Video, August 1

[littlemhigan]

What's the date?

[You might be somewhat startled by the suddenness of Castor's message, or even by the urgency in her voice. Maybe you're surprised because this is the first hide or hair you've seen of her in seven full days.

Also, she looks like hell; Sallow and wan and with eyes that look just a little bit red. There's also the faint sliver of something dull and metal along the bottom of the camera - an object in her lap that can't quite be discerned. ]

Please I...I went lookin' fer somethin've mine that ended up in the Width an' I...Althyk keep me, this date ain't right, is it?


((oops someone got canonbump'd!))

Comments

Video

[chefbayardee]

[ That's sure unusual. Castor looks... rough. ]

August 1st. Why? [ He's taking in the redness of her eyes, the fact that she looks so rough but she hasn't been around, even though she's been on the net, but he just assumed she was busy and- ]

Are you okay? [ There's a panic in his voice. ] D-did you go in alone?!

[littlemhigan]

The f...irst?

I'm damn well not, I wen in on the twenty-fifth.

Video > Private Video

[chefbayardee]

...oh. [ He blinks for a few seconds, not sure how to respond. Then the feed cuts out before coming back as a private video. ]

What do you need? A drink? Food? Punching bag? [ A pause. ] Should I head out there? Call someone? [ He sighs, staring at the red in her eyes. ] You don't need to tell me what happened, just... Can I help at all?

[littlemhigan]

[In the time it's taken the video to come back, Castor seems to have curled up a little bit around whatever she's holding.]

I jes...I don't know what I need. Besides te stop gettin' people killed.

[chefbayardee]

I... [ He wishes he knew what to say to that. Is someone hurt? Killed?! Did she get attacked in the Dream Width? He notices she's moved, curled up, and...

Hunk exhales, and as he does so, he looks more... confident. Composed. ] Where are you? I'll work a different flight and find you. I'm pretty sure I can say "extradimensional Dream Width stuff happened to my friend" and they'll understand.

[ The way he's saying it, she doesn't have too much of a choice in the matter. And as far as he's concerned, with as much as she's helped him and Shiro, she's earned more than a little Yellow Paladin-ing. ]

[littlemhigan]

'M at the airship docks at the Curti Centre. Don't... go out've yer way fer me. I think Noctis is comin' anyways.

[It's clear she's trying to pull herself back to some semblance of 'together', but her eyes are casting about and not meeting the camera.]

I was in there seven days. I - I don't know if I was dreamin' the whole time but...

[chefbayardee]

[ Okay, fine, if Noct is coming then he doesn't need to head out there, she'll be in good hands. She'll be fine. ]

Seven days is... [ A long time. If she doesn't know she was dreaming, then what was she doing? ] Was everything in your home universe, or was there... other stuff? [ He saw a memory that made zero sense and they couldn't tell whose it was. Hunk wouldn't wish that on anyone, least of all one of his friends. ]

[littlemhigan]

Whatever I saw, it wasn't a memory like last time, which is why I don't know if I was dreamin' or not! It was...like I'd never left at all. Just picked up where I'd left from, with not a soul the wiser for it.

Didn't seem so long, but what does?

[chefbayardee]

If it was like you went back home, then... maybe there's something we can use to figure out the Dream Width. It doesn't sound like this has happened before...

[ Any chance he had of not making his way out to visit Castor went out the window with that. ] I'm on my way. If anyone else is on the way, have them wait up for me.

H- [ Hunk starts to speak, but thinks better of it, until... well, he'd want to ask one day. ] How long did it feel like you were dreaming for? If it was a dream, I mean. Was it longer than a week?

private video;

[warpstriking]

[There is, at first, and audible sigh of relief when he sees this. Too many have disappeared lately that he knows and he might have feared the worst.

Then he sees her state and stops himself, automatically responding with a private lock.]

... It is. Looks like you could use a drink, though.

[Because he can take the car and pick her up.]

[littlemhigan]

Might need a few. It's been a long...well, I s'pose it's been a long week.

[warpstriking]

I'll ask Ignis to fix something up.

[Because food always helps, except for the times things lead to a lack of appetite. He knows this far too well.

He's grabbing his jacket, if it wasn't obvious by how the camera sways a little as he fits his arms through the sleeves.]

Ever been in a car before? And is anyone else coming?

[He might be texting Shiro, just in case.]

[littlemhigan]

Some of that Milk Tea of 'is wouldn't go unappreciated.

[She's not really watching the feed enough to notice his actions, but she nods before she finds the words to answer.]

Hunk, maybe. I think. An' no. What's a Car?

[warpstriking]

I'll let him know.

[Three additional people. Got it. He says something to someone off-screen (likely Prompto, he'll have to stop by the cafe to tell Ignis) before turning back to her.]

Remember that black vehicle that sat in front of our house at the Curti Center? That's a car. Mine's a bit... special.

[He exits the house, and flips the device so Castor can see the Regalia Type-F.]

[littlemhigan]

Cheers.

Let me guess: it's jes an airship in hidin'? [There's a weak attempt at levity in her voice]

I'm...not puttin' someone out a bed, am I?

[warpstriking]

Nah. Been fixing up the attic, and a very large couch in the living area if you want that instead.

[He doesn't mention the spare bed that was once Iris's for Gladio's sake. It's a bit too fresh.]

And, kinda? It arrived here with mods I didn't recognize. [Totally didn't fly it over to the camp last month, nah. What are you talking about?]

[littlemhigan]

Either's a sight better than the floor.

[ The admission about the regalia finally gets Castor to actually look at the camera. ]

Yer tellin me it just showed up in the Dream Width doin' things ye don't remember it doin?

[Private Video]

[spaceforged]

I'm assuming you already got the date. [Welcome back, Castor. The feed is already private. He saw how bad she looks and his concern is evident in the set of his brow.]

...welcome back. [He reaches for his house key and jacket.] Is someone coming to pick you up?

[littlemhigan]

Yeah...S'it really the first? Uhm...Noctis an' Hunk both offered. I don't...I'll be alright I just needed te know if my eyes were lyin' te me.

[spaceforged]

[The black jacket is pulled on and he slips on fingerless gloves on his way out the door. Black paladin is in motion.]

I know Noctis offered. I'll meet up with you two at the center. But yes...it really is the first.

[He looks at the screen and his expression softens. Concern dances in his eyes but he doesn't voice the why. Just says, quietly.] I can't leave you alone like this.

[littlemhigan]

Ain't far I could go like this anyways.

[Her expression is one of concealed grief, and she seems preoccupied by whatever is sitting in her lap.]

I was in there fer seven days. I'm missin' an entire week. What...did anythin' happen?

[spaceforged]

[If he hadn't already been out the door with the camera swinging to face the Black Lion he'd have been pulling on his jacket. Shiro looks to the Lion and its eyes flare with yellow light.

A low booming rumble rolls through the air. He wishes he could just climb in the Lion and fly to her. He'd already be halfway there.]

Nothing to write home about. It's been...quiet since the invitation. Did you see it?

[littlemhigan]

When I woke back up, yeah. Skimmed it. Sounds like trouble te me. S' almost too invitin'.

[But the discussion brings some strength to her voice at the very least.]

's that yer kitten?

[spaceforged]

Yes, that's Black. [The Lion's eyes follow him as he walks out down the front pathway.]

He's not capable of fighting or flying yet or we'd be continuing this chat while I was in the air.

But, I agree. That invite sounds troublesome...yet, it's a possible lead. So we can't ignore it.

[littlemhigan]

Scares the neighbours an' looks menacin' then? There's worse te do, I suppose.

Ignorin' it would be the worst thing te do, if ye ask me. I'd rather be paranoid an' wrong than right an' with my pants down, if ye take my meanin'.