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

un: eudaimonikos | video

[eudaimonikos]

You want me to put that back on for you? It's a little more complicated than sewing, but I bet I could do it with a few screws.

[Michael: ever a font of disturbing skills!]

Re: un: eudaimonikos | video

[onerthes]

Michael dear... no, but thank you.

[She replied a few minutes later, her head now in her lap, one hand resting firmly on the top of her head. It wasn't going anywhere this time, damnit.]

I lived like this for almost a year. I'll be fine. I promise. It's just... well, it's a lot of things. Ugh, you never get used to viewing the world from this angle.

[eudaimonikos]

Or maybe some wires...

[Don't mind him, he's just on this now.]

Ah, alright. If you're sure.

un: GoldenFlowers, video

[the_obedient_servant]

[It is with a dead serious expression that they activate the video.]

Alright, calm down. Let's not lose our heads now.

[............Dead serious.]

[onerthes]

[Siiiiigh]

Thank you very much, Chara, I know exactly where it is. I just have to pick it up when it drops.

...which is far too often. I wish I had that blasted ribbon but it didn't come with.

[onerthes]

I think the methods you might use might end up being a bit unpleasant after it returns to normal. I'm quite certain this won't be that long lasting.

...

If it lasts past a week we might talk.

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah, that's probably fair.

[He was thinking more structurally than...you know, in terms of potential consequences down the line!]

Oughta be done by the end of the month at least, right?

video - un: keith

[tempredmental]

Looks like you're missing something there.

[Like, you know... a connection between your head and torso...]

[the_obedient_servant]

.......Why does this happen, anyway? Is this your halloween costume, the headless horseman?

video; username not set

[givetheslip]

How are you still speaking? Or breathing?

[Alive at all, basically. Maria has grown accustomed to many of Trench's oddities, but this...

It's a little much.]

[onerthes]

Oh gods, but I sincerely hope this isn't going to be nearly that long. But yes, at the very least? It should be done at least by then.

[onerthes]

Well, the first time that twisted resurrection system we were dealing with. This time? I was just wearing a pumpkin mask.

And aaaaapparently? There's a story involving the Dullahan that held a pumpkin and someone thought this was hilarious.

Re: video - un: keith

[onerthes]

[There's a faint laugh when the video comes back on. It's Litwick's fault. She's rifling around. 'A little more to the left...' Got it! She just managed a dark laugh. Fitting that Keith made the joke, she figured.]

Mmmm, no, I found it. Though if you mean my dignity and comfort, oh no. I lost that a while ago. This town does make sure we don't keep it long.

[onerthes]

Short version... Magic.

[The video feed at first is just the fortune teller's booth, and a little smiling candle waving, having turned it on again. Such a helpful little friend. Someone was shuffling around, attempting to get her errant member back in control.

Finally, she came back into view, smoothing her hair and setting down, head in her lap, sighing openly.]

This is a curse of some sort. Though spirits that look like this exist in my world and Earth. Dullahan, the headless horseman. [Grunt] I wish I didn't know so much about them.

[givetheslip]

Of course.

[She should have guessed, but Maria still finds the idea of magic distasteful. It makes no sense and operates without logic or rules.]

Is it common for people to walk about without their heads on their shoulders in your world, as well?

[onerthes]

[She wasn't always a fan of just using 'it's magic' as an explanation, which was ironic given that much of her life was as a rather powerful sorceress, but it was the only real explanation other than "A curse" she had for this one.]

Common? No. Dullahan were incredibly powerful and rare spirits only seen towards the end of the war, when we were reaching the depths of the enemy ranks in the mortal realm.

I believe they were rare spirits in Earth. Fae myths about spirits who heralded death.

[imaglyphwitch]

Ugh, no way.

And just when you were getting used to having it stay attached!

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ This definitely is not the most gross thing Ange has ever seen.

And she knows the same goes for the person experiencing it right now. It's probably why both of them can remain relatively calm in the face of this, huh? Especially since it seems like the usual kind of Trench nonsense that sorts itself out in the end..

.. whenever that end is. ]

Are you sure there's no way to keep your head a little closer to your neck?

[ Look, even if Ange isn't sure whether there's a way to permanently attach it again before Trench does so - and Ange is a little reluctant to use her magic for this if she's up against Trench's own magic, a Pthumerian's power - there's got to be a way to make this at least a little more comfortable, right. ]

[the_obedient_servant]

Ah, it's the masks. You need to drink virgin blood, apparently.

video | un: graham crackers

[possessum]

( Peter's capability to handle Weirdness has finally begun to expand...... Such that he doesn't even pass out when he sees Vira-Lorr sitting there in two literal pieces. This is progress for him!

That said, he's still looking at least mildly unsettled and horrified as he turns on his feed, swallowing hard. "Are you okay" feels like an exceptionally stupid thing to ask. Do not ask that, Peter. )

Do you uh... need some help? Like.... around the shop?

( He can imagine it must be... difficult to really get anything done.. or to stay safe if her head keeps rolling around all over the place.... )

video; un: rider

[kaientai]

"Again"?

If this isn't your first time, maybe you should've quit while you were ahead!

[ he's stupid and not sorry. ]

[givetheslip]

Not the Earth I know. Anything looking as you do would...stand out.

[And probably be burned for being demonic, the product of sorcery, or both.]

It's really not very uncomfortable?

Video; un: darkness

[survivalthroughhate]

The expression "You'd lose your head if it wasn't attached to your body" seems appropriate right now.

[Maul is clearly taking none of this seriously judging by the expression on his face.]

[onerthes]

I might have heard something to that effect. I've been given to believe that this is temporary enough that I might pass on a blood ritual like that. [She grunted, which was impressive considering the situation.] Most people I know have had their blood touched by rites and rituals.

[onerthes]

Earth... does seem to have some variation. [She sighed a little, but didn't comment further on that.]

Oh, it's immensely uncomfortable. I hated this when it happened before, and I hate it now, but knowing it is hopefully temporary? Well, that's some cold comfort.