video; @unknown

[redshiftnpc]

[ The communicator bobs, turns, points at the floor. There’s muttering from a voice some of Anchor’s residents will recognize. When the camera rights itself, it’s a close-up of Creepy Joe’s face, the eye that was formerly sealed shut now open and writhing with tiny flower-like tentacles. His other is steady, crazed blue.

His mouth is still twisted, his lips still curving upward on the ruined side of his face, not quite hiding teeth too long and sharp for a human mouth. There’s movement behind and between his teeth, though it’s hard to see what it is until he opens his mouth--more tentacles, tiny flailing things growing from the insides of his cheeks, the roof of his mouth, his tongue. They make him lisp hoarsely as he talks.]

Don’t go down. Don’t do it. You’ll open the way to worse things, worse things, worse.

[ He glances behind him, and in spite of the close angle, some at Anchor might also recognize where he is. In his little hole in the wall, where he was recording the actions of Anchor’s new residents. ]

Trust me. I came back, didn’t I? I came back to help.

Comments

[abheirrant]

Fine. I will give him a call.

I assume you are not guarding the door and this hallway, given your demeanor.

[redshiftnpc]

No. No, not going near it. Not going close.

Never going back down there.

[abheirrant]

Well where are you, then?

[And no, he does not want to come and meet you, Creepy Joe. He's just fine staying on this end of the communicator, thank you very much.]

[redshiftnpc]

Why do you want to know? Why does everyone want to know?

I'm safe. I'm in a safe place.

[abheirrant]

I assume they want to know because you're an odd fellow trying to vaguely warn us of a dangerous thing you cannot recall what is. Making sure you're here or even real is likely a priority for some, especially before they do or do not heed your warning.

[redshiftnpc]

But... everyone here is odd.

[abheirrant]

... Fair enough. Most of them don't have quite the physical characteristics you do, however.

[redshiftnpc]

My face? My arm?

Why does that make me more... odd?

[abheirrant]

Your arm? What's wrong with your arm?

[redshiftnpc]

It's... dead. Can't use it. Talks to me sometimes.

[abheirrant]

That would be possession, not death. Or insanity. Or both.

[redshiftnpc]

I'm not crazy!

[abheirrant]

All right. Possession then, if your arm talks to you. How did it get that way?

i laughed

[redshiftnpc]

The eyes. The eyes under the lights.

:>

[abheirrant]

What lights? There're lots of lights here.

[redshiftnpc]

Down below.

[abheirrant]

Ah. One of the many reasons you're never going back there, I assume.

Have you considered amputation or exorcism?

[redshiftnpc]

No... Do you think that would work...?

[abheirrant]

Perhaps. I recommend trying the latter before the former, but if your arm is possessed, then an exorcism ought to work. I've done loads of them.

[redshiftnpc]

What if it gets angry?

[abheirrant]

Will it really matter when whatever is possessing it is sealed away and unable to harm you?

[redshiftnpc]

Why would you help me...?

[abheirrant]

[Technically he didn't offer to help, but now that Carlisle thinks about it, it certainly did come off that way. This fellow seems more than a little unhinged, and may be delusional, but—]

It is a part of my duty to my goddess to deal with possessions, exorcising unwelcome beings and sealing them accordingly. Malcontent demons and spirits ought not be allowed to wander this plane, lest they cause more trouble for those living here.

[redshiftnpc]

When I meet Peter's friends. After I do. Can I find you?

[abheirrant]

[Peter's friends? He's meeting Peter's friends? Or Peter? Is that safe?]

Er, yes. Where would be best for you?