beyond birthday (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
recinerate) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hadriel2016-01-16 03:45 pm
recinerate) wrote in hadriel2016-01-16 03:45 pm
Entry tags:
first puzzle; voice + text.
[Beyond quit giving network-wide addresses long before he ended up here, but - someone needs to be the voice of reason, apparently, and he is something of an expert on death.]
Those of you who have been buried alive - please listen closely. You have a very limited supply of oxygen to work with, and it would be in your best interest to conserve it as long as you can. Stop talking.
[He's already counted two other broadcasts from people who seem to have been buried; he can only imagine there are more that haven't been open to the entire network.]
If you must communicate, do so by texting. Otherwise, lie still and try not to breathe until you're rescued.
[He pauses for a moment, weighing whether what else he wants to say will ultimately be helpful. He decides it is, and continues:]
You may find it a comfort to know that if you do happen to die before anyone reaches you, it's unlikely you will remain dead. However, death by asphyxiation is supposed to be quite unpleasant, so it's best to avoid the experience if you can.
[He sighs. He doesn't know this from experience, exactly; while he has died twice, it happened quickly both times. A prolonged exposure to death is torturous, and he finds the back of his neck prickling with anger over it. It doesn't take a genius intellect to deduce that Fear is behind this, or what he aims to gain from it.]
Those of us who've not been buried - has anyone made anything resembling a strategic plan for rescue efforts, or is everyone running amok with shovels in hand and hoping for the best?
[Shortly after this exchange with Chris, Beyond sends out an additional message via text:]
If you've been buried, please refrain from starting fires with matches or a lighter. At best, you'll only expend your oxygen supply that much faster. Use your phone for light if necessary.
Those of you who have been buried alive - please listen closely. You have a very limited supply of oxygen to work with, and it would be in your best interest to conserve it as long as you can. Stop talking.
[He's already counted two other broadcasts from people who seem to have been buried; he can only imagine there are more that haven't been open to the entire network.]
If you must communicate, do so by texting. Otherwise, lie still and try not to breathe until you're rescued.
[He pauses for a moment, weighing whether what else he wants to say will ultimately be helpful. He decides it is, and continues:]
You may find it a comfort to know that if you do happen to die before anyone reaches you, it's unlikely you will remain dead. However, death by asphyxiation is supposed to be quite unpleasant, so it's best to avoid the experience if you can.
[He sighs. He doesn't know this from experience, exactly; while he has died twice, it happened quickly both times. A prolonged exposure to death is torturous, and he finds the back of his neck prickling with anger over it. It doesn't take a genius intellect to deduce that Fear is behind this, or what he aims to gain from it.]
Those of us who've not been buried - has anyone made anything resembling a strategic plan for rescue efforts, or is everyone running amok with shovels in hand and hoping for the best?
[Shortly after this exchange with Chris, Beyond sends out an additional message via text:]
If you've been buried, please refrain from starting fires with matches or a lighter. At best, you'll only expend your oxygen supply that much faster. Use your phone for light if necessary.
voice.
[Which is, unfortunately, a genuine sentiment. Sorry bro.]
voice.
voice.
[A pause.]
An attempt at compromise? I could have done something far more painful. I didn't. If you can't recognize that, then I suppose I won't make the effort in the future.
voice.
[Because really, how could it be any worse than this.]
You don't deny that all of this is about collecting power for yourself?
[Not that Beyond expected it, but - it's irritating, being dismissed.]
voice.
[Soft, accepting. Fear hums for a moment, before he responds.]
What else would it be about? Torture for torture's sake? There'd be no point to it.
voice.
voice.
[Simply.]
I was merely explaining that this 'exceptional cruelty' was a result of me adjusting my methods in response to your kind's complaints. I'll get power one way or another- that is not negotiable. Whether or not you think that it makes your suffering worthwhile is not my concern.
voice.
[That's not actually a compliment, though.]
If there is one thing you should know about humans, it's that we don't take kindly to oppression. You will come to regret this.
voice.
[Quiet. It's a threat, but it's also not. In any case, Fear is calm and evenly-spoken, though not entirely cold in his dismissal.]
Goodbye, Beyond. Enjoy your grave.