The 86th Song

[tangledintower]

[Rapunzel is just staring at her hands, watching with a strange mixture of horror and fascination as they--she--flickers in and out of existence, like a dying lightbulb.]

I...I thought that I was just having a clumsy day, and that was why I kept dropping things, but...


[Her voice is very quiet, and she looks scared as her hands flicker again. She tries to pick something up, anything, just to prove she's okay...and watches as the pencil she goes for falls straight through her palm. Rather literally.]

...I think something's wrong with me...

Comments

audio;

[subecho]

Do not fear - [ muted ] - all is well.

audio;

[tangledintower]

Thor?

[She could barely hear him...is he sick?]

Are you okay? You...I can't really hear you...

What is going on...?

audio;

[subecho]

[ ...oh, no. Slowly, in measured tones - ]

Fear nothing. It is only my device that has known - beating.

audio;

[tangledintower]

As long as you're okay...you didn't get sick too, did you?

[Her voice fades in and out, like there's a bad connection.]

audio;

[subecho]

Asgardians do not take ill. Only - [muted] - and a beating, now and then, too.

audio;

[tangledintower]

[She can't help but laugh at what little she's able to make out.]

And even that doesn't seem to do a whole lot in the long run.

[Stupid Thor, stop making her smile when she's trying to panic about disappearing!]

Well, as long as you're okay. Things have been so strange here lately...

audio;

[subecho]

...yes. But you are a brave maid, and you will do well. You are by your lonesome?

audio;

[tangledintower]

Right now? Yes, I am.

audio;

[subecho]

Better you find company, if you are troubled. It passes the time.

audio;

[tangledintower]

If people can even still see me...

I mean, yeah, that's a good idea. I'll see if I can't find Serrure or Charlie.

audio;

[subecho]

They are friends to you, or guardians?

audio;

[tangledintower]

Friends. Charlie and I work together, and Serrure...well, I look after him, he's like my little brother.

audio;

[subecho]

Yes, a... brother.

Stay in their care, then. Ask them to fend for you, or deliver you to safety, if you are unwell. If you have need of feeding, I shall find a way to come.

audio;

[tangledintower]

He's a good kid, if a bit of a troublemaker...I hope he doesn't get sick during all of this...

I'll do that, and thank you, Thor. You're a good friend.

[mortemscintilla]

... I think [ g u l p ] you've been hit by the, um, plague.

[ Way to phrase that delicately, Li. ]

[tangledintower]

But...but I was feeling fine...! I think I still am, apart from, well...

[She says as she continues to fade and flicker. Oh, does her hair look brown for a second? Is that just the light? WHO KNOWS!]

1/2

[mortemscintilla]

[ Bad hair dye, that's what it is. ]

That's usually how plagues go, don't they?

Lunch with friends. Dinner with ancestors.

[mortemscintilla]

[ Li, pls. ]

I-I'm sorry!

Would you like me to call the hospital?

[tangledintower]

[It is not hair dye! And Rapunzel's eyes widen at his comment, as she pales, part of her face appearing to become seethrough.]

Do you think they could help?

[mortemscintilla]

[ Not hair dye? He doesn't believe you. ]

[ I mean -- ]

... Hopefully. [ Then, realizing that doesn't sound too reassuring, ] I-I mean, they must have the resources to keep things under control, at least.

[tangledintower]

[Magic hair has no need for hair dye, fool!]

...I guess it can't hurt...

[mortemscintilla]

[ Magic? Pshaw. No such thing. (Please excuse him. He hasn't had enough positive childhood experiences to buy into the ~*Power of Believing*~ ]

I'm sure they'll figure out what's wrong soon enough.

Awful things hit the City all the time. But none of them are permanent.

[tangledintower]

I hope so...

[She doesn't want to admit how scared she is of fading away.]

...that's true. So...this won't last.

[mortemscintilla]

I doubt it will.

[ He smiles benignly, ]

You'll be back to normal before you know it, Miss.

[tangledintower]

I hope so...I mean, I'm sure you're right...

I'm just scared now, that's all.

[mortemscintilla]

I don't blame you. If anything, you're holding up really well.

[ He drops his voice mock-confidentially, ]

I've seen other people on the Network crying about it like babies. Really, really ugly babies. Who curse in very inventive ways.

[tangledintower]

[She blinks, before giggling a little.]

Well, I guess I can't blame them. Fading away is scary...still, at least I'm not taking it the worst...

[mortemscintilla]

There's nothing scarier than disappearing as if you never existed. Half the crazy things people do are so that they'll leave a mark on the world. [ Beat. ] Of course, some people just do crazy things because. Well. They're crazy.

[ Pausing, he fiddles with his Network Device. ] Sit tight. I'll call someone at the hospital for you.

[tangledintower]

[She nods, flickering again.]

It'd be nice if there was a way to leave a mark on the world without acting crazy, but...well, history remembers the people who were the loudest, I guess.

I appreciate that...I keep dropping my device...it keeps falling through my hand, rather...

1/2

[mortemscintilla]

Especially if they're the heartless bloodthirsty types.

[ Not that he's ever met those types. Or been one. Noooope. ]

Try to keep yourself distracted. Preferably with something that won't involve using your hands.

[mortemscintilla]

[ bloop bloop ]

That's... kind of a small list, now that I think about it.

[tangledintower]

Yeah...but it's okay. I'll think of something, I'm sure...

so late ::SOBS::

[doeswhathewants]

A curse perhaps? [You have him worried!]

*hugs* its okay, you've been busy with real life. That's more important!

[tangledintower]

I...maybe. Hopefully.

[She fades in and out again, and she bites her lip nervously. Don't worry, Serrure, she's worried too.]

How many other people are doing this, though...?

<3

[doeswhathewants]

Uh. That... is part of the curse?

[He knows others are suffering of the same malady, but this is Punzie and she is different.]

Serrure, you so presh! :D

[tangledintower]

[Trying super hard not to be scared over here.]

I...think so? I think it started earlier, but it's gotten a lot worse today...I wasn't flickering so badly yesterday...

[doeswhathewants]

If it is, then it should pass. Two days maximum, yes?

I think I saw a movie about this. You have to think solid thoughts.

[tangledintower]

Yeah, two days maximum...hopefully.

[Think solid thoughts? She snorts at that, but she's willing to try it.]

Well, I can give it a go. Can't hurt, right?

[Solid. SOLID. Bricks, boxes filled with stuff, SOLIIID.]

...is it working?