video. un: a_civil_serpent

[inferus]

This is what lies beyond the living-but-not walls in Chricter's secret room. ( The video starts with the sharpness of Wrath's voice in the dark cavern. Wrath and Fei continue forward with dim magical. Fei's sword is drawn, Wrath's serpent-dagger is in his hand. There are 20-25 mannequins in various states: burlap to human-like with defined features and soft skin.

A splash is heard as they step into dark water, and Wrath's jaw clenches at the realization they are being drained from the contact, but they have little choice but to push onward. Fei looks similarly displeased but determined. ) It is the dark water as it was in the volcano, as it was under the sea, infusing into the burlap sacks and making beings who are-

( Wrong. Unnatural. The video lands on the dog tags on the mannequins with a name on one, with a phrase on the other: hello, birdie, squirrel, eat your nuts!, the train goes, choo-choo on the other. ) Like the phrase left for Arabella.

( Before more can be said, chaos. The mannequins wake in a panic. They attack, rushing forward. Wrath and Fei work together to fight them off. She has been drained of stamina, and he has been drained of magic. They are worn from the waters, but they work in tandem - two experienced fighters, slashing through the burlap and false skin. It'll be difficult to tell what exactly is happening through the flurry of movement and sharp blades and burlap and skin and blood and features but not.

The mannequins rush out through the opening. Screams and shouts are heard from outside the room - distant. Fei and Wrath (bloody, torn, dripping dark water) step out of the wall. Fei spits out blood and wipes it from her chin, and then the video focuses on Magnus and Xingchen, waiting on the other side. The two were protected by Xingchen's talisman, which prevented the dark water from going any further. Magnus has his portal ready, and he speaks sharply: "Everyone into the safety hole now," and through it they go.

The echoes of chaos are left behind, and then there is darkness and silence. )

Comments

[somebadnews]

[ No longer operational. For what? Five still isn't clear on what they're doing and why. It'd make more sense if they were building robots, but there's something else going on with the dark water. If Five wanted to get more involved, he could figure it out. At the moment, it sounds like Wrath is doing the Merchant's work for him.

They need answers before things get worse, but he has to manage his priorities. He appreciates that Wrath doesn't push the idea that he won't find his brother, and he nods his thanks. ]

It wouldn't be the first time Diego's been kidnapped. [ He looks back at the door with a slight grimace. He screened most of his roommates when this whole thing started, so he'd hoped they could at least help him narrow down the timeline. ] I'll ask.

[ He sounds more rational now, at least. He's still angry and more aware of the anguish swirling inside him, but it's pointed away from his present company. ]

Maybe I'll catch up with you. There's always a chance it's related.

[inferus]

( Wrath senses the shift as he senses all of the rest - the anger remains as it should. He would never deny anyone their anger, but so does the curse filled with anguish, and Five does appear to be in control of it all once more. He is aware he has a certain explosive effect when anger feeds into him and he feeds into it in turn - a helpless effect of being that particular sin incarnate. )

It could be.

( His clothes are fresh now. He's free from the dark water, and he doesn't intend on keeping Five from his task any longer. )

Let me know if you find anything, and I'll keep you updated in turn. ( His hand settles on the door handle, but there's one more pause: ) Thank you again.

( It may have seemed like a small task, but it was not. It was only a task he would give to someone he trusts. Wrath refuses to let most individuals see him in any kind of disarray (a signal of weakness and vulnerability in Hell enough to have demons worrying that a House might crumble). There's a reason the camera was pointed outward at everything and everyone else. )

[somebadnews]

[ Five lifts his head when Wrath stops at the door, and this time the only reaction he has is a slight downward tug of his lips. He isn't often thanked, even when he's risked his life for someone, so it's strange when Wrath repeats it over simply bringing his clothes and yelling at him. He didn't even need to walk over here.

Sometimes it really strikes him how polite demons are.

Or how easily he believes him when he says he'll keep him updated. They have some powerful people in their corner, and it's Five's biggest frustration that all these failsafes he had in place weren't enough. There's no guarantee that if he does it all over again he won't end up right back here.

It doesn't leave his mind that whatever is going on, they were able to hurt Wrath. Five has some faith in his brother's abilities, but it's a reminder of how much trouble he can get into on his own.

He doesn't wait for the door to close before he blinks away. Either to corner his brother's roommates or do his own detective work. ]