[Transmission 07] [July 2nd]

[subject_013]

[CW: Judgement, blood, character death, traumatized Omen]


[The link sparks with red and white static as the view pulls away from a particularly heavy-looking wood door studded with nails, though as the view continues pulling back, it shows a gothic-looking structure that blends in with the rest of the buildings nearby. Only a muffled chorus of screams and yowls reveals what place this is. Just in the peripheral, one can glimpse someone's ear and a bit of a blond, short-trimmed sideburn as well as a bit of open white shirt collar.]

You're in a mood, boss. [Cypher speaks up first, and the viewer may realize they're seeing through the Omen's eyes as they sit on "the boss's" shoulder, looking backward.] That last case get to you?

Cases don't 'get to me'. You should know this by now.

[The view shifts and Cypher turns to look full on at the side Wesker's head as the Sleeper strides on through the streets.]

Maybe goin' to the seaside would 'elp. Ye told me you never went much and yer likin' it, since yer lived near moun'ains so much.

May this walk be a moment of quiet contemplation this night?

Awl right.

[They emerge into a small square with a number of Lumenwood flower beds. He passes by them. running one gloved hand over the flowers with an oddly tender touch.]

[The view seems to flex, for lack of a better way to phrase it. Then a huge figure in armor stands there, its form filling the view. Wesker takes several slow steps backward, the view angling up as Cypher seems to crane their neck to get a better view.]

Oh bollocks..

Oh God damn me... [There might be the tiniest note of panic in Wesker's voice]
.

Indeed.

 

[The view shifts, jostles, confused movement among the flower beds and pattering footsteps on cobblestones. A metal on leather rustle and something flashes in the darkness. A loud gasp suddenly cut off by a wet, meaty splat, and the sound of something bouncing wetly.]

 

[The view turns back, giving a low angle on someone sprawled awkwardly on their back, minus their head, greenish blood spraying from their severed neck

Oh Gawd, Boss.... [The sorrow and fear in Cypher's voice are palpable,]

((OOC: One can approach this as either a transmission they've witnessed or they can come upon this scene
 

Comments

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz is finally getting in the swing of things again, looking through transmissions and...then THAT happens].

W-WESKER?!

[abornfighter]

[Oh dammit, does she ever regret looking at her Omni right now. She doesn't even know the guy, but this is disturbing.]

Holy shit.

[It's then that Tory thinks of the poor little creature that just witnessed its Sleeper being killed.]

Uh...hey little Omen. Get somewhere safe if you can.

[subject_013]

[The Omen, a small brown weasel, peers into view. fur standing on end, eyes wide.]

Oh, hallo. Sorry to meet... at a bad time. 'Spose there's lots o' bad times 'ere.

Cypher... 's my name. Sorry you 'ad to see that, Miss.

[subject_013]

[Cypher peers into frame, quivering, tail fuzzed up in fear and whiskers on end. It might look cute outside of the obvious freak-out.]

Luz... 'allo. Sorry you 'ad to see that. Gettin' over the mis-transmissions from last month. Wish I was still showin' folk th' boss's past. [Not that his past is any better.]

I should've caught that and stopped it. [The Omen doesn't specify which thing should have been stopped.]

Audio - UN: Runeseeker

[onerthes]

ALBERT!?!

[Vira-Lorr was almost certain she recognized that form. It was impossible to mistake from writings. Her eyes were wide as she shrieked, grabbing her omni.]

Cypher! What happened?!?

[imaglyphwitch]

Ok, I'm coming over. It looks like...something bad happened to Wesker.

[She knew darn well what happened and was doing her best to calm her freak out. Well, I had an easy month, that's what I get.

Who did this to him? That transmission was unclear.

[subject_013]

Be careful: the site's pretty bad.

[Cypher glances behind their shoulder.]

The Reckoning. I saw it comin', but 'e didn't. Too blind to 'is own shadows, or too attached to 'em. Or bofe, though 'e's done better than he 'as in the none-to-dis'ant past.

Re: Audio - UN: Runeseeker

[subject_013]

[Cypher's voice comes through, loud and clear, though still a bit shaken.]

The Reckoning. Came out of nowhere, though I s'pose anyfing 'as to come from *somewhere*. But considerin' what 'e's got in 'is past, it probably had 'im at the top of it's list.

Action

[imaglyphwitch]

[Luz was already on her staff and moving, and had directed her Omni to direct that text to speech. She was thinking a lot of things right now, but nothing as so damning as that she needed to help Cypher. Seeing this was likely not good for anyone.

Least of all her.

Still, Luz arrived quickly, taking stock of her decapitated "uncle" and sucking in a breath, trying not to scream out, doing her best to quiet the rising pain and panic].

L-let's clean him up. He-he'll be a squid soon.

Do you want to stay with him at this place, or would you like to come with me?

[abornfighter]

Hi Cypher. Was that The Reckoning?

[She could tell the Omen was small just based on the view from before, but seeing more directly and...aww. She feels bad.]

Are you safe?

[It's not the same as 'are you okay', because who would be after seeing someone they cared about beheaded?]

Video; un: Seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

WESKER!

[He just shrieks his name into the communicator, already knowing it's too late. But Wesker was his friend, he'd offered to make sure Luca had enough blood for his vileblood stuff, he...]

What was that thing? Why did it...why did it...

Re: Action

[subject_013]

[She'll find Cypher standing up on their hind legs, keeping watch over the body. The body might twitch slightly from residual galvanic energy, but a few crystals have started forming along the edges of the severed neck.]

I thinks 'is colleagues will be 'ere soon to collec' 'im. Practical type that he is, 'e'd want them to take care 'o the necessary. But... He wants you to do the honors for his squid, an' I'd best go wiff you. Your one of the few he'd trust 'is squid wiff.

Re: Action

[imaglyphwitch]

Colleagues? Oh, you mean the people he works with. Right, that sounds like him. He would want to be a collected specimen.

[She managed a hollow laugh, but she sure didn't feel it].

Wild horses couldn't keep me away from his squid! Or, well, in my case, wild Fathiers.

And of course you're coming with! I'll make a bed for you and everything. Hope you don't mind a wolf keeping an eye on us though. She gets very clingy when I'm in a sad mood.

[Luz did not sound very upset about that though].

Re: Video; un: Seeingtheworld

[subject_013]

[Cypher peers into view]

That was The Reckoning, and they were doing what they're coded to do, ...or at least that's how the boss sees it.

...I'm sorry you 'ad to see that, Luca. 'E's fond of you, like a nephew or a son.

[schoolingfish]

I like him, too. He's really nice and...

[Luca refuses to use past tense even though he just saw him die. After all, he knows death doesn't stick here.]

So that's just what those things do? Go around killing anyone they come across?

[subject_013]

It *was*. The boss 'as just read about it, and we'd both figured their crossin' 'is path was just a matter of time.

[The Omen glances around them, at the Lumenflowers they're hiding in.]

Aye, 'm safe now, Reckoning's got nothing on me. The boss, on the other 'and, well... Hit were just a matter o' time before 'e met wiff The Reckoning, for things 'e had part in, in 'is world o' origin.

action

[distant_one]

[It doesn't take D long to locate Wesker's corpse. Even in the blood-drenched atmosphere, that much fresh vileblood is easy to pick out combined with the clues provided in the video.

The constant and overwhelming blood scent has D's eyes glowing red by the time he arrives, but he does nothing more than linger near the corpse at first.]

Re: action

[subject_013]

[A handful of figures approach from the shadows, all clad in black leather robes treated with wax, each wearing a hood that encases their head and over that a corvid mask, each carrying a large leather satchel containing the tools of a Blood Minister. The tallest might have their hand on the shoulder of the shortest, who walks alongside them, head bowed.]

[A small, long, lean creature with brown fur bounds from the depths of a Lumenflower bed, approaching the cortege of Blood Ministers and putting itself between them and the corpse.]

Oy, what took you so long -

[The creature, clearly an Omen, given the soft white radiance behind its eyes, sits up on their hind legs, looking from the Blood Ministers to D, leaning their whole upper body toward him.]

Oh. 'Allo. Don't recall seein' you. New at the Lumenarium? Or... d' you work at Soma?

[distant_one]

Just a concerned sleeper.

[The blood light from D's eyes makes the entire area in front of and around him seem much more sinister. There's a bit of an unnatural chill in the air as well, very out of place in the heat of summer.]

You were waiting for these people?

[subject_013]

He's a good person when 'e wants to be. 'E'd appreciate the kind words. Don't worry, 'e'll be back soon: he's determined to stay 'ere, as 'e's not sure there's much left back in 'is world. It's a long story.

[Cypher puts up a paw, as if offering a comforting hand.]

Naw, just The Reckoning. Rest of the Pthumerian, they follow different roles. 'E's made a study of 'em, Far as we can tell, their lot are like forces of nature in physical form. The Reckoning embodies justice, but... justice dialed up all the way. The boss isn't thrilled, but 'e gets it that sooner or later, 'e'd fall under their blade. ...He's a different man now, but in 'is world of origin, 'e was involved in some terrible things.

[CW: Body horror, blood drinking, tentacular action]

[subject_013]

'Spose it sounds cold, but 'e's a practical sort. He'd want 'is remains to 'elp other Blood Ministers in their research.

I don't mind stayin' with you for a time. Don't mind a wolf. Majes sense she'd be clingy when yer sad. Wolves are sociable creatures: bet she sees ye like her cub. D'you mind if I nips out to Arklay House to check on the boss's plants and keep 'em watered?

[Something slithers across the pavement from about twenty feet away, where it's just crawled out of Wesker's head. A black squid with red eyes slithers toward the blood puddled among the cobblestones and splays out its tentacles, dipping its mouth parts into it and drinking some of the blood.]

Oyyyyy... what are you doing? I s'pose there's wasting not and wanting not, but be tidy about it.

[The squid waves some of its tentacles at Cypher, squeaking irritably.]

[imaglyphwitch]

Makes perfect sense, in a Wesker sort of way. He's efficient, if nothing else.

Good! I'll make a little place for you in my room. You can go check the House whenever you want, of course. I know Wesker would want his affairs in order.

[Luz looked over meaningfully at Tempest, who seemed to act as if she hadn't heard that].

Oh, OH! Looks like we have to get Wesker situated! Luckily, we do have blood in the house, and I can get Luca to help me look after him!

[schoolingfish]

It doesn't seem like justice to me.

I'm sure he didn't do anything to deserve that. When's the Reckoning going to punish herself for killing people?

[CW: Zombie outbreak referenced, blue and orange morality]

[subject_013]

Might not, but the boss works on a different moral track than most people.

Long story, but he got involved in some bad stuff in 'is world. 'E's a scientist, but 'e got involved in creatin' something meant to cure illnesses and 'elp folk live longer... except it went horribly wrong. Something leaked from the lab 'e once worked in an' it turned a whole city o' people into zombies. The boss didn't see it as a tragedy so much as a failed outcome to an experiment, and that was just the start of the stuff he got involved in, or was figuring to do, till something stopped 'um. I could go into a long gab wiff a lot o' big words about 'is psychology, but the bottom line is: 'e don't see things or sense emotion the way most people do. In some ways, 'e's 'alfways between human and something like a Pthumerian 'imself. 'E'd say it was only right that something higher than him cast judgment on him.

[Cypher might straighten up a little, whiskers wiggling as if they just hit on something vital.]

Boyo, yer on to somefing there. Hold that thought close: Maybe this madness 'ud stop if someone can catch 'er in a feedback loop, convince 'er she's become the problem.

[abornfighter]

What kind of things did he do in his world that would make The Reckoning want to target him?