♕ 5th - video - The Sight

[skjalf]

[ there had been a point to her opening this channel. in light of the tragic losses they have suffered here, she has wanted to hold a dinner to celebrate the memory of those who have died and vanished. her mouth moves, but no words are produced. her face becomes deathly pale, her eyes wide and dilated as though in fear. but she has not seen a ghost. no, what she is seeing is something else entirely.

horrible images play before her, which only she might see. the blank look she sports is soon replaced with a one of complete and utter horror. ]

It is hot.. too hot to fight! The Dragon has come from across the sea to wage war against the Boar. Ah, the sun blinds the eyes!

[ she shudders, blinking her unfocused eyes. ] The field is an ocean of blood. I can barely hear over the din of it. The Dragon is swooping in, and his men roar behind him.

His Grace is brave to wear his crown to battle. He is winning.. standing alone in a field of dead, blood coursing over his boots. Ah, it is splendid and horrible!

[ once again, her face becomes a mask of pure terror, scrunching up while her eyes are too-wide for her face. ]

But here comes Lord Stanley! "For Tudor!" he calls. And His Grace has lost his horse. Treason, treason, treason!

[ and that seems to have snapped her out of it. still on camera, elizabeth exposes vulnerability for the first time to those aboard the ship at large, as she cannot control the violent shaking of her form or the tears that appear in her eyes. this is, unsurprisingly, a result of the nightmare she endured within the maze.

she cannot seem to speak for a long, long time. elizabeth covers her mouth with her hands to cover the fact that she is biting her lower lip so hard it is bleeding. and while she is able to finally get a few words out, it is muffled and quavering: ]

Forgive me.

[ she then abruptly ends the broadcast. ]

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[skjalf]

[ were she more aware of the situation mutants will on day find themselves in, she would well understand the fear many possess. for bearing such abilities as she has, the church may see fit to burn her at the stake, princess or not. and she is terrified now that many here will judge her for this. ]

May we speak on it this way, for now? I would see you later, if you would be willing.

But I feel terribly drained. It always happens after I see things.

[anybodies]

Mine is actually a little like that too, [Raven says, transitioning over smoothly, friendly as you like.] I have to concentrate to keep any form other than the one you're lookin' at right now. So I'd always change back if I went to sleep. And in my teens, when I started to spend more time away from Charles, I'd get these awful headaches from focusing for hours.

I mean, I can tough it out for days now, but it was a rough few years. [She shakes her head, grimacing.] Are you gonna feel better soon?

[skjalf]

With practice, it became easier? [ she can imagine why raven would have focused for so long, even though it's shameful to contemplate. because people are afraid of the unknown. which is why she's been expecting anyone to jump in and label her a witch.

it hasn't happened so far, and it's making her nervous. elizabeth sighs quietly, and rubs at her forehead. ]

It will take so time to erase the sight of so much blood from my mind. But I worry for my sisters, if I am still here when this event takes place and they are left unprotected.

[anybodies]

[Raven gives the other girl her most reassuring smile, nods her head encouragingly. With practice, it did become easier. One of those grueling and frustrating necessities. She doesn't know a lot about Elizabeth's specific home culture, but she can guess that stigma follows powers around across most worlds and times. Especially the older times of Raven's own world.

Her expression changes slightly when Elizabeth shifts subjects a little. Raven looks both a little more troubled and--

--thoughtful, really. It's interesting, what the latest Jump has taught her.] I-- well I don't really know for sure how it works, but... um. I don't think time flows like that, here. Have you mentioned your fears to anybody else?

[skjalf]

To one. And she believes that time simply freezes in place when we are brought aboard.

[ but.. one might understand why she questions it. with her father dead and mother here, all her sisters have left is their uncle. god forbid he were to fall in battle before either of them might be returned home to them.

she reaches up and rubs a hand tiredly across her forehead. ]

The vision did not give me a date for when this was meant to happen.

[anybodies]

[Raven nods her head, looks bothered, too. Sad for the other girl. The complexities of time have not been kind to her family, either.] I don't know if it helps, but I've recently seen some... some-- evidence that your friend is right.

[It might be Raven's assumption that the theory came from a friend, but Elizabeth is almost painfully easy to like, so sue her.] My brother went through something weird this past Jump. He went into the gravcouches with his last memories of our world being from the 1960's. We were kinda... in synch about that. But when he came out? [She snaps her fingers.] Ten years added to his memories. Ten years. He even remembered things I'd done in that time. Even though I didn't go back during the Jump-- even though I hadn't lived it yet.

So I think you'll have time to warn them, if you get the vision back home. [She straightens in front of the camera.] Does that make sense?

[skjalf]

( raven is also extremely easy to like. elizabeth is glad that by the point she'd met her, she'd already learned her lesson about not judging by outward appearances. as she'd thought nuada had been a demon once upon a time. she has made a wonderful friend because of it. one she trusts, which is a novelty to her.

compared to her uncle's court, where the most she could trust anyone was to be plotting and sniggering at her behind her back. so when raven speaks of this sudden acquisition of memories on her brother's part, she believes her. elizabeth attempts to process how bizarre this is, but in the end it's just plain odd. and she has once question which might determine whether or not she can warn anyone: )

That is so very strange! Tell me, did he remember being here when he went home?

( and of course, she adds: ) I hope he is feeling all right after such an experience.

ugh i can't believe i messed up and gave a blonde icon last tag ignore me!!

[anybodies]

[You know what they say. Them powered girls who other people want to mob up and lynch gotta stick together!

Or if nobody says that, somebody should.] Yeah, definitely. He told me he remembered the Tranquility, right up until the Jump. He remembered getting into the tube. He remembered how we were before that, our relationship, me and him. [Raven winds up perching her chin on one blue hand.] But since the Jump it's been... different. The memories really changed him. I can't say I understand it.

[Guilt steals over Raven's face.] I should probably try harder, instead of giving him his space. But-- yeah, [the metamorph gives herself a subtle little shake. This is not about her family; it's about Elizabeth's.] I think maybe that suggests you have less to worry about than you thought, about your loved ones at home.

[skjalf]

( yes, they should. because it is very, very true. ) That brings me no small measure of relief. The last thing I would ever want would be to forget all of you. No matter what might occur. You, and all my friends here.. are the most wonderful people I have ever met. I wish to remember it always.

( but her face falls at raven's mention of how badly her brother has taken this experience. her features soft, she says earnestly: ) I am sorry for that.

I think he needs you, regardless of what he might say to the contrary. As I need my sisters, even when I wish to be alone. I could never do without them.

( she releases a shaky breath. ) I can only hope. Bridget is merely four years old. I would not sleep, if it were definite that she was not safe.

[anybodies]

Aww she's tiny, [says Raven, who's always been considered the younger of her particular sibling set, even if her actual age is indeterminate. Charles always feels so old, anyhow.] You're probably right about Charles, although I'm not sure there's much my shifting can do for him right now. I think it's great that you have a power that's useful for the people you love. I mean even if it hasn't been helpful on the Tranquility so far, forewarned is forearmed.

Does this mean your family actually knows about your ability? [Her yellow eyes widen slightly in the camera.] Even your parents? [And if they accept it, that's a whole other envy.]

[skjalf]

Yes, she certainly is. But quite serious for her small stature. ( she inclines her head, keeping her gaze quiet. ) He may simply only need to know that you are there with him. I know how my sisters look would mean little to me, if I could be in their company once again.

Well. ( she sighs. ) It will be a long time before I can think it is anything approaching greatness. If I might develop it to help others, then it might be worth looking into. But without a date, for instance, this vision is far too ambiguous to be useful.

It could be occurring now, or it might not do so for another decade. My uncle's face appeared the same as it does in my recent memory.

My mother only. His Grace, my father did not, while he was living. ( she ventures tiredly, because it's the truth: )

Because it is something I have inherited from my mother, as she has from hers. Apparently such things run in the women of our line.

[anybodies]

[The possibility of being forearmed a decade in advance is a little exhausting to think about. Raven's red eyebrows peak on her face, and she shakes her head sympathetically as the plot unfolds yet.] Damn, girl, [she says. A beat-- realizing that that might be wildly inappropriate language for Elizabeth's time and place of origin, she looks up again hastily.] I mean-- uh, sorry.

I meant 'wow,' [she tries, instead.] I'm sorry for your loss, with your dad. It sounds like your mom's a strong woman, though. That's a powerful ability to have in the family, even if other people don't understand it. [She smiles encouragingly at the girl on her comm device's tiny screen.] Is your mom here, by any chance?

[skjalf]

( by now, elizabeth has learned how to tune out such language. others speak it, and it travels through one ear and directly back out of the other. because she cannot seem to desensitize herself to the shockingly colourful vocabularies that so many from the future seem to have otherwise. the fact that she hangs out with ellie helps quite a bit, though. she merely tilts her head, intent upon learning some more slang while she decompresses from the horror she'd seen. )

What does "wow" mean, if I may ask? ( tired and vulnerable, her smile is sad rather than cheerful. ) I thank you. I miss him dearly.

And she is; present here, and strong. Too strong, sometimes, I think. But it is something my father loved about her.

[anybodies]

'Wow' means, [Raven flags into silence for a moment.] Wow means I'm impressed. Surprised in a good way. I like the idea of... of a matriarchy of strong women with abilities.

[Yes, Elizabeth, that means you too.]

Do you think I can meet her some time? [She sits forward again, her yellow eyes sharpening, brightening.] Would you introduce us?

[skjalf]

Oh! I am glad that it is wow, then. I will endeavour to see it in such a light, myself.

There is a river goddess in our ancestry, as the legend goes. Perhaps there is more to the story than I originally thought.

( honestly, she's really flattered. she ventures a small smile. )

Certainly, I can do so. It would be my pleasure. ( not on behalf of her mother; but rather that of her friend. she takes great pride in the wonderful friends she has made here. )

[anybodies]

Awesome. [Raven shows the camera a grin, her teeth in bright white relief against the vivid color of her skin. Elizabeth is actually hilarious, as well as very sweet. Look at that teeny tiny smile, and her not minding blue lizard ladies all nosing up in her business.] I look forward to it.

I'll let you go so you can get some rest, huh? [She straightens slightly, the edge of her hand coming into frame off on the side as she reaches for the controls.] We'll talk again soon.

[skjalf]

( she smiles at her with quiet gratitude. )

I thank you for everything, Raven. Truly. I look forward to it, as well.

( and she nods, feeling the fatigue hit her like a tonne of stone. )

Yes, I think that is best. But perhaps we might speak soon? Or..

( after a pause: ) Know you how to swim? I have only learned how to do so recently, myself. But it might be pleasant, might it not?

[anybodies]

[It's so quaint it's funny, that Elizabeth didn't learn how to swim-- presumably until she came aboard the ship. Raven isn't about to laugh, though. Instead, she smiles wide.]

Definitely. A hundred percent. [Her red-haired head bobs with conviction.] Soon as you feel better.

[skjalf]

I shall look forward to it, then. You have my thanks for your support today, Raven. It means very much to me.

( and she draws back, smiling quietly. )

Farewell for the interim, then. We shall speak soon.