un: hatisse | video

[aprescoup]

( The party's second, more elusive, revived witch appears on everyone's devices — enjoying a steaming, bubbling bath, in a sign that comfort is only unattainable for the unattractive. )

...now, aren't you beautiful, my sweets? And so many more than before, and lively, your flesh teeming with... youth.

This one is only an honoured and unworthy servant, so spare a moment, won't you? There's nothing to fear, I hardly bite, unless... have we still... virgins, each way the eye sees? ( Short, knowing laughter. ) We must relish in innocence.

( If her smile were thinner, it would be the ghost of the party's coin purse. )

Of course, this isn't why I would presume to take up your time, no, not your Hatisse. I only wish, with utmost respect, if I may. A humble warning.

( Her voice briefly ices, while she picks up a diminutive sponge to slowly, sloooooowly rinse her right arm. )

Here, in this gods-forsaken quaint little pedestrian village, where husband is uncle and brother and of the same blood as goats, you do not cross paths with... true witches, no matter what they name themselves. 'Ladies' of... 'lakes.' Remember, the clumsiest, easiest sorcery is the elements, and if they rule water, in a land of waters, don't be impressed.

( Briefly disgusted, as if she prepares to spit out a soured thing: ) They're hedge witches. Primitive, barely trained, and of course, your Hatisse is the daughter of a school, and so perhaps there is the lightest... prejudice, but may I say. Time is not the work of witches who, if rumour is to be believed, can do no better than play in puddles. There must be more. Something or someone.

( And now for an interlude where Hatisse raises herself from the bath, and much of the more risque parts of her body are strategically covered in foam. )

Now... we are friends here, all friends, friends of convenience, but friends. And Hatisse has shared what little was hers to give. But this is a land of the dead, and she cannot do more for you, if she is unknowing. Tell me, my sweets: how many of you are mired in death? How did you come to it?

( ooc: threadjack away! Hatisse will be regrettably available. )

Comments

voice; un: owllady

[traaaaaash]

[ Look at this lady. She went to school! Despite the fact that her views of the institution have changed since having a kid of her own in school, Eda can't help herself. She rolls her eyes and gives a mocking imitation of Hatisse. ]

Look at me, I went to school! Shower me with trophies and ribbons!

[aprescoup]

( Oh, another... hopeless, jealous amateur. Pardon. A 'hedge witch.' )

Ribbons would become you.

[traaaaaash]

Nah, not the frilly type. Nor a prissy little schoolgirl.

audio ... so much audio

[recklessenough]

[ The minute she'd started to move, he'd flipped over the pendant and covered it with his hand for good measure. Call him a prude, no doubt Lucy used the term under her breath when she wound him up with saucy language. ]

Please forgive my ignorance, I am still getting straight who is whom amongst our numbers. Would you be willing to explain to me how we are all friends?

[ Seriously. He's starting to feel like he needs a score card. ]

.............permavideo for this gal

[aprescoup]

...well. ( Honeyed: ) We haven't killed each other yet?

Perma audio and not ashamed to admit it

[recklessenough]

That seems a weak measure. There are quite a number of people I know, who I haven't killed yet, and I certainly would not term them friends.

Were you also taken from your reality and brought here?

un: Black Prince; text

[blackscales]

At this stage in our journey, if no undead lord was involved I'd be disappointed.

[aprescoup]

( Laughter, soft. )

My handsome one, now, what's this reluctance? You won't even share your voice? What a charming voice it is.

voice;

[blackscales]

[ Empty flattery.

... Empty flatter is however, still flattery. At this point, he'll take it. ]

My dear Hatisse, I'm afraid you say that to everyone and I've begun to doubt your sincerity.

video. un: widow

[redhourglass]

( if the nudity is a bother, natasha looks the opposite of bothered. in fact, she looks mostly unimpressed. but the last bit, mired in death — for all that riddles (pertaining to her, at least) aren’t her forte, that has her attention. )

How do we know you’re not the something else that has screwed up time?

( the words are blunt, but softened by a half-smile, as though entertaining a very interesting academic theory. )

[aprescoup]

...me, my beauty? Oh, I shouldn't play with such a thing. Time... isn't for sorcery. Too many variables, too much to go astray, and... besides. I'm sworn in service to the great king Wrath, your very own companion. How could I betray his trust?

[redhourglass]

Just a theory. I’m sure you understand.

( and a sign she needs to seek out someone with more in depth knowledge of this place to fully understand who is and isn’t on their side. still.. )

So if it’s not sorcery, what does mess with time?

audio | un: yiling laozu

[weifinder]

Really?

[aprescoup]

My beautiful saviour. What troubles you?

[weifinder]

Your choice of venues may, but alas, everyone should enjoy proper baths while we can. I wouldn't deny any person the pleasures of hot soaks, or cold ones, depending.

I hear ( from listening and interjecting elsewhere so helpfully ) we're on the lookout for another bodybit. Any chance there'd be indications we can trace for where we might find them?

Thus far I've run into signs of dirt and fingerprints in the future at the inactive beacon, and with Hermione's assistance, found disturbed places on the wood's shore indicating someone stepping barefoot and dirt-shedding onto the lands. The dead and haunted parts.

un: protector izumi | video;

[fushichou]

...Uh huh. So...any idea who could be strong enough to screw with time?

[aprescoup]

Oh my sweet, it is nothing to worry. Only... a dead thing, or perhaps the precious little remains they use to leave behind their power and bolster their strongholds. A trifling matter.

Oh, aren't you pretty. We haven't met.

audio

[vestments]

How does knowing how many of us are 'mired in death' help you? What difference does it make?

( not that he's particularly shy about admitting he's died (three times), but — you know. from a curiosity standpoint. )

[aprescoup]

Help me? No, my lord, Hatisse lives to help you.

And it is a... matter of some consequence that... if there are dead lieges among us, they have a habit of... wresting the dead within their clutches.

un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ Five has little reaction to the bath, skips right past the nonsense to zero in on what matters. He'll have to get Wrath's opinion before he takes hers at face value, but she is saving him from chasing after a dead end.

And she seems, unexpectedly, aware of how you shouldn't mess with time. Surprises all around. ]

You assume it could be another artefact, how can you be sure the witches aren't in possession of it?

[aprescoup]

I cannot. Nor can I certain it is an artefact. I only think... for it to be a liege, they would have to be present across time, whereas a mere artefact might have been buried... prior to the time lapses. And so would linger across them. Do you follow?

video; un: stormborn

[song_of_fire]

[Dany long ago learned to be comfortable with nakedness. Dothraki customs soothed away her preconceived prejudices and prudery. So this is hardly a bother.

Somehow, it feels more like showing off.]

Do you sense any mired in death?

[aprescoup]

Among you? Oh, there's the... ( Stench. ) Aroma. But so much of it, it's difficult to point down, unless you all... come close. One by one. To bare yourselves to me.

un: slothbaby

[cosplayqueen]

[She is so uncomfortable..........] Thanks for clearing that up. Going to have to say no on the whole mired-in-death thing. I don't even know what mired means tbh. I've just been around when people died like literally everyone else my age back on my Earth.

[aprescoup]

...and what a sad fate that is, of course.