Is There Anybody Out There? Tell Me What Went Wrong [audio]

[wormintheglass]

[The feed opens with Bianca singing unaccompanied: her voice is deep, rich, compelling, and pitch perfect. She breaks off after a few lines.]

Good morning, my dear Hadriel, and a very warm welcome to our newest residents. I am Bianca, and I'm here to ease your days, lighten your hearts and perhaps even ruffle your feathers!

It's always a turbulent time, when the door opens and strangers from all over the multiverse land haplessly in the sands of the Colosseum. Allow me, my new friends, to point you towards two useful features on the communication device you've been given - one is my dear friend Mello's guide for those new to the city and the other is a concise history of Hadriel as we know it, by the same author. I hope you savour his salty prose as much as I!

But enough about practical matters. Let us talk to each other, dear Hadriel. What makes you angry? What do you need to get off your chest? Tell Bianca. I am listening.

(Soundtrack)

Comments

[audio]

[synthedick]

I'm guessing someone will need to keep that thing updated now that he's gone.

[audio]

[wormintheglass]

Mello's gone? Are you sure?

[audio]

[synthedick]

[Whoops. Looks like she didn't know just yet.]

You see him on the network?

[audio]

[wormintheglass]

Things have been rather - upheaved, of late. I assumed he was just too busy to play.

Damn it.

[synthedick]

Sorry to have been the bearer of bad news.

[Seems like there's a lot of that these days.]

I can take up the guide, keep it up to date. It's a useful thing for all the new folks we get. Saves the rest of us the trouble of answering the same questions over and over, too.

[wormintheglass]

I was counting on Mello to help with this little broadcast of mine. You could always trust him to keep things lively.

...yes, do that. You're so good at the practicalities, Nick dear.

[synthedick]

I'm just trying to keep things running around here.

[Don't call him dear, Bianca. He's a professional.]

[wormintheglass]

Of course you are, my darling. I don't know what we'd all do without you.

How is the Guard holding up?

[Video]

[imhisaunt]

Angry? Oh...but why do you want to know about that?

[Video]

[wormintheglass]

A new friend! What's your name, dearheart?

Re: [Video]

[imhisaunt]

[He turns pink, shy]

W-well I'm Delmar.

[Video]

[wormintheglass]

It's wonderful to meet you, Delmar. I believe I've seen you on the network - do you feel you've settled in well?

Re: [Video]

[imhisaunt]

Lovely to meet you too, Miss Bianca. And yes, I think so. Well as well as anyone can with all the ruckus these past few months. But I've made so many wonderful friends and now I have the bakery....

[Video]

[wormintheglass]

It is a good place to make friends. The Door seems to be attuned to interesting people, doesn't it?

Are you having trouble finding ingredients? Most of my supplies consist of dried monster meat - nutritious enough, I daresay, but hardly pleasurable.

audio;

[restinglichface]

What, trying to gather intel on us all? Or just get some good ol' fashioned drama goin' on?

audio;

[wormintheglass]

[Yes and yes.]

Just trying to foster a sense of community, dearheart. And what should I call you?

[restinglichface]

[she knew it!!]

Bullshit. [But the elf laughs anyway, amused.] The name's Lup and I'm ready to have you work your magic and lighten my weary heart.

[wormintheglass]

I'm shocked at the implication, Lup dear.

[Without any further preamble, Bianca breaks into song. She slows the tempo down from the original, turning its exuberance deliberate, slinky and laced with even more innuendo. Her voice doesn't waver on the long notes.]

[restinglichface]

[Lup laughs at her response, but then immediate goes quiet when the other woman begins to sing. It's haunting in the best of ways, slow and lovely. The elf isn't one with the best of patience, but she has a deep appreciation and love of music, so she waits until the song is over before finally speaking up again.]

Dang, sis. Not bad at all. Makes me wish I had my violin on hand. We could probably rock out some good tunes together.

audio;

[hasitsthorns]

The Null can fuck right off.

[ And so can Delight, for siding with them. ]

audio;

[wormintheglass]

[Bianca's voice softens.]

My darling Rosie. This has been hard on you.

Perhaps, with the knowledge we gained from this attack, we may be able to take the battle to them, one day.

audio;

[hasitsthorns]

[ She shouldn't appreciate that sympathy, but... ]

You can say that again. [ A sigh. ] And we better. I'm not going to be able to rest until those bastards pay.

audio;

[wormintheglass]

I think that's going to need to be a long-range project, my darling. I'm in, of course - I want them disassembled down to the molecule - but I rather think we need to regather our strength a little first.

Speaking of which, how are you doing?

audio;

[hasitsthorns]

Well, sure. Doesn't mean I'm not going be thinking about all the ways I can make them hurt in the meantime.

[ She's fine. Clearly. Still, Rose has known Bianca a long time now... Long enough that she decides to be a little more honest. She promised. ]

Well as I can be, I guess.