MISSION 001

[etrayamods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHEN: March 29th-April 20th
WHERE: Everywhere on Etraya
WHAT: Mission 001!
NOTES\WARNINGS: Potential violence, death.

⏵ mission prep ⏴ On the morning of the 29th, characters will receive a notification from Aurora to come to the hospital’s ground floor to prepare for their first mission. On this floor, pairs will be given slips of paper with matching numbers. If characters have chosen their partners, they too will receive small slips of paper with matching numbers, as these numbers match the room assignment they will be asked to please step inside. The rooms themselves are bare. There’s a cot, two chairs pushed up against a small table, a miniature fridge set up below a sink, and a television that only plays static. On the table is a note, which simply reads: Welcome. To prepare you for your first mission, we are giving you time to get to know your partner. You have a twelve-hour time limit to discuss your lives together. We recommend talking about moments throughout your life that have defined the person you have become. In addition, we have included several ingredients inside the miniature refrigerator. You must, without telling your partner specifically what it is, create their favorite drink using the ingredients within and above the refrigerator. Do not attempt to cheat. Do not make your own drink. If you pass, you will both be given two points and the door will unlock. If you fail, you may try again with the same partner or a new partner may be reassigned to you. Good luck. Within the mini fridge will be numerous ingredients - these ingredients could be anything, from Bantha milk to dragon fruit - whatever their favorite drinks are, they will find all the correct ingredients to make them. There will also be numerous extra ingredients. Maybe a character’s favorite drink is a nice cup of peppermint tea. The kettle, and the tea bags, will be present on top of the mini fridge, but there may also be soda bottles inside the fridge and various milk substitutes. Cheating by making their own drink will result in the game being reset, and a new partner being assigned or no partner at all being assigned and they will simply be removed from this part of the exercise. ⏵ the secret's out⏴ Numerous notes can be found throughout Etraya’s populated areas - falling from the sky, taped to doors, slid under them, or perhaps being handed out by a few of the companion bots who will eagerly note how these are meant to help, but a quick read may show that they’re not things anyone wants to be given out so freely. After all, on the notes are secrets, untold truths, things that were never meant to be shared nor wanted out in the open. Some of these aren’t notes at all, but small packages that are not addressed to anyone in particular, or addressed to the incorrect party. Inside the packages are items that may be associated with a particular event: a knife that had been used to betray a friend still stained with blood, a mask meant to conceal identity, a picture featuring a moment in time that had best been left forgotten. The goal of the game becomes clear by the notes written on the back or thin slips within the packages: match the secret to the person. You could simply ignore them, but the note also includes an addendum: more notes will continue to be sent until the person is matched to their secret. ⏵ cracked reflection ⏴ Every person is an intricate mosaic, composed of numerous facets that shape what makes them - themselves. After all, one person is not simply one picture, but rather, a puzzle comprised of myriad pieces. These pieces may shape their strengths, their sense of humor, the influences of their upbringing, and who they admired in their formative years. Together, these fragments coalesce into a singular form: you. But what if those pieces were rearranged? What if the fundamental aspects that define who you are simply… didn’t exist? What if, rather than being a courageous hero, you were cast as a formidable villain? What if, instead of pursuing the path that led you to greatness, you veered in a different direction? A new dawn breaks over Etraya. The artificial sun rises over the horizon, accompanied by the melodic chirping of birds. As the denizens of Etraya awaken, they sense... a shift in the air - a feeling of dissonance, as if a piece of themselves has suddenly gone missing. Because it has. Doubles of every current inhabitant of Etraya roam the corridors of the apartment building and the surrounding facilities. They let themselves into Roxx to get a few new outfits, get themselves a meal at the hospital cafeteria, or maybe they’re raiding the snack shelves at Kwik Trip. They may bear a striking resemblance to their counterpart and act very similarly, but there is something off about them. A quality that sets them apart. Remember that step you took, that led you to your current career? The step you’ve kept secret for so long, that has defined your actions ever since? They didn’t take it. They went down a different path, something darker, or perhaps something lighter. They took the path you most feared, the one you knew would turn out terribly. And they in turn - turned out for the worst. Characters will find they are facing one of their worst fears: themselves, but their worst selves. The version of them that they fought so hard not to become, that they strove against rather than towards. And the mission? They need to take out their worst selves. But there’s a twist: interaction with their doubles isn’t possible. Both halves are cognizant of each other’s existence, yet they are incapable of verbally or physically interacting with each other. And while the double understands what they are, the original? Well… how do you truly know you are who you’re supposed to be? What if you were the double all along? What if you are your own worst self? There is one way to be sure: the color of the copies’ blood is slightly darker than what it should be. Running closer to a red-black than the red you would anticipate. Or for some, perhaps their blood is red where it should be running black. While they feel and look real, driving a unique blade straight through where their heart would be will cause doubles to dissipate into nothing once the knife penetrates deep enough. As for the genuine articles, well, the blade is sharp—and it’s going to hurt. A blade is provided for every authentic copy. Those who were sleeping through the night will find it beside them upon awakening. As for those who remain vigilant throughout the night, the blade will manifest beside them in the early hours of April 2nd. Guess someone is going to have to kill your double. ⏵ quicksilver has no sense of tact ⏴ Aurora’s announcement left out several crucial details: the existence of the doubles, for one. But also the looming deadline to take care of the mess that has been dropped onto Etraya. Inside the characters’ wrists, they will discover a timer gradually counting down. The timers are only visible for the person who dons it, as is the amount of time given. Every person is given an individual time limit, but it cannot be longer than two weeks. As the numbers dwindle, more black marks appear going up the inside of their arms toward the inside of their elbow. And what are the black marks? With each additional black mark, they begin to feel… less like themselves, and more like their doppelgangers. In the beginning, maybe they barely notice the change. Maybe it’s a favorite food they loved that they now hate, or perhaps it’s an event that has shifted: something small but important - a decision to save a life changed to taking one. Maybe they’ll feel like a piece of themselves is no longer the same, replaced with another feeling or sensation. Where something would have usually made them empathetic to another's blight, now they find their suffering funny. Regardless, the longer their doubles are around, the longer they slowly begin to become their doubles - and their doubles begin to become just like them. If their doppelganger is not taken out at the end of their provided time, it will simply dissipate and the original will remain changed. The only way to return to normal is to kill the original. After death, the character will remain dead for twenty-four hours before returning to their normal selves as if the death had never occurred. While killing them to return them to normal is information Aurora will readily share, no one will inform them that they will simply return to normal by April 20th. ⏵ OOC ⏴ Welcome to the first mission! For any questions relating to this mission please reply below. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. Please note that while ICly, characters are not given a choice, players can choose which missions they wish for their characters to participate in. They may have missed receiving room assignments, or their secrets may not have been dropped, or a copy may not have shown up for them. This may not always be an option in future missions! ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

Rita Mordio | OTA

[myagic]

1. SECRET'S OUT (OTA)

[Before the mission begins, Rita's first act of business is to get out of what's apparently a recognizable prison uniform, which means quickly locating Roxx a short distance from the apartments and browsing the racks. She can be found making a face at anything tropical print and subsequently avoiding those patterns, trying to choose between an asymmetric plaid skirt or its possibly even worse dress version, or--upon locating sweaters with a purple cat print--automatically grins and says out loud, regardless of who is or isn't listening-]

Catsuno...

[Alternatively, she can be found at the convenience store, looking at unfamiliar items or suspiciously poking the bagged milk, sitting outside with a new notebook, or getting herself a healthy lunch from the hospital restaurant of...a chocolate chip cookie. If anyone wants to approach with a greeting or a a secret they might have found, these are opportune moments.]

2. MISSION PREP (Open to anyone who wants a fail round)

[She keeps a fairly cool front as they gather at the hospital, arms crossed and mouth pressed in a grim frown, though she feels a fair amount of trepidation. Aurora's already shown herself to be infuriatingly good at dodging the questions people want to ask, so as suspicious as she finds the setup, she won't find anything out by ignoring it. (Besides, her friends are going through with this "mission"--as if she'd leave them to do so by themselves.)

So she heads for the room when it's her and her mysterious partner's turn, though she pauses in the door as she takes in the setup, and turns to whoever's paired with her-]

This looks suspicious as hell to you too, right?

3. CRACKED REFLECTION

[ There's an alternate Rita walking around Etraya--sometimes. For the most part, she stays holed up somewhere outside the main populated area. Once in a while, she shows up, a surly figure clad in a red cloak, the heavy hood pulled low over her eyes to block sun and the probing eyes of other people. She collects some supplies from the store--stationary, snacks--and perhaps a tray of food from the hospital restaurant, but doesn't stay to eat, instead taking it with her. Anyone who tries to talk to her will be met with a gruff and disinterested-]

What do you want?

[Or, one may find this hermit Rita Mordio in a version of her house that's appeared in Etraya. Well, calling it a house might be generous: it's a tall wooden shack, really, with a simple sign nailed to the front door: Keep out. Seriously. --Mordio. Does someone dare knock?]

wildcard
(For any other prompt needs! If you'd like to discuss anything, feel free to hit me up at my plotting comment or on plurk at divinesaber!)

secret (girl crushes) out!

[skaikru]

( clarke's first impression upon unwrapping the package that a companion bot must have left outside her door in the night is laced with palpable apathy. what is this? just a doll? no bomb or profound voice box sewn into its chest cavity? it doesn't even look well worn, like it'd been toted around by a child for comfort, so does that make it some sort of collectible from a franchise she's never heard of, or something more personal? this is either going to be incredibly difficult, or easy as can be, but neither route serves to make clarke excited about the task at hand.

but even before she unfolds the accompanying note, there's something strikingly familiar about the plushie. it's in the details, the style and the little gold trim of the white jacket the thing is wearing reminds her of someone else. she could probably wrack her brain and come up with an idea or two, but the second clarke scans the words genius mage she perks up. oh, so easy for sure. there is exactly one person on this new planet, one person she's met in her whole entire life who refers to herself that way. and as if echo sought to serve her an underhanded pitch right off the bat, the conceited magician happens to be one of her best friends.

this might as well be a puzzle targeted at two year old's for how easily the pieces slide into place. well, most of them at least. because what's that last bit about? the part that reads first crush? ...huh.

—

anyways, she tracks rita mordio down in the cafeteria. foregoes grabbing her own lunch just to slide into one of the chairs across the table, and has no comment about the absolute lack of a well rounded meal on the other girl's plate. live your best life, rita; jury's out on if any of the food here is real anyways, right? and if it is, a few cavities wouldn't even register compared to some of the things they've already endured. )

Hey, I think I've got something that belongs to you.

girls ♥

[myagic]

[Clarke slides in across from her and Rita glances up, sees a friendly familiar face, and nods around nibbling her cookie. She doesn't know what she expected Clarke to bring up (because there is usually something, even if it's not world-ending serious), though meal choice judgement is at least not on the list. Even back when nutrition might have mattered, Rita has never particularly cared about it--an approach that must've been pretty different from Clarke's experience on the Ark (not that Rita thinks soybean-derived everything would've been all that complete nutrition-wise, either).

Anyway, that simple sentence is almost annoyingly vague, but still piques her curiosity.]

"Something"? Like a blastia, or a magic book?

[What else would be recognizably hers in this realm?]

[skaikru]

( (yeah, meals on board the ark had never been about taste or comfort; there was nothing hearty about the multiple, usually mushy ways one could prepare soybeans; they were just one of the most easily cultivated protein sources in space. they'd also had a ready and probably stale supply of multivitamins, at least enough to stave off full emaciation in their populace. but there was a reason clarke had been so weak for chocolate cake within mount weather, and why she'd damn near cried over ice cream sandwiches back in the day, and ate platefuls of ham steak and bbq ribs with her bare hands in the beginning.)

but! not here to talk about food, or judge each others eating habits! rita mentions a blastia, and clarke doesn't bite back the somewhat rueful — ) I wish. ( — quickly enough.

but she also doesn't dawdle for much longer. she'd come to the table with package wrapping paper in hand, and now unfolds it to reveal the little pink haired doll and slides it across the tabletop to within rita's realm of reach.

the accompanying note though? that's going to stay in her lap for another few seconds, just to gauge the initial reaction. )

[myagic]

[Not a blastia--well, they can both rue that. Although the low aer levels here might've made any additional blastia non-functional...

Rita's thoughts screech to an abrupt halt as Clarke reveals a very familiar doll, though. Her gaze fixates on it immediately, recognition in the widening of her eyes, mouth thinning into a frown. ...It still hurts. Not as much as the first time she saw it, shortly after Yuri and Flynn disappeared and she learned it would be all but impossible to see any of them again. It showing up now feels like a mockery--a desperate attempt to remind her of what's supposedly at stake. As if she's ever forgotten.]

...I wouldn't say this is mine, exactly... [She doesn't reach for the doll--not yet, at least--but she doesn't tear her eyes away, either.] I gave her to Fio. Someone who'd look after her.

[skaikru]

( spend enough time around a person and it just becomes more and more apparent how the inner machinery of their mind works, how their mood fluctuates, what different little dips in their expression means. clarke watches rita's face as she weathers that emotional roller-coaster — maybe feels a brief flash of apology, for not having better warned the other girl exactly what she'd be sliding over, but how exactly could she have known the emotional weight held in the confines of such a small, stuffed creature? by experience, clarke; none of these secrets have felt particularly lighthearted yet.

but, can't walk that one back now. best she can do is sit here if rita wants to talk about it, or leave if she wants to be alone. )

Well, Fio's not here so far as I can tell. I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be yours.

( ........ )

Also, it came with a note.

[myagic]

[To be fair, Clarke is the one in their friend group who's been left out the loop regarding Estelle. Somehow, it just never came up--too busy talking about magic-repelling gear, Natsuno, Clarke's (maybe-questionable) taste in men, and the impending end to reality as they know it.

You know, just typical things.

Clarke probably already knows by now that Rita's more sentimental than not, so it may not be surprising that, presented with the doll that resembles her first-ever friend right down to the stitched smile, Rita eventually reaches out to gently take it. Somebody needs to look after it here, after all.

Although she hasn't decided what to actually say, Clarke spares her the effort, and Rita immediately looks up at her with guarded interest and uncertainty. Just where is this going, she wonders...]

A note... Well, what did it say, then?

[Alright, so she's definitely a bit impatient to know.]

[revengeisalie]

[ The severed hand was definitely Rin's least favorite surprise so far. She had to keep herself from retching when she first opened the package and saw the limb, charred to the bone in some places, and quickly wrapped it up in a towel she found somewhere so she doesn't have to look at it.

Look -- sure traveling with Manji got her used to some things, but it's still gross.

She does steal another look to make sure it's not Manji's hand, but it is definitely too small, not the right skin tone, and she can't detect his familiar scars and callouses at all. Someone else, then. Is she looking for a one-armed person, then? Or maybe it's a hand someone took off someone else. Many things are possible.

The note gives her a clue, at least. "Rita". Not that it's much to go by. But so far, it seems the number of people who have been pulled to this world are limited, so she guesses she'll just have to ask everyone.

She'll be approaching Rita in the convenience store in front of the bagged milk. A little awkwardly, she pulls the towel tighter around the hand so as to not expose it. ]

Uhm, excuse me? Do you know someone named Rita?

[myagic]

Hmm...yeah, I'm Rita.

[Rita doesn't immediately look up, giving the bagged milk another curious poke first, before finally turning to see who it is. There was a time she might not have looked at all, but in the last couple years, that's changed. She's admittedly curious to know why this girl's looking for her...and if it has something to do with these odd items and notes getting strewn around.]

Assuming there's no other Rita around here, anyway. Is there something you want?

[revengeisalie]

[ Well, that is... an unenthusiastic greeting. Not that Rin can blame Rita. She looks away, an embarrassed flush gracing her cheeks.

It's not like she is bearing great news. ]

I, uhm, found something with a note that mentions your name in it. You know, one of the packages that started appearing everywhere?

[myagic]

Oh, one of those...

[Her answer isn't exactly enthusiastic either. The other girl's blush doesn't help, since it means whatever this thing is could be embarrassing... What a pain!

She sighs, though. It's not this girl's fault or anything.]

Is it something we should talk about somewhere else?

[revengeisalie]

[ Rin considers this. ]

Maybe? It's a bit, uhm...

[ Ah, screw it. Why not come right out and say it? Rin leans in, close enough to half whisper what she says next. The corners of her mouth pull down in disgust. ]

It's a severed arm.

[myagic]

[Rita fights the urge to lean away, eyeing Rin skeptically. And when she does hear what it is, her reaction is an automatic and immediate (and loud)-]

Ew! Why the hell would there be something like that for me?!

[It's not like her arm's-

Oh. Suddenly, she grimaces.]

It couldn't be...but... Was it burned?

cracked reflection (doppel4doppel)

[skaikru]

( no, with a sign like that pinned to the front door, of course she doesn't knock.

...because this clarke just immediately reaches for the handle and lets herself in. doesn't even try to be sneaky or covert about it, practically stomps over the threshold because the perpetual drizzle of the day has mud clinging to her boots. mud that is now all over this rita's entryway floor but, whatever, not like this place was a palace in the first place. it's really only once inside, out of the steady fall of fat little water droplets that she becomes aware of just how damp she's become; the athletic gear she'd copied from her original's shopping habits is faring fine, but the gauze bandage around her completely fine wrist has swollen up and begun to chafe.

untying it with her teeth for the time being, clarke scans around the room casually. just to see what she can see, just to take in the full effect. then calls out, almost sing-songy: )

Mordio! I've got business to discuss with you.

[myagic]

[What can this doppel-Clarke see? To put it simply: mess upon mess. Not that Rita would call it such--it's perfectly organized for her purposes, thank you very much!

Speaking of Rita, this doppel's head snaps up at the sound of the door latch and subsequent stomping, a scowl already on her face as she drops the book she was reading and steps out from behind the haphazard book pile.]

What the hell are you doing here? Give me one good reason I shouldn't light you on fire right this instant!

[skaikru]

( first impression?



but, just when she thinks she might have to root through the piles of miscellaneous research to find her quarry, there's rita! popping out with a sour disposition and well expected threats. clarke pauses in place, and even goes so far as to hold up both hands in the universal signal of coming in peace. )

Okay, calm down. I can give you at least four.

First: You set me on fire, I die, and suddenly you've got a body you're going to need to dispose of. Super inconvenient, right?

Second: You set me on fire, I flail around like people on fire are wont to do, and — no offense but this place doesn't exactly scream "fire safety was my first priority", so you lose ( vague, unimpressed gesture to the stacks ) whatever you've got going on here. Or, Third: we both burn.

Fourth: I die, but don't stay dead. In which case I'll just be back! With a fire extinguisher from the hospital. And I'll just stay, make myself comfortable right here, set up shop, whatever — all until you give me what I want.

( big smile! big shrug! big, expectant eyeballs locked onto rita's face as clarke bats her eyelashes in a fashion that somehow manages to be conspiratorial and ominous at the same time. )

So, thoughts?

[myagic]

[Damn right she does! This is how a genius does things.

But anyway, Clarke says she has multiple reasons and Rita's willing to hear her out, but--with each one the other girl lists off, Rita's glower turns more and more annoyed, and she downright scowls at those batting eyes.]

Thoughts? [She scoffs and raises a hand, poised to start casting.] Sounds like what you want is a series of painful deaths. Now why don't you quit messing around, idiot, before I lose my patience?

[Really, she doesn't know why she's even letting the girl have this much of her time already. But, then, she also doesn't know that she's starting to be affected by the personality swap, which is apparently translating to allowing Clarke another chance to convince her.]

[skaikru]

( the stance rita assumes is ominous, but it takes more than that to send this clarke on the downward slip-n-slide of fear. she doesn't backpedal or even really look all that disappointed with not getting her way immediately here. maybe sighs a bit loudly, and spares a moment to scan rita from head to toe before clicking her tongue against the inside of her cheek.

disappointment radiates. the shift between this clarke and the original is subtle but present in the way she abruptly switches tactics. in the way she gives a moment and tries to read people instead of just bulldozes over them the second they revolt. but falling back on underhanded flattery as a means to reach her end? that's a universal trait. )

You know what? Maybe I got the wrong house. If you're not the genius mage who can figure out any problem or recipe put in front of her, you've my deepest apologies for the intrusion.

( ...not like she moves towards the door or anything. clarke watches the other girl keenly, waiting to see if the baited hook found purchase anywhere. )

[myagic]

[Clarke can be as disappointed as she wants; Rita's not budging-]

Excuse me? Do you see any other genius mages around here? [No, she's not aware of any issues with doubles plaguing the area; why do you ask?] If you've got something interesting, then spit it out, already!

cracked reflection, the finale

[skaikru]

( after natsuno, it's time for rita.

the strife here is of a slightly different flavor. the reclusive version of her genius mage has been quiet and removed, kept to herself and done clarke no personal injury. but let's stretch the definition of personal, considering she'd had to watch the real version of her friend struggle and come undone by the effects of personality erosion. her rita had likened this experience to a type of torture clarke had not been present on the serena eterna to suffer through, and that'd tugged at her heart. there'd been a sudden and overwhelming urge swelling up in the bottom of her diaphragm that screamed fix this in not so many words.

the fake rita is much easier to find than the fake natsuno. and likewise, clarke brings different tools. stops by her apartment long enough to empty the pockets of her cargo pants of handmade crosses and replace them with that bottle of moonshine she'd taken from the hospital room mini fridge, and wipe the blood off her etraya supplied knife. she doesn't change her clothes though, which means when she reaches the doorstep of the imposter's shack, her sleeves and knees are still soaked with red.

like her own imposter (or maybe because of it's continued existence) clarke doesn't bother knocking. keep out. seriously, might as well be an invitation at this point, it's a sentiment shared; get out of this world. the door gives easily enough, but creaks loudly.

the interior is a mess of books and papers and unfinished wood. this doesn't exactly scream fire safety, mordio, she catches herself thinking, then shakes her head. reaches into the largest of her pants pocket and pulls out the bottle. uncorks it easily enough and slides her thumb over the mouth like one would a hose, to choke and direct the spray. then finds the closest stack of research papers and upends the bottle.

splashes and splatters 120% proof across the walls and furniture and floor; makes the ink on scrolls and articles and books run with alcohol, bleeding into unintelligible messes. how much can she deface before being found out? )

[myagic]

[The odd personality bleed is starting to affect this Rita too, of course. Not very dramatically--after all, it's hard to pursue genuine friend connections when there's no context for everything that's gone into building those relationships--but she's been starting to spend a bit less time in the shack. More willing to confer and share information with others on the overall situation, to acknowledge they may need to combine efforts to reach an understanding of this world and its laws. At least, the inklings of this shift are starting to show.

So it is that Rita isn't actually at home when Clarke sneaks in, though it isn't long before she's returning from a shopping trip--one where she's even acquired a new flashy outfit, though the lack of Catsuno sweater on her person should still be telling enough--and finds the door ajar.

And she isn't interested in being subtle when confronting a thief, so she shoves the door open, takes a cursory glance around to observe the scene before her--Clarke again, hasn't she bothered her enough, wait, what's with the mess everywhere, is she defacing all her resources/i>-]

You...!

[Deep and guttural and accusatory comes the single word as Rita's face contorts in fury. She doesn't care which Clarke it is. She just immediately takes a steady stance, dropping her shopping bag with no further thought towards the stationary inside, and her hands instead flicker with the light of a growing flame that she aims towards Clarke.]

You're gonna pay! O flickering blaze, burn...Fireball!

[skaikru]

( despite expecting discovery, despite seeking confrontation, clarke's head whips towards the door when this rita bursts through and her teeth lock into a tight grit. she inhales sharply, already anticipating the worst but —

it's been more than a year since the last time she was on the receiving end of rita mordio's magical rage. and it'd be a lie to say she hadn't willingly revisited that sordid memory in preparation for this moment. after all, what use was pain and suffering if you couldn't learn from it?

the moonshine bottle is upturned and almost completely empty. in that brief pause between burn and fireball, clarke swings her arm back and hurls the bottle directly at the doppelganger's face. the aim is a little haphazard, it might sail wide, but the goal is a distraction; to make the other girl choose between protecting herself by ducking out of the way or else exploding the glass projectile still containing a quarter cup of highly flammable liquid. but just in case rita ignores her own survival instincts and doesn't even flinch, clarke is diving sideways behind the nearest stack of books to get out of the way of that impending fireball.

if anyone is going to burn her again, it'd at least be the real rita. )

[myagic]

[Clarke may have found her Rita's physical combat prowess lacking, yet she's still racked up far more experience in that area compared to her hermit of a double who never travelled the world fighting as a team. Her first instinct therefore is not a a too-late dodge, but instead to re-orient her target to the incoming projectile before she even recognizes what it is.

The fireball launches from her hands with the flash of a red magic glyph and connects with the bottle: the glass shatters immediately, propelling small magic-fuelled sparks and shards of glass around the room--along with the now-burning ethanol, adding quite literal fuel to the fire as Rita's now very-flammable house is also set alight by those wayward sparks.

Rita shrieks with fury, even as she instinctively holds up a hand to shield her face from the explosion of glass and flame-]

I'm gonna kill you if it's the last thing I do-!

[-And then she feels heat that's not just from the burning books and wood, but closer, as decidedly not-so-flame-resistant new clothes have been splashed by flaming ethanol, and then her shriek turns from murderous to...still very murderous actually but now also one of pain.]

[skaikru]

( clarke hits the books with less grace than intended — there's seldom any grace to be found at all in a life or death situation, but it's fine, she doesn't knock the wind out of her diaphragm completely and recovers quickly enough. there's no rush of heat on her heels, which tells her before she can even glance back at the other rita, that she'd not shot off that fireball in her direction. the subsequent tinkling of shattered glass falling confirms it, and that shriek...

oh.

the second one is so much worse. digs so much deeper into her chest cavity, evokes something akin to real fear — not the adrenaline numbed, determined detachment of having committed herself to this murder hours before — as the pitch hikes up. that's a scream of pain if she ever heard one. and not just any pain, the nerve decimating pain of being on fire. clarke's teeth set on edge, remembering the whimpers she'd swallowed while running off a burnt calf and sloughing forearm. and her sweat runs cold, vivid imagination launching her back to the space outside the bridge, wondering if this was how it'd sounded when her rita had her arm charred off all those years ago. a wave of nausea rises, she can taste the bitter bile on the back of her tongue. and even vehemently reminding herself that this isn't her version of her friend, it's hard not to feel something for the other girl.

she's paused a second too long, stationary with her face peering out around a book stack to watch the way the fabric of that new sweater melts into the skin beneath it. eyes wide, nostrils flaring as she smells burning flesh yet again; a prime candidate for rita to fire off another round of flame at if she can. )

[myagic]

[Being involved in magical experiments means Rita's no stranger to the occasional mishap, including fire too close for comfort--but never like this, where her skill with a fireball has been intentionally turned into a trap. Instinctively, she flails and bats at the burning fabric transmitting blistering heat to the skin of her arm, finally managing to stop shrieking and grit her teeth through the pain just long enough--a faint flash of blue light, and the hand she claps over her arm conjures enough water to douse the flame. The cool water soothes the pain for only a moment, and when she turns to look for Clarke, streaks of tears run down her face, and she gingerly clutches the blistered and burnt limb to her chest.

How dare she, how dare she, how dare she! Some sparks drift through the air as the flames and smoke grow, and Rita spots the culprit behind the stack of books, and unleashes a wordless shout of fury. She knew that traitor would turn on her, but the nerve of her to burn all her research--and her, the burning pain reminds Rita-

Her limited magic here means fireballs remain the best option, so yes, despite the flames and her burns, there's almost no time that passes between Rita locking onto Clarke and shooting a pair of fireballs her way. (Why hold back? Nothing will be salvageable at this rate, anyway.) The only fanfare accompanying the attacks is a furious and hateful scream:]

Burn in hell! I hate you, you--just die!