eastbound | un: magic wand (video)

So, I saw the blood, I just wanted to see if someone was really shitty at hiding bodies, but—

[ Out by the trio of wells, Vi's sporting a cozy red jacket that she 'liberated' before leaving Serthica. This close to the pocket watch, the scarring on her lip and brow is visible, along with her nose piercing and the VI tattoo under her left eye. She isn't wearing a hat despite her short hair and undercut, and when she leans over and swings the watch to face down, it's visible she's opted to do without gloves for the moment, too. One hand gripping the well is only protected by some dirty hand wraps.

The well she's leaning over is the one that should be lidded, but...that lid is a little bit broken and leaning against the side after a certain someone wrenched it off.

It's not easy to see from this high up, but the well is mostly empty, and down below is a skeleton dressed in a gown. ]

Not the kind of dead body I expected.

[ The pocket watch is tied around her belt so anyone watching can enjoy some Hardcore Henry motion sickness as Vi hops over the edge of the well and ping-pongs off the narrow sides to keep from dropping down into the three feet of what looks to be very dirty water. Somehow she manages to keep a grip without falling, but the watch stays on her waist so she can have both hands free.

Down here, the skeleton's dress is visibly tattered, and the water is filled with silt. The partially submerged skeleton is posed...almost like it's sleeping?

Just as Vi's trying to scrape closer for a better look, one of the innkeepers is heard fretting up above to not disturb the skeleton's napping spot. Something about the sun's glare. Since there's nothing else to see, Vi concedes and climbs back up, the pocket watch bringing the innkeepers into view when she lands back on the ground. Vi's husky voice can be heard 'asking' for (demanding) an explanation: "Sorry, but, what the hell?"

The innkeepers explain that they suspect the lady of the bones forgets each night where her final resting place is and keeps trying out each of the very similar wells. They lid the well they find her in every morning. The water returns in that well, nicely purified, once she's out each night.

It isn't until the lid's back on and they've left that Vi looks back to the video, more disturbed than when she had started. Are they getting their drinking water from magic haunted skeleton wells? ...Probably still better than the water she had back home. ]

Feels like we ought to pour one out for her. [ A softer mutter: ] And she should have a better grave marker...

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You speak with young mercy.

[ Wheeze. She coughs to hide a laugh. ]

Never been accused of mercy before.

[ That makes her uncomfortable. Let's just brush that off. ]

Maybe I just have a soft spot for damsels in distress.

We shall want her unburied.

[ ! ]

You mean move her?

You waver?

[ That one person did suggest she might get haunted, which Vi definitely already thought about, but...she'll be fine...probably. ]

No, but the innkeepers won't like it. We'd be better off trying after dark.

[ Maybe they could finish before the doors lock. ]

Where would we put her, though? What if it makes it worse? I don't want her to get...even more lost.

Repositioned. Warded.

I don't have any of Karsa's wards. You can do that, though?

I stand exorcist.

[ Looks like there's no shortage of exorcists, which is...handy? ]

All right. Pretty sure I can find a shovel. We can try after dusk.

[ Shoveling a grave through ice is...something she's never tried, but how hard can it be? ]

We'll need something like a blanket to wrap her and lift her out with or...someone mentioned a net. Do we actually have any around here?

Does she not awaken after dusk?

I don't see how we can do it in the day without drawing attention. They were on my ass pretty quick after climbing down the well. I was planning on sticking around to catch her if she...climbs out or floats out or whatever she does.

[ Maybe Vi won't even have to haul the skeleton out, wouldn't that be nice? Although then it would feel...a lot more like kidnapping.

She is open to other plans, though, because she doesn't know diddly about this spiritual stuff. ]

You have a better idea?

Distract or beg approval. Best done when the spirit is quieted. The day.

I'm not begging anything.

[ Except it's sounding like it could be even more work. This is for a skeleton nobody else seems to care about... ]

A distraction could work, but what's gonna steal their attention for long enough? Seems like they're pretty used to weird shit happening.

Then distract more efficiently.

Hah! I'm good but I'm not that good. I'm the one hauling her out and digging her pretty new grave. You need to be the distraction.

I lack in ease for deceit.

[ That's...cute. Little smile for that.

Vi knows how to play the game if she can come up with a plan, but doesn't she have enough to do in this heist? Give her a break. ]

Then do you know anyone who doesn't lack?

( NOT ONE HEARTBEAT WASTED. )

Beitang Moran. Five.

[ That's ice cold. Let's counteract it with some burns. ]

Which one's smarter? As in, which one's better at thinking outside the box? I don't know either of them.