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Entry tags:
the magnus alternate-universe
" Make your statement, face your fear. "
Timeline:
November 1995: Michael and Cecilia Dearborn are found deceased in their family home, with their twelve-year old son Benedict found still alive. Evidence suggests Michael murdered his wife in the dining room before taking his own life. Statement from the son more or less corroborates the same, as much as he could provide in his incoherent-to-catatonic state.
July 1996: Tobias Dearborn, brother to Michael and uncle/legal guardian to Benedict, visits the Magnus Institute to make a statement on the events preceding the murder-suicide of Michael and Cecilia, detailing their backgrounds as priests and practiced exorcists. Tobias claims that before Benedict's birth, during an exorcism they performed together, the spirit possessing their current victim taunted Michael about his yet-to-be-born son, resulting in Michael ceasing his spiritual work completely after. Michael abstained from involving himself in the cleansing of evil spirits for over ten years, until a particular case handed to Tobias concerned Michael enough to involve himself once more, to ensure the safety of his brother. During this exorcism, an event occurred that left Michael acting uncharacteristically. Tobias claims that this was the precursor and cause to the supposed 'murder-suicide' that would take place within that same week, and Tobias claims that Michael did not murder his wife, for that he must have been gone by this point. Tobias claims Michael's immortal soul was murdered first, before the entity that had taken his brother turned on Michael's family. The statement was taken, and filed by Gertrude Robinson shortly after, determined inconclusive due to lack of follow-up options. Gertrude notes her suspicion of the Stranger having potential involvement.
August 2016: Tobias Dearborn's statement is recorded by Jonathan Sims, which notably does not copy as a digital recording, but is preserved on tape. Jon passes the case to Tim Stoker to seek follow-up with either Tobias or Benedict Dearborn. Benedict responds and obliges with one request: that he hear the recording of his uncle's statement beforehand, to ensure legitimacy of intent for their investigation.
September 2016: Benedict makes an appointment with the Magnus Institute to provide his statement on the events of November 1996 and the death of his parents. The statement is taken from subject aurally. Statement 0161009 is recorded.
November 1995: Michael and Cecilia Dearborn are found deceased in their family home, with their twelve-year old son Benedict found still alive. Evidence suggests Michael murdered his wife in the dining room before taking his own life. Statement from the son more or less corroborates the same, as much as he could provide in his incoherent-to-catatonic state.
July 1996: Tobias Dearborn, brother to Michael and uncle/legal guardian to Benedict, visits the Magnus Institute to make a statement on the events preceding the murder-suicide of Michael and Cecilia, detailing their backgrounds as priests and practiced exorcists. Tobias claims that before Benedict's birth, during an exorcism they performed together, the spirit possessing their current victim taunted Michael about his yet-to-be-born son, resulting in Michael ceasing his spiritual work completely after. Michael abstained from involving himself in the cleansing of evil spirits for over ten years, until a particular case handed to Tobias concerned Michael enough to involve himself once more, to ensure the safety of his brother. During this exorcism, an event occurred that left Michael acting uncharacteristically. Tobias claims that this was the precursor and cause to the supposed 'murder-suicide' that would take place within that same week, and Tobias claims that Michael did not murder his wife, for that he must have been gone by this point. Tobias claims Michael's immortal soul was murdered first, before the entity that had taken his brother turned on Michael's family. The statement was taken, and filed by Gertrude Robinson shortly after, determined inconclusive due to lack of follow-up options. Gertrude notes her suspicion of the Stranger having potential involvement.
August 2016: Tobias Dearborn's statement is recorded by Jonathan Sims, which notably does not copy as a digital recording, but is preserved on tape. Jon passes the case to Tim Stoker to seek follow-up with either Tobias or Benedict Dearborn. Benedict responds and obliges with one request: that he hear the recording of his uncle's statement beforehand, to ensure legitimacy of intent for their investigation.
September 2016: Benedict makes an appointment with the Magnus Institute to provide his statement on the events of November 1996 and the death of his parents. The statement is taken from subject aurally. Statement 0161009 is recorded.
tfln overflow — thread regarding the assignment of an emergency contact
As your emergency reference, I'm revoking your right to decide what is and isn't a 'big deal' right now. ( bet you're glad you assigned him this role in your life, huh Jon.
Ben isn't even fucking around with getting an Uber, which means he's actually using his car for this situation. not a frequent occurrence just to go across the Thames and down to Chelsea, but given the hour... ) When I arrive, you best have a door unlocked for me at the Institute.
no subject
On the other hand, the perpetrator of said not-quite-stab-wound is still in the Archives, potentially, and Jon has seen plenty of proof that they behave better when he isn't alone. It's that momentary weakness that sees him not protesting further. ]
Right, about the doors at the Institute... Just be careful? Ensure nothing seems odd about them before you open anything.
Actually, I'll just walk you in. I should be able to get there before you do...
[ Which means he has to finish cleaning this up himself before going to do so, which makes this whole visit even more silly, except for the part where the attacker might come back if Jon's alone, and dammit, this is all ridiculous. He peels his pants back up his legs and the bloody saturation of them not only feels terrible, but makes it easier said than done. He spends several more seconds considering his options - terrible wet bloody trousers, or wandering around in just his underwear to go looking for a spare - and decides regretfully on the latter.
It's in bloodstained socks and with bloody khakis over his arm that Jon inspects the room with the cot, finds a too-big pair presumably left from Martin in there, and then begins his journey...up the stairs.
It's not pleasant. But the healing wound means it can happen, at least, mostly, though he feels the need to stop at the second landing and take a breather.
Stairs are hard. If you get to the door before I do, just...give me another minute.
tfln overflow — thread regarding a stigmata
( the shock of what is happening saps all of the energy Ben would normally reserve for being sassy with Jon; when he asks 'stupid' questions (stupid possibly, but only from people that have experience in these sorts of events, of which Jon is still quite new to) like 'is this blood not yours?' it's equally ridiculous as it is sensible, but Ben doesn't have it in him to snap back with something contrarian like, 'whose else would it be?' his head is swimming, his nostrils full of the scent of flowers, not fresh ones...the scent lacks that essence of 'green' that they have when you pick them up at the grocery and press your face into them. yet, it doesn't smell like dried flowers, or rotting ones, or like a perfume, just...floral, but with a quality that feels undeniably ancient.
Jon's voice is fading from his ears as the air in his mind swells with something dense. for a moment, he jerks his head around as if in reaction to something sudden; the sound makes him think that Peter is close, or appearing beside him, with the roaring of something wide and deep and innumerable and vast, but instead there's —
nothing, suddenly. Ben's body goes stiff in Jon's hold before he goes completely slack against him, all of him becoming dead weight slipping to the floor in an instant. his eyes perceive nothing and Ben is cast into a void of empty white, a shade that also veils over his eyes...but not because they've rolled back into his head. that can't account for the pristine-porcelain hue and the vague glow to them.
Ben's form shudders slightly, not full-out convulsions, but his chest and upper spine tense, and his breaths come out in tense and small bursts. but if Jon can manage to listen, he might hear...words, if that's what the small sounds could possibly be. words made a soft throat, an erratic tongue, and slack lips. )
reply regarding WHAT THE FUCK, BEN
And true to what Jon just said, he can't keep a grip on the other man. Ben outclasses him in both height and build, and it's all Jon can do to just keep Ben from crashing to the ground while also not breaking his own back. In the end, Jon slams his knees to the nice clean kitchen tile so hard he feels it in his teeth, but he keeps his hands cradled around Ben's head and neck tightly enough that he doesn't smash himself into a concussion on top of blood loss.
By the time Jon's looking at Ben's eyes again instead of gaping in horror at how Ben's bloodied hands have already stained Jon's khakis while he clambers practically into his lap in a frenzied attempt to - feel for a pulse? That's what you do when someone faints, right? - they've gone blindly white. ] B...Ben? Oh, shit, shit, shit-
[ Jon doesn't realize Ben is making noise until he sees his mouth moving. And then, with rather less reluctance than he probably should be using, he just...bends down, to put his ear closer to Ben's mouth and attempt to hear what he's muttering.
Words? Prayers? Demonic sayings in an arcane language forgotten by all but the horrors that come from another dimension? Hard to say, and they don't make a Shazam for this. ]
Okay. Okay, um... So this, whatever this is, it's manifesting as a...a religious fear. Um. Should I get...a priest? Ben, isn't your uncle a-- right, you're unconscious. Er--
Peter? [ Addressed broadly to the air. Jon looks about and doesn't see them, but that might mean anything, to a being personifying cleansing light and made of nothing. ] Peter, your...ward is in trouble!
[ Please someone else tell Jon what to do! ]
tfln overflow — thread regarding a shadowy visitation
To be fair, if it's a residual presence, it might just want something as nonsensical as a clean pair of socks.
I've always been of the camp that being psychic sounds terrible. I'm already paranoid about what other people are thinking, I'd hate to actually know.
Sorry, off topic. Have you...turned on every light in the room? Probably best to rule out that it isn't a shadow being made my some of your furniture... ( not that Ben thinks Martin would get himself spooked by a static person-shaped shadow made by a chair...except... ... actually— )
no subject
Um, you know the shadow figure was just a hypothetical, right? I'm not actually being haunted.
[ was he unclear? he was probably unclear. he's still extremely bad at this 'coming up with casual excuses to talk to people' thing. ]
no subject
Ben takes a moment to reread the correspondence again from the beginning.
it's...not just you, Martin. Ben's also just... too Ben sometimes. most of the time. )
You really did just mean "if" a shadow figure appeared to you, etc etc.
( there's a bit of a pause, a little longer than what's taken him to reply thus far. he takes to hiding his face in his hands for a moment. as a treat. )
I should take a vacation.