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thisavrou_log2017-07-09 01:05 pm
pillz) wrote in thisavrou_log2017-07-09 01:05 pm
The Demon Plot: DEATH OF GRINDING MADNESS [July Player Event]
Who: Ensemble production, all individuals who opted in to the plot
When: July 9-21
Where: Two inhabited planets around the Ingress
What: The demon plot kicks off, in which malevolent shadow beings, copies of existing characters, begin to materialize and harass the PCs across the worlds. Plotting post is here, and a network post will go up within the next 2 days from several PCs advising on how to end the plot.
Warnings: Violence, psychological themes, possibly past trauma, etc.
When: July 9-21
Where: Two inhabited planets around the Ingress
What: The demon plot kicks off, in which malevolent shadow beings, copies of existing characters, begin to materialize and harass the PCs across the worlds. Plotting post is here, and a network post will go up within the next 2 days from several PCs advising on how to end the plot.
Warnings: Violence, psychological themes, possibly past trauma, etc.
Death of Grinding Madness
The Demon Plot
(mild spoilers for The Raven Cycle)
The Demon Plot
(mild spoilers for The Raven Cycle)
On July 9, a demon begins to make its way through the Ingress, summoned through by a shitty teenager.
July 9-12
Harrying
Harrying
It's innocuous in the beginning. A movement in the corner of your eye, a shadow through a curtain-- merely a tree. But then the shadow figures begin to emerge into full being. Black-eyed wraiths that look like enemies, friends with whom you've had past conflict, or even you yourself. At first, it's merely harrying, minor harassment. Threatening gestures, broken gestures, jump scares.
Pursue them, and they disappear-- you might even catch a glimpse of how. They melt down into black slime, racing away across floors, through sewer grates, up walls, impossible to follow. By now, the worst of the climate freeze is over, but residual ice does pose a needles extra obstacle.
Pursue them, and they disappear-- you might even catch a glimpse of how. They melt down into black slime, racing away across floors, through sewer grates, up walls, impossible to follow. By now, the worst of the climate freeze is over, but residual ice does pose a needles extra obstacle.
July 12-15
The Violence Escalates
The Violence Escalates
In the days that follow, the situation only gets worse.
Sporadic harassment turns into outright attacks. The targeting is unmistakable. The shadow beings who can speak tell cruel tales of animosity, spite, even hatred. They are as deadly with their hands or strange powers as their doppelgangers are, and worse, they're functionally indestructible. Rip off one's head and it merely reforms out of sticky black ink. Limbs regenerate just as easily. The being might dispell for a few hours, but no doubt— it'll be back, if not to hurt you then someone you know.
The Savrii begin to notice. It's hard not to. While there is hardly an epidemic of panic, the disruptions are hard to miss-- broken windows, screams, random violence. Soon, the authorities begin to open safehouse facilities at which characters can seek shelter.
Sporadic harassment turns into outright attacks. The targeting is unmistakable. The shadow beings who can speak tell cruel tales of animosity, spite, even hatred. They are as deadly with their hands or strange powers as their doppelgangers are, and worse, they're functionally indestructible. Rip off one's head and it merely reforms out of sticky black ink. Limbs regenerate just as easily. The being might dispell for a few hours, but no doubt— it'll be back, if not to hurt you then someone you know.
The Savrii begin to notice. It's hard not to. While there is hardly an epidemic of panic, the disruptions are hard to miss-- broken windows, screams, random violence. Soon, the authorities begin to open safehouse facilities at which characters can seek shelter.
July 15-18
The Golem
The Golem
On July 17, something horrific begins to happen— several shadow beings merge to form a massive golem in Kauto R1. It is a grotesque, horrifying spectacle, of limbs and eyes and pulsating flesh. It reaches almost sixty feet in height. Combined together, this shadow creature is considerably less intelligent than the individual beings were. However, it is also immensely strong and regenerates just like the smaller ones did.
Within the mall, hundreds of daytime shoppers are trapped within. Luckily, they have food and climate control. Perhaps you're one of them-- or perhaps you're trying to get in to provide medical care.
In the meantime, the attacks from the individual shadow beings don't stop. Despite the intelligence exhibited by some, all of them seem mindlessly bent on tormenting their targets until they are killed.
Within the mall, hundreds of daytime shoppers are trapped within. Luckily, they have food and climate control. Perhaps you're one of them-- or perhaps you're trying to get in to provide medical care.
In the meantime, the attacks from the individual shadow beings don't stop. Despite the intelligence exhibited by some, all of them seem mindlessly bent on tormenting their targets until they are killed.
July 18-21
The Sacrifice
The Sacrifice
On the 9th day, a network post goes up (link pending, will be OOCly forward-dated to July 10th latest) revealing how to remove the invincibility of the attackers.
And by the 21st, the remaining beings utterly vanish without explanation— unless you happen to bear witness to the events that take place at St. Monmouth.
And by the 21st, the remaining beings utterly vanish without explanation— unless you happen to bear witness to the events that take place at St. Monmouth.
no subject
Then this one gets to watch another brother die in front of him. I wonder what kind of scar this will leave?
[Darin's muscles tense, rigid like steel when those words leave his shadow's mouth, and he snaps his head back up, eyes wide with fear. But his shadow is already on the move.]
[It comes in low, fast, and it doesn't strike to maim or deeply wound as much as it does to toy with. The first sword, on Shiro's right, comes in straight, the shadow knowing full well it will likely be knocked aside. No, instead he intends to roll with the strike, to spin and drop low to slice at the legs.]
No...Shiro...
I told you to run...! I told you to get back to the others!! WHY DO YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME?!
no subject
[It moves for him.]
[He runs the other way. Toward where there's the most accumulation of debris from all the fighting. Then, one after another, the metal hand chucks the bits and pieces like fastballs.]
Because! [A hunk of rock.] I don't -- [The top of the trunk again.] -- really know where we are right now, Darin! [More rock.] That makes it a little difficult!
[All he's trying to do here is buy time. If he goes head to head, it's going to be over. But if he stalls...]
no subject
[When an opening presents itself, the shadow deftly twirls both of his swords and drives them to the hilt into the ground, sending his magic coursing through the arena floor. It starts to churn like choppy sea water, and the ground begins erupting into towering spikes. They don't head straight for Shiro, instead they erupt randomly and sporadically all around with no rhyme, reason, or direction.]
You're putting up more of a fight than I expected! And I haven't even told you the worst parts yet!
[He plants a foot on the pommels and uses them to launch himself into the air, bearing down on Shiro.]
Like how he resents you for giving him the acceptance he's always craved! Because now it's impossible for him to do what he has to do!
[Darin grits his teeth. He knows what's coming next and he has to try and stop it. Whatever magic his shadow was using, he had to have it too, right? He had all of his moves, so it stood to reason that Darin had some time of power like his shadow. If only he could tap into it...!]
[He starts to thrash again, flexing his arms and kicking wildly with his legs. What good was all of that strength of his if he didn't use it when he needed to?!]
[With a powerful roar, he strains himself, the chains starting to snap and tear free from their moorings.]
NNNRRRGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!
no subject
Ch... Champion. Remember?
[His voice is rasping, hoarse and pained, but hopefully loud enough for more bravado than he's actually feeling. Like he's not listening to the rest of that statement. Now isn't the time. Now he's got to navigate the ground come to life while nursing broken nose and who knew how many other internal injuries.]
[Except now there's no Lucio to bail them out. And part of him watches the shadow launch into the air with the same tired expression he uses when Lance accidentally lets the cow inside.]
[Really?]
[Trajectory... lift... things in motion can't change midair if they have gravity working on them like this, can they? Not without continued thrust and -- forward. He has to go forward. So the shadow's said trajectory will land it behind him.]
[He has to keep moving, and so he does. Pushing himself forward through the bizarre landscape. Even if his legs are shaking, and it's hard to breathe.]
[He's got to buy time.]
no subject
[From this position, it was impossible for either of the men to see the twisted grin as he spoke.]
Have you figured it out yet? What he has to do? He has to return to his world to try and save it, otherwise our brother will tear it apart...! Oh but that's not all...
[The ground boils immediately behind him and a massive slab of stone erupts and rockets towards Shiro.]
He's a liability no matter where he goes...! If Diomuhr continues to grow in power like he has been, then he either needs to go home and fulfill the prophecy there...or he has to kill himself here!! Either way, you're going to lose him, Champion! His existence, his every breath, brings this world, brings you all a step closer to the void! He either needs to leave or he needs to die! And now, because of the place you've given him, he can't bring himself to do either! In you're heroic effort to support him, you've effectively trapped him in a hell he can't escape from!
[At that moment, perhaps because he's finally hearing his thoughts spoken out loud in a twisted mockery of his own voice, something snaps inside of Darin. A defiant roar becomes a scream as his rage and anguish boil over, and he tears the chains and half of the wall away, yanking his frame free and dragging bloodied metal and stone with him. Without pause, he tears the chains away from his arms, spins one end above his head and lets fly to whip at his own shadow.]
STOP IT!! STOP TALKING!!
no subject
[Instead, when he ducks, it cracks him in the shoulder. It sends him flying, rolling to a stop against one of the previously pulled up boulders. More broken bones, probably. Either way, the world has gone white, his ears ringing.]
[But they love you. ... how they choose to use the opening you make is out of your hands. I'm afraid and that's why I'm not like you.]
[He shakes his head, but it's slow, groggy. It's an effort to do anything more than that. An effort just to form the words he doesn't even know will be heard. There's a ragged cough before anything else, and his mouth tastes like metal.]
All... I did...
[When he looks up again, his teeth are bared, almost like his own shadow's. Because he can see what's going on. And for a second there, it's hope.]
... was give him an opening.
1/2
What's wrong? Afraid of what he'll think of you when he learns the truth? That you're constantly searching for a way out? The path of least resistance?
[Darin fixates his glare on "himself," his green eyes burning with a wild fire. There is no more banter here. No witty retort, no snappy comebacks. He's done with all of that. Done with feeling sorry for himself. Done letting the people he cares about get roped into his messed up world, his impossible problems.]
[His muscles tense and he swallows the lump in his throat.]
Path of least resistance...? Never...
If you really were me...you'd know...
[He slams his foot into the stone, shattering it and gives a mighty yank on the chain, pulling his shadow towards the inevitable confrontation that Darin's spent almost his entire life trying to avoid.]
YOU'D KNOW THAT I LIVE FOR A CHALLENGE!!
THEN LET'S PUT THIS TO BED, SHALL WE?!
[The two collide with an almost impossible impact, each leading with a right straight that snaps both of their heads back in a thundering cross counter. Undeterred, the both begin exchanging earth shattering blows. They part for a moment, flipping away. Darin retrieves his black dao while his shadow molds one from the debris of the arena, and in a flash they meet once more. The ringing of metal on metal as the two of them expertly slash and parry is constant, like a wind chime caught in a squall. Sparks fly as glancing blows are deflected off of bracers, and the two literal mirror images are seemingly locked in a stalemate. Gashes open up on both of the figures, blood and black tar spraying in a wide ring around the combatants. The battle rages, but it's clear that only one of the two is beginning to slow. Cracked bones and deep cuts make his body sluggish and Darin's shadow lands a massive heel to his chest, sending Darin rocketing back in a heap as dust kicks up from the blast.]
[Slowly, Darin struggles to his feet, blood and sweat streaming down his body. His breathing is ragged...and slowly he sheathes his dao at his back, his shadow raising an eyebrow at the curious move.]
Surrendering...? A shame. I was just starting to work up a sweat.
2/2
[And he offers his friend a warm smile.]
He's right, you know...
[He doesn't clarify as to what his shadow was 'right' about. That will become apparent soon enough. He takes another breath to clear his thoughts.]
[I know you can hear me. If you don't want to die, then you better listen up. I have a proposition for you...]
[Darin takes a step forward. And then another. A few more steps and he breaks into a run, spurring his wrecked and broken legs to carry him just a little further. Finally, he leaps into the air, bringing both of his arms tight to his sides and bears down on his shadow.]
[Unsure and tired of this farce, his shadow steels himself, sliding into an defensive stance. And in that moment, Darin crashes down like a meteor, rock and dirt and debris filling the arena from the blast and rush of air.]
[And when it clears...Darin's shadow is standing, propping up Darin's slumped body. The latter of which has been run clean through the lower abdomen, the end of a bloody dao piercing through to his back.]
no subject
[He's pretty sure he's more broken bones than non. Whether or not the Arm even works at this point is anyone's guess. His real hand feels cold, along with his feet -- the world keeps sliding sideways. But he's got to hold on. Got to stay functional and coherent long enough to do something.]
[There's an epic fight going on. And he should be paying attention. He should be watching, to see if he can help -- but there's just nothing left. The reserves are gone. Breathing is about all he's got. That's a struggle, occasionally.]
[The more they fight, the more he keeps trying. Crawling, really. There's got to be an exit. Somewhere -- if one of them gets out in the open, it's bound to attract attention, or help, or...]
[Now he's being addressed again. It's even more of an effort to turn his head, and then, abruptly, it's like the cold from every limb has pooled in his chest. Like ice stabbing every joint. Pushing him to feet that don't want to move. He's got to do something -- anything. Something is wrong and --]
[And it's pure luck he's behind a large piece of rock when the hammer drops. Otherwise, he'd be out cold. Probably for good. Part of him wishes, when it dawns on him what just happened, that it happened. He'd be out and this would be another nightmare.]
[But... he's not. It's reality. It's terrifying and it's real and his feet are limping, dragging forward still. The arm is on -- he can see it sparking purple out of the corner of his eye.]
[It's not going to do any good. But he has to do something.]
[Other than just screaming.]
no subject
So, in the end, this was your great solution? And to think, you always entertained the delusion of being able to help people. In the end, you're exactly what Dromas always said you were: Weak.
[He prepares to shake the body off of his weapon, but finds that he can't. Curiously, he looks down at the weapon again to find Darin's hand clamped over his wrist. And before he can question it, Darin's other hand clamps over his face.]
You...wanna know why...you're not me...?
[His voice is a dark rasp as he forces himself to mentally drown out the pain, to ignore the jerking motion as his shadow tries to free himself.]
Because...you've forgotten...
You've forgotten the one thing that makes me different! Makes me unique...!
[The hand on his shadow's face begins to pulse and glow.]
All this time...All this time you've been calling me weak. A monster. And while those things may be true, you've never once called me by the one thing I've always identified with...!
A BLACKSMITH!
[Darin's entire arm starts to glow in that moment, and it starts to slowly spread down the shadow's frame, his cries of protest muffled by Darin's hand.]
And you've forgotten...you're not the only one who can talk to Diomuhr...! He told me the secret behind your little trick...what our magic is! You can mold the world around you, create things out of whatever materials you can get your hands on. You can extract the metal from stone and shape it to your will...
Well, let me tell you something...
[He tightens his grip as the glow completely envelopes his shadow and slowly, a grin spreads across his bloodied face.]
A human body, when broken down, is nothing more than elements on a periodic table. At first glance, it's nothing more than ore. But I don't see people that way. I see them like a blacksmith sees unprocessed ore: unrefined yet bursting with potential! A man can be shaped, molded, and through trials borne of fire we can be remade into something new! Something completely incredible!
[The shadow's eyes go wide as he starts to break down, as his frame starts to ripple as if he were fast becoming an illusion. Slowly, his extremities begin to waver and reshape themselves.]
My name...is Darin Altway! I'm not Diomuhr! I'm not Dromas! I am a Master Blacksmith! With these hands, I take what's broken, what serves little purpose, and I shape it into whatever I want! And that includes myself! With these hands I will shape myself into the man I choose to be! And if there isn't a path to that destination, then I will forge one myself!
[Slowly, Darin is lowered to the ground but he remains standing. His shadow's form, no longer that of a man but resembles a floating, insubstantial mass, pulses with light.]
You're not just me...you're only a facet of me! And if I want to be the man I want to become, I need to accept you as a part of me! And just like smelted metal, I'll return you to the mold...so that one day I can reshape you into something worth showing the entire world!
[There's a flash, and the mass that was once Darin's shadow begins to get absorbed into Darin's body. Slowly, it flows into him through his many wounds until the light vanishes.]
[Leaving only Darin standing alone. The dao that had pierced his body crumbles to dust and falls away, leaving only the wound for blood to flow from. He staggers and coughs, then falls to his knees hacking up thick globs of tar and blood.]
Heh...it worked...
[With that, he slumps forward onto his face.]
no subject
[In any other setting, he'd be proud to hear all of that. Incredibly proud. He'd say so. Probably with some kind of physical affection. There'd be some kind of celebration -- small, maybe. Nothing too outstanding. Like at that birthday drink. Because he wants to be proud. He really, really wants to be. So much. Like he'd be proud of any other part of his team.]
[But he can't.]
[Because just that one word took more physically out of him than he thought. Choked out like dust -- like the flickering memories trying to swarm up and overwhelm his vision. His feet trip over one another, sending him to his knees again, saved from falling all the way to the ground by grasping onto a bit of rubble with metal fingers.]
[They need to get out of here.]
[His brain is struggling to process what just happened. It was all so fast. Probably going to see it in dreams from now until he dies -- maybe he can process it then. For now, he's got to stand up. Got to get to him.]
[Got to do something.]
[It's all he can focus on. That, and dragging himself into a slow, limping slog forward. Toward the fallen figure. If they won, it's not supposed to be like this, is it? They won, they're supposed to get out of here. Get back to the others and explain what happened. Try and sort this all out. Make things right again with the team.]
[He can't do this to them again. Can't disappear in the face of a victory again.]
[By the time he gets there, he's not sure how they're supposed to get out. But he falls to his knees. Struggling with one hand to try and lift the other up onto one shoulder. The one that isn't screaming in agony at every motion. They just... have to wait this out. Right? Until that healing factor kicks in.]
C-c'mon. Let's. We have to get out.
[It's not working. He gets about two steps before he can feel his legs buckle again.]
[Then they're both back on the ground.]
no subject
[When they hit the ground again, Darin rolls onto his back. He coughs and chokes, blackred blood streaming from his lips. Sealing his shadow into his own body was a gamble, and his mind, his very essence was on fire. It was true pain on a metaphysical level. His wounds, though they weren't bleeeding freely, were clotting over with a similar tar-like substance that the shadow had been made of. Darin was growing pale, and as the color was leaving his skin, it was being replaced by thin black veins spider-webbing out from his many wounds.]
[He lies there, coughing, fighting to breathe through the jet black bile rising in his throat.]
[Finally, his voice croaks out.]
You need...to get out of here...
Not far from home...on the edge of...Kauto. Region five...
M'not...going anywhere...
[He gulps down a breath.]
Need to...tell you something...
S'important...
no subject
[Somehow. Even if he doesn't know how just yet. If he can just get them to the exit. Wherever that is. He's not even sure he can get himself there, let alone two of them. But since when has that ever stopped him?]
[Never, that's when.]
[It doesn't really work, but even so. He'll try his hardest to get a hand around Darin's collar or get a shoulder under him. Something -- for leverage. If he can do that, then, surely he can haul them along. Haul them to the exit. The shadows had to get them in here, somehow.]
[Drag marks -- from the trunk. If they follow them...]
When we're out. Tell -- tell me then.
no subject
Never...listen...
Stubborn ass...
[He chokes out a laugh and continues talking. If he doesn't say this now...]
He was right...y'know. My clone. Shadow. Whatever. [Cough] Everything he said was right but...he forgot one thing. One crucial thing.
[The pain is enormous. He feels like his entire body is on fire. He hears Diomuhr fighting to take control. And despite the pitched battle going on inside his own soul, to Shiro, his body feels cold and it only grows colder by the second.]
He never said...how thankful I am. To have you. To have Pidge, Hunk, Keith, Lance, and Allura.
[As he speaks his eyes sting. And it's only at that moment, when he can't find the strength to bring an arm up to wipe them, that there are tears rolling down his cheeks. He didn't know what was going to happen to him now and that terrified him. But what scared him more was losing these people who had taken him in. Given him a place. Suddenly, the all-important words he so desperately wanted to say were escaping him. He wanted to tell Shiro to tell the team how much they meant to him. To tell Pidge that he was sure she would find her brother, to tell Hunk that he's never met someone so kind and caring, to tell Keith that he wished he had the chance to know him better, to tell Lance that he was proud to be compared to someone so full of life. To tell Allura that he wished they had more time together. In the end, the tears just flowed faster than the words could come and, using all the strength he could muster, he reaches over to grab Shiro weakly by the shirt.]
[Then he gives the man, his best friend, the brother he always wished he could have, the biggest smile he could.]
Thank...you...
For being...
My family...
[His voice was gone. He couldn't speak anymore. Instead, he slowly reaches behind his back and clumsily unfastens his dao and its sheath. He pulls it off of his back and practically shoves it at Shiro, though with what little strength he had it seemed more like he was dropping it towards him.]
[Hold onto this for me. A black blade for a black paladin. Made of something stronger than anything I've ever known. A perfect weapon for defending. It suits you way more than it suits me.]
[And then slowly, his eyes glaze over, his gaze fixated on the unseen. His muscles relax, and everything goes dark. His heartbeat is faint, but there's no sign of consciousness, no response from his body. And when his head slumps over, the only thing that truly remains of Darin is the small smile creasing his lips.]
no subject
[How many more times is it going to be?]
[That nagging voice in the back of his head won't stop. The shadows are gone, for now. But it's like their voices never stopped. The look on remembered faces as they do something stupid and selfless for him just burn into being in his brain. While he shakes the body on the ground. Desperate.]
[Words don't come out. Or, so he thinks. He didn't realize he'd shouted himself hoarse already, trying to change the outcome. He can't even be glad to hear these words. Because he knows why they're coming. He knows this kind of speech. The It's been an honor speech. And it makes his blood chill worse than even the shock in every limb.]
[This can't be real. This can't actually be happening.]
[Not saving someone is the hardest thing I've ever lived through.]
[He just ends up sinking to his knees, sitting there, feeling himself shaking and feeling his eyes sting until he has to blink, or lose sight of what's in front of him. He can't lift both ... the body... and the blade. As clear as the intent was. Any other day, no problem. But not now. Now... he's at a loss.]
[Why is it always for him. Why is he something worth saving? And what if the shadow was all right, what if --]
[Why him.]
[Not saving someone is the hardest thing I've ever lived through.]
[So live through.]
[He doesn't even realize he's moved until somehow, a piece of that awful trunk is under Darin's body. The sword placed on top. It looks like the beginnings of a funeral pyre. He has no memory of moving any of it. But what else is new?]
[Step by slow, painful step, however, he will get them out. Find the exit. Drag the makeshift sledge along. The motion sends pain through every injury, breath shuddering hard in his lungs, and leaving him gasping for breath. It's impossible to tell how long it takes. How many false starts and wrong moves.]
[It's only when sunlight stabs him in the eyes that he stops, swaying where he stands.]
[So live through.]
[And drops.]
no subject
[It's been a strange couple of days at Lion House. Of course, some might say it's such a place that "strange" is normal for the people living there -- but not like this. At least, not that the princess could recall.]
[An 'imposter' Shiro had been in the house. The other paladins had started coming up with more colorful names for the man, since no situation was too serious for a good pun, most of which reflected his sinister nature. But as for Allura... well, she only reserved the word 'evil' for one Black Paladin, and it wasn't Shiro.]
[At any rate, seeing 'that' Shiro in the house had been cause for alarm enough. But it turns out the alternative was far worse.]
[Allura is sitting. Then standing. Picking up a cup of tea. Setting the cup of tea back down. Standing. Checking at the window. Leaning against the door. Sitting again.]
[Pacing like an agitated lioness in a cage.]
[Fretting is unbecoming of the princess. But they had been gone for just a little too long, with no way to contact and every reason to believe that something had happened again. Finally, the princess pulls out her communication device (which she had set down only five minutes ago, but it feels like hours) and dials one person she knows is still in contact.]
Any luck, Pidge? Please, tell me that they lost their way home from the grocery store...
no subject
But at the same time, they can't just let it keep running around. They have to find it, have to find the real Shiro before something awful happens.
Unfortunately Pidge has lost track of where the others have gone, and they don't seem to be answering her calls over the TABs. She's not sure she has enough time to try to triangulate their individual locations, and even if she did that wouldn't help--
...Or she could try doing that to find Shiro's TAB. Which is what she's doing when Allura's voice comes through, and it's clear that the princess has been doing nothing but worry the entire time.]
I'm still looking, Allura. I've lost the others, but I think I might be able to track down Shiro's TAB unit. Assuming it's still on him. And emitting a strong enough signal.
no subject
So, the chances seem good that he's carrying it with him.
[Actually, there's plenty of other options that jump to mind. Perhaps he got sick of ignoring the calls, and threw his TAB away? But she doesn't breathe a word out loud, as if trying not to jinx their best lead.]
I'll let you work. Just please, let me know if you find anything.
no subject
You'll be the first, princess.
[She hesitates before doing anything else, chewing on her lip a bit. And then her eyes return to meet Allura's.]
And if you hear from anyone else, or- or if anybody comes into the house, contact me right away. Okay? We don't know if it can shapeshift into anyone else.
no subject
[And that thought is enough -- Allura looks even more nervous than she did a minute ago. Without a moment of hesitation, she grabs the nearest thing she could point threateningly at someone. Which is... an umbrella?]
Right. [She keeps talking as she finds a cozy spot behind a piece of furniture.] I'll keep out of sight for now, then. I wouldn't want to get spooked and hit one of the real ones by mistake.
If it does come back here, will it be hard to tell the difference?
no subject
They might be wearing sunglasses or something to cover their eyes. For some reason their eyes are just... black. Like, all black.
no subject
[But she doesn't elaborate any further. Mostly because it doesn't really matter. They can figure out what's happening as soon as they catch this doppelganger.]
All right then. I will keep an eye on the, erm, eyes. [And debates trying to match her skin to the wall. If he's wearing sunglasses indoors, he might not be able to see well.]
no subject
[Unconsciously Pidge's free hand moves up to touch her throat... But then she seems to catch herself and drops the hand again.] Just- be careful, okay? And send out an alert if anything weird happens.
no subject
[If the circumstances were different, Allura wouldn't have wanted to split up like this at all. And surely, Pidge would have preferred to be having this conversation in person, right? It's safer in numbers.]
[But the fact of the matter is that someone had to stay behind in case they came back, and someone had to head out in case they didn't. Besides, either one of them should be able to handle themselves if they did get cornered... right?]
[Best not to think too hard on that one.]
What if it is one of the other paladins? Do you think you'll need support?
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She's frowning at the princess's question, though. She's hesitated maybe a bit too long to instill stronger confidence in Allura, but honestly... Pidge isn't sure.]
I... should be fine. But I'll send an alert if I need back up.
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thought I replied to this! whoops.
asldkmacl SO DID I lollll i'm doin' great over here
we are the strongest members of team voltron
go us~!!!
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