video — un: starburst.

[valeas]

( Hello, Eastbounders.

Once again, a dynamic and alarming duo greets you, with no better news than last time.

In fact, it doesn't seem to be an announcement at all.

The first thing the jostled communicator picks up is... a sound. Guttural, croaked, agonising. It belongs to Lady Arabella, throwing herself upon what becomes quite obviously Wrath's frame. Her mouth opens wider, and wider still, as though she might want to swallow him whole.

The sound becomes a scream, unending.

Wrath's golden gaze stares at Arabella like one might survey a mildly interesting change in the scenery — his own expression impassive as her grip tears the buttons from his shirt.

His companion, on the other hand, reacts a bit more angrily, Emilia's initial concern shifting into something more vicious. As Arabella attempts to latch on to Wrath however she can, Emilia strikes back at her, prepared for a fight. Except it never quite comes: no sooner Arabella is thrown off, she stops,

backpedaling into the communicator that turns the video black. )


NOTE: Again, the second link leads to Grudge-y things. The video is short and choppy and hectic, taking place not long after the assassination attempt on Arabella. Wrath and Emilia helped in the rescue efforts and were, uh, rewarded. For more details, feel free to read here.

Comments

@taken for granite

[rumorate]

What the hell was that?

[Because that didn't look normal in any sense of the word. In fact, it seemed kind of similar to what happened at the peak of the summit, but none of them had gotten violent.]

[valeas]

( Emilia has cooled off. Some.

She is completely and totally hinged. It is just that she is clinging on to those hinges with her very fingertips at this point. )

A graver example yet. Did you notice at the summit, when the clock struck and the light earthquake began?

( All electric power was lost, and some delegates behaved so peculiarly. )

[inferus]

( Wrath is quietly basking in the waves of Emilia's beautiful anger. His hand rests against her arm as they've found a quiet place to regroup - a reminder that he as not harmed. )

It did appear to have a similar feeling in the strange way she moved.

[rumorate]

Was there any kind of electricity issue? Or did something you say activate her like a sleeper agent?

[Because she doesn't remember any of the robots there doing something like that.]

[valeas]

A phrase written down on a note, attached to a bouquet of lilies she received a week ago. She believed they're connected to today's attempts. ( And Emilia will do her best to turn the note over so Allison can read it, so she does not speak it aloud again:

dolly, back in your dollhouse. )

[inferus]

There was no magical element about the words or note itself. I am uncertain how the activation would have worked, but I imagine it must have something to do with Minaras technology.

[rumorate]

[That does track for her as a sleeper command of some kind. Is there some kind of brainwashing afoot? Allison can't really tell from here, but it's unsettling all the same.]

Yeah. That definitely gives sleeper agent vibes.

[How to explain brainwashing.]

Sleeper agents don't know that they've been programmed usually. But people will work certain kinds of trigger phrases into their subconscious for certain reactions. It's a messy business and not easy to do.

[inferus]

( Wrath frowns because he doesn't altogether like the sounds of it. Mortals often attempt to dabble in what they should not have access to- whether that be judgement and punishment of others for their 'sins' or this. )

What would be the intention of triggering this reaction in particular? Anyone could have read the phrase, and she was easily stopped.

Is there more which could have been activated by the words, but may wait for... some other trigger set into her subconscious?

[valeas]

She was easily stopped for now.

( For now. Emilia is ready to assume escalation, if something has indeed been awoken inside of Arabella. Tar, dark waters, mirrors. She can only imagine what it is that they'll find here next. The words in the note keep turning over in her head. Dolly, dolly — )

Kaneki Ken. He has a doll, does he not?

( A doll that ... talks? )

[inferus]

( A pause, Wrath had not thought of that, but they do have the one doll in their group: ) He does. ...a cursed doll.

( Wrath can feel it like he can feel Five, as cursed as he is, with the mirror still inside of him. )

It could be related to the strangeness of these cities. ( He doesn't feel a curse in the people here, but given he also doesn't sense life or death, he doesn't think his senses can be entirely relied on. )

[rumorate]

It could have been a test? To make sure the programming took? It's possible that there are more dangerous phrases buried in there somewhere.

[But on the other hand...]

But you could also be right. It could just be how weird this place is.