Video: Open: (CW: possible discussion of a mass death event and/or domestic violence)

[nothinglikea]

[much of Rose can be seen from the nose down where she's wrapped in a deep burgundy robe, a canary perched on her shoulder and singing sweetly to the audience]

This may sound terribly stupid, but let me preface that with the fact that I'm new. Still terribly new, despite all I have seen in the past several days.

What is the difference between an Arcane Scholar and simply a scholar? If I'm interested in the one, does it dictate that I be interested in the other? [a frustrated sigh] I realize this may all be rudimentary to those who have been here a while, but I'm still at less than a month, so please show me some measure of mercy?

Thank you.

Comments

[nothinglikea]

Really? Is that out of customary hospitality or because of some other reason?

[she's trying to imagine what could cause them to be so nice. they were visitors and visitors weren't always welcome]

I've--yes. I've been told it's time to stop trying to repress mine.

[morningstud]

To be honest, I am not quite certain. I believe some of it might have to do with our relationship to their deities.

I was among the first group, and when we arrived they very much acted like they had been expecting us.

[nothinglikea]

They did? Has anyone been able to pinpoint why? Myths, legends, prophecies...? To be honest, I'm not comfortable with the idea of the the prophetic angle. Far better one of the other two.

[morningstud]

I have not, though it wouldn't surprise me if others have.

[He can't disagree with her on that second part, though.]

It does come across as creepy. Have you been told of where those of us who arrived first were from? We don't share a world of origin, but we were together in a place before here just the same.

[nothinglikea]

I've heard that all of you had been trapped in a small town in---which was it, it was definitely a New England state. Ah! Maine!

[morningstud]

Yes!

[There's a very brief moment of cheer before he goes straight into serious.]

More specifically, it was a child's nightmare. I'm still not entirely certain if that town really existed, but this world we find ourselves in is the waking world.

(CW: mass death event)

[nothinglikea]

I knew it!

[she has such a grin of delight at her own memory,

but she turns sober at the rest] Yes. Yes, I've heard that. That the child had to die for all of you to be free here. It's a--a terrible price to pay. [all she can think about are the little boys and girls in Steerage who, along with their parents, had no chance to escape the Titanic with their lives]

[morningstud]

I was against it. But I was only one man.

That so many were willing to go through with it... it's quite terrible. I am still not certain how I feel.

[nothinglikea]

There's only so much one person can do.

I...wouldn't know, either. All lives are important. Once one is gone, there's never going to be anyone like them again.

[morningstud]

Precisely.

She was just a child— one cannot expect anyone to have mastered powers at such a young age.

[nothinglikea]

Precisely. Poor thing. Was she...tortured the entire time you were all in that small time, or did the end grant her relief?

[morningstud]

As far as I know, the nightmare took a toll on her. As for her fate... I don't know what happened.

I hope she is no longer in pain.

That is quite a dark answer, I'm aware.

[nothinglikea]

It is. But happy endings are for fairy tales, not the real world.

I suppose that's rather dark, too.

this is what I get for replying to multiple things at once, didn't mean to turn that into text!

[morningstud]

Even so, you're not incorrect.

It's tragic.

no worries, I'm so bad at html I usually forget to properly use it!

[nothinglikea]

It is. But it's the way of things and it'd not likely to change.

[morningstud]

It sounds as though you've seen your fair share of tragedy.

[nothinglikea]

Perhaps. I'd imagine that many of people here can say the same, though.

[morningstud]

Unfortunately, I believe it's part of being alive.

Even the dead can become haunted, and unable to find peace.

[nothinglikea]

Most likely, yes. I only know of one person who didn't suffer and he was the worst person I ever knew.

Are there ghosts here?

[morningstud]

Not that I am aware of.

[...]

Where I am from, I suppose you could say working with the dead was my specialty.

[nothinglikea]

Ah. Small favors, I suppose.

Were you an undertaker?

[morningstud]

In a manner of speaking. I'm the Devil.

[Yes, just like that.]

Please don't be afraid of me. The whole stealer of souls, lord of evil is pure projection on the part of humans. I had left the whole sordid the behind me, but was forced to return when the demons decided they couldn't function without me.

[nothinglikea]

[her eyes widen and she breathes out "good gracious," but she doesn't cut off the feed]

I'll...do my best not to. But do demons generally have such sway?

[morningstud]

Not... normally, no.

But they kidnapped my nephew, threatened to raise him as a lord of Hell who wouldn't "abandon" them...

[He just sort of. Sighs sadly.]

I couldn't let something like that happen a second time.

[nothinglikea]

Your--pardon me. I simply never thought of you having a family of your own before. I'm sorry if that betrays...a lack of creativity on my part.

[but she's transfixed, nonetheless]

No. No, of course not. Your nephew was a child, was he not? Children should be allowed to determine their own fates.