Video; UN: SweetDee

[agiantbird]

[The video begins, showing a smiling woman with messy, damp blonde hair and wide, blue eyes. She waves at the camera and cants her head to one side. For a split second, a faint look of displeasure crosses her face, and she raises her chin, turning her head slightly like she can't quite decide on what angle she wants to use for her video.

One might notice the ostrich lingering in the background, trying to look over her shoulder.]

Hey, guys! My name is Deandra! You guys can call me Dee, or Sweet Dee! [She sounds... really upbeat, her face quickly brightening once again. She tucks some hair behind her ear, and adjusts the Omni a little, pushing it to the left and then to the right. It is crucial that she capture her best angle so she looks good for her audience and she... doesn't know what her best angle is.]

I'm new here, and I was hoping someone could tell me about this place? I've gotta say, I'm a little freaked out, and I was ho-

[The ostrich chooses this exact moment to dip its head down and peck at her arm, causing her to flinch and jump backwards. She scowls, her cheerful mask immediately dropping, and she whips herself around to face the animal.]

Hey! Stop it! [She snaps. The ostrich, of course, sees this as an opportunity to peck at her again.]

Stop it!

[Dee hisses one more irritated 'stop it' at the ostrich and then, remembering that the camera is still rolling, faces the Omni with an awkward laugh and a much less convincing smile.]

Heyyy! Okay! Wow! I'm sorry about that.

[She makes a gesture over her shoulder at the bird and rolls her eyes. The animal stares at her intently, tilting it's head, it's beak opening and closing.]

As I was saying, I'm hoping someone nice might be able to tell me about this place, and why my blood looks all... strange and pale. And if someone could tell me where the nearest bar might be, that would be gre-

[The ostrich pecks her again, twice this time, and Dee yells. It's more like a howl! A terrible, rage-fuelled scream. Almost like a high-pitched banshee screech.]

Goddamnit, you stupid son of a bitch! I am going to murder you! [The ostrich jumps back, fanning it's wings furiously. And oops! The camera is still rolling! So much for trying to look pleasant and approachable and cute and funny! Dee faces the Omni once again, laughs even more awkwardly, and swiftly cuts the feed... presumably to try and murder her Omen.]

Comments

( video | un: burton )

[rocinantes]

Cute pet. I'm more of a dog person myself.

( but to each his own, right? that bird looks kind of pissed off or something. )

You gonna take the ostrich to the bar with you?

[agiantbird]

He's not my pet. He's a stupid tag-along.

[Who Dee accidentally summoned with blood magic, oops. The bird waves its wings and looks at the camera with its beak wide open. Like Dee, he thinks he's pretty funny. He's really not.]

And an asshole. He can follow me to the bar if he wants, but he's staying outside.

[The ostrich takes this moment to peck at her again, earning himself another incensed 'stop it!' from Dee.]

[rocinantes]

Yeah, he doesn't look like he's really going to take to that. Maybe the bar you stop in at will be ostrich friendly.

( he's kind of laughing at this, he can't help it. )

You name it yet?

[agiantbird]

He'd better take to it because that is exactly what is happening. He's staying outside, like a little dog.

[The ostrich tries to peck her again, puffing itself up. By some miracle, Dee manages to dodge it.]

No, but he responds to asshole just fine.

[This time, the creature manages to peck her, causing her to flinch and hiss another infuriated 'stop it' at him.]

[rocinantes]

( amos laughs at that and he's not even sorry. he's entertained. )

Asshole, huh? Look, I've heard worse names. I think you should make that official.

[Video][UN: A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

[The video feed shows a small brown weasel on a laboratory bench of some kind, peering into the device. Then it looks over its shoulder and calls out to someone out of frame.]

Oy! Boss! Get over 'ere. There's a cute bird figh'in' wiff a funny-looking bird on the ne'work..

[A tall figure in black moves into frame, a blond gent with his eyes hidden behind dark glasses settling the folds of a tan-colored lab coat about his broad shoulders.]

Well. Someone gets the prize for the oddest-looking Earth-based Omen. [He says this with a hint of dry as dust amusement, his Received Pronunciation British accent strongly contrasting the weasel's Cockney twang.]

If you're not too busy trying to kickbox an ostrich, Miss Dee, I'd be willing to answer your questions regarding your Blood. The change in the color is part of the change that happened to you when you arrived here. If it's any consolation, a similar change happens to everyone who comes here through the sea.

[agiantbird]

[Dee does her best to try and ignore the bird, though she is fuming at the creature for ruining her moment. She was meant to come across as charming and fun, but alas...

She holds off on trying to murder the omen, for now, because she's definitely more interested in getting more information.]

Uh-huh. So according to whatever the fuck this place is, screwed-up blood is normal? And so is.... turning into a squid?

[She seems to struggle with saying that last part, because it sounds ludicrous and it should be ludicrous. And yet, it sure is a question that she just asked.]

[subject_013]

It happens to all of us who arrive here through the sea, though not everyone ends up with the same new Blood type. And yes, the squid transformation is a normal part of the process. As fiddly as it sounds, it's a part of our rebirth into this world. And an interesting one, given how intelligent and adaptable squids and creatures like them are.

[He manages to maintain a game face throughout, but he'd be the first to admit, watching someone try not to murder their Omen isn't the weirdest thing he's seen, though it's one of the more amusing things he's seen here, and one he can relate to.]

I have to ask, though you're not obligated to answer: Is your Blood a paler shade of red, or has it turned a full silvery white in color?

[agiantbird]

[This all sounds... completely batshit to Dee, like something out of a weird, convoluted sci-fi movie. Part of her is starting to wonder if she just ate some weird new hallucinogenic on the plane back to Philly. She's probably at Paddy's, talking to a vacuum cleaner right now.

Yeah, that makes more sense.]

Uh. It is... silvery white. Real weird looking. Has a smell to it as well, like fresh milk?

[subject_013]

[He raises one pale eyebrow, intrigued.]

Hm! Paleblood. One of the most fascinating Blood types, and the people with it have some of the more intimate abilities.

[He bows his head.] But I'm being very rude. I haven't introduced myself and here we are edging toward a consultation. I'm Dr. Adrian Winters, a Blood Minister and physician at the Lumenarium.

video; un: lookingforshinsengumi

[tealeafs]

[ Thankfully Chizuru is more than used to pottymouths, considering some of the people she spent time around back home..

.. still, the way the other can go between that and a smile so quickly is.. kind of scary. Or kind of impressive? Somehow Chizuru can't find herself settling on one or the other, really.. ]

Miss Dee.. It's nice to meet you. [ Yes, she is going both formal and nickname. Chizuru can't be stopped. It's just since the woman told people to call her Dee, but she still wants to be polite!! ] Sorry if I'm mistaken about this, but.. is that big bird your Omen?

[ Yes, she has never heard of an ostrich before. So it's just a big bird now. ]

[agiantbird]

No, no. Just Dee. Drop the 'Miss' stuff, okay?

[She isn't yelling, but she sounds irritated. 'Miss' highlights the fact that she's failed romantically, and she Does Not Like That. She'd rather just be called by her name. She'd even take a stupid, inaccurate nickname over an honorific.

She raises her eyebrows at the mention of Omen and stares at the camera for a moment before asking:]

My what now?

[tealeafs]

[ Uh oh. There's problem #1 right there, because Chizuru feels so awkward dropping formalities with people she doesn't know well - partially because of the culture she comes from, but also just on a personal level, really.

But while she's still stewing on that one, it's a lot easier to try and focus on something she can process right now, namely the woman's other question. ]

Your Omen!

[ Realising that no one probably told her yet, Chizuru quickly continues: ]

They're.. um.. they're supposed to help you in this place. Guide you, kind of..? They take on the shape of an animal, but they're connected to you as a person. [ She's aware that this probably just sounds weird.

But what doesn't sound weird in this place, really. ]

[agiantbird]

[Dee would be seriously questioning this girl's sanity if she hadn't existed in the ocean as a squid a few hours earlier. The Omen thing is weird, but it somehow manages to be less strange than the squid thing.

Also, she isn't entirely disregarding the possibility that this is just some kind of fever dream. There's always a chance that Charlie slipped her a really bad slice of cheese on the plane.]

Right. So... my Omen just happens to be a giant bird?

[She closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and appears to be trying to contain about five hundred different emotions all at once. Her fingers press against her temple like she has the worst headache in the world.]

[tealeafs]

Apparently.

[ Usually this is where Chizuru would have summoned her own Omen, just as a demonstration and to show that it isn't so strange, but..

She's a little caught off guard by the other's reaction. Just enough to pause and wonder. ]

Is that.. such a bad thing?

[ It could just be that Dee is frustrated with the situation as a whole, sure, but it came suspiciously close after the 'giant bird' thing. ]

video: un; makes.it.count

[everyrosehasits]

[guess who's staring at this with the most deadpan of deadpan expressions. with a pretty yellow canary perched on her shoulder. Melody was very well behaved. unlike her mistress]

Well, well, well. Did you finally admit you needed help to the wakers? It does seem you've found your Omen. It seems...appropriate.

((OOC: SCREAMING IN THE BEST WAY))

YES OMG I'm so sorry lmao

[agiantbird]

[Oh goddamnit, it's that bitch from before. Dee stares at her for a moment, eyebrows raised. Her expression is more judgemental than it has any right to be.]

Oh God, it's you. [A pause.] Hey, did you end up pooping?

SO AM I, dear God :O

[everyrosehasits]

[...why couldn't they have simply tossed this wretched woman back out into the sea? Rose would wager that there were countless souls out there who deserved a chance more than her.

in a tone of exaggerated politeness, so exaggerated it becomes mocking] Yes, I did, thank you for your clear concern. And you never did answer my question.

[agiantbird]

Good for you! It isn't healthy to hold it in.

[Dee says, words dripping with sarcasm. She could not care less about this girl, but she does enjoy getting reactions out of her.]

Yeah, I don't remember any questions.

[She does. She's just choosing not to answer.]

[everyrosehasits]

[yeah, guess who's disregarding almost everything? this girl! whomever this other woman thinks she is, she's dreadful and common in the worst sense of the word. but she also seems the type to push other women and children out of her way to secure herself a spot on a lifeboat. that alone is enough to make Rose hold her in disdain]

Of course you don't. That would require an attention span longer than that of your average fly.

video | un: P.G.

[possessum]

( This is.... a lot. Peter's immediately Intimidated by this woman and her abrupt change into murder threats, but also, he gets it. This place is stressful, especially if you're new. Having a little breakdown on the network is totally a thing that could happen to the best of them.

And he should help if he can offer any, which... he can. Because her blood sounds awfully familiar, considering Peter lives with someone who has that type. )

If your blood's pale, I think you're probably.... a Paleblood.

( It probably sounds kind of sarcastic, especially coming from a lazy-eyed teenager with a naturally sarcastic-sounding voice, but he totally means it sincerely! )

Peter noooo sob I'm so sorry

[agiantbird]

[Poor Peter. Poor, poor Peter. Being unfamiliar with him, Dee assumes that he's just a smartass kid being a rude jerkoff. She thinks she hears sarcasm, and she's already bristling from the idiot bird that's taken to following her around, so she regards Peter with a glare and a head shake. She clenches her jaw tightly, and her blue eyes burn with rage.]

Oh, that is real funny, asshole. You must think you're hilarious.

[Dee snaps at him with venomous words, her hand balling up into a tight fist. She raises that fist into the air for a second before opening her hand up, fingers fanning out, her hand, arm, and shoulder all tensed up.]

You're probably.... a Paleblood!

[She repeats, mocking him in a high-pitched voice.]

Don't do that!

Peter has one (1) new fear.....

[possessum]

( Oh— Oh fuck— The woman's reaction immediately startles him, eyes widening as he flinches back from his Omni a bit like Dee's actually in front of him. His mouth opens, ready to spill apology, but that hand balling up has him struck silent. Is she going to hit him—

(Peter she cannot hit you, this is a video transmission.....) )

No— Wait, uh— I'm sorry, I didn't mean—

( He's stammering, frantically. She's fucking terrifying. )

No, like— Paleblood's actually a thing around here. Like I've got Darkblood, and some people have Paleblood— My girlfriend actually— she has it too, so I— sounds like yours—

( He sounds like a broken toy desperately trying to work..... )

[agiantbird]

[It's okay, Peter, you're safe. You're okay. Deandra is awful, but she won't hurt you. Not physically, anyway.

The blonde woman is a whirlwind of rage, bitterness, and mockery, but she also enjoys seeing the boy react by stuttering and cowering. It gives her a sense of power, and makes her feel superior, which is never a good thing.]

Y-Y-Y-Your right hand doesn't count as a girlfriend!

[She says, her voice still a high-pitched, mocking tone. The ostrich takes this opportunity to peck at her, causing Dee to spin around and yell. It seems the Omen doesn't approve of Dee's mockery, fearlessly pecking at her again. The creature makes a strange, warbling sound and puffs his feathers up to make himself look bigger.]

You'd better not be messing with me, kid. I'm not in the mood, okay?

[possessum]

( DEANDRA, PLEASE. HAVE MERCY ON HIM.

Peter's ears immediately flare a heated red. Holy shit he was not expecting that. While Dee's momentarily battling her ostrich, Peter Graham is sitting there looking like he wants to die. Maybe that kind of thing is normal teenage talk, but he's hardly a normal teenager. He's a demonically possessed, extremely physically repressed one.

Even as she comes back to the screen, he's sitting there looking like he's about to pass out from embarrassment. When he responds, it's breathlessly, like he's just run a mile. He's.... he's tired.... )

I promise.... it's real.... M—my girlfriend's a real person and she's a Paleblood. It's legit...

( He used to think Darth Maul was the scariest person in Trench, but no. No, it's this blonde woman. )

Everyone has different kinds of blood here... and it all smells different, too...