[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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Comments

[howdull]

Inconvenient. Next time an anomaly kills, it is important for those remaining to retrieve the body.

[warriorscribe]

I'm afraid that's not possible. Anyone who comes too close to an anomaly risks losing consciousness, and they take them immediately.

[There's a pause that betrays his discomfort before he thinks to add more:]

They consume them in some way. I don't know how our bodies are retrieved if we come back.

[howdull]

[That's not too much of a surprise. If these things are, as he suspects, merely wild animals being enhanced through hypnotic suggestion or hallucinogenic drugs, then consuming their kills makes sense.

He has a few theories as to why people pass out when they get too close. The animals are perhaps carrying high dosages of the drug on their fur, too much of which has a soporific effect? Perhaps.]

How close can one get to an anomaly before passing out? Is the loss of consciousness immediate?

[warriorscribe]

It is if you touch them. Up close, I have managed to retain consciousness, but the nausea and dizziness would have made it very difficult to focus.

[He wasn't trying to do anything, though. He'd invited this anomaly in particular, though he's certainly not volunteering that bit of stupidity.]

[howdull]

How close have you come in feet and inches? How long did you remain in close proximity.

Exact numbers or the data is all but useless.

[warriorscribe]

[He has heard these measurements in passing, but doesn't understand what they are, not having seen them demonstrated enough.]

I don't know what feet and inches are, and if I did, do you think I would have measured the exact distance between myself and an approaching anomaly?

There is one encounter I escaped, and one I did not. Both times, I was very near for only an instant, and the only difference between them is whether or not the anomaly touched me.

[Not really - the difference was whether or not he was running...]

[howdull]

Very well, an informed estimation will have to do.

[He can measure exactly by sight, but he keeps forgetting that he's talking to idiots.]

Centimetres are acceptable. Also, I require a full description of both anomalies.

[warriorscribe]

I don't know centimetres either. The one I escaped from resembled a twisted headless angel, and the closest to me it came was perhaps no more than two palms? Very close, and I think only the fear kept me conscious until I was farther away.

The one I did not, I would rather not speak of.

[howdull]

Why not?

I must have all the information if it is to be at all helpful.

[warriorscribe]

[The response takes a long while to come.]

It resembled a dear friend of mine, battered and broken. It wasn't him, of course, only my memory made it appear so. That's the only useful thing I know about it.

[howdull]

Battered and broken how? Describe the injuries, the set of the limbs, everything you can remember.

[Does he seem at all sympathetic to the fact this is possibly emotionally distressing? No, not at all.]

[warriorscribe]

How could that possibly help you?

[He's used to such lack of tact. Said best friend could be much the same way, at times. Angels had little reason to develop empathy, after all... Between it and the distance the tablet allowed, rather than shut the conversation down, he continued. Maybe this is a person similar to his friend, after all, who simply doesn't understand.]

[howdull]

It won't help me as much as viewing the creature itself, but it will give me more insight into how they may have died.

[warriorscribe]

[He's silent for a long time, trying to type it all up at once and failing. He's probably completed several other conversations by now, in fact.

But Enoch wants to help. This person seems calm, rational, logical. If there are puzzle pieces to be found, he would be one of the sorts of people to find them, even if he can't see it.

And yet...he can't bring himself to do it.]

Are you absolutely certain it will be of use? It's so painful to think of, it's hard to describe.

[howdull]

It happened weeks ago, didn't it? Pull yourself together.

[Wait. No.

This is sentiment, that's why he's still upset even weeks after the fact.]

Obviously I mean there there, take your time. But yes, I'm certain, so get on with it.

[warriorscribe]

Well, you're trying. Thank you for that. I should tell you that still came across as incredibly callous.

[The things people will put up with when their only close friend for so long is empathy-deficient... Honestly, he probably would have just made him mad if he'd been anyone else. But no, Lucifel might have done something similar, himself.

...Oh, it's so hard to think of him. He just can't do it. He'll type a description and be so overcome he can't send it.

He realizes he'll have to commit parts of the description to the network before his pain gets the better of him. Type and submit, get it out there before he can take it back.

Sherlock gets a series of short, clipped messages.]

I can't do it all at once. It hurts too much to think of.

There was a hole in his chest

It didn't bleed

Sometimes it was filled with distortion

His eyes were, too

But sometimes they bled instead

His spine was broken

His top half was weighed down

By his head and wings

Also broken, his wings

You could see the bone at the ends

I'm sorry

I can't go on yet

[howdull]

[He is unusually patient as the messages come through, waiting until he has all the information that is forthcoming before he bothers to reply again.]

Thank you.

[At least he can be kind enough to offer gratitude.]

If its spine was broken, how did it pursue you?

[warriorscribe]

[Enoch needs to take a moment to gather himself after all of that, so Sherlock will have to exercise patience a bit longer before he gets a reply. Or, series of replies, as it may be. These are punctuated at the end - maybe he's switched to voice to text?]

On his legs.

I know he shouldn't have been able.

But he was.

[howdull]

[He can assume at least part of this description is the mind playing tricks due to shock and terror, but it's still interesting.]

I suppose it would be too much to hope for that you captured video?

[warriorscribe]

I didn't record it at all, no. I'm sorry.

[A brief pause, and then the followup:]

Was this any help?

[howdull]

I suppose it wasn't totally worthless.

[And all available information gathered, Sherlock just hangs up.]