001 - Hello, World - Week Two | CW: insects

[snaggletooth]

[ A buzzing besets the wearers of masks, building and building. Then, the moment it seems impossible for it to become any louder, it stops. Like an approaching swarm that's ceased all aggression in an instant. There's still something sitting there behind this sudden cessation, however, hidden in the shifting blackness of the mind. A presence, just arrived, awaiting a turn to speak. ]

Hello, please pardon my intrusion. My name is Ivan. I'm standing at the entrance to Grand Central Station.

Before I head below, there's something I believe I should do for my own safety. With an appearance like mine, it would be easy for those of you I've yet to meet to mistake me for one of those other mindless things that live down there, in the dark. That's why I'm going to show myself to all of you now. It may be startling, so I apologize.

Please, brace yourself.

[ There is movement in the mind's eye. There is a light that switches on, illuminating an oily mass that goes on and on, disappearing off in the depths of the dark plane. Nothing gives it scale except for the distinct sense that it is looming, this terrible silhouette that terminates in the pale, placid face of a young man. It looks like a porcelain doll's head has been torn off and placed atop a nightmarish effigy.

He sways softly before allowing himself to fade away once again. ]

There, ahaha... if you're still hearing this, then I have to thank you for at least humoring me.

I realize that my gesture doesn't give anyone a reason to trust I'm not as bad as the next abomination you run into. I won't begrudge you, whatever your decision. There is one piece of guidance I can offer though. It doesn't even require dealing with me in person, fortunately for all.

Just concentrate with me — for one more moment.

[ He's not usually the one to do this. That person has concerningly not been present. At the end of the moment he requested, your thoughts are pulled along, beyond anywhere you thought to direct them. You can resist and the sensation will simply dissipate, but allow yourself to be lead and all will also be well. At the end of the line is a susurrating knot of voices speaking over one another. Echoes that, with just a bit of focus, become clearer. Individual. ]

If this information proves useful, send your regards to the young man named Megumi.

( NOTE: This message will be sent out once the Veteran's nightmares begin leading them to the tunnels. Ivan will be actively searching while communicating and can be intercepted by other characters in the area. His close companion Till may also respond and/or can optionally appear if a conversation thread is converted to action. )

Comments

[untilldeath]

As if.

[He's been silently listening, but he snorts at the idea, finally interrupting. The last thing he wants is THIS guy hanging around.]

I think we'll be fine without it.

[inverseye]

[ Hey, he said that first! ]

I wasn’t talking to you…

[untilldeath]

Tough shit, asshole, because I answered. I'm just making it clear.

[YOU TRY AND TOUCH HIS BUG AND HE WILL END YOU!!!

. . . Seems to be the general animosity behind the words.]

Can't believe you haven't died in a hole already.

[inverseye]

[ What is he gonna do to a giant bug god?? Worry more about how he’ll find some way to lead you to your ~accidental~ death one day SIR ]

Why don’t you come to the sewers and we can look for a hole together…

[untilldeath]

Didn't realize you were so eager to get showed up again.

[That's not how things ended, Till. You both slinked off eventually.]

[inverseye]

Shown up.

[ ☝️🤓 ]

I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about [ the offering lied as easily as he breathed ] but I doubt I’d be killed by you.

1/2

[untilldeath]

[TCH-!

L-Like he cares about you and your proper grammar!]

2/2

[untilldeath]

I'm not the one interested in sacrifices, idiot, so no shit. Unless you start something, in which case I'll finish it.

[inverseye]

[ Maybe go to school instead of blaming an innocent and well educated man? Oh wait, you're Ivan's childhood friend or whatever, so you're probably also a weakling who let his whole species get enslaved instead of dying out properly. ]

Holding contamination against people is pretty sick, sir.

[untilldeath]

Piss off! Like I want to hear that from you of all people, you massive jerk.

[inverseye]

Sorry, sir. Was contamination to difficult of a word?

I thought it would be obvious I don’t have any interest in that sort of thing when our host isn’t in my head.

[untilldeath]

[HE VERY SERIOUSLY WANTS TO PUNCH THIS GUY.]

Nice try. That might be true, but any normal person would’ve at least apologized. You’ve been playing dumb way too hard for me to trust a single word out of your smug, one-eyed face.

[inverseye]

Why do I need to apologize? I didn't touch you.

[ Saheon just doesn't see a reason to pretend to be nice. Till doesn't seem like a threat, or like he could give Saheon anything he wants. He's just...a guy. ]

But it's fine. If you want to make this all my responsibility, you can go ahead and die any time you want.

[untilldeath]

Yeah, I WILL make it your responsibility, thanks sooo much for the permission. I'll leave the dying to you.

[inverseye]

Alright, it's a promise.

[ There is a strange intensity to the way Saheon says it, like he really does mean it... whatever his conception of "it" is. ]

[untilldeath]

[Till doesn't really respond after that, except for the feeling of a final "fuck you" possibly through the murmur. It isn't really voiced so much as felt. He'll leave it at that for now.]