[open network - video] backdated to beginning of August

[ruevealing]

Who: Delloso de la Rue
Username: rue
Warnings: mentions of murder/dissection, non-human

[After the last few difficult months here, is it any surprise that the first network message from Rue in some months now comes with none of the cheerful optimism and excitement of their last? Instead, the owlbear looks exhausted, tightly wound and deeply troubled.

Something they have recently learned has set them on edge.]

I am afraid I must be the bearer of unfortunate news.

Though our numbers have dwindled greatly these last few months, there are still those of us non-humans simply trying to live in this world. But I have recently been informed by Nia that there is a greater chance of danger coming for us. My worst fear about being seen by humans was the terror the sight of me would incite, but now I have learned that was only the beginning.

Pray, if you are weak of constitution, I beg of you to turn this off. I do not wish to distress anyone, only to inform.

To put it plainly, Nia said that if we were discovered by those government forces outside of ADI, that we would very likely be killed and dissected. Such news has weighed heavily on my heart, I can not think how any of us are meant to reaction to such horror.

Comments

text UN Soldier, cw medical experimentation

[worthallthis]

[Winter takes several minutes to respond to this after he sees it, because one, he intimately knows what that's like to be on the receiving end of what would likely be in store for Rue, and that requires a couple minutes of hiding in a closet and breathing carefully.

And two, while he harbors the optimistic view that if ordinary people simply got to know them, they'd like Rue just fine-- they are, after all, much less scary than he is, and ordinary people let him around their children!-- he hadn't stopped to think about government and semi-government agencies. He absolutely does not trust those with someone like Rue.]

she is probably right

except they might try to dissect you before killing you

[ruevealing]

[hey winter, i got a question. what the fuck

No, it is a terrible thing to be told, but Rue would much rather have the full truth and know just what they are up against, than to be ill-informed and wind up dead.]

Truly?

They would be so cruel?

[worthallthis]

[Again there's the need to take a moment as he types, slowly.]

to find out how you work and if they can recreate it or maybe if they can break you to make you work for them

but if they kill you they lose their subject

[There's a pause, then a third text reply:]

i am sorry rue

Voice, un: Pegasus

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

Oh my God, at least lead into it gently before telling them that!?

still text, sorry dude

[worthallthis]

how do you lead into that gently

Voice, un: Pegasus

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

[Welp. New fear unlocked. He's been trying not to think about what would happen if the government got ahold of him, they'd be real interested in his crab arm before they realized what he actually even was now...]

I think maybe you shouldn't be talking to someone who is a Hunt Avatar who might get some fear juice off of telling you that, Rue.

[Take it from him, your friendly neighborhood benevolent Hunt Avatar.]

voice, un:rue

[ruevealing]

[hey now, look at this sweet pot]

I understand what you are trying to convey, my friend, and I see the truth behind your words. But I do not believe the concern that was raised was feigned. It felt too real.

[That's an awful argument, but look, Rue has feelings. Plus Pam was even more concerned and Rue trusts her deeply.]

And to her credit, she has kept to her word to try and protect us.

[ferriswheelsandfootball]

[RIP crab arm]

I know--I'm not saying she's not protecting us. [So far, anyway.] But I think that she might do these things without knowing it. She's an Avatar after all. I think she was telling the truth, too, but I also think she might have fed off you a little bit with that.

voice; un: jelica

[musicdied]

It's possible that they will try this, if they know about you. But John isn't wrong. What Nia is will influence her thinking and her expectations, and probably those of the people working most closely with her. Part of the Hunt is keeping the pack close and in line, and she has lost a lot of hers in the past few months.

And there's something...off in the city right now. I've been hearing talk about the government sending agents to spy on people, and there are some very conspicuous tails. Which doesn't say actual surveillance to me, it says someone wanting to breed paranoia. It's good to be cautious, but the timing is curious to me.

voice, un:rue

[ruevealing]

Verily?

[Rue has felt the exact same way as of late, the ever present threat of too many eyes on them. But in the kind of way that feels more like a movie than true reality, a gnawing presence that never quite makes contact.]

I had not even considered that such a thing could be an act, but I see exactly what you mean. I do find it so difficult to fully trust Nia's word, but I will remain cautious as always. I could not keep such pertinent information to myself if it could save another like me.

[musicdied]

It's possibly not an act.

[You have no idea how much it pains her to give even that much credit.]

Nia might believe it's a serious threat. It's just that her thinking might also be influenced by being an Avatar, or by an outside force that's trying to stir up fear. That's why the timing is strange - ADI hasn't been shy about telling us the doom they think will come from spreading out, so if they believed before very recently that there was a high risk of people who don't look human being abducted and experimented on, why was that not part of the warnings?

un: mercyme; video

[graveyounglady]

Anyone like that tries to take you, I'll put a glaive and dirk both through them. [Mercy is bristling on behalf of her friend.] There's humans here at ADI as can love and accept you. I got faith for the wider world, but any authority tries to change that, we'll take them down. I got some experience there.

[At one small abbey. She may be underestimating the might of the United States and the effect murdering a president might have...]

video | un: SGR

[punched_hitler]

And I've got a real nice, heavy hammer to electrocute them with, if you need backup.

Not that I'm saying you do. But you can always call if you need me. You or Rue.

[graveyounglady]

I'll take any help I can get, sir. Took half a city's worth of folk to bring down one tyrant. I ain't got delusions about being able to do it all by myself. We're always better together.

[ruevealing]

[Oh, Mercy. Even trapped in such a difficult situation, she always manages to find a way to endear herself even more to Rue.

(But also please be careful, girl, they've had enough run-ins with the police.)]

Perhaps it will taint other's opinions of me for not being realistic enough, but I want so deeply to believe that there is a place for me in this world. One where I will not need to hide, where humans accept me as I am, without fear. Hearing this has made it more difficult to believe at times, but I have met so many amazing humans who have accepted me without hesitation.

All of you have welcomed me with open arms, so it seems impossible such goodness is only to be found here within ADI.

[graveyounglady]

I think it extends further outside these halls than some think. Folk just need to meet you and they'd realize that. You're one of the best people I know. And even if there's things holding you back here, if we get a chance to go home, I guarantee you'd be welcome among my people. Treated with only the highest respect.

[As befits a god.]

voice; un: jelica

[musicdied]

Overthrowing authorities usually goes better when you don't talk about it where there can be a record.

[It's...not unfond. Mercy's a likeable kind of trouble.]

[graveyounglady]

Is it being recorded here as authorities can get it? I thought Mr. Cole was being careful-like?

video | un: SGR

[punched_hitler]

What's her solution to protect you?

[Assuming she's telling the truth, which... Steve isn't sure about, in the first place. What matters is protecting the people at risk, if there is a risk.]

[ruevealing]

[It occurs to Rue that perhaps they should not be revealing all of the details of their conversation with Pam and Nia, but also, they don't quite care. If ADI's leadership will not be transparent on their own, Rue will force them into it.]

The conversation arose because of Benny Holt, the former groundskeeper, and the fear of what secrets he will tell the world about ADI and all of us.

Nia alluded to needing to converse with some mystery person on the grounds, someone she described as being allowed to use their powers, but needing authorization to speak to. I did not know who she meant. But she insisted she would find a way to keep us safe, and that perhaps she would travel to Washington to speak with the politicians there. Beyond that, I was told to be vigilant and extra careful of revealing my true form to outsiders.

[punched_hitler]

[Well. All of that sounds very vague and fear-mongering to him.

But it's still troubling.]

In my experience, one guy saying something about a bunch of non-humans might not be taken seriously. But of course that's not something to hinge your safety on.

I think maybe you should try to make sure you're with someone at all times. Someone you trust.

And -

Can we talk? In person. When you have some time.

video, un: mkblackwood

[lowficharm]

Rue, none of us would ever let anything like that happen to you, I swear. If for some awful reason they captured you, we would get you out. We-- I know I certainly would never leave you there.

[He's seen the kind of corruption in his own government, and he has no reason to believe this one would be any better. But that doesn't make his words less true, his conviction less severe. They will not be hurt. Not on his watch.]

[ruevealing]

[They meant to give a warning and here they are, surrounded on all sides with support and such genuine, beautiful words. Rue can hardly believe they've managed to make so many friends.]

I appreciate your kind words, dear Martin. I promise, should such a fate befall me, I will not go quietly or calmly. I shall fight back with all I have.

voice; un: architect

[unnecessaryflourishes]

I cannot claim to be terribly surprised. It has been clear enough this world is not a kind one, to those whose origins lie elsewhere.

[voice, un: rue]

[ruevealing]

I had hope that we might be pleasantly surprised, but I suppose that was rather foolish of me.