un: alice

[adventageous]

Name: Alice Elliot
Date: 8/5
Format: Video

[Alice looks into the camera, looking underslept. She never did go back to sleep after waking up several hours before sunrise.

More than that, however, she's determined to tug on this thread she's been given.]

I have a question for any of the Mirrorbound who are still left: did any of you have a strange dream last night?

I ask because I did. It felt as vividly real as the other times we've been pulled into dreamscapes, but this time I was alone. I was called to a large and pulsating flower in the forest by my own voice, which promised me whatever I wanted if I just stepped into it.

And then I woke up with this.

[She shows her right hand to the camera. It's marked with a flower (a striking a crimson against her pale skin, but that detail is obfuscated by the watch's sepiatone) that looks somewhat like a pitcher plant.]

I'd like to hear from anyone else this may have happened to, and compare notes.

Comments

[noblegarnet]

Yeah.

[It was awfully... personal. He doesn't like being seen through in that way.]

Whatever was in the flower was supposed to be my "reward." I don't think it's that easy, either.

[adventageous]

[Alice, too, had felt pierced through by what the dream voice had to say. It's part of the reason she never went back to sleep.

Regardless, she gives him a smile.]

I would have been more surprised if you did.

[Based on the few interactions they've had, that would be out of character of him.]

Does your hand hurt at all?

[noblegarnet]

Only when I woke up.

[Given that he recently went through a couple of rounds of Cwyld treatment, it was hardly anything to him, even if burning isn't a feeling he enjoys. But it was brief, which he's grateful for... as much as he can be grateful for much of what's happening here.]

Does yours?

[adventageous]

[Alice shakes her head as she runs her thumb of her other hand over the mark.]

The same. And it glowed when I first noticed it as well.

I know for a fact that not every Mirrorbound had the dream or bears the mark. I have to assume it's because we were involved in the cleansing.

[noblegarnet]

I guess that makes some sense.

[Although it's one more piece of information that might be relevant, it ultimately tells them... nothing. How is he supposed to figure things like this out when this entire world is filled with a concept that's nonsensical at its core?

He hates magic.]

Do you think the Coven might be able to tell anything about it?

[adventageous]

It's worth a try.

[Although she suspects that this is going to fall under the rather large category of 'we don't know much about Mirrorbound, sorry.']

Would you like to meet there and see? We can ask them together.

[noblegarnet]

Sure. I'll need maybe an hour before I'm free, [read: to collect himself] but I can be there.

[adventageous]

An hour works for me just fine. I'll meet you in the courtyard.

and so...

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran takes some time to consider how the dream had ended up being one of several, as expected, before finally getting himself into a presentable state and heading out the door. It's truly a sad day when he can't make himself be on time for something, and he's at least determined to be polite.

He arrives a few minutes before the promised hour, dressed no differently than usual, attempting to blend in with the locals in the most mundane way possible. His wings, similarly, are back in their usual form—meaning they're hidden under a cloak. He doesn't look quite as tired as Alice, but his lack of energy is obvious nonetheless.

When he spots Alice, he simply keeps his eyes on her until he's close enough for conversation.]

Hey.

Re: and so...

[adventageous]

[Alice also makes it a point to be punctual, arriving right on time. While she has less to unpack, perhaps, than he does, she still appreciated having some time to collect herself and continue communicating with people on the network about what's going on. The more she hears from people, the better and worse about things she feels.

As she approaches, she greets him with a smile.]

Hello, Ferran. I'm glad to see you're looking better.

[Compared to, you know. How he looked when she was released from the infirmary ahead of him.]

I hope I haven't kept you waiting long.

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran doesn't return the smile, but he nods in response.]

You too... I hope you've been well since then.

[More than just physically, he means. She seems to be in better spirits than he is, generally, despite her apparent lack of sleep.]

Not at all. [Not that he would say any different if she'd left him waiting for an hour. Regardless, he's interested in getting to their task, if just to stop wondering what they can learn.] Should we head in?

[adventageous]

[Despite everything, Alice has been in better spirits than Ferran for awhile now. She's not at all surprised that her smile isn't returned by this point.]

I have been, generally. Until last night.

[For obvious reasons, she thinks.]

Yes, let's see what we can find out.