004 | video

[strayed]

[The video opens dark, shaky as it turns, a dim orange glow visible down the far end of a dark corridor before it settles on Cora's face. Soot-streaked, sweating, she swallows dryly before trying to speak.]

There's a fire. On-- I was on floor nine.

[She doesn't know if she's still there. She hasn't known where she is for days.]

I don't know if there's a way to put it out. [The image crackles with static, and there's a distant sound, a voice calling Cora! She ignores it, doesn't look away from the camera, but further distress flickers in her expression before it steels again.] Just stay away.

[[ooc: backdated to May 30!]]

Comments

video

[overdraws]

Cora? [ There's alarm present there, Allison staring at the feed with wide eyes. ]

What happened?

video

[strayed]

I don't know. [She shakes her head.] Something must have caught somehow.

[There's electricity everywhere, fires still have to be possible.]

video

[overdraws]

Are you okay? [ Physically. Mentally. ] Who was that?

video

[strayed]

[She's already about to say yes, she's fine, but Allison's second question catches her.]

You heard that?

video

[overdraws]

Someone said your name, right?

voice;

[doggedly]

I'll get it.

[The fire, that is--but also maybe Cora.]

That's where you are? [Except was, she said was, which is not comforting--except that was the fire at the beginning, wasn't it?] Who's with you?

video;

[strayed]

[She shakes her head.]

It's where I was. I don't know anymore.

video;

[doggedly]

[He switches to video as well, for her benefit--glitchy, interrupted here and there by bursts of static before the video starts again. And he gives her the smallest of smiles, more in acknowledgement than reassurance. Better than nothing.]

Who's with you?

video;

[strayed]

[The smile doesn't gain any of the usual reactions it might have done from her, even for reassurance. There's no rolling eyes or unimpressed looks. Instead her expression shutters, and she looks away.]

No one.

video;

[doggedly]

[Somehow the lack of eyerolling is more worrying than anything else.]

Right, so no one's saying your name. I just heard someone.

[altercate]

[ zero to stressed the fuck out ]

Where are you now? [ rushed, worry bleeding into his tone. ] Cora.

[strayed]

I don't know. I think I've been going in circles.

[A sullen edge to it, like she hadn't wanted to admit it, tell anyone she was totally lost.]

[altercate]

You aren't near the flames? You're far enough away to be safe?

[strayed]

Yes. I'm staying away from it.

[But considering how it keeps advancing, she doesn't know if that means she's safe.]

[altercate]

Is someone coming? Security?

[ this all feels useless. derek can't go to her, and that's killing him. ]

video...... for now

[fullmoon]

[ Look at all these people with greater claims to holding Cora's hand. But Remus managed to shake his pursuer and find Sirius before—somehow—mostly by trying very hard—so he's trying again. He might be closer. That might matter. Unlikely, but possible.

In the meantime, there's staticky, concerned video. ]

Are you trapped?

video

[strayed]

Maybe. [Her initial instinct is no, concept of trapped tied to constraint, chains, basements.] I keep walking, but everything looks the same.

video

[fullmoon]

Don't try to get away from it. Try to find someone.

[ In the midst of the static there's a moment of blackness, also staticky. The answer to can wizards apparate and video chat at the same time is apparently yes, sort of. The answer to is apparating around a ship with moving pieces smart is definitely no. He'd only meant to cut the distance down the corridor to the lifts, but when the world solidifies around him he isn't sure where he is. ]

video

[strayed]

How am I meant to find someone? There hasn't been anyone in days. Just more hallways. And the fire.

video

[fullmoon]

It's not real. [ Like the Boggart wasn't real. He's learned enough of a lesson to add, ] Not that you should jump into it, but it's not—I'm looking for you.

[immuno]

Planning to put a fire out all by yourself is the stupidest idea I've ever heard. Get someone over there to help you.

[ but not lydia, because she's not in the passenger quarters. ]

[strayed]

I'm not planning to put it out. I can't put it out.

[immuno]

So you're telling everyone to stay away from a fire that you aren't planning to put out. Who exactly do you think is going to deal with it, then?

[strayed]

I was thinking it would burn itself out. Fires do that.

[immuno]

Not the ones big enough to run from in an artificial atmosphere.