video

[ct_7567]

[ When Rex appears on the network, his expression is a solemn mask - ashen, strained, but without a great degree of feeling beyond weary professionalism, posture drawn straight and tall, poised as he ever is. ]

I am addressing you all today to inform you that Cassandra Igarashi is dead. Those who valued her deserve to know. If you had been close to Cassandra in any measure, you will already be aware that she had been expecting this, and that she had been unwell for quite some time now. She wished to face it with the integrity that you have come to expect of her.

[ It hadn’t been a dignified death. It had been a sad, bloody affair. He doesn’t voice this. ]

For those who didn’t know her and had seen her in her last days, all I ask of you is that you not judge her by her actions while she was unwell. She wasn’t herself, though she fought her illness bravely. Cassandra has always been a loyal and honest friend, a staunch defender of what she believed to be right, and far better than most of us deserved. If she doesn’t come back, that is how she ought to be remembered. If she does, you will be able to see her as she truly is, and as the person it was our privilege to know.

[ There are five full seconds of silence. For all that the words are effusive, his speech is matter-of-fact, with military precision. But even more crisp is the announcement, ] Woden is dead as well. That will be all.

[ ooc; if your character was sufficiently close to have been in the house during Cass’ last month or had been mentioned pretty often, you may assume they were contacted privately/can contact me and I’ll drop a note in your IC inbox! ]

Comments

video

[girlybruiser]

[ It's as if all the air in her lungs disappears; Haru is breathless, visibly trembling as she attempts to process Rex's words. There's simply no way this can be happening right now. ]

... I'm sorry? But... [ Confusion settles in first. The heartache is yet to come. ] No, that can't be right.

[ Cass had been expecting this? It doesn't occur initially, until Haru recalls the repeated words from the other Pantheon members she had met during her time here.

Two years. ]

This is not her world. That should not have happened.

video

[ct_7567]

[ Oh, hell. That's Martin's friend, isn't it? Cassandra had mentioned knowing her, but Rex had never put two and two together. Some of that sharpness he carries with him dulls. ]

I'm sorry. This isn't how you should have found out. But I'm afraid that what should happen rarely has any bearing on reality. We tried to prevent it. [ Well, Rex had. ] Unfortunately, our attempts proved fruitless.

Private, video.

[flightforfreedom]

[[ ooc: if you want to run it that Poe was contacted privately, that’s cool! but we can still play it here for ease’s sake. ]]

[ Poe’s face is grim, when he replies, because he can read between the lines. If she’s dead, someone had to take her down. ]

I’m sorry, Rex.

... Are you okay? [ Because that could not have been easy on him. ]

Private, video.

[ct_7567]

[ Stars, but he doesn't know how to answer that. ]

It's nothing we hadn't been expecting. I did my duty, Poe. That's all.

[video]

[a_good]

[Cassandra? No, that can't be right. Cassandra couldn't-

Wait, the man said she'd been expecting it. And there's no alarm about a (new) danger to imPorts, so this was something that had come with her from her world. Something she'd probably tried to fix, and then had prepared for if she couldn't. And Norman hadn't had any idea.

He feels like crying. Instead he takes a few deep breaths before he turns on the camera, pale and tightly controlled.]

I'm sorry. [Another breath.] I didn't know.

[He didn't ask enough.]

[ct_7567]

[ Oh, hell, it's another kid. How many did Cassandra have kicking about, exactly? All this fuss about how she's not suited to it, and here they are. ]

She probably didn't want to worry you, kid. It took a while for her to tell me as well, and we were... close. How did you know her?

video; bc this is really absolutely his business

[crypdick]

[ Unblinking black eyes but otherwise human is this stranger. ]

Not all deaths are weighed equal it seems.

How did Woden die?

[ There's no concern; the Outsider is not in any way distraught about any of this and he doesn't dtry to hide it. ]

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[ct_7567]

No. They're not. Lives certainly aren't weighed equal. I don't see why death should be either.

He died in a violent altercation. I would assume that an official police report to the press will be released on that matter in short order. It's still an open investigation though, I assume, not for long.

[Video]

[prophesiedone]

Rex? Are you okay? [He has been a neglectful friend, but he wants to change that now that he is feeling calmer.] Do you need anything? Company? I don't think it's fair for you to be alone right now.

[Video]

[ct_7567]

I'm fine, sir. I've been lucky in that I've rarely been lacking in company.

[ He wouldn't accept company from most - but it's been a terribly long time since he's seen Skywalker in person. That bittersweet grey of their shared dream doesn't count. ]

But I wouldn't say no to seeing you all the same. I only wish you could have met those I call my own underneath different circumstances. You'd like her, I think.

[ Skywalker always did like spitfires. ]

video;

[kanyounot]

[ This isn't a surprise to Kanan, since he'd been living in the same house with her up until recently. Still, though, he takes it pretty well. Maybe having experienced his own death has given him a new perspective on it.

Or maybe he's just so tired it's hard to react much to anything. ]

I'm sorry to hear that, Rex. I'm also glad, that she's not suffering anymore.

[ He'd seen how she was, those last weeks. He knew it wasn't good, to say the very least. He also knows that Rex is fine - well, as fine as any soldier can be, upon losing a friend. But Rex isn't the only one to be concerned for. ]

How's Marty taking it?

video;

[ct_7567]

It ended as it had to.

[ That's all he can say on the matter, really. It's difficult to be glad after the nature of her death, but it's also not something he wishes to air to the public, for her sake as much as his own. ]

Martin's as well as could be expected. I'm sorry to say that this isn't the first time something like this has happened to him. Not even here.

video;

[redcosmedic]

[ Knock Out wasn't close to Cass, but the medic did have some conversations with her that were productive. It's more that that he comments on, rather than a personal connection to her. ]

That's unfortunate. She actually had some decent thoughts on some of the goings-on around here.

video;

[ct_7567]

I'd call it a great deal more than unfortunate. But yes, she did. She was one of the few determined to look at the bigger picture.

text

[h2no]

[he could offer his condolences, but he feels like that's a given. it's too hard to type, anyway. makes it too real, even if she's literally dead.]

let me know if i can do anything to help you and your family, rex.

text

[ct_7567]

I will. Thank you, Archie.

Take care of yourself. I know she was your friend as well.

action

[killtime]

[ She waits until he's finished with his broadcast to approach carrying a mug of coffee in either hand. One for him, and one for her.

Quietly, with a twinge of tired wryness: ]

Nice speech.

[ct_7567]

[ Rex gratefully reaches out to accept the mug. He still feels a bit shellshocked by it all. He's no stranger to death. No stranger to killing a friend either. But this had been different. ]

It was deserved, [ he says, some of that captain's veneer fading away now that he's no longer on camera. ] I can only hope it wasn't too much of a surprise for most.

NOT HERE

[monster_san]

[It sounds like this situation is more... complicated than a longstanding illness. Certainly, the statement about whatever Cassandra did while she was unwell, and that afterthought about the death of someone named Woden.

Fuu doesn't have standing to make any comment here; although she likes Rex, she barely knows him, and has never met Cass. But this is still a painful announcement to read. The death of anyone is painful, whether or not they return. And the implications she thinks she sees here... even more so.]

Video

[hadthehighground]

I don’t believe I’ve met either of them, but you have my condolences all the same.

Video

[ct_7567]

I need no condolences for Woden - but the thought is appreciated. Thank you, sir.

Text

[iminthebook]

Hell's bells.

She will be missed.

[ Only text as Harry stares at the screen remembering, too many things. ]

Re: Text

[ct_7567]

She will be.

If luck is on our side, it won't be for long.

voice.

[glowsferatu]

[ This month never stops, does it? Kanaya responds with the same sad exhaustion in her voice that Rex probably feels about now. ]

For fuck's sake. Yeah, I suppose it was about time for it. At least we can take some solace in knowing that she took him down with her.

voice.

[ct_7567]

[ That's more public than he'd like it to be - but he supposes it will be getting out at some point anyway, and that it had been a logical enough conclusion. ]

Yeah. It was time, and she knew it. Though I don't know that she would take solace in that.

text, private

[knaval]

i tried to stop her. sorry.
guess if she was gonna kill anyone no1 will miss woden

was it quick?

[ct_7567]

My thoughts exactly.

I shot her. I believe it was as quick a death as we could hope for.

video

[mostlyprofessional]

Oh, Rex... I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like you were close.

video

[ct_7567]

Thank you, Chloe. We were at that. You didn't know her?

Voice

[by_candlelight]

[ Ruby stares at the screen for a while. She can read between the lines, at least enough to realise that Cassandra had taken down whoever this Woden person was, and that the man making the announcement didn't care for the guy. She eventually decides to send a reply. ]

You have my condolences. I only got to talk to her once, but she had a good head on her shoulders and she helped me get more up to date on the goings on of this world.

Voice

[ct_7567]

It seems she has something of a reputation for that sort of thing. Your condolences are appreciated.

text, private

[morethanasuperstar]

[ Aside from the extremely brief conversation they had when he had called her to let her know, she'd been silent for several days. But she does reach out again, eventually. ]

Thanks.
I don't know if I said that.

text, private

[ct_7567]

I wouldn't have expected you to. I don't believe it's the sort of thing worthy of thanks.

voice

[stlg13bomber]

[Carter doesn't know who these people were, or what their deaths were like...but death is death. After some fretting, he goes with the canned response. It feels weak and fake, but...he's no good with these things, y'know]

I'm sorry for your loss, Captain Rex. Let me know if I should send flowers or money somewhere.

voice

[ct_7567]

[ This fellow again - a decent sort, it seems. Not a bad man to be kept in 622's orbit. ]

Your sentiments are appreciated, Carter. Though no flowers or money are necessary. With any luck, she'll be back.

[plentystrong]

Wasn't she the one always yelling about doom and gloom on the network?

[ Tactful, Catra is not. ]

[ct_7567]

If you didn't know her, why do you care?

video;

[codeofiron]

[Brandon takes a moment. Cassandra had been a bit unusual, but he had liked her. And he knows she and Rex were close.]

I'm sorry.

video;

[ct_7567]

Thank you, Brandon.