video - un: starkov / dated 11/12

[sankta]

( the video opens on Alina looking winded. the focus is on her face, sweat trickling down her brow, strands of hair plastered to her cheeks. she's looking past the camera at something else. behind her is a dimly lit hallway, only the wall and light on the wall barely peeking out past her face. )

Be careful if you're invited to any parties these days. ( her eyes flick to the camera, then she lowers the camera to reveal her upper chest. just below her throat, across her collar bone, is a deep, angry slash that still drips past the neckline of her dress.

she raises the camera to her face again, her eyes darting around herself rather than watching the screen. ) That was meant to be my throat. Others weren't so lucky.

The Brotherhood left a message after the slaughter for the families seeking alliance with Macaluso and Taravast. ( her eyes flick back to the camera. ) Basically, don't do it; this is the only warning. ( she searches her memories a bit for the wording- ) "Never seek alliances that could imperil the Brotherhood's interests again."

( she sighs, closes her eyes and shakes her head before reaching up to wipe the strands of hair from her brow. ) I could use some help. I caught one. ( she flips the camera around to show the hallway behind her lined with the carnage of four undead envoys in pieces on the floor. ) But I still need help to clean up.

Comments

[reparo]

[She's a resourceful girl, and she's admirable like that. If Hermione takes note of how quickly she found something to bite on is neither here nor there - the cut worries her. It's bleeding, though not worse than when Ron got splinched.

And worst case scenario, she has sewing supplies (which she doesn't use often anyway) and nerves of steel (for now) and they can make something work.

First, she cleans the blood off, pouring the water onto the exposed part of her skin and the wound itself; then she presses the bandage tight against it.]

[sankta]

( the water smarts. it's not even that cold, but it's cool enough against the burning of the open wound. it forces a hiss from between Alina's teeth and she grinds her teeth on the sleeve-strip in her mouth. but it's bearable past that.

then she presses. for a second Alina jerks forward, nearly doubling at the pain. Eleven thinks he can heal it later, but it's deep and wide now and damn if that doesn't sting. she groans into the self-fashioned gag and digs her nails into her palms as she squeezes her eyes shut.

the pain returns to a dull throb shortly and Alina takes a deep breath through her nose. she opens her eyes again and looks to Hermione, nodding briefly to tell her to continue. )

[reparo]

[Keeping pressure is the best she can do - that, and wishing she had Dittany on herself, that would be nice.]

Have you spoken to anyone else who is coming to help?

[sankta]

( as the pressure sets in, the painful thudding returns. it's not great, but it's bearable. that's all that matters.

Alina pulls the gag from her mouth gingerly, then nods her response. ) Especially people to help clean up the bodies. It'll be sorted soon.

[reparo]

Hopefully someone who can heal that better than I can. [Apologetic, she tries to smile, and gives the wound a look.] If it were truly bad, you'd have bled out by now. [murmured, matter of fact. It's the worst bedside manner ever.

She flinches.] Sorry. That was rude. [Whatever pushes her to do this, she'll never have time to figure it out. Is it revisiting a traumatic experience? Is it staring a young woman in the eyes while she's injured and trying to not see Lavender, or Tonks, or Luna?]

I have some experience too. [With her free hand, she tugs at the collar of her blouse, revealing the scar left behind by Bellatrix Lestrange's torture. Hardly something to make a joke of, and yet Hermione is trying to be optimistic here.] You'll be okay.