second decree [video]

[thetyrant]

[Logan comes on the console from his suite in the metal sector. He looks perfectly composed outwardly, but those who know him might notice that his left hand is hidden under the edge of the table, and his shoulders are ever so slightly more hunched than his usual kingly bearing.]

Has anyone noticed any lingering ill effects from the jiangshi we had to deal with a few weeks ago?

[He's paranoid, and terrified that those things left their mark on him. His arm is still healing where he scratched it bloody, trying to get the corruption out.]

And is there anyone who had little or no contact with them? I know some of us fought and destroyed many.

Comments

video;

[trainwrecked]

What kinda side effects? I mean, I don't think anything's strange with me, other than what I now remember to have seed, but still.

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[thetyrant]

Anything out of the ordinary. Any...strange thoughts, perhaps. Hearing or seeing things.

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[trainwrecked]

Uh... no.

That happening to you, or you just asking?

[There is so MUCH he doesn't know about zombies, apparently.]

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[thetyrant]

No. [Yes. But no more than usual.]

[bothbarrels]

I had no physical contact with any, if that's what you mean. I have full body armor that I wore to fight them.

[thetyrant]

I was referring more to any who may have found safe places early on and stayed there. Anyone who fought significantly can be said to have had contact.

[Worth considering, though. He definitely had skin contact with them, maybe that's what counts? After a moment of consideration, he amends.]

In a manner of speaking, at least. Perhaps it would be different.

[bothbarrels]

It's possible. Different from what?

[thetyrant]

From those who fought lightly armored or in only clothing. Those who had skin contact with the creatures or...associated fluids. [They didn't bleed so much as liquefy...]

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[insecrets]

[All of Finnick's knowledge of the jiangshi come from Santo's lessons on zombies.

So he leans in and stares at Logan for a moment.] Why are you so curious? Were you attacked? [Are you slowly turning into one of them?]

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[thetyrant]

Of course I was attacked. We were all attacked. I destroyed many.

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[insecrets]

But not all of us were injured. [A pause.] A friend of mine told me that these things could make more like them from infecting the living. [He shrugs.] I haven't noticed anything lingering except the need to never see one again.

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[thetyrant]

I'd heard the same. But I believe the transformation took hours at most, correct? [He doesn't sound nervous about this part, just confirming facts -- the difference is noticeable to anyone paying even a little attention, because he's been nervous about everything else in this post.]

[bowarmed]

This happened before I got here but I've heard about what happened from the others. Is everything okay?

[thetyrant]

Asking the question would be the attempt to answer yours. [He's deliberately evading all this curiosity about why he's asking, because again, he's paranoid. And he's afraid you'll think him insane.]

[bowarmed]

[That's not telling him much. Guess this is a give some, get some scenario.] I've talked to a few people who were here during this, and none of them seems to have any symptoms. I'm can't say how much of that is because of their own abilities.

[thetyrant]

By abilities you mean magic.

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[amonfire]

[ This is all news to him, but he would like to know the details without coming off as entirely ignorant. ]

Are there telltale symptoms that would imply these 'lingering affects'? I feel that would be helpful in answering your question.

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[thetyrant]

I didn't have anything specific in mind. I believe you would know if you were experiencing them.

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[effective]

If you turn into one, I'll shoot you. [It's actually a friendly offer, believe it or not]

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[thetyrant]

[Strangely enough, it's comforting.] That would likely be for the best.

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[effective]

[She nods, and is about to switch off when she realises that she actually has information that is slightly more comforting] I know someone who was scratched. He's fine now. [a beat] At least, he's not turning into a mutt.

Re: video;

[thetyrant]

All right. Thank you. [It does help. A little.]

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[brbparadise]

What's a jiangshi?

[Mavis has no clue that you're talking about zombies, Logan, sry2say.]

Re: video;

[thetyrant]

A creature. There was a brief plague of them some weeks ago.

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[brbparadise]

You mean like a monster?