[VIDEO]; UN: [USERNAME NOT SET]

[demonicbeauty]

[The time away from Deerington has definitely not improved Ariadne's skill with a camera. The feed immediately pops on too close to her face, more or less framing nothing but her gray eye. She quickly realizes her error and pulls it back, the feed shaking and rattling until she manages to steady it.

And there she is. The face of an idol. Or possibly someone familiar.]

Just to be clear, I'm not Padmé Amidala and I'm not Jane Foster.

[Her voice is light and airy, like a little, trilling bird. She offers the feed a sympathetic look, as if apologetic that she's neither of these women. She's heard so much about them. They seem pretty great.

Ariadne is...not as great.

But she clears her throat and continues.]

It's me, Ariadne. I...well. I'm sure everyone is confused. I know I am. And if you need to talk about it, I'm happy to listen.

But, uh, what I really wanted to say is that somehow, my orchard is here. All of my trees. And some of them even have fruit. So if you need something fresh to eat or...just something familiar, you're welcome to come spend some time with my trees.

I think I might start a garden. One that everyone could use. Someplace to think. I don't know...

[And she's lost in thought for a moment. Ariadne knows nothing about starting a business or anything. But how hard could it be?

After a moment, she shakes her head.]

I hope everyone is all right.

Comments

( video | un: kenobi )

[jedies]

[ the first one is understandable but — ]

Who is Jane Foster?

[demonicbeauty]

[She laughs softly, shaking her head.]

The multiverse seems to like my face. She's some sort of genius from another one of the worlds Deerington touched.

A...scientist, I think?

[jedies]

[ hmm. ]

I suppose at least it's very flattering.

[demonicbeauty]

I guess it could be.

Although it can also be a little bit of a blow to the ego.

[She smiles.]

Then again, my face isn't entirely my face.

video; un impala67

[venatoris]

[ he isn't wild about video, but holy SHIT Ariadne's texting skills rival Sammy's at age 4, so. here he is.

Also, bah. not as great as Padme or Jane, pft. BETTER than, in his humble opinion. ]

You're hotter than Padme. Are you alright?

[demonicbeauty]

Dean!

[She lights up, absolutely delighted. She didn't see him on the beach, after all. Although she tried to help Sam find him.

But the delight quickly dissolves into confusion.]

...how do you know what temperature Padmé is? Have you met her?

[venatoris]

In the flesh.

[ ah yes, one of 'those' misunderstandings that he finds endlessly entertaining and she does not. ahem. ]

I mean like... You're prettier.

[demonicbeauty]

Oh.

[She blushes practically purple, totally bashful.]

Thank you.

[Another pause.]

So you have met her?

Video: UN - Runeseeker

[onerthes]

Ariadne. It is good to see that you're intact.

[Vira-lorr was seated in a small room that looked like a simply furnished living room. There was a crackling fire and she was relaxed for the moment, sipping tea. It was helping to keep her nerves calm. She wasn't entirely nervous but this whole process was ... a lot.]

You know, I never met either of those people. I imagine they look like you?

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne grins, her eyes gleaming like coins in a fountain.]

My lady sorceress.

[She bows her head politely.]

Yes, I've been told I bear a striking resemblance to them.

[onerthes]

Sorceress no longer. [She smiled.] Though it seems the gift of a seeress has returned to me, even if the power to wield the elements has fled. So magic ever flows in my veins.

Heh. Such is the strange way of things, is it not? One wonders if there are duplicates of us all. Have you seen any pretty three eyed sorts running around besides me?

[demonicbeauty]

I can't say that I have, my--

[A pause.]

What should I call you now? "My lady seer?"

Video; UN: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

You have an orchard? How's the dirt? I have a friend that's a plant person, and he's been having trouble because the dirt here isn't very good.

[demonicbeauty]

[It always breaks her heart to see a child on the network. But Ariadne quickly reminds herself that this isn't Deerington. Things may be different. Better.

It's good to believe.]

Honestly, it could use some love. But it helps that my trees were always a little sturdier than you would expect.

[She smiles.]

If your friend needs help, they should come take a look at the trees.

What's your name?

[schoolingfish]

My name's Luca, and I'll definitely tell him to check out your orchard. I don't really know what to look for when it comes to 'good soil', but I'm hoping if trees can grow in it, grass people can, too.

[demonicbeauty]

[She tilts her head to one side.]

What are "grass people?"

video; un: skywalker

[facultative]

[Sullenly:] You don't have to keep introducing yourself like that. I get it, okay.

[Sorry Ariadne, he's having a rough time lately.]

[demonicbeauty]

Anakin! You're here!

[And she's offended him. That was hardly her intention. Immediately, she looks guilty.]

I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... It wasn't for you. There are other people who make the mistake all the time. Obi-Wan and Maul and even Dean!

...which is strange because I don't think he's from your world.

[facultative]

[As he's never been fourth-walled to his face the unfamiliar name immediately makes him suspicious.]

...who's Dean?

[And why is his wife continuing to meet with strange guys?]

text; un: doublehedgedsword

[laminae]

[Shortly after Luca informs him someone has a whole ass orchard in Trench, he'll send this message along.]

hey dude! Luca told me you got a whole mess of trees here!
any idea what the dirt they're in is like?

[TEXT] UN: [username not set]

[demonicbeauty]

[Unfortunately for Fern, Ariadne is The Worst (tm) at texting. But she tries her hardest.]

i Th ink theresss' ssssomething m agical a bout the ssoi l. mY ochar d issss doi ng better Than any treesss shoul d be in tHIsss lpacce

text => voice

[laminae]

[Oh, oh yikes. Fern is very quickly switching over to voice. That should be easier???]

Yeah? Do you know what kinda magic?

un: trienemybest; video

[droptheious]

Oh, I see Fern already got in touch about the soil, great. So your trees are all okay? I have a potting shed, but honestly, that was already struggling before we came here. Hard to maintain plants when everything is going to heck, you know? But I do have some fertilisers if you need them.

Oscar's looking into garden stuff too, if you haven't spoken to him yet. I think between everyone we might be able to make sure no one...uh... struggles too badly with food.

[demonicbeauty]

Fertilizer seems wise, my lord. My trees managed to survive Deerington, so there must be something magical about them. But if we want to grow anything else...

[She shakes her head, feeling terribly confused by the whole thing.]

I've met Master Oscar. We might combine our efforts. Everything comes out better when you work together, right?

[Yes, she genuinely believes that.]

[droptheious]

Oh! Hah, no- no need to call me lord. I'm not a lord. I'm Varian. Just...Varian is fine. And that's...something at least? If nothing else, if the trees are magical maybe the fruit is too, so seeds might be a little hardier.

[They might stand a chance to survive in this pretty barren place.]

I couldn't agree more. Between all of us, we might be able to work something out. But working together is what we need- if Deerington taught me anything, it's no man's an island, y'know?