nothing he can do to stop her from tracking him down, but he's confident enough in his ability to avoid things hazardous to his continued health. ]

Your threats are idle and have no sway. [ he spits each word, unmindful of how heavily accented his words have become. fuck you, sev. seriously, fuck you. ] One elf and a half-broken corpse won't be enough to finish anything.

[miscreant]

Is that a challenge?

[Say no. Or yes. Just acknowledge it.]

[oversleeps]

Interpret it however you'd fucking like.

[ that's likely the closest thing to a direct yes she could get, to be fair. ]

[miscreant]

Oh, you just cannot commit to anything, can you?

[Definitely a dig in her tone.]

[oversleeps]

[ a visible flinch, followed by a wordless hiss. he pauses, seemingly to compose himself.

flatly, in sharp contrast to everything he's said previously: ] Are you going to take it as such or not.

[miscreant]

[All he gets is a lowering of eyelids and a curved smile before the feed suddenly cuts. Let him stew in uncertainty.]