[network] @cgriffin; day 008 [open]

[coleader]

[ from what Clarke can tell, the tablets are functioning again. she's still wary of the text function failing again, though, so this time she opts for video. anyone who might have assumed someone named Clarke was a guy is instead treated to a young woman. there's a flash of zebra print underneath her jacket. ]

Hi. It's Clarke, again. I've reached the south wall.

[ and now she's wandering endlessly to and fro, hoping to see some semblance of human life. ]

If anyone else is nearby, let me know. But that's not what I wanted to talk about. I kind of doubt it's what anyone wants to talk about after... that.

[ first, the video posted from MarbleHornets' account, with those horrifying shadows and screeching. now this, crying and screaming and clawing. Clarke is visibly unsettled, likely the first time anyone has gotten to see her this way — she's been trying to keep her poker face up, be someone that can be depended on, but this is too much to ignore. ]

Someone was in pain, screaming nonstop all night — what was happening to them, why would they do that? [ whatever was happening to them, is that what @ADMIN wants to do to the others? the signal couldn't have come from somewhere other than Norfinbury. ] They were here, they had to be here. They're still out there somewhere.

[ Clarke takes a breath and composes herself. the scared girl is gone, replaced by her "calm and in charge" look. ]

I got another injection this morning, and I'm guessing I'm not the only one. We need to group up as soon as we can. There's strength in numbers. I don't want to alarm anyone, but I don't think we're safe on our own anymore.

Comments

@TW; video; private

[maskintape]

[ Tim has indeed been assuming Clarke was a guy and would be pretty surprised to discover that she isn't. Unfortunately, Tim isn't here right now.

What is here is a video trained on a page from a child's book. There's no noise, other than the wind. There's some static, though.

After ten seconds, the video shuts off. ]

@Chillinski; video

[figureitout]

[After a few days here, Stiles has adopted a policy when using the network: respond in the same way the person he's writing to is choosing to communicate, and so Clarke is getting a video of, well, half of Stiles' face as he seems to have placed the tablet on the floor so it's not quite aligned in the way it should be-- and so she can see he's currently sitting cross-legged in a building that seems to be in the verge of collapsing entirely.]

You're definitely not the only one. And the screaming... [He pauses, scratching his chin, in an equally impressive attempt to seem calm and composed and not freaked out of his mind jesus christ, escape assassins and berserkers back home and come here into this, great.]

Maybe it was the same things that were at the school. I mean... we can't be that unlucky, right, that they'd throw multiple supernatural creatures at us? [Because those things are still out there, too. Probably. And it's not a comforting thought.]

I'm gonna start heading south, too. I wanted to make camp near the grocery store, but I've got supplies for a couple of weeks. [So that should last him, and whoever he might find down in said south-- at least nobody's dying of hunger just yet.]

@MarbleHornets; text

[genreblindness]

[It's reassuring, in a really disturbing way, that he and Tim weren't the only ones who saw the screaming things. After all the hallucinations he'd had last night, he hadn't been entirely sure if it had been real.]

I'm not so sure we'd be much safer as a group.

[coleader]

[ OK cool that was a helpful reply. Clarke laughs a little, but it's one of those confused, unsettled laughs where the person doesn't know if they should actually be laughing or not. She's not actually expecting a reply, considering that was a non-response to begin with, but she sends back: ]

Well, I don't see you. What is this supposed to be?

[coleader]

[ Hey, Stiles. FMK: Beacon Hills, Norfinbury, Hell. ]

You think they're supernatural?

[ They looked supernatural, and it felt like she was in a horror film, but that doesn't mean anything. Paranoia is clouding their judgment. ]

The supernatural is just— a way of explaining things that people couldn't understand. We've found rational explanations for those things since then. There has to be a rational explanation now.

[ She sounds confident, but the end of her sentence goes up in pitch a little almost like it's a question. There has to be a rational explanation for everything, but so far she has found nothing rational about Norfinbury at all. ]

But that's good. Camp near the grocery store. I'm starting to run out, but I'll make it.

[coleader]

What makes you say that?

[ She thinks on it, then adds: ]

This might be off topic, but did the video and audio malfunctions seem [ weird? creepy? slenderman-y? ] significant to you?

text;

[maskintape]

Ⓧ

[ Wow. Isn't that helpful. ]

send us.lead me.i am watching.fix it.

[genreblindness]

A large group moves a lot slower. It makes for an easier target. Not that these things seem to have any trouble finding us anyway.


The distortion was a lot like what I've seen back home.

[Interpret that as you will.]

[coleader]

[ super, thx!! ]

Are you—

[ Actually, screw it. She won't lie, she's becoming vaguely unsettled at the thought of him seeing her face. If he won't show his, neither will she. ]

Are you okay? I don't understand. Fix what? Lead you where?

You're not making any sense. I can't help you if you don't make sense.

[coleader]

Great.

I didn't think about being a slower group, but I'm not sure if it would matter. And if we're alone, it gives them the opportunity to pick us off one by one. What happens then?

They know where we are at all times. There's probably a tracking chip in the tablets. At least a large group means we'd have backup.

[genreblindness]

If they wanted to kill us or whatever they'd have done it already. They could probably do it whether we're alone or not.

But really I don't even know, maybe your idea is the best option anyway. Too tired to think.

[maskintape]

[ Geez, people. It's like they have no appreciation for fragmented nonsensical bullshit. ]

he lies.i will go back.we will end it.and you will lead me to the ark.he is a liar.no more waiting.

[ That counts as making sense, right. I mean, it's not like there are any ciphers here or messages written in binary or artistic clips of running water. IT'S ALL VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD. ]

[coleader]

I guess I'm worried they have something worse planned for us than killing us.

[ But she's staying positive!! Trying to, anyway, but it's difficult when you doubt your every thought. ]

I don't know. Maybe not. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, I can't tell. I just don't want anyone to get hurt. I don't want any more screaming.

[coleader]

[ ...at least throw some screechy background music in there, it's like she's getting no effort put into this at all. ]

Okay. I'll lead you to the Ark.

[ She's clearly dealing with someone who's come unhinged. It's not like it's her first rodeo. Clarke's supposed to be calm, reasonable, uncritical. In reality, she's sort of disturbed, but nobody needs to know that. ]

But I can't do that yet. Especially not if you're being so vague. Can you tell me who's lying?

[maskintape]

he is.

[ A round of applause, everybody, for the most enlightening answer in the history of everything. Holy fuckballs this is goddamn masterful. ]

[genreblindness]

They probably do. Maybe the screaming was part of it. I don't know.

Sorry I'm not being very helpful am I. Like I said, I'm too tired for this.

[coleader]

Oh. Okay.

Does he have a name?

[ To avoid another vague as hell answer, she adds: ]

And if the answer is yes, what is it?

[coleader]

No, it's understandable. We're all tired. Being kept awake until the crack of dawn by screaming does that.

Maybe you should work on just getting some rest? You can start fresh tomorrow.

[genreblindness]

I wish I could but

[But my friend got taken over by his creepy alternate personality and he ran off and I have to find him is what Jay does not say because he's not about to start spilling Tim's secrets just yet.]

but there's something I need to take care of first.

[maskintape]

[ Brb drawing a pouty face on the mask to indicate its displeasure at having its cryptic bullshit pre-empted. SO RUDE. ]

he already told you.that wasn't the lie.no more games.time to go.

[ HEY HEY TOTHEARK HEY DID YOU SEE THAT, MASKY CAN PUT HIDDEN MESSAGES IN THINGS TOO

REALLY SUBTLE ONES ]

[coleader]

Okay. I get that, but don't forget to take care of yourself, too. The cognitive impairment after sleep deprivation can be similar to that after several drinks. Just be careful.

[coleader]

[ ur hidden messages really do suck. It's actually kind of sad how obvious that was. She would feel a little pity if she wasn't already feeling a lot of pity. Someone is playing games here, but it's definitely not her. Is she supposed to be concerned? Is this psychotic break going to end horribly? ]

I thought you were Tim.

[genreblindness]

I know what sleep deprivation does, thanks. I'm used to it.

[coleader]

It can also make you irritable.

Sorry, I didn't mean to patronize you. I guess I'm used to looking after people. Good luck with taking care of things.

[maskintape]

[ MASKY IS NEW AT THIS OK CUT IT SOME SLACK. If Hoodie was here they'd show all you naysayers what's what and there would be codes everywhere and not a day would go by without people watching Jay sleep. It would be a fucking utopia. Hashtag friendship goals. ]

no.wrong.stop questioning.your turn to lead.