VIDEO - 001 | Backdated to the 10th

[unitas]

[ The video comes in clear. The young woman (young woman, she scoffs) leans her head against the wall behind her. There's a painting there, a mural of a mother and a daughter, wrapped in together in dwindling sunlight. Not many people know of this place and maybe that's why it's one of the first places she goes. First, her mother. Then, her father.

She's no lucky charm, it seems.

There's evidence that she's younger, no dark circles, lighter hair and less and dark root. She's exhausted, physically and mentally and the ash from the Otherworld still sticks to her skin.

She could bitch. She could moan. She could cry (she did). ]

So, did I miss much? [ The most obvious change to the contact list is that it now states SHARON DA SILVA instead of HEATHER MASON. She's not Heather. She doesn't need to be anymore. ]

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[closerift]

[ Most people don't come back. Once they go back through the Door, they're gone forever. Dorian had come back, of course, but with different memories. The Hero of Ferelden had come back an entirely new person.

And Sharon?

Maker. Let this be the exception.

Her throat is dry when she responds, though she does scramble, eyes wide, hands shaking - ]

... Do you know who I am?

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[unitas]

How can I forget my best friend? [ She scoffs but there's a hint of emotion in her voice and her eyes are bluer thanks to the red around them from her more emotional moments. ]

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[closerift]

[ There's a bit of a strangled noise, then: reactionary, relieved, and surprised. Cecily swallows down the lump of emotion that rises to her throat, but isn't able to keep the building glisten from her eyes. ]

Where are you? [ She asks, voice shaky. ]

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[unitas]

[ Her heart aches to hear such a sound from Cecily. She swallows her emotions back. ]

It's... I'm at an empty building by the library, at the back. [ A pause and then an emotionally charged: ] I'm... Cecily, I didn't... [ mean to leave. ]

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[closerift]

I'm on my way. [ There's a little intake of breath, a pause, and then: ] You have nothing to be sorry for.

[ And then she's off, tearing from the house to 'an empty building by the library.' Dorian used to come here, to pick through the books in search of anything that might help them. That was her Dorian, the one from home, the one who knew her. And this - this is her best friend, or else, a trick of the gods or the Null that's about to get her killed.

She is keenly aware of the survival instincts that remind her there's a price on her head, that anyone from Hadriel might be able to pretend to be Sharon, and that they're leading her into a trap. The possibility that Sharon has returned vastly outweighs that, and... if this is a trap, if she's going to die, maybe permanently, going after someone she cares about, then... well, it's about time.

The Inquisitor comes to a sudden halt when she sees the other woman not far away. Again, her throat tightens, and she struggles with what to say - briefly, and then she rushes ahead and envelopes Sharon in a crushing hug. ]

I never thought I'd see you again. [ Comes the muffled admittance. ]

[unitas]

[ It's like she was here yesterday, save for the mish-mash of memories. When Cecily comes into view, Sharon pushes herself up off the dirt ground and then there are arms around her and she locks up a moment.

No touching. But that was the Sharon from before. It takes a moment for her to wrap her arms around her friend and before she knows it before she can stop it, there are tears in her eyes. ]

It feels like yesterday I saw you but I-I know it's not. I wouldn't ever... And... [ Her grip tightens and she buries her face in Cecily's hair. She's happy she's back. She's glad to see Mello and Cecily, Kate and everyone else but she's just come back from a trauma she may never recover from. ]

I'm so, so sorry.

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[trashmouths]

What the hell happened to you?
You look like shit.

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[multivitamins]

You missed trees trying to eat people and some fucked up Null things making a hit list.

[ Punches not pulled here!]

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[dedikated]

( What can she say, she trusts it more. And she wonders, for a moment, if this is how people felt when she returned. )

The usual. Robots trying to kill us, people arguing.

( In other words: she missed you, Share-bear. )

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[toiletseat_girl]

--Sharon?! Holy shit, you're back.

Ummm, what did you miss. . . the Null wants me dead? And we wound up sharing dreams with each other? You know, same shit, different day.

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[elegant_and_proud]

The Null put out a hit list with about thirty or so people's names on it. People reacted with the usual level of subtlety and restraint.

[Ie. none to speak of.]

[eyeofthetiger]

You missed Mardi Gras and a shake down by a Borg named Null.

[ the former didn't really happen although he really wish that it did and the second is still up in the air all things considered. Even still, he's just hoping to get a laugh out of her. The woman looks like she could use one. ]

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[unknowable]

It's good to see you again.

[Simple and honest.]

[so_dark_a_road]

[ Curufin thinks of the Sharon he knew in Pleasant Valley, and this one reminds him sharply of her. He sees the painting behind her and wonders if it is one of hers. But of course, it must be. ]

Sharon! You're back! [ Pure delight. ]

[closerift]

[ Cecily isn't a touchy-feely person, either, usually choosing to bury, rather than unearth, emotions. Sharon is an exception, though, and she fully embraces the moment before drawing back to search her friend's face. ]

Stop, I told you that you had nothing to apologize for. [ She thumbs at Sharon's cheek, then, frowning. ] Are you all right? You've been gone for-... well, it doesn't matter. But...

[ What happened back in Sharon's world? Her stomach turns at the possibilities, knowing what she knows from the stories. ]

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[unitas]

[ The Null. The Null. She curses under her breath. ]

Who? Hope again? I thought they already figured out we weren't going to play kindly with them killing the one ass that can bring us back to life. [ But there's this fear, this anxiety, that Hope isn't the only target this time. ]

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[unitas]

Anything useful to ask or add or shall I just tell you to shut the fuck up now?

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[unitas]

It looks like I came back just in time, huh? You want to meet somewhere. Maybe leave the phone at home.

[ She knows everything fucking watches the network. The gods. The Null. Maybe fucking Jesus himself. ]

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[unitas]

[ She'd touch upon the dream sharing is a sign that the deities were running out of ideas but the Null, that's what catches at her. Her nose wrinkles in a clear fury. ]

Those motherfuckers. [ She grinds her teeth. ] They won't get you. Not anyone. And they'd be fools to try anything.

Because I will rip them apart one by one, throw them into Silent Hill, and let them learn what fear is. It's not something they'd ever escape from so I hope they're paying attention.

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[unitas]

I can't blame them. [ This one is angry, so very angry. God damn. ]

[unitas]

[ Sadly, it doesn't get a laugh from her. Her expression sours as she grits her teeth the moment the last word exits his lips. ]

It figures those robotic little bitches are still fucking around. They tried to get us to kill Hope last I remember. [ She runs her fingers through her hair, wanting to pull it out or scream because it seems that there is always something in the way of her happiness. ] And if I've learned anything about parties thrown by the gods, it's not to attend or you'll have one hell of a hangover.

Not that I couldn't go for some booze right about now. [ It's just about the only escape she has, isn't it? ]

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[elegant_and_proud]

It did not seem to take much resistance to get added to the list. People who did nothing more than insult them wound up there.

[She's not going to elaborate on her stance on the matter publicly because she knows the Null watch the network, but a neutral comment on it is fine.]

It was odd.

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[unitas]

[ She smiles, though it's a small thing after learning the Null wants a few of her friends dead. Little fuckers. ]

You too, Adam. You all right?

[unitas]

You're too happy for this place, you know that? [ It's like opening the curtains in a room that's been dark for too long. She appreciates it, if she's honest, because everything seems to be going to hell in a handbasket. ]

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[toiletseat_girl]

[George's expression turns serious]

Problem is, I know at least one person on the Null's hit list has already been killed, so there's at least one god killing weapon in play. Assuming the Null tries anything other than post to the network and get yelled at. But they implied that they've already been here to plant the weapons and I don't like the sound of that at all.

I'll watch and point and laugh at the Null when you do. Because one way or another, someone's going down and it sure as shit better not be us.