tushanshu | 004; video; notably completely unencrypted;

[Raine hesitates, for a very short moment, at the start of the video feed before firming the line of her mouth and plunging ahead. She looks tired, but determined.]

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Raine Sage. Please pay attention; I’ll try to keep this brief.

[She sounds more like she’s lecturing a classroom than delivering potentially shattering news.]

If you have previously thought none of this affects you, or if you simply missed the information, at the end of last month our enemy asked us to guess where it really is. Some of you will have already formed your own conclusions about this; I know I’ve certainly talked to some who have.

[Deep breath.]

There’s sufficient data with independent verification that I’m now sure, and everyone needs to be aware of this, sooner rather than later.

Our enemy has possessed Asti himself.

[A pause, considering. Well, the words are out now, no taking them back.]

That’s all. If you wish me to justify myself, either my conclusions or my lack of caution, I’ll do so, but more pressing right now is coming together to find a way forward, now that everyone is apprised of how severe the situation is.

[She lifts her chin a little then, and adds, not to any Foreigner but to the being she is pretty sure is watching,] Well? Do you care to confirm or deny?

---

[ooc; this actually is directly related to Nilin’s post a few days ago! I have talked this out with a few people, Xhan (Nilin-mun) included, and I’m keeping track of what’s happening there for continuity’s sake, but Raine is unfortunately not the most subtle person in the world and is past the point of waiting and watching. For questions comments plotting or concerns, I can be reached at

makaricrow, ceryu (AIM), or makari.crow@gmail.com.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I can feel your heart pounding, Solomon.

[That makes him freeze up momentarily. Then he exhales slowly, and with surprising calm types his answer.]

So you're paying a great deal of attention to me. Flattering, but you aren't my type. You must have gotten terribly bored to start engaging with insects.

[OOC: Taking place in Solomon's room while this fascinating and possibly dangerous conversation continues.]

[Skulduggery was tempted to ask Wreath what on earth he thought he was doing, but managed to hold off for two reasons - firstly, the initiating taunt was something Skulduggery himself might have done. Secondly, it worked.

And, as it turned out, there wasn't very much mystery shrouding Malicant at all. He was just as arrogant, needling, and attention-seeking as any other villain Skulduggery had ever faced.

It could feel bodily functions, however. That was interesting, as well as creepy on a fundamental level. It was that message which prompted Skulduggery into knocking on Wreath's door and entering without waiting for an answer, eyeless gaze settling immediately on Wreath's console.]

I hope you know what you're doing.

[By which he means keep doing it.]

Not in the least.

[Solomon says it easily but doesn't look over, and the glibness of the words belies the tightness in his face and the way his hand keeps trying to clench.]

He's showing off.

He's also avoiding your questions. Keep pressing.

[Yes, Malicant can probably hear them. Skulduggery doesn't care.]

Really? I wouldn't have thought of that.

[It comes out sarcastic because he's rattled. Not rattled enough to be paralysed--but rattled. And angry.]

Aren't you lucky I'm here?

[Skulduggery doesn't say anything else for a bit, watching the conversation on the consoles over Wreath's shoulder.]

If he has the power to corrupt every world-turtle in this dimension, why hasn't he left this dimension yet?

[Or have they been misled about Malicant's ultimate goal?]

Because this dimension isn't a dimension. This 'dimension', as you put it, is a place in-between dimensions, worlds, realities, and other synonyms for relatively the same concept. He's trying to supersede planal borders, which will effectively give him openings to get him into any dimension he could possibly want from within their foundations.

You can be as semantic as you'd like, Solomon. It doesn't change my question.

It doesn't really change my answer, either. He can't. He needs to be able to supersede planal borders, and he can't do that without the right tools.

[Lifts his eyebrow and speaks in a 'really, I'm disappointed in you' sort of tone.]

Corrupting the turtles is to planal travel what memory-erasure is to shunting. They're both powerful forms of magic but that doesn't mean they're interchangeable.

[Ignoring that tone of yours, Wreath. Being the bigger man.]

I'm not suggesting they are. Why doesn't he have the right tools yet? He's had decades, if not centuries, to acquire them - not to mention unrestricted access to most of Keeliai through the tainted kedan. Newcomers used to be taken to the Palace, yet he seized and abandoned it without discovering the secrets of inter-planal travel. Why?

[You've less meat on you than a chicken nugget, skeleton. Be the bigger man how, again?]

I would hazard because he knows what the tools are and has only recently managed to gain them, or effect the circumstances necessary to use them.

[It says a lot about you, Wreath, that you can only think of bigger men in terms of their physical size.]

In that case, why continue bothering with us? Taunts are only satisfying in as far as they lead to an ulterior goal.

[Solomon looks up at him. He's not sure if Skulduggery is trying to lead him to a conclusion, or honestly trying to figure it out himself.]

Most likely because we're related, in some fashion, to the result for which he's searching.

Call it whatever you like. I am not the one under the glass.

Since you were eavesdropping on private conversations you would know that my upbringing has assured I don't care all that much about being under glass, Malicant. I'm rather more concerned about your self-destructive tendencies.

I believe that's called hypocrisy.

[Aha.]

You truly rely on people being afraid of you, don't you, Malicant? How galling was it to know it was Asti the people here referred, not you? Or did you enjoy the attention, even though it wasn't yours?

Amusing, since Asti is nothing but a persona I created.

Yet he was a being, once. Did you yearn so much for recognition that you felt the need to take his place, his name?

Tu Vishan lived once, as did all of them. Once by one I ate them from the inside. Asti is fictional.

Hungry, I take it.

[It's difficult to tell whether he's lying. Either the insistence hides the lie, or it's a child-like pride in secrecy. Solomon is more inclined to the latter, if only because it seems like Malicant has tired of the deception and now he wants recognition for the ploy.]

So now you're the only child left in the playground. All the toys are yours, to do with what you will. But you can't destroy them, can you? Not all of them. It would only mean you'd be alone all over again. You poor thing.

The way you reduce everything to metaphors involving children makes me concerned for leaving anyone underage in your presence. I believe you need to be chaperoned for the good of the children.

[... -_-]

Metaphor? I don't recall you giving me reason to believe you're a mature adult yourself. How long does it take for one of your kind to stop throwing temper tantrums?

You are but a child in comparison.

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peacefullywreathed - 2014-10-28 10:28 (UTC) - Expand

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