exsilium | [ video ]

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[Hooray, Jesse is finally awake and home after his half-week holiday with hookers and meth. This of course means he's looking extra groggy, red around the eyes, and not exactly the most cheerful. Which makes the following message a little dissonant:]

Hey, so... - Hey, hi, I'm Jesse. If you're new.

Anyway, um, I know I talked to a few of you earlier about maybe some baking lessons? I was thinking probably, since in a couple weeks we'll have a whole 'nother shipment of new guys, we'll practice making cookies for 'em.

Some of you saw me this last time, right? I had like this whole setup with a tent? I was thinking we could do that again, but bigger this time. Or if you don't wanna be out in the cold all day, we could set up in the lobby downstairs, like right when people come in to find their units? I dunno. I'm just thinking out loud.

Anybody into that, though? Like on the 28th or something we get together and make some cookies? Assuming nobody bombs us or anything.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not the ones I know at least - they take human bodies.

[So they're talking about a different kind of demon - already interesting.]

Yeah? No big horns or anything?

As human lookin' as you.

[Which of course means this guy could be a demon himself and -- yeah the paranoia never ends.]

I take it you don't know any of those.

[Slightly justified paranoia, as Jesse is lying through his teeth.]

Can't say's I do. Sounds creepy, though.

Yeah, creepy doesn't begin to cover it. They can switch so, they can literally look like you if they feel like it. And you'll be trapped in your own head so, it's pretty important to know who they are.

Yeah? How do they do that?

Turn into smoke and get into every hole in your body.

[Not creepy at all] How about you tell me 'bout the demons you do know?

They sure as shit don't turn into smoke.

[He's incredibly unfazed by the revelation, though.]

What do they do, how many are there?

[He supposes it can be attributed to the strange situation they're all in, and God knows what kind of world this guy comes from. But the hairs on the back of his neck stand from the relentless fear that he's talking to a demon right now.]

[He shrugs. That's it. So helpful, this guy.]

[That does so much to ease his fear, really.]

You're not gonna give me anything, are you.

Snitches are bitches who get stitches and end up in ditches.

You know who else ends up in ditches? People who hang around demons.

Not me.

Because what, they promised?

[Or are you one of them. Well at least that's one he knows to watch for.]

What would you do it about it, anyway? I give you a list of names and you, what, stick around me to make sure the big bad demons don't waste me? Nahhh, of course not. But then there's no benefit to me, right? I got no reason to talk to you. 'specially not since you ain't just curious. You think they're a threat. So let's say I give you a bunch of names and demons start disappearing 'cause you exorcised them or whatever you do. Guess who takes the fall for that shit: the talker. You following me here?

[Now they're getting somewhere; his voice turns softer.]

You got one thing wrong - I stick around you and I keep you safe. That's the only reason I wanna know who they are - so I can keep people safe. It's what I do. And I definitely don't do something as dumb as taking them out one at a time leaving a clear lead to you. But I don't let them take anyone else out, either.

How?

I know this is a difficult situation -- you don't know who to trust. But this is what I do. And I'll do whatever it takes for that.

[Ohhh, wrong answer.]

Yeah, no.

[He's not going to spill his demon fighting secrets to someone who might not even be on his side.]

Look, if you wanna survive them I'm pretty much your best bet. I'm gonna find them one way or another, it's only a matter of how many victims they manage to collect along the way before they're stopped.

Yeah, demons can't do a whole lot to me, so there's that. And I'll tell you what: if the victims start piling up, you gimme a call then and I'll take care of it.

[Not human. Suspicion confirmed.

He can't catch a break in this place dammit. But at least that's a bit of valuable information.]

The idea, is to stop them before they pile up. [His voice turns harder again; this is a waste of time. So he cuts it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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