Room 115 - Mental Cases

by **Samantha McManus** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 7:52 pm

"There's my opposite number, Nemain. The old worry-wart, aye? Then there's Macha who keeps things... civil between us."

"We're three. We're one. We're the Phantom Queen. The Morrígna."

by **Miriam Bell** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:12 pm

"And Sam's not aware of any of this? Not even subconsciously?"

This is ridiculous. It must be some kind of severe form of split personality in order to cope with... what exactly? The memory of Sam's sister was bad but not nearly traumatizing enough. She should know, she'd arguably been through worse and come out the other end. Maybe the constant push and pull of other minds had done this to her. It almost makes sense. Specialized personalities would be less vulnerable to a loss of self by virtue of showing more... focused emotions that would drown out the influence of others. Compartmentalized and balanced. But then how did she leave such a massive fingerprint on Will? Had she made contact with Will's mind without noticing? Of so then one of those three should know...

by **Samantha McManus** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:36 pm

"She does things sometimes. She doesn't know why."

"She probably thinks the codename she picked was her idea."

by **Miriam Bell** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:43 pm

"And it wasn't? She's that distinct from you three? What happens to her if you decide to reach for the reigns?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:48 pm

"It's what she felt comfortable naming herself. On some level, perhaps she knows what she is."

"And when I reach for the reins, things get fun. The other two... moderate me."

by **Miriam Bell** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:57 pm

"So she's just a projection? The balanced sum of all three of you?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 8:58 pm

"The balanced sum of all three of us is the Phantom Queen."

"Understandably there are... growing pains. She has to walk before she can fly..."

by **Miriam Bell** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:02 pm

"So she's the Phantom Princess at best right now." she says, sounding vaguely amused. This aspect of Sam was certainly more interesting than deferential Sam.

by **Samantha McManus** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:04 pm

"So what are you off to do now? Tell her about bad old me, so she can try to cram me down deeper?"

by **Miriam Bell** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:11 pm

"I'm not sure. I'm not a big fan of repressing things but she did ask me to find out what happened."

by **Samantha McManus** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 9:13 pm

"Well then, it seems you have a bit of a conundrum."

by **Miriam Bell** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:40 pm

"I could try to talk her into not trying to repress this. She sounded like she enjoyed herself, even if she thought it was strange afterwards."

by **Samantha McManus** » Fri Aug 07, 2015 10:42 pm

Badb smirks toothily.

"Do what you like, as long as it isn't boring. I'll grant, it might be interesting to see if she has any fight in her."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:08 am

"Where's the rest of you. You said they haven't really woken up yet?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:09 am

"Oh, elsewhere. They don't have domains as... homey as mine."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:10 am

"I suppose that's in the eye of the beholder. Can you show me the way?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:18 am

"Hmm, someone's still curious. And that's ways, by-the-by."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:25 am

"Of course I am. Who wouldn't be."

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:33 am

"Doesn't answer the question of where you want to go, does it?"

"I could probably find the path to Macha's domain for you without stirring anything up. Heading for Nemain's might be... messy."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:41 am

"That makes that decision rather easy, now does it? Show me the way to Nemain."

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:01 am

"Ah, so you want to make a mess. Good friend," she smirks.

Then, Badb breaks apart into a flock of ravens, weaving through the trees. She reforms a hundred yards away.

"Well come on, then."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:34 am

"I don't want to make a mess." she says as she floats after Badb. "I want to observe the mess and understand what's going on."

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:39 am

The forest thins as Badb leads the way, and strangely enough the time of day starts to shift, the ruddy glow of dawn filtering through the trees.

"Ah, but I'm not supposed to approach Nemain's patch. I certainly wouldn't be allowed to do it if Macha were awake."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:50 am

"When you say mess, how bad are we talking? I want to shake Sammy up a bit, not hurt her."

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:51 am

"I didn't say she was my opposite number for nothing."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:52 am

"Yes, but are you going to argue or fight?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:56 am

"If I get too close, there's a chance she'll wake up. And then Macha won't be far behind."

"And you say 'argue or fight' like there's a difference."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 2:58 am

Miriam nods. Or at least one of her masks moves accordingly. She figures that's as good a way as any to wake the other two. From what she's heard that should, in theory, result in a more balanced scenario than leaving the other two asleep.

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:14 am

"Well then, ripping off the bandage it is..."

They're nearly to the edge of the forest, rosy dawn fading into bright morning light. Beyond the trees extend rolling hills and a vast plain. Upon the plain two armies are clashing, a bizarre mix of arms and armaments from various eras.

And then there's the river. There doesn't seem to be much of this valley the river doesn't touch, winding a serpentine through it. At its shallower parts there are women crouched at the banks, washing something.

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:25 am

"A battleground? That's where your opposite resides?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:29 am

"She's not among those fighting."

As they watch, one of the washerwomen pulls the cloth she's been scrubbing out of the water and wrings it out. She steps away from the ford, carrying it with her as she approaches one of the fallen on the battlefield.

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:36 am

"She's one of them?" she asks as she watches the woman move away from the rest of the group.

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:37 am

"She's all of them."

"Just because we slumber doesn't mean we rest."

The woman crouches by the slain man and drapes the cloth over him, then wraps it around him. With deft hands, she takes out a needle and thread, sewing it shut around the body. A burial shroud.

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:40 am

This is like one of those Russian dolls... "What are they doing?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:42 am

"What do you think she's doing?"

"She's keeping them from me."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:45 am

"Burial rites so the crows don't eat them?"

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 3:47 am

Badb nods slowly.

"She's always doing that. Dignity for the dead, warning the living of the doom that awaits them."

"Pointless. A man who tries to run from his doom just dies tired."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:02 am

"Death may be inevitable, but we're not bound by fate."

by **Samantha McManus** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:07 am

"But that's what happens when you know your doom. You try to run. You try to dodge it. You try to be too clever for death and in the process all your courage drains right out."

Badb's movements are anxious, fidgeting in place. She looks like she's pondering doing something.

"There's precious few who fight. Who have what it takes to face it head on. Those are the ones she'll never get to sew up. Those are the ones who get my grace."

by **Miriam Bell** » Sat Aug 08, 2015 4:43 am

"Is that what you do? Predict their doom to test their resolve?"

Who is online