video/action;

[hymnals]

Who: Adrasteius
Broadcast: All
Action: Marsiva
When: Oct 19

[It's been a few weeks since Archimonde's downfall. Since the collapse of the Iron Horde. It was a good moment, hard-won, but Adrasteius hasn't felt celebratory. The battle had ended in triumph, yes, but also a warning. Something is coming. Something that keeps Adrasteius from sleep, that keeps him up late fiddling with wards, praying to the Light. Keeps him staring at the sky with unease threading through all of his brittle bones.

But all living things must sleep, eventually, and he's no exception.

When he wakes up, he expects to see his wife; possibly some children, crept in after nightmares. Instead, he's alone. The room is stark, chilly, sterile.

Familiar.]

Oh, for the Light's sake.

[He rolls over, groaning. This again. Lying flat on his belly, but with his face turned upwards, he addresses the camera.]

Bal'a dash, everybody. If we haven't spoken, I'm Adrasteius. If we have--

[He sits up, albeit with obvious effort. It's hard to be old, even for an elf.]

--nice to see you again. Probably.

[Adrasteius runs a hand through his feathery blonde hair.]

What did I miss?

Comments

[child_of_bhaal]

Adra!

[Oh she's so happy to see him!

And then she claps her hand over her mouth in embarrassment.]

It's wrong to be pleased that you've been abducted again. I'm sorry. I can't help it.

[hymnals]

[Aw, sweetheart. He leans forward, elbows on his knees, smiling at her.]

No need for that. It's an inconvenience, but--it's good to see you again.

[child_of_bhaal]

[The smile can't stay away, no matter how hard she might have tried to surpress it. It's so good to see him.]

You were missed, my friend. How are you?

[hymnals]

Was I? I mostly remember yelling during my time here.

[Granted, he mostly remembers yelling literally anywhere he is, but.

He shrugs.]

Slightly older, not much wiser. What about you?

[child_of_bhaal]

I don't recall you yelling at me. Regardless, I missed you.

Nothing truly terrible has happened while you were gone. So that's something at least.

[hymnals]

I missed you, too, Syeira. I'm glad you've been well.

[However...]

Did you ever--hmm ... do you remember the last time we spoke?

[child_of_bhaal]

[Oh that does it. The smile fades and she glances down.]

Ah. No, I haven't. Things happened.

[It sounds like an excuse and she knows it.]

[hymnals]

[WUPS :[ ...]

Hey, hey. It's all right. I just wondered. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do.

[child_of_bhaal]

No, it's fine. I should have. I just...

Maybe we could talk about it when they let you out of holding?

[hymnals]

Whatever you're comfortable with.

[He leans back, sighing. It's good to see the people here again, it really is. And he's comforted by the concrete knowledge that his family won't even know he's gone. But he knows he's gone.]

So--tell me. What's been happening?

[child_of_bhaal]

Uh, let's see. We were attacked again. We've gotten an extra ship that we can use. For things. I think someone was talking about opening a tavern there.

[Priorities.]

[hymnals]

Exciting times. [Attacked again, huh.] I take it no one was seriously hurt?

[child_of_bhaal]

No. They were just luring us into a trap. It shut down power but we worked it out.

[hymnals]

I'm glad to hear it. What about the present? Peacefully drifting?

[child_of_bhaal]

Not quite. We've all been dragged off our ships.

[She turns her communicator around to show him the little cell like room she woke up in that morning.]

And put into communal containment. Not really sure how long it'll last, or what Atroma is up to.

[hymnals]

[Well, that all sounds pretty ominous. The design and dimensions of that room look familiar, though.]

Are you all here? On the Marsiva?

[child_of_bhaal]

I'm not acquainted with everyone in the fleet, but it looks that way.

[There's the taste of a bad, bad memory floating up to the surface of her mind, but she controls it.]

Feels a lot like an experiment. Everyone in their own neat little cells. But the doors open. We're allowed to mingle.

[hymnals]

[He might've been able to catch her anxiety if they were face to face, but as it stands, he just keeps frowning thoughtfully. Concerned.]

I hope this isn't the part where we're lead off to slaughter. Or worse.

[child_of_bhaal]

If they wanted to kill us, they've had ample opportunity. Though, I can't discount 'worse' as a possibility. Whatever this is, I doubt we're going to enjoy it.

[hymnals]

Sure, but we don't know their endgame. Mysteriously sinister forces always wait until the right moment. And by 'right', I mean 'worst'.

[child_of_bhaal]

I don't disagree. This just feels... off track, I guess. I don't know, I suppose we'll all find out sooner rather than later.

[hymnals]

[Adra makes gestures of mock excitement.]

Forward, into the unknown and possibly excruciating future!