Video - UN: Runeseeker (CW for Body Horror/Headlessness)

[onerthes]

If you want to get ahead in life, I recommend keeping a good one on your shoulders. The alternative is troublesome.

[Badum Tish.

That dryly delivered and awful joke was said by Vira-Lorr's head, which was resting on a metal plate in front of her. She was seated in her fortune teller's booth, relaxed back and reclined in her chair, wearing a particularly high necked Ao Dai that completely concealed the clean cut from sight. Trails of smoke extended from within the collar, floating upwards. Her head, meanwhile, was resting in the spot that the crystal ball usually would, looking about as acrid and "Over every last minute of this" as she possibly could. There was no way in which she was pleased by this.]

Ahem. It appears that some of the masks are a bit too effective at making us seem like monsters. This was an experience I was not planning to have again. But, rather than search high and low for blood in this situation? I will tolerate it as long as I must until it returns to normal. The discomfort is ... minimal. It's just very disorienting.

However, until this remedies itself, I will be sticking to the shop closely. I don't have a collar to keep from losing my head after all, you understand. And... [she switched which leg was crossed on top of each other and, in the process her leg accidentally bumped her head, causing it to topple over with a yelp of distress.]

This! This is exactly why I am not going out right now! Damnit! I'll have whoever's head for this!

[The answer came when a small litwick hopped up on top of the table and waved at the camera angle beatifically, touching a button and blessedly ending the feed.]

Comments

[onerthes]

Thankfully it acts like it did before. There's a ... mystical connection I suppose you'd say. It ends up going through all the way.

Trust me. The first time this happened, we had concerns until I was sure that it wouldn't be a problem. The idea of any form of alternative is too horrible to imagine.

(OOC: Hah, and I'm a cruel bastard, but not that cruel.)

[givetheslip]

Heaven forbid you survive a decapitation only to starve.

[Ugh. That would be twisted in its awfulness.]

I commend you for your patience in not seeking out a way to end it sooner. I'm not sure it would be the same for me.

[ooc - lmaooooo]

[onerthes]

Oh... there were ways to solve that, but yes. Yes, it would have been awful. It was already bad enough as is.

[She sighed, shrugging. One hand reached up to ... damnit. No, her head wasn't in that spot. Habits died hard.]

It can help a lot when you are certain it isn't going to last and have dealt with it before.

[givetheslip]

One might expect that to be so, but I've known a number of rather impatient fellows who would never be able to put up with it for more than a few minutes without throwing an almighty tantrum.

[She assumes, anyway. Considering that she's never known anyone to actually lose their head and have anything to say about it afterward.]

[onerthes]

[She managed a dry chuckle.]

We get primadonnas like that too. The first time this happened and I was stuck like this, well... let's just say I did not handle that first month well at all.

[givetheslip]

Which is more than understandable. It's one thing to be expected to bear up in the face of remarkable and unpleasant circumstances; it's quite another to respond to the loss of one's head with equanimity.

[onerthes]

Ngh. The circumstances didn't help. This was disturbing in different ways. That was just months of trouble.

[givetheslip]

[It's a vague assessment, but one that prompts a sympathetic look.]

I can't imagine not being myself for months.

[onerthes]

It was...

Let's just say my coping methods weren't always healthy. The most healthy was the terrible jokes. Those I refuse to give up. You have to keep from losing your head somehow.

[givetheslip]

[That prompts a snigger, despite herself. Maria's always been weak to the odd bad joke.]

That's terrible.

[onerthes]

[She winked at her.]

I have a whole list of awful head puns. I'm a walking set of dad jokes. It's a coping mechanism I assure you, and I'm very good at it.

[givetheslip]

At least you have a way of coping. A fair amount of people have nothing of the kind.

[onerthes]

There are, though around here? I think I've found that most will ultimately find one. We have little choice here.

May I ask what sorts you have?

[givetheslip]

I've found that battling a few monsters is an excellent way of dealing with my frustrations.

But then my frustrations may be lesser than some people's — I haven't transformed into some other form so far.

[There's always time and she will make no assumptions about the future.]

[onerthes]

mmm. It varies from person to person. The actual things that get to us the most are never the same. If I've learned one thing. This world will always find yours eventually. [She got a rueful look, shrugging and tapping her forehead suggestively.]

Having a way, even fighting more monsters? It can work. I imagine you're with the Hunters then?

[givetheslip]

Not formally, but I've given some thought. Mostly I've been doing some guard work at the depot, exploring what I can of this land. There's a lot to learn.

[It doesn't help that an awful lot of people seem to think she's from very far in the past, even if they're from entirely different worlds.]

[onerthes]

That works. I don't know that I believe any of us truly have to 'formally' work with one group or another. My own efforts help two of them, but I doubt either the scholars or walkers consider I am fully in their ranks.

And if you're still settling in, taking it a step at a time is wise.

[givetheslip]

It's been a couple of months. I'd think that would be long enough.

[What, her, impatient? Never.]

[onerthes]

I think normally, you'd be right? But with all of the blood and horror? It frequently takes folks a little bit more effort to get used to it all, especially with how it seems to change every month.

[givetheslip]

It must depend on what people are used to, then. Blood isn't a new thing for me, even if it...functions...differently here.

[onerthes]

Oh yes. You're not wrong. For me, the presence of monsters or magical powers is very easy to understand. I spent my life fighting those. It's the psychological torment at times that gives me far more pause.

[givetheslip]

I'd never seen a monster that didn't look like a man before I arrived here, but I think I understand what you mean. There's a level of simplicity when it comes to striking something with my sword.

[onerthes]

Yes. It's the idea that "This is an enemy. They may be ugly. Dangerous. Ferocious. I may be in danger." But you react with adrenaline, ready to fight, not terror at the shock of it.

[givetheslip]

Precisely. Unfortunately that's not true for everyone.

[onerthes]

No, it really isn't. Many of those in Trench aren't themselves battle hardened. And in some ways, you can see a little bit of a broken state for someone like me. Becoming that battle hardened has a price.