(TEXT)

[hexrot]

FILE: RUNIC SCRIPT
FILE: TENANTS, 1-6

FILE: THAUMATURGIC REACTIONS & GLYPH COMBINATIONS – EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS PERFORMED BY JAYCE TALIS, OVERSEEN BY VIKTOR

OBJECTIVE OF TEST: To investigate the possible magical interactions between different runes, identify their combined effects, and assess their stability, potency, and potential applications.

[ there's more technical text such as an outline, hypothesis, methodology, a mention of using the combinations as a way to trigger a reverse transport and return people to their own world and time, etc, but that's mostly unimportant here. skip right to the personal entries: ]

ENTRY 1: COMBINATION 1A (MOTION + SPIRIT)
— Runic Script: Transcribed.
— These runes don't work with a channeling source. (Not needed? Or not the right one?)
— A burst of light, buzzing white noise and what felt like a psychical shock inside my head sprang after both runes were drawn together.
— Viktor did not experience anything of the sort. Sole user of the runes affected.
— Disorienting.
— 30 minutes post combination and I'm feeling restless. Can't keep still. I'll go for a walk.
— Result: unsatisfactory.
— Started feeling hungry again. It's different this time. Just what I needed.

ENTRY 2: COMBINATION 1A
— I had a dream last night.
— "Dream" feels fantastical. Felt more like a vision.
— They come in flashes: the moon breaks apart. Moon shards rain down on a cityscape and destroy it. A woman wails right before I wake up.
— Observation: Day 5 post combination and the same dream persists. Every night.

[ attached are sketches of the scenes, both on paper and a crumbling wall. ]

ENTRY 3: COMBINATION 2B (MOTION + TIME)
— Day 6. Dream persists, for the record.
— Immediate burst to the head similar to 1A. Difference is that I bled from every orifice (not as severely as 1° COD) and grew a rack of antlers.
— Health deteriorated near instantaneously, senses heightened and hunger escalated.
— Fed on blood. Health restored just as instantaneously. Never felt better (a scary thought, but one for another entry).

ENTRY 4: COMBINATION 2B
— The dream changed.
— I keep seeing someone tied to an altar. Can't make out if it's a man or a woman. They change into a monster before being sacrificed where they were tied. Also indistinct what monster. I can only remember an awful shape and sound.
— Day 8: Same dream.
— Day 10: It doesn't stop. I sleep but there's no rest.
— Day 13: I was tied to the altar this time. My body tore and broke itself apart to grow into something horrific. Six limbs, too many bones and rot. Couldn't stop screaming. Even the scream was ghastly. I was sacrificed.
— Day 14: Again.
— Day 16: Again.
— Day 18: We should terminate the experiment. I want to, but at the same time I feel like we're close to something we wouldn't have learned about this world otherwise. What if it's the key to returning?
— Got my hands dirty, might as well see it through. The safest option is a dead man doing it.
— "If you're going through hell, keep going."
— Remember your promise.
— All that remained were fields of dreamless solitude.
— I won't fail. I swore.

[ attached are more drawings of the dream. with each passing sketch, the imagery becomes more manic, messy and eerie. ]

ENTRY 3: COMBINATION 3C (MIND + LIFE)
— It hurts
— suspecting that there is no correlation to effects and glyph combinations i theorize that no matter the combo the effects will only get worse

ENTRY 5: COMBINATION 3C
It's all I hear all I hear is i need you i see you i need you i see you i need you i see you i NEED YOU I SEE YOU I NEEDYOUISEEYOUINEEDYOUISEEYOUINEEDYOUISEEYOUINEEDYOUISEEYOUINEEDYOUISEEYOU

[ it goes on for about 6 pages before becoming illegible. ]

CONCLUSION: FAILURE. GLYPH COMBINATION EXPERIMENT TERMINATED.
HAZARDS ENCOUNTERED: The following symptoms and events were experienced after Combination 3: explosive mental discomfort, incessant auditory hallucinations (SEE: NOTES, ENTRY 5, 3C), paranoia, disorientation, and insistent & focused monster attacks until sunrise. At dawn I heard the words: NEXT TIME YOU ARE MINE.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE SAFETY MEASURES: Immediate suspension of activity. DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE, ATTEMPT TO REPLICATE THIS EXPERIMENT!!

No more tests will be performed until further notice. If you still attempt to use glyphs in any way after reading this, the consequences are on you alone. Don't be a shithead.

The glyph for MOTION was found mostly by the gas stations and appeared with more frequency when the storms neared. Something to keep in mind.

If you have any inquiries, I'll do my best to answer them.

I'm sorry.

Comments

[bufudine]

[Hm?]

What is it?

[hexrot]

Personal. Has to do with feeding.

Would you answer?

[bufudine]

[Well. He has an idea of where this is going.]

Yes.

[hexrot]

Have you ever had a preference?

[bufudine]

[...Not a question he was expecting. And not one that he's thought much about. But reflecting on when he shared a meal with V -- a rare moment where he could devour leisurely instead of in a hurry -- he can say...]

Yes.

[hexrot]

Was it ever a problem?

[bufudine]

[The nature of devouring is inherently a problem. But if Jayce is asking this sort of question...]

Let's talk in person. I'll come to you.

[hexrot]

Alright.

Truck.

Action

[bufudine]

[And so Serph soon makes his way over to Jayce's truck, which is starting to become an increasingly familiar sight. Still in that same serpentine form that Jayce had last seen him as, there are no footfalls to announce his approach. So once he spots Jayce, Serph makes his slithery approach and greets-]

Jayce.

[He doesn't elaborate further for now, waiting for Jayce to elaborate on his line of questioning; it sounds like Jayce has found a preference that's causing some personal turmoil.]

[hexrot]

[ jayce is laying with his back against the cargo bed, out under the stars, notes held up over his head to read while laying down. its the tips of his antlers and a hand with paper in his hands that may be seen first, but the sound of his name lifts him fully like a zombie out of the grave. an affirming nod comes, and jayce skoots over to the left side of the truck bed to make room. ]

Come in.

[ he'll put his notes to the side, in the meantime. it looks like he's making blueprints for a pump. ]

[bufudine]

[Serph looks a little dubiously at the offer; there's only so much space on the cargo bed and with him having six wings and a very, very long body, there's just no way he's going to fit the entirety of himself on there. Also, it's not exactly easy to get on there without any legs.

Still, Serph nevertheless slithers close, raising his body up high enough so he can simply let himself fall onto the cargo bed -- with a noticeably weighty thump -- before he slides the rest of his long body up as he inches his way into the available corner of the cargo bed.

His gaze slides to the blueprints.]

Keeping busy?

[hexrot]

I don't think I'd function, otherwise.

[ no, he'd spiral. out of one project and into another. jayce's mental health wasn't fullproof since his academy days; today, while guarded, it's even more fragile. too many new traumas piling on each other, too many instances where he avoids mirrors or even examining himself. the only reason he doesn't actively look for and pave a way out is because of viktor. as long as he's in his orbit, jayce has more than enough reason to keep living.

or. whatever it is that he's doing. which brings him to the topic. ]

I had my first blood after the second experiment.

[bufudine]

[Serph understands that feeling, though for very different reasons. All his life, he had always been driven towards specific goals. And even though their journey is taking them towards Nirvana (again), they can only truly go at the pace dictated by the Convoy.

If anything, he often finds himself at a bit of a loss on what to do in those moments in between. In a way, it's a small taste of what peace looks like and it's not as fulfilling as he thought it would be.

Serph nods; Jayce had written as much in his notes.]

Is the blood the reason for your questions?

[hexrot]

[ there's nothing to actually complain about it— it was heavenly. swallowing that shimmer-plasma was better than sex. sex with it was off the walls insane. the want was expected. the daydreams? disturbing. jayce nods, but with his eyes casted distant and concerned. ]

I'm not sure if we made a mistake or the best choice. [ the gaze cuts short when jayce pinches his finger between his eyes and rubs at the bridge. ] Nothing else . . . Compares.

[bufudine]

[Hm? The blood is from someone he knows? Not a monster? Given that Jayce's notes mention Viktor being with him, that would be his guess. Serph tilts his head, not quite understanding the issue.]

If you're not bleeding him dry, what's the problem?

[If anything, in his eyes it's almost an ideal solution to hunger, not needing to kill in order to continue life function.]

cw; the vore brothers are vore talking

[hexrot]

[ that's his problem! jayce even raises his brows and tilts his head in mild half-agreement. it's the best option, looking at it rationally. he doesn't have to worry about going berserk. he doesn't have to worry about hunting. but looking at it through an emotional lense taints the good of it, to a certain extent.

jayce can put the feeling in these words: ]

The impulse, I guess. The dreams, [ jayce's fingers immediately circle his wrist; he thumbs the gemstone in it, surrounded by the arcane's rotting webs for a comfort he's always sought from child to grown adult. it helps his spike in worry, soothes the grimness gnawing at his bones. ] where I wake up one day and . . . He's ripped open.

[bufudine]

[Dreams? He can't say he's had many dreams about devouring; it already dogs his reality. What little he does remember of those moments in sleep before waking usually centre around the deep blue sky, though those have started to become less frequent.]

Are you afraid your dreams will become reality?

[A beat before he adds.]

Does it disgust you? [Jayce used a different term...] Feeding?

[hexrot]

[ jayce is careful with his wording, deliberate— but mostly for himself. the crease between his brows enough of an indication that his worry was right there, on the money, but . . . ]

It should. I should hate it, [ jayce shakes his head during, ] but it doesn't, and I don't. Not when it feels like, [ he gestures, with his hand, before it flops back to resting his forearm on his thigh, and his hand thumbing the jeweled wrist. ] like that.

[ it made him feel alive, and warm, and better than anything he could imagine. healed him. made him stronger. it filled him up. by the time he realized what he was actually doing his mind's functionings were crossed, rewired. he should feel disgusted and horrified. ]

And that's frightening.

[bufudine]

[When everyone in the Junkyard had gained their demons' hunger, responses were mixed. Many were revolted by it, others resigned themselves to doing what they must, and some few revelled in it. Serph had kept most of opinions to himself, but in a way he is like Heat; blood and viscera sliding down his throat... it's a good sensation.

Serph fluffs his upper pair of wings before they settle.]

Why do you believe you should hate it?

[Serph gaze is steady on Jayce, non-judgemental.]

There's no shame in doing what we must to survive. And there's no need to make it more painful for yourself.

[hexrot]

[ jayce's mouth drops open, closes, then snaps tighter as a deeper sigh pulls out from his nose and hollow, arcane festered lungs. that was one easy way out; jayce was no stranger to doing what was necessary for his survival. he was becoming a creature that manifested survival at all costs. he already was, in his heart. perhaps that's why the draugr chose him.

perhaps there really is just one thing that bothers him the most. it's not swallowing gorey bits of monster that perhaps used to be human— he's not once turned on someone here or as much as shown interest. he can just . . . lower his head and charge.

it's viktor. always viktor. ]

I just can't afford to let survival turn into greed. [ serph had caught a glimpse of jayce with no hope in him left— and he can do worse than wait for death. ] I can't hurt him.

[bufudine]

And yet he's offered willingly?

[Serph's making a calculated guess here, but ultimately the answer isn't all that important.]

Feed regularly on other things, plan when you feed from Viktor. Pace yourself. It's harder to maintain control when you're ravenous.

[Yes, Serph is suggesting to make it all routine and boring. After all, he has to hunt daily and after a while, monster meat stops being particularly new and novel.]

Have you spoken to Viktor of your worries? If your concern lies with going too far and hurting him, plan contingencies.

[hexrot]

[ at least nothing is ever mundane with viktor, no matter the planned schedule. jayce already finds himself calculating and eagerly looking forward to when the next time would be. he should focus, though. it takes restraint, but jayce has enough clarity to make it achievable, nodding throughout. ]

Contingencies. [ like a muzzle. or something. for the other activities that end up provolking him to bite. they should . . . talk about that. sooner rather than later. ] Do you usually . . . Hunt alone?

[bufudine]

[Serph nods.]

I used to hunt with my comrades.

[It doesn't feel right hunting alone, but the monsters here aren't as threatening to him; they don't use human tactics or human intelligence when they fight back.]

The demon virus comes with a constant, insatiable hunger. But starving is not an option.

[hexrot]

Would you take an apprentice?

[ jayce is practical with his actions when it ca,e to desired reactions— driven by heart despite being a man of science, where rationale thrived (and maybe that's why he struggled so much then; it wasn't always about something as mathematical as data). he sees a problem. he sees solutions.

of course he's going to take them.

the concept of hunting isn't exactly new to him. it does bring back some painful memories of what starvation did to him, and the passing thought flashes across his eyes in a soft twitch. ]

I've only ever hunted piximanders. [ it dawns on jayce that serph probably doesn't know what that could even be, so he adds, gesturing with his thumb and fingers to show small size, ] Small . . . things.

[bufudine]

[A what now? Serph blinks, tilting his head. From what Jayce is saying, he can guess what an apprentice is, though it's worth checking.]

You... want me to teach you to hunt?

[A hint of bewilderment enters his voice. He's never had to teach or train anyone before. His people had all been combat ready from the moment of their birth. Hunting was simply an adaption to their demons...]