Another bit the dust

[rustyhonesty]

What the actual fuck? I was killed by something I couldn't even see? That's freaking ridiculous.

[Yes, hello. Jean has made his return from death. He's annoyed, but he's not shouting. Just annoyingly huffing. Most of the annoyance is a high and mighty act though. It was actually a big shock to die all of a sudden.]

Watch out for Maria. She's tiny, but very dangerous. I don't know what I did to upset her- well, I sneaked into the summit, but was that really a reason to stab someone?

... well, I guess if they thought I was a spy or something.

[Okay, so maybe he had a reason he was killed.]

I'm staying out of Koroshima from now on. Most likely I'm headed for Mibu.

Comments

[truerevelation]

Maria... shit. [In a thought that wasn't entirely meant to be broadcast-] Kid's overlays get scarier every time.

[rustyhonesty]

I haven't met her other overlays before. I just saw her around in the last walkabout. [When she wasn't really even a small kid.]

[truerevelation]

Trust me. You're probably lucky there. [His mental tone's tired.]

But... [Picking back up-] Glad you're okay again, dude. And if you're comin' to Mibu, I can meet ya when I'm free.

[rustyhonesty]

I definitely trust what you're saying.

[It's the tone of his voice that makes him believe... and well, just meeting one of the overlays is enough to convince him even without that.]

Yeah, that would be nice. How have things been over there?

[willyousee]

Merde!

[Alcuin doesn't usually swear, but there is one quiet, vicious word before he speaks up more calmly.]

She cut me but I did not think she would kill anyone! My apologies, Jean, I should have been there. Or at least warned you. Are you injured in any fashion?

[rustyhonesty]

[It's a little unexpected, but it's not like he knows Alcuin that well to actually wonder about that too much.]

It's no use in thinking what should have been done and I'm fine. I was resurrected back to normal. [Well, apart from trauma and more than likely nightmares to follow.] Are you alright? I have healing spells if you need healing.

[willyousee]

[Way too late for that, Jean.]

No, I've some small healing spells of my own, I thank you. It is sealed and healing. If it vanishes entirely she'll likely come after me again. She already seems convinced that I am some sort of ghost. Was that her excuse for you as well?

[Private]

[willyousee]

[A moment later on a more private line...]

If you have need of company in the night, please, do not hesitate to say so. It leaves scars of the mind, going through that.

[Private]

[rustyhonesty]

She didn't say anything. All I heard was her creepy laugh as I died. I don't really think I was a random victim either...

[That was still said on the public line before he tunes in on Alcuin only. It's then when his voice seems actually shaky. He'd been holding his emotions well so far.]

I can't say that it didn't affect me at all, but... I'll be fine. I've been near death and I've seen death far too much to... let this affect me too much.

[bypartisan]

... spies really aren't looked at in anything resembling a kindly fashion in the Bando Peninsula. If someone noticed you at the summit, that may be why, yes.

[Still. Maria? She's a bit young to be an Akuryu, isn't she?]

[rustyhonesty]

I don't think spies are very appreciated anywhere. Though yeah, I guess if I was able to see her, she might have notice something wrong with me in the group on shady people.

[bypartisan]

Her or her handlers, if she has them--which she likely does, considering her age.

[rustyhonesty]

Yeah.

The main point is that I screwed up. Even after Alcuin helped me disguise myself.

[fridgeninja]

You couldn't see what it was?

[rustyhonesty]

Not at all. I heard a sound, but I didn't see the weapon. I do have a spot where I was stabbed in my clothes, so I guess it was some sort of a blade.

[fridgeninja]

I wonder if it's a secret weapon, or if she's just that fast...

[leftbehindagain]

...Great. Just what Maria-chan needs, invisible knives.

[rustyhonesty]

Well, yeah, I wouldn't want to give a kid her age any kind of knives...

[leftbehindagain]

That aside, she could probably smother people in kittens or something if she put her mind to it. She's alarming enough.

[He likes Maria, don't get him wrong. But she's kinda weird sometimes.]

[failgoyle]

Tiny but dangerous? Wait, wait...what's she look like?

[Look, with as much as he's screwed up already, he should know these things! He's already lost his tail and been shot, getting stabbed is not something he needs to add to this list.]

[rustyhonesty]

Oh, uh... Just a sec.

[Jean will draw a quick sketch of Mari(a) and show it through the Sensory Livestreaming. It's not the most beautiful drawing in the world, but it gives you a good image of what she generally looks like.]

I'm not sure if she's still in Koroshima or not, I didn't stick around to check.

[failgoyle]

Oh, good gravy, that's the kid who pushed me off the roof!

[dino_zarf]

What is with the constant murder on this Jaunt?

[rustyhonesty]

That's what I'd like to know. Some mess we've been throw into, huh?

[dino_zarf]

There was less murder on the Jaunt where half the locals ate people.