un: Aberration, video

[dangerousmind]

[The video opens up to Aelwyn and Mercy's shared apartment, and Aelwyn personally sits reclined on a chair, a smug and somewhat empty smile on her lips. She claps her hands together once, then twice, then a third time, all equally as sarcastic and biting.]

Seems I've missed some juicy gossip.

ADI was sponsored and being run by Avatars who live off fear like leeches live off blood, and all the fun activities they've been up to has been feeding right into that inner beast. Wow, color me so very shocked. I'm not going to dwell on saying 'I told you so', though for the record, I very much told you so, and also specifically told the boss so that's just twice as embarrassing for her.

Anyway. I wanted to announce my return, and say hi to everyone, though it seems we're a bit divided. I'm still not entirely caught up though, so if anyone wants to give me any updates, I'd be delighted to hear them.

[There's something the slightest bit different about her, but it's hard to pick up. Anyone who knows her particularly well would know how deeply she hates herself. There's none of that shame buried deep anymore. She's at peace in a way she's never been before.]

Comments

[video] un: cupkate

[bossyboiler]

Welcome back. Where did you go?

[dangerousmind]

West. I was given an assignment that took longer than expected.

[bossyboiler]

An assignment I'm sure you can't discuss.

[dangerousmind]

Correct.

It's not immediately relevant to you, so I wouldn't dwell on it too long.

[bossyboiler]

Has that ever worked? Telling someone not to dwell on it and they don'tdwell on it?

[dangerousmind]

Probably at some point.

I was tracking a cult. Does that sate your curiosity?

[bossyboiler]

Yes. Thank you.

How are you doing?

[dangerousmind]

Better than ever, darling.

I'm so very glad to be home.

[bossyboiler]

[ Kate doesn't know Aelwynn good enough to know that there is something off about her replies. INSTEAD, she just smiles through the video feed as though there is nothing amiss. ]

I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure your roommates missed you and you have missed a lot.

[dangerousmind]

All my roommates disappeared without a trace, with my darling girlfriend being the one exception.

[She thinks Kurapika is still out there somewhere, maybe? But she'll just sprinkle this in casually to declare that Mercy is hers publicly.]

[bossyboiler]

Well. [ What does she say to that? 'Sucks about your roommates, gosh.' ] At least you still have your girlfriend. Did the two of you have a nice reunion?

[dangerousmind]

Oh yes. We very much did. [She resists the urge to smile at the discomfort on the other woman. It's not something that bothers her anymore. They would have only gotten in the way.]

What about your roommates? A little birdie told me they weren't big on the grand reveal.

video; un: ebouchard

[hellojon]

Welcome back, Miss Abernant.

[ can the universe handle this much concentrated 'smug bastard' in a network post? We're gonna find out. ]

I suppose you've gotten the main gist of the announcements. Nia Lehrer is an Avatar of the Hunt and that has made things...complicated. Zyrian Steel, benefactor of ADI, turned out to be an Avatar of the Vast—I believe he was murdered, though? Which honestly, he should have expected. Though considering he wasn't working alone, I doubt that's the last we've seen of that particular thread.

[dangerousmind]

[Hmm, this one's... relatively new. She can't remember if they've met. Though there's something about him that's familiar. Previously, she might have been concerned, but now the fire is so warm within her that she doesn't have to be afraid of anything. So now she's just interesting.]

Lehrer thought that going around and spreading fear in the hearts of monsters somehow didn't count as far as the fear entities are concerned, or that keeping us in boxes and telling us to be powerless also somehow didn't count as far as the fear monsters are concerned.

Her complete naivity in this regard was rather adorable considering how long she's been at this.

Vast, though. Not the entity I would've expected to be sponsoring our mastermind. Probably another sign he wasn't much more than another pawn.

[hellojon]

Considering that I'm certain that he was working with the Web, your pawn assessment is spot on.

But yes. 'He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster,' and so on and so forth. Words of wisdom that Lehrer and her staff should have paid closer attention to.

[dangerousmind]

All the wannabe big bads seem to wind up being puppets for something larger than them. It's a repeating theme. Very Web.

She knew full well that it was a risk for us, she just didn't realize that she was included in it. She wasn't using magic, she was just brutalizing monsters and people who worked for them. I don't personally have a problem with acknowledging that we're an organization that runs off of fear. At least it's more honest about how we've been surviving this long.

[hellojon]

On that, we're agreed. Besides, the sooner people accept the organization's alignment, the better they will be at their jobs. The purpose of ADI and the desires of the Hunt align perfectly. Those true believers in the cause would be better off embracing it.

[dangerousmind]

I wouldn't say that out loud where the so-called true believers can hear. Though, it is true.

I don't entirely blame people for disavowing ADI, but this does feel like a rather bizarre reason to do it over. I suppose we'll see how it all goes.

[hellojon]

Some people are fine going through life with blinders on. This, more than anything, proves that.

[dangerousmind]

[Aelwyn Abernant used to be one such individual. So blind. Searching for something she'd never get, burying herself in her own misery. Insufferable. She was weak.

Now she's strong.]

I'm inclined to agree.

[The Beholding's grip on her is not insubstantial, though it's dwarfed by the flame. She's not lying to herself anymore.]

The fact that the world as a whole isn't aware of all this by now is a good enough showcase of that sad reality, frankly.

[hellojon]

[ You don't have to be an all-seeing servant of the Beholding to pick up on some signs. This girl is driven. She knows where the cards lie. She is willing to see past and overlook what others deem as 'safe'.

He suspects they'll get along exceedingly well, at least until one of them decides the other is expendable. Which really, that's all he can ask for these days. ]

Oh, I suspect that more of the world is aware of all this than most realize. Back in my world, I ran an organization much like ADI. People were certainly aware of what happened when they came to us to tell their stories. They simply clung to their blinders because they thought it was better than learning about what truly happened. Because they wanted comfort, not answers.

[dangerousmind]

[Something dances around in her eyes, a sort of... danger. Hunger, maybe. He may even be able to recognize it.

'Ran an organization much like ADI.' Jon isn't here anymore to be pestered with her questions, but she wonders...]

Mm. Well, it's all out in the open in my world. Organizations like this are less clandestine secret monster hunting orders and more akin to our world's equivalent to Harvard, except instead of entrance exams they'd toss teenagers at dragons and beholders and such.

It's been a strange and frustrating transition, to go from a world where might makes right to a world where everyone sits around and pretends that things work any differently here.

[hellojon]

I can understand your frustration. [ Silently, Elias is a bit thankful that Aelwyn landed with ADI and not something a bit more inactive, like his Institute. Say what you will about the Hunt, but they get shit done. ]

I suspect that whenever you get the chance, you're out in the field. I admit, I'm more suited towards bureaucracy. But I suspect you need both to make an agency run smoothly.

[dangerousmind]

I operate on a mixture. I'm not one to run openly into the flames but I do prefer a tactical and coordinated assault over a haphazard improvised defense. There's less of a lethality rate.

[She used to be so scared. So afraid of doing anything. She locked herself up inside her citadel and let herself be pulled along by beautiful girls with hunger in their eyes and maternal shadows on the wall that unraveled her to suit their purposes.

When did that fear become hunger? She can scarcely remember what it felt like to be on the other side of it.]

Officially I'm an investigative researcher. But I've coordinated a few larger operations.

[hellojon]

[ Larger operations. A tendency towards Desolation. Someone perfect to be the bullet in the gun or the first match in the fire. ]

Give me a call if one of your operations runs into trouble. I can be very good at smoothing out any...unpleasant bumps in the road. With a world like this, decisive action is occasionally what's needed.

[ Especially if he can aim the pistol. ]

Voice; un: Margravine

[defendwhatremains]

You almost seem excited by the news. Regardless...welcome back. I hope your travels were productive, if not enjoyable.

[dangerousmind]

It's something I already suspected, so I take pleasure in the news that I was right all along. I'm rather petty like that.

The journey certainly was productive, though I regret that I wasn't here all the same. It seems things went rather... badly.

[defendwhatremains]

Awareness is useful. [Which is about as much 'value' judgment as he's making there, not that his tone is anything more than observational.]

I suppose it did and it didn't. Things here got rather hairy and a lot of people left or have soured for not being as astute to what was going on, but the operation to stop the apocalypse ritual seems to have gone through rather smoothly, or so I'm told.

I'm curious, do you think you would have reacted or done something different had you been here to weigh in on everything?

[dangerousmind]

Unlikely. Maybe I could have convinced some of them to stay on side, but I'd say it's just as likely that they'd get hot and bothered at what I was saying and throw their employee key-card on the ground in a tantrum.

And maybe if we're feeling extra spicy, I would have snapped and lit that goatee wearing creep on fire before he became a colossal meat thing. Oh well. There's still time.

[defendwhatremains]

I'll leave the setting things on fire to other people, thank you.
You're not especially fond of your fellow agents, are you?

[dangerousmind]

I'm quite fond of a lot of them, actually.

They're just quite stubborn.

[defendwhatremains]

Stubborn and childish, if I were to take the picture you've painted to heart.

Though, I would argue people are often more comfortable with the familiar and what is 'familiar' is constantly changing out from under us, so a bit of childishness is to be expected and understood, in my estimation.

Regardless, if there are more goatee-wearing creeps about, we'll have you back to help.

[dangerousmind]

Mm, yes it comes from a pretty understandable place. I don't begrudge them too much. As frustrating as it can be.

[She's biased, so certain people earn get more understanding from her than others.]

Likewise, I'd be more than happy to kill any remaining goatee wearing creeps and rumored pig fuckers.

[video]

[lowficharm]

[Oh. Hm. This is probably concerning. Time to do his best here.]

I assume you've already spoken to Mercy? I'm sure she's filled you in on what happened here and whatever you were out doing.

[dangerousmind]

She did. I'm sure you have some thoughts of your own, however.

[lowficharm]

I dunno if it's-- thoughts, I guess. I'm mostly wondering if you're okay. Or, er, what you... did, out there.

[Mercy was already plenty candid that Aelwyn was half a step from avatarhood, so like... he's suspicious, considering the context.]

[dangerousmind]

You're very prone to beating around the bush, Mr Blackwood. You should work on it.

[Guy who only knows Adaine Abernant: getting some real Adaine Abernant vibes from this grown man.]

I'm technically not supposed to tell you. But maybe we can work on an exchange.

[lowficharm]

[Oh sorry that he has 15% of a concience, Aelwyn!! But this was the answer he was expecting, so...]

Maybe you should come over for tea then. We can catch up.

[And not have it recorded by the network and all that. Even if this is Cole's creation, he's still trying to keep some things off-record, especially now that the tape recorders aren't following him about anymore.]

[dangerousmind]

A tea party? Oh my, how very nostalgic.

[It's a bit obvious, but she doesn't think disguising a private conversation holds much value here.]

I'll be over in just a moment.

[And sure enough, it's only about a minute later that she's stood outside his door.]

[lowficharm]

[Martin is still, at this point, residing in the same apartment she would have been familiar with, and when he opens the door it all seems the same. He's still wearing some weird sweater, there's the usual decor around, but the place has a certain... emptiness to it. Loneliness, perhaps. A coldness that seems to make a space less lived in, despite having all the proper accoutremants of life.

Regardless, he finds it in himself to smile, and he still looks placid and calm. There's already a kettle on in the background, even.]

Hello Aelwyn. Come on in, the kettle's just warming up.

[dangerousmind]

[Tea. A go-to. She can almost smell the loneliness wafting off the perfectly good boiling liquid. Heat, cold. It takes many forms.

She steps inside, looking around and taking in this... well... frankly miserable setting. She remembers how it felt when her roommates left. How Mercy's apartment felt when Akechi and Monika disappeared.

But it's not like that for Martin, is it. In a lot of ways, by stealing his loved one away, whatever's happened is the cruelest possible punishment for him. Out of reach. Out of time.

She thinks about Adaine. About Mercy.

There's the slightest twang of empathy beneath her usual cruelty. Not quite compassion, not quite pity.]

Hello Martin. No sugar in mine, but plenty of milk.

[Unsweetened tea. It reminds her so much of Mother, in all her vicious cruelties.]

[lowficharm]

Whatever you like.

[He allows her in, gesturing to the little circular table just outside of the kitchen while he checks the kettle and begins preparing two mugs.]

So, er... how are you? After your trip.

[Still trying to keep up appearences of normalcy, but we'll see who breaks on that first.]