it's a war in there [March OTA, including memshare]

[not_the_last]

Who: Cassandra de Rolo & those visiting her memories / OTA
When: March
Where: Around the Serena Eterna; also Whitestone, at various points in the past
What: Things are beginning to crack
Warnings: Game-typical angst; in memshares, murder, torture, vampirism, mindfuckery both magical and mundane, and potentially noncon/dubcon; other warnings to be added in reply headers as needed

A. you're just like them, you're unprepared

Cassandra's noticed the cracks, of course. Before she brushes against one, they seem alarming and inexplicable; are they a trick, a trap, a sign that this whole little artificial plane is starting to come apart?

(The thought she barely lets herself contemplate: a way out?)

After her first few encounters with them, the nature of them seems more apparent -- although there's no guarantee they aren't also any of her previous thoughts. The first time her own memories double on her, with faces she knows from here appearing in them, she locks herself in her cabin's bathroom and curls up on the floor of the shower, arms wrapped around her knees, struggling not to begin screaming for fear that she might never stop.

[This prompt is for interacting with Cassandra in the present setting! Feel free to run into her anywhere on board, either before or after memshares begin, or PM/ping me on discord to discuss a more specific prompt.]

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B. cause you don't know the terrain

Several cracks about the ship, as it turns out, lead to a world called Exandria and a little city-state called Whitestone. Those who tumble into them will encounter a younger Cassandra at some point in her past.

[Specific pre-discussed prompts are below! If you would like a different one, see the plotting post here or PM/ping me to discuss.]

Comments

[not_the_last]

Her brows rise. "A memory crack? And a ship, you say?"

"Well, this sounds like a terribly intriguing story." Sylas has stopped stroking the serving girl's shoulder, and casts a speculative look at Max and then at his wife.

[maximumcake]

"It's a cruise ship," he supplies helpfully. He can feel Sylas eyeing him, and his temperature rises involuntarily.

"I got pulled onto it by magic, I think."

[not_the_last]

Delilah taps her fingers on the arm of her chair. "And how did you come from there to here? The closest seaport is many days' travel away, and that's not even touching on how you got into our chambers."

Her glance goes back to Sylas in turn, and then hovers consideringly on Cassandra.

[maximumcake]

"I don't know?" His brow furrows with the effort of trying to conceptualize this. "I just... I went through the crack. I came out here. That's all. I didn't mean to."

[not_the_last]

Cassandra lets her brows rise the smallest amount, with an equally tiny headshake: don't ask me, how would I know?

"There, there," Delilah soothes. "Don't fret about it, lovely boy. You're here now, and that's all that matters." She glances up at Sylas again, smiling. "Shall we?"

"A change of menu?" he says, smiling back at her. "I think we might. Why don't you set down that tray, dear girl?" This to Adela, who blinks and hastens to obey. "I don't think we'll be needing your assistance any longer tonight after all. Fix your dress and go back to your room, and you won't need to remember any of this in the morning."

"... Yes, my lord," she says in the same vaguely pleased tone. "Thank you, my lord." And she starts for the door, nearly walking right into Cassandra until she steps out of the way.

[maximumcake]

Max has been in this position too many times to not understand the implications left unsaid here. But, he doesn't object to it either. He's safe in his lady's hands. It's been a really long time since he's been 'on the menu' at all. Nostalgia washes over him just from hearing that said, and with it comes a quickly rising flush in his neck creeping up to his cheeks.

(Somewhere in the back of his mind, some part of him is also grateful that he's still managed to accomplish what he spoke up for. That servant girl is safe for the night.)

[not_the_last]

The servant girl is indeed safe for the night, provided she doesn't run afoul of any of the Briarwoods' people in the mood for mischief. But she's safe from this particular thing.

Cassandra, however, has not been given leave to go. She hesitates awkwardly in the entry, almost visibly weighing her options -- and chooses to speak. "I would be happy to join you for a glass of wine, but I'm a little tired; would it be all right if I went to bed as well?"

(She doesn't look at Max. Poor doomed fool has gotten himself into this mess; there's nothing she can do for him, and as he's not one of her people, there's nothing better she owes him.)

Delilah and Sylas exchange glances, and he opens his palm in a magnanimous gesture, and she smiles. "Certainly, sweet girl. Sleep well. We'll see you in the morning."

As she says it, she holds out a hand to Max to bid him approach, and Sylas's hands settle onto his shoulders from behind.

[maximumcake]

Max doesn't spare a look for Cassandra either. He's too enthralled to feel any sort of betrayal at this. He's already walking forward to accept the hand offered to him, placidly smiling as Sylas's touch settles on his shoulders. He'll eagerly comply with their every order. Maybe more eagerly than should be expected. There's something comforting for Max (outside of just the enthrallment) about falling back into a well-known role. It's so easy to slide back and let ingrained instincts take command.

cw: dubcon, vampirism, death, necromancy

[not_the_last]

By the time the enthrallment (the magic enthrallment at least) wears off, it would be far too late for him anyway. The comfort of those ingrained instincts might at least shield him, partially or completely, from what to some would be a horror: coming to himself on the verge of climax in the Briarwoods' bed, thoroughly used between the two of them, long fingernails tracing arcane runes into his chest and long fangs buried in his neck, blood and life being drained from him together.

It isn't quick, and it isn't painless. But it is, eventually, over.

(And as the memory ends with Max's death, past-Cassandra doesn't have to see his reanimated corpse as a new addition to the castle staff the next day.)

Re: cw: dubcon, vampirism, death, necromancy

[maximumcake]

Even when the spell drops from him, he's too far into the grip of this pleasure to turn back. His climax is as powerful as always, especially with fangs buried deep in his neck. For just this breath of a moment, he can forget where he is and revel in familiar bliss.

The difference is that the fangs don't pull away once he's gone limp. The pleasure recedes too quickly, leaving him with a sour stomach and throbbing head. The pain of those clawed marks feels too sharp, suddenly.

"W-wait," he gasps. His struggles are token at best, he's already much too spent. "W--"

The world dims around him. He's going to die. He knows it with such calm surety. Some sick part of him is taking stock of this feeling in a far too clinical fashion. He's always wondered what it would feel like to die being drained by a vampire. That curiosity is being horribly, slowly, sated.

---

He will awaken at 6 am the following day still bearing that terrible knowledge. He's not sure if he's glad or not, but he's no longer curious. And he no longer thinks it would be a pleasant way to die.

Once he's been fussed over as much as he can stand by the others, he grabs his phone and texts Cassandra. He needs to know she's okay.

Lady Cassandra,
This is Max. Can we meet?

-Max Maximum

[not_the_last]

The reply comes almost immediately:

Of course. Please name the place and I will be there at once, or at your earliest convenience.

[maximumcake]

I'm in Sand Dollars. Come have tea?

Max will be there waiting for her at a table in the back with a pot and two cups. He's got some madeleines too, for snacking on. He figures this might be a tough conversation and sometimes food helps.

[not_the_last]

She's there in a startlingly short time, looking sober and a little pale.

"Max," she says, coming up to the table. "Thank you for seeing me so quickly. Are you all right?"

[maximumcake]

"I'm okay," he says almost instantly. Then, he thinks harder about it. "Well. I'm a little shaken, I guess. But I'm also worried about you."

[not_the_last]

"About me? Max ..."

She sits opposite him, and reaches out a hand on the table as though to grasp his.

"Max, I am so very sorry."

[maximumcake]

He takes her offered hand immediately, though his grip is somewhat clammy.

"I know. But... it's... um..." He can't bring himself to meet her eyes. "It wasn't that different from what I've done before. Except for the end."

[not_the_last]

She shuts her eyes, and her hand tightens on his.

"They killed you." Flat and bleak. "Didn't they."

[maximumcake]

There's just the smallest tremor in his grip.

"It wasn't your fault." And he's glad she didn't see it.

[not_the_last]

"I left you there." Her eyes open again, shadowed with guilt. "You tried to help, and, and you weren't anyone to me and I left. And they let me, because they knew --"

She presses her mouth shut.

[maximumcake]

"You couldn't have stopped them and I... didn't want you to see that. I'm glad you left." He's glad she didn't witness how much he... didn't hate most of what happened. Even after the spell wore off.

He puts a second hand on top of hers. "Is that what it was like for you all the time?"

[not_the_last]

She opens her mouth and doesn't close it or say anything for a long moment, blinking hard.

"I remember," she says finally, unsteadily, "I remember what happened that night the first time. They -- they made me stay. And watch what they did."

[maximumcake]

His face drains of color. His grip on her tightens. "Lady Cassandra... I'm... I'm so sorry. I... ah, fuck." What does he even say to this? He knows exactly how bad it was.

[not_the_last]

"You couldn't have stopped them either," she says, "and you knew it, but you tried. You didn't even know her. You could have stayed hidden, or, or tried to slip out without them noticing you, and instead --"

She swallows. "I didn't even try. To help you or her."

[maximumcake]

"I know..." he looks down at his hands. He knew how it might end for him. He took the risk anyway. "But I knew that death wouldn't be the end for me. You didn't have that luxury."

[not_the_last]

That catches her off guard, and she stares at him for a moment and then drops her gaze, squeezing his hands.

It's all she can do, as her throat's closed almost completely.