004 | voice, tw: references to psychological torture

[dracobin]

[The post is the first word from anyone in Team 7 since a few days before the 13th, and unusual for Temeraire in more than a few ways: the feed is audio only, for one, and when he speaks, for another, his voice is hesitant, slow, and clearly shaken.]

This is--

This is hardly the best time to say this, in light of all our recent difficulties, with these creatures, and I do not know where to begin--I must beg your pardon, but--

--it came for us.

[He falls silent. An astute listener might notice significantly less trilling coming from the feed than most broadcasts on the network: he has been taking out his frustration on the tribbles, and his apartment is, for the moment, mostly tribble-free. Well, mostly free of living tribbles. Pity, really, since it sounds like he might have needed the calming effect.

He takes a deep breath, and tries again.]

We were in the palace--there were interrogations to be conducted, on behalf of Evandau--and it came for us. It took us--

[Silence again. Clearly he is choosing all the wrong places to begin, and it is some time before he resumes with:] Annabeth spoke of a realm of Death, in her last post, and what I saw, for a moment, was very like her description. In any case--there is no question that is its country; that it may do whatever it likes to whomever is unfortunate enough to enter it; and that what occurs in that realm, however fleeting the event, feels as real and vivid as if it had occurred in this reality.

I know that we must fight it regardless, but I fear I cannot imagine how.

[And this time there is only a moment of silence before he lets out a quavering breath, and cuts the feed. Any responses to the post come several hours later.]

[Private to Team 7, standard encryption, French text:]
Pray respond at once; I must know if you have come to harm.

Comments

[mopirates_moproblems]

Did this creature say what it's intentions were?

[This is quite concerning. James can't fathom exactly what the dragon is saying, but his distress is palpable -- not, James assumes, without reason.

And anyway... if nothing else, very large, very upset dragon. That in and of itself is cause for concern.]

[dracobin]

It did not, when its actions were clear enough: anything it touched crumbled away, or died, and it seemed to have no interest in us short of causing us torment.

[mopirates_moproblems]

[Wow. Temeraire may freak him right the fuck out, but that sounds -- intensely unpleasant. James can't help the sympathy he feels rising in him.]

Have you made contact with your compatriots?

[dracobin]

I have. They are shaken, I think, but also uninjured. [Hesitation.] --Thank you for asking.

[mopirates_moproblems]

Of course.

I -- hope things improve for you.