Network - Text post backdated to August 15

[easilyamused]

Who: Methos
Username: pierson
Warnings: discussion of death, necromancy, desecration of corpses, mind control

I'm sure we're all aware by now of the shambling corpses down on the beach. And probably aware that pulling the hooks out will make them settle down again.

If you are planning to go down and play with the dead things, whatever you do, don't stick yourself with the hooks. They won't just make corpses get up and start wandering around trying to drown people, they'll compel any living thing they get lodged in to do the same. As far as I can tell, the effect doesn't linger in the living any more than in the dead, but it would still be damned inconvenient to go mad and start trying to drown your partner.

To say nothing of the infection risk.

Comments

[failedpromise]

Destroying the head works too.

Personally, I think it's time to test if the hooks retain their zombifying properties once they're melted down.

[easilyamused]

That works for most things. They're simple enough to put down individually, it's the numbers that make them a real threat.

Even if they do, it's harder to impale someone with a shapeless glob of metal, and it does need to be lodged inside the body to work.

text; un: username

[canofmanji]

Let me guess? Learned this the hard way, did ya?

[easilyamused]

Ooh, a swing and a miss.

[text] un: cupkate

[bossyboiler]

Gross. How did you find all of this out?

[easilyamused]

I did a bit of research after Frederick and I encountered a few of the poor dead bastards. Didn't seem smart to assume the threat was gone once they'd stopped moving.

[canofmanji]

Seen someone learn it the hard way?

[easilyamused]

Thankfully, no.

[Which is in no small part down to his partner in accidental zombie encounters not have any flesh for the hooks to get stuck in, which is its own special blend of deeply disturbing.]

As far as I know, no one's succumbed aside from our friends on the beach. If we're careful about disposal, we might still be able to stay ahead of the undead apocalypse.

[bossyboiler]

Thoughtful and yet still gross. Neither one of you got hurt right?

[easilyamused]

No argument there. It isn't the most disgusting thing I've ever seen, but it's certainly in the top ten.

[Well. Maybe the top hundred.]

We're both fine. Thanks for asking.

[bossyboiler]

You wore gloves right? I don't think I want to know what's in your top ten.

You're welcome. It's good to hear.

[easilyamused]

You absolutely don't. If it's any comfort, I can promise most of it wasn't ambulatory.

un: mercyme; text

[graveyounglady]

I have been meaning to ask after this. Do we know how the bodies are being tended after they are freed from the hooks? It is a cruel and vile thing to pervert death in such a manner. But to leave the bodies without a proper burial is a deep offense to the Earth, as well.

[easilyamused]

The local authorities seem to be collecting them. Which typically means an autopsy, an attempt to identify the body, and notifying their next of kin, if they have any. Either their families will have them buried according to their wishes, or the city will do it if they're not claimed.

[bossyboiler]

How does a mostly mild-mannered history nerd get involved in non-medical grossness?

[easilyamused]

Some of it was medical.

For the rest, let's just say if anyone offers you a startlingly high wage for cleaning out people's houses, you should run the other way as fast as possible. I might have looked a little bit more closely at the biohazard training if I hadn't been struck stupid by the hourly wage.

[bossyboiler]

Who hasn't done something stupid for money? [ She doesn't want to know about the biohazard part. Gross! ] But I don't think I could be able to clean people's houses. Some people are disgusting and I would be the one to tell them.

[the_archivist]

Hm, fascinating.

How exactly did you discover this?

[abrightboy]

Are you talking about zombies?

[easilyamused]

The generationally wealthy. Not that they don't do stupid things, it just isn't for money.

[easilyamused]

I suppose you could call them that.

[easilyamused]

I checked. Better some temporarily inconvenienced wildlife than something large enough to pose a threat.

[abrightboy]

What would you call them?

[easilyamused]

Animated corpses.

Or puppeted bodies, maybe. I suppose it depends on whether they're being compelled or hijacked.

[the_archivist]

Makes sense, I suppose.

Hmmm, fishing hooks I'd normally say extinction, but drowning... walking corpses... interesting.