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

Re: Video;

[firewalled]

It used mind control spells. On a lot of people. It tried to use one on me too, so I know that's what it was doing.

[He feels that there really wasn't any other plan of action when the SQUIP was that powerhungry...]

They're both at their homes. We're trying to make sure they're checked on so they don't end up getting worse. Connor lives nearby, so I've at least been checking on him. I think Myr said he'd take care of Linden.

Video;

[showsnopiety]

[She could feel a snarl rise in her throat, and she had to put her Watch down for a few moments. She nearly crushed it in her anger.]

If I get close to it, I can't be certain I can hold myself back. I may crush its fingers and throat.

[Ah, feral anger. Fun fun fun.]

If Myr needs assistance and is far away from it, I may be able to assist with Linden.

Connor likes songs. Singing to him may help.

[faithlikeaseed]

[Myr sounds worn through when he responds.]

It's not here and I could surely use the help. And a healer; Linden took a bad blow to the head in the fighting. Knocked him out.

[From how bleak Myr's tone is, he knows exactly how bad a brain injury that portends.]

[showsnopiety]

Linden was knocked unconscious?

[Okay, that's bad. She's already starting to move.]

I'm not a healer, but I know enough to do some assessment. I'm on my way.

Has he regained consciousness? Or vomited?

[faithlikeaseed]

No, and no; got him on his side against the latter, though.

--Thank you. I'll be here.

D'you know anyone who is? He'd some healing at his Bonded's hands but I don't know it was enough.

[showsnopiety]

Ah. That's not good. If you could tell me where his residence is-I can only track by scent so much without feeling foolish.

[It's very impolite to stick your nose to the ground, so.]

I know witches, but I don't know anything to be outright healers. Even my bonded only knows pain management.

....wait.

call Newt.

[faithlikeaseed]

Maker, [Myr breathes,] that's right; he's doing work like that. I'll ask.

Linden's home is one of the cottages-- [He gives her directions to it.]

[showsnopiety]

He knows trauma. I can at least do the initial mundane assessment.

[She listens, and she's already moving to run off. Tempting to even try to fly there tbh.]

I'll be there in a thrice. I'll be the one that smells like fur and feathers.

[Wet fur and feathers. Sorry it's just her life.]

--> action!

[faithlikeaseed]

Fur and feathers, [he echoes, for want of anything else wise to say; he's been so rattled, so worked over by grief and guilt, he's not...functioning, entirely.]

I'll be by the door; you've only got to knock.

[As he is, when she arrives, and he will open the door to Linden's cottage when she knocks. Covered in burns, with a makeshift blindfold wrapped around his face and an ill-fitting set of clothes on, he looks like he's seen better days.] Serah--?

...Don't think I know your name, if you're the one as offered to come help Linden. [Wet fur and feathers are definitely there, but. With the mist doing what it was, that could be anyone smelling like that.]

action!

[showsnopiety]

Mm. [Yeah it hasn't been a great night by the sounds of it. And by the time she gets there, her body chilled and cold thanks to the rainy weather and the mist, she's ready to get to work.

So she knocks firmly, and she's surprised what she sees. She didn't expect the blindfold, and for a few moments, her nails come out-thick and easy to tear into prey.

Thankfully they retract, and she pulls on her gloves held in one of her skirts pockets. Yeah. Yeah, she's going to have to wear something over these. Yikes.]

That I am. I believe Rich called you Myr? But I am Sister Caren Ortensia.

[She focuses on his burns-best to see if they're fresh or not. Infected burns can be difficult to deal with.]

[faithlikeaseed]

[They're fresh, and have the Lichtenberg pattern of injuries inflicted by lightning, but thankfully none of them are worse than blistering; there's little exposed dermis. (Some burned fur, though.) From the ginger way he moves back from the door to let her in, though, there's more beneath his clothes and they hurt.]

Yes--that's I'm Myr. Thank you, Sister. [The level of deference that gets her might be a little startling; the Chantry raised him right.]

He's back in his bedroom, if you'd follow me... [He'll lead the way, if a little twitchily; he might not realize it on a conscious level but his instincts are very well aware he's a prey animal around a predator.]

[showsnopiety]

[Yeah, it's not a good thing. Lichtenberg patterns are rare in the mundane world, but she's going to need to look over him too. It shouldn't last long if it wasn't magical in nature but...

He might be scarred.]

Thank you Myr.

[She notices the little twitchiness, but she does smell the faun in him. Thankfully while she is a little feral, she only follows with some dark amusement.]

Once I'm done examine him, I'll need to assess you. It struck you with a lightning spell, correct?

[faithlikeaseed]

[They're scars he deserves--at least, in his own estimation.

It's a small cottage, and it's not far to the bedroom, though Myr has to stop once and orient himself by touching the walls at a junction. Linden is tucked into his bed, quiescent as only the comatose can be. Someone's...taken some care with the coverlet.

That's not weird, or anything. None of this is weird. Nope.]

It? [Oh, the SQUIP.] No--it was--Linden had a barrier. I needed to bring it down--and the silence rune I'd brought didn't work.

[So he bounced himself off it until Linden, unwilling to kill him, had dropped it.]

[showsnopiety]

[She thinks it's foolish but well-as she sees with his care to the coverlet-it's far more sentimental then she realized.

Or feeling guilty, one way or another.]

Silence rune?

I'm not familiar with the term.

[She's already moving though, and with some care. She's already taking off a glove, but it's not to rake Linden with claws-instead she's checking on his pulse, feeling his breath with her wrist.]

But you may have caused some nerve damage. Certainly blistering. Once he's evaluated, you're next. Don't argue with me.

Video;

[firewalled]

Hey, get in line. I already took things out on it, pretty sure it needs to recover now. Besides, as much as it fucking deserves it, I don't want you getting in trouble.

[He'll... leave the discussion about Linden to Myr. He knows the guy was probably being manipulated, so he deserves to be looked after, but Rich still has some hang ups on the things Linden has deemed appropriate to target him with.]

Thanks. I'll bring my guitar around and play for him next time.

Video;

[showsnopiety]

Good. I'm not...completely in control right now so I'd feel apologetic for making a blood splatter. I'd help clean it up later, but not tonight.

[Yeah...something is up with Linden. He wasn't even dressing or talking like the first times she spoke with him, and that was alarming.]

He'll like that. Maybe you can even teach him.

I'd have taught him the organ, but that would mean going to the music hall.

[And it's very distracting. She's rather fond of music.]

Video;

[firewalled]

Jesus, uh, take care of yourself first, okay? I don't know what's going on, but if you need any help cooling down...

[Rich doesn't know her, but he can take a minute to go over breathing exercises if she needs it. He knows what it's like to feel like anger is ramping up to an out of control point.]

Oh, wow, you play organ? That sounds badass. I've been focusing on guitar more, it's easier than trying to build myself a drum set out of what they sell here.

[Music! They can definitely talk about music, instead of the mess Rich and everyone else that knew the SQUIP went through.]

Video;

[showsnopiety]

It's the mist, I think. I'm not sure why I'd suddenly have fits of rage otherwise.

[She sounds pretty calm so...maybe she's okay? She's pretty chill usually. Even too chill.]

You flatter me. I don't know how to play guitar or drums but-you could make it from flexible wood and properly tanned animal skins, yes?

[Yes music please. She's a chimera, so while she's not as strong as a dragon at their full strength, she can be...rather terrifying given a chance.]

Video;

[firewalled]

It fucked with a lot of us, but at least it's nearly over now.

[Chill is highly overrated, Rich thinks.]

I mean, I could, if I was good with carpentry, but all I took was a freshman shop class. I'm fine with my guitar here, though. I'd like to play with you, if you're ever not busy.

Video;

[showsnopiety]

At least this moment, yes.

[Rich...that's what someone who has no chill would say.]

I'm a little busy, but I see no reason not to have a little fun. I believe there's a place with an organ in town-Elliot knows where it is.

We can go when I have a day off, and you too, if you're working. When things calm down at least.

Video;

[firewalled]

[Chill is what the SQUIP wanted him to have! Why the hell would he want it now that he's free?]

I think all of us are just trying to keep busy! I'll have to ask Elliot about the spot. Where do you work? Hopefully our schedules will match up enough.

Video;

[showsnopiety]

[Because less burnout...?]

Elliot is reliable. As for me, I work at the Knit Wit as well as from home.

I'm sure we can work something out. Especially since I often do work via commissions.

Video;

[firewalled]

[Better burned out than burned up...]

Oh, that explains it. I was wondering how you knew Justine. We've been bonded for a little while now.

Video;

[showsnopiety]

Oh, we met when I first arrived. I didn't really have any real clothing so I walked into the shop and there she was.

[Who's burning up again?]

We've helped each other since but-we fell out of touch when Dresden left.

...wondering if we were dating?

Video;

[firewalled]

Well, I'm glad she helped you out! She's a sweetheart, so I mean...

[He trails off with a bit of a choked noise when she implies that, heat rising up into his scarred (yes, he is the one who's burning up) face.]

What? No! I mean, well, of course if you were, that would be fine! I don't mind an open relationship but, well, she never mentioned you...