prismatica | [video] a long belated introduction

[ 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.

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[ Martin will get a text shortly after his broadcast. ]

I saw your video post and I'm a healer! I mean, doctor! So if you ever need anything please don't hesitate to ask. There's a good few of us around though so you're in really good hands.

My name is Shigeru Miyata. This place isn't normally too bad, but sometimes dangerous things do happen, but it's not very often thankfully.

[ Shigeru is just going to leave out the part where he himself is capable of turning into a eldritch horror. But maybe one day Martin might find out. ]

[ Oh! That's promising. Martin is, frankly, relieved to get a response via text rather than a video response; he's still terribly uncomfortable with the whole thing.

Also gosh. Tell him your eldritch horror stories sometime, Shigeru. Martin will be fascinated. ]

Thank you, Mr Miyata. I am aware that it's generally peaceful here but ... well, my friend and I have some. Unusual health conditions. Dietary restrictions.

Yeesh. Sounds like a fun place to work. [ The sarcasm is palpable. It actually sounds like a super creepy place to work. ] There's something I'm curious about, though.

So, libraries I get. They're great! Boring, would never visit one, but they're full of learning and whatever. But what's up with people wanting to keep a bunch of weird stuff in one place? You've got one, my world's got a few. I mean, it never leads to anything good, right?

[ Huh. Martin squints at the feed, momentarily distracted by a sense of familiarity. But it passes quickly, and. Well.

That sure is a relevant question. ]

That's. An entirely fair concern, I do admit, but. The. The concept at least is that all those terrible things are in the hands of someone who can deal with them safely.

How do you safely deal with...you know what? Nevermind.

[ For all Eugene knows, in this guy's world, reading scary stories makes them come to life or something. He's seen weirder. Somehow. ]

You do see the problem there, right? All it takes is one person with sticky fingers for all those--well. I guess in your case it's a bunch of stories? So maybe stealing is less of an issue.

Well met, Blackwoond-san! I, the great Michel, am able to heal others if needed. Are you trying to form a sort of healing group?

[ That's not far off the mark, honestly. ]

I suppose, but in this case I'm not sure anyone else could do anything with these stories. Unless they wanted to put together a book.

Of a ... sort? Yes? My, er. My friend and I have a chronic medical condition. Unusual food allergies.

Neither of your names strike me as familiar, neither does your Institute but what does strike my curiosity are these 'stories' you collect.

Tell me: what counts as an interesting story to you? One that warrants archiving?

O-oh, well. We focus primarily on anything supernatural. Generally the unpleasant sort of supernatural? Monsters and strange occurrences and the like.

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.

[ 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?

[ 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. ]

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?

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.

And supernatural pleasantness?
Love? Acceptance?
Do those go in the mailbox as well?

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.

Oh. Well, it's not. Exactly what we're looking for? But if you would like to, then please, by all means.

If it's not what you need right now, then I can wait.

Besides, Martin Blackwood, I don't know you yet.
I don't know what it is that drives you. What makes you get up in the morning, and put on your clothes, and get to work recording the things beyond God's eyes.
What sort of help could I even offer without knowing that much?

Is it alright if we talk for a moment?

All right? If you'd rather talk. Then that's fine, yes, of course, I just.

I should probably make it clear that this is a professional thing? You know, my literal job back home.

[ Also, food for Jon, but shh. ]

That isn't the only reason, though. Is it?
Some take jobs to survive, and some take them to find purpose, and others...

...please, tell me if I ask too much.
It's been so, so long since I've had to ask these questions.
So long even I can barely remember.

Edited 2020-03-09 20:27 (UTC)

... Why don't you start by telling me your name? And we can go from there.

My name...
There have been so many. Forgive me.

[ there's a few seconds' pause. five, then ten, then fifteen. finally, words begin to send through again. ]

Once, I was Venus.
And before that, I was the morning star.
And even before that, I was the serpent.

But before anything else... I was the adversary.
Yes, that seems most fitting.
"Satan" will do.

[ Martin picks up his phone to check the next message, glancing it over. Hmm, that's interesting. Venus as a nickname is pleasant enough, but then it goes on and.

And. um. Martin drops his phone for a moment, just. Staring at the rest of the message. ]

Satan?

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