[network] @crescent; to die historic on the furry road [open]

[lancingintherain]

[usually, the worst thing about waking up is remembering how hungry she is. But this morning, as Day 45 breaks cold and overcast as usual, the worst thing about waking up is remembering that last night, her friend got literally eaten by a monster.

She has to warn people. She couldn't save Mami, but maybe she can help others. So once she's mostly talked herself down from numb grief and fear, she turns on her tablet's video function. At first, it's aiming at a wooden tabletop, but she tilts it to show a drawing. For having been drawn last night in the dark in the hazy, panicky aftermath of mortal peril, it's pretty decent:



She clears her throat and starts to speak, her voice low and breaking despite her efforts to keep it steady.]

Four days ago, I was traveling with Alphonse Elric's group. We were attacked by this monster here. [a gray-furred, four-fingered hand moves into the video to tap at the top left of the picture with one sharp claw.] It was... well, if you've seen Alphonse, you know how tall he is. This one was taller. It had... light, instead of skin. Like what we see on the videos, sometimes. I'm not explaining it quite right, but... we got away.

[she swallows, then takes a shaky breath and points to the drawing on the right.]

Mami Tomoe and I—she's a young human girl; some of you have met her—we were on our own, yesterday. This monster attacked us last night. We—I tried to...

[she breaks off, planting her hand flat on the table to stop it from shaking. When she speaks again, her voice is hard.]

...It swallowed her. It ate her whole. That's what they do. Now we know.

[she points to the bottom drawing.]

It said things to me, before it—before it ate her. Spoke right into my head. "I want it"; "I am here"; I wrote down what I could remember. And there's something else. All of the other monsters I've seen have looked, well, they've looked human, or something like it. But this one... oh, it's easiest to just show it.

[the video swings dizzyingly as she picks up the tablet, and she taps on the screen to turn the camera. At once, the view of the tabletop and wall becomes a view of her very inhuman face, framed by her pale, tangled hair and large ears. Her eyes are tired, and her muzzle is streaked with dark, dried blood.]

...It looked like me. Like one of my people. But it... it ran on all fours, like an animal. ...I don't know what any of it means. But one thing's the same—and if anyone who's just arrived is watching this, you'd better listen. [her voice turns cold, and she looks straight into the camera.] If you see a monster, you run, got it? You run away as fast as you can, and get inside, and block the door. There's no fighting them. No fighting them at all.

[OOC: HOT GOLLY DAMN, there are enough threads here to feed a whole village of cute, thread-starved orphans. I'm capping the number of threads where it is. No more replies please, you beautiful people.]

Comments

[lancingintherain]

...I know.

[she knows very well. Mami is just the latest in a long, long queue of people she failed to save. But she does drag her focus out of herself enough to remember that Al's speaking from experience, too. She doesn't immediately think about Nina, though; her memories from that conversation are kind of fuzzy, anyway. Instead, she thinks of his mother, and how the spell he and his brother had sacrificed parts of their own bodies to cast had failed.]

[her voice is softer, when she speaks again.]

...Don't you go and blame yourself, either. This was... you were only being our friend, and—and trusting us, too, letting us go off together.

[lancingintherain]

We... well, yes. We have; that's true.

[she's close enough to catch the way Mami's face shifts back to that dead-eyed look, and instead of walking the rest of the way up to the house, she pauses.]

...Mami.

[she gets so, so close to actually saying something, asking her how she feels, maybe, but then she chickens out. Puts it off. Standing outside in the snow is no place to start an uncomfortable conversation. She settles back into a matter-of-fact tone of voice:]

I... I want to talk to you about something. Once we're inside, and we've warmed up a little.

[lancingintherain]

Brian, that isn't how it works. Important memories get lost with the ordinary ones.

[wow is the theater still open, because the projector's still on.]

And... Tim. "The tall thing"—do you mean that tall monster? That... that won't be a problem. That one's back where we left it. ...I think.

[oh wow do certain monsters follow you?? That would really suck. She really hopes that isn't true, but the little bit of seeping doubt did come through in her voice.]

[maskintape]

You can't leave it behind. It's been following me for - for a long time. Jay died and didn't manage to escape it, so.

[ Sorry, Freya, but there's no point in Tim sugarcoating this when it looks like you're already involved. HELLA involved. Hurgh. ]

[lancingintherain]

Exactly like the rations.

[she surprises herself with how sharp and quick her reply is. He's right—part of her does want to be distracted, and talking to someone who's already picked up on something she has is just the way to do it.]

They give us food and water, but only just enough to keep us alive for a week. They give some of us coats, but no other clothing—not hats, or shoes suited for snow, for those who need them. They leave—and it's another cruel thing—they leave pieces of fresh fruit in houses, for us to stumble upon, but can't be bothered to put any in that shop to the east.

...Breathing room. That's what all of it is.

[0thingsonmymind]

*Okay, this conversation is getting them nowhere. Tim is clearly convinced that whatever that tall thing was is the Operator, but there's one glaring difference that stands out to him.*

you said it was light
how
what is that

[lancingintherain]

[his words are supposed to be stirring and encouraging, but all they do is make her cringe. In a strained-sounding voice:]

That's laying it on a bit thick, isn't it? Look, you—it's a very nice speech, but it's... I can't. Not now. Mami is dead, sir, or—or as good as it, and it's my fault. You'll forgive me if I'm still dwelling on that, not even a day afterwards.

[silverfuller]

I am not saying you should not be upset.

[He frowns.]

What I am saying is that if you let your sorrow win you over, if you give in to despair and think you are of no use, then what?

Feel your grief by all means then mold that grief into a cause.

Far too many times I have seen men and women lose their loved ones and then, within the next moon, they'd allowed the cold to take them.

[If he were more introspective he'd realize this sort of speech while well meaning is hypocritical coming from him. Really, this woman seems to be handling grief better than he typically does. If he'd been in her position he'd be a belligerent drunk by now.]

[lancingintherain]

[optimism is for NERDS, America]

Mm. I... I'm glad he doesn't remember what happened. You're right; that's for the best.

[JUST GONNA CASUALLY GLOSS OVER MAMI REVIVING. So smooth.]

You and E—um, the other person are keeping a close eye on him, I imagine. Even if it was brave to try to fight back, he... we all know that's futile, now. I was like him, when they first appeared—I tried to hit one, too.

[lancingintherain]

Oh.

[STAY CASUAL...]

Sorry. Then what is your name?

[0thingsonmymind]

@totheark

*Yes he totally used his network handle. That's at least a label he recognizes as belonging to him.*

[lancingintherain]

[omg miranda you don't just tell someone about a GALAXY WAR and then ask them to KEEP CALM. But Freya does do her best, forcing herself to sit up straighter and stop breathing so shallowly. She listens to Miranda without interrupting her.]

[that doesn't mean she still isn't massively creeped out by what she's suggesting, though.]

...I am. I will. I... don't know how to defend against possession, or—anything trying to get inside my mind, but... I'll be aware, like you said.

[she thinks about Tim. She's sure he isn't from the same world or time Miranda is from, but so far he's the only other person she's talked with who has personal experience with monsters like this. Maybe it's worth a shot...]

...What do the Reapers look like?

[lancingintherain]

No. That's your user name, the one the tablet makes you write down. What is your real name?

[surely nothing bad will happen when she presses this clearly unwell dude for personal details.]

[0thingsonmymind]

no.

*He means he doesn't remember and never uses one, but text sure doesn't convey tone or intent very well. Especially not with one word.*

[dr_unconscious]

[Clayton patiently waits. Part of him feels terrible for just sitting back and watching; sure this is House he's dealing with, he knows showing more concern than he already is would be begging for an invitation to get a cane to the face, and yet everything about what he's going through right now is intensely sympathetic to what Clayton felt in the first moments of arriving here. Without so much of the skepticism, sure, but. He can hardly blame House for having this kind of reaction--for craving something that he's familiar with to ease how bizarre everything else is. Perhaps the argument could be made that Clayton's desperation to help people is one long, extended panic attack of his own.]

[House comes back before Clayton has time to feel really disturbed about this revelation.]

Heh...funny you should mention that. [He smiles thinly and leans back.] Checked his records, 'course, t' make sure he weren't takin' nothin' that might be interactin' weird. Nothin' long-term--had a staph infection 'bout a month 'fore we got him an' was finishin' up his antibiotics. We ended up checkin' his blood sugar after we kept 'em under watch fer the day after, since he started actin' up again after we gave 'em some toast 'n orange juice fer breakfast. Insulin levels fine, blood sugar pretty low, BAC 'bout 0.1 an' not a drop a alcohol in the whole place. Real stumper, that.

[lancingintherain]

[she heard what u said, Tim, but Brian's is marginally the easier comment to address. And contains less death.]

I don't know. Tim, I—I tried to explain what the tall monster looked like to Brian, earlier. He... I can't explain it any better that that: it looked like it was covered in light. Flickering light.

[she waves her hands, like she's trying to indicate the monster's shape and appearance, or maybe stir up the right description out of thin air. She clenches her teeth and bares them in frustration.]

Tim, do you know what I'm talking about? Like what the videos sometimes show, when someone tries to—to make one of a monster. The "glitches".

[fataliteas]

[She considers Freya with that blank, neutral expression. Even the way she stands is somehow closed off. But there's a flicker of.....of something, at the proposal. Maybe interest. Maybe suspicion. Maybe neither or both. Ripples in a still pond, here and then gone.]

......

[A nod. The concession to engage, for now.]

If you'd like.

[lancingintherain]

I certainly don't plan on letting that happen.

[she sighs, and runs her claws through her untidy hair.]

...You're a warrior, like I am. I can tell that much. Then you must understand: if we promise to—to protect someone, and we fail, then what use are we? Resolve and conviction—I've never felt farther from those things.

[lancingintherain]

[she gives Mami the ghost of a smile, and starts to walk towards the house again.]

...Thank you.


[the smile dies on her face, though, when she's close enough to read the writing carved into the front doorframe, above the door. She stops short in front of it and reaches up, tracing the edge of a letter with her thumb and wiping away the traces of snow clinging to it. She reads the words out loud, a lump suddenly rising in her throat.]

..."T. Hamada. Day twenty-four. East."

[forfeits]

You're in danger by being alone, Freya. We can't just let you sit there. You have to get up, keep moving.

[ because losing Freya after losing Mami would be just as bad. he can't imagine what that would do to their group. and he definitely did not want Freya to get hurt. ]

We're fine -- we're strong together, you know that, we'll get to you as soon as we can. Are -- you okay? Are you hurt?

[maskintape]

Tearing? Static?

Tearing is when - you know, the image splits or fragments, like part of it can't keep up with the rest. Static is the - fuzz, I guess? Like visual white noise.

[ Both of which occur in videos of the thing, but he doesn't remember it happening like that in person. Maybe it wasn't the real one? Some sort of projection...?

Then again, there's a lot he doesn't remember. Who even fucking knows any more. ]

[clockblock]

[Being an Elder Councilman isn't the same as being a politician, but it was through that service that he learned the value of dramatics. How to drive his point home through posture and position. That's why there aren't any shadows, no furniture or objects to block the view. He's made sure that there can be no lingering doubts about his appearance.

Alister's expression relaxes a touch, crooking into a small smile. His first in days. It feels odd to wear.]

Don't be. You had every reason to assume that.

[0thingsonmymind]

in person
notin video
thatis how itlooked?

the Operator isnot light
glitches only in v i d e o
in your M I N D

[fataliteas]

[She follows behind, each step balanced and steady yet mechanical. Empty movement. Mami reads what Freya recites aloud, and her expression shutters further.]

.....do you think it would be better, if he came back?

@zd | text -> video (fifty years later)

[swatsflies]

[He'll swap over to video. It takes a few moments before he manages it. He looks to be in his late teens and is still obviously pretty new here with the whole not rocking the hobo chic yet. Behind him is an old couch and a wall covered with sports posters.]

This is still pretty cool. The whole being able to talk like this, you know??

[Whoops! This really wasn't the time to be all excited about talking to people live. Good job, Zell!

Shoulders slumping as he gave a sheepish smile to apologize for a moment before he gets back on the topic.]

Sorry about your friend. It's good that it's not out there still. It sounds pretty messed up. [Rubbing the back of his neck.] Was there any kind of flickering to it>