alwayskayaking | Duplicity Inbox

[Tim shrugs] Because he was only begrudgingly putting up with me at the time and I annoy people with endless questions.

[He's certainly not offended by it, not even really that annoyed about it either. Jon and he didn't know each other that well back then and while he hasn't asked for more clarification since then he's sure Jon would be more forthcoming now]

Do you know why? or rather why they waited for that moment? Do they operate on a hive mind or were they doing Elias's bidding?

As far as we could tell they actually wanted to wait for a bit longer. Jon sort of stumbled onto their hiding spot by mistake. Found a fake wall in the archives and when they poked their heads through it; worms. Killer worms everywhere.

Yes; I believed they worked as a hive mind for as close as I ended up getting and I wouldn't want to repeat any of that day to confirm that. And I don't think they were exactly doing Elias's bidding. From what Jon told me is that Elias needed him marked by all the fears to complete a ritual that he wanted to do. Although, considering we nearly died? I don't think that was the full plan.

Can you go into any more detail of like what happened during the attack? You say Jon found a fake wall and found killer worms? where were you when this happened? and how did you manage to escape?

I've actually managed to avoid talking to the man while he was in the city but I got the impression just from the way Jon talks about him that while he might not plan everything he would have found a way to step in if his plans were in danger.

Me? I was out having lunch at the time so I don't know much about the start of the attack. When I came back there wasn't anyone around the office at all. Just the old tape recorder that Jon uses to record statements with laying on the floor so I stopped to pick it up.

Has Jon mentioned Sasha at all too you? She's a woman who works-- [No, that's not right. The woman in his head isn't Sasha because the real Sasha was gone.] --worked in the archives with us. If it hadn't been for her... [Tim shudders a little.] I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have made it. I had no idea that there was this... mountain of worms behind me and she pushed me out of the way as they lunged for me.

We ended up splitting up as they chased us. She ran off out the office and I ended up running into the tunnels that we discovered that day under the archives. Managed to fight my way through to Jon and Martin who were trapped in a room by using some C02 canisters that we had learned slowed the worms down and killed them.

The three of us ended up getting lost down in those tunnels trying to find another way out that was safe. I'm not sure how, but we ended up losing track of Martin down there after running into more worms. Jon and I thought we might have found a way out, but she was waiting for us. Fought the worms off as long as I could but eventually the gas ran out and there were just so many of them. [He traces his fingers over some of the bumps of scar tissue the worms had left behind on his face and arms.] The last thing I remember was feeling them burrowing into my skin. Devouring me alive when suddenly the archives fire system went off and filled the whole place up with C02. I ended up passing out because of all the gas and by the time I woke up I was in quarantine.

[Tim nods and listens intently, only answering]

Jon has mentioned the name Sasha but nothing in great detail, as I'm sure you're not surprised by

[before falling silent again.]

Sounds like an extremely close call for the both of you. I'm sorry that must have been terrifying but you survive the worms and the overexposure to CO2 as well.

I take it Sasha was not as lucky?

[There's a pause as Tim shakes his head.] No, she wasn't. Not that any of us knew that at the start. We thought she made it out alright, but she had been killed and replaced by a creature Jon has called the; Not Them. When they kill you they don't just kill you. They replace everyone's memory of you and live your life. She was my best friend and I didn't even know she had been murdered.

[Tim will nod but not really knowing what you say to comfort someone when their friend and co-worker has been replaced. Especially when you can no longer be sure fo your own memories regarding the woman]

What happens when you found out about that? Do the memories correct themselves?

[Yeah, that's definitely not comforting but he has to know]

No. They're gone forever. No photograph, no video, nothing left to remember the real them. You're always left with the face of the thing that killed them. That's the face you grow to miss and hate at the same time.

It's an incredibly insidious and horrible death on all aspects [Tim mumbles to himself before he realises that saying so out loud might not be the most comforting thing]

I'm sorry... again.

Yeah, well... [What can he say? There wasn't really much more to say.] At least here that can be fixed and I can remember her again.

They can fix your memories here? I didn't know that. That's fantastic! Who are you seeing to get that done?

A man named Hawke and Anders. I'm not exactly sure how they do it, so don't ask me how.

I am on good terms with Hawke and he seems a good man. I'm glad he was able to help you out with whatever magics they possess.

Me too. I'm glad to have her back to the way she should be.

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cw: mention of parasites, body horror, worms

Re: cw: mention of parasites, body horror, worms

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