video; un: newt | three days after battle / sans and finn's post!

[groupiedrifter]

[This entry to the feed is definitely not as happy and energetic as the first time he'd posted, way back before the mission began. At the moment, he's left it to video, especially since he wants everyone to see what he's got hidden away in his room; he's a bit beat up, much like he's sure a lot of others are after that monster tussle three days back: a big swelled bruise on one side of his forehead with six neat stitches running across his temple, a small sprain splint on his right-hand wrist, a bit of sleepiness in his eyes, like he's spent the day wringing his hands and hyper-fixating on something instead of catnapping.]

Newt here, hey. So... this has been all kinds of terrible, huh?

The whole — being duped thing. Hope we've had some time to absorb this awfully terrible conclusion.

I hope you're all recovering. Um... I'm not sure if anyone who was taken by those guards can hear me, but... Anyway. I'm sorry the Lord and Lady may be colossal assholes, or that we've been pretty much pitted against infected, angry citizens instead of the big bad monster army they tried to pitch to us. For the record? A few of us had to literally steal back these monster specimens I've got here, because the guards refused to let me keep even a baggie for analysis, despite it being our mission to help them stop this 'terrible enemy', so I admit, I kinda felt this was coming.

[Finger-quotes, obviously, followed by a biting of his lip. Then, a sharp breath, followed by gesturing-]

Let me back up. I've been studying some tissue samples from the fully infected monster samples, comparing them to my own healthy human cells, as well as some from the locals who inhabit the area, too; don't worry about how I got those. But also: turns out, as long as you can barter something cool, you can get a dude to give you some skin cells and a vial of blood, no problem.

Now, trials show that when someone who isn't native to this place is contaminated, the rate of infection moves at a much slower pace than it would to the natives here in Gyeongje. We're not impervious to it obviously, but we do have a tolerance to it that the people who live here definitely do not have. So I just wanted to get that data out of the way here.

[He switches the feed from himself to close-ups of what the microscope is recording: indeed, you can see the infection spreading through healthy human cells; the next shows the infection spreading through the local Gyeongje citizen cells... but the footage looks rather sped up, compared to the other recorded data. No doubt about it, the Orbers get sick much more slowly.]

It took approximately three days for the local Gyeongje man's skin samples to be fully engulfed by the contagion carried in the creatures' cells. I can verify that the monster tissue and the three day old infected civilian tissue are a match. Ghost girl's right on the money; these creatures are from this town, and are likely victims of not-so-unrelated plague that had hit this place and left parts of it abandoned.

[He clears his throat, adjusts his glasses.]

As you guys might've heard a few days ago from Finn, he was given some abilities by that gal, So-Yeon. The ghost chick? Her abilities are past onto him just enough that he can temporarily help treat those afflicted with the disease. The good news is, Finn's blood absolutely helped improve the state of the infected cells...! They essentially began to revert back to their usual selves when Finn's blood was introduced into the dish. So whatever she's got going on, it does fix the problem. The only issue is I can't manufacture anything that works long-term from Finn's blood; it has an unwritten expiration date, and the longer the blood is outside of Finn's body, the less effective it is.

So yes, it's a great short-term, and it could definitely slow the progression of the illness, but we won't get anywhere in fixing these people — and our people — without the source of what's in Finn's bloodstream. I feel confident, though, that this plague is truly reversible, and that a cure lies in the orb, and in So-Yeon's abilities. If you can speak with her, please do your crew a big ol' favor and ask her as much as you can about how this magic works. This might be a job best suited for the infected from our crew, though; I don't know how much she trusts the lot of us.

Also, what the hell is up with my personal goal being to kill one of these infected people, huh?

Thanks for nothing, Ximilia, great to know I almost murdered a sick person who needed help.

This sucks.

[After a long moment, he sighs, drags a hand down his face.]

Anyone ever hear the story of The Monkey's Paw?

It's probably just me, but I'm getting some serious Monkey's Paw vibes from The Golden Eye.

... Never mind, forget it. I just need a break from staring down this microscope.

I'm gonna get a drink, maybe. Anyone wanna come with?

If this stupid palace with all its fancy banquets is good for something, it's gotta be the liquor.

Comments

Private Audio | UN: d.johnson

[morethan084]

What if your DNA isn’t 100% human and you’ve been infected?

Private Audio

[groupiedrifter]

[... Oh. This is a new update. Newt takes a careful moment to consider the implications (and how he's gonna approach this without putting his foot in his mouth.]

I haven't had a lot of samples outside of human to run any trials on, so I couldn't tell you without volunteers.

[morethan084]

I would volunteer if I wasn’t stuck in here.

They gave us something too. Knocked us out.

[It’s a good thing they can’t be overheard here. At least she hopes not.]

Had a really weird dream that I’m pretty sure wasn’t a dream. I spoke with So-Yeon.

audio;

[winscenario]

We can hear you. Or I can hear you, at least.

[ So yes, he's one of the infected people stuck on that quarantine wing. Feels more like a prison, but whatever. ]

The infection may spread slower, but it's definitely changing us too. So-Yeon has reached out to us in our dreams, too, so whatever abilities she has, apparently it allows her to communicate with anyone who's infected.

[ He lets out a breath. ] I don't... think using Finn's blood at a larger scale would be safe for him, either. So don't let him try to sacrifice himself, I've got a feeling he'd try.

I can try to talk to So-Yeon, if you want. I can't guarantee I'll get any answers or solutions, but maybe she'll be willing to listen, and even work with us if it means finding a cure for everyone.

audio;

[groupiedrifter]

Good to hear from the other side of this mess, pal; I know they were getting rid of any monster corpses, so I just... [Yeah, he was terribly concerned they were going to throw the infected Ximilia members into incinerators. That's a load off, honestly.] Don't worry, I'll make sure the guy isn't trying to make any blood buckets around here; he can save all that for staying alive and helping reverse some of those infection symptoms.

Two questions, while I've got you:

What did So-Yeon tell you in your dream, and what symptoms are you currently experiencing?

[winscenario]

I don't think any of us are quite that far gone yet.

[ Neither monsters nor corpses, thankfully. There is still some hope that they'll find some kind of cure to this, a hope that Jim's desperately clinging to right now. If not for himself, then for everyone else. ]

I'm, uh... [ Well this is uncomfortable to talk about, but here goes. ] I'm growing more teeth, and claws. My skin is turning paler, more of a grey or light purple tone. And I smell... we all smell different. Some seem to be in a more advanced state of transformation than I am.

She told me not to be afraid, that she'd protect me. Then she showed me the way to where we can go to be safe, presumably wherever she is.

audio (un: major.yzak.jule)

[coordination]

Glad to hear that our endeavors didn't go to waste.

[ That's all Yzak offers. He doesn't say anything else, obviously disappointed in the whole monsters-are-people thing. Because they had ended up fighting, and some of them, himself included, had fought back and killed. But he's not looking for pity or absolvation, he's a soldier who understands the risks of needing to fight back. Even those who attacked the palace and So-Yeon herself must have understood those risks, shitty as the whole situation is. But war and fighting, that kind of thing is always shitty no matter how you look at it.

It's as Newton said, this sucks.

And maybe it's because they had worked well enough together in securing the samples that Yzak feels a little more amicable about his offer at the end there. So he adds: ]

I'll come along.

audio

[groupiedrifter]

Yeah? Hey, after that good work back in the hallways, I'll do you one more and make sure it's on the house.

[He adjusts his sleeves, gets up with a grunt; as it turns out, you're a little less stellar at handling falls and injuries when you're in your mid-thirties, as opposed to your mid-twenties. Nifty! Aging! Love it!

Collecting his jacket, he seems to hesitate.]

... You prefer the palace's drinks, or should we sneak away and go for something seedier on the merchant district?

Not gonna lie, some part of me is a little worried the guards are gonna slip me something when I'm not looking.

[coordination]

[ At the end of the day, Yzak isn't above something seedier. He does tend to prefer something more fancy, if only because he's used to that. But it's not as though he's never been dragged along to something more laid back and less high class, with someone like Dearka as a best friend. ]

Let's meet by the tunnels closest to the rooms.

[ Which is to say, he's in for a small trip out of the palace. ]

video; un: oswin

[bossily]

I don't care what we have to do, but we're finding a cure. However much of Finn's blood we need, however we have to communicate with So-Yeon...I'll do whatever it takes to help figure this out.

[Because if she doesn't, the Doctor is as good as a monster and that doesn't sit well with her at all. In fact, she looks pretty crazed and narrowly focused on this whole cure thing. Like she hasn't slept in days and is one bad thing away from completely snapping.

But don't worry, Finn. She has no intention of bleeding you dry. Really.]

video;

[groupiedrifter]

[He holds up his hands in a placating gesture.]

Whoa, whoa, Clara, let's not get Finn riled up into overdoing it. We're gonna work on it. I know it's scary to be on a timer here, but also I doubt the Doctor would be happy if we wring Finn's blood out of him like a towel, huh?

[Is Newton Geiszler soothing someone else's anxious, frenetic energy?

Pigs are gonna fly, man.]

audio | un: sharpshooter

[buoys]

[ it's been — a thing, the last couple of days. admittedly, lance isn't even sure how long he's been imprisoned, it's not like sun is a thing down here, but having to listen to all the stuff they're finding out while biting back the painful symptoms he's experiencing... yeah. it's been a thing. ]

If we're going to bust out of here, it has to be all of us. If you're all right and the rulers here really did that to their own people... I don't even want to think about what they'll will do to those of us that get left behind. I counted twelve from where I can see — I don't know if there are any more of us. Maybe we should sound off...?

Does anyone have any idea what kind of magic is holding us here? Maybe we can counteract it or, or something.

audio

[groupiedrifter]

A sound-off sure wouldn't hurt... But we're not gonna leave 'til we know we've got everyone accounted for, I'm sure. I mean, have you met some of the hero-types around the Ximilia? They'll do whatever it takes to get you out.

[Newt loves to mock the Jaeger's behind their backs, but it was always with a touch of fondness. They were heroes. Big Damn Heroes who felt loss every deeply, even when they were celebrating another win. He'd have to be blind not to see there were some of those very same types here.]

I have no clue, though. What's going on, on your end? What's it like?

audio; un: Sabriel.Abhorsen

[bindsthedead]

Well, I haven't heard that story, but I know enough about magic to know that anything that just magically grants your wishes always comes with a price- often a higher one than if you did it yourself.

As for a cure... I know healing spells, including some dealing with infection and magical corruption. I could try combining that with the blood to see if there's an effect? If nothing else it might give us more time... and I could try teaching it to others if it does work.

And if the infection really did come from the orb, perhaps we're resistant to it because we made a pact with the orb?

audio;

[groupiedrifter]

I wonder if there's a way to reverse whatever the orb did. If it was used to grant them something, maybe it can be taken back — and the rest'll be undone. If the science side of things fails miserably, I mean.

And honestly, I'm willing to try whatever you'd like to try; I've been running test after test on what I've got so far, so feel free to stop by and add more for me to trial run.

[Who knows? Maybe it'll do something different!

mods will tell us just how different]

video; un: trashmouth

[longoverdue]

Yeah, no, I want a drink too, this is way more fucking bullshit than I signed up for.

[A beat.]

There's a tent in the Merchant District that serves some fucking strong drinks.

video; un: trashmouth

[groupiedrifter]

You're speaking my language, dude.

I doubt they'll have karaoke, but that's a bonus I'm willing to forget about.

Got a name, new bestest drinking buddy?

[... Richie Tozier and Newton Geiszler should not be allowed to interact, but we're here, it's too late.]

audio; @majimagoro

[hikae]

[ That's a lot to take in. And not gonna lie, parts of it just flew over Majima's head. Maybe he should have pay attention more at school once (or finish it, at all). But he gets the gist of it. There's progress being made. ]

So-Yeon— I heard that name in a dream. Well, she introduced herself. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy but—

[ Focus, dude, focus. He's not feeling great, and the medicine he's being fed makes him only more drowsy, but there's one important part ]

Hey, smartbrains ...do ya need any fresh samples? 'm growin' them.

audio;

[groupiedrifter]

Hey! It's you!

[That's no way to greet a friend, Newton. But he does look genuinely happy to hear from the guy — and is immediately focused on that last bit, his crinkly grin immediately slipping.]

Oh, shit, they got you, too? Are you stuck in whatever lockdown they put you guys in?

un: song | voice; private

[spoilers]

At least we have some time.

[ There's some silence. River doesn't particularly enjoy being poked and prodded at. Too many unpleasant memories. What she does remember, anyway. ]

The Doctor isn't human, nor am I. Usually, that's a benefit. It doesn't seem to be this time. I'd like to know if he's better or worse off for it.

And then I'd like that drink.

voice; private

[groupiedrifter]

[... Well, that's a new update. Thoughtfully, he considers:]

You want me to see if he has any kind of resistance to the infection, using your similar skin cells?

voice; un: clarke

[romancekiller]

It's good to know we have something even if it is short term for now. Hopefully we can figure out a cure though because we can't just leave people like this either. [especially when they don't know how much time they have here either]

My personal goal wasn't to kill but it was to capture one of them which is just as messed up. [she originally had intentions to go through with it but it wasn't something she went through with in the end]

voice;

[groupiedrifter]

[Oh, hey, Clarke...!]

... To capture one of them? Who the hell is giving these objectives out, anyway?

audio; un: kaspbrak

[respirations]

So the talking I thought I heard from one wasn't me actually losing my mind. Jesus fucking—

( And then a gulp as if the guy on the other end of the end of the line as if he's just come up from underwater. )

Still need a drinking buddy? I'm gonna need one or five.

audio;

[groupiedrifter]

Yeaaaaah... We got played. Congrats on not actually losing your mind, though.

Let's drink on it, dude; I've got a big bottle of strong stuff I stole from the banquet room out of spite.