Network: Leave Me Here, Burning With You

[bloodalwaystells]

Who: Andrew Jaeger
Username: a.jaeger
Warnings: cw: fire damage/injuries, mention of death




Hello. For those who don't know me, my name is Andrew Jaeger and I'm involved in the Investigation and Security divisions of ADI.

I wanted to make the group aware of some work I've been doing on a string of fires. Due to past incidents involving the Desolation, I've been keeping an eye on reports for arson and other suspicious fires, matching them to the modus operandi of the Avatar we know as Pyre. These recent reports caught my eye, particularly as they seem to be moving toward Massachusetts from the original incident in New Haven, Connecticut.

Specifically, the situation is this: the popularity of "fire shots", or lighting a shot or cocktail with high alcohol content on fire, has led to injuries and four deaths in the area, and reports of a patron ordering several fire shots and then vanishing. One bartender has claimed that she witnessed a man drink a still-flaming shot right in front of her.

Right now this is unfortunately spotty, but I want to keep an eye on it. The proximity, the spectacle, and the unfortunate fatalities are worth noting. I'm happy to accept any questions, comments, or other information for my file- if I can make a concrete case for further investigation, I'll submit it for action. Otherwise, it will be filed with ADI as a case to be watched, since Pyre is still unaccounted for and a credible threat.

Thank you for your time.

Comments

[musicdied]

It's a very believable stupid trend, but stupid trends don't usually stay that contained.

Some of Down's cult got their start in Canada, didn't they? There may be something there, if it is related. It might be worth taking a closer look. Not a full-scale investigation, but a few people on short, targeted trips.

[bloodalwaystells]

Just enough of it sits wrong with me that I want to keep an eye on it. I don't know that we have the resources to keep a full watch, but simply tracking a few news stories and perhaps gathering a little more information would be smart, I think.

I may be getting paranoid in my old age, but I would rather take a little time and invest some attention, than be blindsided by something we already know is an issue that will need to be dealt with.

[musicdied]

I think we're in agreement. Is it really paranoia when there are actually agents of incomprehensible horrors actively manipulating people into doing stupidly lethal things?

Actually, that's a thought. Has anyone posted pictures or videos of this online? It's exactly the kind of thing I would expect someone to want to capture.

[bloodalwaystells]

From what social media links I was able to capture, at least some of the videos show signs of supernatural influence. Specifically, blurring and distortion. There don't seem to be any other signs of supernatural fire being involved, but I've learned to keep an eye out for that particular distortion. It shows up way too often in my own photos.

I've also seen the same denim jacket at multiple scenes. Mostly in the background and I can't get a clear view of the person wearing it, but it stood out to me...

I would need a hacker to get more information from police reports and such. All I've been able to gather has been publicly available information. But it's still enough to cause concern.

[He's going to go ahead and send a package of those pictures, so Yelena can see for herself. Of course she'll get the full report if she wants it, but he wants to call her attention to this specifically, first.]

[musicdied]

Careful enough to not be in the spotlight, but not careful enough to not be caught on camera. Unless they wanted to be noticed...

It's definitely cause for concern.

[bloodalwaystells]

I'm honestly wondering if there's some Avatar abilities in play we aren't familiar with yet. Wax is malleable, it's not that far a stretch that some Avatars of the Desolation might be able to change their features beyond just burning themselves down and regenerating.

Something to consider, unless that particular denim jacket has come back into fashion in a big way.

[musicdied]

It is about time for that to cycle back into fashion.

But there's precedent for shapechanging, if the reports from Wolf Pen are anything to go on. Which means we'll have to be even more careful if this does come to the point of on-site investigation.

[bloodalwaystells]

Agreed. Right now, it's all deskwork, but both Pyre and Carl Watts are still unaccounted for, and I'm open to the worst case scenario, to be perfectly honest. Right now I'm investing exactly as much as I can spare into the situation, but it will take either a more telling incident or deeper investigation to bear anything more concrete.

Access to a competent hacker would probably help things, too, that's an option to at least get a look at what the police have managed to gather.

Frustrating, but that's the way it works, I suppose. At least we're less likely to be caught by surprise, even if we're working half on speculation.

[musicdied]

We have living computer people. Someone has to be able to break into the local police systems.

We're too unfocused as an organization. It lets threats slip the net.

[bloodalwaystells]

Bureaucracy is a great, lumbering beast, unfortunately. What allows us the resources to deal with bigger threats, also limits our ability to maneuver, to operate in relative secret and avoid presenting too large a target.

[The Brighter Dawn Foundation had found ways to limit their profile, and continue their operations, but the Foundation had been...something different.]

I have someone doing some investigating for me now, so hopefully that will bear some new information. I'll keep you updated with whatever we get, and if you have anything to add or any thoughts, you know I'm always happy to hear them.

[musicdied]

Isn't that the truth. I don't miss the people I was working with before coming here, but I do miss the mobility.

[And the intel. She'd just about kill for well-developed intel that doesn't have them chasing off down rabbit holes.]

[bloodalwaystells]

There's something to be said for being able to move quickly and decisively, even if it means the added pressure of making those decisions yourself.

But I also appreciate having support and resources, which is something I've missed. For a long time, I worked in an organization, but...that had its pitfalls, to say the least. Then I became a mostly independent agent, with only the most basic information and direction. Both have their strengths, and their difficulties. I expect the ideal lies somewhere in between the two, honestly.

[musicdied]

And probably changes from person to person.

One of these days we're going to have to get a drink and share stories, when there isn't some bloody horror breathing down the backs of our necks.

[Which is something that's going to happen approximately never. It's a nice thought, at least.]

[bloodalwaystells]

Agreed. Some people work better with structure, others need room to maneuver. Granted, circumstances aren't always generous enough to give us what we need, but on the other hand, adaptability is an important trait for these sorts of things.

I'll hold you to that. It may simply be a matter of *making* time, given how things go here, but I think it's important enough.