Tenth Incision [Action, Voice; Backdated to the 10th]

[removeimpurity]

[March 10th]

[Syre's return to the village on the 10th is rather anti-climactic. Though she seethes with anger, none of it is related to the cage in which she finds herself again -- the Malnosso are not the source of her ire, not this time.]

[Her fury, in this case, is directed toward a different set of foes, soldiers and commanders a long, long way from here, whose swords have cut down all but the most loyal of her forces...]

[As the haze of hatred and anger clears from her conscious mind, jade eyes glance idly around what she realizes is her apartment. Her books are exactly as she had left them, with the most recent pages laid open and unfinished.]

[The first thing she does is collect all of her research and pack her bag, and then she gets moving, despite the lateness. Her destination is the Battle Dome -- a place where she can run as many experiments, as many tests, as she needs to get the data she requires. After all, this work of hers needs finishing -- especially if she can use it when she returns to Selles...]

[March 11th to March 14th]

[Loathe though she is to admit, Syre still has base needs to attend to.]

[Every once in a while, the alchemist can be seen flitting out of the Battle Dome, whether to grab a quick meal at the restaurants or to replenish supplies at the Item Shops.]

[Those that encounter her on these errands will notice that she's decidedly less friendly, and that her actions are quicker and more to the point than before; she's in no mood to make idle small talk, and in even less of a mood to stay out of the Dome for very long...]

[March 15th]

[It is somewhere about 7pm when a thought crosses Syre's mind.]

[Simulations are not enough. Simulations are predictable, and predictability leads to inaccurate results.]

[She ends the last of her simulations, and sets her things aside. In her mind, the only way to remedy this issue is to use live subjects.]

[Well, perhaps she can head out, explore the village, and perhaps find some... willing participants for her use...]

[March 17th, Early Morning]

[The journal begins broadcasting at what would normally be an hour entirely too early for Syre.]

[What is most noticeable in this is that the Ecliptian isn't calm, isn't cheery, isn't angry...]

[...but is crying. Half-choked sobs filter over the audio stream, and the older woman seems not to notice that the whole of the enclosure can hear her now.]

Gods... Gods Above, what will I become? What madness awaits me on that battlefield?

[The memories of her future are all but foggy remnants now, but what Syre remembers -- and the fresher memories of what she's done -- haunts her like a specter.]

[She doesn't believe that she could be possible of such atrocities... but she is. She is, and she was so easily willing to justify them...]

[Her sobbing begins again in earnest, much louder this time. It doesn't seem like she'll be stopping any time soon...]

((Advance Trigger Warnings for threads in this post: Violent actions, gory descriptions, and possible talk of suicide. When replying, please be sure to state the date of the interaction -- anytime between the 10th to the 17th!))

Comments

[agelesseyes]

[The staff in Moiraine's hand darts into the door and she fixes the woman with a level, absolutely frozen glare from under her hood. The blood alone is reason enough to incite her anger, as is the eerie calm on her face. Exactly as Aginor had been.]

We have not. I have come on behalf of Professor Robert Alexander Hastings. Explain yourself and your actions.

[Saidar surrounds Moiraine, but she doesn't lash out just yet.]

[removeimpurity]

... Ah. I see.

[Whatever welcoming mood she had falsified seemed to crumble, her eyes filled now with irritation and her mouth twisted into the faintest of scowls.]

Do tell me, how did the good professor fare? He seemed rather distraught as he left.

[agelesseyes]

Why don't you tell me, Darkfriend? When I found him, he was cut and bleeding, barely able to walk.

[Her eyes sharpen and she begins to weave flows of Air, preparing a strike.]

What purpose could that possibly have served? Here, of all places. Harming another prisoner.

[removeimpurity]

"Darkfriend"? A strange term indeed.

[But, despite what little amusement was in her voice for that moment, the rest of her words hold no such light.]

Robert and I had a... falling out. A difference in opinion that elevated to a rather unfortunate level, you see.

[Her arms are spread at her sides, with a brief chuckle and the shake of her head.] But I assure you, madam, it is no matter that time and careful actions cannot fix.

[agelesseyes]

[Moiraine's glare went from icy to glowing fury. A falling out? Time to fix? No. No this woman was quite mad. And perhaps needed a reminder.]

A falling out? You took steel to a man over a falling out?!

[A hammer of air hurls the other woman away, deeper into the dwelling as Moiraine set loose the weaving, immediately followed by a second flow, easily woven to grab Syre in mid-air and hold her against a wall.]

Why under the Light would you? What purpose could that possibly serve?

[removeimpurity]

[Oh, this -- this was new. This was interesting.]

[Unfortunately, however, the alchemist has little time to analyze exactly what's going on before she's suspended in the air and pressed against a wall, facing Moiraine's wrath as best as she can.]

Perhaps my emotions got the better of me. Perhaps I had aimed simply to intimidate, and instead injured. A shame I can't quite ascertain the exact motive or purpose.

[A facade of calm forms on the brunette's face again, and she attempts, at the very least, to move her hand and attempt a counter to the woman's work -- with little success. She can't even so much as twitch a digit.]

But, my, this is certainly troublesome. We aren't even so much as properly acquainted, and already I seem to have angered you.

[agelesseyes]

[Moiraine strides calmly into the room, the coldness of the woman in front of her striking yet another parallel to one of the Forsaken. Aginor, Lanfear, Semirhage. Could she dredge up more?]

Perhaps you did aim to intimidate, but that does not change what you did. And it is my purpose to see that you do not do so again.

[Darkfriends could be taught a lesson, after all. She practically growls, and prepares another weave.]

I am Moiraine, Darkfriend. Aes Sedai of the White Tower, and I oppose any and all who would bring the Shadow over any land. Even one not my own.

[removeimpurity]

You know... [A smile, small and taunting, curls Syre's lips.] That all sounds awfully interesting -- but I know nothing of it. Perhaps you'd like to tell me more?

[Another attempt to move her hand, and again nothing. This was rather troublesome indeed.]

Or, maybe, you could let me down, and we can discuss this in a civil manner.

[agelesseyes]

I'd rather not, you Light-forsaken chit.

[Her eyes narrow.]

Tell me why you did as you did and what purpose it could possibly have served might hold. Truthfully. I will consider letting you down after.

[Moiraine takes a seat, watching the blood-stained woman with a frozen glare]

[removeimpurity]

Ooh, that's a new one. Very clever.

[It's not smart, taunting someone that could very easily hurt her in this state, but, for some reason, Syre doesn't seem to care much.]

My, my, where should I begin? Shall I tell you of my exploits, vivisecting helpless little holograms in the Battle Dome, or shall I grace you with the more boring details of Robert's and my conversation some time after that?

[agelesseyes]

[Moiraine stands stock still doing nothing visible, and Syre will feel a sharp smack, like a whip or a particularly reedy switch hit her across the back.]

[removeimpurity]

[Every inch of the alchemist tenses at the strike, a hiss of breath escaping her as pain runs along her nerves. Once the shock passes, she grins at Moiraine, chuckling breathlessly.]

Very interesting, this ability of yours. I'd love a chance to study it.

[agelesseyes]

[That prompts another strike. And another. Each one engineered to bite into a new set of nerves in different ways. Moiraine can't kill her, but punishing her? Well that's another matter.]

A pity you shall never have that chance, Darkfriend.

[removeimpurity]

[Whatever words Syre were about to speak were swept away in a brief cry, her face contorted in anguish. Pain was something she was used to, but this seemed so much different that the usual.]

[When next she speaks, it's through clenched teeth, her face the picture of anger.]

You'd best hope I do not. Because, by the Gods Above, I would love to cut your heart out of your chest.

[agelesseyes]

[The beating continues as soon as the words are out of Syre's mouth.]

A pity, Darkfriend. I could hope you learn your lesson about experimentation after this encounter. If I have to deliver it a second time I will be less gentle.

[removeimpurity]

[The pain starts anew, burning along her nerves and erasing all rational thought from her mind; all that remains is a quickly growing hatred for the woman in front of her.]

[A dark look passes over her features, eyes narrowed and teeth bared in a sneer.]

You, teach me? Clever joke, that. I am certain this "lesson" of yours would have gone far differently were I not bound.

[agelesseyes]

[Moiraine's face remains icy, and she makes it a point to give Syre a few rather nasty canings around her bottom.]

Be grateful it's only a lesson. Remember it, the next time you want to cut on some unfortunate man.

[Then she ties off the weave binding Syre to the wall. In a few hours it will disappear, but for now she's just stuck.]

Disturb the peace a second time, Darkfriend, and I'll return with a much harder lesson.

[removeimpurity]

[An exhausted, dry chuckle leaves Syre at the end of that, eyes still defiant as she speaks again.]

Perhaps by then... I'll have something of my own to teach you. I look forward to it.

[agelesseyes]

If you catch me as ignorant and unaware as I caught you, perhaps I might deserve it. Though do not think me as easy prey as that.

[Back to caning! Sorry Syre, the beatings will continue until you learn some manners.]

[removeimpurity]

[Which means that they will continue for quite some time, at this rate...]

[Even then, the older woman still manages to keep that smirk on her face and the venom in whatever she can eke out between hits.]

Can't - you - do - anything else?

[Because clearly, taunting your attacker is smart.]

[agelesseyes]

[Moiraine might just be the older of the pair. But at that little jape...well, the beatings become something entirely different. Flows of Fire and Spirit, applied directly to synapses and nerves with flows of Water.

The White Tower's education on how to deal with Darkfriends is rather...creative.]