[network] @makeme; video; Who Did The Thing [open] [cw: blood/talk of violence/language] Day 141

[coyoteking]

[The video begins with a shot up Charles' nose before he moves the camera up and out to the rest of his face- mostly the left half of his face, actually. There's blood smeared on his forehead, and he looks pale. Also pissed.]

Okay, listen. First things first, we didn't start it. Second things... second, he's not dead. For now.

And third thing, I would just really like to know who the hell this guy is.

[The tablet is turned around to show a body on the ground, face down. A hand comes into frame, and it's heavily but sloppily bandaged, red soaking through. There might be one fewer finger there than there's supposed to be. The hand tentatively grabs the nearest shoulder- there's a muttered-] shit- [And then the man on the ground is rolled over. It's Beckett, for those who recognize him, though Charles, clearly, does not. He's unconscious, and there's blood on his face, too. Mostly near his mouth.]

This asshole, I'm pretty sure he just swallowed my goddamn finger, and you probably don't wanna see what he did to Charlie. I don't really wanna smash his face in with a hammer, but it's also really kinda tempting.

[Charles brings the tablet back up to himself.]

For now I just need to know: who is this guy? And why the hell did he just try to kill us?

[A pause. Charles looks uncertain about this next part. Wary, maybe.]

Also... are there... any... doctors listening? I think Charlie might be in trouble.

Comments

audio @nvcr

[staytunednext]

[Least helpful response incoming, given in the most certain of voices.]

He's the creature from our terrifying bonding exercises, the entity in league with the mysterious and not at all menacing Robert Miller from the underground.

@makeme; video

[coyoteking]

[Oh, it's Cecil. AKA Conspiracy Theory Guy. Which means Charles probably shouldn't take what he just said seriously, but he's a little on edge right now.

And memories of the monster that bore his dead father's face are not a super welcome addition to the things currently floating around in his head.]

Wh- You mean that thing that melted Haurchefant? But wait a minute, we- I hit him. I thought you couldn't touch anomalies. I also just touched him and I didn't melt.

@guardian; video

[phaseshifter]

Beckett! That's Beckett - don't hurt him. I'll come and get him, just - no hammers.

[ Oh god. Oh geez. Oh heck how far away are they can she and Rhys make it there before lockdown oh god what if they can't is this guy going to just leave Beckett out in the freaking snow aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAA ]

@makeme; video

[coyoteking]

Uh. Little late for that.

[On both the "don't hurt him" and the "no hammers".]

And who the hell is Beckett? [That name's vaguely familiar, but he can't place it right now.] Better yet, is he like, a serial killer? And for that matter, who're you?

[God, Charles so does not need this dude's crazy friends coming to finish the job he started.]

@totheark; text

[0thingsonmymind]

*!!!*

where are ?

@makeme; video

[coyoteking]

Yeahhhhh that doesn't answer any of my questions. We're in the middle of nowhere, and that's all you get.

[At least until he's sure you're not just coming to gang up on them, sorry dude.]

@duster, audio;

[bywolves]

He ate your finger? [ Royce is - well, okay, that's a thing. He's making notes of who to stay the hell away from. ]

@makeme; video

[coyoteking]

Well he bit it off, anyway. I dunno if he actually ate it.

@dickcheese; video

[headjacked]

Oh, shit.

[ BECKETT JFC

Rhys takes a moment to rub his eyes. When he speaks, his voice is choked with concern. For the victim, yes? Haha. Nope. ]

He has a blood... thing. Just -- separate yourselves from him and don't you dare beat him up anymore. The guy's had enough crap to deal with lately!

@makeme; video

[coyoteking]

[Really. R E A L L Y.]

He's had enough crap to deal with? Jesus Christ what is with you people? He bit off my goddamn finger. He ate Charlie's eye. Or fucked it up somehow, I don't know, I was kind of busy dealing with the fact that he bit off my finger. He literally tried to kill us. You're lucky I didn't return the favor already.

[Sorry Rhys, he's dealing with a lot right now. You get to be the dump site.]

@estibien; audio

[dravanicide]

When I half-heartedly mentioned some of us going cannibalistic, 'twas meant in a metaphor, not literally.

I suppose I was none too far off the mark. If I were you, I'd dispose of him ere he harms another.

@makeme; video

[coyoteking]

Oh. Hey Esta Bien.

[He might be nine-fingered and halfway to panic city, but he is never too wiped out to make that joke.]

I'm... not gonna kill the guy. His friends are all breathing down my neck and me and Charlie aren't in much shape to fight anymore today, so.

[Yeah sure, that's what he says, but Royce just gave him a good excuse. Really, if they started wiping out dangerous people, he'd have to include himself, and that's not really his style.]

@jwatson; video

[jumpthegun]

[John really has enough to be getting on with at the moment, but Christ! His tone is dead serious and his expression grave concern when he replies.]

This is Dr. Watson. Could you please describe the injuries Charlie has? If he's bleeding heavily, what I need you to do immediately is find some cloth, use pieces of clothing if you have to, and apply heavy, even pressure to the wound. If he's missing any limbs, I can walk you through creating a makeshift tourniquet.

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

Hey, hi, Charlie here. Limbs are fine. Eye's, uh, maybe gone. Can't see out of it and there's a lot of blood but that's stopped I think. He bit the fuck outta my neck though. I... I think it stopped? Definitely lost like, a shitload of blood, though. But, uh, that's the worst of it. Oh, and um, thanks, also.

@enhance; video

[plundering]

[What the... fuck...]

What the hell happened? He swallowed your finger literally?

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

[Charles is busy yelling about how big of an asshole Beckett is, so Charlie is just gonna slink in here...]

Oh, hey Fiona. Um. I dunno what actually happened to the finger, but it's definitely, like, off.

@standardissue; voice

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel curses under his breath as he reads all of this. Beckett, what the hell?]

Right, for what it's worth, I can vouch that he's not normally like that. That said, what's Charlie's condition? What's yours, besides the obvious? Are you going to have any problems getting inside before lockdown?

@makeme; video

[coyoteking]

We're fine. There was a building nearby.

Charlie's up and talking, so can't be that bad, right?

[He'll just brush right on past the questions about his own.]

And no offense dude, I get that he's not "normally" like that? But he was like that long enough to eat parts of us off, so.

@quark; video

[averytinyparticle]

[Oh, well, would you look at all these people defending Beckett. Well, guess who's not gonna do that, and who's going to discredit some of the statements that have already been made? The boy with the grudge, that's who.]

What?!

[Can you hear the rage and indigation that's taken over the small, malnourished body?]

I can't believe this! Beckett has done this before! He's attacked people! For no reason!

@totheark, text

[0thingsonmymind]

he had rea son be fore

*Not a good reason, as far as he's concerned, but a reason.*

voice; @zd

[swatsflies]

[ Welp. Frickin hell. ]

Dammit!

[ And then he's hanging up to pretty much spam Beckett with messages. ]

@ketximq; audio; a few minutes after Charles posts [cw: talk of eye injury]

[mightyratslayer]

[Charlie's pointedly going to avoid video on this one. He hasn't had a chance to inspect the damage yet, but it definitely looks bad, especially with how Charles is reacting. Since when is Charlie the chill one between the two of them? Then again, he's not usually this mad. Not even the regular kind of mad that he gets. He doesn't even want to yell at people this time, but Charles is yelling at people and the fact that he even needs to be yelling at people just... Ugh.

When he speaks, he's quieter than normal and his words come out a bit slow. His breathing is a little shaky too, but mostly he just sounds tired. And pissed. Maybe more pissed than tired.]

Okay, everyone just like, calm the fuck down. We're not gonna kill your precious fucking vampire, okay? And I'm... Okay, I think, in case anyone cares. [That's not altogether true, but he's sure as shit seen worse around here. He doesn't want any more people freaking out and trying to come to them, though.]

Bleeding a lot, though. Or, I did. Think I got it stopped. [He's not about to check in case he's wrong, though.] But, go figure, got jumped by fucking vampire so I lost a lot of blood and not sure what to do about that. Shit hurts like a son of a bitch. At least the other guy gets to be knocked out.

[Also Beckett put out his fucking eye but he doesn't figure there's much to be done about that. Can't see out of it, it stopped bleeding, whatever, it's dealt with.]

Anyway, everyone stay the fuck away. Don't come find us. We'll lock this prick up for the night because, make sure you're sitting down for this, we didn't wanna fight him in the first place. We'll hook you up with our location tomorrow, after we're long gone. 'Cause hey, if he's so misunderstood, we'll totally be alive tomorrow, right?

@itsybitsy; audio

[redrooms]

[Watson seems to have the medical advice covered, so:]

Do you have any weapons besides the hammer? Any way to tie him up?

@lockhart; audio

[powersouls]

Are you two okay? Did you find a doctor to help?

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

[Huh, another username Charlie doesn't recognize, but thankfully this lady's not harping on him about beating up Beckett. Awesome. Glad to know not everyone is on the vampire's side.]

Uhh, hey, yeah, we did. Some guy named Watson? He gave me like all kinds of good advice, I think. I'm busted up but I think I'll be okay.

[...Oh, right.] Charles too.

@SceptredIsle; text

[keepscalm]

I wouldn't kill him. He wouldn't learn a lesson that way.

[England needs to make sure they don't kill Beckett, but he has to give them a reason they'll actually buy. Harsh, but necessary.]

I see you've already been given adequate medical direction, so all I'd advise beyond that is doing as @itsybitsy says. Restrain him as thoroughly as you can.

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

Don't worry, man. Not gonna kill him. It's just not worth it at this point. [Charlie kind of wants to now, but also doesn't... really... want to. Maybe he'll just kick him a bit later or something.]

Thanks, though. We're on it.

To @ADMIN from @jwatson (screened to @makeme, @ketximq, and @enhance)

[jumpthegun]

@ADMIN
Eve, this is Dr. Watson. I know that you've had the emergency medical assistance turned off for some time now. I don't know if you have the resources available again, but we need your help, please. We've just had an unprovoked attack by Mr. Beckett on two men - Charlie and Charles. Charlie's lost an eye, Charles has lost a finger.

Please, if there's any assistance you can render, they need it. I believe Mr. Beckett's suffering from extreme MN Poisoning that's made his need for blood overpowering. This isn't something he would normally do. You've seen everything we've done on the network and around town. He doesn't attack unprovoked.

If you could spare any resources for this, whether it's NIMA resources, or even just additional bandages to help them so their wounds don't get infected, we need the help.

Thank you,
Dr. John Watson, MD

@ADMIN

[snowblindmods]

We apologize--our supplies are completely out of stock. We have nothing to supply until a restock occurs from the outside or until our supplies replenish naturally. Estimated time until natural resupply: 200 days. Please take the afflicted to the nearest hospital in the meantime.

@haurchefant; voice

[silverfuller]

Beckett!?

What has happened? He is not...normally one to attack unprovoked....

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

[Charlie lets out a big sigh before responding. Please don't let this end in another damned lecture. He likes this dude...]

Not a clue, man. Not a fucking clue. We were just walking around and he came outta nowhere. I don't know what his deal is but we sure as shit didn't do jack to provoke him.

voice @Enoch

[warriorscribe]

He...he bit your finger off!? What-...

[Give him a moment. Priorities - this doesn't sound like Beckett, but people are hurt. One of them very badly.]

...Has a doctor responded yet?

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

Yep, Charles lost a finger, I lost an eye, some blood, you know how it goes. [This is like the tenth time he's had to explain the situation, sorry Enoch!] Typical day around here. But, yeah dude, we got Watson on the case, no worries.

@dissect; audio

[circumsutus]

Oh, that's Beckett. Put a stake through his heart.

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

I'd rather not get the shit kicked outta me by his crazy friends, thanks.

@bloodbrine; text

[bloodbrine]

He attacked you, and is likely to do so again.

Slay him and be done with it.

@estibien; audio

[dravanicide]

Full glad am I that at least someone in this gods forsaken town has some sense.

If the man is maiming people, little is there reason to keep him around. 'Tis a right folly.

@kingdomkey ; video

[seekthelight]

What's--wait what happened to Charlie! Do you guys have bandages or anything? Where are you guys?

[Panicked Sora is panicked.

At least it's something to take his mind off Cloud being gone, right?]

@ketximq; audio

[mightyratslayer]

[BIG SIGH. Crap, another kid worrying about him. Stop worrying about him, you kids!!]

Hey, dude, chill out. I'm fine. [He doesn't really sound fine at this point, but his definition of fine is "not dead" so...] Don't worry about it. Really.

@starspangledhero; voice; private to Charlie and Charles

[fifty]

[From what he can hear, both of them are his citizens, so he wants to at least talk to them away from everyone who might jump on the conversation.] I'm sorry you guys got hit up by the crazy Beckett defense squad. Looks like there's already people helping you guys out, but let me know if you need anything else and I'll do my best to get it to you.

@makeme; video; private

[coyoteking]

I don't know who you are, but thanks man.

Glad some of you guys have your priorities straight.

I'll let you know.

[action!]

[bookofnope]

[He wakes to a pounding headache, a sick feeling, and blood in his mouth, again. Though this time, unlike after his attack on Jade, memory comes quicker and more in full. For a long moment after consciousness returns, Beckett stays still, keeps his breathing still, his eyes closed. The Beast is still roaring in his gut, though physical pain and weakness keep it from slipping his control again. And, he very quickly realises, even if it did slip, there'd be nothing for it to do but struggle in bonds.

Which is more than fair. He's very relieved.

At last he lets out a groan - or rather, it escapes him. He hadn't missed nausea. Must be a head wound, must be pretty bad. More than fair. He keeps his eyes closed, fully expecting another beating to with any answer he might get.]

... how badly did I...?

[Action and cursing]

[coyoteking]

[By now they're all inside and Charles has stopped screaming at his tablet. The bleeding seems to have slowed down all around, and everyone is still alive, but they're far from out of the woods yet.

Currently, unbeknownst to Charlie, Charles is planning- of literally all things- an impromptu surgery with Dr. Watson. But that doesn't mean he's forgotten about the tied up vampire across the room. When Beckett moans, he sits bolt upright, tablet temporarily forgotten, clutching the hatchet in his lap.]

How badly did you what, asshole? Lose your fuckin' mind? Because the answer to that is "pretty damn bad".

[He'll leave out how injured they all are until he knows this dude isn't just going to bust the makeshift rope they tied him with (thanks Nat).]

@Mnemosyne; Day 142; text

[bookofnope]

[He was going to have to speak up eventually. Beckett sends this to the network around midday, after responding to the people who messaged him in private.]

I apologise for this incident. This shouldn't have happened.

You all know what I am. I'm not certain if the hunger is influenced by something like MN, or the natural outcome of months without feeding. It makes no difference. I can't control myself at the moment. I'll do my best to avoid all of you, and it's best that you avoid me. I'm at the area south of the lake tunnel. If you're there, tell me your location, and I will head as far as I can out of your way

If you have other ideas of a solution I will welcome them. But I don't intend to allow myself to be killed, so let's get that off the table from the get go, shall we. Other than that, I'm sincerely sorry. It won't happen again.

@estibien; voice

[dravanicide]

Full glad am I that you wish not to find convenient excuses for what crimes you have committed. Nevertheless, it does not make amends for what you have wrought, and whilst your suggest to avoid others would seem a fine solution, 'tis aught but.

Not when you could go hunting once you have lost lucidity.

[He pauses a moment, as if considering.]

I have mine own thoughts on handling your fangs and claws, however, I wager you will not approve. It changes naught, should we cross paths, we will not meet as friends.