001 | Video

[firewalled]

Name: Rich Goranski
Date: September 2
Format: Video

[The face that fills the screen is notable for a lot of reasons. For those who haven't met Rich, the harsh red scars covering his face, neck, and shoulders are certainly different. Scales are starting to pepper the skin like freckles, but it still doesn't do much to hide the damage. Nor does it distract from how emotional Rich looks. As much as he tries to keep his expression even, there's tension in his jaw, a slight furrow in his brow, and his eyes look slightly red.

He offers a weak smile and a wave to the camera, before taking a deep breath in and out. Apparently this is going to be difficult for him.]

Hey everyone. If you don't know me, I'm Rich Goranski. I got here last month, so... yeah. Anyways, I'm not here to break the ice or anything. I... need to tell everyone about some stuff, and I've been kind of meaning to do this for days and I just didn't know how. Anyways. I just wanted to warn you.

There's this guy you might have met. Looks like some handsome Japanese model, and he's got two different coloured eyes? I can send a picture if you don't know what I'm talking about. He's called the SQUIP. Or well, I don't know if that's what it calls itself here. It fucking introduced itself as Gregward to me, but... I think that's because we have a history. We're from the same place, and if what he did to me and my friends is any indication, he's probably going to really hurt someone here. He's already got his claws in some people and I just... don't want anyone else to go through that.

[He takes a moment to nibble on his lip and then look back at the camera, as if he's found some new source of bravery.]

Back home, the SQUIP -uh, Super Quantum Unit Intel... Processor- [He counts them off on his fingers as he attempts to remember the acronym.] It wasn't human. It was actually this pill sized supercomputer that you could take? It'd get up into your head and implant in your brain and then it was... basically supposed to help make you cooler. Or at least, that's what they said when I bought one. I got one back as a freshman and I... I mean, I guess it's kind of obvious that it fucked me up.

It doesn't really have any concerns about hurting people to get what it wants. It'd electrocute me if I didn't do or say the right thing. It put me on this really messed up work out plan and I built up way too much muscle way too quickly. I've got a bunch of stretch marks to prove it. And if you argued with it long enough, it wasn't afraid to just... take over your whole body. The last few months I had the thing, I wasn't even ever myself anymore... I just had to watch myself do all this shit that I'd never, ever want to do. Like selling them to other kids.

And it could get in your head. It would take away senses or give you weird hallucinations to make sure you didn't think about resisting. A friend of mine... Jeremy, he actually had his best friend erased from his vision so he couldn't even see him? I think he called it optic nerve blocking.

It finds other ways to manipulate you too. It's really charming at first, and it knows how to find and pick at every little insecurity you have. It'll use anything. Any memory, any good thought... I uh. When it wanted me to listen, it would take on the appearance of my mom. I hadn't seen her since I was little and I didn't want to lose that again. Even if she was saying things she'd never say... I couldn't make her hurt again.

[His voice cracks on the last few words, and he tries to cover it up by clearing his throat, taking a deep breath again.]

Anyways, its main goal wasn't actually to help us, if that wasn't obvious. It made me stock up on a bunch of the pills to try to slip them into everyone's drinks. It got Jeremy on board when I... uh, ducked out, to put it nicely.

It just wanted to spread to as many people as possible. It was trying to make this like, hivemind sort of thing. Called it a social network. Where no one had to hurt anymore. But it... it fucked with people until they don't know who they are anymore. Jeremy's SQUIP - I think that's the one that's here right now - it synced with me, and it made me go from being annoyed by Jeremy to just completely being his best friend. I couldn't think anything negative about him. And it did the same to a bunch of other people. It erased everything about them... practically made them zombies. I'm lucky there was someone who knew how to get rid of them. I... eventually tried burning mine out, but it didn't go as planned.

Anyways, the important thing is that the SQUIP is dangerous. There isn't a single person in my world who had a good experience with one, and even if it can't implant in people's brains now, it's still trying to hurt them. There's this guy he's hanging around with that he must have adopted as some new fucking project. And in that weird dream world, with that whole... monsters being slaves thing? It bought me. Me and one of my friends here, Connor. It tried to act like it wasn't going to do anything but it kept giving me orders and tried to get me to hide the truth from Connor. And then I don't know what it did to him... I think it must have cast some spell on him or something to make him agree more. It's a manipulative, abusive asshole. And I don't want it getting to anyone here... so that's why I had to tell everyone all this.

[He tries for a smile again, but it's too forced. He can feel a lump in his throat that signals to him he'd better end this fast.]

Anyways, that's about all I've gotta say. If you have any questions, let me know. I've got the receipts, I guess you'd call it. That's what they call 'em when you call someone out, right? Whatever. Thanks for listening. Hopefully next time I won't be such a fucking downer.

And uh, if there're any witches who're listening and know spells to like... conjure up something? Let me know. I might need a little favour.

[Rich gives a salute and ends the recording. His responses may be slow, but he just needs a minute to breathe normally again.]

Comments

[this isn't here]

[fromjapan]

[It knew this was a distinct possibility-- it knew several variations of this letter could be posted, and it makes sense. The part that worries it, however... is that last little note about needing something conjured.

It knows what he wants.

This is bad.]

audio;

[faithlikeaseed]

[About a third of this lies so far outside Myr's experience it's effectively nonsense. What he can get the gist of--

Oh fuck does he recognize exactly what Rich is describing: desire demon. He's only dealt with the damned things every night for the last twenty years,

except never quite like that. Possessed mages didn't get the option of rescue.]

The mirrors brought a demon here? And you were one of its hosts? [There's a mix of horror and concern in Myr's tone.]

audio

[firewalled]

[When Rich answers again, his voice sounds choked, but confusion is sort of layered on top of it. He tried to make it clear it wasn't supernatural, but maybe computers are too advanced for some people to understand.]

I guess that's one way of putting it, yeah. I definitely acted like I was possessed most of the time.

[faithlikeaseed]

[Someone's going to have to explain computers to Myr someday, but today's not that day. Demon works well enough as a shorthand.]

Maker's breath. [I'm sorry, sounds completely inadequate in the face of everything Rich has explained.] You didn't deserve that. No one deserves that. [More quietly, then,] Thank you--for revisiting it. To warn us.

Are you--is this something you're all right to speak more of now?

[Private]

[hippocarnival]

[Rich had already given Yuya a personal warning but he sure didn't know it was... this bad.

So he's going to try and reach Rich directly where this whole conversation isn't in public for other people to read.]

Are you okay? I mean, are you safe?

[Private]

[firewalled]

[Rich's eyes look even redder when he responds again, but at least he tries for a smile, just because he feels bad making a kid worry over him.]

I'll be fine. I'll try to go somewhere else so it can't find me.

[Shinji won't mind if he crashes on his couch a little longer, right?]

[Private]

[hippocarnival]

You think it's going to come after you? [He wouldn't blame him for the assumption. But still. Worrying!]

<LindenTailor>

[hearthebell]

What do you mean by "this guy he's hanging around with?" Inquiring and curious minds would like to know.

[firewalled]

You know exactly who im talking about since ur replying to this post
i know you cant see it yet but he is manipulating you

[hearthebell]

Maybe you don't know.

Maybe consent is a gradient and you''re actually the one violating it.

[plasticasshole]

[Connor looks tired when he answers, despite not needing to sleep. It’s a lot of information he didn’t know, and he’s sad to think that his friend is actually like this. And that part about manipulating him while they were in the dream... that does explain a few things.]

Rich... I’m sorry. Can we talk in person?

[He wants their conversation to be more personal than on here.]

[Private]

[firewalled]

[Rich bristles a bit when he sees that Connor has responded, but it's better than he expected it to go. He thought he had explained well enough the first time around, but apparently not. Maybe he really understands this time. Rich has to hope that's the case... so he swallows down his anger before he responds.]

Yeah. We can. Do you want me to meet you at your place?

[plasticasshole]

[Well, to be fair, it wasn't in this much detail. And some of the things, like shocking Rich when he disobeyed and making Jeremy oblivious to his friend being there... those are new.]

I'll wait for you here.

[He gets that Rich is probably angry with him, and he understands. He hasn't been listening to him. He just... really didn't want to believe it, he supposes. He's very fond of the SQUIP.]

un: tatsuya

[halfmoon]

[ what the hell. he'd heard a lot of this before, but that thing is HERE, too? and then what happened to him in the dream... ]

thats horrible. im sorry what happened to you in dorchacht.

[firewalled]

[Rich doesn't recognize the name, but he finds he appreciates the apology anyways. He doesn't know why everyone is worried over him when they should just be taking the warning to defend themselves, but he supposes there's nothing he can do to stop that.]

its okay. its stuff ive gotten over.

[Well, that's a big fat lie.]

i just wanted to make sure it didnt do that to anyone else.

voice;

[wiggleon]

Rich, dear?

[There's a pause as he tries to find the words- he'd already known it was bad, but he hadn't known how bad it had gotten. This is even worse than demonic possession.]

Are you- well, asking of you're okay seems a tad silly right now. But do you think you'll be okay? Do you want to talk, have a nice cup of tea perhaps?

voice;

[firewalled]

[God, Rich is getting a little overwhelmed by all these messages. Whether it's people he knows or not, all of them have been worried about him. He was jut trying to warn everyone else. They didn't need to fuss over him, and he doesn't know if it's frustrating or comforting that they are.

Hearing Aziraphale's voice, getting called 'dear' like that... He was thinking about just saying he was fine and waving off the concern, but instead, he finds himself agreeing a little more easily.]

I... wouldn't mind some tea, I guess. Thanks.

voice;

[wiggleon]

I'll come over then, if you don't mind. So you don't have to move. Is now a good time?

Voice Private

[ishisstrength]

[Justine is already not doing well. She's hurt and scared and now there is this... She feels uncertain but she also must say something.]

That happened... to Connor and you.

[She feels her heart squeeze uncomfortably at the thought that her friend had been miss used. Not just her friends but Connor who's become something more than that.]

Voice Private

[firewalled]

Yeah... I'm sorry. By the time I found them, the SQUIP had already found Connor.

[He almost wishes he could have been captured first so Connor could have avoided this. Maybe then he wouldn't trust the SQUIP so much, even after this whole mess.]

Voice Private

[ishisstrength]

It isn't your fault. I had been with Connor... but I let him go.

[She sounds close to tears but manages to hold it back.]

I thought our Bond made him safe.

audio

[wordsinthesoul]

[Hells. Thancred needs a moment to collect himself- several, in fact, before he responds. Some of the details are beyond him, but parts a little too similar to his experience with Lahabrea to be comfortable.]

Thank you for the warning. I… if it was willing to try to take advantage of that situation, I cannot see that as any kind of good sign.

Perhaps there are ways to protect oneself from such influence? We might all be well advised to do so, in either case…

Are you well?

audio

[firewalled]

[It's fine. Rich definitely needs the same amount of time, if not more, to overcome all the panic and raw hurt he feels relaying all of that. He's glad to come back to this and find people willing to listen.]

You don't need to thank me. I just want people to stay safe here.

I don't know if there're a lot of ways, but I'm looking into conjuring something from home that might help.

[He gives a small sigh, but continues on.]

I'm alright. It was a long time ago. Just seeing it again opened up some old wounds.

[video]

[horkbajir]

[Toby's eyes narrow and she gives a long, low rumble like a drawn-out alligator roar, a disapproving sound if ever there's been one. When she speaks, though, her deep voice is calm and measured.]

So someone made a mechanical Yeerk that doesn't need to feed. I see. Thank you for telling us.

What kind of favor?

[video]

[firewalled]

[Wow, that's... that's certainly a noise. At first, Rich is surprised by the weird... dragon creature that is growling in his general direction, but he quickly gets over that, seeing how common monsters are in this world. Besides, that roar sounds pretty badass.]

I... don't know what a Yeerk is, but if it's anything like a SQUIP, then it's a bastard.

[Though the term does sound familiar, if only from Michael gushing about nerdy books he liked. That's not important, though. Rich quickly filters his video to be private to Toby before answering.]

I'm looking for a soft drink.

[He holds up a hand, as if already predicting the response.]

I know, but hear me out. It was called Mountain Dew Red. It's an old soft drink that was discontinued in 1989. It's the only thing that managed to get my SQUIP to stop taking over my body, and I need insurance in case this one tries to do the same.