avalononline | Eighth: Grail War (Video; un: Caster)

(TW: Arson, Kidnapping, Death Threats, Magical Torture, Grief)

[The video starts with smoke billowing into the night sky, and as the camera pans down, the source becomes plainly clear. The edge of the Brocéliande woodland is ablaze, and the fire is starting to spread. Silhouetted against this ominous backdrop is the figure of Caster, using subtle magical manipulation to make her usual, heavy cloak cast an even darker shadow than it should as it billowed out around her.

Her eyes can't be seen under the hood of her cloak, but even in this darkness a broken smirk can be seen across the Witch of Betrayal's face. The twisted ritual dagger she held gleamed a sickening red in the light of the flames.]

Archer... we need to talk.

[For what sounded like a declaration of a grudge, it wasn't entirely clear whether or not she realised she was broadcasting to the entire network.]

You enjoy continuing battles that have already reached their conclusion, don't you? Well, it's time that I do the same.

The Holy Grail War isn't over. Our battle hasn't ended, not so long as I exist in this world... haha, I was a fool to delude myself into thinking otherwise. Hahaha...!

[She could hardly contain that bitter laughter, coming out in bursts, but she forced it back enough to continue.]

You know exactly what you did.

And I will have my revenge... I'll destroy anyone I have to until you come and face me. Oh- you won't crawl out of your hole without any motivation, will you? Well, I do have a little something to help convince a heroic sort like you.

[Caster flipped the picture on the camera, directing it to where she'd got an unconscious Darin tied up against one of the trees, a strange dark mist flowing around his body. And with a flick of Caster's wrist off-screen, the shadows intensified- sinking into him. Even unconscious, he started to writhe in pain.]

Hmhm, I don't know how long he'll last with my curses... so I suggest you hurry up. I'd hate it if I had to dispose of a body.

I will burn it all to the ground- and make you watch them all suffer for your choices. You know I will, Archer, it wouldn't be a first for me.

[She flicked the camera back to herself, now holding what appeared to be dragon fangs, hovering over her palm and pulsing with a strange, dark energy. Her familiar - now much larger than the housecat size it usually appeared - rested its head on her shoulder, watching the magical items with a fierce intensity.

And then, her carefully planned stagecraft started to crack, as a crazed grief started to inch it's way to the surface.]

I just want you to suffer. Do you really think I care what becomes of me in this world? Of what fate befalls the other realities?

They can all perish for all I care-!

Hecate curse you all!

[Before her composure can crack any further, she ends the broadcast.]

[ooc: The log itself will go up tonight/tomorrow for getting involved stopping this mess- note that if you have a heroic character who'd ICly get involved but you don't want to deal with this mess OOC, she's recording late at night in somewhere with ropey network signal, so feel free to assume the memo didn't get through or that your character couldn't track her down in the chaos.

Also- threadhopping totally welcome for this one.]

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[No. No no no, not this, why now!? Homura had dropped the phone beforehand at such...well, darkness. Not even in the dream pool had Caster looked so menacing. For once, Homura was actually afraid. Though more for Caster's sake given what she was doing. Arson, kidnapping, and now attempted murder...It took all of Homura's willpower to even turn the phone on and--]

WHAT THE FLYING FUCK ARE YOU DOING!? RELEASE THAT GUY NOW!

[Well, at least she could still shout, mix of anger and confusion adding to the sheer shock of it all.]

[Oh. There was a falter in her expression as Homura replied...of course she was getting involved. Of course she was.]

...Homura.

[Evidently, hearing from her had gotten Caster a little on the back foot.]

...I have some business from the Holy Grail War that needs finishing. Haha...if Archer's so insistent on dragging out this fight, then-

I'll make sure I finish it.

You might want to stay out of this.

[Don't make her actually hurt someone she'd come to see as her own child.]

Edited 2021-06-06 20:33 (UTC)

Stay out? Are you kidding me? After all of this, I can't! You just made yourself a target, burned a forest, and oh right, torture and kidnapped someone!

[Might be a bit hypocritical coming from Homura, but at least she was ordered to do things by employers of Hebijo. And she didn't really condone such actions now.]

Please, just release him and come back. You don't have to do this.

...Come back? Release him? And throw away my chance to destroy Archer for what he's done?

[Her voice cracked.]

All I care about is making that man suffer- you know well enough what I can do to those who've wronged me- and I will, I will make them burn-

Of all the ways to handle this, you had to choose the worst one! I....I....

[Tears were beginning to form as she shouted and stopped. This hurt. There's no way she could even talk like this, with a shaking phone.

She felt like a child all over again, on the worst day of her life.]

I'm coming over there right now. I can't even talk to you like this!

[Medea couldn't listen to Homura's voice crack over the call for long- she only hoped Homura would listen to her advice.]

Don't stand in my way.

...Don't make me do that.

[Don't make her harm someone she'd come to see as her child.]

...I will stop you. But I won't let you die either.

[And she ended the call there, tears beginning to form just as she said those words. If this was a battle, only one other thing she could do, one thing she did all her life.

Fight.]

Eighth: Grail War (Video; un: Caster)

[video; un: crimsonflame]

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