video; ~5 pm

[momchester]

[Mary looks... well, alive, which is a bonus, but also frazzled and exhausted, with pale skin, dark circles under her eyes, lips chapped, hair falling out of her ponytail.

But more than that, she looks haunted.]

I'm back. I'm alive. [Her lips press together in a thin line. She bows her head and talks to her knees.] No thanks to those monsters.

I don't know if anyone else made it out... there were no- [sniffing hard to avoid tearing up.] -shelters. Nothing Darkness proofed. [Head still bowed tightly.] I don't know if any of those people I fought with made it out alive, but if they didn't, I'm going to tell you all right now.

[She finally looks up, eyes welling now with tears she refuses to cry.]

They hunted us. They bound us, put collars on us, they put us in cages. They chased us and hunted us down like we were fucking dogs and we couldn't-

[she claps a hand over her mouth, breathing hard to rein in her emotions. When she opens her eyes again, there's something chilling and deadened in her eyes.]

When I died at home- the first time, before I came here... it was a demon. A demon pinned me to the ceiling and burned me alive in my baby's nursery, and I didn't feel as violated as I did those two days. In that cage. [She shakes her head intently, looking away.] Those monsters kidnapped children. They wanted to see every one of us die like dumb fucking animals.

I wonder what would happen if I prayed for them. [There's a weird look in her eyes. Something you wouldn't leave your children alone with.] It's the Christian thing to do.

Would I get their souls into Heaven, or their heads on a plate?

[With a last ugly look at the NV, she turns the public feed off.]

[Private to Jinx]

I found a plus one.

[Private to the angels]

Did you hear my prayer? [The one she whispered as she lay dying.] Please, tell me none of you- tell me you didn't go there. Please.

Comments

[showbizpanache]

[He sighs, falling silent for a while.]

I...I know. I know what you're saying.

[Pause.]

One of them cut up my arms. Tore off the skin and kept it. Like a souvenir. They're disgusting now. I can't even look at them, and I can hardly move them. I can barely let my boyfriend touch me anymore.

It doesn't compare with what was done to you, though. You--you have every right to be angry--more than all of us. But we have to be careful.

[video] yeeeeeaaaah

[momchester]

If this really has happened before, what will be different?

[Video]

[momchester]

I... I can't. Everybody's here, and.

Can I come in a few days?

[momchester]

I know that, Kurt, don't worry. This is the only home I get, forever.

Do you need someone to heal you?

[showbizpanache]

That would be nice, yeah.

But-- [He presses his lips together.] Maybe not completely, not right away. If we go to the media, we'll need something physical to show them.

[He's frankly nauseated by the idea, but whatever hammers the point home...]

[momchester]

...Oh god, you're right.

Okay. Uh. I know people who can take the pain away, at least.

[showbizpanache]

That would be really nice.

Thank you.

[Video]

[thelightbringer]

Or something.

If you can keep Dean from running off grenade-in-hand, I'll give you a dollar.

1/?

[failedparenting]

[What?]

2/3

[failedparenting]

[No really, what.]

[failedparenting]

[Setting aside the pain and blood because what the hell did she just do.]

When the hell did you learn to do that? Are you okay? [He brings his good hand up to cup her face. Then, tentatively:] Did they do that to you there?

Re: Video

[tea_lover64]

Jesus Christ?

[No Christianity where he is from Mary]

Those of us with fire abilities must be especially careful. It is easy to cause unintended harm with it, especially as they are connected to our emotions. Before you go and take on the world, take a day for yourself, you went through a harrowing experience. The greatest warrior still needs rest to fight their battles, and a little relaxation.

Filter;

[uberboned]

Oh, believe me. I've heard the gory stories. This ain't the first time it's happened.

Re: [Video]

[momchester]

Up your bid.

[Video]

[thelightbringer]

I never bet more than I'm willing to lose.

Re: Filter;

[momchester]

How many times?

[momchester]

No. It's hard to explain.

[Or impossible without damaging their marriage.]

Sweetie. [Taking his good hand from her face gently.] Can you hold the glass? Please? Just let me take care of you.

[It's stupid. She knows it is. But goddamn it, she wants to do something useful after twenty-four hours of the goddamn all-consuming helplessness on those hunting grounds.]

[Video]

[momchester]

Make it ten dollars and a new pair of shoes and I'll keep him busy for a week.

[Video]

[thelightbringer]

You're on.

Filter;

[uberboned]

Once. They shut it down afterwards. Guess it made a comeback.

[failedparenting]

[He opens his mouth to protest, but thankfully stops to think this through. There's something bad wrong with Mary. She was just hunted down and murdered like an animal. She's erratic and jumpy and hurting, clearly she needs this for whatever reason.

So he just nods and pushes his bleeding hand at her.

As he watches her, he suddenly feels ashamed for being angry with her earlier. How fucking insensitive can he get?]

[athermercy]

I agree -- I hope whoever did it will be stopped.

video || private;

[servingfather]

You would have returned and if your family hadn't found you then I might have resumed my search, but it might not have been a good idea to return your body to them.

[He stares at her for a moment.]

I'm not sure they'd want my protection.

[John admitting he appreciated the help was a surprise.]

video || private;

[momchester]

I know, but...

I don't care.

[w e l p.]

private

[hostage]

I know. Yeah. I, uh... Don't worry. I'm here for her.

And you, too. I know you got your family and all, but you can come to me, too.

For anything.

[There's something dark in the way he says that.]