issue #4 | video; backdated to the 6th

[survivorsguilt]

[Ellie looks wrecked. Are hangovers supposed to last several days? Maybe that's how things work when you flood your system with magical shots and the most alcohol you've ever consumed in your short life by far. She scrubs at her tired eyes and sighs at the camera.]

Hey. So. I've got a question for everyone. There are scientists and shit here, right? Probably? Doctors, definitely. Is there anyone here who could, like... potentially help me make a cure for something? Maybe this is a dumb idea, but I've gotta try.

[She's been thinking about it ever since Chris mentioned to her that time freezes back home when you're gone. So long as she's here, she has unlimited time to try and manufacture something to cure people back home- and she has both the disease and the cure inside her body. That's gotta be worth something, right?]

Also, uh. Sorry if during that party I was- if I did anything- sorry.

Comments

[survivorsguilt]

It's like... a fungus that grows outta people's brains. It makes them angry, really violent. Eventually it spreads and that kicks off a bunch more symptoms, but the main thing to know is that they aren't capable of rational thought anymore.

They aren't human.

[tablewithoutpity]

I see. I have heard of such fungi, but only insofar as they form parasitic symbiosis with ants. Do you have a specimen of this fungus?

private video;

[survivorsguilt]

[Ellie immediately switches the video to private. Thank god she finally knows how to do that. There are certain things she doesn't exactly want spreading to the entire network if she can help it.]

Yeah. I think I remember reading something about that version of it.

Look, before I tell you anything else, I gotta know you're above board and not just here to entertain yourself. What are you, a doctor?

Re: private video;

[tablewithoutpity]

As well you should. There are, unfortunately, any number of unsavory persons about. I am a doctor. A psychiatrist to be precise, although I've practiced other specialties as well. My name is Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

private video;

[survivorsguilt]

Yeah. No kidding.

[Ellie scoffs, but doesn't elaborate. She's gotten some weird vibes from a couple of people.]

Okay... Doc Lecter. You gotta promise not to freak out about this, okay?

private video;

[tablewithoutpity]

[Hannibal gives her a gentle, reassuring smile. He is almost always quite in control, and has very rarely freaked out about anything, even in his world of violence and death.]

You have my word.

[survivorsguilt]

[She nods, still looking a little hesitant, but... well, she's not going to get anywhere keeping it to herself.

Ellie pulls back her sleeve, and brandishes her arm towards the camera. The fungus can be clearly seen collecting itself around the prominent bite mark.]

I'm not- I'm not sick, though. I'm immune. But it's in me.

[tablewithoutpity]

[Why, isn't that interesting. Hannibal raises his eyebrows as he views the teeming wound.]

Are you contagious?

[survivorsguilt]

[The way he seems to view it, clinically and without emotion, strangely calms her. She's too used to freak outs, the few people that have seen in losing their minds.]

No. I- uh. Actually, I'm not sure. I don't think so? It's definitely not airborne, or anything like that. I once bit a guy, but I- [killed him.]

He died, before I could see what would happen.