Natalie's very life has been a matter of contention since before her earliest memories. Born to an unstable, cruel-hearted mother and a weak-willed father, she was raised in the stronghold of a secretive cult for the first few months of her life.

Rage won't save me but it will make me the only thing left.

She signs again, slower, "I ate them."

She signs. 'I ate them.'

small....

[Back in another world and another origin...] She forgot to get candy. She can probably throw a costume together quickly? How is it almost November already....

...By the time morning comes, the Courser could already have chased her inside, and cut down anyone in their path in the process. She needs to move tonight.

🥺

Not looking back - trying to find her things, then find somewhere to lie low until morning.

It's not as if she's given voice to the cause of her fear, though they may well guess it. That would be... a problem, actually, but she didn't stop to think about that before fleeing. She hasn't given voice to anything at all, at least within the walls of her altered memories.

A Courser's curiosity is the last thing she needs. It's not like they need to be armed, either. She signs, palm face up, and the side of the other hand cutting across it: STOP. And she turns and quickly strides away.

She's about two seconds from booking it. That might at least give the settlement a chance at survival. Why the hell were [two] of them after her?!

Soft as sheep's wool on a wolf.

DON'T LIKE THAT.

Don't like that.

Watching the watcher, unsure if she is watching the watched while watching.

Relief. The first few settlements hadn't had anyone capable of signing. She's found help in more settlements than she'd expected since then - but one is still more than zero. [You were fine, really. Better than a lot of people. I saw what happened. Do you all need help?]

She opens her mouth to speak, then falters and signs, N A T A L I E Properly, her designation is N4-14, but people look at you funny when you start throwing in numbers.

🧍‍♀️

||I just realized bsky doesn't notify you if someone lists you and that's honestly kinda nice

They need a hand. If she offers one... it could bring more trouble.

'Hey, who the hell are–' CRNKCH Startled instinct - and way too much force behind it for her opponent. One of them must have had plans to cover their eventual get away. Now he's just on the ground, clutching a collapsed windpipe and slowly struggling.

Time for her to not be so close to the camp maybe.

Commotion down below. It's not her hunter yet, just a tale as old as the wasteland, and maybe older than that. Not her business, though, whatever it is. She'll just stay put, in her little patch of brush and blankets.

||PENROOOOOOSE!!!!

A stranger arrives in the foothills near a mountain settlement. She has run for so long she's lost track of the sunsets, and knows she can only afford a brief rest. Below, a number of farmers work the autumn fields, preparing for winter. Further in, the settlement begins its day.

In another world and another time, with different fears and bones...

shakes @vegasrot.bsky.social

||those notifications with a name that ominous on like THREE ACCOUNTS spooked me so bad

Snrk.

“There’s something about her that seems so familiar. It’s like an image in the corner of my vision that disappears when I look at it.”

No suit, and nothing more than a small domino mask. She's not planning on stopping anywhere, and not ready to get back in the game yet. Even running feels like a gamble; she needs to rebuild the trust that her powers won't lead her family to her doorstep, first.

📱 Hey, I'm back in town. Want to meet for Deleted. 📱 Hey, you. I know it's been a while but Deleted. 📱 I just took a year contract in the city, as the Public Deleted. She lets the phone drop on her forehead. Maybe her nose will swipe out something less painfully embarrassing.

This was a mistake. She should buy her return ticket. (The lease is signed. 12 months.) There's no point coming back. (And the contract. 12 months.) ...This is either going to be pointless or a complete disaster.