( 01 ) video.

[oversleeps]

[ when the feed clicks on, marduk is in what appears to be a ruined building near the edge of town. there's snow on the floor and holes in the walls, but he's not wearing a single scrap of winter clothing. more importantly, he doesn't look especially pleased to be doing this. ]

Recently, one of the locals here went missing. Don't ask me what his name was, I'm not the one who gives a shit. I'm just here to solve the mystery.

He's missing because he's dead, and he's dead because I killed him.

[ he pauses here. it looks like it's for dramatic effect, but really he's just trying to figure out how to end the announcement. ]

Most of you would call that murder, wouldn't you? Can't remember if you all figured out what to do about that, but-- if you want retribution, you can come and get it.

[ good enough. the video ends there. ]

Comments

voice

[implying]

Ah... I see.

[ the world's longest pause ever before he gives up and ENCRYPTS THIS SO HARD ]

My dear, what are you doing.

LAUGHS also text. and private. those 2 things, forever

[oversleeps]

I should think that rather obvious

[ not here ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ So much for keeping a low profile... ]

video; private

[irritating]

[ what the fuck is this what's going on holy shit no why ]

Marduk where the fuck are you and what in the FUCK ARE YOU DOING?i

text + private

[oversleeps]

Fixing your mistake
Before it gets out of hand.

[ well. this kind of counts as out of hand, doesn't it ... ]

Incidentally
Have you considered training your dog not to dig up the recently deceased

action

[inflorence]

( After all of that, everything with Dick in backtracking through a dead man's life to find his point of origin, all that polite and straightforward time in knocking and using actual words and not threats or fists or midnight costumes...

... And this crops up. Bruce rubs at his temples, feeling quite suddenly much older than he actually is.

He doesn't doubt Dick is out there homing in just like he is, or that anyone else might be too, for the same damn reason. When Bruce does arrive, his face is impossible to read behind the snowglare glasses and the hood drawn tight around his head. He tugs it open as he gets out of the wind, leaving the glasses on. )

When you're going to paint yourself into a target, normally you should have better reason than an old man and a teenager showing up and asking a few pointed questions.

( Yeah, just going to tap his snow walking stick against this bit of stone here, dislodging the compacted snow at the end. )

[oversleeps]

[ marduk is sitting on a mostly intact windowsill, fiddling with his tablet. he doesn't look up when bruce starts talking; he's a bit surprised to have been tracked down already, but he's none too worried about it. ]

He's not someone that anyone should have noticed went missing. With the company I keep, I don't trust shit not to spiral out of hand.

[ with that, he turns to stare at bruce. of all the people to show up first-- the animal control excuse had been dubious at best, but now he knows for sure it was bullshit. ] Got your answer, didn't you? Now what do you want?

Voice;

[totallytrustworthy]

[If voices were lethal...]

Are you out of your bloody mind? Why on earth would you do a thing like that? [Please tell her it was self defense. ]

text 8)

[oversleeps]

Does the reasoning really matter
Either way
He's likely not getting back up anytime soon.

video;

[individualist]

[See this is how crimes should be dealt with in Exsilium, fighting to the death over it.

So he's just amused.]

Feeling a little restless?

text

[oversleeps]

At this point
Who here isn't?
At least this might give someone something to do
Beyond trying to establish a miserable life here in the cold

video, private;

[ringwizard]

[Jesus Christ, Marduk. When the feed comes on, there's a moment where Haruto simply stares into the camera. It's only then that he starts to talk, voice thin with impatience.]

I'm sorry, you what?

[He pauses, frowning.] Why? [There had to be a reason.]

u get a private text too

[oversleeps]

I don't think I stuttered.

[ he almost goes back and rewatches his post to confirm that. almost. ]

Here's my question
Why do you want to know

voice; private

[hyanaimne]

[someone sounds entirely confused]

Did he do something to deserve murder?

text + private!

[oversleeps]

Does it matter if he did or not.

voice

[jyng]

Oooh, why would you do that? [He sounds nothing but curious.]

text

[oversleeps]

What can I say
I mean
Why does anyone do anything?
There isn't even a point in knowing what the answer is.

video.

[lucency]

Why would - why would you murder somebody? What point are you trying to prove?

[ belle is unimpressed. distraught, but unimpressed, and she glares. ]

text

[oversleeps]

I don't have anything to prove
Not to you
Or any other human here.
No need to get so up in arms about it, is there?

text;

[biwinning]

you great
biig
fuckiing
moron.
holy 2HIIT are you FUCKIING 2TUPIID.
we have ONE CHANCE AT THII2 AND YOU'RE ALREADY 2CREWIING IIT UP.
iif iit diidn't fuck u2 all up even wor2e ii'd tell the whole viillage 2o they could per2onally jou2t you and 2et you on fiire for beiing 2uch a goddamn iidiiot.

[oversleeps]

You sound overly invested
And I'm pretty sure
One human isn't going to make the difference between the success and failure
Not for the thing that's calling itself the Initiative now
Relax.

[hymnals]

Oh, for fuck's sake.

[oversleeps]

Eloquent as ever, I see

[ text ]

[reassures]

What was the point of this?

also text

[oversleeps]

Public service announcement.

Video

[astraia]

[Her lips are thin, and her eyes are hard. She's trying desperately hard not to be furious.]

Tell me who he was.

text

[oversleeps]

Older male
Living an unfulfilling life
In a horrible shithole of a town
Just like the rest of us
Ultimately an irrelevant person.
Does that answer your question

text.

[boughtabookstore]

Where is the body?

also text

[oversleeps]

[ yooooo here's some rough directions to what is pretty obviously a random spot in the wilderness, a few miles from exsilium proper. ]

Assuming the people who found him haven't seen fit to do something about it
It should still be there.

audio

[encharrneered]

Congratulations, you're capable of killing something.

You at least get rid of the body properly?

[ No seriously, she sounds like she finds this hilarious. Everyone is so upset. ]

text!

[oversleeps]

Unfortunately
There was a bit of a mishap with that
Things never seem to go as planned around here
And somehow I doubt the Initiative will let me go back in time to fix that particular detail

video; rolls in fifteen years late with starbux

[miscreant]

[Well well well, what do we have here? Her chin rests on the back of her palm and she offers an easy and amused smile. Not going to bother encrypting.

Not yet, anyway.]

My, my. Someone likes a bit of ruckus in their life.

mm gurl gimme that peppermint mocha (text tho)

[oversleeps]

What can I say
The city is as dull as the weather
But the turnout is equally disappointing.

text 4 lyfe

[payback]

Well.

At least you're honest about it.

kindred spirits

[oversleeps]

It's a start
Isn't it
For whatever honesty actually counts for.

[alittlesweptup]

Wow yes stellar work from everyone. Congratulations to you and everyone else; we truly are such giving people and a boon to the local population. I hope they feel grateful for us as we work towards their salvation

[oversleeps]

[ w o w. much sarcasm. very cute, charlie. ]

Your gratitude is appreciated.
With any luck your hopes will be realized
Given what a charming and accepting sort populate this place
I'm sure it's only a matter of time
Short time
A few hours, maybe.