Journal Entry

[steadypulse]

Sender: 76
To: Everyone
Subject: Information

[This finds its way across the journals a few days after the dreamshift ends-]

Going to attempt to keep this short.

If you remember the journal wide post warning about the Story Eater? Here's more of that.

Most of what was fought in that dreamshift, if we're going to keep calling it that, were created or caused by the Story Eater tampering in it much like it would in stories. More than enough proof points to that, including stuff found at Baba Yaga's hut, and it was a small taste of what it's capable of for those among us that didn't take a detour to the Realm of Stories before ending up here. Those red-eyed things were Eraser influence, and it looks like Story Eater may have it's own new tricks as well.

Thing is? There are Erasers here as well, not just in dreamshifts. They're not the Noctaere and it's safer not to mistake one for the other; they're entirely different beasts from each other and pose their own dangers.

Noctaere are best not come into physical contact with, as from experience that can hurt you as much as any of their attacks; seems like only this dreamotion stuff is the best way to deal with them. Erasers you can physically wail on to an extent and get somewhere, but using other means can keep them down longer or put them down faster. Some are a lot stronger than others, depends on how much the Story Eater put in to them.

If you recall the quest on the board about the witches that were dumping paint on people before we suddenly found ourselves neck-deep in that Halloween dreamshift? Those were Erasers, likely based off The Wicked Witch from Wizard of OZ; one reason throwing water on them seemed to destroy them with what info that notice provided for anyone who went after them. From what I can guess, they were a test of some sort and your guess as to why is as good as mine.

Look for red eyes, and ink coming out of it. Likely based off of something in a story, possibly twisted in some way. Easiest way to identify an Eraser.

I'm not going to respond to any private messages about this. You want to talk privately? Come find me. Otherwise? Anything you've got to ask or say here is better off public access for others' sake.

[Might not answer everything either, but there it was. Written out as much as he was willing, strange as most words felt to write.

Was as much information as 76 had to share with what knowledge and details he had.]

Comments

Text; Sender: Reaper

[b_a_n_g]

[He wasn't even going to bother to try to hide his identity. He knew that they were very much aware of each other and had enough experience to guess when one was coming around to make trouble to the other.]

Story Eater and Erasers? Sounds like you've had quite an adventure that involves a few more blows to the head.

Did you encounter these entities before you arrived to this place? Does that mean you did some chasing to get here, or did they follow you in? Stealth wasn't always your strong suit.

[steadypulse]

[Wasn't like he had chosen to hide his identity- or maybe it was telling that even his own dream journal referred to him as simply 76 rather than a name.

The handwriting was familiar enough to know just who this was either way.

Bastard.]

From that other world I mentioned to you briefly before.

[That little chat.]

More that it ripped a hole in reality and flung some of us here, or we followed it. Either way it and it's minions are here alongside whatever monstrosities were here before that.

[b_a_n_g]

I thought you were blowing that out of your corn field.

[They had definitely been sizing each other up on that first meeting, trying to determine what the other was about. Now that the shock of seeing and talking to 76 had worn off, he could return to the usual manner of interacting.]

So is the point of this warning to state that you're on the hunt for these rogue agents? Perhaps considering leading a Strike Team?

[steadypulse]

You're not worth even that bit of effort.

[Making shit up, that was. There were other efforts 76 would make, but nothing that stupidly petty- for the most part.]

People can do whatever they want with the info, it's their business. Asking because you want to try your hand at it again? Went so well last time, after all.

[Rising to the bait? More like flinging it right back. That, and a reminder that he knew who he was talkin to.]

[b_a_n_g]

It's about the same amount of effort as engaging me here now.

[He knew that if he pushed 76 that they would find a way to come to blows, verbal or physical. That was how they operated and currently how they felt most comfortable. Why let such a good thing go to waste?]

Disseminating information was a past talent of yours. This almost felt like a press conference just with more scowling behind the scenes and just as much snarling. At least me Strike team missions ended up the right people dead.

[steadypulse]

Same amount of effort you're putting up.

[Between this and relative silence, he didn't know which was actually preferable.]

Old habits. Difference between them being hand picked out for you, isn't it? Then again I had to convince half of them to work with you, so the points not really hitting how you'd like.

[b_a_n_g]

I expect you're putting in more effort than I am.

[They didn't have much of a habit of leaving each other alone for long. Well, normally 76 was chasing after him to offer a good punch to the head.]

I didn't need anyone to work with me. I had my own ways and my own people.

[steadypulse]

You wish.

Not when you were Boss of the Strike Team.

[b_a_n_g]

I have many wishes, but you're not a genie, so you're useless to granting them.

Ha, those were different times in a different situation, and we were actively at war. I was a different man then I am now. Back then, people respected my decisions.

[steadypulse]

Big talk when you're over a journal, aren't you?

Think only I respected them back then, but like you said- different situation and different man. You done yet?

[b_a_n_g]

You throw less punches and whine about how life sucks on journals.

Don't flatter yourself. There were others. Depends; you want to gasbag longer?

[steadypulse]

Could say the same about you, but I've got better things to do.

Only one flattering themselves here is you, and I'm waiting for you to get all of your ego stroking out over here. Finding yourself this bored?

[b_a_n_g]

So many better things that you're still here.

Once you're done chatting, I plan on finding an eraser to verify the threat.

[steadypulse]

Have fun.

[b_a_n_g]

Always.

[steadypulse]

[Well there wasn't a reply back, because he did have better things to do than play in to -and pass back- goading for a fight with Reaper.

But honestly, it never really just ended there with them, even if it could appear that way.]

Journal -> Action

[b_a_n_g]

[Reaper had used the information that 76 had given out through the journals to confirm the existence of these 'erasers' when compared to the noctrae. It had taken him time, but he had managed to find one and it had been a doozy. However unfortunate for the eraser, Reaper had a combat style and abilities that allowed him to take one-on-ones generally better than most.

He had walked away wounded, but that was a limited issue as far as he was concerned. He had endured far worse and walked, and he would heal. He always healed, for better or worse. This 'eraser' was dispatched, and that was the main point of the venture.

He was keeping as much to the shadows as possible, which meant dipping into alleys more often than not. Which was where he came upon 76 because of course he did. The other man seemed to be suffering worse than he was, which put him in a natural inclination to 'poke the bear' so to speak.]

Shouldn't you be hiding in a bush or something?

[steadypulse]

[Meanwhile, 76 had ended up catching a familiar name mentioned on a journal page and had been called to move. All he could surmise was that had definitely not been Eraser influence but-... well, all he could assume was that it was something more a part of this place.

Noctaere influence, more so after what he'd seen. He'd dealt with a lone creature, but enough had been familiar that he was noting it together. Recklessly he'd gone in, testing waters and seeing what sure as hell didn't work. Hadn't won per say, but he'd damn well managed to get what he'd gone out after. Conceded to letting some of the injuries gotten be looked at.

Bruised ribs had him leaning against a wall now, but it didn't stop the low and almost feral growl—]

Shouldn't you be creeping through a window or something?

[b_a_n_g]

[It was always obvious when 76 had picked a fight. There always seemed to be some recklessly earned injuries, leaning hard on their SEP fast healing abilities more than anyone else that he knew. The need for recklessness had definitely returned full force since Overwatch had fallen, and it appeared that necessity carried over here.

So much for leading a Strike Team...

He shook his head in disapproval. It would be easier to take this asshole in a fight if it came down to it, but he always was confident of his chances.]

Creeping through dark alleys is similar, so yes. What did you pick a fight with and possibly lost to? Your little eraser friends? Or something of this place's making?

[steadypulse]

[There was even one biotic emitter missing from the strap on his left arm, glaringly so when there was only two when there was usually three. Something had happened, and he'd been even worse than he was off now if he had actually used one of those things. Always some last case scenario if he was off on his own.

One being gone could be telling.

76 huffed, posture straightening no matter the pain and ache that still hung from him.]

None of your business, so why don't you just creep right on by.

[b_a_n_g]

[Reaper drank in the missing emitter, and it made him wonder if 76 even had the charger here in this place. The ability to have healing was important, but it wasn't imperative for all of them. Still, was it used on 76 or someone else?

None of his business was literally an invitation to poke and prod for information. It always had been for him, and that wasn't going to be a trend he bucked.]

So someone important to you. Tut tut, always the saviour. [He began a slow and systematic prodding to see what stuck.] Why do I look at your injuries? For old time's sake.

[steadypulse]

[There was that subtle bristling, shoulders hunched and a slight wheeze to his voice that was nearly hidden by the low growling drawl of his voice.]

Like I said- [Shadows grew darker as they drew in to his own, but not yet crawling up. They kept to the ground, almost appearing to ripple. A slight chill hitting the air. Crisp. Sharp.] -it's none of your business.

None of it.

[No chance in hell he was letting Reaper look over anything.]

[b_a_n_g]

[Ah, so he was on the mark with that guess. 76 had gotten attached, hmm? That was pertinent information, which meant he was already thinking about how he could drag the identity of said individual out into the open.

He noted the shadows, how the deepened even in this shadowed alley way, and his eyes narrowed behind his mask. Worried and out of control still? That's how buildings fell on people if history had anything to say about such reactions. He was unmoved by the display physically, standing his ground.] Someone younger, probably male... did they mess you up or did you do that to yourself?

[He took a step, moving to be out of the way of the shadows that were surrounding 76.]

You're like a street dog snarling and snapping. Corner you enough... and I bet you'll even bite.

[steadypulse]

[A sharp and ice cold chill clung to those shadows as they spread, frost covering the spots of ground and wall at the edges where they met. The chill rising enough to hurt someone's lungs just from breathing in such cold air. Still on edge, still so ready to bite with how he felt.

A wounded animal tended to fight harder if it could get away with it.]

Why don't you come and find out for yourself?

[Already losing a bit of feeling in his fingers, but 76 didn't care. His own narrowed gaze hidden behind his visor, expression as a whole hidden by the rest of the mask.]

[b_a_n_g]

[He was beginning to learn that the negative energy of dark dreams could affect someone. He had seen it in Jack's dream when he had been trapped there and also had heard talk about it during his travels. Surely 76 wasn't stupid enough to lean into that, was he?

Reaper would need to investigate this further, he decided. Wounded dog or not, 76 was going to put up a fight no matter what. That's the way that they operated and he wouldn't have it any other ways these days.]

Why would I? You're still in range. [He made a show of flipping a fold of his coat and grasping a Hellfire shotgun he just happened to have in there. Ready or not, Morrison.]