[Video]

[sightlessly]

[For once Matt has the video on. It's no use to him, but he wants his face to be seen this time, because this is serious. And he's furious.]

I'm going to guess most of us read the post that the ones who call themselves the Null posted. If you didn't, it's because you're on their list. The list of targets they've asked us to kill in exchange for the location of the god killer. I'm not the first to post about it either, but the louder the signal, the less chance it can be missed or ignored.

And it needs to be known.

This is the list of names as of this moment.



[attachment: names.txt]
Jo Harvelle
Ellie
Duck
Fingon
George Lass
Alphys
Chris Hartley
Hanako Nurumi
Seel har Parasiel
Curufin
Will Solace
Gilbert Beilschmidt
Maglor
Cecily Trevelyan
Kate Galloway
Maedhros
Calanthe
Atem
Trafalgar Law


I'm no fan of the "gods" who brought us here. I'm no fan of these null either. But I refuse to stand by while people are used as pawns and killed. This is their game, not ours.

[His voice is low. No sunglasses this time. And even if his eyes can't see, they can absolutely reflect indignation and fury. And they are. Clearly.]

If you know anyone on this list, reach out to them. Warn them.

If you are on this list and cannot protect yourself, reach out to someone you trust to help. If you cannot protect yourself, I can help. I will help. Lives are not games or currency.


[EDITS: FURTHER ATTACHMENTS]
[Update1.txt]
Lup Taako
Aren Brosca
Rydia
Matt Murdock

[Update2.txt]
Temperance Brennan
Terrence Ephemera
Lee Rosen
Margaery Tyrell
Julie Grigio
Kyna
Nathan Drake

[Update3.txt]
Taako Taaco
Eddie Kaspbrak

Comments

video

[am_i_a_monster]

Okay. Be careful.

video--->action

[toiletseat_girl]

Will do.

[George would like to say that she moved through town with complete confidence, but that would be a lie. she found herself looking over her shoulder more than once, but now she's here at the armory to meet up with Abigail]

Ready to help me find something cool and/or useful?

action

[am_i_a_monster]

[Abigail gives a nod.]

We need to start with useful. Something sharp and easy to carry with you. And then we can find something cool to intimidate anyone you need to.

action

[toiletseat_girl]

So some kind of knife? [her voice turns a little excited] And maybe some kind of sword? Like the one in Kill Bill?

Re: action

[am_i_a_monster]

Yeah. A knife that you're comfortable using. And something that makes you look powerful. And feel powerful.

[Not being afraid's the biggest step. Abigail knows. If she hadn't been afraid of her father, her life could have been very different.]

action

[toiletseat_girl]

How do I find out if I'm comfortable using it or not?

[she lets her eyes scan over the weapons mounted along the wall. crossbows, double axes, longswords, bastard swords, until her eyes alight on a sword that looks a lot like the one from Kill Bill. she takes it down off the wall, draws the sword out of its scabbard, and inspects it carefully. she draws a finger down its length, curses as it cuts her, then sticks the finger in her mouth for a moment. when she pulls it out again, it looks like it was never cut at all]

...okay. This sword. I like this one.

warning - mention of murder

[am_i_a_monster]

The best way would be to try it out. If we had a dead animal for you to practice on that would be prefect.

[It's how she learned. She gutted Nicholas Boyle in the same way she would field dress a deer.]

Hold different weapons in your hand. Take a few practice swings, you know, pointing away from me. Folding knives were popular back home because they're easy to put in your pocket. But if you have to stab into something hard, they can close on your fingers. I like fixed blades better.

[She grins at George's weapon choice.]

That does look cool. Just pulling it out of the sheath should make anyone think twice before messing with you.

[toiletseat_girl]

Maybe we could go into the caves, kill something small, and try things out that way?

Around here, I don't think anyone's gonna bat an eyelash at seeing me going around armed to the teeth. Not after that fucking list, anyway. So anyway, no to pocket knifes, yes to something like this? [George picks up the dagger, points it away from Abigail, and takes a few practice swipes and lunges

George also grins]

I know, right? Now I just need to find somewhere to practice with it.

[am_i_a_monster]

Yeah, let's do that. Have you ever killed before? Hunting or anything like that?

[She's careful not to specify hunting what. There's a difference between reaping and being the one to deliver a fatal blow. She wants George to be prepared for whatever needs to be done.]

It's good to have something you can hide. In case they manage to take away your bigger weapons, you can still take them by surprise.

[Abigail knows all about that. She never looked dangerous to her father's victims or Dr. Bloom.]

We can practice the sword in the cave too. I might get something for myself.

[She picks up one of the crossbows. It feels different than her rifle and there's no scope to look through, but she thinks she could make it work.]

[toiletseat_girl]

...does accidentally causing the death of my pet mouse count?

[George's parents weren't hunters and probably wouldn't know what to do with a gun if you hit them upside the head with a book of instructions]

So, what would that be? I mean, these [she gestures to the dagger and sword] are pretty noticeable.

[George probably still doesn't look dangerous. more like she raided the dealers' tables at the RenFaire]

Okay. And that's probably not a bad idea, even if you didn't make the list. You never know what some asshole might try to do.

[am_i_a_monster]

Not really. An accident's not the same as intentional.

[She still remembers the first deer she killed while with her father. She hopes whatever they kill in the caves won't affect George in the same way.]

I was hoping to find a hunting knife. I guess an armory's too different from a hunting shop.

[She nods.]

Yeah. I'm trying not to attract the attention of these assholes, but they seem to add names to their list over the smallest thing.

[There's a bit of bitterness there, it reminds her slightly of Hannibal and the kills he made for what he considered rude.]

[toiletseat_girl]

I've killed lots of bugs. Lots of bugs. Every spider I find.

[George is used to death, but not used to being the direct cause of death]

What's the difference?

It's probably smart to not even bother to respond to their posts. Keep you off their radar permanently.

[the Null doesn't seem to take well to rude, either]

[am_i_a_monster]

Hunting gear is more modern and more practical.

[Abigail nods. She's been doing her best to stay clear of the null.]

Yeah. Not responding has worked for me so far. I'm surprised more people haven't been doing the same.

[She glances at George.]

You didn't take your own advice.

[toiletseat_girl]

Oh. So easier to use?

[smart girl. the Null are bad news]

I'm not. The first time, they were just looking for information. The second time, they were offering to send us home in exchange for killing Hope. This time . . . well, this time I can't see 'cause I'm on their hit list.

[George looks vaguely sheepish]

Well, last time, I wound up making fun of them. Who'd think that a race of machines would be so fucking touchy.

[am_i_a_monster]

Yeah. You have to be careful though, smaller knives but very sharp.

[She'd gutted Nicholas Boyle without really realizing it.]

It's such bull. You'd think if us regular people can learn to live with all the craziness here, these null could learn to handle words without creating hit lists. Didn't everyone ever tell them about sticks and stones?

[She shakes her head.]

It sucks. None of us should have to be afraid of saying the wrong thing.

[toiletseat_girl]

[she shrugs] Smaller knife means it's easier to conceal. That's a good thing.

Yeah, I think the Null are more into the Borg. You know, "resistance is futile, you will be assimilated." Or in our cases, killed if we try to fight back or even defend ourselves.

Especially not kids.

[am_i_a_monster]

And sooner or later, killed if we say no.

[It's something she's been thinking about, if the null will move on from offering 'god killers' to demanding obedience for survival. If they'll be like her dad in that respect.]

Yeah. Kids should have better than what I had.

[toiletseat_girl]

Yeah, I would love to say that that's paranoid, but with these assholes? I think that's exactly where they're going.

[in a way, they already are what with putting people on a hit list and demanding their deaths for a shot at a god and the chance to go home]

Definitely. I'd like to say that there's no chance any sicko would go there, but. I'm not that naive.

[am_i_a_monster]

They're already going there. There's kids on that list.

[Even George is a kid in her mind.]

I wish we had a way to stop them. Sometimes all we can do is stay alive.

[toiletseat_girl]

Yeah. Sickos. If they were hoping to get people to play nice with them, they pretty much blew that out of the water.

[George doesn't feel like a kid. she feels very world-worn]

There's gotta be something we can do. I have no idea what, but something.

[am_i_a_monster]

If it was a shorter list, I'd say we should hide everyone.

[Honestly, she'd be fine just hiding the ones she knows. But she doesn't think they'd go for it. And they shouldn't have to live with knowing someone died in their place. It's one of the worst feelings.]

We might have to fight.

[toiletseat_girl]

Where would we hide, though? And could we be sure we could trust everyone else on the list?

[George isn't worried about herself so much, but she does worry about some of the others]

You're ready for that? 'Cause I have no idea what the Null will throw at us, but I'm betting that it's gonna suck.

[am_i_a_monster]

It's too bad we don't have a really big basement.

[She shrugs.]

I don't know. I've always done what I had to, to survive. I even fought for Hannibal once. But I've never dealt with null before. And the flight instinct can be stronger than fight.

[Giving in can be a strong instinct too. She did what her father told her and Hannibal.]

[toiletseat_girl]

...I probably wouldn't get to hide, anyway. If the Null does attack, I'm gonna be needed at the clinic.

I don't think anyone would be able to blame you for sitting this one out. You haven't dealt with the Null, so this doesn't have to be your fight.

[she's being serious. she's not looking forward to whatever it is the Null is going to pull next. she assumes it's going to be bad]

[am_i_a_monster]

It doesn't have to be yours either. I'm sure everyone the clinic would understand if you found a safe spot for hiding.

[And if they didn't, too bad. There shouldn't have to be any more risks taken, especially not for George who already died once.]

It might even be safer for them not to have someone on the list around.