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

[un: sprite bulb] text;

[bearshermark]

Thank the Goddess you're alive.

I can heal. And help burn the bodies.

text;

[sankta]

thank you. for the healing, as well.

i wish we could have helped more survive. i think Diego helped a few... but it wasn't enough.

un: absterge

[downswing]

( He is silent, too silent, gasped. Reduced to this. )

Tighten touch on your wound. To lessen the flows.

[bearshermark]

Of course.

[His heart aches with such empathy that he doesn't know what to say about it for a good two minutes]

It's terrible, everything that's happened. We'll keep fighting.

[sankta]

i can do that. i just wish our enemies didn't hide themselves all the time. it'd be easier if i could face them directly.

[sankta]

It looks worse than it is. ( not true, but she doesn't need him to worry so much. )

[downswing]

Dubious.

[sankta]

It wouldn't hurt you to just go along with my lies once in awhile.

[bearshermark]

It would be.

Where are you?

1/2

[downswing]

Speak them better.

[downswing]

How many dead? ( A pause. She would not know, would not have tallied. Shock steals wit. ) Numbers exceed the dozen?

[sankta]

palace of the doxe
...
down... a corridor off the banquet hall? we went north i think.

[sankta]

Less than that. ( there's just her breathing for a second as she tries to think on it. ) It looked like every other one of us... so maybe five others injured beyond me? Diego stayed to help, so I don't know if he managed to save any of them. I've been with the envoys since I caught up to them.

[downswing]

They seek to intimidate. ( And he knows, they both know, it will work. ) If the bodies are preserved, bide me a moment. The dead may speak.

[sankta]

They let the other half of us survive. After they presented them their own heads on a platter with knives in them.

You should have time to get here.

[bearshermark]

I'll be along shortly. Take care until then.

[downswing]

...first, we bury the innocent.

[sankta]

don't worry, i'm not going anywhere.

[sankta]

I would like that.

( a pause, then pain slips into her voice. ) I knew something was wrong with the dinner. I should have acted sooner.

[downswing]

( Softened, staggered: ) You lived. You fight another day.

[sankta]

I'll live to make them pay for it.

[downswing]

Alina. Vengeance tears flesh, consumes marrow, breaks bone.

[sankta]

( there's a moment. then- ) As a friend once said to me- I am ruination. ( words to live by, Genya. )

[downswing]

...what want of enemies? With friends who bleed you first.

[sankta]

You shouldn't worry. This was what I was made for.