She was such a sweet girl...

[coimiceoir]

[The fuzz of static on the screen resolves itself into a long shot of dark forest: black, sharp-edged trees back-lit by a strange, dark teal luminescence. The forest floor is a layer of sluggishly billowing mist, periodically highlighted by jarring bands of pale, greenish moonlight. It's strangely silent, devoid of any sound, living or non-living. Nothing moves but the low fog.

Abruptly, Aisling drops into the frame alarmingly close to the camera, a figure bleached almost too bright to look at. Her back is to the camera, crouched low in landing. The mist clings to her like children seeking comfort from their mother. She stays stock still, then flashes past, hair snapping like the crack of a dry branch at the change of motion. Suddenly there is nothing but tree shapes and eddying mist seeking to fill the hole left in her absence.

For several long moments, nothing happens. What the heck? Is it over? What was the point?

Somewhere off to the right, the underbrush crackles, and there's a muffled curse. A woman steps into the clearing, a hatchet in her hand, shading her eyes against a stab of moonlight, stirring the mist into agitated eddies. Straightening, the woman brushes her hair out of her face. She's no fictional. Or if she is, she doesn't ever use the Network. An average build, of average height, with a girl-next-door sort of beauty, dressed to go camping. Hunting, actually, given some of her gear.]

Hello? Is someone there?

[Her voice is strident with suppressed fear, painful on the ears and drastically out of place. She doesn't wait for an answer, dropping her voice to a mutter which can still be plainly heard in the tense silence.]

Please, who would be? Hearing things again... Creepy forest--

Of course there is.

[The woman yelps, stepping back and raising the hatchet in a two-handed grip as Aisling materializes across the clearing. Aisling has her arms folded across her chest, sharp little fingers drumming. She's frowning prodigiously at this new interloper. Her eyes glint with a strangely golden gleam in the weird light.

The woman releases a harsh sigh of relief and lowers her makeshift weapon, reverting to a falsely bright, cheery, motherly voice.]

Oh, honey, you frightened me! What are you doing in here?

[Aisling ignores the question. ]

You shouldn't be here.

[The woman walks forward, kicking her way through the mist, oblivious to the hostility radiating from the girl.]

Oh, no, it's all right. I was just looking for some smaller tree to make into firewood.

[The little fingers go still.]

I'm here with my family! Some of our friends go hunting every year, and they asked us to come along this time; me and Tom and our boys. They said the deer are getting scarcer, what with the wolves in here...

[She trails off and pauses, as if caught by the thought. Aisling swings stiffly away from her and the camera. Her trembling is visible, even at a distance.]

Come on, little one, you can come stay with us till morning. We'll find your family then, ok?

[The woman holds out a hand.

Something snaps, almost audible in its intensity.]

I am not a child!

[The words reverberate, heavy as an avalanche, and as fraught with danger.]

I have lived longer than any of you, seen wonders you can't even imagine, watched kingdoms rise and fall, and yet everyone thinks I know so little, that they're better than me.

[Aisling rounds with a snarl like a furious wolf, all sharp teeth and fingernails, somehow seeming taller than the faltering woman.]

You come here, unasked, as if this were your forest, taking, tearing, killing...! How dare you! Would you walk into someone else's home, kill their servants, and leave, butchering the innocents for meat?

N-no...

[The woman backs away a few steps. The fog is rising, cutting off even the trees, enclosing the pair in a roiling, seething wall of mist.]

N-no, no, of course not. Faugh!

[ Aisling wrings her hands in cruel mimicry, then whirls, almost whipping the woman with her hair, and paces toward the camera.]

Pathetic. Can't even evade the truth properly. Even if you did make a bargain, you would break it. Your kind always does. Always! You've forgotten us. Forgotten what it means, forgotten how to address us, how to act. You've forgotten everything we do!

[Aisling paces in quick, short bursts, jerking about to gesture sharply.]

You cut into the forest, pushing us back, continually taking with no giving in return. And you show no remorse. You make no effort to try to apologize. No, you clearly know best. You don't need the old stories. You know exactly what you're doing. And you call me a child?

[The woman tries to find her way out through the mist, but it's as unyielding as any wall, despite being able to sink her arm in up to the elbow. She turns at bay, staring at the girl who has turned to glare at her.]

Who... what are you?

[Aisling stops. That little, bright form curls in on itself a little, trembling. The quiver escalates to shaking as soft laughter begins to rise. Louder and wilder it grows, ringing and echoing in that enclosed space, bouncing from the shifting fog until it almost seems that there are a dozen mad children laughing.

It takes quite some time for it to die down, and when she does finally cut it off, it's with something much like a sob. Aisling turns and, slowly, the camera draws closer till it's focused on her face. She whispers, wind through the leaves, weary.]

I had hoped... I hoped I was wrong. That their deaths meant something. That his defeat would last longer, that the forgetfulness would mean fewer would be drawn to him. That we could live in peace.

[Unfortunately for her captive audience, the woman chooses this moment to gather her courage and speak up.]

Listen, I didn't mean to upset you, and I definitely don't mean you any harm. I just want to get some firewood and take it back to my family. I'll leave you alone.

[Aisling's face hardens, her eyes like chips of golden glass in a face of alabaster. The perfect picture of restrained fury.]

What am I? It's time to remind people. You are called to be witness. I will give you a glimpse of what you have done.

[Turning, she darts to the shifting wall, causing the woman to flinch back out of the frame. White arms make a sharp, double-handed downward sweep, and the mist parts, slowly swirling and diminishing.

There, beyond, where before there had been only stark tree trunks, a path leads toward what are clearly buildings. Tall spires and rounded huts, broken and burnt and desolate, eerie in the silent moonlight.

Slowly, regally, Aisling turns back to the camera.]

The ruins of a great people. Due to your influence. And filth like this will no longer be tolerated.

[She makes a swift movement, vanishing out of the shot. There is a brief shriek from the woman off-screen before the fog closes over and fades into the snow-static of a television on a dead channel.]

Comments

[sunflowersister]

A --

Aisling?

Wh-what... what are you doing?

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[She arches an eyebrow, an adult expression all out of proportion with her face.]

Doing? What I should have done long ago.

[Video]

[sunflowersister]

But -- That woman -- Dear, you haven't hurt her, have you?

[Video]

[chronosexual]

[ Jack looks panicked, eyes wide and confused, though with the sense of knowing. ]

Jesus...

Oh my god, Aisling! Aisling, can you hear me?!

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[She's smiling too, but it's not the same. It's hard and sharp, with the impression that it could cut you if you got too close. Pleased with herself.]

Of course I can. No need to shout.

Re: [Video]

[chronosexual]

[ Jack very nearly visibly shivers and swallows hard. ]

You aren't hurt, are you? God, I was so worried...

[ He takes a deep breath and nods. ]

I'm getting you out of there, I swear.

[garou]

...Aisling? [ It looks, to him, like she's still in the forest. ] Where are you? The pack is worried.

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[This appears to cause her a moment of concern, but cold impassiveness returns almost immediately, and she waves a hand tipped with bright crimson.]

I'll be back with them soon. Surely you can at least impress that much upon them.

Re: [Video]

[garou]

[ He frowns. ] We can't find your scent.

[rule_britannia]

... Aisling?

[His eyes are faintly widened, but.. it isn't the first time he's seen something like this]

Aisling, what happened..? What have you done?

[coimiceoir]

[Aisling flashes him a glance, more of a yellow gleam under heavy lids, impassive.]

I won't explain over and over. It should be plain.

[rule_britannia]

[Arthur pauses at that, and swallows once]

... Yes. Quite plain, my lady.

[Oh dear..]

What..

[Another pause, a vague gesture]

What provoked this?

[perseverant]

... Hang in there. We're coming to get you.

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[Aisling casts the camera a glance of irritation.]

You shouldn't get into other people's business. Let the others search. You have no stake in this.

[perseverant]

You're wrong. I have every stake in this.

[riseup]

i'm in if you need me.

[perseverant]

Thanks John.

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[Aisling hisses fiercely through sharp, bared teeth.]

You don't care. Leave well enough alone.

[reanimated]

For fuck's sake, I actually thought we were past all this.

[perseverant]

Just because it disappears for a while doesn't mean it's gone.

I guess Mochizuki was wrong.

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

I had hoped so, but clearly there are still lessons to be taught.

[Video]//backdated to right after the video was posted

[dontmindmepleasecontinue]

[Koizumi's ever calm and cheerful demeanor has been broken; instead, he bears an expression of shock, near disbelief - his eyes are extremely wide as he looks into the camera with alarm.]

Aisling! What on earth is going on?

[His eyes narrow slightly, and his bewildered expression shifts to include determination. He forces his voice to remain controlled and calming.]

I am coming to find you.

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[Aisling is heavy-lidded, still angry, but sated, for the moment. Her lips quirk in a patronizing little smile - she'll explain it once, but that's all he's getting.]

I am doing what I ought to have done a long time ago. You can try... It's not easy. I need time to finish my work.

[video]//backdated

[icanbuyafez]

[The Doctor's wide eyes peer into the camera, his mouth almost unconsciously forming a silent question. When he does speak, his voice is incredulous and breathy, but also very concerned.]

What was -

Aisling, what just happened?! Please tell me I'm not thinking what I think I'm thinking!

[Video]

[coimiceoir]

[Ah. She'd wondered when he would turn up. He's so protective of these ignorant fools. Aisling gives him a glittering sideways glance, angling herself so that her hair acts as something of a cloak.]

Doctor. I began a new method of teaching, as the old ways proved useless.