cape_kore | Video | First Bitemark

[When the screen turns on, Garrett is nowhere to be seen. The video is facing outward and quite shaky, but some people will still recognize that he's in the infirmary. As he sees the video is finally working, he breathes a sigh of relief and turns the video back towards himself, jarring the video a little bit. Though it's hard to read emotions on a face half-covered, it's clear that he's scared and trying very hard not to show it.

His voice, still young despite his attempt at sounding more mature, has a peculiar accent to it when he speaks. His words come out stilted without the use of contractions.]

Do not like it in here. Smells wrong, like old blood. Feels wrong. Reminds me of back home, when bodies do not get buried right after battles and then you end up with places full of dark magic. Hell, do any of you know what I am speaking of? So many differences here from home. And I found this.

[The video swings back out again until it focuses on a very large footprint indented into the floor. This is what has gotten him so shaken up. There's an inappropriate, hysterical laugh from Garrett, the kind someone makes when they don't know how to handle a situation emotionally any longer.]

What big beast made that? And is it still around?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Garrett? Are you all right?

[Cue a concerned-looking Valkyrie.]

I'm not sure what did that. But we think that lab was where we used to be taken, when we vanish.

[Now? Who knows.]

Not so much, but that ain't the big problem here. [Yes, of course it isn't an issue to have his emotions going on the fritz. He just needs to bury them down inside and focus.]

Whatever they did in here, it was no good. Think...think someone died in here. [He gives a shudder that runs through his whole body.]

It's... certainly possible. [That concerned look isn't going anywhere.] There's no sense worrying about it now. I think someone would have noticed something like that tearing up and down the halls, by now.

[Maybe that's optimistic, but she'd had the feeling, when in the infirmary herself, that the incident hadn't been recent. Just something about the way dust had collected and the state of the equipment itself.]

I am gonna have to put up some signs 'round here. [He's a superstitious little fellow, though considering the world he's from, it's partially justified. Having some anti-ghost wards around the place will make him feel a whole lot better.

He looks unconvinced by Meja's reassurance.]

Dunno. Something big can still be fast. My brother Stubborn can turn into an ursurine 'n I have seen him sneak up onna camp in open range.

You'd only have to worry about those signs of yours moving around.

[He has a point about speed.]

That's true. [Dragons are huge and they can still fly faster than most other creatures.] But whatever made those was angry, and we've not had any fights of that scale recently. Unless they've been very quiet.

Hmmm, do you think they would move right off the walls? [He taps one of the walls in question, tracing a strange mark over it with the tip of his paws.]

Let us hope they stay quiet. Maybe it is the type of creature who sleeps part of the year and wakes during the other part.

Perhaps not the signs, but the walls themselves.

[Something's clearly not right in this place, as far as physics are usually concerned.]

I haven't personally seen them shift, but they must.

It is not fair! Why can this place not follow rules?

[There's a slight whine to his voice, like an unhappy child. Garrett tries very hard to act responsible and grown-up, but every so often, there's a reminder he's still young and far away from home.]

[Meja smiles sympathetically. The Center is unfair, no doubt about it.]

I don't know. I wish it did. But I'm certain someone will figure it out eventually.

[She just hopes that's before the humans here run out of lifespan. Meja doesn't exactly need to worry about that kind of thing.]

[Garrett returns her smile, stressed out as he feels. She's one of the few here he feels comfortable talking to.]

Maybe they will zap in a real smart eggheaded person next. We already got enough dodos wandering around roaring like catamounts how they are gonna teach 'em a lesson.

[She laughs quietly at that. It's sort of true. Brawn isn't going to get them out of this situation, and they seem to have a lot of it here.]

At this point I'm more surprised when someone arrives and doesn't threaten the establishment.

Any other of my brothers or sisters but me would have done it. 'Course, their animals are all much bigger than mine.

Oh? What can they change into?

[It's simple curioisity (as well as shoving her nose where it might not belong), and she won't be offended if he doesn't want to share.]

Oh, a buncha stuff. I got a lot of brothers and sisters. [There's an understatement. He's got enough family members to populate a small town. He ticks them off one by one on his claws.]

Catamount, lupine, jackhare, ursurine, one of those big pigs, horse, diamondmarked snake, and a bunch of other stuff. I do not know all the names in Common.

That sounds like quite a family you've got. [Meja smiles.] They must keep you on your toes.

All the time. Never a boring day when you live with Skinwalkers. Always Lucas, he is my little brother, talking my ear off 'n my older brothers arguing over duties and my sister Rachel always wanting someone to practice fight with. And we all going back and forth between human and animal all the time [He smiles wistfully. It's only the reassurance of knowing that time is frozen back home that keeps him from going crazy wondering how they are without him.]

You would like Rachel, I think. Kind of the same type of personality.

So a real winner? [she jokes, grinning.] I was an only child, and for a large part of my childhood it was just me and my mother. But it must be nice to have people around all the time. Even if they sometimes drive you a little crazy.

Most definite yes. It is like a blanket of safety and home and love all bundled up together. I hope I get to see 'em again before too long. This place is interesting, but it is just not home.

[Meja would love to be able to say "I'm sure you will," but it wouldn't be fair. She doesn't know how long any of them will be here.]

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, I think the phrase is. I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and comrades back home, as well, whenever I get there. Though, evidently I won't remember that I was missing them.

The thoughts of not remembering is worse than anythin'. Much as I do not want to be here, to not remember if they send me home is taking away something that will help shape me into myself.

[He goes quiet for a moment and then laughs.]

I sound like the Clan seer. I should looking into the future and saying we are all going to die.

[She chuckles.]

It's not a false prophecy, Oh Seer. Most creatures do.

[Even some immortals, depending on how they're immortal.]

But, yes. For all the problems in being here, it would be a shame to forget the people I've met. Present company included.

I think that is the nicest thing anyone has said to me.... [He pauses, trying to come up with a suitable reference of time.] ....in about two weeks.

Video | First Bitemark

[video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject