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[commandress]

[ x. ]

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day 75 night, shadow event

[vecna]

[Wherever Cyllene happens to be tonight, she will meet one of her teammates, though perhaps not in the usual sense of the word.

Henry lands in front of her, skidding to a stop on his side, face twisted up in a scowl. It's as though he's been thrown by something, and if she levels her gaze upwards, she might see who the culprit is.

There, in the vague distance, stands what can only be described as a creature. Undead-looking, writhing with vines and scarred skin; it looks humanoid enough, though it clearly isn't. Its silhouette is very much defined by a large left hand, which is adorned with long, sharp claws. Its eyes glow golden.

It walks forward, closer, as Henry is trying to pull himself back up to his feet.]

[commandress]

[ That... doesn't bode well, and as Henry moves to his feet, Cyllene moves squarely in front of him. It's a good thing she chose her sword this time, though she merely rests her hand on the hilt and doesn't draw it just yet from where it rests at her waist. ]

I would recommend you stand down.

[ What the hell kind of person is this, though? ]

[vecna]

[And Cyllene’s already before him as Henry returns to his feet, a sight that he cannot quite bring himself to appreciate — he doesn’t need help, not like this. He doesn’t need anyone or anything else to see this thing, and not solely because it’s a more accurate representation of himself beyond the confines of this prison.]

He’s not going to listen to you.

[He manages, his expression devoid of its usual niceities.]

Let me deal with it. This thing pretending to be me.

[His Shadow walks forward, eyes fixing on Cyllene. Its voice is deep, resonating. Cruel.]

I am you. How fitting, to be in the presence of a teammate. One facet of many that has begun to make you feel... uncertain. Poor Henry.

[commandress]

I'm not choosing to stop you.

[ Merely stepping in to prevent more Henry yeeting. She's not here to fight his battle for him. Is what she would say, if accused of doing such a thing. To the-- thing, and strange that it would say it's him, when it looks so vastly different. At least hers had appeared to be similar, outwardly. ]

And what is it you want?

[vecna]

I want him—

[A long, coiling finger in Henry’s direction.]

—to choose. Which one is it? Are you broken, have you wasted years and years of your life for nothing, or are you right? Are you devoted to destroying anything that stands in your way?

He had been so sure.

[Henry snaps at the thing, resentment in his eyes.]

Shut up. What if we just kill you? End your rambling.

[commandress]

Can it be killed?

[ It's very clearly supernatural. And she's just going to not comment on anything quite yet. It's not her business if Henry has problems or not! ]

[vecna]

[His flaring pride almost makes him say no, but the remembrance that this isn’t really him—it can’t be—has him amending that reply.]

How good are you with that blade?

[commandress]

I'm confident with it. It's best demonstrated than bragged about.

[vecna]

[His mind whirs. Plotting against a version of himself is like admitting to certain weaknesses that he'd rather not; but this is an unusual situation, and he just wants to shut him up.]

He's focused on me. He'll stay that way -- fixated, obsessed. I can be a distraction, and you skewer him when he isn't looking.

[commandress]

[ Wow, he really wants himself dead. There's something to be said for that. ]

Very well. I'll await an opening.

[vecna]

[When an aspect of oneself represents insecurities and the like, Henry will of course want to kill it dead — denial of what it’s spewing or otherwise.

So, without saying much more, he steps forward, closing the space between himself and his Shadow. He rounds his side to give Cyllene and opening and uses his abilities to lift a huge piece of graveyard rubble and fling it right at Vecna.

The Shadow stops it with a lift of his hand, and the rubble hovers between them precariously. This will… not go well if it’s one-on-one, clearly, but that’s not the point, is it? Maybe Cyllene has an opening now?]

day 78, gift giving!

[dreamlord]

[Help, he has gifts he needs to give away.

A familiar face is easier to approach than a stranger, and so. Whenever he comes across Cyllene, maybe outside of their “locked” rooms, Dream approaches.]

Cyllene. Would you like a gift?

[He’s holding onto one, already, wrapped in Basilisk colors. It’s small and rectangular.]

[commandress]

[ This weather is too cold for Abra, so Cyllene is alone today, with a present of her own. She honestly just looks faintly surprised to be approached. ]

Ah, to allow your team a closer step to victory? I suppose I owe you a favor.

[dreamlord]

[Dream is unaffected by the cold, but he does have the advantage of being an Endless. Still, his breath fogs in the chill.]

You do not owe me anything, though I would hate to disappoint my team by neglecting these presents.

[Sprezzatura is working. Very hard. To get them points.

He hands the little present to her.]

And I would rather give them to someone I know rather than a complete stranger.

[commandress]

[ Lucky bastard. She's wrapped up in a sweater which is then bundled underneath a trench coat from the costume shop because these sweaters are Awful. She pauses to accept the present, ponders, and then offers up the one she's holding. ]

As you said, it's best to give them to an acquaintance.

[dreamlord]

[The perks of being immortal. He takes her gift, turning it over in his hands. This is some very bright pink wrapping paper.]

Though none of us can be blamed for what is inside, I apologize ahead of time if it is… silly.

[He has seen some of these presents, okay.

Should Cyllene decide to open hers first, though, she will find a blue and black set of dice.]

[commandress]

[ Inside, he'll find a bonsai growing kit!

She looks vaguely confused by the dice but not offended or disappointed so hey! Good stuff! ]

I suppose if I need to gamble on something, these will come in handy.

[dreamlord]

[Oh… a bonsai growing kit. He holds it up, curious.]

Were I able to take this back to the Dreaming, I would.

[He doesn’t dislike his, either! As for her dice.]

I take it you’re not much of a gambler?

[commandress]

I am not. It's folly for a captain to be willing to gamble, except in a dire situation. I have subordinates who look to me.

[dreamlord]

[The smallest huff of amusement. Of course not.]

Then thankfully, they are not actually for gambling. If I am correct, they are for a game.

[commandress]

A game?

[ you've lost her. ]

day 78, evening or whenever idc

[striketwice]

[ Whenever Cyllene goes back to the dorm, she'll find a little box in Unicorn giftwrapping sitting outside her bedroom door. The only indication of who it could be from is a little lightning bolt doodled on one corner of the box.

It's a big red button that when pushed says "No" in a variety of voices and levels of anger or exhaustion. :) ]

during holiday game things

[ambiography]

[happy candlenights, people she has vibed with also get presents even if they're not close. there's one dropped off for her in sphinx wrapping, with a little note that says 'I have it on good authority that the blend is decent, but if you're more a coffee person, I think that could be managed too. -Director Lucretia.'

it's loose-leaf tea! probably a lightly spiced black tea.]

day 79;

[luckful]

[ Outside of Cyllene's bedroom door, she will find a pink-wrapped present and inside it, a...moisturizing face mask! Something actually not terrible.

Thank you for your inspiring, hopeful leadership!- Nagito ]

[commandress]

[ Komaeda gets a present just dropped in his lap later on by Abra, who teleports away.

Inside is a pack of flower seeds. ]