Network - Is This Thing On?

[apocalypsehownpcs]

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Is This Thing On?

(cw: reference to skin-related body horror)

The message that pops up on off-worlders' ADI-issued phones phones likely comes as a surprise given that the network has been down since May 25, along with all of ADI's other fancy tech. It's similar to other network notifications at first glance and looks like an official notification from the higher-ups saying that the network has been restored, but anyone who clicks it will find their phone redirected to automatically download a new app from a shady-looking URL that ends in the phrase "its-ya-boy-pyre".

Upon loading, the app turns out to be a private chat program with most of the same features as the ADI network, though the user interface is much, much less polished. It immediately shows a longer, less deceptive message from a user named "thecolepackage":

Sorry for the trick guys but I don't know if I can get the old network to do like back and forth and I wanted to send something you'd all click open on the first shot. And like if you know someone who's better at cyber security than you and didn't open the message maybe let them know it's okay? It's ya boy Pyre and I figured out how to get this app linked up with your phones, it should be private and safe and all that stuff. I only sent it to you offworlders for now, I'm still not so sure ADI'scool with the whole ex-desolation monster thing. But I thought maybe you could use this and also maybe I was getting lonely because it sounds like y'all have a lot going on right now

And Bonnie's telling me there's all kinds of arguments about what to do?? That's rough man I know what it's like to find out you're kind of doing the wrong thing and maybe feeding something that's going to end the world. And maybe it'll be good if you can all talk about that and figure out what YOU want to do without your bosses telling you since Bonnie says none of your bosses are agreeing on anything and it seems to me like its maybe important to figure out if you're still going to be in the apocalypse disruption gig. Youre in a tough spot and I'd say I don't envy you but also I miss having skin so I do envy you a little bit.

Anyway like I said have at and let your friends know this isn't a virus. Or it's a friendly virus I guess. Also I kind of want to go by my name Cole now instead of Pyre? So if you could call me Cole now I'd like that.

Peace.

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Comments

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

I know it corrupts, but it’s our best bet. Maybe the answer is to see who is willing to sacrifice themselves to the corruption and have someone who can bring them back from it. If that’s even possible.

Honestly? There’s always a chance she was playing all of us. But I don’t think so. And even if she was, she still has the same goals as us. That’s enough for me to work with her until that changes.

un: rue

[ruevealing]

Is this the stand we have decided to take? To determine who among our dearest friends is willing to play martyr?

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

Unless someone volunteers.

[ruevealing]

[It's the casualness that does it for Rue. They are not naive enough to think that the coming fight will come without sacrifice, but the iciness of John's answer, they can barely stand it.]

I would sooner sacrifice myself.

[And that is a promise. If he's taking names, but theirs down.]

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

[Rue’s response shocks him out of his jerk phase. Okay, maybe he’s getting worked up and being too harsh with everyone here.]

What? No, Rue, I didn’t mean it like that. I meant like, me. I’d volunteer to do something like that.

[ruevealing]

My friend, you are not expendable. You are kindhearted and warm and one of the truest people I've met in this realm. There is no reason that your sacrifice makes any more sense.

You deserve the chance to live just as much as I do.

[a beat, thoughtful, before Rue's next message comes in]

I suppose by pure logic it makes sense that if one was to be martyred it should be the one least able to help in the coming fight, yes? Your combat prowess, your vast experience and knowledge, all of that is much needed on our side, John.

cw: suicidal ideation

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

[ashdjdjjffk RUE

Rue do you realize how much this man hates himself

John doesn’t answer for a long moment. He can’t, he just—freezes, doesn’t know what to say, what do do, how to handle the kind words. Words that he’d never say to himself, words that remind him so badly of the people he left behind, people he cares about so much, people he’s lost—

—for a second it’s simply too much and he just…can’t.

When he finally recovers, he’s just glad he’s not speaking out loud.]

Rue, you are needed. If we’re fighting against corruption itself, we need you to keep us right. It’s not just about the battle and fighting.

Can I talk to you, in person? Where are you now?

[They said he was true. It hurts to hear them say it. He considers himself to be a manipulative bastard, this whole post was him being a manipulative bastard. He absolutely considers himself expendable. He’s flown so many suicidal missions he’s actually lost count.

Maybe he needs to tell them…about what he…is now. Maybe that will help, or maybe he just feels plain guilty. But he’s scared Rue might go off and do something reckless.]

[ruevealing]

[Rue's response comes immediately.]

I'm home. Pray, my door is always open for you, whatever you should need.

I believe speaking in person would help. So much can be lost in text.

Text -> Action

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

I’ll be there soon.

[And as promised, soon there’s a knock on the door.

On the other side, there’s John, looking as awkward as he feels. He’s never really been good at the whole feelings thing. Fighting, yes. Expressing emotions other than anger or frustration, nah.]

[ruevealing]

[Rue, to their advantage, is already so well practiced at hiding their true emotions, made even easier with the lack of an expressive mouth. But their eyes are warm and welcoming, even if they are uncharacteristically holding back.]

Please, come in. Sit and make yourself at home.

[It's a very casual dress today - soft greens that match their feathers, with a swooping neckline and long sleeves cut open to the shoulder, to allow better movement for their wings - and their home is as perfectly put together as ever.]

cw: character death, guns, violence, zombies

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

[John enters, politely, feeling for a moment like he was entering the fancy houses of his youth—houses that were always immaculate, perfect in every way. His own room and quarters—not so much. He enjoyed posters of musicians and various sports equipment strewn about.]

Hi, Rue. Uh, thanks.

[He’s wearing his casual clothes—a plaid shirt tossed over a black shirt, cargo pants. John pauses a moment, wondering if this was a standing conversation or a sitting one, but he figures he might as well sit, as was offered to him. He presses his hands to his knees, all awkward and shy now that he wasn’t in a battlefield or fight. Is there an Entity that feeds off of being afraid of conversations and feelings?

Yep, he’s terrified.]

So.

[Sooo…]

I was just—I was worried about you, Rue. And I wanted to make sure you were all right.

I didn’t want—I didn’t want you to think that you were—I wanted you to, uh. I just—I’m not really the kind of person you think I am.

I haven’t been entirely forthcoming to you or…everyone else. Only a few people know what I’m about to tell you. Rodney, for one, of course.

Like I was saying, you shouldn’t sacrifice yourself.

I already did it. Sort of. There was this…incident. In Dogtown. The Hunter, this undead Zombie guy, he—I got shot.

I didn’t make it.

[ruevealing]

[Almost immediately, Rue can pick up on his trembling nerves.

They follow John over to the couch, to ease themself into a nearby armchair while the man makes himself comfortable and finds his tongue again. Even before he begins to speak, they can tell that something is wrong. This is beyond the rather heated conversation they'd had over the network, beyond the idea of choosing who to follow. It's a thought that terrifies him.

And even if Rue did not appreciate how casually the man was willing to sacrifice others or himself, they reach out a giant paw to rest against his own hand, a gentle reassurance while he collects himself. He does not have to deal with this alone.

Finally, he speaks and Rue listens.

They can not hide the way their expression twists with worry and fear at the mention of having already sacrificed himself, of him dying, of being shot. Against him, Rue's own paw trembles slightly, squeezing over his.]

You speak truly? John, you - You were killed out there?

cw: PTSD

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

[The touch does help. It steadies him, prevents his memories from going down darker paths. His hand curls slightly under their paw.]

Yeah, I was. It was…I honestly thought that was it, that I was a goner, but…it wasn’t.

[The thought of leaving Rodney alone in this place was unbearable. Was that what had called the Hunt? Or a combination of that and his sheer stubborn refusal to give up? He goes quiet a moment, taking the time to gather his thoughts. It’s an awful memory, one that likes to sink its claws into his mind and send him on a spiral.]

I don’t know exactly how it happened. Or why it happened. I just know that it did.

[His voice is steady, though the look on his face is a little faraway.]

I’m an Avatar, Rue. Of the Hunt. Just like Nia, just like Hickey. Probably not as bad off as Hickey, but…

[There’s a slight pause. He would accept anything that they told him after this, for good or bad.]

I just—I just wanted you to know that. I’ve already sacrificed myself to the corruption and…jury’s still out on if I’m gonna make it out of it all right, but I think I’ve been doing okay, so far. I have Rodney and he’s still alive, and he’s been around me all the time, so there’s that.

[ruevealing]

[It is strange.

The only out avatar that Rue has ever personally known was Hickey and they had seen firsthand how such a partnership had destroyed that man. But John is nothing like Hickey, even in the weeks that he's been a fully fledged avatar, he's still himself for the most part, still the dear friend that Rue has known since arrival.

Even now, when they imagine that learning another avatar of their entity was fully in charge would leave a man to proudly brag about his status, John is still so timid and careful, certain that he is in the wrong, just another monster worthy of sacrifice if it helps out his friends.

Well, there is much that Rue does not understand about this place, even now, but what they do know, their belief in is absolutely unshakable.

Just as quickly as they sat down, Rue is rising up on their feet again, towering over the man, so they can close the short distance between them and drag him up into a hard, impossibly tight hug. This is not the soft, tender embraces that Rue is known for, a gentle hint of wing, the barest touch of feathers, this is talons against his shoulders, wings pulling him in close to be crushed into their strong arms.

Rue wants him to feel them. Rue needs him to know how much they mean this.]

That's enough. [And even after they've so long lost it officially, the authority of their former title clings to their every word, strong and firm and unflinching.] You will not sacrifice yourself. I do not care what you have become or why you did it. You are still John. You are still ours and nothing has changed.

[They won't hear him say otherwise.]

Besides, what would dear Rodney say. If you can not believe these words from me, you must believe them from him.

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

[He’s never been good with hugs, it’s always been an awkward affair, never knowing exactly how he should hug back. For all his skill in reading other people and making friends, he’s actually really bad at things like this, at real feelings, at letting people in.

He was not expecting this.

He blinks, against feathers and talons, surprised but much more than that…it reaches him. It strikes him more than words ever could. Even now, even after he found a family on Atlantis, even after he’s had people outright tell him, a part of him still stubbornly clings to the fear of rejection, abandonment, of failing the people he cares about. A certainty he would disappoint them and they would leave.

Rue did not run away or leave. Instead, they do this. Making sure he knew how they felt.

It strikes deeper than the fear, the self-hatred. That Rue insists, that they say that he’s still himself—

He closes his eyes a moment against the feathers, a little overwhelmed, unable to form the words—even if he could, he wouldn’t know what to say.

How much this means to him.]

He’d be pretty mad, actually. You wouldn’t believe the complaints he’d have. He’d never shut up.

[A deflection, a joke, because this is the only way he knows how to deal. He finally manages to return the hug, movements awkward, a gentle pat to contrast with the crush.

It’s helped. So much.]

Thanks, Rue.

[He wishes he was eloquent, that he could explain what he feels. But it’s all there on his face, the words he can’t say, the gratitude in his eyes that might look just this side of watery.]

just gonna jump down here~

[punched_hitler]

I would, too.

But I still don't want to work for someone I don't trust. I think we're better off on our own.

cw: suicidal ideation

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

I get that, and I respect that. But I do trust Nia if only on the basis of having the same goals. The way she was talking, she wants one last mission and she’s out. By taking herself out. So maybe she won’t even be in charge of ADI for long. I’ve been trying to convince her otherwise, that she can do more good by staying…

Re: cw: suicidal ideation

[punched_hitler]

One last mission sounds noble and I can sympathize. I can understand. But what will she do to get it? And what happens if she loses control of her intentions without realizing it. Or without being able to tell us?

I don't think she deserves a death sentence, but I don't know that she deserves to lead, either.

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

That’s where we come in. We keep an eye on her, a close watch. Anything that happens that is a little too Avatary…we’ll stop her.

I haven’t always agreed with her or ADI policies. But she hasn’t really done anything wrong or even bad. It’s not like she’s trapping us or holding us hostage, she’s just directing us and getting resources in order. If she messes up, we’ll deal with it then.

[punched_hitler]

I worry that's still too easy for us to fall into the trap of complacency. What's too avatar-y? Where's the line? What will we do about it if she crosses it, and who's going to be watching?

It's just easy to let things slide until it's too late, is all I'm saying.

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

Then we figure it out, figure out what we’re willing to put up with and what we can’t. It can’t just be one person deciding it, we all should.

If she crosses the line, I don’t know. I don’t think she should be killed if there’s a chance she’s still herself.

If she ends up like Hickey, well, that’s a different story.

[punched_hitler]

No, you are right. It shouldn't be just one person who decides. Not any of this. [That he can agree on.

Well, that, and,] And she shouldn't be killed, I agree. I want to give her a chance. I know how I would feel.

[But he worries that desperation - especially for redemption - might be coloring her judgement. He thinks that's how he'd feel, too.]

But I still don't know if I can trust her enough to let her lead.

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

I know. I get that too, I mean…we all have our lines.

At the very least Nia would provide some advantage in our next mission. After that…I don’t know. I’d follow her. But if someone else was in charge of ADI…I guess I’d just have to wait and see what happens.

[punched_hitler]

We do, but at some point the line is the line. There has to be a limit.

I guess I just don't want to sit and play musical directors and hope things will turn out better next time. But I've never been very good at sitting down and taking orders. I guess I just think that's what all of us need to stop doing.

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

What would your line be? [He’s not being facetious for once, he’s genuinely curious.]

Same here. I’ve never been good with authority. the moment I’m asked to do something that crosses my lines, I’m out. But I’m gonna stay for now and see how things play out.