video;

[mirrordarkly]

[[so after a week of aimless wandering and several failed attempts to return to the Dreaming or remove the tattoo on his wrist, the Corinthian finally decides it's time to say hello. Twin black lenses peer thoughtfully down at the communicator, their owner nestled in the shade of some nondescript building.]

It is a curious thing, to be out of place. They have done their best to make us fit, but ill-fitting it must remain for those who had purpose before. Ties are not as easily cut as some lesser materials, and I find these unwanted attempts to bind... [he hums] ...mm, an irritant. I doubt that I'm the only one.

[a pause. The Corinthian glances briefly down at the tattoo on his wrist, glowing in the shadow. He frowns, then returns his attention.]

...I am also aware that there are none here I know, and I am cut off from contacting them. So instead I would have your names and a word on your world, if you would give them. Or not - as you will. But it seems the only thing to do with a communicator is to attempt to communicate; there is no point to hiding in a false world. I will even begin, to make it more comfortable. [he adds, humored:] That is a rare offer from me.

[the nightmare touches a hand to his chest genially.]

I am known as the Corinthian, nightmare of the Major Arcana in service to the Lord Shaper, Lord Dream of the Endless.

And it is good to meet you.

Comments

[mirrordarkly]

And the rest of the time?

[rathercommon]

Sparrow, wolf, girl, dragonfly, unicorn, old lady. One of the above. Or none of 'em. Depends on my mood.

[mirrordarkly]

A changeling then. Are you fae?

[rathercommon]

Fay? [ Her whiskers twitch with interest - she's never heard that term before. ] No. Human originally, but with a slight infusion of essence from the spirit world.

[mirrordarkly]

Interesting. How did that come about?

[rathercommon]

A bit of an unauthorized trip to the spirit world. It's hard on a human consciousness to do that.

[mirrordarkly]

Yes. I would think so.

Why were you in the spirit world?

[rathercommon]

Searching for reinforcements.

[ Her whiskers droop just a bit. This isn't a happy memory. ]

My world was...Well, it wasn't being attacked by rampaging spirits. Some ambitious idiots set spirits loose on my world, and the poor things were so filled with anger and a desire for vengeance that there was no reasoning with them. So I went to find spirits who would help us in the human world, using a ritual of the great magician Ptolemy. And so I crossed over, and I found allies. Or, well, an ally.

But that was enough.

[mirrordarkly]

Ambition and idiocy are too often intertwined. At least those that manage to hide from the retribution of others tend to stumble into it themselves.

[you should have eaten their eyes tbh.]

And daring of you, to risk more than your mortal life doing such. What would you have done, if you had sought out an ally and found none?

[rathercommon]

Well...

[ That's...a good question. And one she hasn't ever actually really considered. At the time, she was so fixed on this one desperate hope that she'd not even considered a plan B. And afterwards, it had worked, so what was the point in looking back? ]

If I hadn't found an ally, I'd probably have been stranded forever in the spirit world. But supposing I managed to make it back, I suppose I'd have fought for as long as I could. Bought a bit of time for people to escape. [ A beat, and then firmly - ] But this worked, so there's no real use dwelling in what-ifs. It was bad, but not so bad as it might have been. If I get the chance to go back and change it, I'll come up with a better plan. Otherwise, it's all just tormenting myself.

[mirrordarkly]

[he seems satisfied with her answer, and he is. That she was willing to put herself in that scenario at all was more than most were willing. To leave a comfort zone; that's the only place the true self can be faced.]

If you get the chance? [he tilts his head.]

Are there those who don't return?

[rathercommon]

Oh. Well. If patterns hold, no - we'll all go back someday. But I'm talking about seriously, really, if I go back. [ A paw waves, encompassing the space-time continuum. ] If I can find a way to return to an earlier point in time.

[mirrordarkly]

But you found your ally, you accomplished your mission.

Why go back and risk failure again?

[rathercommon]

Well, 'cause so many people died. People and spirits.

[ Her tail lashes in frustrated agitation. ]

I want to do it...better.

[mirrordarkly]

Second chances are rarer than dreams.

But third are nearly impossible. You would risk much, attempting again.

[rathercommon]

Maybe. Luck and the way the universe usually operates - I respect all that, sure, don't get me wrong. But don't you think there are qualities that can compensate for that? Patience, and understanding, and knowledge. Compassion. I'm a lot better of a person now than I was at the start of all this, I think.

[mirrordarkly]

Destiny is not one to let his book be re-written.

But who knows? I am not one to tell a cat to do other than what it likes.

[rathercommon]

True. We're very willful. [ With a warm sort of facetiousness - ] And besides, I'm quite charming when I want to be. Maybe I'll meet with Destiny personally and sweet-talk him into changing the course of events.