video

[fortunefavored]

[As if Newt would ever give up the chance to make a video, so here he is sitting in the kitchen. Also, he's bored being cooped up inside for an extended period of time, so there's also that]

Okay normally I would ask why people are actually venturing outdoors when shit's going down like this, but something tells me that's a super pointless question so instead here's this one:

So we got one account of what zombies are like in one person's world, but I was wondering what other incarnations are out there. [Newt folds his arms on the table, leaning down on them a bit] In Haven, there were a couple running around in some of the tunnels and they were from the same world as a couple of my housemates--one of them almost bit me. That was a trip. [he pauses, briefly, blinking] Er. The zombie, not my housemates. [--except--] Well, okay, one of them stabbed me in the chest and killed me but that wasn't until later so I don't think that really counts in this conversation? [he says it so casually. . . . . . . ANYWAY, back on topic as Newt waves a hand] Anyway, these zombies were taken over by a fungus called cordyceps. Basically it took over the brain of the corpse of whatever it attached itself to and made it into a puppet.

Now, we have this same fungus in my world, but it never went all zombie on human beings, just small animals. I'm talking, like...bugs. Sooo basically I'm wondering what other types of zombies people might've either run into, whether from their own world or a different one. And what caused them to become zombies in the first place. I'm talking like virus or fungus or whatever.

Or, like, whatever else anyone wants to talk about because holy shit I'm so bored right now.

Comments

Video

[knifecollecting]

In my world zombies like this just exist in the movies. [Well, as far as she knows.

Her world is tricky like that.]

You're saying a mushroom could turn people into zombies? [That's crazy.]

Video 1/idk???

[fortunefavored]

[It's her voice that he hears first. Familiar, in that jolting recognition way. His eyes jerk up immediately to the screen from where they'd drifted, bored again. He stares for a moment, long and awkward because that's...yeah, that's totally Jo. Talking to him. Like she doesn't know him. ]

video 2/3

[fortunefavored]

[and that's about the point where he realizes that she has no idea who he is because she would have definitely said something like fucking hi or whatever and holy shit does Newt hate this part, when people don't remember, and it sucks, it just sucks--and half a second later he's fumbling with the cameraand the feed switches to text, but not before his expression crumples accordingly]

text

[fortunefavored]

kinda??? i mean it's a fungus so it's similar to a mushroom but not quite. in my world it just took over small insects like spiders and stuff, but the zombies from my housemates' world had like giant mushrooms growing out of their heads

[Video--Private]

[thechoiceisyours]

[This is only private because things are a little tense at their house regarding some aspects of their world, and he doesn't necessarily want Hannah or Beth seeing detailed discussion of wendigos. The subject itself isn't exactly secret or anything though, especially considering the event that occurred here.]

As far as I know we don't um, have zombies at home, but we do have wendigos. They sort of count, I guess, at least as far as the 'used to be human and likes to eat people' thing.

[Also he didn't miss that casual comment about being stabbed and killed by a zombie, but he's not going to mention it for now.]

[Video--Private]

[fortunefavored]

That...sounds pretty zombie-ish, I guess? How are wendigos created?

Text

[somuchlove]

We do not have zombies in my world, strangely enough.

[They have skeletons. Does that count as the living dead?]

As for going outside, I assume to pick up those who were caught outside or they enjoy fighting the creatures.

Text

[fortunefavored]

Why's a lack of zombies something strange?

as for the ppl deliberately going outside to fight them, it's their funeral as far as i'm concerned

action

[skelebro]

[Sans does not hear most of that broadcast. In fact, he pretty much stops paying attention as soon as he figures out that Newt is home and safe and in the kitchen.

And in a few seconds, Sans, too, is in the kitchen. To be more specific, he is on the kitchen floor. Facedown, as if he's just been slide-tackled by exhaustion.

He manages to rumble out a slurred greeting and a wavering thumbs-up.]

...heya. Glad t'see you're doin' good.

action

[fortunefavored]

[Newt jumps, startling as Sans blips into the kitchen. That is, onto the kitchen floor. He's half out of his seat just as Sans lifts a thumb in the air, moving towards him, already reaching to pull him up] Holy shit, Sans, dude, are you okay? [he'll support him bodily if he has to but wow guess who's worried now it's Newt]

action;

[hasitsthorns]

[ Rose is... avoiding the clinic. She'd stopped by but wasn't stupid. They'd figure out eventually she tried to eat the dead people and that's what was causing this illness. She didn't want everyone and their mother knowing so instead she came back here with people who knew her. Who wouldn't judge, who wouldn't condemn her. Well. Maybe the other roommates might but Newt definitely wouldn't. ]

We have magicked bones in my homeworld. Some humans have been known to be resurrected, but... They have to jump through a ton of hoops in the spirit world and prove themselves, basically. Then work for the other side hunting demons and whatnot. So they're technically zombies, but not like these. They're fully intact. And sometimes kind of jerks.

[ She glosses over what he says about Haven since, well, she knows all too well about the shit that could go down there. Someday she'll ask but it doesn't seem like the right thing to bring up right now. ]

Fungus zombies sounds gross. I don't want no [ urp, don't mind her the nausea comes in waves. She doesn't actually vomit... yet. ] mushrooms growing up in my brain, ew.

action;

[fortunefavored]

[Rosie what the fuck]

...dude, are you okay? You look like shit.

perma-action.

[verinumeri]

[ Because obviously he's across the table, glancing up from his own phone with his usual look of lowkey irritation. ]

Why don't you ever think out your words before speaking?

action

[fortunefavored]

[GUESS WHO'S ROLLING HIS EYES, IT'S NEWT]

Because that's boring and I'm already bored enough being stuck in here! [obviously]

[purpleknee]

We had something a little like zombies back in Oz, but they were just mind-controlled people. Our Wizard at the time thought that using the poppies against her people was a great idea.

[renge was awful!!!]

They weren't as keen on eating others as these ones are.

video

[fortunefavored]

[say the fuck what now???? Newt frowns at the camera] Okay that's...weird. What did the poppies do exactly?

[wormintheglass]

I don't have a homeworld. The last zombies I remember meeting outside a dimensional nexus like this one were animated by a virus. They were plague carriers, as well. You had to not let them touch you.

These are much easier.

video

[fortunefavored]

That sounds a lot more difficult than just the biting thing. Cause that biting thing is hard enough.

How did you deal with those ones?

| audio.

[dedikated]

Only in th' movies.

( excuse. excuse the sounds of combat. yep. and the muffled quality of her voice. talking with a cloth wrapped around your face is hard. )

Faster than this, though.

audio.

[fortunefavored]

[...that doesn't sound good.]

So...new experience for you, I take it?

On the bright side, at least these ones aren't as fast as the movie ones.

voice.

[scarletcast]

You should make a list. Not only of this, but of what else may come.

What were these other zombies?

voice. 1/2

[fortunefavored]

[Newt brightens at that] Ooooo like a monster data base?! That'd be awesome! [welp now he's definitely going to try and do it]

[video]

[mismanagement]

[Maketh looks a little haggard when she posts the video, but still alert. She's been awake for a long time.]

There were several versions of what people are calling 'zombies' in my world. Some of them are only rumors, of course, but--

[If it's relevant, then it's relevant.]

The first one I know of is factual, however. There are many reports. Brain worms enter the host's body and take over the central nervous system. The host may survive the process if the worm is extracted in time, but the process is difficult and--messy. It cost the Old Republic many resources during the Clone Wars and nearly resulted in catastrophe more than once. Thankfully, such things are usually bound to a single planet. It's only when they find a way off that planet that things become difficult. Or if one happens to be staging a ground campaign where they nest.

[That was not a good day for the Old Republic.

Maketh clears her throat.]

There were also reports of a Force master who could resurrect the dead and make them fight for her. Her actions turned the tide of a major battle in the Clone Wars, though it's unclear exactly how she managed it. It's rumored that those who use the Force can do such things, though not without cost, and the stories I've heard say it tends to go wrong. There are rumors of Force users attempting to heal themselves from grievous injury, only for it to--change them. But I've heard nothing about a fungus like you describe.

You may wish to collaborate with Doctor Tam. He requested samples and video footage of their behavior. It may be more efficient to combine your ideas.

[video]

[fortunefavored]

[and of course the first thing out of Newts mouth is obviously the Right Thing]

Holy crap, Maketh, when was the last time you slept?

[at least he actually looks a little worried when he says it?????]

[dogsanddaughters]

[Miriam waves.] Hey, Newt! Where's your boyfriend?

Sucks that you got stabbed, though! I got stabbed with a bottle one time but I didn't die. Didn't even scar. Which sucks 'cause it would've been an awesome scar. Medicine's cool like that, yeah?

[Ahem. Miriam sits back. She's at the bar.]

But yeah, my world's got stuff like that. There's a plague that fucks you up if it gets in your blood, kills you bad and makes you do bad shit after. I've seen pictures. Nasty, nasty. And then there's the Sons.

[She's quiet for a moment, oddly somber.]

They, uh. Made one. A weapon. Works kinda like the Tar, only you just have to breathe it in. And when you're dead, they own you. Make you do whatever they want. I saw some of it here a while back, but it didn't get anyone.

1/?? probably like three-fourish? video

[fortunefavored]

Hey Miriam! Hermann's right here--

[and with a jerk, the entire picture is going to go a little blurry until it settles on:]

video

[beautyis]

[Hi, here's a much taller and more animated skeleton than you're used to.]

I have heard that humans sometimes become sick, but I have never heard of anything quite like that! Monsters do not leave behind a corpse, so there is nothing to, er... zombitize??

What a morbid topic!! Let's talk about something else.

What is your favorite shape of pasta?

video

[fortunefavored]

[HI TALL SKELETON THAT CLEANED THE HOUSE also that bit of info about not leaving behind a corpse--he's just gonna file that away. Newt blinks a bit, before the corner of his]

Uhh...ravioli, I guess? I mean, if I had to pick. [he looks pretty amused] What about you?

Video

[rebelarchivist]

In my world, we do have Undead, but there is none of this... spreading infection. Spirits possess the bodies of the recently dead where the Veil is thin and... take them out for a spin you could say.

Once the corpse is destroyed, the spirit can no longer use the corpse and abandons it. Fire is generally the most efficient method, but any sort of overwhelming damage will do.

It's why it's traditional to burn bodies. Well, that and the Blights.

Video

[fortunefavored]

[Newt considers this information for a moment]

So headshots probably wouldn't work on your brand of Zombies-slash-Undead. But at least they don't do the infection spreading thing. [he pauses] So...what, they just attack people or something? Or just relive their glory years and buy a really expensive car they can't pay for?

[and now he's grinning smugly like he just told the most hilarious joke ever.

Anyway--]

....what're the Blights?

Video

[ushahin]

[Be careful what you wish for, Newt. Here's the worst way to relieve boredom: talking with his next-door neighbor.]

The dead have walked in my world. Aye and invaded minds as well. But never like this. They were more like ghosts than anything else, brought to life by a spell.

Video

[fortunefavored]

[ugh omg so many shades of DNW right now. And Newt's face shows it, looking annoyed and irritated (and, tbh, a little fearful and a lot wary.)

But he really does want that information]

So...more of the magic fucking shit up when it shouldn't kinda thing.

[video]

[pellameno]

[ Pell responds from his bed, his eyes flicking to the window frequently despite his face being turned to the device as he speaks to Newt. He has the lights out, but it's "day" so he's well lit enough to look worried and stressed and tired. ]

I've never seen creatures like these before -- but I say that about mostly everything that shows up here. We don't have zombies back home, in any case.

As to why people are going out, I can answer that. Supplies and medical care. Food doesn't magically materialize itself in our kitchens, unfortunately, and I work at the clinic. The good news is, 'zombies' are highly flammable.

[video]

[fortunefavored]

Yeah, the flammable thing does help but like...too many people going out just makes more zombies. And there are probably magical ways to get supplies if people need stuff delivered. [Newt huffs a sigh. Said roommate who he's thinking of that could blink around like that is currently out so....]

video;

[blitzkriegspitz]

[ When most people in your life refer to you as a Zombie, when you've died and regenerated all by yourself on many occasions... Having someone ask this kind of question really digs at you a bit. ]

...Everyone's a Zombie in the makin' in the Underground I'm from. They ain't rotten, or corpses... Look just like you and me. Could be your brother, sister, lover... You. You wouldn't know 'til it's too late... The switch is flipped and you're standin' there covered in their blood. They wear masks, hold heavy weapons, shit even kids with wires comin' outta--

[ He's off on a tangent. Shouldn't even be talking about this shit. So he just suddenly stops and shrugs. ]

Didnt' have some random fungus causin' this shit where I'm from. Was just some board bitch with a bunch of clones and test tubes. If ya ask me, you always bring it on yourselves... Maybe it's meant to be? The dead livin' and the livin' dyin'... Poetic.

video;

[fortunefavored]

[Newt just...stares at this guy for a minute as he describes all this. Finally, by the end of that, he finally finds his voice.]

...holy shit, dude. That's fucked up.

[bheidh]

There are no zombies, but the darkspawn were created through corruption.

video

[fortunefavored]

Oooookay. So...what's a darkspawn? [eyebrow raising over here]