ic contact;

[bloodbinds]

WELCOME . . .
( Roberts, Ava )

@ daimonori

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Comments

[fix]

[ Finally, after about half an hour thinking how to best start this message, Anya says. ]

Hey.

[ Yeah, that'll do. ]

[bloodbinds]

[ Uh. Okay? ]

Hey. What's up?

#0180710 - Statement of Emmanuel Li regarding an infestation at the Smiles Retirement Home

[compellingstatement]

((cw: centipedes, body horror))

It's sort of weird, isn't it? You sitting in your office and me out here, writing on a clipboard. When I saw the flier, I thought there'd be more... interaction? I mean, you know supernatural things, right? All these LIERs. Could be the LIERs.

Hope it's the LIERs.

I'm an EMT. Emergency Medical Technician. We're the ones who show up when you dial for an emergency number. We run our ambulance out of the Hollyview Hospital over on 2nd and Green. You know the one? It's got the holly leaf at the top. I've been working there for about... three years? Give or take. It's only a part-time thing. I mean, even a Dominant can't make enough to support a Submissive on just an EMT's pay.

I've seen a lot of weird things in those three years. You get all sorts between allergic reactions to aphrodisiacs, accidents in the bedroom, just your standard shooting. The one that's really stuck out to me, though, the reason I'm here... that happened about two months ago.

Jeffrey Sharpe and I were out on a run together with our driver, Gail Rodriguez. It was toward the end of our shift when we got a call. Smiles Retirement Home. We get those every so often. Sometimes you get lucky and it's just a bad cough. Sometimes you're going to collect a dead body. This one was... different. The dispatcher said it was some sort of insect bite or sting.

My first thought was bees and anaphylaxis. If they didn't have an EpiPen on site, we'd be carrying out a dead body. So, we raced over there, got inside, and it was... usually there was someone waiting for us at the reception. That's the standard way they do it at these communities. Someone there to direct us. Luckily, we had been given an apartment number, so me and Jeff headed over there with our equipment, thinking it might be serious enough they had all hands on deck to deal with the issue. The door was open when we got to #16 and there were three people inside. One was an older man, late 70s, heavy set. He seemed fine. The second was a young woman, clearly one of the carers. And the third was out patient. At least... I think he was meant to be the patient. He was sitting on the floor scratching at a lump on the side of his neck.

I remember thinking it was all bizarre, but couldn't put my finger on why until later. They were all completely silent, not moving except for that scratching. The young woman and the heavy set man were stood there, just frozen. They didn't even look around at us when we came in. The patient didn't either, not until I was kneeling down and taking his hand. I asked him if he was having trouble breathing, if he hurt, if there was any burning. He didn't answer for the longest time, and I was getting ready to try again when he finally spoke.

"You ever been kissed a hundred times?"

That's what he said. That's all. And then he reached down and lifted up his shirt and those lumps were everywhere. There was a tattoo on his chest, too, a giant centipede. I don't know if you're familiar with the common house centipede? I wasn't. Not until that day. They're little exterminators. They'll go around killing all the other bugs in your house. Never liked them, mind. Still don't like them.

I really don't like them.

The important thing, though, is they've got venom like a bee or a wasp. Not dangerous unless you're allergic, really, but with the number of bites on the patient we were definitely bringing him in. We checked him over while we were there, got him up, took him out to ambulance and headed to the hospital. The doctors were concerned, and he just kept asking that question:

"You ever been kissed a hundred times?"

Honestly, I just tried to put it out of my head. There was a weird old man with a weird infestation of centipedes in his weird room. In his bed. All over his bed. I didn't see any while we were there. Jeff didn't, either. But there would have had to have been. That many bites? There had to have been a swarm of the things hanging around. I thought that would be the end of it.

It was three days later we got another call for the Smiles Retirement Home. It was a woman this time, mid-60s. Insect bites or stings. We got there and the reception area was empty. It was across the complex from the last one, #43, Grace Holynskyj. The scene was almost identical to the one in the old man's room. That's what struck me first. The young woman the heavy set man were there, just standing, watching this woman lying on the floor, scratching. She was in lingerie; not my first run-in with that on the older set mind, but you don't go in expecting to see it. She was covered all over in those bites, not saying a word. Not until I got a hand on her. And there it was again:

"You ever been kissed a hundred times?"

We had three more calls like that over the next month. I tried asking Jeff about it, see if he thought it was as odd as I did. He did, but he didn't want to talk about it. I don't blame him, mind. Jeff's always had a thing about creepy-crawlies.

Honestly, if that were all, I wouldn't be here. I know your advert said you were only interested in the supernatural, and if it were just some infestation of mysterious house centipedes at some random retirement home, I'd leave it at that. That's weird, but it's... fine. No one's died. Not that I know. Obviously, I haven't been keeping tabs, but we haven't got any calls to bring in a dead body, yet. But I just can't seem to shake that question out of my head.

"You ever been kissed a hundred times?"

Every time. Every time they've asked the same thing. Every time that young woman and that old man are there and it just feels wrong. Like the sort of wrong you can feel deep down in your bones. My bones.

The last one was three days ago. We treated the patient, Jeff was showing her out, but I couldn't stand it this time. I finally just... snapped, I guess? Every time I'd tried to talk to the woman or the heavy set man, they'd ignored me and, really, they're not my concern, just the patient. That's the only concern I'm meant to have. But I couldn't keep doing it. I grabbed the woman's shoulder, just to shake her a little. I wasn't try to hurt her. But as soon as I touched her, the man had his hand on me. He didn't say anything. He didn't have to.

There was a centipede between his lips. I left. I left as quickly as I could and I haven't been back since. But I think you might be able to help me. You have to be able to help me. I don't know what else to do.

Bites have started appearing. Red bites like the patients. I've checked my house, top to bottom, and I can't find them. I can't find the centipedes, but I know they're there. I know because all the fruit flies are gone, all the silverfish, all the spiders. I'm not a slob, but I know what my house gets like in the summer. I know.

They're somewhere. I know they are.

I've seen things moving under my skin.

They have a lot of legs.

[bloodbinds]

[ Hawke brings the Statement to her and she, honestly, puts off reading it. His little message that Jon told him to stick around while she did it leaves her a bit ill at ease. It's about three days later that she finally sits down to read the Statement, turning on the tape recorder she's bought on her own to begin recording. She's hardly more than two minutes into the Statement that she begins to feel a crawling up her spine, like something is wrong.

She feels the weight of many eyes watching...but it's only her and Hawke. No one else. Nothing else.

By the end of the Statement, the weight of being seen feels oppressive but there's nothing she can do about it. She's caught up in the reading, in the experience, in the Statement itself just as assuredly as she might be caught in a web. That's the worst part of it, she thinks: that though she can feel every moment that something is watching her, she cannot look away from the paper. She cannot stop the recording. It goes on and on until, at last, she finishes. ]

Statement ends.

[ The feeling of being watched doesn't go away. ]

I've seen that nursing home before. Smiles Retirement Home. It's always seemed a little bit too nice on the outside, like something out of the Stepford Wives. I've made a precursory call to the home but I was just sent to the voicemail of one Percy Turner, who might be the owner or might just be the manager. Or head of customer service. It was a weird voicemail message. I'll stop by and do a proper follow up later.

According to Jon's notes, this is probably part of the Corruption. Part of the Hive. Bugs, insects, things like that. It sounds almost like an epidemic, but I'm just as curious about the older man and the woman that Mr. Li tried to speak with.

It reminds me of the Plaguebearers back home.

[ That feeling starts to go away somewhat, like whatever was watching isn't as interested in the follow up...at least at first. Until she starts to speak further. Then, there's something that feels almost compelling about it, like she's making a connection that she wouldn't have considered before.

And that she should share it. To...Jon? To the recorder? ]

Plaguebearers are vampires that feed indiscriminately on kine and who begin to spread sickness. Not kept properly in check, people can die very quickly. When I encountered them back home...it was like people had been turned into mindless zombies. There weren't bugs involved, really, but the sickness spread so quickly... [ She pauses, tapping her pen on her notebook. ] ...I wonder if Kindred, in being so similar to humans, have other alignments that would match with the other Entities and not just the Hunt. Sabbat might fall under Slaughter or Desolation. The Tremere... I-- It's something I can look into.

[ She's getting off topic. ]

I looked through my device and found Emmanuel Li's information. I called him but there was no answer, which doesn't bode well. I'll look into it tomorrow night, maybe swing by his job. They might be able to help me if he's not there. I just...have a feeling there's going to be an infestation, and I might need fire. Again.

[ Ava bristles at the idea, setting the Statement aside. ]

I... I guess that's it. [ But why does she still feel weird? ] Recording ends.

[ The tape recorder is turned off and bundled with the Statement proper, put into a bag for Hawke to take back to Jon at his convenience. She turns to look at him. ]

That...wasn't too bad. Really gross, though.

text. un: l.kennedy

[raccity]

hey ava. how are you doing?

[He'd probably written and erased a similar message about ten times before just giving up and pressing send before he got cold feet.]

[bloodbinds]

[ Oh. Right. She figured this was coming. The reply takes a while to arrive at his inbox, likely for the same reasons: she types up about ten responses and then takes each one down, afraid to send. ]

Been better
How about you?
Did you get out okay?

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

Ava, I've just got off the train from orientation.
Martin's here.
Martin Blackwood.
Things are worse for him than I'd thought.
The Lonely's started overtaking him.
And he told me he loves me.
There's something very wrong.
I think it must be affecting his mind.

[bloodbinds]

[ Jon, the concerns you’ve listed range from “Not My Business” to “Wildly Concerning”. Martin being in love with you is the former. ]

I didn’t realize the Lonely facilitated love confessions.
Lucky you.
What do you mean by “overtaking him”?
Give me concrete details.

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[Well, this is embarrassing. Shortly after encountering Lilith and Nick, Jon makes it back home to his library, pulls the Captain into his lap to cuddle, and contacts Ava. He said he would.]

I've been cursed.
Again.
And no, I didn't do anything to the person who did it.
I'd never even met her.
She was working with one of the other witches who cursed me.
Her name's Lilith, if you're familiar.
Queen of Hell.
Mother of Demons.
Charming woman, as you can imagine.

1/2

[bloodbinds]

[ You know, she should probably be angrier? But she can swear she feels her heart drop into her stomach when she sees the name. ]

Lilith???

[bloodbinds]

[ ...Oh. Right. He's expecting an actual response. Ava scrubs at her face. ]

Cool, awesome.
That's not going to go well.
Are you okay??
What kind of curse is it this time?

[ nbd, it's not like Lilith and Caine are a Thing in her world or anything. ]

Text; un: hawke

[championmage]

AVAAAAAA :)

HELLO! I AM AT WORK but hey are you busy? I wanted to talk to you about something

I can call if you like

:P

that one is sticking its tongue out see?

[bloodbinds]

[ That's...actually adorable. She's just woken up a bit ago and Wuffles is now pressed on her chest. She mutters, "Hey, look, it's Hawke," and that gets the dog sniffing at the screen and wagging his tail. ]

Hey! You're getting really good at those!

Also, Wuffles says hi.

I'm not busy. If it's easier, you can totally call me.

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[It's more like a day or two after the... incident with Hawke that Jon actually contacts Ava. Hopefully she wasn't suffering his hangover with him because it had been miserable.]

I'd like to go to Insincerity tomorrow.
If you're still willing to accompany me.
I don't expect you to assist with any recording I do there.
I just want someone who can handle themselves if there's trouble.

[bloodbinds]

[ It takes her some time to respond, not because she's ignoring him but that she's still sleeping at this point. Between the thrumming minor headaches and her own explorations, this is the first day she's "slept in" until almost close to sunset. But Wuffles starts to gnaw at her fingers several minutes after the device has done a second buzz to warn her of missed messages, and she nudges the dog aside, finally fumbling for it.

And then sitting up when she sees the name. ]

That's fine.
Of course I still want to go with you.
Are you talking voice record or video?
Because I have a video camera that's not attached to the device.

un: thearchivist; text (1/?)

[compellingstatement]

I found a yellow door.
It doesn't feel like Helen, but I'm going to knock.

[There's a photo with the message that shows a dingy yellow door in an alleyway.]

(2/?)

[compellingstatement]

It wasn't Helen's door.
I have a lead on another from the owner of the door.

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

I've slept.
Sorry for... everything.
I don't actually remember a lot of it, but I imagine I was an ass.

[bloodbinds]

You were out of your mind, honestly.
But I'm glad you slept and you're feeling better.
It's probably for the best that you don't remember but it wasn't horrible.

text; four days after his death

[capturingeternity]

I'm alive. Did you manage to escape?

[bloodbinds]

[ Yeah, that lengthy pause? That's her staring at the text like her device is fucking possessed. ]

Dorian?
How are you alive?

[mordacita]

hello ava
i think it is time we spoke about jon.

[bloodbinds]

[ Why does this text have the tone of a concerned parent? ]

Yeah, I guess we should.
You go first, since it's been bothering you.

Text - un: hawke

[championmage]

[He's been quiet for a while, slowly pulling himself out of his rut, it seems, though in exchange keeping to himself more. Doing a lot of thinking, perhaps.

Just when it starts to get truly worrying, he texts Ava in the early evening. He'll be off work soon.]

Hi Ava

How are you today? I hope well!

Will you be home later?

(ノ°∀°)ノ⌒･*:.｡. .｡.:*･゜ﾟ･*☆

- Garrett

[bloodbinds]

[ She can deal with the isolation a little. Hawke still sits with her and hangs out with her, and that's what matters. Sometimes, she likes the quiet too. She's down in her little 'lab' today, working on spell work and a great deal of trial and error when Hawke texts her.

Ava smiles. ]

Doing good.
I'll be home in a couple of hours.
How're you doing?
The emoji is cute.

Correspondence, delivered 6 November by Ignacio

[mordacita]

[ The envelope carries her name in an elaborate script, in an old-fashioned hand. ]



Dear Ava, 

This is unexpected, I know. In truth, when the Creator said that he could send us home, I only thought to call his bluff. When he agreed to send me, I thought it a ruse, like it seemed to be with Anders. I left this letter with Ignacio in case the ruse was real, and if you are reading it, it means that it is.  

I am sorry. I am sorry to leave you alone to help Jon, and I am sorry to leave you alone as a fledgling. That is not what I intended. You are much stronger than you know. Please, I beg you not to hate what you have become. You need not be the vampire who turned you, you need only be yourself, and make your own choices. Our life is a long one if it is filled with regret. Find purpose to fill it, instead. Find love. Survive this place, and return to your own world, or if you prefer it, find another to suit you better.  

Mine would always welcome you. So would I.  

Lord Ignacio will help you, if you have need of it. Tell him I sent you, and he will treat you as I would have done. I know that Jon does not like him, but it is not about liking. I trust him to do right by you if you need it. You can trust my daughter Zoey as well – a fledgling, like you.  We have not known each other long, I know this, and I know you are not my fledgling. But if you were, I would be proud of you.  

Be safe.  

Rafa.

un: thearchivist; audio-to-text

[compellingstatement]

Ava I need your assistance. I had a little accident. Could you please get a statement from the archives one from my office and bring it to mercy hospital in the up? Just leave it at reception with the nurse and ask them to sent it to me. Thank you.

[The green charm is, blessedly, off for the moment, so Jon has a clear head when he's recording his message to Ava. He needs to be careful. There are probably going to be questions.]

[bloodbinds]

[ wat ]

What happened?
I can bring it to you.
Why can't I bring it up?

11/24

[compellingstatement]

[After reading Elias' Statement, Jon knows he needs some kind of anchor. With Martin not responding, he reaches out to the personnel trusts most next.]

I'm awake.
At the Institute in the Archives.
Sorry for being gone.

[bloodbinds]

[ Jon's awake. Jon's...okay? She can't tell. ]

Fucking hell.
Are you okay?
I'm headed over.

gift delivery: 12/20

[compellingstatement]

[Jon hasn't had friends in the multiple to buy gifts for... ever. So, it's something of a novelty to be delivering them for Christmas. It's delivered a bit early.

There's a small box with a sort of clawed gauntlet glove thing inside for Ava and a small note.]

It seemed sort of goth?
-Jon

[mordacita]

[ On Christmas Eve, Ava will find a gift wrapped. Inside is a special kind of romance novel. The gift tag says: ]

I hope you don't have this already!

Happy holidays :)

From Rafa.

[lovingvambrace]

[Even though they have never met directly, an invitation arrives directed specifically to Ava with a small attached note in cramped handwriting.]

An in-person apology for the door is long overdue. I hope that you'll see fit to accompany Hawke to the party. You'll get to see how Fereldans celebrate first-hand, and I'm sure Blade will be happy to see you.

Regards,
Cullen Rutherford

un: thearchivist; text

[compellingstatement]

[It's been a while since they talked about something unrelated to work, but Jon doesn't want to lose this connection. He reaches out first, hoping it might get things going again.]

I've been doing some painting classes.
They're being offered for free at one of the community centers in the Down.
Painting with someone.
Or on someone.
Is it anything you'd be interested in?
I did it with Martin, and that was nice.

[bloodbinds]

[ The text is one word but easily conveys the incredulity of the question: ]

Painting?

[ Jon? Painting??? ]