Tonight, Maria joins the Hunt

[whomthebelltolls]

Name: Lady Maria
Date: Auguril 15th - Evening
Format: Video

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[The view opens up to Maria's face, the face of the giant clocktower in the back drop. She's sitting on a ledge on the outside of the building, one leg dangling off the edge, the other foot planted on the worn stone back of a screaming panther-eagle gargoyle. The sky, and the tower are awash with the the deep pinks and purples of the nearly-set sun. Maria herself is wearing her full hunter's outfit, her hat pulled low to shield her eyes against the sunset, but in truth it just makes her eyes seem that much brighter blue. The only oddity in her attire is that she seems to have several sunflowers tucked into her belt, around the holsters for her gun and sword sheath.

The mechanisms in the tower grind and move, and the big minute hand tocks heavily, thunking into place in the next minute slot before Maria speaks. It's almost the top of the hour.]

It has been several months, since the first of us arrived here. Life... is not made easy within this place. Not for anyone, even those of us who might be in better straits than at home. This may be the worst night yet, and we still have many more moons to come, I fear, before any of us are allowed from this place. [This, however, may very well be Maria's own last. She feels the way the headache swells and throbs behind her eyes, the pressure fit to make her burst at the seams. It ebbs and flows, depending on what she does with the Monsters, how she uses her magic, the potions and the herbs and the other stalling tactics, but she's not sure how much longer she can keep on like this. Tonight, blissfully, the pain is at its least - the full moon being the weakest pull of the mirrorbound Witches is keeping things to a dull roar at the back of her skull. For several seconds, she looks back out over the city, scanning the shapes and the shadows, watching people shutter their windows and close their doors.]

On this night, the instincts for the Monsters will be at their worst. If the pull is too strong, and you feel your mind slipping into the madness and chaos of beasthood, seek the scent of... [Lumenflowers... no,] sunflowers. They will lead you to me. I will make it as swift as you will allow me; but it may be most silent if I must seek you out. [This is exactly the threat that it seems to be.]

If the beasts loom large, and threaten to devour you, or crush you, seek me out, as well. Monster, witch, human or not, it matters not to me; it is the threat of the feral I am in search of. [Pause.] As for the rest of you... I hope you do not see me.

[Her foot shifts, and she stands, precarious though the ledge is. The terrifying drop seems to not bother her at all. The shadows deepen on her face as the sky turns a richer purple-blue, the sun setting rapidly now, though it's barely been a minute. Soon, the video cuts to black, but there's still audio in the background; a rustle of wind and cloth. Finally, there's a whirring as the clock begins to turn over again.]

The night, and the hunt are always so very long. I pray we all live to see the morning sun, and put this night behind us.

[Tock. The video cuts out as the first peal of the hourly bells sounds. Over the city, the clocktower chimes eight, and the sun slips fully below the horizon.]

Comments

[lonewanderer]

About to explode. [ Please do not die, Maria. Lex likes you. ]

I know what I'm getting into.

[whomthebelltolls]

It's an inevitability for one such as me. It doesn't matter. I will ensure no others come to harm for it. [See, she's already planning out her own death. She's just that way. It's going to happen, and no one can stop it. She's not even going to try.]

Then, do you have the tools? And what of your own state? You are a Monster, as well. You are holding your own mind, but what will it be out here?

[lonewanderer]

It's not inevitable and it does matter.

[ It's difficult not to growl, to force that Chimera Intimidation in - but Lex manages. ]

To restrain a feral monster? I can get them. And I'm Bonded, and I've got Dogmeat, and you - I'll keep my mind. I've been through worse than this place before, and I was alone then.

[whomthebelltolls]

[Fine, then, she'll just ignore the protests, because it's not as though Maria fears the inevitable void of death. She's done it twice before. She can only hope it actually sticks this time.

Haha, what are healthy coping mechanisms and actually taking care of your traumas and depression.

There's a long, long pause, and it's probably literally only because Lex and Maria have such a cordial relationship before she speaks up again.]

... If it incapacitates you, I am putting it down. But this is still only a theory. It's not as though I was speaking to any one Monster specifically. I don't know that any will be out and be wild, and I hope they are not, as well.

[lonewanderer]

If it incapacitates me, I'll be impressed. But I agree.

[ To join her, to put down any Monster that incapacitates either of them, and to hope that none are out and rampaging. ]

I'll see if I can find sedatives.

[whomthebelltolls]

As would I, and I am not even in your state. [Then again, she's in a more precarious state, though not one immediately dangerous. Just... eventually.]

... I will be here. Around, I suppose. I still have those sunflowers on me. [She is not giving away her immediate position when there are still so many goodie two-shoes hanging around that might get stupid ideas, like making a scene.]

[lonewanderer]

I've never smelled sunflowers before, but I know what they look like, at least.

[ It's a smart move, she gets it. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

My home has a garden of them if you're near there first. [Has... Lex even been there, probably not, but she throws it out before she thinks about that. You'll have to come over some time, Lex, get to know her house, maybe her bedroom, make a night of it.]

You've been around me, you may just be able to know the scent of my jacket. It still smells as like blood as before.

[lonewanderer]

Sunflowers and blood and brandy, [ she says, and while Maria may not be able to see it, there's a smile as she says it. ]

I'll find you.

[ It's not a threat. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

[A snort - and it almost sounds amused. Almost. Oooh, almost caught her having a sense of humor, Lex, can't have that.] I haven't been drinking, but the rest should be accurate.

[lonewanderer]

[ Oh no, not humor! ] I'd say we should liquor up the monsters, but that sounds like a bad idea.

[whomthebelltolls]

Would reduce the accuracy of their aims. [She says this as though she is 100% serious, but she's not, actually, because she changes the subject.] The logistics don't work, anyway, I'll stick with what I know.