02. video; un: jsims

[itknowsyou]

[ It's been months since Jon Sims was on the network, and this time, he's in the frame alone. The alleviation of Corruption couldn't come a moment too soon for this guy, apparently: he still has the haggard, hollowed-out look of a man who hasn't had a real meal in months. There's something profoundly unsettling about his eyes, which are too deep and too green. He never seems to blink. ]

Good afternoon. My name is Jonathan Sims. I am a researcher of what might be called 'the paranormal,' and... a survivor of the place known as Deerington. I've been working with several others to maintain an archive of topics and artifacts relevant to Sleepers, kept beyond the control of the Pthumerian Never Mind.

[ He doesn't even try to mask his distrust: he clearly isn't a fan of the patrons. ]

We are developing a secure location to the north of Trench, though [ impatiently ] I cannot recommend visiting without the use of traveling Lamps. The walk back to town is... not ideal.

More to the point, I am making a request for information. [ This is where he gets cagey, tense in the way of a man hiding something. ] The Archive is now undertaking an effort to create a comprehensive catalogue— a bestiary, I suppose— of recurring threats in Trench. If you have had a particularly upsetting or perilous experience with any being in this city, we would like the written record of your experience. Please submit accounts via text to this network address.

[ It's the second time he's hit the network to ask for personal stories. Those who respond might find themselves writing (or speaking) more freely than they planned to, flashing back to the memory in detail— though in this low-Corruption month, the effect isn't too intense. ]

Thank you.

Comments

[wapples]

Yeah! In Colonel Dan's. It's probably still running around somewhere. Or oozing around? I dunno. It didn't have legs, so maybe it doesn't really, you know, run.

[itknowsyou]

[ great. ]

And Colonel Dan's... is a location within Trench.

[ the IMMENSE skepticism ]

[wapples]

[Billie is completely oblivious to the skepticism.]

Yeah, it's a bar. My family kind of forgot we had it for awhile. I guess that's why the zucchini went weird - it got ignored too long or something.

[itknowsyou]

Well. Thank you for this contribution. If you recall any other monsters worth writing down, do let me know.

[wapples]

Like, what kind of monsters? There's lots of them here.

[itknowsyou]

Perhaps you could tell me— [ about the most frightening, he could say, but he falters. That would be predatory. This is a child. He does not need a statement from a boy who, judging by voice and first pick of supposedly horrifying stories, should not be regarded as anyone's food source. He can imagine what Martin would say. ]

You could... let me know who fights them. Anyone who might be willing to record their stories.

[wapples]

Yeah - there's all kinds of people who fight monsters here. I mean, we have lots of monsters anyway, right?

[Who should Jon ask for good stories, though, is another question. There's a beat of silence before Billie comes to what he is pretty sure is the best idea he's ever had.]

Hey! You should ask my karate teacher - his name's Johnny. He fights all kinds of things all the time.

[itknowsyou]

[ What could go wrong? A karate teacher ought to be a reasonably capable adult. ]

Johnny the karate teacher. [ Well, Trench is small enough he should be able to manage without a surname. ] Thank you. I'll keep that in mind.