Video | un: Stone

[bookbrawler]

[Jacob Stone comes from a world of both smartphones and magic (and sometimes those smartphones had magic in them), so he isn't entirely unfamiliar with this. The Omni is a little awkward at first to deal with, but he's managing.

What he isn't managing, is the rattlesnake that seems intent on curling around his shoulders in a cozy fashion.]

Hi. My name is Jacob Stone, I just got here, so there's a lotta new things I ain't quite got the hang of yet.

Uh.

So.

So can y'all tell me if there's an incantation or something to get rid of--of whatever this little critter is?

[The snake looks just as grumpy as he does, for a moment, and hisses at him. He looks mildly offended at the gesture, or maybe the snake might have said something rude.]

I'm not--I don't use magic, I mean, but this thing just sort of appeared outta nowhere and now it won't go. I didn't mean to summon it! But I guess I did and now I don't know how t'make it go away.

[He's just...a little stressed. Being a Librarian whose job it is to find magical artifacts and hide them from the world and as a rule doesn't use magic because he's terrified of it is now in a world absolutely steeped in it, and he just accidentally summoned a smoky creature right out of his chest.

It's fine. He's fine?]

Comments

video; un: seeingtheworld

[schoolingfish]

Oh, don't worry about that! We all get an animal friend when we come here. I got a crab!

[He holds up Camilla.]

[bookbrawler]

[This. This is not reassuring. That looks like a very good crab friend but Jake's mouth drops open and the snake around his shoulders simply looks smug.]

That's...that's just great. Just what I always wanted.

[schoolingfish]

What's wrong? I think it's a pretty snake.

[bookbrawler]

It is a pretty snake, but just--

[He gestures in the snake's direction, and the snake looks less than impressed.]

It's magic and probably cursed or evil somehow.

[The snake knocks it's rattle at his head. Rude, Jake.]

video - un; bluebird69

[venatoris]

[ Dean has to do a double take when this pops up on his feed. He's new too (but like, weirdly recognized and well known among locals?? what) and he's confused and this is all overwhelming as hell, but...yeah. Sorry man, Dean ignored every single thing in the post that was asked, and instead says-- ]

Lee? That you?

yesssss the one actual supernatural episode that i have seen

[bookbrawler]

[Jake's not expecting to be recognized and he's fairly sure that he's stuck here alone, but he's certainly not expecting to be recognized by a different name. He scrubs his face for a moment, trying to see if he recognizes the guy at the other end.]

Uhhh...no? My name's Jacob Stone?

[At least he's not a slightly murdery ex-hunter old friend who owned a bar and kept a monster locked up underneath...]

its the only one i've seen from s15 lmao i gave up mid s10 sobbb

[venatoris]

[ oh. huh. well...

that's a bummer. a friend (lol) would've been nice. ]

You sure it's not Lee Webb? You look just like him man, I swear.

[Audio][UN:A_Wesker013]

[subject_013]

[A cultured baritone voice speaks over the sound of someone running water, as if they might be hosing something down.]

If its presence bothers you, the easiest way would be to give it a name, if it hasn't given itself a name, address it by that name while looking it in the eye and order it to return to your mind.

These creatures are, it seems, a projection of our souls and innermost beings.

[bookbrawler]

[Interesting, this one's only audio. And it's very good information, too.]

I don't want to give it a name. Giving it a name means I'm gonna get attached to it! If it goes away, does it just...come back on its own?

[He gives the snake a suspicious glance and the snake looks at him just as smugly, hitting him on his neck with the rattle at the end of its tail. Really? Why this...?]

...a projection of our souls and innermost beings.

[He gives the snake another equally long look which gets a shrug from the snake, which is impressive considering it doesn't actually have shoulders.]

I mean, that could be a good thing or a bad thing. It depends on which culture and mythology you are pulling from. For example, in Japan, snakes are seen as good luck, in many Western cultures like England snakes are usually a symbol of deceit or evil, the Ojibwe consider snakes to symbolize rebirth and healing, and in Viking mythology the giant serpent Jǫrmungandr surrounds the earth and when it lets go of its tail it's the beginning of Ragnarök. So. Pretty much a mixed bag there.

[He trails off, a little worried. It's probably the deceit. Or the rattle representing keeping people at arm's length or something.]

[subject_013]

Names have power. In most magic systems - for that matter, in basic psychology - if you can put a name to something, it grows more manageable. Some of us Sleepers keep our Omens in our minds, while others let them out as an assistant of sorts, a second pair of eyes and even as a means of self-defense in a tight place.

[A faucet squeaks and the water stops.]

And there's the pinch: you get to decide what it means. This place draws on the beliefs and dreams of the people summoned here. Your Omen is no more good nor evil than you are. [A small cough of a laugh in his throat.] There's some Sleepers who find their Omen is a better being than they are.

video/text | UN: forgetmenot

[nilheality]

[The feed shows a squid girl looking over at Jacob, she smiles and waves before taking a few steps back. She waves her finger in the air, causing Jacob's omni to manifest floating text.]

Hello Jacob! That is a cute snake. Does it have a name?

[Don't mind her, Jacob, she's learning to text. And keen that you have a friend to take care of. She thinks he might need someone to take care of.]

[bookbrawler]

[Hey, he remembers you! Interesting trick with the text. He seems in a much better mood than they'd met last time, and cheerful enough when he greets her again, even if he is annoyed by the snake.]

...well, I didn't really want to, but I think I'm gonna call her Daisy.

[The snake taps its rattle towards the screen to wave at Nil.]

[nilheality]

[She stifles an audible laugh, as she steeples her fingers in front of the omni. She raises her hand to wave at Daisy before going back to typing in the air.]

Hello Daisy.

So she just showed up from your chest? Did it hurt?

Video | Un: Fishblast

[sparkknight]

Hi Mister! That's your Omen. It's supposed be a part of you. Um, you can make it go back if you want to. Ooh maybe it you ask it to go back it will? What's his name? Mine is my friend Dodoco.

[She turns her Omni toward Dodoco who a weird rabbit fox who nods]

[bookbrawler]

[That sure is...some kind of creature back there. Jake stares a moment, trying to place it, then he gives up, because yep, he's not home anymore and normal rules no longer apply.]

Well, I wasn't gonna name it but I heard that it might help it disappear, so her name is gonna be Daisy.

[The snake seems extremely smug about things as it nestles on his shoulder.]

So they're called Omens, huh? That's...interestin'. Do they foretell misfortune?

[sparkknight]

[Klee waves at the Snake Omen as a paw emerges from beneath Dodoco's fur to give a little way]

Hi Daisy! Um I don't think so. Dodoco never told me bad news or anything bad. She sometimes tells when it's getting dark so we can go home. She's always been super nice. [Klee reaches and pets Dodoco who nuzzles her back which makes her giggle]

[slayerskiss]

[............................]

Okay, unrelated and all that, but do I know you from somewhere?

[bookbrawler]

[There's a long pause, this keeps happening to him and he's not sure why? Ah Jake, if only you knew about evil lawyers with your face in alternate universes...]

Uh. I don't...think so?

[He squints, as if he's trying to place a name with a face. Nope, nothin'.]

I'm from Oklahoma, if that helps?

[slayerskiss]

[Wait, yeah, he looks uncannily familiar because of that one lawyer with the boyband haircut. Huh.] Yeah, not you... god, resemblance is uncanny though.

You got a douchebag twin up in LA? Named Linda or something?

video; un: jk21a

[hearuthinking]

Hey, Jacob. Name's Jason. You've probably already been told, but I think the snake's just your omen. It's kinda like an animal protector. Mine showed up when I was bein' attacked by a fuckin' well monster.

Esfir-- that's my omen-- just sorta comes and goes when I need her. So yours might leave on its own after a while.

[bookbrawler]

Nice to meet ya. And that's a relief. It's interestin', why they're called omens...

Has anything bad happened when one appeared? Besides gettin' attacked, I mean. Are they only protectors?

[hearuthinking]

[He shrugs] Best to ask someone who's been here longer.

I was told they're extra communication. If you lose that fancy crystal, the omens can be a way to talk to someone else.

text; @skywalker

[facultative]

I tell mine to go away. It comes back after a while, but then I just do it again.

[bookbrawler]

Oh yeah? That's actually a relief, to be honest. I ain't ready to be lookin' after a snake, much less a sentient one...

Does somethin' happen for it to come back?

[facultative]

I don't think so. It's not a set time or anything.

[The answer is emotional distress, but he hasn't connected the two.]