[wanda shakes her head, because it's not quite that. she's seen her own death, a flutter of dust and emaciated hands as her life essence is stolen from her, but nothing that isn't illusion. she's seen the macabre, deathly forms of her friends and those around her in solvunn, of claude just now until she's managed to throw a glamour spell over him.]
It's an illusory veil. [this, at least, she can try to explain.] I see you, but instead of you as you are β your skin is rotting, your eyes are glazed over, and perhaps there will even be a fatal injury or two. [she shrugs, grimacing.] For flavor, I guess.
[but as shocking as it is every time, she knows it isn't real. she won't allow it to be real.]
The first time it happened was a real shock. There's already dead walking among us, and with the carcasses of the animals that we awaken to... [she frowns, and grows silent. isn't this what she can do, with her magic? put images in people's headsβimages that hurt and deceive and confuse?] It'sβ
[she's about to say something, but her words are cut short by a high-pitched wail in the distance. that's not the wind, and wanda's eyes lock with claude's. wanda puts a hand onto claude's forearm, holding him there so he doesn't rise from where they sit; slowly, she raises her other hand, putting a finger to her lips, urging him to be quiet.
the humdrum of voices swell outside, hidden away by the wind. once in a while, it dies down enough to recognize them; in the distance, but loud enough to distinguish a few words, here and there.
a few minutes pass of this exact same back-and-forth, and, suddenly, there's a gentle tap on the wall by the fireplace.
tap.
tap.
tap.
βand it travels across said wall, circling around to the other, not a sound of snow being disturbed near them. it's insistent, but sounds oddly hesitant. wanda remains seated, but follows it around with her head, hears it circle around them, until it taps on the door now.
then, a knock.
wanda keeps her hand tight on claude's forearm.]
Helloβ?
[calls out a voice, muffled by the wind, but otherwise undisturbed by the weather outside. seemingly, anyway. it seems playful, almost, too, as if whoever is out there know they're in here.
a few more knocks follow after getting nothing for a response, and it repeats, more aggressively.]
no subject
It's an illusory veil. [this, at least, she can try to explain.] I see you, but instead of you as you are β your skin is rotting, your eyes are glazed over, and perhaps there will even be a fatal injury or two. [she shrugs, grimacing.] For flavor, I guess.
[but as shocking as it is every time, she knows it isn't real. she won't allow it to be real.]
The first time it happened was a real shock. There's already dead walking among us, and with the carcasses of the animals that we awaken to... [she frowns, and grows silent. isn't this what she can do, with her magic? put images in people's headsβimages that hurt and deceive and confuse?] It'sβ
[she's about to say something, but her words are cut short by a high-pitched wail in the distance. that's not the wind, and wanda's eyes lock with claude's. wanda puts a hand onto claude's forearm, holding him there so he doesn't rise from where they sit; slowly, she raises her other hand, putting a finger to her lips, urging him to be quiet.
the humdrum of voices swell outside, hidden away by the wind. once in a while, it dies down enough to recognize them; in the distance, but loud enough to distinguish a few words, here and there.
a few minutes pass of this exact same back-and-forth, and, suddenly, there's a gentle tap on the wall by the fireplace.
tap.
βand it travels across said wall, circling around to the other, not a sound of snow being disturbed near them. it's insistent, but sounds oddly hesitant. wanda remains seated, but follows it around with her head, hears it circle around them, until it taps on the door now.
then, a knock.
wanda keeps her hand tight on claude's forearm.]
Helloβ?
[calls out a voice, muffled by the wind, but otherwise undisturbed by the weather outside. seemingly, anyway. it seems playful, almost, too, as if whoever is out there know they're in here.
a few more knocks follow after getting nothing for a response, and it repeats, more aggressively.]
Hello! I know you're in there.