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

[gluestick]

Shuck it! There's no cure, Grey! What are you gonna do if I tell you where I am, huh? How do you think you can possibly help?

[kinesia]

find you

take care of you .

[ What else does he ever do? What else is he supposed to do, sit back and wait for his friend to die? Everything about that feels wrong. ]

stay with you .

[ He can't just leave you alone, Newt. ]

[gluestick]

No way, there's too many risks. You could get sick, I could hurt you. And I'm not gonna let anyone watch me lose my mind. I'm gonna do that on my own.

[kinesia]

but i live with you

and ive not gotten sick . you cant just be alone .

[ He doesn't want to lose any more friends. The idea that it's inevitable just doesn't seem right to him. ]

[gluestick]

It wasn't... active, last time. I don't know, I wasn't getting sicker. It's different now, I can feel it. I'm not risking anyone else's safety for the sake of my own bloody comfort.

[kinesia]

[ That just seems wrong. Newt is the one that's sick. He should be with the doctors. This city has a place for the sick, doesn't it? In the Train, they had an area for that. It hadn't exactly been quarantine, but it had been the closest thing to it. ]

but youre out there somewhere

youre spreading it anyway . come home newt

we arent scared . im not scared

[gluestick]

No, it's- I'm not near anyone. I'm not spreading it if it's just me. I can't go back to Heropa, not like this. I'm sorry, Grey. This is how it's gonna be, I'm not changing my mind.

[kinesia]

then where ?

[ Where could he go that isn't near anyone? The thought of that is a form of horror to Grey, who has spent his whole life surrounded by crowds. Newt's talking about the direct opposite of that. ]

do you have food ? water ?

are you safe ?

[ Especially after a message like this. The people of Heropa surely won't take kindly to the announcement that they'd all been infected. ]

[gluestick]

My safety doesn't matter here. It's about keeping everyone else safe.

[ Pointedly avoiding the questions. He had no intention of trying to survive out in the wilderness. The quicker he begins starving, the weaker he'll be. There's no way he could hurt anyone if he was too weak to move. ]

[kinesia]

[ That's what Grey's afraid of. That he's just made himself into a target for everyone who might be angry with him, and he's not even worried about it. ]

no . you warned them you did the right thing

but you still matter

i have to keep you safe .

[gluestick]

There's nothing you can do, Grey. Just leave it alone, alright?

[kinesia]

[ He’s not having this. ]

when thomas got sick he got better .

[gluestick]

He never was sick, shuckface! He's always been a Munie! It's just me, I'm the only one not bloody immune to it.

[kinesia]

[ So Thomas hadn't really been sick. He'd just thought he was. That's terrible. Their world must be terrible. ]

you cant give up newt

you cant . youre our friend

we wont give up on you .