network | video

[clavesregni]

Who: Caitlyn Kiramman
Username: piltoversfinest
Warnings: discussion of the Public Eye event, involving potential body dysmorphia and loss of control

[Caitlyn speaks quickly and eagerly as she shows off a large map of Gloucester pinned to her bedroom wall with variously colored thumbtacks. Pinned around it are all sorts of papers, covered in borderline-illegible scribblings in red and black ink, and polaroid photos, some of which have been drawn on. The whole thing is criss-crossed in red yarn.

As the camera pans around, you can see that her bed is immaculately made but the floor is a mess of papers, books, and notepads. Some of the mess has probably started spilling out into the hallway. Sorry, Donna and Callisto.]

I've been trying to document all of the supernatural goings-on in Gloucester. At least the ones I'm aware of. I've noted approximate locations, dates and times, and which Entities could be implicated by each. The more information I collect, the likelier it is I'll be able to deduce a pattern.

[She points to a red thumbtack pinned near two blue thumbtacks.]

At the moment, I'm particularly interested in the phenomenon that's resulted in certain people being trapped in various cameras around town. Here I've noted the camera I found myself looking through when it happened to me, and [She taps the two blue thumbtacks.] where I was each time it occurred.

If I can compile enough data, it may be possible to ascertain a source. Or perhaps what, if anything, has been triggering certain people to become stuck in the cameras. I would certainly appreciate any information any of you could share.

Comments

[clavesregni]

Neil Grace, the Head of Security. He was going into a building I didn't recognize, but I investigated and it wasn't anything suspicious. From what I've heard, there have been far more alarming sightings. People spray painting eyes that blink on the side of buildings, flesh plants, that sort of thing.

[abrightboy]

Do you think it was meant to look suspicious? Maybe cause some strife inside ADI?

[clavesregni]

That's certainly possible. Neil is Head of Security, I suppose it could be desirous to have people doubting him. But a simple inquiry revealed that he wasn't up to anything nefarious. Do the Entities really think they can cause division within ADI by sewing doubts that can be dispelled merely by asking?

Perhaps it's simpler than that. The Eye reminding us that any of us could be under observation at any time. Or perhaps there's a long game going on here, pieces we don't have yet or haven't put together yet.

[abrightboy]

Do you think they're being more careful after Wolf Pen?

[clavesregni]

I'm not... [She's loathe to admit she doesn't know something.] What exactly happened in Wolf Pen?

[abrightboy]

A lot of things, but it amounted to a full scale attack from Entity-aligned avatars. Maybe they're more wary of everyone now.

[clavesregni]

Possibly. [She makes a frustrated little huffing noise.] If only we had an avatar to question. They could give us an insight into how the Entities think.

[abrightboy]

"I think.... I think I've spoken to one," Malcolm tells him. "A friend of mine... changed. A little while before Wolf Pen. And now he's gone."

[clavesregni]

Changed? [Now Malcom really has her attention.] Changed how?

[abrightboy]

He didn’t ever attack me or anything. But he got… confident. Reckless in a new way. And in a walking dream, he did attack my… monster. The one that gutted him in our first shared dream. Made it shrink away.

[clavesregni]

Hang on. Shared dream? Your monster? What do you mean?

[abrightboy]

We all have a monster that stalks our nightmares. When we shared each others' dreams, mine attacked some people.

[clavesregni]

I see. And your friend attacked it and you believe that means he became an avatar?

It's unfortunate that he's gone, in that case. It still leaves is without and avatar to question. Do you know what may have prompted him to become an avatar? Or how he went about doing so?

[abrightboy]

I didn't figure it out until after he left, but he talked about how good he felt. He thought he was... a loser before. He struggled with depression. It was a lot like cult psychology; the Entity giving him a way to feel like he was part of something that he could uniquely contribute to. ADI didn't give him that. He was a magic user. ADI felt oppressive and the Entity appreciated him.

[clavesregni]

An easy trap to fall into, I suppose. [Said with sympathy.]

I wonder. If there are no avatars available to speak to... how might one contact an Entity directly. That would be an even more direct method of getting information than questioning an avatar.

[abrightboy]

That sounds like the fast track to becoming an Avatar. I think addressing the Entities directly is... extraordinarily dangerous.

[clavesregni]

It may be dangerous, but it may also be our best shot at getting the information we need to combat them.

[abrightboy]

Or you may become their weapon and we’ll be combatting you.

[clavesregni]

I very much doubt the Entities have anything they could do to me or offer me that would sway me to their cause.

[abrightboy]

I know. But that's how they get people. If you do this, tell someone when you're going and try to choose one that you can't be tempted by.

[clavesregni]

Of course. I'm hardly going to go haring off on my own to talk to the Entities without telling anybody. [Except that's exactly the kind of thing she would do.]

I never got your name, by the way. I'm Caitlyn.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm Bright. It's nice to meet you, Caitlyn. Don't get devoured.

[clavesregni]

Very nice to meet you as well, Malcolm. I assure you, I intend to avoid that fate.

[abrightboy]

Let me know what happens?

[clavesregni]

I will.

Though it occurs to me, I'm not certain what the best way to get in touch with an Entity actually is.