03 video.

[gluestick]

[ The video clicks on to show Newt, but he doesn't really seem focused on the device at all. Staring past it, eyes clouded with... something. The feed jerks around sporadically from shaking hands, and Newt looks filthy on screen, like he's been in one too many fights that he may not have won, covered in dirt and grime, blood and wounds.

After a minute of this, his eyes snap to the screen, clearing with recognition, remembering what he'd turned it on for in the first place. ]

Sorry, I- I'm... not well. I've got the Flare and it's getting worse. [ A deep breath, and he's dragging a trembling hand through his hair. ]

I think I'm contagious, and that means you're all infected unless... there's people called Munies- [ his expression sours at the term ] Immunes, shanks that don't get sick with it. Don't know if they exist here, you're better off going to a hospital, getting tested for disease or somethin'.

Just- for God's sake, don't bloody breathe on anyone until you do or we'll all be dead.


[ private to housemates & castmates ]

I'm not coming back. Don't look for me this time, it's better this way.

[ ooc| this is newt's announcement for the flaring up plot! commence mass hysteria and crank outbreaks and all that fun stuff

eta: here is a catch-all log for plot shenanigans, if you so desire! ]

Comments

video

[rathercommon]

[ wh...at... ]

What do you mean - don't breathe on anyone? This - Is this the disease from Thomas' world? The one that makes people go mad?

video

[gluestick]

Exactly what it bloody means! It's airborne, spreads like a buggin' wildfire. It's fatal. And yeah, if all that doesn't worry you enough, it makes people go completely wacker. If the bloody Flare doesn't kill you, then the Cranks that have it probably will.

[kinesia]

[ What are you talking about? If you're sick they have to help you! ]

you have to come back

what will happen to you ?

permavid for newt

[gluestick]

Can't. I'm not gonna risk getting anybody else sick and I'm not gonna let my friends sit around and watch me lose my buggin' mind before I die, or worse, risk hurting any of you. I'm better off by myself now.

video;

[brushoff]

Don't breathe on anyone? That sounds like terrible advice. [ whereas Dorian's just metaphorically popcorn.gif this whole affair. ]

video;

[gluestick]

Better than havin' another bloody crisis on our hands. Wear a mask, go to the doctor, just don't go buggin' wandering around thinkin' you're Immune til you know.

locked;

[munies]

What? [ she's blurting out a protest before she really even thinks about it. which is A Thing. A Thing she'll think about later. ]

No way, not an option. You- We have some time, right? A little time, at least? We can't help you if you leave us right now.

locked;

[gluestick]

I've got days, at most. There's no helping me at this point. Just bloody leave it alone and concentrate on anybody else I might've-

I've been wandering around, it's all real hazy, couldn't even remember what I was doing but... I don't know where all in Heropa I've been. Don't know where I've probably spread it.

video

[ferrisbuellean]

[That kid does not look healthy.]

The hell is Flare?

video

[gluestick]

It's a virus back where I'm from. Airborne, contagious, pretty bloody sure it's fatal if what I've seen is anything to go off. It wiped out a huge chunk of the world's population. I don't-

I don't want a repeat here.

video

[standardization]

[As someone who's been in an uncharacteristically bad mood this morning, this doesn't help. Asami tries to muster up her typical empathy, though, before she responds.]

Nothing you've said ... really makes any sense. What do you mean? [An edge creeps into her voice there.]

video

[gluestick]

I mean what I've bloody said. I've got a virus, it's eating away at my buggin' brain by the day. By the hour, it feels like. It wiped out a whole lot of people where I'm from. [ He guesses, anyway. That's what they were told, but who knows if what they said was true? ]

It spreads quick and it's gotta be stopped before it does the same thing here. But I don't- I don't know how to stop it. Not even WICKED knew how to stop it.

[inmyothertights]

Have you been the see you know, a doctor?

Like if this is something that we have to quarantine, it might be something to think about? There are a lot of people here who can't get sick-

[gluestick]

No, I- [ He drags his hand over his face, eyes unfocusing for a minute, forgetting what he's meant to say. ]

No doctor, didn't wanna bring it into the hospital without a mask on or somethin'. I quarantined myself out in the woods, not a bloody soul for miles. But I- I'm not sure what I've been doing the past two days, before I did this.

You definitely need a bloody quarantine, sooner than later. This thing- it decimated the population of my world.

[acclimatized]

[ christ, it looks like this kid has been through the wars. john takes moment to cast a medical eye and take stock of his condition before he responds. however, there's only so much information he can glean from a video and he's calm when he speaks. ]

I've never heard of this Flare before. Could you explain it to me? I'm a doctor and I'd like to know what I need be looking out for. [ his voice then adopts a softer, more paternal tone. ] Where are you right now? Are you somewhere safe?

[gluestick]

It's some airborne virus- real contagious and real fatal. Makes the shanks who've got it go completely wacker. You start forgetting and things just... Make you angry. It eats away at your brain till there's nothin' left but a bloody animal.

[ He looks around at his surroundings, like he's forgotten if he really has put himself somewhere safe. ]

Out of the city, where there's nobody to spread it to anymore. Heropa's not safe, I think... I think I wandered around for a couple of days when I was out of my mind. I can't remember.

[kreiastophe]

[Krei hasn't even been here a week and they're already on the verge of an epidemic?

He manages not to sound too distressed when he speaks.]

You'll want to go to a hospital yourself, provide them with a blood sample and what information you have on the disease.

[gluestick]

Too late for that- already took myself out of the city so I couldn't spread it more. I don't... know what's different this time. I've been here for half a bloody year and it's like I wasn't even bloody sick. I had it then, so I don't know what buggin' changed when I came back this time around.

[darwinatrix]

...a contagious disease?

How far have you spread it?

[gluestick]

I don't know. Heropa, probably? I think I wandered around, I can't really bloody recall the last couple of days.

[aggressiveapathy]

You breathed all over the Porter building. Didn't you.

[gluestick]

Like I was supposedly to know I was bloody contagious this time around! Been here half a buggin' year and I've not been sick, not gotten anybody else sick! But now-

[ He drags his hands down his face, takes a deep breath. Calm down. ]

Probably, probably all over Heropa at this rate.

[schrader]

What the hell?

[ SOMEBODY QUARANTINE THIS KID. ]

None of that made any sense, kid, but you look like you belong in a [ horror movie ] hospital yourself. I mean Jesus.

[gluestick]

I quarantined myself. Not at the hospital just... out of the city, where nobody goes. Don't wanna risk spreading it more than I already probably have.

[kendo_taisho]

Oi! Wait a minute, what kinda disease?! What're the symptoms? Ya gotta give us more information that that! How contagious is it, how fast does it spread?

Does th' hospital even know how to handle somethin' from another world?

[Shit.] What about you? Ye don't look so good. Who's gonna help ya?

[gluestick]

[ The onslaught of questions makes his composure snap. Eyes hardening, face twisting in rage that's out of place for the situation. ]

Shut your damn hole, I can only answer so much at once! Ought to be glad I warned any of you shanks in the first bloody place!

[ And just as quickly as he snaps, his expression sobers and he looks guilty. He rubs his hand over his face, fingers shaking. ]

Sorry- sorry, I didn't mean that. It's the Flare, it eats at your brain, makes you angry at everything. Turns you into a bloody animal is what it does. It wiped out half Earth's population where I'm from, if that answers your question. I don't know if anybody here can handle it, my world couldn't. Couldn't even find a shuck cure for it.

[112ounces]

What happens at the final stage of the virus before death?

[gluestick]

You're completely bloody mad by then. Nothin' but a cannibal that doesn't care who you kill or what you eat. There's nothing left of you, you're just an animal. And if another Crank doesn't kill you, you're gonna die anyway.

video.

[tardily]

How do you know if you're Immune?

[ Because Barry's pretty sure he might qualify but at the same time this is a disease from a different universe and who honestly knows. ]

And you going to— You might have already breathed on someone by now. And— you can't quarantine without a doctor. At least not easily unless you're in the middle of nowhere.

video.

[gluestick]

That's exactly where I am, the middle of bloody no where. [ He lets out a shaking breath, scratching idly at one of the bloody scrapes, making it worse. ]

Came back a couple of days ago, I think- I don't remember what I was doing. I think I've probably breathed a whole lot around Heropa.

WICKED's the only one that seems to know who's Immune and who isn't, and they aren't here. I haven't got a clue what makes those shanks different from everybody else. Something in their brain, that's what WICKED said.

voice;

[lackey]

Dude, what? This some kinda joke? 'Cause it's... it's not very funny if it is one. I'm just sayin'.

voice;

[gluestick]

You think I'd joke about a bloody disease? I'm trying to warn you slintheads before this turns into a buggin' repeat of where I'm from.

[Private]

[runout]

[ It takes him a moment to reply to this, because for a good few seconds Minho's actually stunned into silence by the terror he feels at the sight of Newt, and the words coming out of his mouth.

He's got the Flare, they've all got the Flare, but none of them were showing signs. Why the hell is Newt? What went wrong? For months he's been fine. Why the hell is this happening now?!

When he finally gets it together, he comes off sounding a bit more aggressive than he means to in his reply. Minho's never been good at feelings that aren't anger, so when he's feeling something too strong? Usually comes out as anger anyway. ]

The hell you aren't. Tell me where you are, slinthead. I'm coming to get you.

[Private]

[gluestick]

[ He should just ignore him, hang up and not respond to anything he has to say. It's what he should do but... ]

We've been through this already, Minho. I'm not comin' back so my friends can watch me go completely bloody bonkers. If you know what's buggin' good for you, you won't come looking for me a second time.

voice

[thephix]

I understand that circumstances are difficult for you right now, so I won't pester with too many questions. However I need to ask if you've informed the authorities of this?

[That would have been her first move but children, so Max figures the best thing is to ask.]

There are more people in this world than just imPorts.

voice

[gluestick]

[ Maybe if he'd been in a better mindset, that would have been the first thing he did. But... Where he'd usually be understanding and glad someone told him, he's irritable and defensive. ]

No, but you're all heroes here, aren't ya? Figured you could tell 'em.

[ His expression softens after he says it, and he shakes his head. His control is getting worse. ]

Sorry, I'm- sorry. I didn't think of it.

private.

[glowsferatu]

[ the flare. she remembers the scare thomas had, and newt saying he's gone no further than out of town, that isn't going to do. he's being an idiot, and at this rate that's going to go further than just self-destruction. ]

Newt. Where are you.

private.

[gluestick]

[ He put himself in a place where he's seen no people, and if the relative closeness of the Palace to Denver is anything to go off, his breath won't spread that far. ]

Gettin' real tired of people askin' me that. I don't want to be found, so leave it alone!

[redplainsrider]

Might be more helpful if'n you were to tell what happens to folks when they're sick an' the symptoms. Else anyone with a case'a the sniffles will flood the hospitals.

[She sounds stern saying that, but this kid is obviously not well, so she softens her tone a little to add:] An' get yerself to a doctor if ya ain't yet.

[gluestick]

Better everyone get checked than not. It takes a while sometimes, for the symptoms. Might not even know you bloody had it, just thinkin' you're in a bad mood. It eats at your brain, drives you mad. Sometimes it takes a while, and others... It can take days sometimes. That's what I've seen.

[Audio, private]

[hands4healing]

I saw you yesterday near the Porter when I was coming home. What is this? Can you tell me more about the symptoms? How fast they come on?

[Because Winry's thinking this could be really bad, really fast.]

[Audio, private]

[gluestick]

[ Well, that confirms it. He has been wandering around. He was no where near the Porter when he finally came to his senses. ]

It just... makes you angry. Like an itch in your brain, throwin' it all off-kilter. And... probably forgetfulness, if you seein' me and me not remembering is anything to go off.

[ He drags his hand down his face, looking tired. ] I've seen all kinds of Cranks, some completely bloody Gone, nothin' but cannibals and animals. Some you wouldn't even know had it yet. Heard other Cranks talking, sometimes it takes months to get to the point I'm at now. It's taken me a couple of weeks at most. All I know is it's gonna make you go crazy and then you're gonna die from it. Or another Crank, which seems to be the way a lot of 'em go.

voice

[wonk]

Holy shit you're Gintendo's dad where are you and how do I cure this Gintendo needs a stable family life and he can't have that without at least two parents. [Deep inhale from an already hoarse voice] Also hi I'm Roxy nice to meet you.

voice

[gluestick]

The hell are you even goin' on about? [ He shakes his head, drags his hands through his hair. By now he's set the device on the ground so it would stop shaking. ]

Doesn't matter. I don't have the cure, don't even think it bloody exists, honestly. But there's gotta be- I don't know, something that can be different here. I've had this thing six months and nobody's gotten sick and I haven't started getting worse til now.

voice.

[restitute]

[comm tag is Oliver Queen]

It's fatal, then?

[What he wouldn't give for some magic Chinese herbs right now]

voice.

[gluestick]

Yeah, least that's what we've been told. Haven't seen anybody gettin' better from it. But you'd be lucky to last that long if you're surrounded by a bunch of Cranks. Littlest thing can set them off to kill each other one they're beyond the Gone.

private video;

[shuckit]

[ the blood seems to drain from thomas's features, and it's like a nightmare. like the porter has dragged him back out again, like he'd been fearing, and dropped him back into the hell they came from, before he had enough time to figure out... something. anything.

it wasn't him they took this time, though, from the looks of it. it was newt. of course. it was a pipe dream. thinking they'd ever be safe here. that there was anything they could have done to stop this. ]

Wh-- [ he starts. he hadn't told newt, when he came back, about the immunity, or about his lack of it. he couldn't bring himself to, and what would it have changed? but the newt he sees now is definitely taking on eerily familiar symptoms. ] But that's impossible.

[ he shakes his head, mouth gaping some and brows tightly knit. newt had it before. it wasn't active. that's just what the porter does. why would it stop now? ]

What are you talking about? The nanites block it.

[ btw, the hell he's letting newt go off on his own. but he'll get to that later. ]

private video;

[gluestick]

[ Thomas is the last person he wants to see. Just looking at him makes the irritation surge to the surface. Bitter that he couldn't do what he asked of him, because if he had then people wouldn't be in danger now. ]

Well, they aren't bloody blocking it now! I'm getting worse, I can feel it. Don't know if it'll even affect the shanks here but I'm not just gonna assume it won't.

[ He rubs his hand over his mouth, staring past the device, brows furrowed. ]

Fix it here, do what you couldn't do back there. Don't let me be the reason a bunch of people die.

voice

[glitchinthesystem]

[This guy...has to be freaking kidding. Glitch may not be the most knowledgeable about sickness or contagions, but the fact that everyone sounds concerned or scared and the words 'death' and 'kill' thrown around spells bad news.]

Welp, we're fucked. Seriously, how many god damn people did you pass before you thought you should run into a forest? Are you even sure animals can't get that shit?

[God, he knew this was too good to be true. He should've known the apocalypse was going to start, it started same time around back home obviously it had to around here.]

voice

[gluestick]

Wasn't exactly in my buggin' right mind while I was wanderin' around.

[ It's an excuse, and he wouldn't normally get defensive. He grits his teeth, takes a breath and tells himself to calm down again. ]

Maybe if it's caught early it won't be a repeat of what happened back where I'm from. I don't know, but I thought it'd be better to warn a bunch of shanks they might have a disease instead of letting them figure it out on their own.