#anorasmira

[velerodra-valesinger]

Day one of being trapped. Mira discovers she has a small amount of rations in her pocket, but it's barely enough to sustain herself for an evening of hunger. Nevermind, feeding three of them which included the large Captain's appetite. Does she sneak her rations? Does she share them? Or does she pretend she hasn't them at all and suffers like the others? What is she thinking? Feeling?

Vel and Mira were two different entities.   Bound, yes but not in any consistent way.   Vel could only maintain her control of the Kaldorei for so long.  Mira, when left to her own devices was a broken woman, still recovering from trauma she’d endured while a prisoner on Argus.   When Vel was not present, Mira instinctively took on the form of a large cat and sought to hide.   That was all she had the will to do.   Even survival was secondary to hiding.  

For weeks all Mira had wanted was to be allowed to die in peace, yet the Legion did not afford her such a kindness.  She’d have remained on Argus longer had it not been for meddling on Vel’s part.  Regrettably for Mira, by the time Vel’s meddling resulted in her freedom, her desire to live had been snuffed out.   And upon release she simply wanted to find a quiet place, to lay down and die.   

Vel of course, had other plans for Mira.   The monkette kept Mira alive, and got her off of Argus.   Her reasons were not entirely selfless.   She found access to the druidess’ body useful.   She couldn’t have Mira just cowering in some corner and letting herself die.  

Meanwhile, the monkette was - well - she wasn’t sure exactly where she was.   She had not been sure for quite a while.   She assumed she was still somewhere on Argus, but she’d been pulled through portals and for all she knew she now was on some other ruined Legion world.   And though she no longer was in a cell, she was no less trapped than when she was.     

 And now — Mira was trapped in a chamber in Northrend.   And knowing that if she were to let Mira have control of herself, that she’d simply turn into a large feline and cower, she forced herself to remain in control of the druidess’ body. 

 Both Vel and Mira were trapped… 

Vel experienced things differently as Anorsmira.  Her hearing wasn’t as sharp.  She had a low tolerance for alcohol (a pleasant discovery - as she once again was able to indulge in drinking and actually get drunk).   She felt pain more acutely.   Mira’s body had not developed the sort of tolerance for pain that Vel’s own body had during her training as a monk.   Hunger however, was something both Vel and Mira experienced similarly.  

Both had come to know the pain of hunger during their respective time in their cells.  Food was still a rarity for Vel in her own form (though Vel had also been introduced to new forms of sustaining herself).   She knew Mira’s body was capable of dealing with going hungry for quiet some time.  

She had been uncharacteristically quiet since the trio had been trapped in the chamber.   Vel’s priority was to remain in control of Mira’s body.  This required focus.   And at times she could feel the connection falter, or weaken.   This kept her from talking endlessly.   Which was probably a blessing to those trapped with her.  

For what little they were worth, Vel would make the existence of her supplied known.   To Vel, Mira’s survival was the least essential of the trio.  Hell, even to Mira herself, her survival wasn’t considered essential.    

Vel had her own form, and would have that regardless.   The Captain and the mage on the other hand, didn’t have that luxury.   So she was more selfless than she’d normally be.   Had she been in her own form, her desire for self-preservation would likely have been stronger.   Her focus would remain on staying in control of Mira.   At times, it might seem as if she was non-responsive, but Semmi did not seem that chatty, and she knew Kurel probably preferred the silence.   She was counting on Semmi to figure this situation out, as she assumed the mage was the most likely to know how these ruins worked.   And she was pretty sure Kurel was not likely to be able to force the doors open.    

Then again…

Perhaps if he drew on the strength of a nathrezim.   Could he do that?   She didn’t know.   Nor did she know if it would be safe…    But she couldn’t help but wonder.

@kurel-andiel, @penelopemae-andco

[velerodra-valesinger]

Return Trips

By the time Mira made it to her hammock on the Gambit, exhaustion had fully seized her. Her bells were still in the possession of the red vulture, and she lacked the energy to fight him for them now.

Weak hands climbed into her hammock and the Kaldorei’s eyes shut. And Vel was unable to will them back open. For the first time since Vel had been piloting the night elf, Mira’s memory had stirred.

Perhaps her mind was healing, and perhaps when Vel slipped away from Mira form, she might just be able to sleep and not feel compelled to cower in the belly of the Gambit.

Either way, Vel couldn’t sustain her connection to the exhausted elf much longer. Her last act was to mutter a message to a crew member, “Ask Kurel if he can get my bells back from his bird — tell him I asked nicely and said please?” And with that - Vel left Mira’s body. She would need time before she could return to it.

How long - was difficult to pin down, as where she was, time did not function quite the same as on Azeroth. What could be days to Vel, might only be mere minutes on Azeroth.

Mira, fell asleep as soon as Vel had retreated. Her body wasn’t used to being pushed. Vel had a seemingly endless amounts of energy, but Mira’s body did not. For the first time since she’d been freed from her cell in Argus, Mira was able to sleep. She didn’t need to cower. She was too tired. As she drifted off, the scent of the honey suckle plant tickled her nose, and the druidess’ lips curled faintly into a smile.

—

As Vel returned fully to her physical form she was met with the familiar sensation of agony. Her entire body ached. Her vision was blurry, and she struggled to sit up. She couldn’t see. But she could hear. The voice of her master called to her.

“You are getting stronger. I remember when you could only sustain control for mere seconds.” The voice echoed in her head. Each word spoken in some demonic tongue caused her ears to twitch. “Our time together draws short.” The voice was stern but held a certain affection to it.

This news caused Vel to try and stand abruptly, “why? What has been happening?” She asked, her own words in the same tongue that she’d been spoken to in.

Vel felt a tug in her mind, and just like that - her questions were answered. She was a captive to this creature, yes. But captivity can be complicated. He’d tormented her, yes. But he’d taught her much as well. “What of me?” She asked, sorrow coloring her words. “What is my role?”

“To live.” Was the response she was granted. “Rest now. You must meet with our superior soon. She will have your final task prepared.”

“Do I get to see you again? To say goodbye properly?” Panic crept into her thoughts.

No answer would come, at least not spoken. But she felt it in her soul. Soon, her master would be dead. Truly dead. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. Each sob felt like it might tear her weak and battered frame apart.

Another phrase or two was finally granted to her, words to try and comfort her. She would not be given a chance to say ‘goodbye’ in the flesh, so this would have to suffice.

@kurel-andiel

[velerodra-valesinger]

New Tricks for Multitasking

“It may take some time, but I may be able to get you released from here...”.   Vel said in a weak voice, her blonde head pressed against twisted iron bars that separated herself from a Kaldorei woman.   

“If you could do that, why not free yourself?”   The words were heavy with suspicion, but not enough to hide the notes of desperation.

“Though we share adjacent cells, our circumstances are not the same.   You are a prisoner, I am more of a novelty...”.   As her words trailed off, Vel’s dim eyes met the woman’s.  “...Just trust me...  what do you have to lose”?  

Eventually the Kaldorei, Anorasmira, accepted Vel’s offer.   A deal was made.   A bargain forged. And a shadowy tether bound the pair.   More precisely it bound Anorasmira’s soul to the monks.  

This did little to prevent the Legion’s inquisitors from tearing through the the druidess’ mind, and tormenting her before finally allowing her to wander the ruined wastes of Argus.   

Had Vel not intervened at that point, Anorasmira likely would have simply gotten herself killed.   However the monkette’s will imposed itself on Anorasmira’s mind and steered her to safety.   Though, the druidess’ mind remained in a state of disarray.  

Vel’s newest trick, to posses another creature’s soul and impose her will upon it, required practice.  She could only maintain her grip for so long before requiring rest. 

It took her the better part of a month before she’d actually managed to build up the ability to occupy the druidess’ form for several hours without loosing her grip.   With time, it became easier and easier.  Eventually she could spend days as Anorasmira.   Which provided her with a welcome form of escape from her own situation.   

Anorasmira’s mind would eventually begin to recover from the trauma it endured, and when it did, Vel suspected her presence would not be welcome.   But until such a time came, the monkette saw this arrangement as mutually beneficial.   Anorsmira provided her with a much desired change of scenery, and Vel’s presence kept Anorsmira from spending too much time in the form of a cat, cowering in corners, with nearly no will left to live.