[001]

[unbending_spirit]

[a CAT activates to show a girl with her brown hair tied back in two ponytails under a red scarf, wearing a uniform. someone looking closely might also notice the white flower wrapped around her finger. she is standing in front of the vidscreen in the bedroom where she just woke up, her arms wrapped around herself to fight off the cold as snow, impossibly, falls around her inside the room. but for the moment she's focused on watching the Mayor's message--except, at first glance, she doesn't realize it's recorded]

Luministi? Again!? [she stares. but she swallows her worry and tries to be polite to the figure on the screen] Hey, um, Mr. Mayor? I'm sorry, but I can't be here right now. I can see there's some...trouble...going on. [she eyes the snow] But there's something really important that I have to go do first, so could you send me ba--

[but she cuts off as the mayor remarks that he's not there in person] What!? [surprised and annoyed, she steps up to tap the vidscreen] What is this? Some sort of...radio? With a picture?

[she steps back again, utterly bewildered, and listens to the rest of the Mayor's message, brushing snow out of her face and stamping her booted feet for warmth as she does so. and as it ends, she unwraps her arms and clenches her hands into fists in frustration] But how did I get here? Why am I here again!? I have to go back! Randgriz is about to be attacked!

[knowing that her words are falling on deaf ears, she sighs and whirls away from the screen to head out into the main room of the townhome] Hello? Is anyone here? [seeing the gift basket, she riffles through the contents, mumbling to herself] It's like I'm supposed to live here. But why? Half this stuff isn't even good for winter! [she quickly abandons her search, not noticing as the CAT attaches itself to her uniform. she goes to the door and steps outside, starting to shiver by now]

Fuu? [as she walks away from the townhome, she turns in a circle to look around. cupping her hands around her mouth, she calls:] Hey! I-is anybody here?

How do I get out of here?

[noticing all the footprints on the ground, she frowns at them, bending down to get a closer look] Wait...has everyb-body left already? [she straightens again, calling one more time:] H-hello! Anyone out there?

Comments

[terezi_pyrope]

The compulsion to tell the truth. That's what.

[All serious tone here.]

Events, like weird things happening. Snowing indoors, hearing voices from your homeworld. And yeah, that's why.

[unbending_spirit]

But how do you know this is different from the last-- [she pauses to brush a snowflake off her nose] Okay...stupid question.

So...then where is everybody else? [she gestures at the footprints leading away from what is clearly a residential area]

[terezi_pyrope]

...Hahaha.

[Terezi directs her gaze at the movement, in which she interprets as a gesture of some kind.]

Well, everyone is either in their house or, well, elsewhere. Which could be anywhere in Luministi. Are you looking for someone?

[unbending_spirit]

No. [she frowns, not sure whether to dare to hope] I mean...not exactly. Unless you're heard of someone named Welkin? [quickly] B-but I meant the footprints. [she points again, as she hasn't yet worked out that Terezi is blind] They're all leading away from these homes. Did a lot of people go somewhere?

[terezi_pyrope]

Nope, not one whit!

[Terezi cackles and taps her cane on the snow floor.]

I'm blind! It's not like I can see anything, but you get a pass just this once. Because I don't think it was obvious.

Probably to the observation deck.

[unbending_spirit]

Didn't think so... [her expression is wistful]

Oh! [surprised] Sorry, I didn't realize. [the sunglasses didn't help, not to mention Terezi looks strange to her in any case] But why the observation deck? Is something going on there?

[terezi_pyrope]

I'm sure you'll go home and find your friend eventually, though.

[She gives Alicia a smile.]

Why yes! There is. Apparently there's something someone has to tell us about this entire situation. Even if I doubt that's exactly the intention behind the message...

[unbending_spirit]

Yeah? Because it would be really helpful if I could get back there soon. [before the Empire overruns the capital...]

[she frowns. having just come from a warzone, she has a few unpleasant ideas of what Terezi might mean] What do you mean? What do you think this person wants?

[terezi_pyrope]

I know what you mean. If I don't get back, things could go really bad for my friends.

[She gives her own frown.]

"Conflict". It could happen in many ways, I guess, but I'm pretty sure that's the word that comes to mind. If you come along, be ready for any kinds of traps.

[unbending_spirit]

Oh...I'm sorry to hear that.

[she nods] I will be. But...do you mean this person is calling us to a fight?

[terezi_pyrope]

Well, I don't think I'm the only one in this position, but thanks.

Maybe. Or maybe a different kind of conflict entirely--one that doesn't involve fighting and instead mostly trickery or illusions.

[unbending_spirit]

No... But that doesn't make it better. [she feels the same way, after all]

[she frowns] What do you mean? What would they get out of that?

[terezi_pyrope]

...You've got that right. It sounds like we're in a similar position.

Since the criminals behind this show look for our suffering and whoever know's what else, it would be exactly that.

[unbending_spirit]

[shocked] They want us to suffer? That's horrible! How could anyone want that?