networkinthenight | [audio] @ORACLE; [open]

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[audio] @ORACLE; [open]

[ Elden's been fiddling with this tablet thing for awhile. Want to know how long? Because for the last ten minutes his tablet has been going on and off voice, you can catch little snippets of; ]

Damn it, work you piece of-

For the love of- why does there need to be so many buttons-UUGGGGH-

[Static.....
....

Finally, though he manages to stay on audio; ]

Right, so, hi everyone, my name's Elden. We've been here a few days now and I'm pretty sure everyone's already looking into whatever's going on here.

I mean, it's a big spooky, dark town, who wouldn't want to figure out what the hell was going on. So, there were a couple of things I wanted to bring up.

One is I think we need to start compiling all the info we've found out about this place so far. Even the stuff they told us when they got here. If we're ever going to figure out why this place is perpetual night that's probably what we should do. Maybe we could keep some kind of log book in the Inn to keep us up to date.

[ He pauses before bringing up his next point. ]

Second, if there's anyone willing to go into the forest with me? I'm not sure what's in there but it'd be dangerous to go in by yourself. Especially if there are undead lurking in that forest.

All right, well that's all for now. Thanks.

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[ But, right, ACTUALLY making a plan. He had a semblance of one but honestly, having seen how plans go with his group back home he's doubtful it would hold together long. ]

My overall plan was to venture in enough to see if I can catch a glimpse of what lives in there. If I can catch a glimpse of it I might be able to figure out if it's undead or not pretty quick.

That being said...if whatever in there is undead I can hide myself and others from their sight. I'd do that before hand anyways. As for getting back...with barely any light it'd be pointless to mark trees if we got lost. Might have to do something like a ball of twine or drop really shiny objects behind us.

[ He sighs a bit now actually having a moment to think it over without someone yelling at him. He still wants to go but someone at least is helping him think more about this. ] Definitely leaving would be the tricky part if we went too far in...hmm...

Oh right and from the sounds of it I have three other volunteers wanting to go in.

Right.

Okay, that's a start, but I've got a couple of questions to get out the way:

1. What's the deal with the undead? [ or: what is your deal with the undead? ]
(1a. You know this isn't Night of the Living Dead, right?)
(Don't answer that, I already know the answer.)

(1b. What if they're not the undead?)

2. Shiny objects is an idea, but you can't guarantee they won't get moved and the forest looks pretty dense. That's going to be the trickiest part.

3. ...Four. And you need to think about what those other people can do — their strengths, your weaknesses.

[ Now, here's the thing. As good as these questions are and have a valid point Elden can't help but hesitate from wanting to answer the first one at least. This person definitely was not showing their identity...maybe he should've been suspicious from the start. So, his voice definitely carries that hint of defensiveness; ]

I'm willing to answer your questions but you've got answer one for me first.

Who are you? Because I'm not going to share anymore things unless I've got a name and a voice to go with it.

Edited 2019-07-07 16:59 (UTC)

—Okay, I should've known that was coming. [ beat. ] Spider-Man, you know, the guy in the suit you thought was from the circus? I mean, it's kind of— [ not relevant; another breath of a pause. ] And okay, in retrospect, I know how it looks — suspicious, with a side of shady, but let's just say, Elden-the-other-kind-of-living-dead, the spider suit comes with a serving of spider-secrecy and spider-sensitivity.

[ pause. ]

—Do you know how many bug-themed jokes I have to put up with? Spiders aren't even bugs.

[ He definitely recognizes the voice, and well, okay he can't help but let out a laugh as this guy talks. It's the first of few times in this place he's managed to find some genuine humour, so Elden definitely lets a good few happy chuckles. ]

All right, all right. If you're going that far to point out how unbelievably shifty this was I guess I can believe you for now. Not like you have much to gain in hurting me I suppose. I won't question though why you're calling yourself Spider-Man....though it's a little ridiculous. [ Jokes aside on his end he needs to focus on the important thing here; the bug jokes- ]

Maybe you wouldn't get as many bad jokes if you didn't run around in a spider suit? Just saying.

Edited 2019-07-07 17:23 (UTC)

[ While he hadn't promised to answer he only feels like it's the honest thing to do after this guy answered his question. Considering though, people seem to be able to read his other messages he's going to lock this one, having found the function. The youthful joy in his voice all but vanishes when he begins to speak, taking on a more mature but somber in his tone; ]

Right...so, to answer your first two questions;

My city has been at war with some pretty terrible people who worship the goddess of Undeath. Most of their forces contain Undead. We've been fighting them for awhile so killing them is kind of speciality. So, I just want to rule it out that Larethal isn't involved in all this...she doesn't like me much and well...she would love a place like this.

[ He can't help but shiver a bit at the thought. The times she gave him nightmares of being buried beneath the earth surrounded by all kinds of vermin and corpses. It could make even the strongest person feel small. He attempts to at least conceal the shakiness he has in his voice at the thought of talking about the goddess of Undeath. Like mentioning her presence might automatically summon her here. ]

If it's not undead at least we rule out the possibility and can focus on better preparing ourselves for other things. If it is though...we're going to be really on guard. Especially if there's morhgs.

[ The other two questions though might be easier now to answer, with them not so personal thankfully. So, he speedily moves on attempting his brief moment of fear that had tried to force it's way into his words.]

I suppose...maybe getting a torch and breaking them up into candles could work. If we don't go far in that is.

But...I guess we should take our time with this, huh? Take a couple of days for people to show what they're capable of to better prepare.

[ that puts it all in perspective — peter remembers being elden’s age, he remembers what it felt like to have what seemed to be your entire world fall apart around you, to be so scared you couldn’t remember what being safe felt like. ]

Hey, for what it’s worth, Elden, I don’t think this has anything to do with what anyone any of us were dealing with before we ended up here. I get it though - you’ve gotta rule it out, for better or worse, and we don’t know enough about where we are to be able to even guess at what’s outside of our perimeter.

[ and if they can be brought from their respective worlds, there’s no reason that means just them — not that he’s going to share that thought. ]

Torch from the bonfire’s a good shout, kid. And, uh, not now because I don’t have any pockets, but I know a way of making sure we won’t lose anyone.

Edited (phone taaaags) 2019-07-07 18:55 (UTC)

[ but that laugh he managed to get from elden earlier was something at least, and when peter sends his second message, there’s a deliberate edge of mock and over-the-top defensiveness. ]

—Hey, it’s all there in the name: Spider, hyphen, man. Don't make me spell it out—.

—And not to be confused with my way less attractive younger cousin, Man-Spider.

[ jokes that was also him please don’t take him back to those dark days. ]

[ He's really not sure if he can take comfort quite yet in Spider's words right now. Could a goddess be blocked from transcending to a different world? There's not much that could be said to quell that fear until it's confirmed like Spider said. Still, he tries to make an effort of sounding a bit reassured by their words. He'd like to believe them. ]

I'll try not to worry too much about it, but I'll keep that in mind.

[ Still, from the sounds of it the guy was willing to go with. He can't help but sound a bit hopeful when he asks;]

So, you plan on going with me than at some point? Good to know.

[ But, there it is again, that bit of humour this Spider man has and he can't help but laugh again. ]

Right, well, fair enough, Spider-man. Though I might have to be a bit skeptical on the attractive bit since you cover your face. [ Ha look a joke. ]

Listen, if it helps, I was in the middle of what definitely ranks among my top ten of worst Throwback Thursdays, and as much as I'd like to blame what we're going through here on that because it's actually not entirely out of the realm of possibility, this isn't really part of his jam. [ pause; a brief sound of tapping. ] We've also got to keep in mind that at this point, we all seem pretty unrelated — I don't know about you, Elden, but I haven't seen anyone from my uh— neck of the woods.

[ p a u s e. ]

And sure — the more the merrier, right? [ not the reason at all; peter tries to avoid working in groups as much as he can unless necessary, but. ] Who else have you got so far? [ asking like he can't just scroll and find out. ]

[ He'll at least try and sound assured at what Spider's saying. Surely if no one else's problems were the cause of this than it was just....this place's problem. ]

Sounds like he would have bad jam making skills if that were the case. [ ~~Elden it's not literal jam~~ But, uh...friends from home... ]

I'm definitely glad I'm not seeing anyone I know here. It'd be bad for a lot of reasons.

[ Last they need is a psycho vizier. Or Fellengar without one of it's guardians.

Right, the exploration team;]

We've got...well...I don't really know who but I can at least count four including myself.

Right.

Okay, let's start with figuring out names and what skills we've got, yeah? Then we can figure out when we want to do this — as much as I've been saying we need to make sure it's planned, there's also a saying about not letting perfect be the enemy of progress.

Honestly, from what I've seen of plans in the past they always end up going south some how. Chaos though,

no one can predict that. [ a pause as he really contemplates what he just said; ]

Not that I want us to go running in chaotically. No, uh, right skills and names first. Then maybe demonstrations on what people can do.

Sometimes plans work, sometimes they don't. [ peter? sometimes plans. sometimes other people do the plans. normally? things happen and then peter does stuff and it mostly works. he tends to prefer working things out on the fly, reacting to the situation in front of him and historically speaking, it's one of the reasons he prefers working solo than in a team. fewer moving parts, less to worry about. here though? there's not that luxury. ] Doesn't mean they're not worth having as a base, but— [ there's a vague handwave here, despite the fact that elden can't see it. ]

If it helps, this isn't the weirdest thing I've experienced. We'll be fine.

[ He won't push much more on the plan thing. Plans going to hell or not it's as Spider said- having solid ground to work up from was never a bad start. ]

No offence, Spider, but how is this not the weirdest thing? Because I've seen some pretty bad stuff too and well...

[ And then he pauses, actually giving it some thought before- ]

okay maybe this isn't the strangest, but it's up there.

[ there's a noise of vague acknowledgement and minor agreement: is it up there? by sheer longevity, it's possibly up there, but—

there was that time he'd ended up on miles' world, that had freaked him out and it had been weird, but it wasn't really a Weird Thing. there was that time with the fantastic four where they'd—

—yeah, no. ]

Uh—. I recently took an elevator to under New York, rescued an evil ruler's daughter from the evil ruler who had her hidden at the top of an alternate Empire State— it's a tall building surrounded by lakes of fire. [ beat. ] And I got shot.

That was pretty weird. [ intoned with the verbal equivalent of a shrug, because he guesses? look, he deals with weird a lot okay, elden. ]

[ That definitely sounded super weird to Elden. ]

....Are you sure you weren't in Hell? Or...a Hell? Because that sounds pretty Hellish and I know a devil.

[ Still, okay, if they were sharing stories.... ]

We once went to investigate why these two farmers were quarrelling and it was because one guy was accusing the other of stealing his crops.

It turned out the corps were being eaten by the Brownies that lived there because the one farmer wasn't giving them any milk.

[ hell? devil?

naaaaah that was when he sold his marriage

(but shh, we don't talk about that.) ]

Definitely not, although the guy was orange—

[ HMM.... ]

But no, it was only something like 4 miles under the surface of the Earth, and although they were definitely di— [ ... ] —abolical, that was about it. [ DISMISSIVELY. ]

—Brownies?

...You were going to say dicks, weren't you?

[ Elden is not so naive that he can't read between the lines. But, okay, he'll move on. ]

Yeah, brownies, you know, like faeries? They're kind of a house spirit that help clean up your house and manage things. You just need to offer them milk in return.

We actually had some for our manor before it...got burned down.

What? No.

[ absolutely not elden HOW DARE U..... ]

Edited 2019-07-21 14:06 (UTC)

Right, of course, those brownies, why didn't I think of those.

—Like, cow's milk? Or do they accept milk alternatives in this age of animal rights and fair farming practices? [ peter this is not relevant. ]

[ oh, but uh. that thing about elden's manor burning down. that ... sucks. peter winces at the fact that he's inadvertently opened that can of worms, and: ]

Hey, uh—, I'm sorry. Did you get out okay?

Edited 2019-07-21 11:18 (UTC)

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