video; un: stargirl

[bossily]

[At first, all that can be seen is an up-close view of a bowtie. It’s being adjusted by slender little fingers, and there’s a mischievous laugh, followed quickly by the Doctor distinctly admonishing, Not in front of company!]

What company? It’s just Alina.

[But she clearly knows exactly what company he’s talking about, and smirks as she pulls back and away. They have important things to discuss, after all.]

Right. So the Doctor and I, we recently met with Entr’i. And we know there’s been plenty of discussion on the upcoming war, but there’s more we felt needed to be addressed. Starting with that amulet.

[ There’s a pause and the video feed seems to shift, though the general colour of the imagery remains a sort of reddish hue reflecting Sedorum’s ever-crimson sky. ]

Hello! Yes! The amulet. [ Bowtie now in perfect order, the Doctor clears his throat and properly flaps Clara away. ] Now there’s cause to believe this amulet is a whole other sort of thing and not the thing we want, but the power Entr’i believes it has … well, it all fits together perfectly.

[ He means, of course, the reason they’re here in the first place: the orbs, the mission. ]

Of course Entr’i herself — she’s rather the determined type. Very much ‘get-things-done’ and never-you-mind all the obstacles that might stand in her way. She really believes she can use the power of this counterpart amulet to — ah, what did she say? ‘Bring the two realms together.’ Yes, I think she means to quite physically bring down the barriers that divide the realms and create a whole new sort of city for all souls, bringing them together.

Quite the ambition, eh? [ He looks thoughtful. ] Now! Now — what does this mean for the upcoming war bit? Right — well, I don’t plan on doing any warring, not me, not my area of expertise, but. We’ll need to — Clara? Clara, tell everyone what we’ll need to do.


[There’s a moment’s pause, just long enough for Clara to appreciate the fact he’s deferring to her for the important part.]

What we’ll need -

[Another pause, as her mind works quickly to not only remember the conversation they’re referencing, but to create something resembling a plan.]

What we’ll need is people who are able to stay behind with us. In a few days, we’re gonna be the only hope the people here have. It’s up to us to band together to help guide them to safety. And to keep them as secure as possible. Anyone in Taeum or Sedorum that’s able and willing to help, your orders come from -


Oh! [ The Doctor suddenly exclaims, recalling something else in between listening and thinking, and remembering very important conversations. ] Yes, Clara’s right of course. We’ll need to make sure that anyone in Taeum and Sedorum has means of protection in case things go sour, whether that’s a safe place to hide or someone to protect them. I’ll admit there really is only so much one can do with a sonic screwdriver when it comes to souls, but — ah, never mind that.

There was one other thing. Something about notes. What did Entr’i call them? Magic notes?

[ Alina, perched on the edge of the camera's view, snapping back to sudden attention. Her eyes jump from where they've centered onto the wall, looking indignant at Clara's elbow jabbing her in the ribs, before she seems to remember herself.

Right. Sheepishly, she clears her throat. ]

Sorry. Anyway, Entr'i thought she would have to use the amulet to bring Sedorum's army to Giva, but the magic notes the Doctor mentioned will help her transport them. Which means the amulet is free to merge Sedorum and Taeum together.

[ For a moment, she trails off, mouth opening and closing before she finds the words. ]

We can’t stop the war from breaking out in Giva, but Entr’i thinks we can use it to distract and trick Him and the Highest One. She wants to stall long enough for a chosen group of us to go in, get the other amulet from the Highest One, and get out. With all of our limbs intact, hopefully. Another group will need to go in and free the prisoners Taeum has locked up while we have the chance.

If you can fight, you should volunteer for one of the infiltration groups or head to Giva as soon as you can before things can get worse. Remember we’re fighting to stall them. If you’re just looking to destroy something, go beat up a straw puppet.

Entr’i and the rest of us — we’re not looking for more bloodshed. If you can’t trust her on that, I hope you can at least trust me.

That goes for Clara and the Doctor’s group, too. We just want everyone to be kept as safe as they can be. [ A beat ticks by as she glances at Clara. ] If she starts bossing you around, you should listen to her. Clara knows best. There’s no one I would trust more to protect these people with everything they have than her and the Doctor.

[ At this, the Doctor nods. Far be it from him to argue about that last bit, besides which, Alina is perfectly right.

He claps his hands together. ]

Right. That should do it, then —

[Clara holds up a hand, stopping both the Doctor and Alina from adding on anything more.]

You’re right. I do know best. And since I know best, let me remind all of you that war is coming. Whether we want it to or not. All we can do now is try to prepare and make the best out of the situation. Arguing isn’t gonna change that. So please, do whatever you can now to make yourself ready. We’ll be waiting till we’re called for action. I advise you to do the same.

[There’s a moment where she gives her best stern teacher look, followed by a curt nod of her head. The Doctor looks in her direction and then meets Alina’s glance, proud and absolutely not about to argue with what Clara’s said, before his expression changes and he opens his mouth to start a new story. You see, there was this noodle-vendor in the shopping district, and —

And then the video feed cuts off without anything further to be added.]

[ooc: Red is Clara, Blue is the 11th Doctor, Purple is Alina. These three are coming together to lead the charge for part 2!]

Comments

[bossily]

Bit better than adequate. Though it's always liable to change at any given moment.

Wanna talk about the fact I heard you took some time to betray a few other orbers this mission? Or is that something better discussed face to face?

[blackfire]

What of the matter would it please you to discuss?

[bossily]

how you're feeling about having to do it, mostly.

audio / un: starkov

[peasant]

Cheri had someone she loved enough to be talked out of her plans. Honestly, nearly being crushed by a building is starting to look more appealing than the Highest One smiting us all.

[ well. no one ever claimed her coping mechanisms weren't morbid. a beat, and then: ]

I suppose that was a little too grim to count as a pep talk.

[blackfire]

A curious assertion.

[bossily]

And yet you're not disputing it.

video — un: the.doctor ;

[lateness]

We'll need all the help we can get.

[ The Doctor gives a thumbs up into the viewscreen. ]

Of course, like Clara says, there's no need to pick up a weapon. In fact, this ought to be as peaceful and weaponless a protection squad as possible, I should think.

[bindsthedead]

[Sabriel is in zero position to call people out for being morbid.]

I'll practice my shielding spells- they held against Cheruvia. So then the only problem will be getting him to stop before he breaks through them.

[Easier said then done... But this is something that needs to be done, that Sabriel advocated for- so she'll do it.

And if it turns out their deaths are inevitable... well, there's always Astarael, to speed the process and take the Highest One with them.

Sabriel's next words are... not cheerful, exactly, but there's a deliberate, determined optimism to them.]

We'll manage. We survived before, after all. It just won't be easy.

voice / un: starkov

[peasant]

[ worried about me? the childish opportunity to toss his own words back at him dangles in front of her, but something about his hesitation — like he almost hadn't wanted to hint at any concern for her, until he had given in to the urge — squashes that impulsive need for pettiness. gives her pause, before she answers with a solemn: ]

I will be.

[ it's her turn for a lingering silence, now, as though she can't quite bring herself to leave it at that. ]

I could say the same to you. If something happens, or goes wrong ... [ she trails off for a moment — a moment to remember the danger he had thrown himself into, to act as her unflinching shield on scorpion's bend. a moment to remember what dangers they're up against, this time. ] You know how to find me.

[peasant]

[ she snorts, though it isn't kind. just the warm, reluctant acceptance of sabriel's optimism — a small beam that cuts through alina's swirling dread. ]

I've got a few tricks myself. If I can get close enough without being seen, and your shielding spells last long enough to protect us, we might have some luck on our side.

[ it's a pointedly vague reference to a newer usage of her life, but — the entire team doesn't need to know its potential and limits, alina reasons. that's only more ammunition to view her as a disposal tool — a knife to be replaced, as newt had implied. ]

I'd like to survive without falling through another floor, but — we're getting good at that. Surviving.

audio / un: starkov

[peasant]

Don't feel guilty. You should stay. [ a gentle reassurance. ] You were always looking out for me in Scorpion's Bend. These people — they'll need someone like that watching over them.

[ someone composed, someone inherently compassionate — a guardian, as he had been for her. it makes her breathe a little lighter, a little easier, knowing they won't be defenseless. ]

Your talismans were a great help last time. Whatever you can make, I'll make sure they're handed out to whoever volunteers.

video / un: starkov

[peasant]

[ knowing he's worn a different face isn't quite the same as experiencing it. confronted with the evidence, alina blinks — once, twice, and then valiantly recovers. ]

Are you so sure you're ready to have your arm broken again? I know how much you enjoyed your meeting with Cheri.

[ aka: not at all. ]

video / un: starkov

[peasant]

Well now you've done it. Good luck with what you've just unleashed. [ but for all of her teasing in regard to the doctor, there's a twitch of a fond smile at the corners of her mouth. ] He's never going to stop talking now. Did no one warn you about that?

[bindsthedead]

Against all odds, we have. And we'll survive this too, and come back with the orbs.

[Pessimism won't help- Alina was there in Braccia, she understands what they might face. What they need is coordination, and a plan that's flexible enough to be revised when the circumstances change.]

Who else has volunteered for this, besides us? We should put together a plan- an outline of one, at least.

audio / un: starkov

[peasant]

I'm not so sure we have many healers with us.

[ — which is a concern she hadn't fully considered, until now. she lapses into a fleeting, anxious silence, and then punctures it with a sheepishly self-deprecating: ]

The most I've done is dig out bullets and ... wrap blistered feet? Not exactly what you would call a medical achievement.

audio | un: m.cabrera (i failed at station things so here i go—)

[naloxone]

I'm hoping to set up an area by the portal. If you or know of anyone who's able to keep an eye out, please do.

[ she is but a fragile human with a scalpel and the world's weakest right hook at her arsenal. ]

here but also sort of not

[naloxone]

[ she hadn't meant to — what's the visual equivalent of eavesdropping? peep? — but the flashing image of an unfamiliar face with a voice she's only begun to learn draws her attention more than it should, so behold: a quick flash of marta's surprised, gawking face — there and gone in an instant because um yes anyway there's a war to prepare for— ]

[naloxone]

Of course. I hope I'll be able to find somewhere to set up camp — somewhere close enough to the portal, but far enough away to not get in the way of the fighting.

[blackfire]

I did not 'have to'.

[homeostatic]

( It's always a relief to hear Clara's voice. )

Contact me before you make the jump. I can't see Angriel taking their entire military force with her planetside, but we could waylay those left behind somehow, keep attention away from your arrival.

audio;

[choicely]

You're the one that mentioned something about a sonic... screwdriver? Is that some sort of talisman?

audio;

[choicely]

[ oh good, an actual question she can respond to. ]

The long answer is more complicated. The shorter one is that I should be able to open a passage, albeit temporarily and only wide enough to accommodate so many people at once, between the realms. It could exist apart from Entr'i's, perhaps, so that people don't injure themselves trying to rush through.

[ a pause, and then: ] I can also heal, if that'll be of use.

[cruelyethuman]

As much as I can be, certainly. As you said, war is coming, but that is something I'm very used to.

[But the image of Clara still swims behind his closed eyes, bold and hands raised, a stubborn line pinched between her brows.]

If you die, I might get cross. So, don't.

[cruelyethuman]

Always.

[There's nothing else to say, except for all the words that they never say, all the truths that he keeps locked away, that only come out in the dark.]

[peasant]

[ she doesn't mean for her relief to crackle through the other end of the feed. it does, all the same — an exhaled sigh that still wants to stick in her throat, anyway, trapped in an anxious tangle. for a long pause, she nearly lets him end the conversation there, but — ]

If you don't come back — [ to me. she wonders if he can hear those two words implied within her demand, and the fear she doesn't speak of. to know she might live as welford had. to know it's a possibility that she might one day be condemned to an eternity alone, with only her own bone-deep grief for company. ] — I'll find your ghost and throttle you.