[ACCIDENTAL VIDEO]

[primogen_vampirate]

[The feed springs to life. The fact that it's a video at all means Mina clearly didn't intend to broadcast it, but that also becomes evident since the feed seems to be erratic and shaking. Mina herself cannot be seen. She's on the move, rushing from room to room in House 18, ripping open doors, curtains, drawers, pretty much anything that moves.]

Anna! Anna! I've had it Anna! You show your face right now, you stupid harpy, or I swear to all the gods I'll snap your little neck!

[She's clearly been at this awhile.]

It's not funny! It's...not...funny...

[The wobbly camera movements reveal a kitchen. All of the supplies from Mina's medical kit are strewn across the table and she starts to knock them to the floor. Bottles, papers, and books go flying and crashing. Soon, it gets to the point where Mina is just throwing things in frustration. It goes on and on and on until, at last, she lets out a sob. The world rises around the camera as Mina sinks to the floor. Finally, everything is still, her arm resting beside her, the camera recording a cracked piece of the wall.

Mina sobs softly for a bit, before letting loose a truly primal scream.]

DAMN IT.

[And the feed will continue for awhile, accompanied by the sounds of Mina sobbing.]

Comments

[primogen_vampirate]

"Now that I like," Mina said. "Revenge? Always enjoyable."

Only it wasn't. She'd spent the better part of her life chasing after revenge. Revenge for losing Tom. Revenge for losing what mattered in her mortal life. And in the end, she hadn't been satisfied. The truth had been unbearable. And unacceptable.

And left her spiraling with a question of what to do next.

This would be the same.

[investigations]

Rosa smiles, entirely without humor. "It is, isn't it? They say the best revenge is living well, but to be perfectly frank, under the circumstances I'd rather do something rather less pleasant. For our kidnappers, that is."

She sighs, sitting down across from Mina. "So tell me -- do you think we'll survive this?"

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina shook her head slightly. "I don't know." She was never one to sugarcoat things. Especially not for people she liked and respected. "We're off the map, darling. We've sailed over the edge of the world."

She leaned back a moment, tiling her chin up and regarding the ceiling. For lack of anywhere else to look.

"Then again, I remember a time when people genuinely believed that was true," she said. "I suppose we'll have to broaden our understanding of the world for the time being. And wait. And see."

[investigations]

"I suppose so, but..."

Rosa sighs, leaning back against the wall. "I'm not sure how much broadening my understanding can take anymore. Being a vampire is frankly hard enough; this is... well, it's a lot."

[primogen_vampirate]

"Don't underestimate yourself, Rosa," Mina said, giving her a surprisingly serious look. Then again, Rosa was one of the few people in Chicago who'd ever had the opportunity to see Mina being serious at all. "You are one of the smartest, most capable, adaptable people I've ever had the good fortune to know. I refuse to let you sell yourself short, Rosa."

[investigations]

Rosa smiles. "Thank you, I really do appreciate that! And I'm trying to roll with the punches, but honestly -- " She sighs again. "This sounds stupid, I know, but this is the first time since... well, since I died, really, where I've had nothing to do. There's nothing to do, except think, and thinking about it isn't making this place any easier to swallow." She shakes her head, grimacing. "Rather to the contrary, in fact."

[primogen_vampirate]

Mina shook her head. "That doesn't sound stupid at all," she said quietly. "I feel the same way. This place...these people...it's easy to believe that there's no place for the likes of us here."

They were relics. Ancient. Outdated. And women, of course. There was that too. Surrounded by oversexed alpha males who all felt the need to puff up their feathers.

"I wish I had better answers for you, Rosa," she sighed. "But I suppose it's time you knew the truth, something that not even Brie knew. Which is that I don't have the answers. Most of the time, I'm just making it up as I go."