♛accidential video;

[meritocracy]

[the feed blurs in, shaky and uncertain. there's grass, sky, and there's blood. there's golden curls and a familiar brown headband and there's blood.

the video screen is smeared with red fingerprints and there is suddenly white skin, spasming fingers reaching for the screen but there is not a single word. not a single sound.

it moves, slowly, the fingers twitching as if in agony before it moves to a face, blood smeared at the top of the chin, dirt speckled across the cheeks and eyes barely open. for a minute there's the flash of a horrible red, gaping wound beneath the chin but then it's back to a pale face, lips parting but no sigh coming out. then the video spirals upwards, once, twice, red fingerprints and all.

and the fallen woman hasn't uttered a single word. ]

Comments

[video]

[seleniahymn]

[Except for all their stubbornness, there was still the possibility that it could not be enough to keep her awake before Asch arrived. And if Natalia were to pass out, there was the possibility that...]

Natalia. [She wishes that she had not had to raise her voice, but it was a surefire way to keep her attention focused on her.]

[action]

[seleniahymn]

I haven't been able to ask yet. [Which was likely a foolish thing to overlook, if they were too far out from the house there was no telling how much worse her condition could get. Just like all the other times she had been forced to, she would have to trust in Asch's abilities to deliver Natalia to them.]

The fortunate thing is that we were all able to catch notice right away. Who knows what could have happened if we had not.

[action]

[seleniahymn]

Luke? [She's already in the sitting room, having briefly abandoned her watch at the door to direct Nephry how to best arrange the supplies so that she could work as fast as she could once Asch arrives with Natalia. Therefore she opens the door almost as soon as she hears him knocking.]

Are they...? [Had he preceded them to let her know of her condition? Though Luke would come regardless, wouldn't he.]

we are skipping all the hours this is how we do it

[silversnowfall]

[It's much later, long after Natalia made it home and healed and settled, that Nephry quietly looks in on her in the room she shares with Tear.

Quietly, because waking the melodist or the princess up would just be cruel.]

yeaahh

[meritocracy]

[Natalia is still in the bed, her skin white. There is bandages wrapped around her throat, and her back. The Malnosso did something to her spine, making her incapable of walking. With no voice, no legs--it hardly is the best of situations for her.

Still, somehow a gold-green eye opens a slit at the sight of Nephry hovering over their bed. Next to the chair is her shift covered in blood, smearing some of the chair. There's still some of it caked to her curls though they removed it from her face, her chin.]

[video;]

[meritocracy]

[She's white as bone in Asch's arms. There's bleed smeared across her chin, her mouth, her hair, her throat--dress--she hardly looks like a childhood friend.

At his voice, her eyes slide open not even halfway, a dusty flicker in them of recognition. A ghost of a smile is on her face as she looks up at him, blinking heavily.]

[action]

[meritocracy]

[As Asch begins talking to Luke, Natalia starts to blink in and out of consciousness. There's a hitched, gurgled sound escaping Natalia's lips though there is little but that. She's slipping.

Asch's red hair was always so bright wasn't it? Even when it was dark. It's a little dark now, and her eyelids are heavy. She must look a mess, she thinks again, with blood smeared over her throat, chin face--hair..I can't call myself a Princess, she thinks wryly, as her head sags backwards, into his arms. It's lights out.]

[video]

[meritocracy]

[Tear. Tear--

Her green eyes are faint, her smile like the taped-fonons Asch applied to her wound, not steady enough. There's a possibility in the back of her mind, as a studied healer, that she's suffered a grievous wound.

And that she might not be able to come home, after all.
Tear's voice is firm and she has her eyes closed, white as snow--before that voice calls to her. There's a green flicker under her closed eyes.]

[silversnowfall]

[At least she's somewhere safe and comfortable. Nephry doesn't notice her eye open, just taking a minute to make sure the blankets are pulled high enough and putting a hand on her forehead. Worry motions. Hopefully over the next few days, Tear (or others) would be able to heal all of this.]

[Voice]

[meritocracy]

[Natalia cannot speak the words of hello, or how are you, to Golbez. She would like to, she thought fondly of him, but there's blood in her mouth and her throat and it makes speaking hard.

And there's a deep wound inside of her that has stolen her words.

With someone who is surely a knight of some sort, to be a royal who cannot greet one of such service--is shameful. Forgive her..]

[Video]

[meritocracy]

[she's so sorry, ma'am. she truly is. she lifts it again, weaker still, as her bloodied fingers tap the screen, lifting it behind her, around her, the screen trembling from her weakened efforts.]

[meritocracy]

[Natalia's hand twitches under the blanket until she lifts it quietly, placing it over Nephry's. Her smile is pale; tired.

I'm home, Nephry.]

[silversnowfall]

Oh-!

[So she's awake. Nephry turns her hand over, so she's holding onto Natalia's instead.]

I'm sorry for waking you.

[Video]

[fleurdesel]

[To hell with bedrest. She's finding this girl. The trees seemed familiar enough- then again. Most of them looked the same to her. The rest though, the shadows, the sunlight, the birds. She's going back over anything, everything that might help her find the girl.]

I'm on my way.

[Stupid, stupid idea- but who else can she call?]

[meritocracy]

[It hurts too much for her to shake her head, so instead she closes her eyes, then blinks them quietly. She just squeezes her hand.

It's alright.]

[Video]

[meritocracy]

[she hopes she's alright, it's vaguely thought of, as Natalia quietly lets it slide out of red fingers. her head feels cold in the grass, or is that from the blood behind her head..she doesn't know anymore.

i'm sleepy.]

[silversnowfall]

You should go back to sleep. It's important that you rest.

[meritocracy]

[she'd swallow, but it'd hurt. ]

...

[silversnowfall]

[Slowly, Nephry's thumb rubs the back of Natalia's hand.]

I can sit here until you do?

[meritocracy]

[Natalia just offers a sad little smile.

I'm sorry.]

[silversnowfall]

Just rest. You don't need to answer me, try to go back to sleep.

[meritocracy]

[she just quietly lowers her eyes, sad smile still in place as her eyes blink sleepily. ]

[silversnowfall]

[There isn't a whole lot Nephry feels she can do to help. If it seems like Natalia's having trouble, she'll sit down in the room's chair and just hum, very quietly, something gentle.]

voice;

[trashed]

[This must be his lucky week or something. ^_^ This was nice.]

Looks like someone's finally giving what's coming to you all.

[Not that he expects an answer, really. But he'll just throw his two cents in here.]

[action]

[fabrecation]

[Good, she's here. Luke relays that information to Asch: that Tear's here and where she is exactly, making him pause a little before he lifts his head to pay attention to her again.]

Yeah, they're on their way. Asch told me to come here and see if there was anything I could do.

[He stares at her with slightly wide eyes, a little more winded than he usually is when he runs here. Is there anything he can do? He wants to help somehow.]