asgardeventide | 003

[Samantha opted, when setting up the feed, to go with voice only. She still looked like hell, and she didn't need anyone seeing or asking stupid questions. It wasn't their business. But, after speaking to Conan, she'd resolved that it was time to stop trying to hide from this place any further. When she spoke, her voice had a tired quality to it, but was still strong.]

So, Asgard.

I wanted to discuss something with those of you who will still speak with me right now. These powers that we have. Most of the people I see seem to think of them as a good thing, a blessing of sorts, or at least they partially make up for the tricks you had in your homeworlds. Right.

Here's the thing I wanted to talk about. Most I've spoken to seem to think of these powers as something that's being used to help other people around here, or to protect people that can't protect themselves. How do you people handle the fact that any of them can be abused, misused or mishandled? What do people around here do to prepare themselves to be protected if those powers get used for the wrong reasons? I've been thinking a lot lately about how people could protect themselves from some of these powers, and it worries me.

Not all of us are nice people, you know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[She curled her arms around her legs and nodded. It was the most obvious question, after all, and she'd known it would come up. She sighed before speaking, and when she did it was at a volume that carried no further than them.]

I am, as I think I've mentioned, half demon. The term in my world is cambion, the child of an Incubus or Succubus with a human. My demonic side is that of a succubus, a demon that feeds off of sexual energies and was created to drive people towards debased and oftentimes sexual vices. It's a depraved, wicked creature that violates, destroys and corrupts anything it touches.

[She's not sure what to make of that. She'd only really heard of demons in Old Nan's tales, and while she'd heard the whispers of the white walkers beyond the Wall, there'd been too much else going on for Arya to think about them that much. Samantha, though, means a very different type of demon, one that Arya hadn't heard of before, and wasn't sure she wanted to. She was at that age, on the cusp of adolescence, where she was flat out uninterested in sex, and couldn't see herself ever marrying or engaging in sex at all. She hadn't really known how to react to Samantha's behaviour that night, and didn't really know what to say now; she just felt sort of awkward.]

Does something have to happen for you to ... change?

[She's not going to take any chances, and will be looking for warning signs now. She doesn't want to have to deal with that again.]

It seems like, just at home, it can happen without warning. But those aren't as often. It's only done that once here. My powers and anything related to sex are risky. People flirting with me, getting me aroused, screwing with my mind all have a bit of risk. But, it doesn't always happen. As far as you're concerned, none of the triggers should go off, unless you and I practice resisting body control, and I would only do that with someone there to knock me out besides you.

And... whatever the monster's like inside of me, you're... ummm, don't take this the wrong way, but you're a little young for me. My demon side really doesn't care, and is attracted to everyone. But, you're a little girl. You don't need to worry about this crap for a while. You only need to worry if she just busts out sometime, and I think you know the signs now.

There's only one problem. she knows everything I know, which means...

[She would know about the last month and a half of precautions taken.]

...she knows the warnings you've given me, even what we're saying now.

In that case, how am I meant to keep away from her?

[She nodded sadly. Arya was quicker than most, which really was a credit to her.]

No matter what, that part of me is acting and pretending. You saw it yourself. When I'm like that, I can pretend to be normal, but I can't ever quite do it right. I will always push for things that don't make sense. Alone time. Meet me in a place that's private without anyone around. I have a secret I need to share, things like that.

Admittedly, I do actually do that normally sometimes, but it's hard to put it into words what the difference is. Do you ever get that creepy feeling like there's something not right about a situation, but you're not sure what? If you ever get a message from me, out of the blue, that gives you that sort of tingle down your spine, don't trust it. I will remember the warning I gave you, and even if I do have something I have to relay to you, it will usually be with other people around. Even if we spend time just the two of us, I'll try to make it so that times like that are in a place that's safe.

[She considered what would happen if her body control reached Kaz's levels and shuddered. That would destroy any semblance of truth in all of this, and she knew it.]

And I want you to mark the days that I tell you that part of me came out. If we find a pattern, I want you to be aware of it. That part will know we know the pattern, and she'll try to get past it, but there's got to be limits. I hope we can find it before my powers grow too much.

[Inwardly, she knows that she's not going to feel comfortable meeting Samantha anywhere she'd be alone with her for a long time, but she doesn't say that. She doesn't want to hurt her feelings, as hurt as she feels herself.]

I can mark the days. Although, someone else should too, unless the gods suddenly send me back.

[She's quiet for a while again, thinking and worrying.]

Is anyone strong enough to fight you, when you're like that? I mean, I know I'm not, but... [But she wants to be strong enough to look after herself here, and sees just how big of a challenge that is. But there had to be someone here who could restrain her, surely? Arya didn't like to think of Samantha's demonic side just having the whole city as her playground.]

Eve and Merlin are keeping track as well, I think...

[she frowned and looked at Arya for a second. Her eyes narrowed and she grunted, pointing a finger at her.]

Don't start talking like that. You've got one of the better powers to do it. I just don't want you in danger by my hands, Arya. You can catch me off guard pretty easily with your speed, and if you can actually swing that sword or a dagger like you'd talked about you can bring me down just the same as anyone.

I'm not all-powerful. It's just scary when a demon's bearing down on you with claws and fangs. My nails? They're about as nasty as cat's claws. If I put some real force behind them, they'll cut, but they're not daggers. My fangs? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get close enough to actually do the whole vampiric kiss thing? My skin's apparently as tough as any athlete's, and I can get cut the same as anyone else. Two on one will almost guarantee someone can beat me unless I get the drop on them.

The only reason I win as many fights as I do is because of my attitude, Arya. You have to be willing to take any step you can, use any tool at your disposal and not hold back sometimes to win a fight. It's not about being better. It's about not caring if someone's trying to kill you and still going for the eyes.

If it comes down to it? I think you could take me. I just don't want you to have to do that.

[Honestly, Arya wasn't the first. Sam was sort of confused at the impression some people had that she was somehow this unstoppable juggernaut. Karuika just hadn't known what he was getting into, really. In another fight, she'd put the money on him.]

[She manages a bitter smile.] You're not so tough after all.

[She didn't believe her about Arya being able to take her, but she did feel a little better.]

Well, I promised I'd stay away when you were like that, didn't I? And I will. I just ... don't want anyone else getting hurt. Not just for them, but for you. I don't want you to have to live with that.

Yeah, I'm hoping you guys manage to pin something down the next time I go nuts, so maybe we can figure out when I need to get tied to a chair for a day or two. And thank you for promising. There's some things that are already hard for my conscience. That part of me getting her claws on you would be a little much.

003 - Audio

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action

Action