[video] a long belated introduction

[curriculum_fictae]

[ This video opens on a pale, nervous ginger who speaks with a rather pronounced British accent. (London with a hint of Manchester.) Has ... he prepared notes? He keeps looking down off screen, like he's written down everything ahead of time.

And yet, somehow he's still caught a little off guard when the feed starts up. ]

Oh, er - hullo, I'm. Well. I guess I've been here for a little while already, but it's taken ages to. To really settle in? This place is profoundly different and. Frankly a bit distressing. So I'm new here, but not completely new, just definitely trying this video post thing out for the first time and --

[ Deep breaths Martin. Focus. ]

M-my name is. Is Martin Blackwood. If you know Jonathan Sims, then I'm his Archival Assistant. We, er. We both work at the Magnus Institute? He's sort of my boss.

It ... well, it specialises in horror - archiving accounts of supernatural unpleasantness and. The like. I - I've heard a couple interesting stories here already, and I'd like to keep up. Er. Archiving.

[ Another glance down at his notes. ]

If you'd like to contribute, I set up a mailbox here. Just - please make it written or typed accounts only, please? Verbal statements are really not recommended.

[ A pause. Is he forgetting anything? Not on this topic, but... ]

Oh, and if there's any healers about, I'd really love to get your contact information, if you're willing. Just for - for general emergencies and such.

Comments

[video]; un: adagium

[profanation]

Oh, dear. Should I not have given a verbal statement?

[ Ardyn looked somewhat smug as he put his question. He was leaning at his work desk, his cheek resting on his fist, a bored, slightly amused expression on his face. ]

He just looked so hungry, was all.

un: martinkblackwood; video until noted otherwise

[curriculum_fictae]

[ Well. Martin flushes at the low key call out, then goes very pale. ]

I - yes, that's - that's really not a good idea - are you all right? Have you had any nightmares since - [ feeding ] - sharing with him?

[profanation]

[ Ardyn cocked his head to one side. He tapped his cheek with one finger in apparent thought. ]

Mm... I don't sleep much, so I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to tell you.

[ Any dreams he had were nightmares long before he'd fed a story to the avatar of scopophobia, so he'd fell out of the habit, by and large. ]

[curriculum_fictae]

Oh. Well. That's - good then? I think? Not - not worse.

[ Look, he'll take not worse any day of the week. ]

-- What did you tell him?

[profanation]

A story, of course! About something that happened to me, long ago.

[ For a very, very abstract definition of me, that was. But all who were changed became a part of the Scourge, and what was he, if not the Scourge? ]

I'm sure he still has the transcript somewhere -- I don't mind if he shares it with a co-worker, though you might only get a nibble out of it. The poor thing was starved by the time I gave it to him, so I doubt there's many nutrients left.

[curriculum_fictae]

I - okay, I did assume that much.

[ A bit of a huff. Despite his exasperation, there is a look of gratitude on his face. ]

I don't eat them myself. I'm just - well, trying to get him fresh material, or at least find out who's given him what already.

[profanation]

Well, how am I to know what you know? [ He chuckled. ] I'm not your friend.

[ He let that hang there for a moment before he continued, apparently still open and friendly. ]

If he's ever hungry, well, you send him my way. I've lived a thousand lives, and I daresay a thousand more. I'm sure something will whet his appetite.