The Rabbit Hole {Book 2, What Should Have Been and Never Was}: February 2018

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Clarion Call

It sucks, but sometimes we must bear the consequences for others' failures. Jack is suffering for my decision to accept the Convocation, and for my decision to enact the Culling.

I wanted to bear the blame on my shoulders, since all these deaths were my decision, but there are those already that blame her for it.

They claim we are essentially the same person (blatantly untrue), and that she should have somehow stopped me. My question is this..

How does one deny the will of a bloodthirsty Fear? Once the idea popped into my head and those damned birds caught wind of it, it was over with. Even i couldn't take it back, no matter how I have wished since to end it.

Tag has been.. helping. Playing chess with me in the wee hours. Slowly coaxing my mind out of the ruins it had been. I still have to concentrate to ignore the whispers of

not good enough, never good enough, why don't you just end it all? The world would be a better place without you in it. It'd be so easy no one loves you no one cares you are a cancer that needs to be eradicated. Just stay in your room and pretend you aren't there make life easier on everyone, who could love a fuckup like you..

I can't get stoned like Jack does. When i get too comfortable, too happy, the birds want to take over. Go watch the deaths in person. Play in the blood and laugh at the suffering. That isn't me. Never was

I.. am still basically the same person i once was. Kind, loving, peaceful. The betrayer of the proxy code that alerted runners to upcoming attacks, tried to teach them how to survive and who to be wary of to survive just one more day. The girl that couldn't handle the pain of the world like Jack could.

I don't know what makes us so essentially different. Why she became fucking Maleficent given form, essentially, while i.. Shattered.

Maybe she became accustomed to the pain, being from the darkest timeline.

Maybe pain became a way of life for her, to where the happiness I felt confuses her. When i send her ravens across the rabbit hole, her words sound so.. cold. So tired. So lonely.

I don't think she really understands how to process emotions anymore. Views them as amusing distractions, just like the pot and the sex.

She certainly doesn't understand what to do with David or Gallows in her home. The last time I wrote her, she told me she's taken to sitting with Graves on guard duty. Quiet, barely speaking, just.. watching. Thinking.

I worry for her, being stuck in my home. She wasn't built to withstand the venus flytrap that is No Man's Land.

The temptation of wanting to stay, forever, and abandon all cares and worries in Overland.

I have heard tales, growing up, of similar from people that accidentally traveled to the Fae lands. Where time passed strangely there, and humans wanted to stay. Be happy.

Makes me wonder if perhaps the old Fae tales were referring to Underland.

It would certainly make sense. The vicious sharpened teeth of the inhabitants, the ethereal beauty, the deadly nature, the games they like to play with humans.

Are the Fears simply the angriest, most violent of the Fae races? Did they stumble into supernatural hotspots like many of us did, and become transformed into these eldritch horrors?

The answer is I simply don't know. The idea bears research, though, now that the Fears encourage the human side of the Great Game.

Could this be why the Fears began to have human faces to Jack? Why we each became more like them the more time we spent in Underland or around them? This begs the question..

Do we even count as humans anymore? And if we don't.. are the voices right? Would the world be better off if all of my sisters, the other Dias, and I killed ourselves before we become like Them?

I can't help but to not trust the voices. The birds. They have never been kind to me, not mentally. Could it be just another test to see which of us survive?

I don't have the answers the way Jack does, and she certainly isn't telling all her secrets. Old Dia habit, I suppose.

I may be leaving Sanctuary soon. I have intercepted..something.. meant for Jack that I believe needs to be chased down. Another Rabbit Hole to jump down.

I can't know for sure who sent it, but it is certainly connected to the notebook. It is also quite clearly a trap. If any of us are going to walk into a trap eyes wide open, it should be me. I have the best chance of surviving what comes next.

Samantha, Eva, any other alternates of our friends we are not aware of that survived the timelines: please. Come forward. We need you.

The Great Game is eight days from beginning in full strength. We can offer protection. We can offer supplies, knowledge, resources, contacts, a place to stay.

Please.

I will be enacting training classes on self defense, healing herb lore, survival skills, technology and computer lessons: anything I can gather Masters for on the subjects, board at Sanctuary offered free to teachers of these classes.

Those that wish to take these classes need do but a few things:

1. We will not charge. Instead, we ask that you help contribute to the classes in whatever way you can.

2. Comment on this status and/or present yourselves at Sanctuary.

3. Take a blood oath committing yourself to the war. No tricks, no bullshit, no fine print. Just your promising to protect the other Underlanders/Rabbits and fight back in whatever ways you can.

4. Take the classes when they appear. These lessons will help you, even in your day to day lives. Our goal is to preserve life, whenever possible.

5. Follow the Code.

That's it. That's all we ask.

Consider what we are offering.

It may be the last bastion of hope left before the war begins.

....I can feel the birds waking.

I must go.

Before they catch wind of my plans.

Friday, February 16, 2018

Tower of Babel

The smell of blood makes the hairs on the back of my arms stand up.

Distinct from all others.

The way I think.. My mindset. Broken

I can't even grasp it.

How can I expect you to?

This situation, this sharing of headspace with those damned birds.

You start to block out the details.

Slowly at first.

Then more, as time passes

The numbness

The screaming of the voices

The ever present feeling of coldness

The unending.. blankness. Of seeing the world in shades of grey, where nothing stands out, nothing breaks through.

Drowning mentally. Every day.

Begging for just one moment of air

To catch your breath

The small details that seep through

no matter what you do.

Having to turn your head away

to survive. just one more day.

The gut feeling that something is wrong

But if you acknowledge it...

Dare to even look in its direction

You give it power over you.

You can't fight it head on

Just wandering

In circles

Ever tightening patterns

Until.. One day.. You're looking it in the face.

And suddenly you can handle it

All at once

The delusions drop

Like window blinds come loose

Sunlight streaming in.

And.. It's ugly.
It's awful
But to live that way any longer
Is too hard.

...i have had visitors. Some Rabbits listened to my plea, it seems.

They rummage through my things

Like I can't hear them.

See them through the eyes of my ravens

But. I allow it. I play ignorant.

The invasion of privacy is.. worth it. To hear other voices here beyond my own. To not feel so alone anymore.

I try to stay to my room

Keep from scaring them

Pretend I am sleeping. Or gone.

It's not hard to hide in a closet when I hear them coming.

It's kinder to them, I think.

Tag is here.

He won't leave.

Even when I sicced my birds on him.

I turned them away from him at the last moment

In a whoosh of feathers and wind, they avoided attack or collision

But one of their talons hurt him

Made him bleed.

I cried then.

He knew better than to touch me.
To approach the mad woman

But.. It helps. Hearing him bitch

I had forgotten what his voice sounded like

I've secretly been helping with his paperwork

When he leaves for Sanctuary

Been leaving documents in rooms the Rabbits have chose for themselves

Trying to teach. To show. To help.

Give them what they need for them

To lead them further down the rabbit hole

Am I still your Red? Your Red Queen, blood spattered and smiling?

I don't know.

I don't know if I even deserve

To be called human

Or even Dia

I miss the days when I smiled

When I had friends I helped as a Gatherer

It was worth the risk.

They were worth dying for.

And now.. now that I want to die

No one will leave me alone

My mind wasn't built for this. These birds. This unholy infestation.

I am afraid of hurting them

Of climbing down from my tower of insanity and blood to greet them

Maybe that makes me a coward

I think I will sleep now.

Or try

I hear someone comi

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Sanctuary Has Fallen

The Culling officially began at 3:00AM, the day of February the 14th, the year of 2018.
Of course, it had already begun in a few timelines, but we will mark today as the official beginning.
Today shall be the Valentine's Day Massacre replayed, nearly a century later.
Second Halloween. Devil's Night. VDay Massacre.

No matter the timeline, or the name for these events, blood shall flow through the streets.

This Culling was originally only meant for the Mardi Gras District. Nola and 251.

Intrepid districts from other timelines and regions got word of my plans for the Culling..

And copycat'ed to their own districts. Their own Cullings, but without the rules.

I never meant for this many to die, but it is too late now to do anything about it.

My name is Lilith. Or, well, was. I have become the avatar for the Convocation..

And I cannot wait to die.

When I met with Tag that last time, I was aware I was saying goodbye. I knew what was coming, and dragged my feet as long as I dared. I knew that I would be lost as soon as I signed that contract.

With the Convocation's help, I came forward in my own form, finally having a body of my own once more.

Poor Jack got booted back to my home in No Man's Land. I suppose it will be hers when I pass.

I came to her, mentally, in the days before the Contract was signed. Begged for her help. Told her what I had in mind for Sanctuary, for the world, for us. Begged her to be the Judas I needed so desperately.

I knew the Contract would have a heavy toll to pay in order to pass, with our lives attached.

I knew one of us had to die to make way for Underland. And to be honest.. I've been ready since the Sacramento fire of '14. You see, my own Gallows never came for me the way Jack's did. Mine just.. disappeared. Haunted me occasionally. Scribbled a hastily drawn bloody heart on my bathroom mirror on this day, Valentine's Day, each and every year. Just enough for me to miss him.. and go mad.

It got to where I stopped washing the blood from the mirror. Left it.. all year long.

I originally got the bloody heart tattoo to remember him when I thought he had died.

Eventually, it became a mark of my own sanity to myself. That he was real. I hadn't imagined it all.

This becomes relevant again, because this year, I had a visitor.

It was while I was "sleeping." What the poor bastard didn't realize was, every inch of my land is recorded.

Incoming video saved as soon as it happens. Back-ups upon back-ups.

As soon as I woke, I knew exactly what had happened while I slept. And it broke my heart.

This is a fairly accurate depiction of Sanctuary right now. And so.. I will just leave you all with the record.

-begin video playing-

A lanky, self-sure man with coal black hair walked up my step, eyes wide as he did so.

Crows and ravens roost on every surface surrounding my home.

Blood is still wet on the streets, on the door handle, bloody footprints on the porch.

Like a bloodbath had just begun, and people had fought to get in and out Sanctuary's doors.

The strange man in the skeletal hoodie walks inside, cautiously, poking his head in rooms as he does.

Stacks of paperwork, journals, relics, and personal effects line the walls behind glass, like a gallery.

The kitchen is filthy with dirty dishes, blood coating the floor proper.

The television in the common area is cracked, hanging askew, as if someone had fallen into it.

He pokes about a bit more, cleans up the kitchen, gathers the papers, and generally organizes.

His every touch mildly reverent, as if touching the crumbling remains of the past.

Eventually, the bag of bones spots the drop down ladder leading to the upper floor: my attic.

He reaches the threshold of my room, body still half obscured by the landing and steps, and.. stares.

The walls of my room are a dark blue, with black out curtains over the single paned window.

Posters, notes, and photographs from at least 20 timelines compete for wall space.

Runner and proxy journals lay in stacks around the bed, meticulous and cruel in their sorting system.

A darkly garbed bed with accents of green sits off to one corner, on the floor, in the Japanese style.

His head swivels as he attempts to take it all in: a fan, a tv, my dark blue laptop plugged in at my desk, clothes of a thousand styles in the closet. It looks like the dorm room for 5 people exploded.

In the middle of it all, my body lay as I slept. No pulse, no heartbeat.

A sheath of shining copper hair splayed out on the black satin pillows, sunlight catching the strands.

I imagine I looked like a dream and a nightmare all at once. I believe I am.

Skin pale as the moon, tiny as I hadn't been eating properly for weeks prior to this.

I slept in the nude, a dark green sheet pulled up to my shoulders, haphazardly placed.

The man stared at me the longest. I can't quite blame him.

He begins to rearrange tiny insignificant things in my room. To annoy me, I imagine.

Gallows catches sight of the impromptu mural we created on our wall.

Pictures, events, and notes on every death in twenty timelines. For everyone involved.

Brightly colored yarn connecting each timeline, crisscrossing over an infinite number of times.

We couldn't keep track of them all in our head, you see. Too many voices trying to speak at once.

His fingertips brush against several pictures, mentally logging the differences.

Jack's picture adorned the very middle of the mural, the original, angry at the world.

Shoulder length black hair, twelve piercings both seen and unseen, tattoos covering her body.

Heartbroken eyes, staring out from behind the dark hair she perpetually kept in her face

A calculating expression on her face. Her attempts at a hostile expression amusing in their attempt.

The picture obviously quite old, likely taken between the fall of 2012 and of 2014.

Surrounding this picture are the pictures of her lovers from that timeline.

Some cuddling her, some kissing her, some just washing dishes. All clearly in love.

Branching out from these pictures are the pictures from every other timeline.

Advy. Gallows. Shady. Owen. David. Numerous others.

A rainbow of differently colored hair, facial expressions, and body language.

All clearly reincarnations of the same person.. with the same lovers.. and the same sad endings.

The skeleton man tugged the middle picture out from beneath the thumbtack, tearing the edge a bit.

He stares at it a bit longer, smiles, and blows it a kiss. Absent mindedly tucks it in his back pocket.

He looks around the room as if coming out of a daze, begins to narrow his gaze on our paperwork.

Gallows leaves, returns with a black trash bag, and begins to retrieve our collection of memories.

Our scrapbooks. Our pictures. Our videotapes. Hell, even our old apartment leases, all carefully catalogued and labelled according to its home timeline. He throws them all in the bag.

Just as he's hefting the giant bag over his shoulder like a demented Santa Claus, he is discovered.

The guard to Sanctuary had poked his head into the attic to find the source of the noise.

Gallows proceeds to drop his bag, knock the poor man out, and drag his body out the trapdoor.

-video has clearly been edited to remove scenes of torture and mindfuckery-

The video resumes an undisclosed amount of time later, once again focus on Gallows and Thomas.

Thomas is beaten, bloody, and looks shaken. His hands are bound behind his back.

Gallows is smirking, a crimson splash of blood adorning his right cheekbone.

To me, he looked just as beautiful as always. But this one.. this one was not mine.

Gallows dragged the poor man through Sanctuary, kicking shit over as he leaves the house.

Thomas leads Gallows to the copse of trees few know about: the site of my sacrifices.

The Bleeding Tree has clearly left its mark on the clearing.

Trees burnt and black and twisting towards the sky, littering the area.

White rose bushes, recently planted at the base of each. Flecked with blood of mysterious origin.

In the middle of the clearing, a spot of air shines distinctly from the rest. Shimmering.

Gallows grins, eyes the closest camera with a tongue waggling smile and scythe twirling.

He is clearly excited to step through this shimmering space in time.

He pushes Thomas through the portal first, and pauses. Waves to Graves to follow.

Graves dutifully carrying his weapons and the black garbage bag holding so many of our memories.

The duo smile once more, glance around, and step through the Rabbit Hole.

Jack, I figured I should warn you of the events that transpired yesterday. I have a feeling.. you shall be having a visitor quite soon. Several, if what I know of the timelines is correct.

They always come for you. To kill or fuck or love. But they can never stay away.

Me? Well.. all my lovers are dead. I think. I don't honestly know anymore.

But I am lonely. Dreadfully so.

I knew what I was signing up for when I did this, but..

Would it be so terrible for me to spend my last two weeks alive in the company of someone I love?

Would it be so terrible for me to be held once more, and told I was loved?

The Red Queen doesn't get these luxuries.

Instead, I continue on. Alone and mad in my crumbling tower of stone.

Sanctuary is still operational, just had a bit of a rough and tumble. The blood is mostly gone now.

Gallows managed to clean up the place pretty damn well. Weird for a serial killer, but whatever.

Heads up, sweetheart. People will be coming for your head soon. Mine as well.

You must remember the plan.

You must follow it.

Don't hesitate when you kill me.
Please.
I want to die.
You will be doing me a favor.

For now, well, I ramble through Sanctuary like a haunted house. Ghost is here with me now, angry that he has to miss the bloodbath, angry with me for sacrificing me the way I am. Angry he cannot hold me.

My dark Cheshire Cat. My love. My Ghost. My Johnathan.

Oh, how I failed you, baby. I made you what you became, and I regret it all.

I am openly looking for visitors. Maybe there ARE people from my timeline left that still care.

Or people from others, that for some reason or another, don't want to be around Jack.

I don't know. I know that Sanctuary was the point of all this. The reason for all the blood.

If we let Sanctuary fall, and let it stay that way, all of this work will have been in vain.

Maybe one day, hopefully soon, this place will be restored to its full glory.

Be wary, all those that tread here.

It's time for the Rabbits to come home. For good.

We need defenders, medical assistance, and suppliers of knowledge.

We are on our last legs, dear visitors. Won't you come join our fight?

Yours eternally,

-Red

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Nicholas.

I don't know where you've been, what you're doing, or even why. I miss you. No matter which version of you I meet. I need to see your face. I need to feel like I still exist. You make me feel real.

Please come back. To me. To Sanctuary. Help me with the Culling.

It won't be our first bloodbath. Not by far. But it won't be our last, either.

We need to talk.

Justice Averted

Prologue

In a lonely shack on the Path of Black Leaves sits a man. The shack is ramshackle, simple, and bare, containing only a table and two chairs. After all, there is no need for anything else. Food, shelter, and other forms of sustenance mean nothing on the path. The shack simply serves as a place for meetings.

The man inside is a man with no name, and many names. He is no one, and he is many. He is a ghost, an idea, someone who cannot exist. Let us call this man the Oracle, as he has the sight to see his own pasts, presents, and futures. He wears a blindfold over his eyes--not because he is blind (though in some worlds, he is) but because he sees so much. His sight is so potent that his only way of retaining some semblance of himself is to filter it out.

You may know him as the Messenger. Or perhaps Justice. Or maybe even Alan. These are, however, only the ghosts of a person who exist within him--and yet, separate from him.

So, if you find yourself on the Path, standing at the door of the Oracle’s shack, will you step inside? And if you do, which Oracle will be inside waiting for you?

The Broken Man: Justice

What happens when a man fights and fights to stay alive and stay safe, only to lose everyone around him despite his efforts? You may already be familiar with this man named Justice, who was thoroughly broken and responded by giving up. He has let himself become an empty vessel, allowing him to easily tap into the powers of the Oracle to let the Slender Man speak through him. While there are several incarnations of Justice, it could be argued that it is primarily this incarnation of Justice that gives the Oracle his powers.

While Justice has allowed himself to become an empty vessel and has killed his past self, there are still a few things he bitterly holds onto--namely TE-119H, formerly known as Poe, the woman he loved. He specifically transferred the former caretaker, Eddie, to provide himself an opportunity to frequently visit her. He would sit silently by her for long periods of time, often holding her. In those moments, he allowed himself a fragment of lucidity where he became more of his former self. However, this only brought him pain, as the only indication that there was any trace of Poe left was that she would calm down when he held her.

Justice’s administration was a rough one at first. He often made decisions based on emotion, and saw them fail again and again. However, roughly a year later, TE-119H died. In addition, In addition, his former Handler, Tempest, was killed, and his aide Turtle ran off with Nee-chan, one of his best Hunters and the only person in the organization that he knew well. Justice knew his emotions had resulted in many of these decisions, and he killed his former self even further. His meditation upon the Path began to occupy more and more of his time, and he was able to successfully let the Slender Man speak through him. The divisions under his control very quickly turned around, and he was soon given control of more.

At this point, the Highest are considering welcoming him into their inner circle, but at the moment it is only a consideration. After all, he does not communicate well with others, and honestly, many of them fear his power a bit. It makes no difference to Justice. He simply walks the Path, seeking what needs to be done.

The Dark Messenger: Prophet

Humans are, at their core, creatures of fear and preservation. They lust for power not to sate their greed, but out of cowardice. The only true way to keep yourself from being at risk is to accumulate power. It takes a weak, weak man to so willingly sacrifice everything that doesn’t matter to protect everything that does. And the Messenger was a weak, weak man.

While the Messenger who became Justice was constantly torn, daring to push back against his oppressors, the one who became Prophet never allowed himself to question whether or not he was right. After the death of his friend Caper, he became afraid of what would happen to him if he dared to rebell as well. So instead of being indecisive and going behind the organization’s back, he began brown nosing. If Poe showed signs of hesitation, he would talk sense into her (or at least what he believed was sense). Poisoned by his fear, she became who he wanted and needed by his side. And he aided in her work. There was no thought of running in his mind, but he allowed others to believe there was. He put on a hesitant face for them, faking close bonds with them to gain access to information they definitely should not be telling him. As Poe was a Tracker, tasked with finding runners, he was essentially supplying her with a barrel full of fish to shoot.

But as he was, he could only do so much. After all, he was too much of a coward to take action himself, to put himself on the line like his coworkers did. So when the Oracle at the time offered to groom him for the position, he gladly accepted the chance to have more control over his life while still keeping himself safe. He took over the position of Oracle, and in the process, took the name Prophet.

Does Prophet still fear? Of course. More power only breeds more paranoia. But now, people fear him as well.

The Fugitive: The Messenger

What if the Messenger had decided to cut his losses? What if, instead of waiting until he lost everything, he took what he had and he ran? There is a Messenger who, upon finding out about Poe’s conflict with her partner Screwtape, ran. Fled the organization.

The Messenger was too gentle a man, had too much of a conscience to let the darkness swallow him. He, alongside Poe, became fugitives.

There is not much to say about this man, for his story was unfortunately cut short. The Fugitive Messenger is dead. Has been for years. Had he abandoned Poe, he may have lasted longer, as her unique nature as a former Husk drew the Slender Man towards them. However, had he abandoned her, the result may have been very much the same. After all, the Slender Man’s influence on Poe was something she was aware of. Call it instinct, call it prophecy, call it sixth sense, but she had an awareness that got her out of as many jams as it caused. The two of them survived for a little over two years before they met their end. It was two years of hell. But they never once regretted their decision, right up until the end.

While The Fugitive Messenger may be dead, a fragment of him still dwells within the Oracle. Like all the fragments, you may still find him as a ghost on the Path.

The Blind Man: Alan

Do you remember Alan’s brother, Kyle? Let’s suppose Alan never sacrificed himself for Kyle’s sake. Let’s say Kyle willingly joined the organization on his own. Kyle, unlike his brother, was a talented and charismatic speaker. He, like his brother did in so many worlds, took on the mantle of the Messenger and quickly became one of the faces of the organization. He quickly rose in the ranks and is currently studying to become one of the politicians the organization backs.

However, Alan does not live an ignorant life. Fate’s branches have ensnared him as well, and he has become the Abel to his brother’s Cain. Though unlike Abel, Alan still lives. His brother, despite being the one who has introduced the Slender Man into his life, is a persuasive man. He protects him, much like so many versions of the Messenger did for Kyle.

It seems that there is a fragment of the Oracle who is stupid enough to be brave. Alan engages in digital subterfuge, whether helping hide the online footprints of his fellow runners or outright sabotaging the organization his brother is a part of. He plays a dangerous game, but it’s one he’s managed to survive so far.

The Prophet of Justice: Apollo

Let’s say, by some chance, the man who became Justice...didn’t become Justice. Let’s say that, after losing everything, having his life fucking destroyed, seeing it all crumble around him...he fought on. He fell into the Path, and rather than being consumed, he clawed his way back out.

This man would be Apollo.

Let me tell you, the organization fucking hates Apollo. After all, he absconded with a whole lot of insider information. Apollo wasn’t supposed to happen. The Messenger wasn’t supposed to end up in the Path and somehow come out the other end sane.

Well. Relatively sane, at least.

After all, Apollo is as aware of his role as the Oracle as Justice and Prophet are. He just fights for the good guys. He knows a whoooooole lot. More than he should. That’s why he’s so dangerous to them. That’s also why he’s able to stay alive. Being able to see his possible futures, on top of being able to see through Dimensional Bleeding? Let’s just say it helps out in a pinch.

But fate can only be avoided for so long. Yggdrasil only has so many branches, and those branches only spit off into so many twigs. And let me tell you, I don’t think many of these branches bear fruit.

Apollo has the same issue that all of Oracle’s fragments has: his ability to travel the Path through time kinda hurts his ability to travel the Path through space. He can’t use it to teleport himself like so many seem to be able to do. Well, he usually can’t. He’s done it a few times. But it takes a lot out of him. That’s why, if he gets that rare chance, he has to use it to jump Branches. Usually it’s just through text. But his body has jumped Branches once before.

Well, twice now.

It’s not gonna happen a third time.

I’m Apollo, by the way. Don’t know if you’d picked up on that, yet. And I think I’m probably pretty boned at this point. I’ve run out of places to run. My luck’s blown up so badly that you should be calling me Apollo 13. So it’s time to announce myself to this Branch. It’s time for me to try to do one last bit of good.

Pretty sure this Branch has termites. I’m gonna do everything I can to prune it before it takes the whole fuckin’ Tree.

~Apollo

Saturday, February 10, 2018

The Culling/251 Acknowledgement

A day later, I called him back to iron out what I wanted in exchange for becoming the proper proxy that the higher ups had wanted since day one.

Just one sentence this time.

"We need to meet, Tag."

-Transcription Start-

Tag: "So, you're back on the payroll. Enjoying your time as a lacky of the hire ups again. But you know they're keeping tabs on you, right?"

Me:"I figured. I know how this goes. Constantly stalking me."

Tag: "Left and right, so like I said. Keep your nose clean.But fuck all, find out what's going on. Even I don't know why they're watching you."

Me: "So basically always act as though I'm being recorded. If it wound up on the news, would she have to move Sanctuary or want to?"

Tag: "Well, no. The Board has already staked too much into it to move it. They'll make that part disappear."

Me: "What do you mean?"

Tag: "Oh they'd make it look like Sanctuary is a burned out patch of land with no strategic value.Mental trickery, bunch of bribes. Like it never existed."

Me: "Kind of like Hogwarts."

Tag:"Yeah, kind of like Hogwarts. Except there's no anti muggle spells. Just armed personnel with an axe to grind."

Me: ".....who will be guarding Rabbit Hole?"

And I need to hire mercenaries. To kill those narcs for you. May I use the slush fund?"

Tag: "Your choice of our finest mercenaries, all expenses paid. And yes, you may use the slush fund."

Me: "Is this a permanent bonus or a temporary one?"

Tag: "Kill those three middle management pukes, and then I'll tell you."

Me: "Fuck. Can I at least get a promotion? Because K8s make shit pay."

Tag:"How about K6 pay with benefits?"

"And you'll owe me one."

Me:"And I will need permanent access to the slush fund. Especially to pay off Sanctuary's mortgage."

Tag:"You're killing me Red. But fine. Deal."

Me:"Fine. One favor that follows the Code."

Tag:"You're no fun, you know that?"

Me:"I will file a formal request each time. I won't ditch the paperwork if I get the promotion.?"

Tag:"And you'll say you're sorry to the Tax Adjuntant for flipping her off. Lady holds a grudge like nothing I've ever seen."

Me: "As long as she frees to help me file my axes."

Me: "I'll finally be getting paid fairly. Thus, I can actually travel to do my job."

"I will ask each time, report each assignment. You can even publish the tame incident reports if you think it will help PR."

Tag:"Make them as gory as you like, you know the higher ups love a good orgy of violence and suffering. Just keep up with your paperwork, and next bonus is sure to be properly handled."

Me: "May I ask if I may make special requests from R & D?"

Tag: "Within reason."

Me: "Or bribing the necromancer to help him fix the broken magic on my healing ability?"

Tag: "You can use the slush fund for that."

Me:"I also need a hush favor, valid for up to one year, in each timeline."

I switch timelines middiscussion. Freya starts actively speaking. "So.. 20 hush favors for 18 deaths and two active timelines?"

Tag:"Fine. Put that in the contract. I'll make it legal."

Me:"We need to put everything in clear writing. Dobyoi formally requests that Sanctuary be on protected status in every timeline."

Tag:"You actually got Dobyoi in on this? Come on, Red. You know even I can't say no to a big (Redacted).?"

Me: "We need additional training classes, both for me as middle management and for the Rabbits."

Tag:"Slush fund."

Me: "I need R&D to create a better version of my Sanctuary slips. Nonfading magic."

Tag:"That can be arranged."

Dubyoi switches forward, her old reptilian eyes littering at Tag in amusement:"

I need special detailed pocketwatches. I will send the specs to you later."

Tag:"Sounds like you're starting some kind of cult. Or underground society."

Lilith comes forward. Her copper red hair growing to the small of her back:

"We need a communication source that will work in every timeline."

Tag:"R&D has a rotary phone for that."

Me:"This will take contacting the Alexandrian library. No. My Rabbits, my land, my rules."

"We have to keep them safe. It's already a stipulation of the top brass that I do this. To pull it off, I need tech and magic. You know how to make this happen. I know you do."

Tag:"I do, but it's going to cost extra to get everything into place."

"But yeah, you're one of my best. I'll expedite the process."

'You'd better deliver, Red."

Me: "You're the one with his neck in a noose. You want this to be a rush order. Make it happen."

Tag: "Fine. But whatever it is they're trying to get from you. Don't let it happen."

"Good hunting. For both our sakes."

Amanda switches forward, a curtain of bruise colored hair slipping over her shoulder as she does so:

"I won't. I will swear in blood not to directly attack the other Fears. I can keep the Rabbits alive in No Man's Land and Underland. I decided we're going with literary quotes for my land since Dobyoi has agreed to help."

Tag: "Fine. That's going to be in writing. No one can break it."

Me:"They can't attack either. Every time you call me Red, my base personality becomes stronger. But in contrast, so does Dobyoi. It's a trade off."

Tag:"Well, you're lucky I enjoy your original nickname,"

Me:"We can write up my formal Code of Conduct, add a few concessions as a good faith move, and put it in the Charter for Sanctuary. Contract must be signed in freshly spilled, nonbespelled blood. If we have to use temporary fizzle magic to make this happen, we need to."

"Proxies and Runners and neutral parties get access to training classes. And They swear They will not cause the Rabbits permanent death. We must be able to retrieve them after their trial in Underland us over."

Tag: "Right."

Tag : "Just do me a favor. Stay alive this time, will you?"

"Hell of a lot of paperwork to bury you again."

Me: "I will swear not to attempt suicide again. Accidental deaths shall have no repercussions."

"You mean those Proxy bodies after Bleeding Tree got done devouring their soul as a power source?"

Tag:"Good. Can't have the last few times put more people in that pretty little head of yours again."

"Well, yeah. You think we just kept leaving you in the ground to rot?"

"But the BT needs fresh meat."

Red: "I get protection for the Red Road."

"All it took was one time of being buried while I was sleeping, and wake to have my pulse start from nothing to heart attack range staring down the inside of a casket lid, to crawling my way through the grave and pulling a Kill Bill on my knuckles to get out, for me to never want to be buried again."

"The Red Road will be repaved and fairy lights put up to illuminate the road. No more Silent Hill darkness."

Tag: "Not sure that's my department, and armed guards can be acquired."

Red: "Freya wishes herself to have access to her occult books and supplies. She wants to apply for shaman training formally with the Cherokee Nation."

Tag:"Would you like nice hopping streetlamps to follow you through checkpoints there, Chihiro?"

"Access to the Cherokee Shaman Tribe? Doable."

Red:"I actually want fairy lights. And sign posts warning visitors of the risks of breaking the Code and leaving the Red Road."

Tag: "Fine, fair lights and warning signs."

Red:"I want jasmine and Japanese cherry trees planted in the areas next to the Red Road to deter
Codebreakers."

" Liliana misses home."

Tag:"Fine. Call Terry in landscaping. He loves decorative trees and shrubbery"

Red:"Cypress trees and mangroves for Amanda. Pictures of her children and proper Wiccan burial for them with trees planted as headstones. She wants her ashes moved to the New Orleans graveyard. Not Marie's graveyard. Don't you dare."

"Proxy protection in all timelines against the other magic factions. Even in the event of war."

"Freya wants permission to kill Tia Dalma."

Tag: "Yes, yes, yes, yes, Don't worry, we aren't that big of assholes, sure, that one is complicated, and absolutely not. In that order."

Red:"She committed a blood offense. I demand retribution."

"She broke the Treaty. You know the price for that."

Me:"You know I can't authorize that."

"You can maim, not kill. Take a finger off or something."

Red: "Dubyoi says off with her fucking head. We keep the head of hers and the narcs on pikes by Rabbit Hole. I want white roses planted around Sanctuary and Rabbit Hole."

"She tried to hex me out of my body. It almost worked. If I weren't dead already, it would have."

"This is nonnegotionable. Contact Higher Management. I'll wait for their answer."

Tag:"Ladies, we've talked about this, you want Dal Matia dead, you go to the Higher ups directly."

"I can send in the form."

"That's about it."

Red:"She broke Their rules. You know the penalty of killing one of my bodies. Of breaking the Rules. She broke every truce that mattered. I get to cut their heads off myself."

Tag:"I know, it's in the treaty. But trust me, all 18 of you don't want to do this."

Me:"No. Call BT. I want to formally call in my token for the hiding from IA for The rape and torture of a K8 by the K-3 agent, David."

Tag:"You're calling in that favor with the BT?"

Red:"You owe me, Tagalong."

Tag: ."..fucking no strings attached policy."

Fine, I'll get you your violent date with Dal Matia. Don't ever say I didn't do anything nice for you."

Red:"Yes. Nonnegotionable, being called in as of now."

Tag:"Fine, but you're personally feeding her body to the Tree."

Red:"I don't want the payoff money. The 5 years lump sum will go straight into investing into businesses we will control and own as our own. Even split of resources we get as profits, distributed to all Rabbits."

Tag:"You want to take your personally earned salary and dump it into your rabbit cage?"

"Fine by me."

Red:"We formally request David himself to make amends, create a truce, and lend his fizzle magic to my personal resource pool. One week notice prior. Regular maintenance. Terms negotiable. I still need to show him what it's like when Catherine rapes HIM."

Tag:"Doable. Might as well fuck up the day of one of the original 12 for some well deserved payback."

Red:"Of course we'll enjoy it. But the point remains. He owes sexual healing and he knows it. It's very little to ask of him, all things considered."

Tag:"Whatever he does to any of you in his spare time is your business. I'll just get the paperwork done."Spare me the details."

Red:"I don't need revenge. All of us together, we will be five hundred and twenty this July. I'm too old to care about old wounds. I just want to be acknowledged as more than a rape doll for Wooden Girl, or a torture pet for David."

Tag:"I always forget that, Red. Fine. All requests and demands accepted, pending approval by Higher Management. Doth I please the queen, this insipid bumpkin for sooth?"

Red:"Dobyoi requests official recognition of the Red Road, Sanctuary, and No Man's Land. She gets formal goddaughter status with the Fears. So all of us do by technicality as hers."

"We need protection, I need protection from Them. All deals are held to the intent of the letter and upheld til the day after eternity ends."

"So no direct intervention, attacks and or psychological damage to the 18 personalities inhabiting the one living vessel."

Tag:"Eternity is a long time."

"Better make it worth their while."

Red: "You people made me into this eldritch mindfuck. Time to claim ownership and make it formal."

Tag:"Don't say I didn't warn you. But fine, I'll put the paperwork through."

Red:"Paid vacation. Travel expenses, food costs, per diem, mileage. I want the Blood Red credit card in my real name. No limit. Only to be used with written permission from higher ups."

Tag:"... Slush funds at your disposal, Red."

Red:"In my real name. So it's legal in all timelines."

"Protection from Proxy assignments on all of my lovers and informants. No more watching as Berserker kill my lovers. Too many of us lost our timeline's future husbands to the Quiet. They get the choice of which timeline to live in."

Tag:"You know you're asking me to bend time and space on a head for you, right?"

"You want the moon and stars while I'm at it?"

Red: "In return, I will be the field agent they always dreamed of."

Tag:"Hefty boast. But fine."

Red:"No more fuck ups. No more suicides. No more Running. No more setting house fires or averting prophecies that are neutral in nature."

Tag:"As long as you deliver and give us what we want in return, you'll get everything you're asking for, Miss Renalda."

Red: "I will write incident reports. I want the cities of Nola and all of Mobile counties as my district and formal territory in Overland."

Tag:"That's for the zoning board to decide, but the chairman owes me a favor."

"Businesses, populations and subsidiaries as well?"

Red:"Complete with recognition as middle management and your equal in status if not rank or salary. I have access and leadership of the Proxy squads in those areas."

Tag: "You know that's going to basically make you just like me, right?"

Red:"Yes. We are reclaiming Nola and the home of Mardi Gras."

"I will still be operating in collusion with you. Out of respect. You are still my ranked superior by experience if not status."

Tag:“Aww. Well that’s nice.”

“But you know that if you or I screw up, we’re both going down for it. Right?”

Red:"I will finally cooperate and become a Proxy. I will be considered a District Manager."

Tag:“Is that how far you’re willing to go?”

Red:"I will make weekly instead of monthly sacrifices to Bleeding Tree."

Tag:“Where are you going to find the bodies?”

Red:"I want my old mask back. When dealing with Rabbits and on assignments."

"Be the management they truly want. It will be a bloody district."

Tag:“You are about this?”

Red:"I'm not done."

Me:“You’re losing a lot of Autonomy.”

Red:"I will publicly declare myself as Keeper and create an Archive within the Alexandrian library."

Tag:“You’re doing what now?”

Red:"I will donate all but my trophies from my souvenirs and storage. At my discretion what is exempt. No matter what I found."

"Kids will stop being killed in my district. 12 and under are off limits in No Man's Land and my district."

"As well as individuals over the age of 80. They earned a peaceful death. They should get it, even if I can't."

Tag: "Lot of specifics here, Red. You sure about this?"

Red:"Whatever happens outside my district is free game until the unlikely event I get promoted again."

"I will not punish those that break my Code outside of my district."

"I will be culling the rapists, murderers, and pedophiles from my district beginning at 12:01am Saturday morning. Retroactive. The witching hour of February 14th will be the go time. This timeline, 3AM Feb 10th is."

"Bleeding Tree will get fat off the sacrifices I am about to give it. I am about to soak the ground red with blood enough that Rabbit Hole's grass will grow red for eternity."

Tag:"Well, as long as you get them in on time, I don't think the higher ups will be all too disappointed in your incredible work ethic. "

Red:"I get to kill Omega as many times as I want for funsies. Any and all means allowed. No permanent deaths."

Tag:"Omega? Fine. He can't die anyway."

Red: "Give Them some amusement."

Tag:"You're a real people pleaser, you know that?"

Red:"I get acknowledgement for my true kill count."

Tag:"That's going to take a while."

Red:"Updated daily. Publically posted."

"I received my old notebook and can count through my scrapbook."

"I know The number anyway."

"Once a month for 4 years."

"Once a year from 16-22."

"You do the math."

"54 known kills."

"From here on out, kill count updated to once weekly."

"Wooden Girl makes Dobyoi an enchanted Noh mask. Same design as before."

Tag:“Same sort of glass?”

Red:"Must inspire Fear and loyalty somehow."

"Looking Glass. Ability to see through the timelines without jumping."

Tag:“We’ll make it extra scary for you then.”

Red:"Reinstatement of my ability to heal and travel the path. Removal of health consequences for doing so. I need to find Justice. He has a prophecy I need to hear for myself, but he lives in the Path now."

Tag:“You know that one is dependent on the higher ups performance reviews. If they are happy, you’ll get that one on your own.

"Anything else on your to do list?”

Red: "What do the eldritch Old Ones want from me that I haven't already promised?"

"We must follow the Code. Here, now."

Tag:“If that’s what they already told you, I guess nothing.”

Red:"One last thing."

Tag:“What is it?”

Red:"I have a catch of my own this time."

"My legal persona, Shady, and the Board all get 33%"

"Ownership of everything involved."

Tag: “You want to split this land and all of its assets into 1/3rds?

Red: "This District will be formally recognized as a melting pot. No killing in Nola or 251 or the surrounding areas. I have family in both."

"Yes. Legally recognize it as a neutral zone. Until the day every timeline is eaten by the Quiet or humanity wins the Great Game. Not a moment before."

Tag: "That's asking for a whole section of non sacrifices. well, if you want it, you have it."

Red: "I will more than make up for it with Codebreakers."

Tag: "Don't make promises, you can't keep, Red."

Red: "There will be a culling. As of Mobile time, 12:01 AM Saturday."

"It's going to be the Purge, Underland style."

"Better warn your people to run. My Rabbits are already stationed outside every oathbreaker's house. You have 5 minutes to finalize this deal before they begin."

"And of course, rending metal to flesh, feeding the hallowed ground with the blood of the unclean."

Tag:"You're threatening me, Red?"

"That hurts my feelings."

Red:"No. Promising you an District level Apocalypse. Straight out of Their sickest desires."

Tag:"Fine, I accept the terms in full."

Red:"The streets will run red with blood in 4 minutes."

Tag:"3 more than I'll need. Men, let's move out. Get out of their line of fire."

"I'll be in touch, Red. Don't you disappoint me now."

Red: "Add in my Code. Just use negotiable terms."

Tag:"All terms adhere to the code."

Samantha came forward, soft spoken and resigned to what she was signing away:

"We can fix it later. Now which blade am I using to get the blood?"

Tag:"Polished steel, black handle pen knife."

"Make it deep."

"I'll be doing the same."

Sam:"Wait."

Tag: "What is it now?"

Lilith blinks forward:"Protection for Gallows. Should he want it. Priority level."

"3 minutes."

Lilith:"Fine."

"Twisting my arm here, Red. You know that?"

Red:"And Shady."

Tag:"And I 'm already late.. Shady?"

Red:"She's part owner, after all."

Tag:"Fine, suit yourself,"

"They get full protection."

-pen scratches as she signs the contract-

-pen scratches as he signs the contract and dates-

-it vanishes by magical fax-

Tag: "Now that is what you call blood binding and quick sending.:"

"So, I need to go before I get a ceremonial dagger to the face."

"Always a pleasure, Red."

Red:"2 minutes. Any last warnings for the Code Breakers?"

Me: "Try not to get my good side."

Comments

A day later, she called me back to iron out what she wanted in exchange for becoming the proper proxy that the higher ups had wanted since day one.

Just one sentence this time.

"We need to meet, Tag."

Guess I have to pack my bags.

-Transcription Start-

Me: "So, you're back on the payroll. Enjoying your time as a lacky of the hire ups again. But you know they're keeping tabs on you, right?"

Red:"I figured. I know how this goes. Constantly stalking me."

Me: "Left and right, so like I said. Keep your nose clean.But fuck all, find out what's going on. Even I don't know why they're watching you."

Red: "So basically always act as though I'm being recorded. If it wound up on the news, would she have to move Sanctuary or want to?"

Me: "Well, no. The Board has already staked too much into it to move it. They'll make that part disappear."

Red: "What do you mean?"

Me: "Oh they'd make it look like Sanctuary is a burned out patch of land with no strategic value.Mental trickery, bunch of bribes. Like it never existed."

Red: "Kind of like Hogwarts."

Me:"Yeah, kind of like hogwarts. Except there's no anti muggle spells. Just armed personnel with an axe to grind."

Red: ".....who will be guarding Rabbit Hole?"

And I need to hire mercenaries. To kill those narcs for you. May I use the slush fund?"

Me: "Your choice of our finest mercenaries, all expenses paid."

"Yes, you may use the slush fund."

Red: "Is this a permanent bonus or a temporary one?"

Me: "Kill those three middle management pukes, and then I'll tell you."

Red: "Fuck."

"Can I at least get a promotion ?"

"Because K8s make shit pay."

Me:"How about K6 pay with benefits?"

"And you'll owe me one."

Red:"And I will need permanent access to the slush fund. Especially to pay off Sanctuary's mortgage."

Me:"You're killing me Red. But fine. Deal."

Red:"Fine. One favor that follows the Code."

Me:"You're no fun, you know that?"

Red:"I will file a formal request each time. I won't ditch the paperwork if I get the promotion?"

Me:"And you'll say you're sorry to the Tax Adjuntant for flipping her off."

"Lady holds a grudge like nothing I've ever seen."

Red:"I'll finally be getting paid fairly. Thus, I can actually travel to do my job."

"I will ask each time, report each assignment. You can even publish the tame incident reports if you think it will help PR."

Me:"Make them as gory as you like, you know the higher ups love a good orgy of violence and suffering. Just keep up with your paperwork, and next bonus is sure to be properly handled."

Red: "May I ask if I may make special requests from R & D?"

Me:"Within reason."

Red: "Or bribing the necromancer to help him fix the broken magic on my healing ability?"

Me: "You can use the slush fund for that."

Red:"I also need a hush favor, valid for up to one year, in each timeline."

"So.. 20 hush favors for 18 deaths and two active timelines?"

Me:"Fine. Put that in the contract. I'll make it legal."

Red:"We need to put everything in clear writing. Dobyoi formally requests that Sanctuary be on protected status in every timeline."

Me:"You actually got Dobyoi in on this? Come on, Red. You know even I can't say no to a big (Redacted).?"

Red: "We need additional training classes, both for me as middle management and for the Rabbits."

Me:"Slush fund."

Red: "I need R&D to create a better version of my Sanctuary slips. Nonfading magic."

Me:"That can be arranged."

Red:"I need special detailed pocketwatches. I will send the specs to you later."

Me:"Sounds like you're starting some kind of cult. Or underground society."

Red: "We need a communication source that will work in every timeline."

Me:"R&D has a rotary phone for that."

Red:"This will take contacting the Alexandrian library."

"No. My Rabbits, my land, my rules."

"We have to keep them safe. It's already a stipulation of the top brass that I do this. To pull it off, I need tech and magic. You know how to make this happen. I know you do."

Me:"I do, but it's going to cost extra to get everything into place."

"But yeah, you're one of my best. I'll expedite the process."

'You'd better deliver, Red."

Red:"You're the one with his neck in a noose. You want this to be a rush order. Make it happen."

Me:"Fine. But whatever it is they're trying to get from you. Don't let it happen."

"Good hunting. For both our sakes."

Red: "I won't. I will swear in blood not to directly attack the other Fears. I can keep the Rabbits alive in No Man's Land and Underland. I decided we're going with literary quotes for my land since Dobyoi has agreed to help."

Me: "Fine. That's going to be in writing. No one can break it."

Red:"They can't attack either. Every time you call me Red, my base personality becomes stronger. But in contrast, so does Dobyoi. It's a trade off."

Me:"Well, you're lucky I enjoy your original nickname,"

Red:"We can write up my formal Code of Conduct, add a few concessions as a good faith move, and put it in the Charter for Sanctuary. Contract must be signed in freshly spilled, nonbespelled blood. If we have to use temporary fizzle magic to make this happen, we need to."

"Proxies and Runners and neutral parties get access to training classes. And They swear They will not cause the Rabbits permanent death. We must be able to retrieve them after their trial in Underland us over."

Me: "Right."

Me: "Just do me a favor. Stay alive this time, will you?"

"Hell of a lot of paperwork to bury you again."

Red: "I will swear not to attempt suicide again. Accidental deaths shall have no repercussions."

"You mean those Proxy bodies after Bleeding Tree got done devouring their soul as a power source?"

Me:"Good. Can't have the last few times put more people in that pretty little head of yours again."

"Well, yeah. You think we just kept leaving you in the ground to rot?"

"But the BT needs fresh meat."

Red: "I get protection for the Red Road."

"All it takes is one time of being buried while I was sleeping, and wake to have my pulse start from nothing to heart attack range staring down the inside of a casket lid, to crawling my way through the grave and pulling a Kill Bill on my knuckles to get out, for me to never want to be buried again."

"The Red Road will be repaved and fairy lights put up to illuminate the road. No more Silent Hill darkness."

Me:Not sure that's my department, and armed guards can be acquired."

Red: "Freya wishes herself to have access to her occult books and supplies. She wants to apply for shaman training formally with the Cherokee Nation."

Me:"Would you like nice hopping streetlamps to follow you through checkpoints there, Chihiro?"

"Access to the Cherokee Shaman Tribe? Doable"

Red:"I actually want fairy lights. And sign posts warning visitors of the risks of breaking the Code and leaving the Red Road."

Me: "Fine, fair lights and warning signs."

Red:"I want jasmine and Japanese cherry trees planted in the areas next to the Red Road to deter
Codebreakers. Liliana misses home."

Me:"Fine. Call Terry in landscaping. He loves decorative trees and shrubbery"

Red:"Cypress trees and mangroves for Amanda. Pictures of her children and proper Wiccan burial for them with trees planted as headstones. She wants her ashes moved to the New Orleans graveyard. Not Marie's graveyard. Don't you dare."

"Proxy protection in all timelines against the other magic factions. Even in the event of war."

"Freya wants permission to kill Dal Matia."

Me:'Yes, yes, yes, yes, Don't worry, we aren't that big of assholes, sure, that one is complicated, and absolutely not. In that order."

Red:"She committed a blood offense. I demand retribution."

"She broke the Treaty. You know the price for that."

Me:"You know I can't authorize that."

"You can maim, not kill. Take a finger off or something."

Red: "Dubyoi says off with her fucking head. We keep the head of hers and the narcs on pikes by Rabbit Hole. I want white roses planted around Sanctuary and Rabbit Hole."

"She tried to hex me out of my body. It almost worked. If I weren't dead already, it would have."

"This is nonnegotionable. Contact Higher Management. I'll wait for their answer."

Tag:"Ladies, we've talked about this, you want Dal Matia dead, you go to the Higher ups directly."

"I can send in the form."

"That's about it."

Red:"She broke Their rules. You know the penalty of killing one of my bodies. Of breaking the Rules. She broke every truce that mattered. I get to cut their heads off myself."

Tag:"I know, it's in the treaty.

"But trust me, all 18 of you don't want to do this."

Red:"No. Call BT. I want to formally call in my token for the hiding from IA for The rape and torture of a K8 by the K-3 agent, David."

Tag:"You're calling in that favor with the BT?"

Red:"You owe me, Tagalong."

Tag: ."..fucking no strings attached policy."

Fine, I'll get you your violent date with Dal Matia."

"Don't ever say I didn't do anything nice for you."

Red:"Yes. Nonnegotionable, being called in as of now."

Tag:"Fine, but you're personally feeding her body to the Tree."

Red:"I don't want the payoff money. The 5 years lump sum will go straight into investing into businesses we will control and own as our own. Even split of resources we get as profits, distributed to all Rabbits."

Me:"You want to take your personally earned salary and dump it into your rabbit cage?"

"Fine by me."

Red:"We formally request David himself to make amends, create a truce, and lend his fizzle magic to my personal resource pool. One week notice prior. Regular maintenance. Terms negotiable. I still need to show him what it's like when Catherine rapes HIM."

Me:"Doable. Might as well fuck up the day of one of the original 12 for some well deserved payback."

Red:"Of course we'll enjoy it. But the point remains. He owes sexual healing and he knows it. It's very little to ask of him, all things considered."

Me:"Whatever he does to any of you in his spare time is your business. I'll just get the paperwork done."Spare me the details."

Red:"I don't need revenge. I'm five hundred and twenty this July. I'm too old to care about old wounds. I just want to be acknowledged as more than a rape doll for Wooden Girl, or a torture pet for David."

Me:"I always forget that, Red. Fine. All requests and demands accepted, pending approval by Higher Management. Doth I please the queen, this insipid bumpkin for sooth?"

Red:"Dobyoi requests official recognition of the Red Road, Sanctuary, and No Man's Land. She gets formal goddaughter status with the Fears. So all of us do by technicality as hers."

"We need protection, I need protection from Them. All deals are held to the intent of the letter and upheld til the day after eternity ends."

"So no direct intervention, attacks and or psychological damage to the 18 personalities inhabiting the one living vessel."

Me:"Eternity is a long time."

"Better make it worth their while."

Red: "You people made me into this eldritch mindfuck. Time to claim ownership and make it formal."

Me:"Don't say I didn't warn you. But fine, I'll put the paperwork through."

Red:"Paid vacation. Travel expenses, food costs, per diem, mileage. I want the Blood Red credit card in my real name. No limit. Only to be used with written permission from higher ups."

Me:"... Slush funds at your disposal, Red."

Red:"In my real name. So it's legal in all timelines."

"Protection from Proxy assignments on all of my lovers and informants. No more watching a

Berserker kill my lovers. Too many of us lost our timeline's future husbands to the Quiet. They get the choice of which timeline to live in."

Me:"You know you're asking me to bend time and space on a head for you, right?"

"You want the moon and stars while I'm at it?"

Red: "In return, I will be the field agent they always dreamed of."

Me:"Hefty boast. But fine."

Red:"No more fuck ups. No more suicides. No more Running. No more setting house fires or averting prophecies that are neutral in nature."

Me:"As long as your deliver and give us what we want in return, you'll get everything you're asking for, Miss Renalda."

Red: "I will write incident reports. I want the cities of Nola and all of Mobile counties as my district and formal territory in Overland."

Me:"That's for the zoning board to decide, but the chairman owes me a favor.)

"Businesses, populations and subsidiaries as well?"

Red:"Complete with recognition as middle management and your equal in status if not rank or salary. I have access and leadership of the Proxy squads in those areas."

Me:"You know that's going to basically make you just like me, right?"

Red:"Yes. We are reclaiming Nola and the home of Mardi Gras."

"I will still be operating in collusion with you. Out of respect. You are still my ranked superior by experience if not status."

Me:“Aww. Well that’s nice.”

“But you know that if you or I screw up, we’re both going down for it. Right?”

Red:"I will finally cooperate and become a Proxy. I will be considered a District Manager."

Me:“Is that how far you’re willing to go?”

Red:"I will make weekly instead of monthly sacrifices to Bleeding Tree."

Me:“Where are you going to find the bodies?”

Red:"I want my old mask back. When dealing with Rabbits and on assignments."

"Be the management they truly want. It will be a bloody district."

Me:“You are about this?”

Red:"I'm not done."

Me:“You’re losing a lot of Autonomy.”

Red:"I will publicly declare myself as Keeper and create an Archive within the Alexandrian library."

Me:“You’re doing what now?”

Red:"I will donate all but my trophies from my souvenirs and storage. At my discretion what is exempt. No matter what I found."

"Kids will stop being killed in my district. 12 and under are off limits in No Man's Land and my district."

"As well as individuals over the age of 80. They earned a peaceful death. They should get it, even if I
can't."

Me: "Lot of specifics here, Red. You sure about this?"

Red:"Whatever happens outside my district is free game until the unlikely event I get promoted again."

"I will not punish those that break my Code outside of my district."

"I will be culling the rapists, murderers, and pedophiles from my district beginning at 12:01am Saturday morning. Retroactive. The witching hour of February 14th will be the go time."

"Bleeding Tree will get fat off the sacrifices I am about to give it. I am about to soak the ground red with blood enough that Rabbit Hole's grass will grow red for eternity."

Me:"Well, as long as you get them in on time, I don't think the higher ups will be all too disappointed in your incredible work ethic. "

Red:"I get to kill Omega as many times as I want for funsies. Any and all means allowed. No permanent deaths."

Me:"Omega? Fine. He can't die anyway."

Red: "Give Them some amusement."

Me:"You're a real people pleaser, you know that?"

Red""I get acknowledgement for my true kill count."

Me:"That's going to take a while."

Red:"Updated daily. Publically posted."

"I received my old notebook and can count through my scrapbook."

"I know The number anyway."

"Once a month for 4 years. Once a year from 16-22."

"You do the math."

"From here on out, kill count Updated to once weekly."

"Wooden Girl makes Dobyoi an enchanted Noh mask. Same design as before."

Me:“Same sort of glass?”

Red:"Must inspire Fear and loyalty somehow."

"Looking Glass. Ability to see through the timelines without jumping."

Me:“We’ll make it extra scary for you then.”

Red:"Reinstatement of my ability to heal and travel the path. Removal of health consequences for doing so. I need to find Justice. He has a prophecy I need to hear for myself, but he lives in the Path now."

Me:“You know that one is dependent on the higher ups performance reviews. If they are happy, you’ll get that one on your own.

"Anything else on your to do list?”

Red: "What do the eldritch Old Ones want from me that I haven't already promised?"

"We must follow the Code. Here, now."

Me:“If that’s what they already told you, I guess nothing.”

Red:"One last thing."

Me:“What is it?”

Red:"I have a catch of my own this time."

"My legal persona, Shady, and the Board all get 33%"

"Ownership of everything involved."

Me:“You want to split this land and all of its assets into 1/3rds?

Red: "This District will be formally recognized as a melting pot. No killing in Nola or 251 or the surrounding areas. I have family in both."

"Yes. Legally recognize it as a neutral zone. Until the day every timeline is eaten by the Quiet or humanity wins the Great Game. Not a moment before."

Me: "That's asking for a whole section of non sacrifices. well, if you want it, you have it."

Red: "I will more than make up for it with Codebreakers."

Me: "Don't make promises, you can't keep, Red."

Red: "There will be a culling. As of Mobile time, 12:01 AM Saturday."

"It's going to be the Purge, Underland style."

"Better warn your people to run. My Rabbits are already stationed outside every oathbreaker's house. You have 5 minutes to finalize this deal before they begin."

"And of course, rending metal to flesh, feeding the hallowed ground with the blood of the unclean."

Me:"You're threatening me, Red?"

"That hurts my feelings."

Red:"No. Promising you an District level Apocalypse. Straight out of Their sickest desires."

Me:"Fine, I accept the terms in full."

Red:"The streets will run red with blood in 4 minutes."

Me:"3 more than I'll need. Men, let's move out. Get out of their line of fire."

"I'll be in touch, Red. Don't you disappoint me now."

Red: "Add in my Code. Just use negotiable terms."

Me:"All terms adhere to the code."

Red:"We can fix it later. Now which blade am I using to get the blood?"

Me:"Polished steel, black handle pen knife."

"Make it deep."

"I'll be doing the same."

Red:"Wait."

Me: "What is it now?"

Red:"Protection for Gallows. Should he want it. Priority level."

"3 minutes."

Me:"Fine."

"Twisting my arm here, Red. You know that?"

Red:"And Shady."

Me:"And I 'm already late.. Shady?"

Red:"She's part owner, after all."

Me:"Fine, suit yourself,"

"They get full protection."

-pen scratches as she signs the contract-

-pen scratches as he signs the contract and dates-

-it vanishes by magical fax-

Me: "Now that is what you call blood binding and quick sending.:"

"So, I need to go before I get a ceremonial dagger to the face."

"Always a pleasure, Red."

Red:"2 minutes. Any last warnings for the Code Breakers?"

Me: "Try not to get my good side."

-Transcription End-

The Rabbit Hole {Book 2, What Should Have Been and Never Was}