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[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

Video;

[wapples]

[This is alarming for a whole bunch of reasons, but at least a couple of those, Billie isn't willing to consider at the moment.]

Vyng! Are you okay? What can we do to help? How are we gonna stop him?

[spiritwalks]

I don't know yet, buddy.

[It's the only answer he's got. For all of those questions.]

Have you met Orpheus before?

[wapples]

Well... No, not exactly...

[Or at all. He's never met Orpheus or Eurydice. Not yet, at least.]

But I still wanna help!

[spiritwalks]

He's a good guy.

[And would be horrified at the idea of luring people to their deaths...if he were in his right mind. Which he's not. And there's no telling how long it'll take to bring him back. If they can at all.]

I know you want to help, bud. I do too.

[wapples]

Do you think he's really trying to hurt people, or is he trying to call Eurydice back? Maybe he just really misses her a lot.

[Like he would miss Tuck or Vyng if they went missing.]

[spiritwalks]

He could be trying to call her. But he's hurting too. And people can lash out when they're hurt, even if they don't mean to hurt anyone.

[Plenty of other Sleepers would do the same in his shoes. It's a very human response, even when wrapped inside such a brutally-animalistic form. Still, Vyng sighs and adds:]

Anybody looking for him might find a fight on their hands, is what I'm saying.

[wapples]

[Like Billie would ever back down from a fight.]

I'm not scared. We'll fight him if we have to. But maybe it won't come to that, or we can find a way to convince him to let us help, or something. What was Eurydice like?

[spiritwalks]

I didn't get to spend much time with her. But she seemed resourceful. Independent. Kind.

Times were tough in her old world. Orpheus lost her back then too. He still blames himself for it.

[wapples]

I wish I could've met her too.

[She sounds nice, at least. Poor Orpheus.]

But sometimes stuff happens and it's no one's fault. And maybe she'll come back, right?

[spiritwalks]

That's what I tried to tell him.

[A lot of good that did. Vyng lets out a breath.]

I'm sure he'll come around. He just...needs some time to grieve, I think.

[wapples]

Yeah, but we still gotta keep him from hurting anyone else too. Maybe we can just, I dunno, keep everyone away from him or something?

[spiritwalks]

[Do they gotta, though? This town is full of unmoored heroic types desperate to throw themselves into danger if it means feeling like they have a purpose. The Sleeper-led defense against the Leviathan was proof of that.

But Orpheus is Vyng's friend. And he doesn't exactly want to see people get hurt, either. Even if he might not have much say in the matter. Vyng grimaces.]

I dunno about other people, but I'm, uh. Gonna need to take a rest before I do anything else...

[wapples]

[Billie, who has proven time and time again he can go to sleep anywhere, and at any time, is not about to begrudge Vyng some rest. Especially under the circumstances.]

Yeah... A nap might be a good idea first.

[spiritwalks]

Michael's on his way here. I'll be home soon.