duskofthegods | text } from On the Ragnarok, the Vernos Bay blog of Georgia Mason, Entry #3

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text } from On the Ragnarok, the Vernos Bay blog of Georgia Mason, Entry #3

The Outsider population of Vernos Bay has been in flux at least since the first throne was taken. Exact chronology is hard to pin down, as record keeping here is not up to the standards I'm used to. What I can say for certain is, ever since I started keeping track of the different deities and individuals who have arrived in this world, thrones have been claimed and dropped so fast that keeping the spreadsheet consistently up to date has proved difficult.

[Especially since everyone seems to be allergic to giving their name around here.]

As always, I would appreciate any help keeping my records up to date. If you or someone you know has recently claimed a throne or vanished, updating the name and contact information can help us keep track of what domains are in need of a deity for this place to function and who to contact if there is a problem.

Moreover, keeping an ongoing record of people here, both those who've claimed a throne and otherwise, will help us figure out if there's a pattern as to who stays and goes. I am also gathering data on how all this turnover is affecting the local population and the world. I'll be reporting my findings in my new Vernos Bay blog, On the Ragnarok.

Thank you, and please contact me if you're interested in writing for the Vernos Bay branch of After the End Times. We're building up the press from scratch here. We can use all the help we can get.

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Oh no. Surveys. [clearly he's not a fan] No, thank you. I shan't tell you my door either so don't bother trying to show up.

I already know you took the throne of dreams. You literally announced it to the entire network.

Well that's a fair point. But what name will you choose in that case, I wonder?

Why is everyone here so opposed to having their names listed next to the positions of power they chose?

Are you sure they aren't dying? :/ Some people seem pretty okay with casual murder or harm.

[Not that Ellie's much different, but she prefers self defense.]

I'm not sure. But if this many people were being murdered, there'd be at least some evidence.

Still, you're right. We can't rule anything else until we figure out where the hell they're going.

Well, why do you think?

I can start looking for any signs of human death in the forest. Some other searchers would be good, if you know anyone else who's good at navigating the woods and doesn't hate the cold.

Now that I think about it, though, we could ask the Death god. He might know.

I deal in facts, not conjecture.

Would you like to share why you personally are making this choice, Mr. Whoever-You-Are?

Not a bad idea, though he makes zombies look clever. I wouldn't count on him having any idea what's going on.

Shaun will help you. He loves going out and looking for dead bodies.

Remind me to tell you about Stalkers, later. They're surprisingly smart. I'll try him anyway, though. v.v

Haha. I guess that's what passes as a hobby in the zombie apocalypse, right? :)

All facts started out in conjecture. If you're skipping that step you can hardly call yourself a scientist. Anyway I think the more important question is why you want names to begin with? Whatever do you plan to do with them? Names are important things, after all. Can't just be slapped willy nilly anywhere.

Actually, he's a professional. People pay good money to watch dumbasses poke zombies with sticks.

That's fascinating. None of our zombies are great thinkers, but they do have a weird pack intelligence. One or two zombies are easy to take care of. Get five or more in one place and they start displaying actual hunting tactics.

We definitely need to sit down and compare notes.

I don't call myself a scientist. I call myself a journalist. And I told you exactly what I intend to do with it. I am keeping a public record so that people can know who to contact when things go wrong, and so that we can spot any patterns that come up.

Honestly, I don't even give a fuck if you give your real name. A title or initial works just as well, if you pair it with some way to contact you. So long as you're not abusing your powers, I won't need to force the issue. But accountability and communication are important. If you wanted to stay an anonymous recluse, you shouldn't have fucking taken a throne.

Well you're a pretty poor journalist indeed if you have to resort to foul language in order to get a point across. I'm not entirely sure if I trust your credentials.

What's more, if it doesn't matter what name I give, what's to stop you from giving your own? I don't care to be told what to do or how to do it or be 'held accountable' as you put it. Nor do I care for your attitude.

Sorry, but that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. I'm glad you make money off it, but what the fuck?

Weird. Packs of infected are scary, but they're overwhelming more than anything. Stalkers will...well. Stalk you. They actually fucking stay quiet and hide from you, and wait until you walk past them to jump at you. I fucking hate them. But yeah, soon. One of these days. :)

Edited 2018-01-31 04:34 (UTC)

People have disappeared? Oh dear... I'm afraid I've been terribly absorbed in my work. I hope they're alright.

[Oh wow, you've done it now. She switches to video because while she doesn't need it to make a point, she's going to give him the full effect.]

Gosh, is my attitude and word choice a problem for you? You're right, what I should have said was "Oh, please, grace me with your name, oh holy god of dreams."

[She smiles. It looks wrong on her face, more like an expression a shark would make than a human woman.]

I realize that as a middle-aged white man, the concept of being held accountable might not be familiar to you, but I assure you, the concept of tearing arrogant assholes down is one that is very familiar to me. If you'd like my credentials on that one, you're welcome to just continue how you're going.

[All traces of the smile are gone now. She leans forward, tugging her glasses off. Her eyes are wrong too, dead black pits that come from her permanently dilated pupils.]

My name is Georgia Carolyn Mason, and you can get fucked, you ignominious dickbag.

I beg your pardon! I am hardly middle-aged. Though it's clear you've not much managed to scrape past adolescence. Don't worry, those growing pains will pass soon enough.

Your attitude and word choice is a problem because there is honestly no reason to be so abrasive. A journalist should keep their cool under pressure, not throw a ridiculous tantrum because they didn't get their way.

[ah, he misses Sarah Jane. More than words can say. She must be old now, though. Old and young and long dead and yet to be born...]

When you decide to grow up and hold a civil conversation, perhaps I can take you with some modicum of seriousness.

Okay, I'm trading a bunch of raccoon bones and a prayer for the list from the death god. If I don't text back by tomorrow, my body's probably in his temple or some shit. [It's mostly irreverent, but George will...probably... be annoyed if Ellie dies before they get to compare zombie notes. So she's the backup plan.]

So do I. Best case scenario is that it's just the opposite of what brought us here and they've been sent home. I never believe in best case scenarios.

[....OH MY GOD ELLIE.]

You do not need to go join a death cult to get answers. [George would probably do it, but George is a trained professional.] Be careful. Let me know if you need help.

[Good, he's mansplaining too.]

And when you learn not to be a condescending shit, maybe I'll give a damn about what you think.

[She could stop swearing, but it clearly bothers him so much, so why should she?]

Good luck never stating your name where I can find it.

I'm glad we've come to an arrangement.

[as he certainly doesn't plan to. At least not at the moment. Condesenscion is as good an armor as any and he truly doesn't like her attitude if only because, well, it feels insulting to the occupation of journalism to be honest]

And as for my name, no, you'll never find that. But feel free to put me down as whatever you like. I certainly shan't respond to it.

I don't think it's a death cult. People are allowed to pray to gods without turning into priests, or whatever. Besides, it's not like I'm not killing a bunch of animals most of the time, and it would be... kind of fucked if they started coming back, so I guess a thanks is due at some point. He's just some jumped up fucking kid who thinks playing with life and death is fun.

[Says the child.]

Yeah. Thanks. [That actually means a lot to Ellie, but it's more than she's willing to explain right now.]

[For the best. Feelings are icky and George would really rather not. They can just quietly appreciate each other and not talk about it.]

Good luck.

It's better to have hope than fear.

Better to plan for the worst than assume the best.

Why can't you do both?

Life experience has made me a cynic.

I'm sorry to hear that. Hope is such an important thing to have.

Hope is useless without action. I prefer not to waste my time hoping when I can be getting things done instead.

That is why I suggested both. It needn't be one or the other, you know.

Perhaps. But it's far too easy to get trapped with hope. Even if conceivably you can do both.

Whatever you say.

[ Strong disagree, George. ]

He gave me the list. None of gods were on it. Then...he disappeared.

[Ellie sounds...tired. A little flat.]

Here's the list.

[Attached is a picture of the list of dead people, which doesn't have any relevant names.]

Well, at least it means whatever's going on, it's not as simple as death.

[Unless the outsiders don't go to the same place as the natives. But that's just paranoia speaking.]

Thanks for letting me know. You okay?

Yeah.

[Though George can't see it, Ellie rolls her eyes.] Other than the endless nightmares, lack of animals, and the fact that I can't remember loving anyone? Super.

[Sorry, George. You're on the bad side of Ellie's exhaustion.]

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