apocalypsehowcomm | Video, un: Pegasus, cw: mild body horror

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Video, un: Pegasus, cw: mild body horror

[John looks a lot different than he usually does. He’s sporting a pair of stylish, thick-rimmed glasses, but behind the glasses his eyes are very obviously golden and feline. His canine teeth are prominent, and he’s got what looks like actual fur scattering the sides of his jaw and in his hair. Even his attitude, his demeanor, his everything seems far more wild. There’s something decidedly feral about his soul, not just his appearance.

He’s simply stopped caring if people know he’s a Hunt Avatar.

He’s embraced it.

And now there’s a chase presented to him.]

We need to find that house in Dogtown Elidibus was talking about.

Like, probably sooner than later? I mean, I don’t know about you, but this sounds like the beginning of several horror movies. And while our lives have obviously become a horror movie, do we really need to add another one to the mix?

[Even his cadence is different. There’s still a drawl, but it’s a little snarly, a little animalistic. A little careless, a little like he’s just asking idly if someone wants to head over to the beach for the afternoon.]

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[Well. That is new.

There is just no hiding the concern on Rue's face at the sight of the man, at his almost desperate plea to run into Dogtown.]

And what should we do when we arrive there?

Stop it, somehow.

[Alas, the consequences of the Hunt, he's not exactly sure what to do once he reaches the goal. The goal is the chase.]

Or at the very least, get intel at first. But then eventually stop it.

Intel, I can agree with. I think it would be in our best interest to seek out information on what we are dealing with first, before charging in.

I was thinking that we should set up two teams, one to go after Bryn, and one to go into Dogtown. Maybe at the same time, so the Bryn-team can relay info to the Dogtown team as they do reconnaissance.

[You mention him and he will come? He still looks bundled up though his venue has changed to an outside locale.]

There is another way, though risky. Bryn Fletcher seems capable of manifesting around those of us from another world or reality.

Contact with an individual seems to strengthen his chance of communicating. We may be able to gain more information if a group of us were to try and reach out to him.

[He tilts his head as if acknowledging something else.]

It is not safe for one person to try and gather this information and there are several risks. [And you know what he can mean by 'risk', Shep.] But it may also offer a possibility to rescue the man from his fate.

That’s a really good idea.

[He knows he should probably listen to his therapist, but.]

I think we don’t have time to waste, though. We should have a team in Dogtown and a team to track down Bryn and they can relay information to each other.

[Perfectly safe, right?]

Agreed.

[There should be enough of them to make two teams out of this right? It's a good idea.]

I would be happy to work with either team or as an advisor for both. My colleague Emet-Selch has also offered to render his aid.

[Thanks for seeing things his way, buddy.]

Good, cause we'll need you both. I'd say that the Dogtown team will need muscle and magic, but also since you've already had a connection with Bryn, maybe you would have a better chance of getting more information?

[ Is this a man who looks like he's hesitant to take the suggestion? Of course not. Elidibus wouldn't let a little thing like not knowing whether he's going to recover feeling in his hands or the notion he might take on further price from communicating with Bryn stop him from doing so. ]

It is possible. Regardless, you may be certain that I will place myself where I am most needed in our endeavors.

[Way to go, buddy! That's the spirit!]

Good. Then we've got a plan. Now we just gotta figure out what to do with the house and how to stop it.

I'm sure others will reach out with suggestions.

[ Small pause. ]

There was one who suggested fire bombs. I warned him there was no way of knowing if the physical structure's destruction would prove effective, yet it is not as though we do not have precedent for loosing the anchor from this reality to stop a threat.

[ All those conveniently killed or stopped Avatars and whatnot. ]

I mean, that's a good first start.

[Sounds good to him!]

There could be like, an artifact that needs to be destroyed. Fire would probably work.

It may well be effective. Though unwise to rely on one method alone given the nature of artifacts or circumstances we may find ourselves in.

[ Like, downpours. Or fire resistant creatures. Or being made to believe that friends are houses that need to be firebombed. You know. The basic reasonable expectation. ]

Before you leave on whatever endeavor you choose, [ I mean. We all know it's probably going to be Dogtown but still. ] I would like a chance to speak with you in person.

Mr. Sheppard, you wanna maybe calm down before doing anything? You ain't... sounding so level.

What?! I am calm. And level.

[His tone of voice and the feline hissing suggest he is very much neither of those things.]

I’ve never been leveler.

Don't much seem like it. I'm raring to go into Dogtown, same as you. But we oughta be strategic about it. 'Stead of suggesting folks charge in without a plan. If we find this house, what do we do about it?

Fire ain't a guarantee.

Look, I just--I'm worried about it, okay? Does that mean I'm a little...hyper about it, sure.

Okay, sure, we can come up with a plan. I like plans. Plans are good.

...I was gonna suggest fire, but. Yeah.

So maybe we can do this in two parts. One team does a recon, and the other team tracks down Bryn and gets some information. Nobody makes a move until we're sure.

How do you track down an apparition?

Didn't even think the ghosts we was seeing at the start of the month were still around. Couldn't find none of them after the seven days was up.

I don't know, I figured someone around here would know.

[Details, details.]

I'm sure someone around here knows like...an anti-ghostbuster.

[...]

What's an anti-ghostbuster? What's a ghostbuster?

A ghostbuster is a person who busts ghosts. An anti-ghostbuster would be the...opposite of that?

[Sorry, Mercy.]

You know, someone who could like, summon ghosts, I guess.

I think- Am I an anti-ghostbuster, then? It was me, Ms. Yelena, and Ms. Katrina who summoned those phantoms from Dogtown at the start of October.

Oh.

Well.

That's great? That's actually great, could you do it again? Could you get Bryn back?

I don't know. Some folks told me it weren't a good idea in the first place. And them who helped me got hurt doing it. I'm cold all the time. Ms. Yelena's eyes have gone strange, and Ms. Katrina's taste ain't what it once was.

[ Oh this is great and he LOVES IT. Yeah, Elias is fully aware what's up with John and as far as he's concerned? The more Hunters that can be thrown into the meat grinder of whatever the hell will attempt to meat grind them en route to the house? The better. ]

On that, we can agree. And I believe ADI is also of the same mind. I talked to the Warden about that house. I suspect they'll see things your way from here on out.

[Elias pls

But actually thanks for being the first person to see his point of view. At least there's someone here who gets it!]

Finally. I mean, I don't know what's up with everyone else but like, have they seen what's been happening here? It's been getting worse, exponentially! We have to do something, and soon.

If the Warden's on board, that's a good thing.

It wouldn't surprise me if we had more boots on the ground en route to Dogtown sooner rather than later.

[ There's a moment's pause before, ]

And I think I know where we should start. That house is surrounded by a fence. Miss Graves and I weren't able to explore further but we found the border of that fence in Dogtown.

Where is it, exactly?

[John goes dangerously still, like a cat ready to pounce.]

Anything special about the fence?

Near the middle. We found it entering the northern most entrance of Dogtown. As for anything special? It's about ten foot high, rusted. I don't know where the house is in the middle of all this, but the fence surrounds it.

You'll know the fence when you see it as weeds and ivy surround the fence, but do not grow on it.

Got it. Me and Rodney have explored a lot of the southern end, haven't been to the north side yet.

Interesting that they don't grow on it. Has anyone touched the fence?

Nothing of note happened. I think the power is mostly from the house, not the fence.

[Rodney watches the the feed wearily, feeling a strange sense of detachment and annoyance and worry.]

Yes, because we have such a great track record with rushing into Dogtown.

Where are you?

We got out of Dogtown every time, didn't we?

[...okay, he knows he's not winning that argument, but still.]

I'm outside ADI. I'm not in Dogtown, if that's what you're worried about.

[Is he all prepped up and ready to go? Ma Y b e...]

I think I may know which house you're talking about. But I...

[They're hesitant. They're hiding something, restraining themself from saying something more, masking it with their concern.]

I just don't know if it would be wise for you to go into Dogtown right now, let alone to find something like that. You don't look good.

You do?

[His gaze is kind of intense. It looks like he's gonna do anything to get that information.]

Well? What about it?

[He sighs.]

Look, I'm fine! Why does everyone keep saying stuff like that? I've never been better.

People keep saying that because you...

[Perhaps telling him directly that he looks like an animal would be too upfront. But Raine's spent enought time around Witches, Demons, and Eda's harpy form to pick up on the more beastly attributes of people.]

Sheppard. Why do you specifically want this information? What compells you to search for it? I understand this is important but I worry about you.

Because we need to stop whatever's going on in Dogtown! Elidibus said that ghost, Bryn, that the some kind of reality-twisting thing is going on and the center of it is the house. And that it'll devour everyone! I don't know about you, but I don't want that?

[There's something wildly obsessive about the way John's acting, like all he can focus on is that. He probably hasn't slept or eaten actual food. Maybe he doesn't need to anymore.]

The safety of everyone compels me to search for it! Why would you keep that information from me?

[There's a warning growl.]

[Surprise overtakes Raine's face. They stare at Sheppard, but their hand floats to hit two keys- ALT+R- to record what's happening. ]

What are you talking about? A reality twisting thing in Dogtown?

[They push forward concern for their (possibly former?) friend, but their tone curls into something with a colder edge to it. Something to see how the scale would slide.]

I'm just trying to understand what's going on, Sheppard. You say you're fine but humans that are fine do not growl at me. Sheppard.

Edited 2023-11-03 00:32 (UTC)

I don't know what it is exactly, but it's dangerous. It's probably the reason Dogtown is so messed up and things are getting worse around here!

[The edged tone seems to have its intended effect. He's getting more and more worked up, his eyes widening, a low hiss in his tone, dragging out his drawl. Clearly he's losing control of something. The shape of his jaw and teeth shift a little more, becoming that much more cat-like and snout-like, garbling his words since he's talking in the middle of the change. The look in his cat-eyes gets more feral by the second.]

I'm not asssss human assss you think I am. But that doessssn't matter, I need to know where that damn houssssse is!

[Hook, line and sinker.]

If we don't know what it is we shouldn't rush in, But....

[Raine frowns, and they sit back in their chair. They look almost... disappointed. Deep down, though they wouldn't admit it, they're anxious by this display, and what it entails. But still, they pressed on.]

But this is precisely the reason I'm not telling you. The house is crawling. With Hunt. How can I know you actually want to help? When you're more Hunt than Nia, I'd hesitate to say your intentions are to help.

Edited 2023-11-04 23:46 (UTC)

[He can't believe this. He needs the information, and he needs it now! Sheppard snarls, his face quickly melting into a full lynx-like face. Somehow he can still speak. His words are a little clearer, but some sounds are garbled from the inhuman shape of his jaw and teeth.]

What do you know about the Hunt?

[He stares, intensely. Like if he was physically there, about to pounce.]

The chase is all that ever matters. And right now helping is the chase.

And you're getting in my way of the chase.

Said as if we have not already lived through what might well have been several horror movies.

Well, I certainly don't want to add to that number.

Nor do I, though it will remain a matter of properly locating the building in question. Unless you have already done so?

I'm working on that now, it's not going great but I think I've got a lead. The question is to figure out what to do when we get there.

I had assumed most would do what many here seem to be inclined to by their very nature.

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Video, un: Pegasus, cw: mild body horror

[video, un: rue]

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video | un: ceasetherain

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un: mercyme; video

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video; un: ebouchard

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with the caveat that we're going to retcon the shit out of this thread if something happens...

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un: rainey.day | video

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cw: talk of devouring, death

cw: non consensual recording, manipulation

cw: more body horror, transformation

cw: more manipulation

cw: body horror, transformation

[video; un: architect]

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