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

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.]

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

I can't imagine not being myself for months.

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.

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

That's terrible.

[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.

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

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?

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.]

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?

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.]

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.

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

[What, her, impatient? Never.]

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Precisely. Unfortunately that's not true for everyone.

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.

That it does. To me, it's been worth paying...but not all should have to do so.

They should not have to, but in this world we can control the level of horror that some face. To an extent. It's just a work in progress to really master that control.

I hope there will be a time where people can live utterly in peace here.

Do you think it's possible that they will?

I think it may take a very long time to truly find peace in this world, but I believe that it is possible.

I think I'd like to believe that as well.

[That doesn't mean she does. But she'd like to.]

mmmm. We'll just have to work on making that a "I do believe"

[Oh she definitely caught that. She absolutely did.]

Sometimes quite the challenge to flip that switch, ne?

[Curse these observant people.]

Sometimes. But life would be very dull without challenge.

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