theresalwayshope | 014} i'm almost human, please don't run away / cause wherever you are, i'll be a scream away

[When the video feed clicks on, it shows an image of the dirt with a triskelion scratched into it. A familiar female voice narrates as a stick comes into the shot, pointing to each leg of the trifold spiral.]

Alpha. Beta. Omega. This symbolizes the cycle of the werewolf: at any time, any wolf can rise to one or fall to another.

[The feed shifts quickly, and soon a familiar set of features fills the feed sufficiently to hide the background in an effort to obscure her location. Allison Argent is pretty much the same in appearance, no matter where she's known...but those not from the Mirror Barge may not recognize the bright, earnest light in her features, and may notice the absence of that sliver of ice in her expression, despite the fact that her eyes are narrowed in the feed with steely resolve.]

We all got the same message from the Admiral. He wants these...infiltrators dead. Rack up your kills, and you get a prize.

[She leans in a little more, lip curling in a little sneer.]

He's turned life and death into a game...and the only way to truly win a game like this is not to play.

Anyone that feels the same is welcome to join me. If you want to live, if you don't want to participate in this slaughter? Leave this symbol somewhere. Scratch it in the ground, carve it in a tree, paint it on a rock. Whoever you are, wherever you come from...treat this as a symbol of safe harbor. If you leave this mark, you're promising that you won't kill anyone, and you won't attack anyone unless you have to defend yourself against a threat. I will find you, I will take you somewhere safe...and I swear, I will protect you with my last breath.

[This is the part where Allison feels a small tremor of fear. These infiltrators...she doesn't know who they are, and she doesn't know if they're friend or foe...but if they're innocent, she has to help them. What other choice does she have?

Taking a deep breath, she continues.]

If you don't recognize me, it's okay. Wherever you are, if you leave me this mark I will find you.

[She pauses, her expression shifting...not the hard, arrogant calm some know in Allison Argent, but a curl of her lip and a subtle baring of her teeth that's more feral than anything.]

And if you're out there, killing innocent people for fun and profit? Don't worry.

[Her eyes narrow a little further...then flare to life with a brilliant golden light, her voice deepening and distorting with the first touch of a lupine growl.]

I'll find you, too.

(OOC: This post is good for the entire flood event! Feel free to mark which day you're playing if you want Allison to come and rescue your muse...or if you want to hunt the poor little she-wolf down. :P)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Iris watches this more than once, rewinding, replaying and examining Allison's face and movements carefully. She wishes she knew her a little better, wishes she had more skill at reading humans; but in the end, she thinks, it has to come down to faith.

Still, she's careful. When the video feed cuts in, Iris is up in the crook of a tree. She could be anywhere in ths forest. She's wearing the blue protective bodysuit Barbara made her, although the colour's barely visible under the smears of mud and grime; Iris' face, too, is daubed in mud and black streaks, and there are leaves and twigs tangled in her hair.]

I get the feeling you mean that. 'Ave you found anyone from our side, yet?

[Allison stills, peering curiously at the unfamiliar woman on the screen...wary, but still open and earnest.]

I do. There are others who don't want to do this...I'm protecting them.

I'm sorry...have we met?

[Iris grins, genuinely happy to be making contact even if she's wrong.]

Yes and no, is the answer to that. My worse 'alf's Bianca. Silly cow renamed 'erself as part of the whole Evil Makeover deal. I'm Iris Wildthyme, lovey, and I know you.

...though you're a bit less werewolfy on our side, but I'm not sure I'm seeing much difference otherwise. Still all about the protecting.

This version of you still friends with Tigger and Mindy and Needy?

[Bianca...Allison knows of Bianca, but this woman doesn't even look like her. She's bright and her voice is so gentle, and...

When she mentions the others, Allison's eyes flare gold again. She's confused, and she's gripped by a sudden wild hope she can't contain...but the mention of at least one name calls the wolf forward with a surge of sudden, protective fear.]

Stay away from Tig Trager. Please, stay away from him. [If this woman is an infiltrator like Kira, she's good. She's not like the wardens, she's...

She shouldn't be anywhere near Tig Trager.]

[Iris never knows what to do with people trying to protect her; it's the closest thing she and Barbara have ever had to a disagreement, and she's liable to resent it fiercely from anyone she loves less. But Allison's so young and so sincere, she can't help but be touched.]

The day I can't 'andle Tigger's the day I hang up my wardening hat, Allison love. I 'aven't tried to meet up with 'im yet, but we've been texting - 'course, 'e doesn't know I'm not Bianca yet, so that's a help.

D'you 'appen to know what 'e's armed with? And anywhere particular you'd like to me to point 'im?

I've seen a small knife, hidden sheath...but Miss Wildthyme...

[She trails off, frowning for a moment. She hates, sometimes, that every decision is so important now, that freedom rests on every single step she takes. The right choice, the wrong move could make her an Alpha or cost her everything.

At the end of the day, however, it's all about doing the right thing.

And she knows Tig better than this woman possibly could.

Taking a deep breath, she swallows hard and composes herself.]

He's siding with me. And he has to stay with me, or else people could die. [Something broken slides through her expression, and her lips roll together as she suppresses a wave of revulsion.] He's...fixated on me. If I keep him close, I can make sure no infiltrators or innocent inmates die.

Oh, Tiggy.

[She says it sadly: grieving for a friend.]

Our version and you are like ...I've got two sons and a daughter. I met 'em all on the Barge. That's what it looks like, on our side. You two took one look and you were family, forever.

[And then she gathers herself. Practicality, that's all there's time for now.]

No guns? Good. Can 'e be talked into 'elping? 'Cause if not, I've got a stun setting on me staser and I've got restraints, if that 'elps?

[Hearing that she's so close with Tig in this other version of reality is a shocking revelation, and it shows on her face as Iris speaks. More shocking is the offer of help, but in a much different way...one that has her eyes glassing over and her breath hitching.

She lowers her gaze, taking a shaky breath as a small, sad smile of apology touches her lips.]

I'm sorry, Miss Wildthyme...I'm just not used to... [Help. Kindness. Companionship.]

I've been an Omega for a little while now. Sorry. [She looks up, hoping that she understands, somewhere in her own reality.] I appreciate it. If I need you, I'll howl. It'll be faster than a filtered communication.

014} i'm almost human, please don't run away / cause wherever you are, i'll be a scream away

[private]

[private]

[private]

[private]

[private]

[private]

[private]

[private]