[log] Knock, Knock. Who's There? [open]

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Characters: Everyone Listed Here
Location: All around Norfinbury
Date: Night of 320
Summary: Some current residents of Norfinbury attempt to reach out to "Those who were here first."
Warnings: General Norfinbury Warnings. Will update if required
Notes: This is the log for the Tablet Seance discussed OOCly Here and ICly Here.
Events in this post come AFTER Tess's broadcast



w.graham; video

[ Tonight Will is transmitting from his own tablet and his own user name. After what he'd seen happen with Tess, he had spent some time wrestling with whether or not to try to go forward with the planned seance. It was a hard call, as he didn't want to in any way trivialized the trauma they had all witnessed, especially on top of the recent obituary notice and of course Peter Quill's loss.

A lot of death in a short period of time.

But in the end, he realized that this was what made these experiments and these attempts to work out this damn puzzle so important. They needed to get out of here and to do that they needed to get past this roadblock they appeared to be stuck on. Will was no wordsmith. Not like Hannibal or Jack, but despite his discomfort Will didn't try to get Beckett, Hannibal or House to take over the initial announcement. If rocks were going to fall, metaphorically speaking, then Will would put himself first in line for the impact.

Thus the video fired up, showing Will -as tidy as Will ever managed to look- in an interior space that was hung with tapestries. Probably building 316. ]

Good evening.

First I want to offer my condolences to those who are friends of Tess, who we lost tonight. I recognize that these deaths are hard on our community and I considered holding off on the idea of the tablet seance for another couple of days.

[ Will looked down, giving them a moment of silence, before he deliberately looked back up, his expression more firm. ]

But I realized that a death like what we saw tonight, something that should be preventable because none of us should be here, is exactly what our attempt tonight is meant to help combat. That the possibility of learning something, that could help us move past our current stumbling block, is precious and we need to keep trying.

As has been discussed with some of you already, the group I'm with had an interaction with a female Russian ghost in the shed just off the school in Residential Zone Three. When we asked for help, she responded 'Look to those who were here first.' This message, in addition to a conversation Beckett and I had about trying to get people who may have an affinity with the ghosts of those who were here first, is the basis of this experiment.

This attempt to use an open communication line across our tablets may or may not yield anything. The hope is it will offer a coordinated effort that allows us to reach across as much of this town as possible, aiding us in getting in touch with a wider swath of the previous populations than if we tried to physically move from location to location.

A lot of you have offered to assist us with this effort. [ Here is where someone would probably break out motivational words. Will just looks awkward, before shrugging. ] Let's give it a try.

[ With that, he'll leave his tablet logged in as a starting point for building the chain of connections. ]

[OOC: EVERYTHING IS READY TO GO!! Please hold off commenting until I have the threads established!

It probably goes without saying, but threadjacking is encouraged! ]

Comments

Will Graham

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Will Graham	Dogs Law Enforcement Mentally Unstable Murderer Suicide/Murder Prophet Symbol Boating Mechanical skills	Dog in Building 31	Residential Zone 3 Building 316	Network Post

@w.graham; audio

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

[ When all the connections had been established, and it sounded like everybody was standing around breathing, Will caught his lower lip between his teeth and spoke on audio. ]

A few days ago I had the pleasure of interacting with a very sweet dog. I gave him or her, back their hedgehog toy.

I've also done some things in the name of trying to investigate what is happening here. I work with the FBI back home, at least I did, so investigation is what I do. But I apologize if I've upset any of you in the course of my attempts to better understand this place.

Perhaps I should have stuck to trying to fix things, and left well enough alone. But all the mechanical skill in the world, doesn't seem to be helping us get through these doors and we've come to a standstill, just when it would seem that we need evidence to move us forward.

So I'm here, to ask you for help. Please help us see what we've missed, so we can help you in return.

[ It wasn't Shakespeare, but maybe it would touch a cord. ]

Beckett

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Beckett	Blood, vampires, History/archaeology/record keeping, Languages, Religion (Christianity), Prophet symbol, Wild animals, Apocalyptic shit		Ice tunnels, building 141 (post office)	Network Post

@Mnemonsyne; voice

[bookofnope]

[Since they have space in the post office, Beckett chases all three of his companions out before kneeling alone in the room by his tablet. He knows that he isn't actually getting any privacy - in fact this may be the most public bit of speaking he's done in his life - but he needs to pretend. It's a long time before he finally pitches in. In fact, he waits until he's reasonably sure everyone else is done before speaking.]


If anyone is listening, you'll have to pardon my no doubt painful awkwardness. This is... difficult. I've thought for a while about what I could offer you - all that remains of you, of this town. This world. Now, I'm sure we could have very entertaining conversations about vampires in popular culture and the thrill of rogue archaeology, but somehow I don't think that's what you want. Running the risk of being patronizing, I think I have some insight into what you want. Because I am all that remains. I know what I want, whatever is left of me, when everything and everyone else is gone.

I want freedom, I want memory, and I want to know there was a reason, that what I was, what I've lived and done, mattered, in some way, any way. You know we're all working towards the first, not out of the purest motivation, perhaps, but we will all help you if we can - to return, or to move on, but at least to have the choice. But me - you know, I have said to you before, that I will give you memory. Of you, your world, and what happened to it. What went wrong. Trite as it may sound, I think I understand now - why me, why this, why here. I thought I was looking for the beginning, but I've always been a historian, specializing in lost things. Beckett, chronicler of Gehenna... True Thomas, recorder of endings.

Let me be this for you, as I am for me and mine. Others will ask you about the way forward. I ask to see what lies behind... how it came to this. Perhaps if we know it, this history needn't repeat itself. Perhaps... we can get it right, this time. This last time. It is the only reason I've found for my own soul. I offer it to you. That, and faith.

Alfie Solomons

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Alfie Solomons	Jewish people (or religious people in general?) War veterans/military people Guns Gangsters (or criminals in general?) Russians or Russia-affiliated people			Network Thread

@ASolomons; audio; he is in building 269!

[devoutish]

[Compared to a lot of people's, Alfie's message is on the short side. His voice is hoarse and his tone a little gruff, but he's honestly trying here, and his words are completely genuine.]

Right.

[He clears his throat.]

Haven't talked to you much. Not like some of the others. But in return for burying you, you did give me a blanket a few weeks ago, and some food just recently - for which I am sincerely grateful. Yeah. That pastry was called babka, which you may know, and it reminds me of home; it's important to me.

[There's a pause, and the sound of shuffling around as he tries to get more comfortable.]

We're fucked, all of us. We wander in circles, day after day. And maybe you've got nothing for us, maybe you'll hear this and think, "Ah, Alfie, you're right that you're fucked". But we're a bit desperate, and you lot are all that we've got to turn to. So if you've got news, clues, information, hope - speak.

[He repeats the general gist of the message in Russian, and then again in - why not? - Yiddish. He goes to shut off the recording, but then at the last second, adds something else in English:]

Those prayers I said for you - those were Jewish prayers for the dead, to send you off peacefully. Don't know if any of you are my people, but they're the prayers that I know.

Angel

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Angel	Artificial intelligence Robots Space Imprisonment/restricted freedom Dying young Parental Issues™	Andromeda	Ice tunnels, Building 141	Network Thread

@guardian; audio;

[phaseshifter]

Um... hey. Andromeda? Or anyone who's listening. Assuming you are listening. But I don't think that's an especially large assumption to make, if you're all just. Stuck here? There mustn't be much to do except watch and listen to us, when you're able. That's what I did at home, when I was stuck in one place! I wasn't-- it didn't last a thousand years for me, though. I hope that's just a mistake, and none of you have been trapped here that long, because it was just under fifteen years for me and that was... freaking terrible.

Uhm, anyhow. I guess you already know we need help. I doubt we're the first to reach out. But maybe this time, if you give us some answers, we can end this! And then we can help you in return. I can. Or, um, will be able to. If you really are all data stored somewhere, anyway. Winter said she'd let me help her, if and when it's possible! And you know she wouldn't let just anyone fuss around with her programming, right? But that's not all I could do to help you. Sometimes - at home, before things got really bad - I'd lie down and use my powers to make my bunker look like a field of stars. It was kinda... It wasn't like actually being free, I'm not going to lie, but it helped remind me of what being free felt like. Does that make sense?

[ She hopes it makes sense. And that she isn't talking to thin air, because she's starting to feel horribly self-conscious. Appealing to spooky data ghosts isn't coming as naturally as she thought it would.

Oh god this is starting to sound like a resume isn't it this is what happens when your world is neck-deep in corporate bullshit ]

Anyway, I don't know if that's anything any of you would like. But if it is, I can-- the offer is there. Even if it all works out and everyone can leave, I won't go anywhere without helping to make things right for you. I promise. But you have to help us first. Or at least answer some questions for us...?

Please. And thank you.

Bruce Wayne

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Bruce Wayne	Martial arts, Crime/crime fighting, Weapons, Finances, Companies, Engineering, Languages, Research on meta-humans		Ice tunnels	Network Thread

@Wayne, audio (Open/General/Russians)

[gothamiteknight]

I know you want justice just as much as the rest of us. If there's anything I can do to make that happen, I'll do it. In my...world, that's what I do. Crime-fighting, but more importantly, saving people who need help. The world isn't fair, and the world's taken far more than it should have. Help us take it back. Help us help you to get the justice and closure you deserve. That you need.

Look, I'm not going to sugar-coat it. We're desperate, and anything any one of you can tell us would be helpful. If it's easier for you to respond to someone with similar interests or occupation, I'm the CEO and owner of my--admittedly successful company. I've been practicing martial arts for a long time, and I'm not so bad on the engineering front. Let's talk.

Also, how exactly was this place getting funded? Was it the government? Private investors? Who's still funding it, even now? Your power and resources have to be coming from somewhere.

[He then adds in fairly decent Russian, though with an American accent:]

If there's anything we can do to help you, please. Let us know.

Chaos

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Chaos	Spirits Space Philosophy and Religion History Language A desire for peace End of the world (secret) Music Lost love (secret) Being stupefyingly old (secret) Giant robots	Mysterious Russian-Speaking Ghosts, Andromeda	Residential Zone 3	Network Thread

@user; voice, (directed to Andromeda)

[cosmicwords]

[chaos is in Residential Zone 3]

...Andromeda.

I know you heard us when we asked for your help with our friends in the sealed tower.

Thank you.

You enjoy the stars, right? I'm from there, you know. The stars. Seeing all of those patterns in your place makes me feel wistful for home.

I imagine you miss home as well....

...Something terrible happened here, didn't it? I, and many others, would like to help this place heal again.

We want to see you all happy....

I promised Winter I would see you two reunited, as well.... I... know what it is like to be separated from a partner you love dearly.

Please, tell me what I can do to help...

Davesprite

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Davesprite	Birds Teenagers Music/Rap Photography Video Games Swords Time Travel/Weird Time Shit	Sparrow Langley (and parents) Andromeda	Residential Zone 1	Network Thread

Ecks

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Ecks	Murder Rules Running away from home Stuffed animals Collecting	Building 42: clowns and pie		Network Thread

[ecks]

[Ecks is in building 89 with Rhys and Wilson -- the murder house. It's Rhys who's concerning himself with the dead of this building, though; Ecks is speaking to the ghosts who care about the things she cares about:

Stuffed animals.

And anyway, she couldn't sit in the room with him for very long because it made her nose bleed. She sequesters herself in another room of the house, surrounded by her stuffed animals.]

My name is Ecks. One time one of you gave me a pie because I put your clowns back together. I enjoyed putting your clowns back together even though clowns are not my favorite because fake animals are my favorite. I also enjoyed the pie. Another time I found a room in Hsiaoke Pass, which is the old residence buildings that are destroyed now, and in the room there were so many fake animals that I could not take them all with me when I left. I liked all of them, though. I enjoy collecting soft things that are nice and I enjoy having fake animals to hug when I sleep and to use for pillows and I like that one of my fake animals is like me because Red Cat is made from many different animals and I am made from many different corpses. I think that I would like other people who also like collecting fake animals, so I think that I like you and I want to talk to you and I want you to talk to me as well.

I remember most of the names that I gave to the fake animals in the room full of fake animals. I do not know if the person who owned them before gave them names, but I gave them names. There was Crab, and Lizard, and Bear, and Monkey, and Big Bear, and Medium Bear, and Yellow Monkey....

[She drones on like this for quite a while, rattling off the descriptive names she assigned to all of those stuffed animals that one time.]

England

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
England				Network Thread

@SceptredIsle, voice; open (protesters)

[keepscalm]

[England is in building 320 in residential zone 3.]


[This would be easier with a name, but they've got so few of those on the record. At least England is used to this sort of vague and strange communication.

It's long-winded, but England reads out the coded message that they were initially given, letter by letter.] SAFE: xiai xiai kic xoeqzw tmmjtd-wwvjr. Five five six twelve thirty-seven.

One of you gave this to us. The key to exploring a new area of the town. But I'd like to know what led to that. I can only assume it was some sort of lockdown; was it before the bombs? After? If it was before, what could have possibly possessed the Administrator to seal off areas of the town as such?

[He pauses out of politeness, but since he doesn't really expect an answer, he continues on.] I'm familiar with the sort of subterfuge necessary to resist an absolute power such as the Administrator. And right now, she seems to be working against our long-term survival and escape. We could use the assistance of those who learnt their ways around her.

If you would all be so kind, I ask you to trust me.

Enoch

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Enoch	Historians Hobbyist historians? Maybe cult victims? No seriously he can apologize For the brainwashing thing. He'd love to in fact Also religion, of course	Unconfirmed travel-loving ghost in building 67, Victims' spirits in various cult-owned buildings in the Industrial and Residential 3 zones.	Ice Tunnels, Building 141	Network Thread

@Enoch; voice (directed at one ghost in particular, with a lot of fudging for obvious reasons)

[warriorscribe]

Ah...so I believe one of you out there may have lived in the building I was first placed in? The one next to the park east of the elementary school. I'm sorry about your bed, by the way, but the materials I took from it did save my feet from frostbite, if it helps to think of it that way. You helped an old desert-dweller immensely, you know. Speaking of desert life... You liked to travel, and kept a record of old ruins you once visited, as well. Would you like to hear about some of these places when they were living, bustling cities? Would that repay you for the things I had to take from your home?

[He goes on a bit of a ramble here, filling silence with talk of various ancient Middle Eastern cities in their prime. Some are recognizable, while some don't seem to have survived intact enough to remember their names today. He remarks on the architecture and what didn't survive to the pictures she took, and contrasts various societal quirks; of note is the way taboos often seemed designed to discredit rival neighbors; those things that one nation despised their rivals exalted.]

Flynn Carsen

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Flynn Carsen	Languages Literature Egyptology Traveling Exploration Botany Fencing		Residential Zone 3	Network Thread

@librarian; audio (Open/Russian)

[cahooted]

Hello. My name is Flynn Carsen. I'm a librarian.

[That comes out wrong and stilted, so he clears his throat, correcting himself.]

I'm the Librarian. In my world, that's, um, that's what I'm called. I search for lost secrets and forgotten words. Things nobody believes to be real or exist anymore. Things that seem impossible to find, buried in times and secrets.

I used to think that anything can happen in the world of books. Still do, actually? I believe they hold slices oft he ultimate truth. ... So of course I couldn't help but notice that this town is severely lacking in literature and art. Books are scarce. I found some manuscripts the other day but no name attached to them. The museum has been vandalized. No information on artists and writers can be found anywhere as if they were being purposefully erased.

[He pauses, trying to think oft he right words to say.]

So much seems to be lost in the static. If there are other record keepers around, I would love to discuss the matter with them. Maybe you can help me uncover your forgotten words. Maybe you can help me make new ones. Maybe I can tell your story.

[There is a pause before he switches to Russian and repeats the exact same message. There were books in Russian around after all.

After that he adds:]

Hello. I've seem to have lost my way in the snow and I heard you were there. Can you help me?

Gabriel/Sylar

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Gabriel/Sylar	Watchmaking Organization Anatomy (esp brains) Murderer Baking Mechanical Skills Super Powers/DNA	Ghost cat Andromeda	Residential Zone 3	Network Thread

@godsend, video (Andromeda)

[termineur]

[ As Gabriel comes into view, it's clear he's wearing all the things Andromeda has given him- his constellation blanket over his shoulders like a cape and star-print earmuffs on his head. It's how he prefers to lounge, once they're settled in a place, but usually he takes it all off to talk on the network. Not so much this time. He's settled in the corner of the sports shed next to the high school, and looks about as comfortable as it is possible for anyone to look here. ]

Hey, Andromeda. This is Gabriel Gray- again. I'm probably not the best person to try talking to you, but here I am, anyway. I don't know much about programming or AIs or even the stars you like so much, but I do like learning. So thanks for showing me the constellations, and keeping me company the night I spent alone in your place. And of course, for everything else you've done. You've saved us a few times.

[ He pauses for a moment, hand reaching up automatically to run a finger along the scar on his forehead. It's only briefly, though, before he taps it and pulls his hand back down. ]

We're trying our best, when it comes to navigating this whole thing. We'd like to help you too, whatever we can do. But we're kinda stuck, right now. Our minds just don't work the same way as all these people who were infected by the Prophet cult. I'm not sure where you are now, or where you're watching from, but if you have any insight as to what we need to do next to get ourselves through- well, then maybe we can help you, too.

I'm pretty sure you're like us, and you just want this cycle to stop, and freedom if we can manage it. I know the odds aren't great, but for whatever reason there's a bunch of us here that are used to beating the odds. We're putting everything we have into this, so- wish us luck?

[ He clicks off for now, but after he's done with the other two messages he'll come back for an hour or two to talk about astronomy and what he remembers from his couple of trips to Andromeda's place. That's far more of a 'keeping her company' sort of chat than a request. He can only imagine how lonely she's been, if she's been conscious for this whole thing. ]

Ginger Hale

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Ginger Hale	Sewing/Knitting Fashion Design Art/Drawing Flowers (Basic Knowledge) Being Nice			Network Thread

@prettypinkflowers; audio

[lacecase]

Um...oh gosh, I'm, like, not too sure how to start? My name's Ginger and I'm just trying to talk to anyone here who knows how to sew. There's a house with a sewing machine and another that looks like it was being used by someone in fashion and design? I am, too! So, like, both of your homes have been so lovely and helpful all the time I've been here. I hope you don't mind, I've been using your things to try and keep us all warm. It's, like, super cold here, you know?

[Is this helpful? Maybe not. She hums to herself.]

Also, to the woman who made that beautiful quilt...there was a secret message hidden inside of it, right? So you were, like, part of the resistance? If you could tell us more about your story or how you think we could help, that would, like, be so great! We've had a video of you in our public record for so long but never stopped to ask what else you might know. Please, if you can, give us some kind of sign?

Gregory House

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Gregory House	Doctors/Nurses/Patients Drug Addicts Physics Prophet Symbol Music Video Games Strippers/Prostitutes	Jia Xu Andromeda Shelley Derricks (both usernames) Robert Miller Addict in Building 130 Strippers in Building 172 Victims in Building 310 Russians from a Previous Session	Residential Zone 3 Building 316	Network Thread

@hotstud_xxx; audio (open + a few nameless "ghosts")

[rubikscomplex]

[House is shaken from the experiment they ran earlier today when they made it to Building 316. He doesn't like another person being here now--Junpei--that he doesn't know. It has him even more on edge than just Hannibal and Will. But they're doing this. They need to do this.]

So. Some of you know me as that asshole that keeps destroying things... or setting them on fire... or licking them. Anyway, the point is, we're not friends, we're not gonna be friends, and we all pretty much hate being here. At least I assume you guys hate being here. No one seemed super thrilled in that shared dream we had, like, half a year ago from what I heard. That's the last time some of these other people got to talk to you. Most of whom are dead at this point, I'm pretty sure.

We're all dying to get out of here, right?

I'll keep this on point. I've encountered some of you as data ghosts, people who think they're actually still alive, and... just as theoretically being there. We need your help. Yeah, yeah, it's rich coming from me.

If there are any strippers from that club downtown listening, I've got a twenty with your name on it, no lap dances required. Just some gossip on who's been visiting you and what things you might've overheard that could be useful once we get to the center of this mess of a town, or that might tell us what the hell's going on here. You're right next to City Hall... relatively speaking. Or you were before the walls went up. I'm assuming politicians will be politicians, whatever century it is, and you've had important boys in fancy suits with fancier IDs.

If there are any addicts from the pharmacy listening in, I've got your hit in my pocket if you can figure out a way to get that off me. I just wanna know if you know where we can go to find a machine that'll let us filter these little nanite suckers running around our veins. It's not the hospital. You ever been sent to any other buildings for treatment of whatever you told them you had?

Hannibal Lecter

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Hannibal Lecter	Surgeons Psychiatrists Artists Murderers Chefs Cannibals Butchers		Residential Zone 3 Building 316

@rephaitemercy - audio

[tablewithoutpity]

Good evening. I'm speaking now to the original inhabitants of this town.

I can only imagine what pain you must have gone through. Pains that have continued as you have been trapped in this place. In this time.

My name is Dr. Hannibal Lecter. As a psychiatrist I have worked with many who found themselves trapped in quite similar ways. Trapped in unhappiness, despair, in the agony of grief and guilt. Shackled to the past and unable to move on. I have helped many people free themselves from their bounds. I can help you.

The things that have happened here...you might consider them to be horrific. But I believe that there is beauty in everything, even and especially the darkness. The meal cannot be prepared until the animal is slaughtered. There is no life until there is death. Where do you see beauty? Perhaps you follow the Prophet because she makes masterpieces of the darkness? Is that why her symbol is etched upon the bodies of her followers?

[Hannibal switches to Russian.]

I know what it is like to be a stranger in a strange land. If you wish it, I can speak to you in your language. I can also bring your message to those who do not.

Jared Rhys

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Jared Rhys	Clergy (Pagan) Murder/trauma/grief Speaks Russian Addiction Exorcism/Ghosts/Magic Prison/Criminals Family issues/estrangement	Murder/Suicide House 89 Office building Dad Ghost	Residential Zone 2	Network Thread

@hexappeal, video : Building 89

[sleight_of_fate]

[Rhys has no idea how this is going to go, but he's going to make a good go of it. He's done plenty of seances, this shouldn't be so that different. Just follow the usual routine.

He's brought in the tiny candy-wrapper-and-silk-cord doll he left in the grave last time he was here, and also retrieved the bloody, cloth-wrapped knife from the corner. It's in front of him along with a lit candle - this ritual is much simpler than the last. Just the focus items, the items most important to the ghosts here. Anchors.

He's also got a was of toilet paper to wipe away the blood, and he's sitting a few feet away from the shadowy figures so that he can talk without blacking out. Ecks was here for a short time, but he's waited for her to leave before starting, just in case.]

Hey. My name's Rhys. I was here before, to try and help you rest. Thank you for the blanket, and I'm sorry it didn't work. I understand why you did what you did: sometimes when there's no way out, you do what causes the least amount of pain, because you have no other choice.

But you shouldn't be punished for that. Especially not like this.

I want to keep trying to make this place let you go. Especially since there are a lot of others trapped here, some of them also children. I was hoping, maybe you could help me. Help me understand why you're still here, why you're trapped and what this place is.

What was so terrible that you had to get away from? Can you help me? What were you protecting your child from? I have a tablet here, if you want to talk to me. You can write on it.

[He swiches languages, to a slow but understandable Russian.]

I also know Russian, if that helps. Please, talk to me if you can?

Jim Hawkins

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Jim Hawkins		Murder/Suicide House 89 Child from 290 Sam the Prophet		Network Thread

Action in House 89 and @JPHawkins, voice

[rattlingthestars]

[ Before lockdown that night, Jim is sure to go outside and leave a little origami boat on the child's grave. He doesn't say anything - waiting for the group effort - but he still wants to do something to mark the grave and the bones.

When it's time, though, he settles in the room with the shades. He takes out his tablet and records a message: ]

This is Jim. I'm 89 on House's map if anyone wants to try to communicate with the spirits here.

[ After that he sets aside the tablet, still recording. ]

Hey. Not sure if you remember me, but we met before - you and me an my friend Kunsel. We've learned a lot about what must have happened to you back then. We don't blame you for what you did. Or - or for the mess.

Can you tell us anything more? We don't want to be taken either. I just want to go back home. My mom's waiting.

John Watson

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
John Watson	Military/Veterans Law Enforcement Parents Doctors/Nurses/Patients Journalists/Bloggers Guns Astronomy	Jia Xu Andromeda Riley Sung Family with a baby in Building 37 Patient who needs help in Building 131 Office worker dad in Building 263 (DELETED_006) from a previous session	Residential Zone 1	Network Thread

@jwatson; audio (DELETED_006/Toriel, Jia Xu, Riley Sung)

[jumpthegun]

Toriel? Bloody hell, this is awkward. [And he's not feeling absolutely great after watching Tess die and being incredibly distraught about that.] Toriel, I dunno if you were in the previous sessions. I think you might've been. Someone a lot like you was, if it's not you. Um... do the lady who liked making pies with magic and calling people 'my child,' I just wanted to say we know you were here. We haven't forgotten that you were and we're trying very hard to get to the center now to finally shut Norfinbury down, stop more people being dragged in. I dunno if you're still here somehow after having your session terminated, but if there's anything you can remember about how you got through the different areas, we need help.

Jia... we never met, but I feel like I know you. I saw the hospital when there was that sickness after I met you in the dream. I couldn't help then, and I'm so sorry. I'm sorry you've gone through all of this. I'm not sure what there is left to ask from you. If there's anything you want done, that you need done that was left, please let us know. We can't get into where you were bricked in to be able to give you a proper burial. Is there something else we can do?

And Riley. We haven't met, either, but I woke up in your house. I'm a blogger, myself. Not a proper journalist, and I came to this career a lot later than you. I write about the adventures of my friend Sherlock and the people he helps with his crime-solving. I know you were writing about the protests when they... when you were taken away well before you should have been. Is there anything you can tell us about those? Anything that they were trying to hide?

Kunsel

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Kunsel		Murder/Suicide House 89 Jia Xu's ghost cat		Network Thread

@standardissue; video/action (Jia Xu, her cat, and the victims in house 89)

[deus_ex_phs]

Jia Xu [video]

[Kunsel's got one of the cat toys they used when they were trying to draw out Jia Xu's cat. He tosses it up and down, then wiggles it on the floor temptingly.]

Here, kitty kitty kitty... You remember me, don't you? Bet you haven't played with anyone in a while. Why don't you come on out?

[There's a small pile of food in a dish on the floor, too. Not cat food this time, but actual chicken, saved from a recent trip to the grocery store.]

Jia Xu, if you're listening, we got your message about your cat. Was there anything else you wanted anyone to know or do for you?

Murder/Suicide ghosts [video/action]

[His voice and expression are somber when he addresses the ghosts, present in the room. They made it to this house just in time for the seance, or whatever it is this is. He's got the video on, though, in case anyone else wants to address the ghosts.

It's a bit of a struggle to speak normally, what with the headache and nausea, but he's doing his level best here.]

Been a while since I passed throughhere, but I've been thinking about you two. You didn't want to get taken, but now it looks like you're stuck. Do you regret it?

If you do, I wonder if there's any way I can help. If you don't... How did you do it? How can we keep them from taking us, too?

Magenta

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Magenta				Network Thread

Mycroft Holmes

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Mycroft Holmes	Government (especially the UK), Politics, Languages, Oxford, Security, Surveillance, Seapons, Russian culture and politics		Residential Zone 1	Network Thread

@theiceman, audio (Open/General)

[holmesice]

Good evening.

My name is Mycroft Holmes.

[He's not entirely certain how to...speak to data-remnants of people, but everyone else seemed to be going for it conversationally, so...]

I hold a minor position in the British Government, but I have...an extensive amount of experience with security services. I'm curious if any of you out there can tell me anything that could help us with...our current problem, being trapped in this town, at the mercy of nanomachines. Anything at all. Perhaps if you're up for a little chat on surveillance, even. Your technology is miles ahead of ours, and I realize the implications that nanomachines have what could potentially be all-encompassing surveillance.

Also if there is anyone part of the government still left out there, I would also like to speak with you. What was the world like in your time? How was the town's leadership involved in any of this? How did the United States itself deal with this? I suspect the missles may have very well been from the U.S. and that there may have not been a traditional nuclear war.

Nicole Noone

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Nicole Noone	History, Exploration, Artifacts Traveling, Martial arts, Stars		Residential Zone 3	Network Thread

@noone; audio (Open)

[slapthelibrarian]

[ Nicole has no idea where to begin with this, so beginning with introductions seems to be the best thing right now. ]

Hello, my name is Nicole Noone. I know we haven't met, or talked, or have any sort of connection, but-

Back at home, I'm what they call a Guardian. My job involves taking care of the Librarian, protecting him and supporting him on missions. I don't know if there's anything that you need, or that I can do, but if there is, I don't limit my protection to just the Librarian. I've seen a lot of things in my travels: the most amazing and powerful artifacts, more temples and secret chambers than I can count, and- some death chambers as well. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have entered those and come out alive. Not because of anything I did, but because the Librarian is very, very smart.

[ Why she's saying all this, she doesn't know. She doesn't even know what sort of response she'll get. ]

The Librarian and I- we help each other out. If I can help others too, if they need it, I will. So, if there's anything that you need, or that I can help with, you just have to ask.

[ Flynn's her priority, yes. But she can and will help others who need it. But, on one hand, it feels strange to offer help to ghosts, but Nicole's not sure what to do. She waits a moment or two before ending her message and waiting to see if there's a response. ]

Peter Quill

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Peter Quill	Space Spaceships Aliens Piloting Music Movies TV shows		Ice Tunnels, Hospital

@PetertheGreat, video (Andromeda/Open/General) cw refs to character deaths

[zunesareawesome]

[Peter's...not doing very well right now. His voice is uncharacteristically flat, the usual bright inflection and thread of excitement is absent. There's times where it sounds like emotion is breaking through, a shaky undercurrent that threatens to reveal how upset he really is. He's still having a horrible time focusing, but all this sorrow and fear and anger are helping a bit, though mostly they're making him remember to focus on all the painful things.

But this is more important, and this might be able to help them get outta here. And no matter how awful things are, he had to help in any way he could no matter how much he just wanted to run screaming from the hospital and away from just...all of this.]

Uh--this is Peter Quill. Star-Lord.

So we're supposed to be speaking to dead people and--

[There's a catch in his throat. Why did he have to be in the hospital right now. Why.]

I mean, I just came back and there's a ton of people who died here before too, so we have a lot in common, right?

So. I...uh, wanna say hi to Andromeda. I heard you dig space and stars and stuff. I'm from space, I mean--I live there. It's pretty awesome.

[A sigh.]

Really awesome. I miss it. You'd love it, just--flyin' through the clouds of nebulas, skimmin' off the top of a gas giant's atmosphere, the clouds bursting behind you as you barrel roll through it...soarin' above the rings...I'm a pilot, I have my own ship. Been flyin' since I was like, ten. There's nothin' like flyin' a ship in space. And going on different planets. There's a gazillion different civilizations out there. [He'd felt the sheer amount of planets when Ego had started the expansion. More places than he'd ever dreamed of.] You'd never be able to visit them all in one lifetime.

I'm half-alien too. My, uh, father was a planet. Celestial, actually. But...well, a planet. It's weird. It wasn't a bad-looking planet, you wouldn't really know that it was like, actually somebody. He had some decent plants, though, and he did a really good job with making it look nice, I guess, considering how much he was a compete jerk--

[And he's losing focus again so he reads something he's scribbled down on his other hand.] Anyway, me and my friends we...we're called the Guardians of the Galaxy. Saved the galaxy twice now. So if you need some galaxy savin', we'll give you a discount. [Because Rocket was coming back. He had to.]

And yeah. That's it. Oh, and if there's any ghosts that like music, or tv shows or movies, hit me up. I'll play you a song.

[He then plays the following recording.]

Quark

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Quark	Children Survivors/Victims People who like children Crabby old men Cultists (was one of the acolytes) Alternate Timelines	Shelley Derricks Boy in Trunk Murdered Girl (Missing Hands) The Prophet/School Children	Residential Zone 2	Network Thread

@quark; video; open (boy in the trunk)

[averytinyparticle]

[Quark has to take a deep breath before he turns on his video feed. He has a big of an idea what he wants to say, overall, but isn't sure just how it's going to come out. Or where to start. So he figures he'll start with what feels like the most obvious.]

Hi, my name's Quark. I'm ten years old--well, I guess I'll be eleven, soon. It's been almost a year, I just haven't been keeping track of the time. I haven't had a chance to meet you, but I've heard about you, and I've been thinking about you a lot. If you can see me, or hear me, I just wanted to talk to you a little. I thought maybe you'd like some company, if it isn't too late. I hear that we're about the same age. I wish I knew your name, too.

It's hard to know how to act when you wind up in a situation where you know that your life is on the line. I've had to hide before, too. I've been trapped in places that I couldn't get out of--not knowing if someone would come back for me or if it was the end. It's lonely and scary. You must have felt those things when you put yourself in that trunk. It was the only way to get away from those people who wanted to hurt you...but for you, nobody did come back. I'm so sorry.

It's not the same for me as it is for you, but I thought maybe if I could tell you that I've felt what it's like to die alone too, to know that there's nothing you can do, you'd maybe trust me a little bit. I just want to live. I want to grow up to be an adult. I want to know how that feels and I'm sure you did, too. I'm sure you had those thoughts when you realized you were never getting out of that box. I'm sure your thoughts were so big and so much more than you know that you're supposed to have to think at your age. We're kids, right? Those sort of things aren't meant for us.

But those kind of things don't leave us alone just because we're young, and I need your help so that I can grow up like both of us deserve to. I wish I could be where you died right now, so I could really talk to you, and I promise...I'll come visit you, but if you can talk to me here, and tell me anything that you know, anything that could help me get back home again...

[Then what? Quark trails off, sniffling, rubbing one of his eyes on one sleeve. He's not so sure what else he can offer, so he shakes his head.]

I can't go back in time and be your friend or keep you company, but I'm here now. It's not much, but I'll remember you forever, so you never have to be forgotten.

Squalo

[ex_this_ismydesign36]

Name	Affinities	Specific Ghosts Discussed	Location	Link to IC Thread
Squalo	Murderer (for hire)* THE ITALIAN MOB* Fencing/swords/gladiators Dedication to one person Death before dishonor Family issues Mostly raised a kid/teen Speaks Russian (+sign) LOUD NOISES probably a psychopath *won't advertise this; claims to be a "bodyguard"		Radiation Zone (probably)	Network Thread

@superbia; audio

[sharktrash]

[ God this is stupid. ]

[ He feels stupid. This whole thing reminds him of kids playing scary story night and totally believing Bloody Mary will show up if they chant her name at a mirror. ]

[ But he said he'd give it a shot, so he's going to do just that. And do his best not to say the word 'stupid' aloud, just in case. ]

Hey... [ how do you address ghosts? let's try that again; ]

Hey. [ Followed by a some more "Hello"s in Russian, Spanish and French. ] Squalo here. I don't think we've met. Maybe? I do remember feeling someone else's rage in a house once. Was that you? Anger can be... fascinating. If it's something you'd like to share--

[ A small pause. ]

Oh yeah. If the guys with creepy eye marks on that roof were your friends, sorry about the... grave robbery. It was an off day.

[ PUTTING IT MILDLY... ]

[ He's not that sorry, really, but it's not something he would do for no reason, so it's not ingenuine either. That and hoping that corpse desecration doesn't come up while trying to contact the dead seems like pushing one's luck at best, so he's trying to own it. ]

[ It's funny how he hasn't really said anything about himself so far. He's still hoping it won't be necessary, though really, a bit of personal touch is not too much to ask here. ]