video | un: zing zang voombah

[spiritwalks]

[Vyng's a mess: Wet, gray hair plastered to his face. Black sand clinging to his clothing and neck. Gills flaring in and out with exertion, while his expression pinches with pain. Observant Sleepers might notice pieces of wool sticking out of his pointy elven ears.]

Orpheus needs help. Eurydice, she...

[He takes a breath, giving himself a moment to collect his thoughts.]

She's moved on. Like many of us will someday.

But as soon as they separated, he turned into a large beast and flew off. Somewhere toward the Rocks, south of the Farthest Shore.

[With some shaky maneuvering, Vyng points the camera so it's overlooking the magnificent Pthumerian Ocean. In the distance, a large bird-like creature circles over the water. From offscreen, Vyng continues.]

Four wings. Antlers. Difficult to miss. His songs are like a mermaid's — I think...I think they lure people into the ocean. Be careful, everyone.

[The image lowers toward the wet sand. Vyng's last words before the feed cuts off, almost too quiet to be heard over the sea wind, filter through:]

I'm sorry.


((OOC: This is a lead-in for the Sirens Mini-Plot. Beast!Orpheus is grieving his wife and luring people to their deaths. Check here for more details and plotting.))

Comments

[eudaimonikos]

JUST KEEP YELLING, THEN!

[He'll just go to the beach and follow the sound of FUCKING SCREAMING.]

[spiritwalks]

[HOPE YOU LIKE ELK SCREAMS, MICHAEL.]

[eudaimonikos]

[GREAT THANKS HE FUCKING LOVES IT

Once he's close enough to sight Vyng, he waves and rushes over.]

Okay, I think we can stop that!

[spiritwalks]

Ohhh, thank god...

[Chest heaving, he flops back onto the sand.]

[eudaimonikos]

Yeah, okay, c'mon.

[He's gonna be picking Vyng up - lifting him onto his feet if he seems amenable to that, and just carrying him if not. Time to fucking leave!]

Eurydice's really gone?

[spiritwalks]

[Vyng leans against Michael with a quiet "thanks, pal". He has no problem being carried, either, but he's just as eager to leave. His body isn't in any shape to go after Orpheus right now.]

Yeah. [His words are quiet. Subdued.] I don't think...they got much time to say goodbye.

[eudaimonikos]

That freaking sucks.

[Both the lack of a proper goodbye, and Eurydice being gone. Michael had thought she was cool.]

I'll, uh...I can go out there later, I guess. [He glances back down to the shore. At least he can't really drown - though, for that matter, neither can Vyng.] Are you hurt?

[spiritwalks]

You're telling me...

[Fun fact: Despite having gills, Vyng can drown. Especially when acting under pressure. The only times he can breathe underwater are when he's either extremely relaxed or focused — usually through meditative means.

He trusts Michael more than he trusts himself right now.]

I'll be okay. Just need some place to rest a bit.

[eudaimonikos]

Okay, I'll take you home.

[Michael casts a look over his shoulder, grimacing a little. He doesn't want to leave Vyng alone like this, after...well, whatever happened out there. And on one hand, you know - Orpheus isn't gonna get any more beast-y. But, on the other, it does sound like he's a present threat to other people. Someone's got to deal with that.]

You can sit with Eleanor, if no one else is home. She's probably sleeping this time of day anyway, she's warm.

[spiritwalks]

You know me. [Even with the pain pinching at his face, he still cracks a mirthless grin.] Can't say no to a lovely lady's company...

[Of course, the way Michael keeps looking back over his shoulder isn't lost on him. Quietly, he adds:]

Hey, man. If you need to go out there now, it's fine. You won't hurt my feelings.

[eudaimonikos]

No! No, no. What's he gonna do, turn into a bird monster more?

[He can take a minute for both his friends. Anyway, it probably won't kill him to think for a second instead of just rushing in.]

It's ten seconds. I don't exactly know what I'm going to do about him anyway.

[spiritwalks]

I'm not sure there's much we can do. Except remind him we're still here, and that he doesn't need to be alone in all this.

[Vyng likes to believe Orpheus will come back around on his own time. It's just a matter of when — and whether he'll return to his senses before some hunters decide to take matters into their own hands.]

[eudaimonikos]

...huh. Okay, yeah. I can do that.

[Flashforward to Michael and Beast Orpheus getting in a baby argument about how neither of them is gonna leave the island ever, so NYEH]