13th Picture [Filtered from Rue. Just in Case.]

[bestpapaever]

To everyone I spoke to recently--I apologize. I must've said some awful things to you, but... I think I'm back to normal now. Please, if any of you had a sudden bout of--there's not many words for it--aggression? Hate? Then please talk to me. And anyone who grew any feathers or coughed blood as well. I've already heard of two cases similar enough,

Comments

[kimitoaruiteku]

Did something happen at that tea party...? [Sounds relieved, nonetheless.]

[best_papa_evar]

I don't know. I don't know yet--but I'm going to found out. It was something I ingested, because the moment I coughed out some blood I was fine again... And I hadn't eaten or drank much prior to it. So... re-tracing my steps...

[kimitoaruiteku]

I tried talking to the person who gave the party but I didn't really get anywhere...

[best_papa_evar]

Huh--anything she say? Any sort of information?

[radiant_will]

That's too bad. I really liked hearing about how much of a heartless murderer I am.

[best_papa_evar]

A heartless murderer doesn't slam down the phone in desperation.

You're not. I said a lot of things that I didn't believe at all.

I'm sorry.

[radiant_will]

That's all right, I forgive you.

Because I did a little thinking last night, and what you said did make me wonder why I kept killing people and risking my life. For what--Japan? I could have lived comfortably as a Britannian, but instead I was out in the ghettos, suffering among thousands of really pathetic people.

Why did I do that?

[best_papa_evar]

...

[Hooo fuck.]

You should know why you did that, right? Or have you suddenly decided to give up your prior self-made obligations?

[IT'S AN EPIDEMIC.]

[best_papa_evar]

Yeah, I'm okay now. I apologize if I said anything stupid. I don't know what exactly happened, but I don't appreciate getting yanked around again.

[best_papa_evar]

Others? Who else?

[A pause.]

During the time I'd been affected, I started growing black feathers from my arm. Fortunately I was stopped and helped before it became anything else... That was when I coughed up blood--I seem to be perfectly fine, but when I did, it was like I was suddenly back to normal again.

[resurrectinto]

So you're feeling better?

[best_papa_evar]

Ah, Yeah. One of my friends talked to me. I think it helped...

I apologize for what I said to you, Margot. Nothing I was telling people was what I'd really thought... I have suspicions of what happened, but I can't be entirely sure yet.

[resurrectinto]

It's fine, Hughes. I'm just glad that... whatever happened, you're better now.

But what do you mean by growing feathers? Coughing up blood?

[best_papa_evar]

A few days after I was affected by this--well, whatever the hell it was, I began to grow black feathers on one of my arms. Luckily one of my very close friends helped me and I coughed up blood.

I felt completely fine after that.

[weiss_tank]

Hughes? What's going on? Is this what's happenin' to everyone else?

[best_papa_evar]

[The first line is a little muffled when he runs a hand down his face exasperatedly.]

I don't 100 percent know what's going on, but I do know something's been passed around to a very concentrated group of people. Do you know a girl named Rue?

[weiss_tank]

Not really no...No. Wait. I think I ran into her in Soviet style Mayfield...I don't remember if she told me her name or not.

[best_papa_evar]

Yeah... I'm going to see if I can cross her off as a suspect in all of this. I don't want to think a child like her would do anything, but... this is Mayfield, and we're all walking a thin thread. Perhaps hers snapped.

[Or there wasn't one to begin with?]

It's possible it's just another trick of Mayfield, but I have to be sure.