002 | Video

[firewalled]

Name: Rich Goranski
Date: Backdated to Oct 14
Format: Video for initial post; various in comments

[Without so much as an introduction, a video plays. It's a little shaky with the recorder's nerves, and occasionally, a long talon partly covers the view of the scene, but it still shows what it needs to quite clearly.

Eventually, even with the struggle still continuing, the camera is turned away from the action, towards Rich. He has to hope what he just got will be enough to get the Coven to actually believe him this time, but right now, he doesn't have time to wait around. Direct action is needed, so he pings the friends he trusted: Michael Mell, Myr, and Niles. The message is still sent to everyone, however, so everyone can view the video and the panic in Rich's eyes when the camera is turned back to him.]

The SQUIP has lost it. It's going full villain again and I need back up. Meet me near the inn, I think it's trying to take Heere there.

[Without an explanation of what entails the SQUIP going full villain or who 'Heere' may be, he continues.]

Everyone else, please stay safe and-[He's cut off by something happening off screen, which makes him swear and stuff his watch into his pocket. There's about a minute more of muffled yelling and darkness before the recording eventually ends.]

~*~

[Hours later, there's another video tacked on to the earlier one, once the mist has finally started to fade away. Rich is back inside, his changes from before calming down enough that he isn't at risk of burning down Justine's whole cottage. He looks tired and worn, a few nasty scrapes on his face, but... there is a sort of relief in his expression, some sort of certainty that, no matter what happens next, he did what was right.]

Hey everyone. Sorry about that... I know I promised to be less of a downer the next time I posted on here, but... shit happens.

I'm just letting everyone know the SQUIP is knocked out. It had been using magic to charm and mind control several people, including someone I was bonded to, Justine, and a friend from home, Jeremy Heere.

Two of the people it was Bonded with, Linden Tailor and Connor, are also unconscious... guess some sort of trauma went through the connection when we stopped it. Since it was actively using mind control magic, I used Mountain Dew Red to deactivate... the part of it that was still a supercomputer, I guess. It should recover fine, and while it's passed out, I'm going to bring the recording to the Coven so they can see I wasn't lying when I told them what it did in my world.

If any of you were being controlled by it, let me know. It got to quite a few people when I saw it, but its powers should have worn off by now. It can be... a little traumatic, though, so my door's open if you wanna talk. Hopefully now that the SQUIP was... de-SQUIPped, somehow, this shouldn't happen again.

[With another tired wave, Rich signs off. He'd love to stay and chat but... he's pretty sure his roommates are still going to need a little more help in the fallout.]

((Everyone is free to respond! Rich will respond when he's done dealing with his roomies, who are likely either a) dealing with mind control withdrawal or b) having panic attacks over the SQUIP. Other players on Team Anti-Bastard Computer Man will also be responding a few hours after the events of the battle, providing information on what went down and vouching that yes, Shit Was Bad.))

Comments

[firewalled]

Didn't fucking ask the SQUIP, but Connor definitely remembers it. Obviously I'm not going to go talk to it after that, like, "hey non-bro, how about that buying me as your slave thing?"

[He groans softly and shakes his head. This is about what he was expecting them to get to eventually, but it doesn't mean he likes it.]

I wish we could get out of here. I kind of both wanted and didn't want you guys here, because as far as I can tell, no one ever leaves here because they wanted to. It happens occasionally, but otherwise, we're stuck.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

If it happens occasionally, we can make it happen, can't we? We've just got to ask around, and--I mean, you don't remember me disappearing junior year, so I must have gotten back somehow. It's the only thing that makes sense.

[firewalled]

I... I mean, I guess that probably is what happened. I could ask around, if you want. Maybe someone's looking into it.

[So far, the only person he knew who was actively looking for a way to get home was... a little odd.]

Try not to worry about it in the meantime, though? We just... I think the best we can do is just look out for each other.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

Yeah. Please ask.

[Jeremy's face falls.]

This isn't a permanent place to be, though. I need to get back and be in the musical. If Christine thinks I wanted to completely humiliate her in front of an entire auditorium at the premiere of the school play, I don't know what she'll do.

[firewalled]

Hey... come on, Heere. It's going to be okay, trust me. I don't remember you missing the musical, so I'm sure whenever you get back, you'll still be there in time. Christine isn't going to think you forgot about it. I think she'd be more worried than anything, like, she knows you care about theatre like at least half as much as she does, which means you're a fanatic. No way you're missing just because.

[Not that she'd guess the reason was "transported to a fantasy world with magic powers and friends who are now dragons and sheep."]

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[That makes Jeremy's expression lighten.]

Right. You're right.

Let's say we get back tomorrow. What's the first thing you'll do? Other than run up to me immediately and tell me that you remembered everything after half a year, obviously.

[firewalled]

Jesus, I mean... probably sleep for a month at least. I think I owe myself that much. Maybe go get a dragon tattoo, just for kicks.

Find you guys, and after I make sure we're all okay, start orchestrating a mission to go blow up a SQUIP factory or two. Those are kind of the most important things on the agenda. How about you?

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

Yeah? You've got all the intel on where they make SQUIPs, now?

[Jeremy doesn't have to think long about it.]

Musical first. Then I've gotta go meet Michael ASAP and tell him everything if he doesn't already know. I should text him the broad strokes of it before the musical, I guess. If I'm supposed to do anything after that, he'll tell me.

[firewalled]

Nah. But I'll sure as hell find it.

[He gives a smile that he hopes doesn't look too disappointed.]

What, you going to leave me to the wolves until I come back myself? Not gonna come give me the heads up on my scalesona?

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

You don't remember me telling you about it, so I must not have done it. I mean, we're talking about a stable time loop here. If it's alternate universe theory instead, there's no guarantee we'd make it home at all so we're fucked.

Don't mess with time, Rich, unless you want to turn into ghosts in the sequel film.

[firewalled]

Oh, I see how it is! You were bugging me to give you all that juicy future gossip when you needed it, but now that I want a heads up, it's all "can't mess with the timey wimey continuum!" I'm hurt, Heere.

I'd make a pretty hot ghost though, right? Pull a Zuul and possess a hot body on top of that.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

You told me no! You gave me zero juicy future gossip, so don't bitch!

[Jeremy's gonna make a possession joke, but he gets unpleasant memories despite himself. He jerks his head away so Rich won't see his face fall, and he gives him another playful shove, but it's a second too late to be natural.]

[firewalled]

[After a moment, Rich realizes his mistake, and falls silent for a moment. He takes a few seconds to collect himself before opening his arms.]

Hey. C'mere. I... I'm sorry, I should have known better.

[He pauses then, smiling nervously.] I mean, you also don't have to come over here. I'll just sit here awkwardly in hug deployment mode for a couple minutes.

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[Jeremy pulls back, eyes wide and clearly trying to evaluate how serious Rich is. Jeremy's not a hugger unless he knows the other person very well, and Rich isn't at that threshold with him yet--not in his own universe.

But there's no reason to refuse, even if he feels like Rich will use the opportunity to stick him in a (playful?) headlock as soon as he lets down his guard. But Rich wouldn't joke about SQUIP possession on purpose.

So Jeremy cracks a smile.]

No, you're okay. I'm overthinking. Get used to it.

[Then, gingerly, he leans in for the hug.]

[firewalled]

Hey, I think all of us tend to a little bit. We just always think we're the only ones who do.

[Despite Jeremy's assumptions, that hug is returned without any headlocks or noogies. Just a firm backpat and Rich's head tucked on Jeremy's shoulder. As strange as this probably feels, for Rich, who's been close to Jeremy for months now... it feels like curling up in his own bed after a long time away from home.

As much as it's filling a empty space in Rich's heart he'd almost forgotten about, Rich doesn't want to make the other teen uncomfortble, so it's only a minute before he pulls away with a small grin.]

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

[It does feel odd. It's intimate, and Jeremy swallows hard as he tries to figure out how to process it. He still feels like he's lagging a few seconds behind when Rich pulls away. His mouth is dry.]

Uh, th... thanks, Rich, that... it... cool.

[firewalled]

You don't have to thank me if it made you uncomfortable... Are you okay, Jere?

[He seems so nervous and flustered, and Rich doesn't exactly think it made Jeremy feel any better. Maybe he should have just left alone, let Michael handle things.]

[heerequeerandfulloffear]

Fine!

[Jeremy says it too loudly.]

We're good! It--uh--

[There's no way to recover from this without sounding like an idiot. Jeremy stands up abruptly.]

Good talk, Rich!

[firewalled]

I... uh, okay?

[There really is no good way to figure out what he did wrong, huh? Rich looks nervous and embarrassed.]

I'm uh... I'm sorry for whatever I did, okay? I won't keep you here.