Characters/Muse

Muse's immediate impression is that of an odd but harmless mental defective, exhibiting withdrawal from her surroundings characteristic of autism or profound schizophrenia. At times, she may engage in limited communication, though it is never entirely clear whether she is responding to the querent or to something of her own imagining, and her responses may be incomprehensible or irrelevant to what is posed. Other times, she is dumbstruck with wonder and fascination by apparently unremarkable surroundings.

This behavior appears to be an elaborate attempt to conceal the fact that she is infected by the Strangevirus. That she is tainted by it is unmistakable upon close examination; her bodily fluids are infested with nanites and her exterior is dusted with a sparse coating of stray particles. Infrequently she will engage in a minor display of physical resilience and flexibility which cinches the matter. Periodically she will emerge from her fugue state to display herself as a true Strangevirus host, often doing this 'in confidence' or allowing others to deduce her nature from subtle but deliberate clues.

Muse is convinced that she is host to an unique strain of the Strangevirus. Her attempts to conceal her Strange-infected nature are themselves a ruse to conceal her differing strain from hosts of the standard virus, whom she is convinced would destroy her if they discovered her secret. In truth, most Haemotopians are bemused by her evident madness.

Her delusion, if it is such-- no evidence has been presented to the contrary --results in some curious behavior. She is loath, perhaps afraid, to infect anyone with the disease; this reluctance extends to the nanites themselves, which are curiously obedient in this regard. She shuns the company of other hosts and takes no part in the Haemotopian culture other than some superficial affectation.

When fully emergent, she will at times be overwhelmed by empathy or emotion. In contrast to typical Strange victims, Muse will sigh and weep with little provocation. She will be protective of those who should rightfully be her prey. It's possible that emergence is itself a ruse to convince her that she is unique and to maintain her delusion. She is never seen engaging in typically violent Haemotopian pastimes, and when emergent she is uncharacteristically serene, and presumably suffused by messianic delusion.

She has confided to at least one mind that she intends, at some future date, to supplant all standard Strangevirus infestations with her own strain, regarding it as the corrective for the Strangevirus plague. It is not improbable that, existing in a constant state of paranoia, Muse might begin to infect 'worthy' hosts in order to facilitate this impossible task, although she is not known to have ever infected anyone.

Nanites recovered from Muse show no characteristics distinct from conventional Strangevirus particles.

Muse may be in love with the Cube Tree.

Muse's physical appearance is that of a common varpine? dressed in grotesquely elaborate/understated modern-archaic garb.