Day 230 audio; @dreamsnhonor [cw: anomaly body horror]

[heroproceeding]

Hey, Zack here. So, Enoch mentioned this earlier about our anomaly buddies coming around again.

Thing is... there's something off about all of this. Not only is the one that's been following me different?
But Zell and Kuns have been telling me they see 'em like a mess of something or other. You know, your typical anomalies. But for me and Jim, it's different. The anomalies almost look like someone we know. Just faceless.

[ It would have sounded crazy maybe six months ago. But right then, if anything, Zack just sounds tired as he makes note of that. That's before the video comes on to capture one of the anomalies in question. To those who've had their lights stolen, the anomaly looks like a young lady in her mid-teens. Innocent looking enough, right? Well- expect her face is gone as he mentioned.

Those who haven't had their light stolen will see something more akin to the Norfinbury flavored expectation. An oversized flower curls and spins, the leaves that remain with it red and curled almost like a bow behind it. The creature crawls along on multiple lithe hands with eyes running down the sides of them. They look worse and worse for wear the further down you look, black and cold with frost bite though only iced over with a blue hue. Sometimes Occasionally, the flower opens wide enough to reveal its center to be a mouth lined with tiny, sharp barbs for teeth. Typically when it seems to get off balance which also reveals what at first looks like to be a long braid behind it to be a set of roots that uncoil from one another and help balance it out.

Zack flicks the video back off with a frown. ]

I feel like we should do a tally of who's seeing what and maybe then we can figure things out from there. So, shoot me a message and let me know what you see. And if you have any theories, I'd like to hear 'em right about now.

[ He's just about to cut it off there when one last thought- if not a slightly distracted sounding one -occurs to him. ]

I'm also attaching an updated list of those who've been discovered and identified in the morgues, too. You can thank Davesprite for the help.

[ An attachment can be found along with this message. ]

( ooc: Durp. Slight edit in the brackets due to a reading error. This is why you don't read the new plot in the middle of the night. )

Comments

[heroproceeding]

no I'm pretty sure meow mix did. I don't remember seeing it in my mouth anymore after that and no one went after me since.

[ ...Wait.

Wait. ]

no one went after me because I didn't have a light left but you would still have your light right. yours and Steph's too. and if that's what they're after that'd be why they're targeting you. that what you're thinking?

[mrcreamsicles]

i dont know if i had a light to take
i was a monster after all
but either way i did have stephs so
i suppose the next thing is to poll everyone else what happened to them
do they see a person or a monster
were they a person or a monster then
for normal people: did they lose their light
for monsters: did you take a light
ask enough people and the cause should should become clear

[heroproceeding]

yeah.. that might be the best thing to do here. I doubt it'll help us deal with the anomalies but it would at least give us a better idea of what's really going on with them. wonder if I could add it to this somehow. or maybe you could just add the questions onto this with a new text below? what do you think?

[mrcreamsicles]

people might ignore it or miss it if i just ask down below
if you cant add up top then its not too difficult to ask people directly when they reply

[heroproceeding]

yeah that's true. and for something so important I don't think we want it to be missed. I don't think we can afford to miss even one thing these days. not if we want out of here alive.

[mrcreamsicles]

[It's an uncomfortable line to read. He understands perfectly where the sentiment comes from, but with a monstrous version of John floating along behind him it's been impossible not to return to all his doubts about what may be waiting for him back in paradox space. It makes everything all the more emotionally tiring than it was already.]

its worth looking into
i know i have things i want to check later
even as completely exhausting as this place is i want to keep working until weve put a stop to whats happening here in general

[heroproceeding]

yeah. that would be for the best for everyone if that's something we can do.

[ Whether it really is something that can be done, he's not so certain, but... worth a shot, right? ]

I know I've said it before but if there's anything more I can help with let me know. you've been a big help with getting together that identification list so it's the least I can do in return.

[mrcreamsicles]

nah
all im doing right now is hurrying my ass up north before my monster can pin me to the snow again
and ive got other plans after this is over
the morgue photo thing is just when i happen to pass through
i could have gotten more today if not for this throwing a toolbox worth of wrenches into that plan

[heroproceeding]

[ That actually gets him to chuckle just a bit. Hardly anything but better than nothing. ]

heh. you sure it's not just a toolbox? I was thinking more along the lines of a shed.

but it's really only been pinning you in the snow? I mean not that I'm complaining. just you know how usual attacks go with anomalies.

[ If he recalls right, Davesprite's even had a personal experience... ]

[mrcreamsicles]

lets compromise and call it a whole hardware store
it knocks me out as soon as it touches me
but yeah im not dead
just cold

[And both emotionally and physically worn out from the whole experience. He could barely sleep last night, and who knows how long these things are going to stick around.]

[heroproceeding]

fair enough I guess.

but yeah. knowing this town it could be a lot worse. guess I don't really have to say to be careful at this point. you know that song and dance. I just hope they go away soon for all our sakes.

[mrcreamsicles]

couldnt agree with you more if i were literally programmed to only say yes
im being as careful as i can under the circumstances
you guys be careful too zack

[heroproceeding]

careful as we can under the circumstances.

[ The smile on his face is weak as he mirrors that back, but it's a smile at least. Even if it can't be seen. ]

I'll catch you later Davesprite.

@standardissue; text

[deus_ex_phs]

If you're starting a poll, here's my contribution to it.

Wasn't a monster.
Didn't take any lights.
Didn't have any lights taken from me.
The anomaly following me looks like a twisted version of someone I knew, at least to me. Zack says he looks normal, just faceless.

[mrcreamsicles]

huh
well thats my original theory in the garbage
i thought it was straight up monster vs non monster at first
but thats the point of asking about the light thing so good job all of us for finding another clue
now i guess we just need backup from more examples
preferably to find someone who got monstered yet didnt take any lights to figure out how that side works
thanks kunsel

[deus_ex_phs]

No problem. I'll let you know if I find out anything else.