Network | Text Post - October 13 - On the trail of the Lullaby Girl

[musicdied]

Who: Yelena Belova
Username: jelica
Warnings: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, auditory hallucinations, religion and damnation, death by fire, child harm

I've been looking for the source of the graveyard music, like I'm sure half of us are. I haven't been able to pinpoint where it's originating from within the city, but I have found a hole in the net. There's no music in the graveyard at the Holy Light Church, and I don't think it has anything to do with its geographic location.

I wouldn't consider it a safe haven, if you're trying to escape the effects. The people belonging to the church are unpleasant, and very territorial, and any more potential converts will probably start to strain credulity. They're very concerned with hell and damnation and being judged by their god.

[There's a series of pictures of stained glass windows and paintings, taken from a slightly odd angle, probably covertly.

They all seem to feature eyes very heavily.]

Their choice of decorating may not actually be telling, but it is very interesting.

I've had a little more success looking for where the threat originally started. Gloucester isn't the only place that's had to deal with the music. It's been happening up and down the northern part of the Eastern Seaboard for the past decade, always between September and December.

The very first incident was in Wolf Trap, Virginia, ten years ago. Not long before the music started, there was a house fire in the town. The only survivor was the family's 10-year-old daughter, Amber.

[Only a single picture this time, a newspaper reprint of a family photo. Those who were present at the nightmare version of the previous year's Hallowe'en party might recognize the girl in the photo as someone who bears a striking resemblance to Ava, the Lullaby Girl.]

She vanished into the foster system very quickly. It may be possible to find out where she went, and to track down the "Mr. S" who's been aiming her from there, but it will take some time.

Comments

[thedoctorsmate]

10 years ago.
So, then she's not actually a little kid anymore, right?
She's an adult.

[musicdied]

She would be 20 years old.

I don't think we can say any more than that for certain until we find her in the real world. Maybe she keeps aging like a human being, but avatars are fucking weird, so we might still be looking for something that looks like a little girl when she's awake, too. Especially if she's like Ren, and died to become what she is.

As for her thought process, the juvenile demeanor might have been an act. People find monstrous children more unsettling than monstrous adults, so it could be a part of how she feeds. But the trauma of the fire and of becoming a dream monster might have also prevented her from actually growing up. We can't assume she can be reasoned with like an adult, or that she'll react like one to threats.

[lowficharm]

Ten years? And someone's been using her, or-- or an entity picked her up when she was about to die? That's... horrible. Worse than horrible.

[musicdied]

Or both. A little girl with terrible powers is still a little girl. She wouldn't have known how to navigate the world alone.

And that isn't even the worst case scenario.

text | un: username

[canofmanji]

why do you think the geographic location? you think they got some sort of spell or avatar helping them out?

[musicdied]

Spell, avatar, artifact, a bargain with the Lullaby Girl or the person steering her.

Or maybe they're just such giant assholes that even the Entities don't want to eat them.

text | un: sgr

[punched_hitler]

They sure do like to play the long game around here.

I'm not exactly top of the class in research, but I need to go to the library for a few other things if you want me to see what I can find there as far as foster records go.

[musicdied]

It's a very familiar game.

I think there's a good chance any digital records were scrubbed, but I would appreciate the help.

Feel like a road trip if nothing turns up before Halloween?

[bossyboiler]

Ten years is a long time to be held by an Entity.

[musicdied]

Her Mr. S must keep her in check, to let her stay hidden for this long. Children aren't known for their impulse control and sound decision-making.


[Avatars don't seem to be big on impulse control, either, though the ones they've encountered may be an unfair sample, selected for an inability to keep their shit quiet.]

[canofmanji]

i know i wouldn't want to eat them. i bet they'd taste bitter and leave a weird aftertaste of something rotten in the mouth afterwards if you did eat them.

[bossyboiler]

It sounds like a toxic relationship. Has this Mr. S made an appearance anyplace else?

[musicdied]

Your brain is a very interesting place.

[musicdied]

Not under that name. And neither FYRE nor the fire clowns were that smart.

I have some thoughts about our mystery mastermind, but it's entirely possible they've been careful to stay out of sight.

[bossyboiler]

We defeated them with fish. Of course, they weren't that smart.

Do you think Mr. S is responsible for the house fire?

[musicdied]

It's possible.

Or maybe Amber was, or was made to think she was.

[bossyboiler]

Do you think it's possible that Mr. S can sense those who can become avatars more easily than others?

[canofmanji]

im taking that as a compliment. id hate to be dull and boring so i accept interesting.

[punched_hitler]

Some of us lack patience, I guess.

[Him. It's him.]

But you got it. I'll let you know if I come across anything useful.

Absolutely. Somewhere fun?

[You know. For very specific definitions of "fun."]

[musicdied]

Maybe. Or he's just very good at manipulating people, and this is how he chooses to use that.

Of course, we're only seeing his successes. For every Ren and Ava, there might be a hundred people who didn't succumb, or died, or broke in a way that meant he couldn't use them.

[musicdied]

As you should. Being boring is clearly a fate worse than death.

[musicdied]

Being impatient is probably better than being an evil mastermind.

And of course. Stick with me, I'll take you to all the very best places.

cw: casual mention of gun violence in second paragraph

[canofmanji]

maybe that's how theyre still around. nothing more boring then a stuffy religion so theyre cursed to live forever in boredom

although i once got shot in the head by a fake priest in a church. that was a bit exciting so maybe not all churches are dull.

[thedoctorsmate]

So we've got a monster who's been that way for 10 years.
Probably hasn't had any sort of check on her.
God.
On the one hand, that's awful for everyone she's hurt.
On the other, thinking of a kid and a teenager going through all of that alone?
If her mind's gone round the twist, it's easy to understand why.

[musicdied]

The robes are very good for hiding things.

I think these ones are more likely to lecture people to death, but there's a chance that they're a front for a horrible cult, so it might still get the violent kind of exciting.