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

[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.]

[steadypulse]

[There was still that boiled up anger from being around the fire and rage brought up from Kazuma leaning in to that Noctaere, letting himself fall in to it's influence and powers as rage all but consumed. Wasn't difficult, how it always seemed to seethe under 76's own skin these days.

Wasn't anger that had the shadows flow, how his head tilted and stepped, immediately sinking downwards in to it within seconds and out of sight.

There'd be little to no time to react as he practically came launching out of a wall, form cold as ice from that plunge to the point frost clung to his hair and the leather of his jacket. Launched himself to straight up tackle Reaper, not bothering with weapons as shadow claws dug in to the other, gripping at him as his full weight went in to it.]

[b_a_n_g]

[Reaper was one who had lived in the shadows for a long time, so he knew how they operated very well. That 76 now seemed to have strange shadow powers didn't deter him at all about this upcoming confrontation. After all, he had more experience and 76 was just using them reactively even if there was some tactical reasoning.

He could feel the shift in the air as cold seemed to suck heat from the air around him, and he turned his head as he spotted 76 launching at him from the wall. He let 76's arms move to encircle him, let that sensation register before he dissolved into smoke and stepped through the spot 76 was sailing through.

Then he laughed as he reformed.]

You're playing with the shadows, Jack. That's a mistake, but you never did know when to quit when you were ahead. Come on then, Commander, show me what you've learned.

[steadypulse]

[Hands moved to catch himself in a roll, twisting even so he landed in a crouch facing Reaper rather than with his back to him, shoulders rolling as joints cracked a bit. The sharp chill to the air remained, even caused a bit of a warm mist to puff out a bit from his mask. Still warm despite the cold those shadows of his brought, the frost growing outwards from where ever they touched.

Heels dug in to the ground then-]

Suit yourself, Boss.

[The shift through that chill was quick, electricity crackling between evert spot of shadow as it arched. Lighting up the alley way for a brief moment before giving way he was using that more as distraction than actual attack.

Claws were swiping right for that masked face, frost already building on his sleeves from were those shadow gauntlets met leather.]

[b_a_n_g]

[His nostrils flared against the cold that was even greater than his corpse-temperature skin, and it seemed to him that Jack was diving too fast and too far into whatever abilities this place might grant. There was a cost to everything, as he had learned the hard way more than most.

A smirk behind the mask even as the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end with the electricity that filled the alley, and he stood his ground. Dramatic little asshole may have learned some of his tricks, but not all of them.

His left arm snapped up to deflect the claws, letting the blades on his wrist guard do the work of punishing that reckless strike.]

You're tired, Commander. What has made you act so recklessly to hide that?

[steadypulse]

[He ignore it, driving forwards as he followed up the deflected strike with another, grabbing for Reaper's hood to jerk him forward as a knee was driving up towards the older man's gut. Didn't care for the pain of blades, barely even made a noise other than a low snarl.

76 was running on fumes, anger and rage still there under his skin as that energy had clung to him despite managing to keep calm under why it did so. The cold numbing him the thicker it clung.

There was a sheer viciousness to his movements that could seem like how he operated these days, but something was clearly off- or at least clearly enough to someone that could know him well. It was even different from what he usually displayed whenever he doggedly went after Reaper.]

[b_a_n_g]

[He didn't bother to avoid the knee to the guts as his body armour spread the damage out across his abs so it wasn't quite such a strike that would knock the air out of his lungs. He was still bowed over for it, and his arms snaked out to grab 76 around the upper thighs so he could lift the younger man right off the ground to slam them both down.

He hadn't fought any feral dogs lately, but apparently that's what he was doing here. He should just shoot 76 in the legs and let the younger man struggle through that, but it wasn't the point. He knew when to tire an already exhausted soldier out. He'd done it specifically to Jack Morrison on more than one attempted hospital bed escapes.]

I'm going to find who has your attention, you know. I'm going to hunt them.

[steadypulse]

Careful, you'll almost sound jealous over something, Reyes.

[It was snarled, and by the sound of that tone it might've been a good thing he'd had that mask, lurching forwards even while falling backwards with the other on top of him and having him by a thigh. All the more reason he went right for a headbutt, even if it just had him knocking against a masked forehead.

Put all the force he could muster behind the movement, other leg bending to get around Reaper's waist for some sort of leverage, hands bracing the ground and aiming to roll them over.]