riverview | 8 [@necromantica: video]

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8 [@necromantica: video]

[Well, this is different. Letha is bristled with indignation, and the reason is somewhat obvious - her hair has turned snow-white, and her eyes are pale blue-violet with red pupils. Her skin even seems a bit paler; she's turned fully albino.]

What's going on? [Her tone is snippy, and just a little bit desperate.] My hair's looked like this since I woke up- I went out and bought hair dye and it just soaked in and disappeared! I couldn't even dye it with ink! How do I get rid of this?

[She hates how her hair looks, and keeps running her fingers through it as if that will somehow turn it back to black... and worse than that, her eyes are hideous! And she doesn't trust contacts enough to try them, especially knowing that trying to turn her hair back had done nothing. What if they melt into her eyes?]

Private to Ragnar: Audio

We need to talk about Winter. Do you have a moment?

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You just woke up like that?

[That's ... Odd. The only one he'd seen that looked like that around here was Ivar's daughter, and he's pretty sure she was just born that way.]

Yes! I definitely wouldn't do it on purpose, it looks... I look awful.

[She lets out a mopey huff.]

If Ivar was around I'd be in hiding, I can just imagine what sort of nonsense he'd give me for it... you don't have any ideas, do you? If it looks this way by the time he gets back I'll lose my mind.

Ivar..?

[That's someone he does remember, unlike Letha. He had noticed the Viking left but they weren't close enough for him to concern himself with that matter as far as he was concerned.]

Do we even know for sure he's going to get back?

[He doesn't know anything about the relationship between them, why he'd give her grief over it or what the big deal was that she looked that way, especially on his return.]

What would cause you to look like Ivar's daughter?

[She bristles a little when Winter is referred to as Ivar's daughter, and her fingers tighten in her hair, almost like she's threatening to tug it out.]

She's my daughter. Actually. [Her lips purse.] I would think if you'd met him he would have been kind enough to explain that, but it seems he's happy to keep pretending she belongs to him.

[Having it pointed out that she looks like Winter, though, that brings up a whole new set of worrisome ideas. What if- what if whatever affected Winter is affecting her too? It can't happen this late after being reincarnated, can it?]

...And of course he's coming back. Whoever's working the portal promised him that.

[Okay, well he's definitely going to see that reaction, but if this woman is her mother shouldn't she be more aware than anyone of whatever caused Winter to look the way she does?]

Sorry, as far as I know he's never mentioned any mother.

[No mention of a mother is in his notes, that's for sure. He'd gone back through the network to learn as much as he could about the time lost, but he knew he was still missing things. The only conversation he'd found mentioning her definitely referred to Winter as Ivar's daughter.]

I don't think the portal works that way, especially on such a specific time-span. There's no way to know if it'll ever point home for any of us, nevermind getting it to point to one location twice so soon. They might have promised him that because he was threatening them.

[Ed has no idea if the portal works that way.]

Well- well, if he was being a git about Winter, it's just as well he has his plans blow up in his face for once. Serves him right.

[It does not serve him right - she's as worried about him as ever, but she can't bring herself to admit it given their last conversation.]

Anyway, Winter was delivered here, so I can point you to the doctor who removed her if you doubt me. Ivar isn't even her father - my husband is back in my world, and I was pregnant when I first came to Riverview. And yet Ivar decided to leave her with his family instead of me, as if everything we've gone through means nothing now that I spent time away, and he never even let me explain myself...

[Did her hair just darken a bit? It seems to be a very pale platinum blond now, rather than pure white. Maybe it's a trick of the light.]

We don't know for sure that will happen, either.

[Basically, be prepared for either outcome Letha. Ed could see it going both ways. Edward is perceptive but with everything considered he likely wouldn't notice that those words are hiding any actual concern for the viking.]

I'd rather not, thanks. She's from your home world and you left here intentionally without taking her with you?

[Ouch. Ed had kind of assumed that she'd left her behind because she was a product of this world and Ivar was her father.]

So if she's your daughter by blood and not even his, why can't you get her back?

It's complicated... it would take a very long time to explain my relationship with my daughter, let alone with Ivar.

[But she guesses he'll be curious, so she may as well try and explain.]

I can't return to the world where Winter's father is. If I did, I would cease to exist immediately - and so would Winter. So, I stayed here, and she was born in Riverview. But... for whatever reason, being dead before she was born didn't agree with her, and she was born with a- mutation. A birth defect. Which is why she looks the way she does. [Her nose wrinkles.] Ivar has always looked down on himself for his legs... he didn't appreciate that I thought Winter's condition was more disgusting than his, but she wouldn't survive in my world. My family would have banished me for creating such a monstrosity. He doesn't... he doesn't understand that.

So, naive as I was, I thought... I would go away, and leave him with her. And they would be happier like that, and I could move on and try some new adventure. Be someone else for a change. I was gone for a year, and every day I missed them, but I couldn't return and I didn't think I should, and now that I have...

[Her shoulders slump a bit, and unknown to her, her hair has turned a light brown as a reward for discussing this.]

I love Ivar. I really do. I was- so excited to have a family with him, to think of marrying him and living here in Riverview with him, of- having more children and growing old and being happy. And I ruined all of it, I know I did, but no one- no one understands how dangerous my daughter is, what sort of stories I grew up with about monsters like her. And I love her, I do, but everyone expects me to be able to handle her and she doesn't even like me, she's nearly killed me already and she's barely old enough to crawl. I'm terrified of her, but I want her to be close, I want to keep her safe and I want her to stay miles away from me all at the same time.

[Her eyes, which are now a pale blue-green, are watering and she blushes darkly as she moves to wipe them.]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to- I'm sure none of this is your business, I shouldn't be-

[Oh, he is curious, but he understands complicated so Edward has no intention of pushing the topic. Then Letha begins speaking at length despite her initial statement and Ed can only feel sympathetic at just how complicated it was. Of course if they were dead back home they couldn't return there, that much made sense, but it didn't get any less painful to see how many people here would be met with that same fate. Going home just wasn't an option for so many, regardless of if they did miss it.]

You can't go back with her because you wouldn't exist in the first place, that makes sense. Even if you could get around that though, your family... Then is her condition something that's happened before on your world?

[It seemed odd to imagine that babies were born after dying often enough for this mutation to have such predictable reactions, but if there were stories of similar situations "monsters like her" then it seemed to be common enough, at least to warrant them.]

Your hair-

[Yeah, he's definitely noticing that, and might even be staring a little. Ed switches the feed to private, cutting himself off.]

Look, I know what it's like to think you can leave and it'll just be better for everyone. I did the same thing. I didn't enjoy it but I did what I had to, what I thought was right...

[So he can relate, even if he was only gone for about a week this time. Being separated without the ability to get back hit a little close to home for him considering he knew what his own future held. He knew Ivar, the information that he had about him included his ability to be stubborn, his protectiveness of Winter and a few other key details. He knows he's capable of holding Winter, but it must be hard to suck the life force out of metal.]

Have you told him? Have you talked to him about the future you want to have together, and why Winter is so dangerous? Does he know the stories? Besides, how do you know she doesn't like you...? Maybe she just can't control it-

[Now there are tears in Letha's eyes and he's not sure that he's imagining they're a different color considering her hair has definitely changed by this point. He doesn't know how to respond to that though, to want to be close to someone but also push them away so everyone involved could be happy... Ed knew that feeling all too well too, once.]

Don't apologize. You're right, it's not my business...

[Which meant she didn't have to tell him, but she was telling him and he wasn't going to stop her, not if there's a chance it was helping. Ed was a problem solver, even if he couldn't fix the problems between Letha and Ivar, if listening was all he could offer, he wasn't going to back off just because it wasn't his issue to deal with.]

I don't mind, really.

[Link was hesitant to answer at first, considering his own change in appearance, but if someone else was effected like he was, then maybe they could help him figure out how to fix it.]

You're not the only one with that kind of problem. [His voice is distorted. It sounds like there's he's talking through a radio with static problems.] I asked some of the locals here about how to change back, but they didn't help much.

[Well... she's decided for the moment to just ignore her own problem, and concentrate on Link's.]

Are you alright? Does that hurt?

[She doesn't even know what he's supposed to look like, but she can't help speaking her mind about things she considers ugly.]

I'm fine. Nothing hurts.

[He felt like he always did, minus the urge to spill his guts about everything that was bugging him, but he'd deal with that on his own.]

What about you? Are you hurt at all?

Whoa. That's... uh. I've never heard of that happening before, except when someone holds up the sky. Literally.

I wonder if the portal is going awry again. Or someone's magic?

...Would it be rude of me to say I feel like I have been?

[It would almost be a joke, except she doesn't feel very much like laughing.]

Magic seems likely... you wouldn't have any ideas for turning it back, would you? If Ivar comes back and sees this I'll never hear the end of it.

I don't think so. If you feel like you have been, that's a big burden.

[ he gives her a sympathetic smile. ]

My power doesn't work that way, unfortunately. But I can handle Ivar if things go wrong.

[She lets out a humorless laugh.]

Things have been going wrong since Winter was born. [She shakes her head.] I've been back for months, Ivar still barely lets me look at her. I doubt there's much that can be done with that.

Sometimes I wish he stayed gone, and I could take her back and just keep her to myself.

[Boys are stupid.]

[ he opens and closes his mouth for a few seconds. he remembers how mad ivar was when letha left, remembers how much he cares for winter. seeing her around the mansion and how much ivar dotes on her has been a joy. but he also remembers that letha is her real mother and that causes some issues. ]

I, uh. Don't think he'll stay gone. And he does care about Winter a lot. But I understand wanting to be there for her since you're her mom. I wish I had something to say to help, but I've never dealt with a situation like this before.

You could have told him to leave her with me... it isn't as if I'd hurt her on purpose. And I raised her for a month before I left, it isn't as if I don't know how to handle her.

[Granted, Letha had been sick for most of that month and Winter had been cared for partly by nurses and partly by Lola, but that's not the point.]

I know it's selfish to want Ivar back, but it's my right to have Winter back. She's mine.

[ in nico's estimation, there are two types of moms. those who care about everyone, like sally jackson or his mother, and those who care only about themselves. he isn't sure where letha fits into that given she left winter with ivar. it makes him wonder how much she actually cares, but he's doing his best not to judge given he doesn't know all the details. but one thing's for sure, he isn't fond of being told what to do. ]

I doubt my opinion would account for much on that front. I don't doubt you care for her, but... why did you leave?

[ he thinks of bianca and how she'd left him to join the hunters of artemis. he'd been hurt by that, and he wonders if ivar feels the same way. ]

I mean- You must've had a good reason.

[She hesitates, taking a few moments to decide exactly how to word it.]

Ivar and I... weren't very happy, after Winter was born. We argued constantly, I felt like a failure as a mother, and I felt like- if I didn't leave, Ivar would hurt me. Or I would hurt him.

[She purses her lips briefly before continuing.]

I thought it would be better if... I went away. Then Ivar could be a father, and I wouldn't have to be a mother, and maybe- we would be happy. And it seems like.. Ivar is happy, and Winter is happy, but as much as I enjoyed my time away, I still missed them so terribly, and it seems like... everything is so wonderful without me.

I want to try again to be Winter's mother, but... I can't try again if he won't let me. And that seems so stupid, because she's mine... If I can't have Ivar back I at least want Winter, she's all I have left of my family- and her father.

[She can barely remember Aristeo's face anymore, but she knows she can see hints of him in Winter. And those little hints are really all she needs, at those times when she truly misses her old life.]

[ giving her a look of sympathy, he nods a little. he can understand the need to get away from a stressful situation and maybe it's for the best that she did. but that still leaves winter in ivar's care and nico isn't sure how to address that. ]

I can try talking to him, if you want. At least, when he gets back. I can't guarantee anything, but...

No... I'm sure it will be best if I sort out my own problems. He may not want to listen to me, but I don't see why he would listen to anyone else, if I asked them to plead my case. Thank you, though.

[She's quiet for a moment, mulling things over before she speaks in a softer tone.]

He isn't the only one I missed. It's nice to have my brother back.

[By which she means Nico. Now if only someone could convince her to sort out her broken sisterhood with Lola...]

If you say so. [ he still looks a little worried, but nods in acknowledgement.

only to look at her with wide eyes of surprise. being called "brother"... he flushes a little and ducks his head. yes, it's been a while since he's heard someone call him that. hazel is back at camp jupiter and bianca, his real sister, has long since passed. ]

I've missed you too.

Does it hurt?

It doesn't hurt... [She grimaces.] It's just nasty. I look like a freak.

[She looks like her daughter.]

[minsu sighs, visibly relieved.]

I wouldn't go that far. Besides, change is good sometimes!

[changing his hair, his eyes, his face. it use to be an almost daily occurrence for him. but he hasn't done that last one for awhile.]

Did you drink anything weird?

[ Shigeru looks a bit uncertain as he eyes Letha's appearance. For some reason...he can definitely tell that it's from that, it's the only thing that makes sense to him. Having a similar feeling of being unable to calm down due to his own unspoken griefs and resentments he totally gets it? ]

You can't...until you say what's on your mind. I mean, um, it's something that's going around and affecting everyone. [ She does look a lot like Winter like this though. ]

I've been affected by it too. [ Which his bloodied gloves are indicative of this but Letha probably can't see them from this angle. ] But talking about it towards people usually helps lessen the effects.

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8 [@necromantica: video]

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( video; ) un: shigeru miyata