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

[thedoctorsmate]

Sounds good.
Have you been able to dig up any photos of people at these places where the fires happened?
Maybe spot him that way.

[bloodalwaystells]

I did find a couple of notable details on the photos and videos I was able to find. I would need a hacker to get access to police files, but from public social media accounts, I was able to pull a couple of details.

One, that some of the photos and videos have distortion around them. The same kind of distortion that I tend to encounter when I try to take pictures of known supernatural objects or locations. Blurring, tearing, static.

The second detail was that in those pictures with distortion, I was able to pick out a person wearing the same denim jacket. I can't tell if it's the same person, or any critical details about them, but the jacket is distinct.

This also leads me to wonder. The Desolation avatars we've run into so far have been made of wax. Wax is malleable. How possible is it that an experienced enough avatar might be able to change their physical appearance beyond melting and reforming? If so, that would explain the stranger's presence while avoiding identification.

[thedoctorsmate]

Considering Carl Watts was that one guy up at the mines?
I'd say it's very possible for them to become whole different people.
Or were you thinking, like... they can make their own clothes with their wax?

[...]

If your clothes are made out of your own wax, does that mean you're technically naked?

[bloodalwaystells]

Naked, or wearing one's own "flesh" as clothes. I think I kind of prefer the naked option, it's less disturbing.

It's amazing how this world can produce such small but disturbing details. But yes, I was thinking that at the very least, the basic features of the person in the video are changing from incident to incident. The jacket could be a sentimental item, or it could be a subtle way of saying "Here I am, look what I'm doing" to anyone with the inclination to study the crowd that closely.

[thedoctorsmate]

Is that a signature for Pyre, do you think?
Like, he was some sort of performer, right?
Might make sense he'd want to be seen, even if it's subconscious.

Cw: immolation

[bloodalwaystells]

He was a performer, yes. He was the circus's star attraction, though its not clear why he left. From the information we have now, it's a possibility that he went looking for his father (leading him to Wolf Pen) but the details are murky at best.

But he did take a great deal of joy in being center stage. Watching him do his act, it was very clear he was in his glories. He also set his hand on fire and burned it to the bone to try and get a reaction out of me, in a private interview. He was visibly disappointed when i didn't panic...

With the circus gone, he's still going to need to feed the Desolation. And a signature of sorts is not out of the question at all, especially if he thinks he's being clever. It could also be something sentimental. Or it could be multiple people in the same jacket type, wearing it as a gang uniform of sorts.

It's all mostly speculation at this point, built on a few reasonable theories based on what weve got, but I don't like the picture it's painting if I'm right.

[thedoctorsmate]

Okay.
So.
Super gross.
Right.
Why have they all got to be so creepy?
Makes me think of some sort of "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" thing.
(Which, let me tell you, when I first heard that title, I had questions.
That's not what we call blue jeans here.
Pants are underwear.
Anyway, I agree.
We should keep an eye on that, if we can.

Seems like you're on top of it, though.

[bloodalwaystells]

They feed on fear and chaos, so the more unsettling they can be, the better. Even small incidents can provide them with power, something as simple as surprising someone in a dark alley.

[There totally isn't a reason that he knows that, he swears.]

I have never heard that title and I definitely have questions. I thought you called them knickers...though it's been a while since I've been overseas, really, and as much as I enjoyed London, I didn't spend a great deal of time there.

I can keep some decent records, but everyone has been a great help in clarifying things I wasn't sure of, and offering things I've missed. I'm glad to initiate the project, but I will always appreciate others contributing because I'm only one man. All the help is welcome.

[thedoctorsmate]

Pants and knickers are underwear, yeah.
Trousers are the things you wear over top of them.
This was about people sharing a set of jeans.

But anyway.
I'll keep an eye on this.
Thanks, mate!

[bloodalwaystells]

Ah, I see. That makes more sense, then.

Thanks for your time and effort, I appreciate it. I'll let you know if I come up with anything more, then. Good luck.