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?

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?

[altercate]

[ zero to stressed the fuck out ]

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

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]

[She shakes her head.]

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

[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.]

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

[strayed]

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

You heard that?

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

[overdraws]

Someone said your name, right?

video

[strayed]

No. [She's looking down the corridor now, back towards the fire.] It's 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.

video;

[strayed]

It's nothing. It's not real.

[Only then it comes again, closer. The camera shakes as Cora pushes to standing, starting to walk quickly.]

video;

[doggedly]

[Quickly, urgently--]

Stop.

video;

[strayed]

No.

video;

[doggedly]

Stop and show me where you are and I'll come after you!

[Which is maybe less than reassuring, thanks to the static, but he does mean it.]

[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. ]

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

[overdraws]

[ Allison doesn't have to be a werewolf to know that's probably a lie, but she's not going to push it either. She doesn't want to press Cora on things she obviously doesn't want to talk about. ] Where are you? What side of the ship?

[strayed]

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

video

[strayed]

I was in the passenger quarters. I don't know where I am now.

video;

[strayed]

I told you I don't know. Do you want to see some walls? The ceiling? It all looks the same.