un: Aberration, video

[dangerousmind]

[The video opens up to Aelwyn and Mercy's shared apartment, and Aelwyn personally sits reclined on a chair, a smug and somewhat empty smile on her lips. She claps her hands together once, then twice, then a third time, all equally as sarcastic and biting.]

Seems I've missed some juicy gossip.

ADI was sponsored and being run by Avatars who live off fear like leeches live off blood, and all the fun activities they've been up to has been feeding right into that inner beast. Wow, color me so very shocked. I'm not going to dwell on saying 'I told you so', though for the record, I very much told you so, and also specifically told the boss so that's just twice as embarrassing for her.

Anyway. I wanted to announce my return, and say hi to everyone, though it seems we're a bit divided. I'm still not entirely caught up though, so if anyone wants to give me any updates, I'd be delighted to hear them.

[There's something the slightest bit different about her, but it's hard to pick up. Anyone who knows her particularly well would know how deeply she hates herself. There's none of that shame buried deep anymore. She's at peace in a way she's never been before.]

Comments

[dangerousmind]

[Hmm, this one's... relatively new. She can't remember if they've met. Though there's something about him that's familiar. Previously, she might have been concerned, but now the fire is so warm within her that she doesn't have to be afraid of anything. So now she's just interesting.]

Lehrer thought that going around and spreading fear in the hearts of monsters somehow didn't count as far as the fear entities are concerned, or that keeping us in boxes and telling us to be powerless also somehow didn't count as far as the fear monsters are concerned.

Her complete naivity in this regard was rather adorable considering how long she's been at this.

Vast, though. Not the entity I would've expected to be sponsoring our mastermind. Probably another sign he wasn't much more than another pawn.

[hellojon]

Considering that I'm certain that he was working with the Web, your pawn assessment is spot on.

But yes. 'He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster,' and so on and so forth. Words of wisdom that Lehrer and her staff should have paid closer attention to.

[dangerousmind]

All the wannabe big bads seem to wind up being puppets for something larger than them. It's a repeating theme. Very Web.

She knew full well that it was a risk for us, she just didn't realize that she was included in it. She wasn't using magic, she was just brutalizing monsters and people who worked for them. I don't personally have a problem with acknowledging that we're an organization that runs off of fear. At least it's more honest about how we've been surviving this long.

[hellojon]

On that, we're agreed. Besides, the sooner people accept the organization's alignment, the better they will be at their jobs. The purpose of ADI and the desires of the Hunt align perfectly. Those true believers in the cause would be better off embracing it.

[dangerousmind]

I wouldn't say that out loud where the so-called true believers can hear. Though, it is true.

I don't entirely blame people for disavowing ADI, but this does feel like a rather bizarre reason to do it over. I suppose we'll see how it all goes.

[hellojon]

Some people are fine going through life with blinders on. This, more than anything, proves that.

[dangerousmind]

[Aelwyn Abernant used to be one such individual. So blind. Searching for something she'd never get, burying herself in her own misery. Insufferable. She was weak.

Now she's strong.]

I'm inclined to agree.

[The Beholding's grip on her is not insubstantial, though it's dwarfed by the flame. She's not lying to herself anymore.]

The fact that the world as a whole isn't aware of all this by now is a good enough showcase of that sad reality, frankly.

[hellojon]

[ You don't have to be an all-seeing servant of the Beholding to pick up on some signs. This girl is driven. She knows where the cards lie. She is willing to see past and overlook what others deem as 'safe'.

He suspects they'll get along exceedingly well, at least until one of them decides the other is expendable. Which really, that's all he can ask for these days. ]

Oh, I suspect that more of the world is aware of all this than most realize. Back in my world, I ran an organization much like ADI. People were certainly aware of what happened when they came to us to tell their stories. They simply clung to their blinders because they thought it was better than learning about what truly happened. Because they wanted comfort, not answers.

[dangerousmind]

[Something dances around in her eyes, a sort of... danger. Hunger, maybe. He may even be able to recognize it.

'Ran an organization much like ADI.' Jon isn't here anymore to be pestered with her questions, but she wonders...]

Mm. Well, it's all out in the open in my world. Organizations like this are less clandestine secret monster hunting orders and more akin to our world's equivalent to Harvard, except instead of entrance exams they'd toss teenagers at dragons and beholders and such.

It's been a strange and frustrating transition, to go from a world where might makes right to a world where everyone sits around and pretends that things work any differently here.

[hellojon]

I can understand your frustration. [ Silently, Elias is a bit thankful that Aelwyn landed with ADI and not something a bit more inactive, like his Institute. Say what you will about the Hunt, but they get shit done. ]

I suspect that whenever you get the chance, you're out in the field. I admit, I'm more suited towards bureaucracy. But I suspect you need both to make an agency run smoothly.

[dangerousmind]

I operate on a mixture. I'm not one to run openly into the flames but I do prefer a tactical and coordinated assault over a haphazard improvised defense. There's less of a lethality rate.

[She used to be so scared. So afraid of doing anything. She locked herself up inside her citadel and let herself be pulled along by beautiful girls with hunger in their eyes and maternal shadows on the wall that unraveled her to suit their purposes.

When did that fear become hunger? She can scarcely remember what it felt like to be on the other side of it.]

Officially I'm an investigative researcher. But I've coordinated a few larger operations.

[hellojon]

[ Larger operations. A tendency towards Desolation. Someone perfect to be the bullet in the gun or the first match in the fire. ]

Give me a call if one of your operations runs into trouble. I can be very good at smoothing out any...unpleasant bumps in the road. With a world like this, decisive action is occasionally what's needed.

[ Especially if he can aim the pistol. ]