Shortly after the Jauntabout ends

[reallymean]

[The Jaunt has only been over for perhaps half an hour when Allura's voice comes across the network, tight and clipped as though she has a white-knuckled grasp on control.]

I know some of us tend toward trigger happy.

[As evidenced by the chalk outline in the penalty box - not quite a universal sign for 'some poor soul was just murdered', but close.]

But I would strongly advise against killing someone who has been severed from the Network or from Liminal Space. It appears to...disrupt the mechanism by which we're resurrected if we die during a Jaunt. They will return in the Floor, aware for at least part of the process.

Comments

[fearinahandfulof]

[Well, this certainly doesn't make her feel any less worried about Allura.]

Do you want company?

[She's not even going to ask if Allura's all right. She'd probably just say 'yes' and it's fairly clear to Cassandra that that would be a lie.]

[reallymean]

I would appreciate that. Though...perhaps later. I have some things I need to tend to.

[Like inspecting that chalk outline and inadvertently getting drawn into a murder investigation.]

[fearinahandfulof]

All right.

[She's still going to worry, though.]

[theflyingone]

What happened? How did you find out about dying while severed?

[ If he had died while severed in Questing Country... ]

Private

[itsananimalthing]

Severed? What the fuck happened on the other side of the Jaunt?

[There's a pause, then he adds,]

You okay?

[acapriciousthing]

That answers a few questions I don't think any of us wanted investigated.

Private

[waitatick]

My most sincere apologies for what took place.

[She was probably more than able to tell that he was...really not good, but it didn't matter in the slightest.]

Is there anything I may do for you?

[reallymean]

Thank you. For helping me during the Walkabout.

[reallymean]

By dying while severed.

[fearinahandfulof]

It was no trouble. I'm... sorry I couldn't do more.

Private

[reallymean]

There was an entity possessing people. It...provoked one of our fellow Travelers while wearing my body.

[Which is only part of the story, but she's not comfortable telling the whole thing across the Network.]

I've mostly healed. Nike's gifts have their advantages.

[reallymean]

I think you've described the majority of the important discoveries we've had. Good news is vanishingly rare.

Private

[reallymean]

No. I'm fine.

[No, she isn't.]

[reallymean]

There wasn't anything more to be done.

[fearinahandfulof]

...No, I suppose not.

[She wishes she knew what to say. She's no good at this.]

[reallymean]

Please, don't worry. I'll be fine.

[You know, eventually.]

[fearinahandfulof]

[She really, really wishes you hadn't said that, Allura.]

I know.

[Eventually.]

Private

[waitatick]

Then you are far stronger than I could ever hope to be.

[reallymean]

I'll come find you later.

[...Somewhat later than she intends.]

Private

[reallymean]

Don't. Just...please, don't.

[fearinahandfulof]

All right.

[And in the meantime, Cassandra will continue to worry, because it's not as if she can just turn that off.]

Private

[waitatick]

Of course.

[She wouldn't be able to hear him crying in her mind, would she? Surely not.]

I shall remove my belongings from your Castle immediately.

Private | Protection I

[reallymean]

That may be for the best, for the time being.

[There's a long, long pause.]

I don't blame you for what you did. Ancients know I've had to make some terrible choices during my time here. But that creature wasn't kind enough to blunt my memories when it stole my body, and I...

I need a little space to process what that means.

Private

[waitatick]

Yes. There is no need to explain anything to me. I am the one at fault.

I shall disappear immediately. You will hear nothing from me again.

[His voice was completely broken, but he said nothing more. He did send her some flashes of others leaving, however, to show that she was not alone in her determination and that he did not blame her for it.]

[acapriciousthing]

Sadly.

I've wondered about how the interference with death interacted with the rest, but it's really not the sort of thing anyone would want to test.