maskormenace | [voice] - First Ritual

[It's late in the evening when Anastasya addresses the network, and her voice is buffeted by the hum of machinery and cars in the background.]

So I have a question for others who have arrived here.

[There's a sudden squawk in the background, distinctly a large bird, though the tone seems tinted by something that makes it somewhat distorted, almost ephemeral.]

Oh right, yes Bluebeak. Sorry. Ah...my name is Anastasya Griffin. I'm...well, new. [A beat, and she almost sounds amused.] Hi.

[And moving on.]

Anyway. From what I've discerned, there are people here who have died wherever they came from, but they're alive here. Genuinely alive, not simply risen via magic.

So I understand that, but...has anyone else encountered a 'power', for lack of a better term, where you're...both?

Alive, yes. But then, at times, not. As though whatever force revived people in the first place just...keeps acting upon you?

[The bird in the background squawks again and Anastasya draws in a breath.] I'm not asking this right, am I. Mm. Okay.

Does anyone else have a power that involves death? In any form, I'm not feeling terribly picky. I'd just...like to discuss it with you.

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[Well now.]

...In what way?

Well, I...guess you could say I'm able to switch between being dead and alive.

I see. [Now she was getting somewhere.]

...Is it a choice? How does it work? [There's a squawk behind her and she sighs.]

Ah, I mean...if you don't mind telling me.

[He definitely hears a bird, but doesn't comment on it for now.]

Um, well...I'm still kind of working on that. [Manolo sounds sheepish.] So far it's been pretty difficult for me to control, actually.

Hmm.

What happens? When you change.

I change into a skeleton made out of stone, basically. It's how souls appear if they're in the Land of the Remembered.

[There's a delay while she thinks about this.]

What does it feel like?

I don't know, less...squishy? It's definitely not the same as being alive, if that's what you mean.

No, I mean the transformation itself. From...well, alive to not.

It is hard to explain. The change starts from my toes and works its way up. It feels...kind of cold and heavy. But not in a bad way.

So it feels like something, at least.

[She trails off, and her frown is almost audible.]

Yes. I can still feel. The body may die, but the soul still lives on, you know? As long as you're remembered, anyway.

[Still, her tone seems off, and Manolo's voice grows quieter.]

...It's different for you?

[There's a delay before she answers, and when she does, her voice is a bit distant.]

It doesn't feel like anything. I only know it happens because I'm colder when it's done.

For me, it basically mirrors what it was like when I was resurrected back home, just...in reverse if I'm turning back into the form I had when I was dead.

That must be really tough for you, though, especially if you can't control it yet. I'm sorry.

It would be...rather awful if it mirrored my resurrection.

[Going through that would be terrible.]

The trouble is I don't really know it's happening at all until it's done.

I see. Is it difficult for you to leave your home because of that?

No, thankfully. At least, not so far.

I have some idea of what the trigger is.

Oh. That's good, at least.

[Maybe. Depending on what the trigger is, anyway. Manolo suddenly sounds a little bit less sure of himself.]

...Right?

Well, it lets me expect it when it's coming.

I haven't figured out how to stop it though.

It's something you cannot avoid?

Not unless I want to stop using my magic.

Oh. You must really depend on that, huh.

Well, I wouldn't say dependent but...

I'd rather have it than not.

Do you use it to fight?

Yes. Though that isn't all it's for, of course.

voice;

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