expiationnet

[ Marianne appears in the video looking more anxious than usual, perhaps because this is her first time addressing so many people at once and she's never liked drawing attention to herself, but also because of the news she's about to share. ]

Um, I wanted to warn everyone that monsters around Aldrip have become more aggressive lately. They've also been roaming closer and closer to town. Even where I usually take the horses out to graze isn't safe. Please be cautious when walking about, and I would avoid the outskirts. Um, those that can fight, it might be good to band together to try and drive them away...

[ ... ]

There's something else...

[ After an agonizing pause, she rolls back the sleeves of her dress to reveal her arm, black marks marring her fair skin. Her expression turns pained. ]

These marks appeared on me shortly after encountering the monsters. Healing doesn't seem to have any effect on it. Something like this happened once before and I...I'm afraid it could make me not myself.

If anyone knows anything about it, please...

[ She trails off, unable to conclude her announcement on an eloquent note. ]

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[So she's affected too, huh...? Guess it's nice knowing that he's not the only one, but it also sucks that someone else is affected, someone that's pretty nice and everything. They might not have spoken too much in the past, but it's not like Scott's going to forget how she helped him out in the maze.

Still, he doesn't have much energy to do much other than reach out like this.]

I have those marks too. [...] Do you think we're going to lose control of ourselves?

[He didn't even think about that until now and fear grips his chest, managing to bypass some of the sadness he's been feeling for no reason at all. Maybe just a bad day, everyone has one of those, right?]

I don't know...but we should probably stay calm and try to figure out what's happening.

[ She says that to reassure herself as much as him. In the past, when the brand had appeared and voices called to her, Marianne had kept her condition hidden. That hadn't turned out well, she recalls with a twinge of guilt. This time, she figures if she speaks up, maybe together they could stop it somehow. It pains her to hear Scott is also afflicted. In the maze, she'd learned of the burden he carried. She knows the fear of losing oneself all too well. So if there's anything she can do for him, she wants to. ]

When did it start for you?

[Strangely enough, he does feel calm, but in the sort of 'I just feel tired and have no energy' way. There's anxiety somewhere in him as he's quite familiar with that particular feeling, but it just feels like it's burrowed under everything else. It's strange, he's never felt this way before and he knows he should be worried about that, but.]

Yeah... you're right. We probably should figure this out before we lose control or something.

[That's probably the worst part in all this. It's that thought alone that drives Scott a little, because he doesn't want to hurt anyone, especially not his friends. He can't lose control of himself or his powers after all this time. It just feels like he'd be making several steps back. He does his best to pull himself to really focus on the conversation, before offering what little information he has.

She's being brave in all this, he needs to at least try.]

Recently, around the start of this month, but I didn't go near any of the monsters.

That's around the same time as me.

[ The monsters started acting up around then, but since he said he hadn't come into contact with them, maybe they weren't the cause? Then what could be? Her mind whirls. ]

Um, how are you feeling? My arm seems fine, and I don't think I've noticed anything different about me.

[ Besides the dread. It doesn't usually feel this intense, but what's to say that isn't a natural reaction to being afflicted with an unknown curse. She feels the fear deep in her chest, squeezing her. It's so... ]

It's so frustrating.

Guess we share another thing in common.

[He might've said that a little more sarcastically, maybe even energetically normally, but his tone just still comes off as tired, nearly dull. Scott leans his face against the wall that he's sitting against, almost staring down at his tablet, before he answers again.]

I don't feel any pain or anything. Just tired. I guess.

[Or just really... somber. But that's not too weird, right? Scott wonders if he should at least mention it to her, since maybe that is useful information, but on the other hand, maybe he's just having another bout of moodiness. Be dumb if he like gives her the wrong impression just because he's in a crappy mood.]

Upset about not knowing what may happen to us? Yeah, I get it...

I think most of all I'm frustrated with myself. But...It's kind of a relief to know I'm not alone in this.

[ She's always isolated herself away and ended up alone in her struggles. It feels so different being able to talk about it with someone. She feels... maybe not better after putting words to it, but that she can channel her frustration into doing something. Especially knowing Scott is also suffering. He doesn't sound like his usual self. ]

You said you felt tired, right? Um, try to get some rest today. If you start to feel worse, could you let me know? I work at a clinic. There might be something we can do.

It's not your fault, Marianne... so don't be mad at yourself.

[The support's quiet, but there's something a little more resolved about it, like Scott's fully believing in what he's telling her. And why wouldn't he? She's doing her best and it's definitely not her fault for whatever is going on now, in fact, she's at least informed others about all this. It's more than what he's done.

She always cares so much about others.]

Yeah, I don't really have much energy to do anything, but I'll try and get some rest. Maybe it'll help. And I promise to let you know if things get worse. [...] Take care of yourself too, okay?

Thank you, Scott.

[ She hears his quiet reassurance. It calms her nerves and the voices of self-doubt in her head. ]

In the past, I gave up too quickly. I believed what people said about me, but here everyone is so kind. It makes me believe we can overcome this. So I'll do everything I can.

[ There's a quiet resolve to her voice like she's made a decision. She wants to change. For Claude and Ethlyn and everyone who has supported her, and also for herself. This time, it's not just her own wellbeing at stake. She doesn't want to see Scott or anyone else hurt. ]

I'll let you know if I learn anything.

Don't get why anyone would say anything about you... guess some people are just assholes. But yeah, we'll get through this, probably.

[He's trying still, in his own way. While his reassurance at the end there isn't entirely convincing, he doesn't say anything to take it back either. It helps hearing the determination in her voice, drawing some inspiration from it. If she's not going to give up, neither should he, right?

Course, easier said than done, when he just keeps himself slumped against the wall.]

Just don't... overwork yourself, okay?

Yes. Let's not lose hope.

[ She'll remember his words and try to focus on the voices of friends rather than her own self-doubt. While her uncertainty will always be there, Marianne is feeling more positive than before and motivated to roll up her sleeves and get to work. Scott looks very tired, so she won't keep him any longer. ]

I'll let you get some rest.

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