[Rhys is settled down for the night, in the evening hours after lockdown on 432. He's taken off all his extras to let them air out, and sitting in his ripped t-shirt and looking mostly comfortable. He's better at getting comfortable than anyone should by any rights, here.]

So, I am actually staying in the convenience store here in Res 3, because you don't get pushed out anymore? I was going to try and hike to the next building, but the aura was gone and...well, I didn't get shoved out. That's good news, sort of. Saves me a little hiking.

The Bad News is, that's probably because there's been a change to the food. Some of what's here has gone rotten, and I don't think there's as much stuff as there was last time I was here. Food might be starting to run out, along with everything else.

[He looks much less happy about that.]

I'm hoping it's just this store, but I'm not sure. So if anyone else hits any other places around that have food, do a check and see what you think, alright? I'm going to start rationing just in case, though.

[That's all he was really here to say, so the video feed blinks out for a while, pending responses.]

[There's the sound of breathing and boots crunching through snow -- this is one of those feeds created on the move, it would seem. When Stephen speaks, his voice is lighter, easier than it had sounded for a long while before his death. It's like a burden has been lifted from him, but there's something wry in his tone, too.]

You can count me back among the living. Or I can, when I sit down and catch up.

[Haha census humor. The lightness drains from his voice as he turns to more painful and worrying matters.]

I've been catching up on some of what I missed...it looks as though I'm not the only one who's learned first hand how dangerous our counterparts can be. The one that killed me was able to access the bunker; I don't know if someone let him in or if he'd stolen a tablet. I'd found a key card and a microchip I believe might grant access to the remaining locked room there, but they're not among my supplies now. If anyone found them...please. Please let me know. If that thing has them....

Gabriel, Vanitas. I'm sorry I left you, and I hope the fact that your names haven't been posted since mine was means you didn't follow in my footsteps. And Peter? You're an idiot. That goes for both of you.

[It's Peter, holding up his tablet to his face, and he's outside in the snow, walking.

He's also got a nosebleed.]

This is DJ Star-Lord coming to you from live from Norfinbury!

Anyway, I thought you guys might wanna see this.

[He turns the tablet around to show his anomaly, which is...well. It looked like he was made out of rock and mud, but there's like, all this crap on top of him. He's got tendrils that are hanging onto things--bits of rubble, mostly, and a pair of bath slippers that Peter threw at him to see if he'd catch them. The only thing recognizable about the slug-like creature is its the top part of its head, which looks like Peter's, except that its mouth is large and muddy.

And his anomaly is yelling at him. Mud is spewing everywhere.]

Hey! Give me that, that tablet's mine! You suck!

[And he's yelling back.]

You suck, you creepy-ass trash compactor! And it's mine.

[Peter turns back to the tablet, shrugging.]

He's been following me around but he's actually not that bad company? He's cool for an anomaly version of myself. We've been mostly listening to music and chilling while I've been trying to get over my death price. Which...I'd kinda like to apologize for and I'm really sorry if I said something I shouldn't have?

You were drunk as all get-out, bro! And I'm the real deal! You hear that, Norfinbury? I'm the real DJ Star-Lord!

Shut up!

[A pause.]

I'm not gonna lie, I was super creeped out by him at first, because like...look, it's me, but pancaked? But he hasn't tried to kill me or anything. He says he just wants to like...run stuff over a lot? It's weird. I dunno. So I guess if you're fast enough you can avoid this one.

But has anyone actually tried making friends with their anomaly?

[The feed opens on a view of ceiling tiles; anyone familiar with the hospital might recognize them. Off-screen there's the sound of rustling food wrappers and the crunch of someone chewing on chips and cookies, quite possibly with her mouth open.]

I am alive again. The anomalies -- the anomalies are dangerous. The ones with our friends' faces are dangerous.

[The monotone is muffled as well as hesitant; she's talking with food in her mouth despite the gravity of the topic.]

Hey, so, uh - has anyone else had any thoughts on how we should deal with the... anomalies? Should we be calling the copies that? It feels kinda. Iunno. Disrepectful. Inappropriate?

[ Angel - who's just outside the bunker in the snow - gives the feed an uncertain little shrug as Rhys pops into view. ]

It is — we, they are what they are, why bother sugarcoating it. Don't think they're gonna be offended.

[ There's mumbling, bitter mumbling, from this peanut gallery. Rhys isn't looking at the camera, he's focused on the dented and lifeless robot in his arms.

There’s conflict in his voice. Quite a bit. ]

I'd be offended, and one of them is me, so. [She gives Rhys and The Robot Corpse Formerly Known As Dumpy an unhappy little look before returning her attention to the tablet.] Um, anyway - I thought it'd be prudent to at least share details of the ones we've seen? And how they act, or what they can do? To avoid further casualties as much as possible.

[ That look stops him arguing the point further, at least. He purses his lips and shakes his head, yet says nothing until she’s finished. ]

Some aren’t intentionally aggressive, like Enoch and... and Angel. Just toxic huggers, or they hold on a little too tight.

[ This is accompanied by a tiny wheeze that prompts another look from Angel. FUSS TSUNAMI INCOMING. ]

Yeah. Um. On that subject - if you've been touched by my-- by the one who look-- by the other me, please let me know as soon as possible? I can fix it. Um... kinda.

[ And now it's Rhys' turn to give Angel a look. Hrrrm. ]



((Bold is Rhys, if that wasn't obvious, and threadjacking is very much encouraged 8V))

The sun is gone.
It's not just like that for us, right? You're all seeing it too?? Or *not* seeing it, I suppose.
And the clouds are all
ugh :C

[ And a minute or two later: ]

Well since all this seems very apocalyptic I'd like to say that I'm glad I met all of you
(even the people who kinda suck)
and that I'm very grateful for my time here, whether it's about to end or not.
I'd suggest you all tell the people who matter that you love them, just in case!! Dying with things left unsaid or undone is the WORST.

Sorry to be a complete freaking downer I just think this is really important

Hey everyone
We're trying to figure out who the hell isn't infected by all of this.
So let me or Watson know if you aren't hearing the ringing or that loser's voice.
Stay Safe!

[ Those who still have access to the shadow network, a second message pops up. ]

@dulcedeleche
Hey, Winter. They
We wanted to update you on what the hell is going on.

Strange, you know @beyonce, tried the seance again.
Those who participated had their tablets infected with something.
And some how that was passed on to other tablets?
Might have been transferred on the network around that time
So careful if you go back through what you missed.

Anyways everyone who had their tablet infected can hear this ringing??
I don't hear it.
But Kunsel does and people are talking about it on the network.

They are also hearing that bastard's voice.
Watson's group went to his house and got the whole freaking message!
He's repeating that he's going to borrow them and to keep calm or don't.
Can you believe that??? What the hell is that asshole's issue anyways?

So, that's about it? I think? I'll check with them to see if there's anything else.
Take care, Winter!

Hey, anyone else who can see this! Please let me know or let someone know if you still have this.
We're trying to get a tally of who is left.
Thanks.

[Now that everything seems to be working again...sorta, it seems like the tablets are on the fritz which is...terrifying considering that's the only thing that's got any music left.]

Hey uh...

...look I'm not really big on apologies but I just wanna let you all know that I'm back to normal now and...and-- [This is hard.]

--I'm sorry for acting like a complete butthead.

So if you didn't see, the idiot evil version of me broke my Zune. And that means no more music, except what we got on the tablets. And now the tablets are freaking out so that's just great.

The Zune was...important to not only me, but to all of us. It's been there for me, us, during the worst times ever. And even if it's gone, it won't be forgotten. [Is this a eulogy? Maybe.]

Anyway, if you got links to any music, maybe we can put 'em all together here in one big thing. Cause that's all we got left.

[He's not about to cry, no.]

Characters: Everyone listed here
Location: All around Norfinbury
Date: 395 (night)
Summary: A bunch of snobos try to replicate the success of the seance hosted by Will Graham on night 320.
Warnings: General Norfinhorror warnings/unknown. The previous seance event included descriptions of dissociative episodes and loss of bodily control.

( Read more... )

[ Dying, while not something she's keen to experience again, is really not all that bad. it's not good, mind you. It's just... it's nothing. It's a whole lot of nothing. What has Gamora mostly annoyed is that she's got no idea where she is, and even less of a clue as to why she stuck her neck out like that and let herself get killed all for the sake of one expendable idiot.

Serves her right, probably. Going soft.

She doesn't feel like spending any more time in the stuffy funeral home than she has to, so after a quick search of the building, which doesn't reveal much of interest, she switches on the video feed on her tablet and directs the camera to her surroundings. ]

Anybody know where I am?

[ She walks herself through the large viewing area, and briefly sticks the camera into both the office and the lobby. ]

Because I have no idea.

[ For the sake of thoroughness, she does a quick once over of the morgue area, too. Just in case that's what triggers someone's recollection. ]

Characters: Anyone in the bunker. I have no idea who's around I'm gomen
Location: The bunker and its immediate surroundings
Date: Days 386 - 394? That's a lot of days but it's been a while geez (lmk if you want me to add a day on or something)
Summary: Bunker people do... bunker things. In the bunker.
Warnings: Add them to your subject lines!

( god I'm great at filling out log forms A++ )

[It's Peter, bright and cheerful and clearly with a morgue behind him.]

Hey assholes, I'm back! Did you miss me? Of course, you did. Norfinbury was like, the most boring place ever without me, right?

Weirdly enough, it's been awhile? What's been happening?

Anyway, I've been thinking. Suddenly it's all really clear to me now? You know ol' Blue had a really good idea back then and I'm thinkin' I should probably start doing that. Except like, instead of thinking small, let's think big!

I claim all of it? Everything. All of that there? The whole town? [He waves his hand in a vague circle.] That's mine.

I know the whole territory thing didn't go over so well last time but come on, that was like, forever ago. Everybody's been beat down enough that you gotta have stopped like, caring so much by now? At least the smart people should've. We're all gonna die here anyway. I mean, not me, cause clearly I keep coming back.

You pay tribute to me for safe passage, use of resources, food, supplies, songs, y'know, the usual.

Oh hey, I'll take death videos too!

[As usual, Stephen doesn't show his face on the network. He sounds tired, but that isn't new, either.]

Good evening, Norfinbury.

As most of you will recall, two months ago we were able to contact the...remnants of the former residents of Norfinbury and of the people subjected to former sessions. We discovered that they had become a kind of digital hive mind; they were interested in helping us, though they were limited in the ways in which they could interact with us. Since then, particularly since we located Andromeda's body, the town has been going quiet--you may have noticed the feeling of emptiness in many of the houses, particularly those that formerly may have seemed to be haunted.

I propose that we attempt contact again. It's possible that the data ghosts are...dead...but if there's still some remnant of them residing in the recesses of the network I'd like to re-establish that contact, ask their advice, ask whether they have any additional assistance they can offer us at this time...and ask whether they have any final wishes we can still carry out on their behalf.

The seance will take place in three nights' time, on the evening of day three hundred and ninety-five. I have...some experience in spiritual matters, and can provide guidance for anyone who is unsure how to open themselves to that form of communication. Those who volunteer should be aware that the process was...unpleasant for some of us. You may have an out of body experience or undergo an upsetting vision. Those who participated before can share more details if you are concerned, but as far as I'm aware no one was injured in the last attempt.

...And thank you, in advance.

[The OOC post can be found here.]

[ This post is SEMI-CLOSED to anyone with access to the Shadownet - a text only app created by Winter. It works within the Bunker. Please see this post about Shadownet distribution. ]

I'm in the bunker, in the room with the functioning computer that I mentioned on the open network yesterday. Is there anything I should attempt to do with it while I'm here? I am not very familiar with computers, but I will follow instructions and describe what I see as best I can.

Battery life on the tablets is limited here, so we'll need to work quickly. Stephanie, if you see this, please respond as soon as you can.

Characters: Harley and Steph
Location: The Aquarium (235)
Date: Night 271
Summary: Harley meets up with recently raised-from-the-dead Steph to trade and chit-chat.
Warnings: Will add as we go!

( From there to here, from here to there / Funny things are everywhere )