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* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Again, [[TheGadfly Alice]] is deadly serious when she tells Sam to keep his nose clean and not continue his research into the Magnus Institute or "the Protocol".
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* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Again, [[TheGadfly Alice]] is deadly serious when she tells Sam to keep his nose clean and not continue his research into the Magnus Institute or "the Protocol". It's particularly justified in this case, as the only information she ever got on "the Protocol" was that it involved a shady [[PrivateMilitaryContractors PMC]] infamous for something called the San Pedro Massacre.
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* AmbiguousSituation: Bardwell's death. The way the writer describes his expression and behavior prior to his death and how it mirrors the behavior of his audience that the violin drives to slaughter each other raises the possibility that maybe Bardwell's behavior was supernaturally induced.
* BastardBastard: The writer is the illegitimate son of an unnamed noble, and whatever his character was before coming across the violin, by the end he willingly sacrifices other people to it so he can continue to use it to play.
* BastardBastard: The writer is the illegitimate son of an unnamed noble, and whatever his character was before coming across the violin, by the end he willingly sacrifices other people to it so he can continue to use it to play.
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* TheCorpseStopsHere: Bardwell's death was either unintentional or [[DrivenToSuicide self-inflicted]], but the coach driver knew how much he and the writer hated each other, and had heard Bardwell shouting just before his death, and so assumed the writer had murdered him. The writer's hands were clean then, but by the time he leaves the coach, he had definitely murdered the coach driver.
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* ItsAllAboutMe: Gwen immediately assumes that Alice and Sam are whispering to each other about her, when in reality she's the last thing on their minds.
* MusicalAssassin: Unintentionally, but when the writer tries to perform without feeding the violin, the music causes his audience to slaughter each other.
* MusicalAssassin: Unintentionally, but when the writer tries to perform without feeding the violin, the music causes his audience to slaughter each other.
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* TitleDrop: The Magnus Protocol is first mentioned.
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[=RedCanary=] starts a thread asking about the Magnus Institute, which according to the catalog of sites has been "cleared" (fully explored), yet there are no associated records about it. [=BadGrav31=] responds wondering if the catalog is outdated and encourages [=RedCanary=] to go for it. [=ArcherK=], the admin in charge of the catalog, explains that the Magnus Institute was given "cleared" status by their predecessor and suspects that the Magnus Institute went unexplored because of it. [=RedCanary=] decides to go, and after two days reports that the Magnus Institute is "Definitely not cleared. Really weird place." before promising to tell the full story the next day. Another two days later, [=FlowersUnderground=] prods [=RedCanary=] who explains that they're having difficulty uploading their photos. They describe the Magnus Institute as being in surprisingly good shape despite being abandoned for twenty years after the fire that destroyed it. They found the Institute's archive and were surprised to find no paper remains whatsoever. They also found graffiti of "symbols and stuff" as well as "some pretty suspicious stains on some floors", and it all "Felt legit in a way most of it doesn't." When [=BadGrav31=] offers to help with pictures of the graffiti, [=RedCanary=] announces that the photos are corrupted but tries to upload new photos of a wooden box with similar symbols they recovered, though these photos corrupt as well. [=ArcherK=] reminds [=RedCanary=] that taking things from sites is against the websites policy, and [=RedCanary=] snaps back with an apology and an accusation of receiving anonymous [=DMs=] threating to dox them, and warns [=ArcherK=] that they know how to dox people too. [=ArcherK=] gives [=RedCanary=] a warning, telling them that the website doesn't have an anonymous DM system. When [=BadGrav31=] asks for a photo of the graffiti again, [=RedCanary=] uploads a photo that is quickly taken down by [=ArcherK=], along with the caption "Canaries should stay above ground." [=FlowersUnderground=] and [=BadGrav31=] see the image before [=ArcherK=] removes it and react with revulsion and horror, with [=BadGrav31=] asking "Are those eyes? Are you alright?" [=ArcherK=] tells [=RedCanary=] that they have violated the website terms by posting an image of gore and issues them a temporary ban. Nine days later, [=BadGrav31=] writes "Any more word on this? Is canary still banned? Kinda worried about them after those pics." before the thread is locked by [=ArcherK=].
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[=RedCanary=] starts a thread asking about the Magnus Institute, which according to the catalog of sites has been "cleared" (fully explored), yet there are no associated records about it. [=BadGrav31=] responds wondering if the catalog is outdated and encourages [=RedCanary=] to go for it. [=ArcherK=], the admin in charge of the catalog, explains that the Magnus Institute was given "cleared" status by their predecessor and suspects that the Magnus Institute went unexplored because of it. [=RedCanary=] decides to go, and after two days reports that the Magnus Institute is "Definitely not cleared. Really weird place." before promising to tell the full story the next day. Another two days later, [=FlowersUnderground=] prods [=RedCanary=] who explains that they're having difficulty uploading their photos. They describe the Magnus Institute as being in surprisingly good shape despite being abandoned for twenty years after the fire that destroyed it. They found the Institute's archive and were surprised to find no paper remains whatsoever. They also found graffiti of "symbols and stuff" as well as "some pretty suspicious stains on some floors", and it all "Felt legit in a way most of it doesn't." When [=BadGrav31=] offers to help with pictures of the graffiti, [=RedCanary=] announces that the photos are corrupted but tries to upload new photos of a wooden box with similar symbols they recovered, though these photos corrupt as well. [=ArcherK=] reminds [=RedCanary=] that taking things from sites is against the websites website's policy, and [=RedCanary=] snaps back with an apology and an accusation of receiving anonymous [=DMs=] threating to dox them, and warns [=ArcherK=] that they know how to dox people too. [=ArcherK=] gives [=RedCanary=] a warning, telling them that the website doesn't have an anonymous DM system. When [=BadGrav31=] asks for a photo of the graffiti again, [=RedCanary=] uploads a photo that is quickly taken down by [=ArcherK=], along with the caption "Canaries should stay above ground." [=FlowersUnderground=] and [=BadGrav31=] see the image before [=ArcherK=] removes it and react with revulsion and horror, with [=BadGrav31=] asking "Are those eyes? Are you alright?" [=ArcherK=] tells [=RedCanary=] that they have violated the website terms by posting an image of gore and issues them a temporary ban. Nine days later, [=BadGrav31=] writes "Any more word on this? Is canary still banned? Kinda worried about them after those pics." before the thread is locked by [=ArcherK=].
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After getting off a phone call with her brother, she sees that Sam is researching the Magnus Institute and warns him to not take his work home.
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After getting off a phone call with her brother, she Alice sees that Sam is researching the Magnus Institute and warns him to not take his work home.
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Colin tries in vain to fix a login error Alice encountered on her computer, swearing that the system is doing it on purpose to torment him and refusing to call central IT. As Alice jokes around and sweet-talks [=FR3-D1=], Colin warns her against treating the program like a person. When Colin finally gets the computer working again, Norris starts to read the latest incident, prompting Alice and Colin to take their coffee break.
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Colin tries in vain to fix a login error Alice encountered on her computer, swearing that the system is doing it on purpose to torment him and refusing to call central IT. As Alice jokes around and sweet-talks [=FR3-D1=], [=FR3-d1=], Colin warns her against treating the program like a person. When Colin finally gets the computer working again, Norris starts to read the latest incident, prompting Alice and Colin to take their coffee break.
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[[/folder]]
[[folder:4: Taking Notes]]
[-[=CAT3C7494=]-19111831-29012024-]
[-Collection (blood) -/- musical [letter]-]
!!Pre-Incident
Alice confronts Sam about trying to access restricted files, as the system erroneously sent the security ping to her instead of Colin. Sam claims to have been doing more research on the Magnus Institute after it came up in an incident (#1: First Shift), and found mention of something called "the Protocol". Alice warns Sam against looking into the Protocol, since she heard "a couple of the old guard" talking about it as though it were "high level stuff". Sam asks how much trouble it could really be, and she responds that "it used to involve Starkwall", a private military contractor that had something to do with the San Pedro Square Massacre. They quiet down as Gwen arrives, leading her to think they were gossiping about her and irritably tells them to get to work. As Gwen gets started, her next incident is read aloud by the third text-to-speech voice, Augustus. Alice excitedly tells Sam that hearing Augustus "is a bit of a special occasion" since he's so rare compared to Norris and Chester.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Letter
The writer plans to pass on ownership of his prized violin to his nephew after he dies, mentioning that he once thought about destroying it but could never bring himself to.
\\\
As a young man, the writer is invited by the Royal Court Orchestra of the Palatinate to play for them for a chance to be accepted into the Manheim School. The writer is accompanied on the trip by his violin instructor, Oliver Bardwell. Bardwell is quite insufferable, believing that the writer was only chosen by the Court by virtue of being his student and always reminding the writer that he won't be inheriting anything from his wealthy father on account of being a bastard child. During the carriage ride to the Court, Bardwell grows quieter and more restless, muttering to himself and seeming to hear faraway music. Without warning, Bardwell suddenly opens the carriage door and jumps out. The driver stops the carriage and he and the writer soon find Bardwell, his head split open on a rock. Having heard many arguments between Bardwell and the writer, the driver turns suspicious on the writer who flees into the night. After some time wandering, he eventually finds a man sitting by a campfire. The man welcomes the writer, giving him food and asking how he ended up lost in the woods. The writer finds himself telling his whole life's story to the man, who at the end says that the writer needs "a stroke of luck". When the writer agrees, the man smiles and opens his sack, which is filled with various trinkets, and selects an "almost otherworldly" violin which he gifts to the writer. As the writer inspects the violin, he cuts a finger on the strings. Putting out the fire, the man sends the writer on his way with directions to the Manheim School. A few days later, the writer is sent into to play for some judges, and though his performance starts out rough it becomes more beautiful as his fear of failure wells up. As he plays, the writer notices the skin of his fingertips flaying away and his blood flowing onto the instrument. The judges seemingly don't notice the injuries but are both impressed and horrified by the music, accepting him into the school. The writer goes on to be seen as a prodigy, as the pain and blood he puts into the violin are returned in the form of the most incredible music anyone has heard. Eventually, the writer realizes that "the blood for its strings need not be your own" and he becomes a tutor for "the poor and the easily forgotten", occasionally feeding a student to the violin. One evening, the writer decides to perform with his fingers wrapped in bandages to stop the strings cutting him, assuming that his performance will be below average. Instead, the music is more amazing and powerful than ever before. The writer looks at his audience and sees a look in their eyes that he saw in the eyes of Oliver Bardwell just before he took his own life. They begin to attack each other, "a dance of teeth and nails, of tearing and gouging." The writer can do nothing but play on as the people tear each other to pieces, and is only able to stop when a fire starts, burning away the evidence of what has just happened.
->'''Writer:''' Perhaps you shall prove a stronger will than I, and will yet find it within yourself to destroy this hungry thing of wood and catgut. But I cannot. I shall not. For my music, ah, my divine music, is truly a balm for the unhealed wounds of my existence. In its celestial strains I have found solace, a sanctuary woven from ethereal threads. And perhaps you shall find similar. Feed my violin, nephew, for I have given it all that I have and more.
!!Post-Incident
Sam is confused how such an old letter was picked up by [=FR3-d1=], but Gwen explains it away as a recent digitization of old records. After Alice and Sam pack up and leave, Gwen gets an email with a recording of someone pleading with Lena before she does something to them that shocks Gwen.
----
* BrownNote: The violin's music becomes this if it isn't fed.
* CallBack: The episode adds a lot of new context to [[Recap/TheMagnusArchivesSeasonTwo MAG 42: Grifter's Bone]], which also featured musicians whose beautiful music caused people to massacre one another.
* DisposableVagrant: The writer resorts to using these to feed his bloodthirsty violin.
* HungryWeapon: While not ''directly'' a weapon, the violin consumes the blood and flesh of its player, or alternatively can be fed with someone else's blood. If a loophole is found to play without feeding it… it finds a way to get its pound of flesh.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Again, [[TheGadfly Alice]] is deadly serious when she tells Sam to keep his nose clean and not continue his research into the Magnus Institute or "the Protocol".
[[folder:4: Taking Notes]]
[-[=CAT3C7494=]-19111831-29012024-]
[-Collection (blood) -/- musical [letter]-]
!!Pre-Incident
Alice confronts Sam about trying to access restricted files, as the system erroneously sent the security ping to her instead of Colin. Sam claims to have been doing more research on the Magnus Institute after it came up in an incident (#1: First Shift), and found mention of something called "the Protocol". Alice warns Sam against looking into the Protocol, since she heard "a couple of the old guard" talking about it as though it were "high level stuff". Sam asks how much trouble it could really be, and she responds that "it used to involve Starkwall", a private military contractor that had something to do with the San Pedro Square Massacre. They quiet down as Gwen arrives, leading her to think they were gossiping about her and irritably tells them to get to work. As Gwen gets started, her next incident is read aloud by the third text-to-speech voice, Augustus. Alice excitedly tells Sam that hearing Augustus "is a bit of a special occasion" since he's so rare compared to Norris and Chester.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Letter
The writer plans to pass on ownership of his prized violin to his nephew after he dies, mentioning that he once thought about destroying it but could never bring himself to.
\\\
As a young man, the writer is invited by the Royal Court Orchestra of the Palatinate to play for them for a chance to be accepted into the Manheim School. The writer is accompanied on the trip by his violin instructor, Oliver Bardwell. Bardwell is quite insufferable, believing that the writer was only chosen by the Court by virtue of being his student and always reminding the writer that he won't be inheriting anything from his wealthy father on account of being a bastard child. During the carriage ride to the Court, Bardwell grows quieter and more restless, muttering to himself and seeming to hear faraway music. Without warning, Bardwell suddenly opens the carriage door and jumps out. The driver stops the carriage and he and the writer soon find Bardwell, his head split open on a rock. Having heard many arguments between Bardwell and the writer, the driver turns suspicious on the writer who flees into the night. After some time wandering, he eventually finds a man sitting by a campfire. The man welcomes the writer, giving him food and asking how he ended up lost in the woods. The writer finds himself telling his whole life's story to the man, who at the end says that the writer needs "a stroke of luck". When the writer agrees, the man smiles and opens his sack, which is filled with various trinkets, and selects an "almost otherworldly" violin which he gifts to the writer. As the writer inspects the violin, he cuts a finger on the strings. Putting out the fire, the man sends the writer on his way with directions to the Manheim School. A few days later, the writer is sent into to play for some judges, and though his performance starts out rough it becomes more beautiful as his fear of failure wells up. As he plays, the writer notices the skin of his fingertips flaying away and his blood flowing onto the instrument. The judges seemingly don't notice the injuries but are both impressed and horrified by the music, accepting him into the school. The writer goes on to be seen as a prodigy, as the pain and blood he puts into the violin are returned in the form of the most incredible music anyone has heard. Eventually, the writer realizes that "the blood for its strings need not be your own" and he becomes a tutor for "the poor and the easily forgotten", occasionally feeding a student to the violin. One evening, the writer decides to perform with his fingers wrapped in bandages to stop the strings cutting him, assuming that his performance will be below average. Instead, the music is more amazing and powerful than ever before. The writer looks at his audience and sees a look in their eyes that he saw in the eyes of Oliver Bardwell just before he took his own life. They begin to attack each other, "a dance of teeth and nails, of tearing and gouging." The writer can do nothing but play on as the people tear each other to pieces, and is only able to stop when a fire starts, burning away the evidence of what has just happened.
->'''Writer:''' Perhaps you shall prove a stronger will than I, and will yet find it within yourself to destroy this hungry thing of wood and catgut. But I cannot. I shall not. For my music, ah, my divine music, is truly a balm for the unhealed wounds of my existence. In its celestial strains I have found solace, a sanctuary woven from ethereal threads. And perhaps you shall find similar. Feed my violin, nephew, for I have given it all that I have and more.
!!Post-Incident
Sam is confused how such an old letter was picked up by [=FR3-d1=], but Gwen explains it away as a recent digitization of old records. After Alice and Sam pack up and leave, Gwen gets an email with a recording of someone pleading with Lena before she does something to them that shocks Gwen.
----
* BrownNote: The violin's music becomes this if it isn't fed.
* CallBack: The episode adds a lot of new context to [[Recap/TheMagnusArchivesSeasonTwo MAG 42: Grifter's Bone]], which also featured musicians whose beautiful music caused people to massacre one another.
* DisposableVagrant: The writer resorts to using these to feed his bloodthirsty violin.
* HungryWeapon: While not ''directly'' a weapon, the violin consumes the blood and flesh of its player, or alternatively can be fed with someone else's blood. If a loophole is found to play without feeding it… it finds a way to get its pound of flesh.
* OOCIsSeriousBusiness: Again, [[TheGadfly Alice]] is deadly serious when she tells Sam to keep his nose clean and not continue his research into the Magnus Institute or "the Protocol".
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* ItWontTurnOff: A minor case, but Teddy's computer spontaneously turns itself on to listen to his farewell party. Not ominous at all.
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* ItWontTurnOff: A minor case, but Teddy's computer spontaneously turns itself on to listen to his farewell party. Not ominous at all. It happens again at the end of the episode when a computer activates to listen to Colin rummage through desks, only this time Colin [[ProperlyParanoid takes notice]].
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** Downplayed with the text-to-speech voices: while they can't be disabled or turned off at all, they can at least be paused.
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* DeadlyDoctor: It's implied that Samuel murdered his wife Maddie, and he's on the run for ''some'' unexplained crime. He also knows how he should treat his injuries and ailments; he just loses the will to do so.
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* DeadlyDoctor: It's implied that Samuel murdered his wife Maddie, and he's on the run for ''some'' unexplained crime.crime, whether it's her recent murder, renewed suspicion in his guilt or something else. He also knows how he should treat his injuries and ailments; he just loses the will to do so.
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You're right, presumptive on my part. Removing the reference to the Corruption. Also included a bit more detail about the case that I thought was important.
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The journal of Dr. Samuel Webber was found, along with some of his other belongings, in a briefcase that was "partially buried" and "penetrated by moldy roots".
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The journal case is taken from the evidence files of Dr. Samuel Webber was found, along with some of his other belongings, in a homicide investigation. The evidence is a briefcase that belonging to Dr. Samuel Webber, which was found "partially buried" and "penetrated by moldy roots".
roots". The briefcase contains personal belongings of Dr. Webber, including a medical file on Maddie Webber (deceased) and his personal journal, which the officer in charge copies entries from.
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%% We don't yet know if the Corruption exists in TMP, especially since the Fears are supposed to have been reorganized * FesteringFungus: The Corruption is up to some of its old tricks in this new universe.
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* FesteringFungus: The Corruption is up to some of its old tricks in this new universe.
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%% We don't yet know if the Corruption exists in TMP, especially since the Fears are supposed to have been reorganized * FesteringFungus: The Corruption is up to some of its old tricks in this new universe.
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* DeadlyDoctor: It's implied that Samuel murdered his wife Maddie and her lover, and he's on the run for ''some'' unexplained crime. He also knows how he should treat his injuries and ailments; he just loses the will to do so.
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* DeadlyDoctor: It's implied that Samuel murdered his wife Maddie and her lover, Maddie, and he's on the run for ''some'' unexplained crime. He also knows how he should treat his injuries and ailments; he just loses the will to do so.so.
* EldritchLocation: The abandoned and overgrown church Dr. Webber hides in; the night lasts far too long - until he's almost completely infected and unwilling to leave - and when he tries to leave the way he came he comes out in more overgrown garden instead of the road.
* FesteringFungus: The Corruption is up to some of its old tricks in this new universe.
* HypocriticalHumor: Colin tells Alice not to anthropomorphize [=FR3-d1=] immediately after he's spent a while alternately pleading with and threatening it to work.
* EldritchLocation: The abandoned and overgrown church Dr. Webber hides in; the night lasts far too long - until he's almost completely infected and unwilling to leave - and when he tries to leave the way he came he comes out in more overgrown garden instead of the road.
* FesteringFungus: The Corruption is up to some of its old tricks in this new universe.
* HypocriticalHumor: Colin tells Alice not to anthropomorphize [=FR3-d1=] immediately after he's spent a while alternately pleading with and threatening it to work.
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* SanitySlippage: As his infection progresses Dr. Webber shows no surprise at hearing the voice of his (probably) murdered wife and grows to accept his [[{{Transflormation}} horrific new state]] with unnatural speed.
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* WhamLine: Not the line itself, so much as the fact that when "Norris" starts speaking, the text-to-speech voice sounds ''very'' familiar...
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* AndIMustScream: There's some small part of Samuel that realises the horror of what's happening to him and is terrified, but there's nothing it can do.
* ApocalypticLog: Samuel's journal starts as something meant to express his feelings and address his grief, and chronicles his infestation by the garden as he turns into a tree.
* ApocalypticLog: Samuel's journal starts as something meant to express his feelings and address his grief, and chronicles his infestation by the garden as he turns into a tree.
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* DeadlyDoctor: It's implied that Samuel murdered his wife Maddie and her lover, and he's on the run for ''some'' unexplained crime. He also knows how he should treat his injuries and ailments; he just loses the will to do so.
* NothingIsScarier: Samuel never reveals what he did that means he has to hide from the law, or what precisely happened (or what he did) to Maddie.
* NothingIsScarier: Samuel never reveals what he did that means he has to hide from the law, or what precisely happened (or what he did) to Maddie.
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After narrowly completing an unspecified dangerous task, Samuel hides out in a garden "growing wild around the ruins of some bombed-out church". He considers finding a more comfortable lodging but doesn't want to risk having to show ID, and in the end is content with the garden since he knows his late wife Maddie would have liked it and especially loved its scent of jasmine. An itchy rash starts to spread on Samuel's body, and he thinks he starts to hear Maddie's voice. Samuel examines some scratches on his arm and sees "coiled translucent strands" coming out, which he can feel as he pulls them away. After some time resting, Samuel has an aniseed taste in his mouth and the rash has spread, causing patches of skin to harden and split. He knows he should go to a pharmacy but he can't find a way out of the garden, and he can no longer hear the sounds of the city outside. Samuel believes that Maddie is in the garden and has volunteered to retrive medicine while he waits. Samuel's condition develops further, his left arm hardening to the point of immobility and polyps growing from his scratches. His arm splits down to the bone and he pulls off his fingers, planting them in the ground. He hears Maddie's voice again telling him about a place he can go to feel the sun and wind. As Samuel's skin falls away and roots grow down, he knows "I need to finalize my position". As the clouds clear and the sun shines down on Samuel, he becomes overjoyed in the love of his garden home.
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After narrowly completing an unspecified dangerous task, Samuel hides out in a garden "growing wild around the ruins of some bombed-out church". He considers finding a more comfortable lodging but doesn't want to risk having to show ID, and in the end is content with the garden since he knows his late wife Maddie would have liked it and especially loved its scent of jasmine. An itchy rash starts to spread on Samuel's body, and he thinks he starts to hear Maddie's voice. Samuel examines some scratches on his arm and sees "coiled translucent strands" coming out, which he can feel as he pulls them away. After some time resting, Samuel has an aniseed taste in his mouth and the rash has spread, causing patches of skin to harden and split. He knows he should go to a pharmacy but he can't find a way out of the garden, and he can no longer hear the sounds of the city outside. Samuel believes that Maddie is in the garden and has volunteered to retrive retrieve medicine while he waits. Samuel's condition develops further, his left arm hardening to the point of immobility and polyps growing from his scratches. His arm splits down to the bone and he pulls off his fingers, planting them in the ground. He hears Maddie's voice again telling him about a place he can go to feel the sun and wind. As Samuel's skin falls away and roots grow down, he knows "I need to finalize my position". As the clouds clear and the sun shines down on Samuel, he becomes overjoyed in the love of his garden home.
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After briefly discussing the incidents categorization, Alice asks Sam to contact central IT for her since she's not sure that Colin really knows what he's doing but doesn't want to incur his wrath should he find out. Sam declines, as he's more intimidated by Colin than he is by Alice. Gwen arrives and asks Alice to cover for her that Saturday, but Alice only agrees after forcing Gwen to reveal her plans of going to an old friend's party.
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After briefly discussing the incidents incident's categorization, Alice asks Sam to contact central IT for her since she's not sure that Colin really knows what he's doing but doesn't want to incur his wrath should he find out. Sam declines, as he's more intimidated by Colin than he is by Alice. Gwen arrives and asks Alice to cover for her that Saturday, but Alice only agrees after forcing Gwen to reveal her plans of going to an old friend's party.
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* BodyHorror: Being a man of science, Samuel spares no details when describing his slow transformation into a tree.
* BotanicalAbomination: The garden, which can mimic the voice of loved ones and cause those who stay there to [[TitleDrop put down]] [[DeadlyEuphemism roots]].
* {{Transflormation}}: The incident's subject matter.
* BotanicalAbomination: The garden, which can mimic the voice of loved ones and cause those who stay there to [[TitleDrop put down]] [[DeadlyEuphemism roots]].
* {{Transflormation}}: The incident's subject matter.
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Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris (who sounds suspiciously like Martin Blackwood) reads the incident.
to:
Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris (who sounds suspiciously like Martin Blackwood) reads the incident.
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----
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!!Post-Incident
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After returning to the office, Gwen asks Sam what "awful, terrible thing" he experienced to get a job at the OIAR, but he doesn't say. Their conversation is interrupted by another text-to-speech voice, Chester (who sounds an awful lot like Jonathan Sims), reading Sam's next incident.
to:
After returning to the office, Gwen asks Sam what "awful, terrible thing" he experienced to get a job at the OIAR, but he doesn't say. Their conversation is interrupted by another text-to-speech voice, Chester (who sounds an awful lot like Jonathan Sims), Chester, reading Sam's next incident.
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----
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!!Post-Incident
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!!Pre-Incident
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!!Post-Incident
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[[/folder]]
[[folder:3: Putting Down Roots]]
[-[=CAT2C8175=]-03042009-22012024-]
[-Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]-]
!!Pre-Incident
Colin tries in vain to fix a login error Alice encountered on her computer, swearing that the system is doing it on purpose to torment him and refusing to call central IT. As Alice jokes around and sweet-talks [=FR3-D1=], Colin warns her against treating the program like a person. When Colin finally gets the computer working again, Norris starts to read the latest incident, prompting Alice and Colin to take their coffee break.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Journal entry
The journal of Dr. Samuel Webber was found, along with some of his other belongings, in a briefcase that was "partially buried" and "penetrated by moldy roots".
After narrowly completing an unspecified dangerous task, Samuel hides out in a garden "growing wild around the ruins of some bombed-out church". He considers finding a more comfortable lodging but doesn't want to risk having to show ID, and in the end is content with the garden since he knows his late wife Maddie would have liked it and especially loved its scent of jasmine. An itchy rash starts to spread on Samuel's body, and he thinks he starts to hear Maddie's voice. Samuel examines some scratches on his arm and sees "coiled translucent strands" coming out, which he can feel as he pulls them away. After some time resting, Samuel has an aniseed taste in his mouth and the rash has spread, causing patches of skin to harden and split. He knows he should go to a pharmacy but he can't find a way out of the garden, and he can no longer hear the sounds of the city outside. Samuel believes that Maddie is in the garden and has volunteered to retrive medicine while he waits. Samuel's condition develops further, his left arm hardening to the point of immobility and polyps growing from his scratches. His arm splits down to the bone and he pulls off his fingers, planting them in the ground. He hears Maddie's voice again telling him about a place he can go to feel the sun and wind. As Samuel's skin falls away and roots grow down, he knows "I need to finalize my position". As the clouds clear and the sun shines down on Samuel, he becomes overjoyed in the love of his garden home.
->'''Samuel:''' But strangely, deep inside me, beneath the roots, there is something that still shakes with terror. I don't see why. The sun is bright, my roots run deep and the breeze is fresh and clear. I think I shall stay here for a good long while.
!!Post-Incident
After briefly discussing the incidents categorization, Alice asks Sam to contact central IT for her since she's not sure that Colin really knows what he's doing but doesn't want to incur his wrath should he find out. Sam declines, as he's more intimidated by Colin than he is by Alice. Gwen arrives and asks Alice to cover for her that Saturday, but Alice only agrees after forcing Gwen to reveal her plans of going to an old friend's party.
----
[[folder:3: Putting Down Roots]]
[-[=CAT2C8175=]-03042009-22012024-]
[-Infection (full body) -/- arboreal [journal entry]-]
!!Pre-Incident
Colin tries in vain to fix a login error Alice encountered on her computer, swearing that the system is doing it on purpose to torment him and refusing to call central IT. As Alice jokes around and sweet-talks [=FR3-D1=], Colin warns her against treating the program like a person. When Colin finally gets the computer working again, Norris starts to read the latest incident, prompting Alice and Colin to take their coffee break.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Journal entry
The journal of Dr. Samuel Webber was found, along with some of his other belongings, in a briefcase that was "partially buried" and "penetrated by moldy roots".
After narrowly completing an unspecified dangerous task, Samuel hides out in a garden "growing wild around the ruins of some bombed-out church". He considers finding a more comfortable lodging but doesn't want to risk having to show ID, and in the end is content with the garden since he knows his late wife Maddie would have liked it and especially loved its scent of jasmine. An itchy rash starts to spread on Samuel's body, and he thinks he starts to hear Maddie's voice. Samuel examines some scratches on his arm and sees "coiled translucent strands" coming out, which he can feel as he pulls them away. After some time resting, Samuel has an aniseed taste in his mouth and the rash has spread, causing patches of skin to harden and split. He knows he should go to a pharmacy but he can't find a way out of the garden, and he can no longer hear the sounds of the city outside. Samuel believes that Maddie is in the garden and has volunteered to retrive medicine while he waits. Samuel's condition develops further, his left arm hardening to the point of immobility and polyps growing from his scratches. His arm splits down to the bone and he pulls off his fingers, planting them in the ground. He hears Maddie's voice again telling him about a place he can go to feel the sun and wind. As Samuel's skin falls away and roots grow down, he knows "I need to finalize my position". As the clouds clear and the sun shines down on Samuel, he becomes overjoyed in the love of his garden home.
->'''Samuel:''' But strangely, deep inside me, beneath the roots, there is something that still shakes with terror. I don't see why. The sun is bright, my roots run deep and the breeze is fresh and clear. I think I shall stay here for a good long while.
!!Post-Incident
After briefly discussing the incidents categorization, Alice asks Sam to contact central IT for her since she's not sure that Colin really knows what he's doing but doesn't want to incur his wrath should he find out. Sam declines, as he's more intimidated by Colin than he is by Alice. Gwen arrives and asks Alice to cover for her that Saturday, but Alice only agrees after forcing Gwen to reveal her plans of going to an old friend's party.
----
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Deleted line(s) 72 (click to see context) :
* WhamLine: Not in the episode itself; when the cast list is read in the closing matter, Gwen's full name is revealed to be Gwendoline ''Bouchard''.
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* WhamLine: Not in the episode itself; when the cast list is read in the closing matter, Gwen's full name is revealed to be Gwendoline ''Bouchard''.
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* MeaningfulName: The person who ventured into the ruins of the Magnus Institute, brought something back and implicitly suffered a nasty fate because of it, has the username [=RedCanary=]. Canaries were famously used as a warning signal for carbon monoxide in mines, so their death is a warning not only to the other users of the forum but to the employees of OIAR.
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Changed line(s) 31,32 (click to see context) from:
Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris, who sounds suspiciously like Martin Blackwood, reads the incident.
to:
Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris, who Norris (who sounds suspiciously like Martin Blackwood, Blackwood) reads the incident.
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Changed line(s) 102 (click to see context) from:
* PowerTattoo: The tattoo Daria gets from Ink5oul has some... unnerving side effects. It empowers her to make unrestrained alterations to her body, it spreads to cover more and more of her body during said alterations, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and it didn't require any aftercare]].
to:
* PowerTattoo: The tattoo Daria gets from Ink5oul [=Ink5oul=] has some... unnerving side effects. It empowers her to make unrestrained alterations to her body, it spreads to cover more and more of her body during said alterations, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and it didn't require any aftercare]].
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* AppearanceAngst: Daria had quite a bit of dysmorphia. Unfortunately, she was given the power to do something about it...
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* BodyHorror: When Daria's flatmate Sarah stumbles across her during her 'repainting' process, Daria mentions not being able to talk due to the work she was doing on her mouth. She also mentions not being able to grab Sarah properly due to something she did to her hands, and when Sarah throws a punch it does ''something'' unspeakable to her face.
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* PowerTattoo: The tattoo Daria gets from Ink5oul has some... unnerving side effects. It empowers her to make unrestrained alterations to her body, it spreads to cover more and more of her body during said alterations, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and it didn't require any aftercare]].
* SocialMediaIsBad: Being on Instagram was phenomenally bad for Daria's self-esteem. It was also her only way of [[StarvingArtist getting work]].
* SocialMediaIsBad: Being on Instagram was phenomenally bad for Daria's self-esteem. It was also her only way of [[StarvingArtist getting work]].
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Changed line(s) 45,46 (click to see context) from:
After returning to the office, Gwen asks Sam what "awful, terrible thing" he experienced to get a job at the OIAR, but he doesn't say. Their conversation is interrupted by another text-to-speech voice, Chester, reading Sam's next incident.
to:
After returning to the office, Gwen asks Sam what "awful, terrible thing" he experienced to get a job at the OIAR, but he doesn't say. Their conversation is interrupted by another text-to-speech voice, Chester, Chester (who sounds an awful lot like Jonathan Sims), reading Sam's next incident.
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In the office, Colin finds a computer microphone recording.
to:
In the office, Colin finds is searching desks when he notices a computer microphone recording.
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* CreepyDolls: Whatever Sam's first case file was, dolls were definitely involved.
to:
* CreepyDolls: CreepyDoll: Whatever Sam's first case file was, dolls were definitely involved.involved.
* DealWithTheDevil: Harriet was so desperate to see her husband Arthur again that she apparently had a meeting with a consultant that she ''really'' shouldn't have gone to.
* ElectromagneticGhosts: Whatever's going on with the ruins of the Magnus Institute, it doesn't like photos of it being uploaded to the internet. In fact, it objects [[EyeScream quite violently]].
* EvilLaugh: The patchwork corpse apparently has an ''outstandingly'' creepy one that causes it to [[SickeningCrunch break bones]].
* DealWithTheDevil: Harriet was so desperate to see her husband Arthur again that she apparently had a meeting with a consultant that she ''really'' shouldn't have gone to.
* ElectromagneticGhosts: Whatever's going on with the ruins of the Magnus Institute, it doesn't like photos of it being uploaded to the internet. In fact, it objects [[EyeScream quite violently]].
* EvilLaugh: The patchwork corpse apparently has an ''outstandingly'' creepy one that causes it to [[SickeningCrunch break bones]].
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* NothingIsScarier: The contents of the very first incident, which shock Sam, aren't revealed other than being eligible for the categories of either 'dolls, watching' or 'dolls, human skin'.
to:
* NothingIsScarier: NothingIsScarier:
** The contents of the very first incident, which shock Sam, aren't revealed other than being eligible for the categories of either 'dolls, watching' or 'dolls, humanskin'.skin'.
** Whatever happened to [=RedCanary=] is similarly void of detail. All we know is that it involved gore, eyes, and something posting, "Canaries should stay aboveground."
** The contents of the very first incident, which shock Sam, aren't revealed other than being eligible for the categories of either 'dolls, watching' or 'dolls, human
** Whatever happened to [=RedCanary=] is similarly void of detail. All we know is that it involved gore, eyes, and something posting, "Canaries should stay aboveground."
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Changed line(s) 31,32 (click to see context) from:
Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris reads the incident.
to:
Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris Norris, who sounds suspiciously like Martin Blackwood, reads the incident.
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* CreepyDolls: Whatever Sam's first case file was, dolls were definitely involved.
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* FrankensteinsMonster: The thing that confronted Harriet had her husband's voice... along with bits of his body.
* ItWontTurnOff: A minor case, but Teddy's computer spontaneously turns itself on to listen to his farewell party. Not ominous at all.
* ItWontTurnOff: A minor case, but Teddy's computer spontaneously turns itself on to listen to his farewell party. Not ominous at all.
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* NothingIsScarier: The contents of the very first incident, which shock Sam, aren't revealed other than being eligible for the categories of either 'dolls, watching' or 'dolls, human skin'.
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I feel like in this series the default assumption is 'magic until proven mundane.'
Deleted line(s) 91 (click to see context) :
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Daria claims that she could alter her physical apperance using a painting she made of herself, but her previous therapist had diagnosed her with delusions and the roommate who saw her do it claims she was just mutilating herself, so it's unclear if there was genuinely supernatural elements at work.
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* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: Daria claims that she could alter her physical apperance using a painting she made of herself, but her previous therapist had diagnosed her with delusions and the roommate who saw her do it claims she was just mutilating herself, so it's unclear if there was genuinely supernatural elements at work.
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* PercussiveShutdown: When Norris, Chester and Augustus first showed up in the OIAR systems, Colin apparently wanted to solve the problem with a hammer.
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Changed line(s) 39,40 (click to see context) from:
Sam is horrified but Alice tells him to get over it and do the assessment. Gwen chimes with how she'd categorize it, irritating Alice since she doesn't think it really matters and getting so particular about the assessment has caused Gwen to fall far behind in her workload.
to:
Sam is horrified but Alice tells him to get over it and do the assessment. Gwen chimes in with how she'd categorize it, irritating Alice since she doesn't think it really matters and getting so particular about the assessment has caused Gwen to fall far behind in her workload.
Changed line(s) 74 (click to see context) from:
Daria's job as a visual artist has caused her to resent her own appearance due to how much time she spends on Instagram because of it, even though she knows so much of what she sees isn't real. She does as much as she can to improve her appearance: changing her hair, losing weight, buying new clothes. As she scrutinizes herself in the mirror, she decides to get a new tattoo, "something that really changed my look." She looks for a tattoo artist that is both unique in their designs and not to expensive, and eventually finds [=Ink5oul=], who offers a discount to clients that agree to do a post-procedure photoshoot. Daria contacts [=Ink5oul=] and gets a quick response accepting her as a client. Arriving at [=Ink5oul=]'s studio, Daria sees it to be "the most influencer setup imaginable" with neon lighting and huge speakers. Daria doesn't remember much about [=Ink5oul=] themself, aside from a hyper-realistic snake tattoo running up their arm to their neck. Instead of asking what Daria wants, [=Ink5oul=] asks why she wants the tattoo and about her life, and when Daria mentions her art career [=Ink5oul=] becomes excited, declaring "The artist becomes the canvas!" Without warning, [=Ink5oul=] starts a livestream and begins to work on Daria's arm even though Daria didn't decide on a design. Though she's had tattoos before, Daria is thrown into panic as she feels the worst pain she's ever experienced and it's all she can do to not move. Before she knows it, the ordeal is over and [=Ink5oul=] is cleaning their tools. Fearful that she's been mutilated, Daria looks to her arm but is stunned to see a beautiful paintbrush tattoo covering her inner forearm, "a flurry of colorful floral patterns entwined with symbols I didn't recognize". [=Ink5oul=] hurries Daria out, claiming to have already taken their photos. At home, Daria looks at herself in the mirror and for the first time feels the need to do a self-portrait. She works passionately through the night, and the result is her best work. Daria passes out at some point, and when she wakes up she sees her own face looking back at her, and she notices an imperfection. She takes a small knife to fix it, checking in the mirror to see if it worked and finds that she isn't wounded but the imperfection is gone. Realizing she has the power to fix all her imperfections, Daria goes all in on her self-modifications. As she gets to work on her arms, however, she notices that her new tattoo is starting to leak and spread over her skin and she tries her best to avoid touching it, though as it grows she finds it harder to fix imperfections near it. Daria's roommate Sarah arrives home and panics when she sees Daria. Daria tries to restrain Sarah so she can explain but Sarah hits her away and calls an ambulance, telling them that Daria had tried to kill herself with an acidic art supply. Daria is court-ordered to undergo therapy, and she hasn't made any more modifications.
to:
Daria's job as a visual artist has caused her to resent her own appearance due to how much time she spends on Instagram because of it, even though she knows so much of what she sees isn't real. She does as much as she can to improve her appearance: changing her hair, losing weight, buying new clothes. As she scrutinizes herself in the mirror, she decides to get a new tattoo, "something that really changed my look." She looks for a tattoo artist that is both unique in their designs and not to too expensive, and eventually finds [=Ink5oul=], who offers a discount to clients that agree to do a post-procedure photoshoot. Daria contacts [=Ink5oul=] and gets a quick response accepting her as a client. Arriving at [=Ink5oul=]'s studio, Daria sees it to be "the most influencer setup imaginable" with neon lighting and huge speakers. Daria doesn't remember much about [=Ink5oul=] themself, aside from a hyper-realistic snake tattoo running up their arm to their neck. Instead of asking what Daria wants, [=Ink5oul=] asks why she wants the tattoo and about her life, and when Daria mentions her art career [=Ink5oul=] becomes excited, declaring "The artist becomes the canvas!" Without warning, [=Ink5oul=] starts a livestream and begins to work on Daria's arm even though Daria didn't decide on a design. Though she's had tattoos before, Daria is thrown into panic as she feels the worst pain she's ever experienced and it's all she can do to not move. Before she knows it, the ordeal is over and [=Ink5oul=] is cleaning their tools. Fearful that she's been mutilated, Daria looks to her arm but is stunned to see a beautiful paintbrush tattoo covering her inner forearm, "a flurry of colorful floral patterns entwined with symbols I didn't recognize". [=Ink5oul=] hurries Daria out, claiming to have already taken their photos. At home, Daria looks at herself in the mirror and for the first time feels the need to do a self-portrait. She works passionately through the night, and the result is her best work. Daria passes out at some point, and when she wakes up she sees her own face looking back at her, and she notices an imperfection. She takes a small knife to fix it, checking in the mirror to see if it worked and finds that she isn't wounded but the imperfection is gone. Realizing she has the power to fix all her imperfections, Daria goes all in on her self-modifications. As she gets to work on her arms, however, she notices that her new tattoo is starting to leak and spread over her skin and she tries her best to avoid touching it, though as it grows she finds it harder to fix imperfections near it. Daria's roommate Sarah arrives home and panics when she sees Daria. Daria tries to restrain Sarah so she can explain but Sarah hits her away and calls an ambulance, telling them that Daria had tried to kill herself with an acidic art supply. Daria is court-ordered to undergo therapy, and she hasn't made any more modifications.
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Changed line(s) 6,9 (click to see context) from:
%%[[folder:Trailer]]
%%Gonna add this in when I have a moment to relisten (no transcript). If you see this and want to add it in, go for it!
%%[[/folder]]
%%Gonna add this in when I have a moment to relisten (no transcript). If you see this and want to add it in, go for it!
%%[[/folder]]
to:
%%Gonna add
Samama "Sam" Khalid arrives for his interview with Lena Kelley, manager of the Office of Incident Assessment and Response. Lena finds Sam's credentials to be in good order, but tells him that he shouldn't want this
->'''Sam:''' Please. Look, I need this.\\
<''long pause''>\\
'''Lena:''' The hours are punishing and the work is both monotonous and unpleasant. You will have few social interactions and depression is highly likely.\\
'''Sam:''' Not a problem.\\
'''Lena:''' Hm. In that case, I have an aptitude question for you. <''slowly''> What is the worst thing you've ever seen?\\
'''Sam:''' I'm sorry?\\
'''Lena:''' You've seen a
'''Sam:''' <''solemnly''> Yes.\\
'''Lena:''' Hm. Wonderful. Thank you for
%%[[/folder]]
[[/folder]]
Changed line(s) 40 (click to see context) from:
[=RedCanary=] starts a thread asking about the Magnus Institute, which according to the catalog of sites has been "cleared" (fully explored), yet there are no associated records about it. [=BadGrav31=] responds wondering if the catalog is outdated and encourages [=RedCanary=] to go for it. [=ArcherK=], the admin in charge of the catalog, explains that the Magnus Institute was given "cleared" status by their predecessor and suspects that the Magnus Institute went unexplored because of it. [=RedCanary=] decides to go, and after two days reports that the Magnus Institute is "Definitely not cleared. Really weird place." before promising to tell the full story the next day. Another two days later, [=FlowersUnderground=] prods [=RedCanary=] who explains that they're having difficulty uploading their photos. They describe the Magnus Institute as being in surprisingly good shape despite being abandoned for twenty years after the fire that destroyed it. They found the Institute's archive and were surprised to find no paper remains whatsoever. They also found graffiti of "symbols and stuff" as well as "some pretty suspicious stains on some floors", and it all "Felt legit in a way most of it doesn't." When [=BadGrav31=] offers to help with pictures of the graffiti, [=RedCanary=] announces that the photos are corrupted but tries to upload new photos of a wooden box with similar symbols they recovered, though these photos corrupt as well. [=ArcherK=] reminds [=RedCanary=] that taking things from sites is against the websites policy, and [=RedCanary=] snaps back with an apology and an accusation of receiving anonymous DMs threating to dox them, and warns [=ArcherK=] that they know how to dox people too. [=ArcherK=] gives [=RedCanary=] a warning, telling them that the website doesn't have an anonymous DM system. When [=BadGrav31=] asks for a photo of the graffiti again, [=RedCanary=] uploads a photo that is quickly taken down by [=ArcherK=], along with the caption "Canaries should stay above ground." [=FlowersUnderground=] and [=BadGrav31=] see the image before [=ArcherK=] removes it and react with revulsion and horror, with [=BadGrav31=] asking "Are those eyes? Are you alright?" [=ArcherK=] tells [=RedCanary=] that they have violated the website terms by posting an image of gore and issues them a temporary ban. Nine days later, [=BadGrav31=] writes "Any more word on this? Is canary still banned? Kinda worried about them after those pics." before the thread is locked by [=ArcherK=].
to:
[=RedCanary=] starts a thread asking about the Magnus Institute, which according to the catalog of sites has been "cleared" (fully explored), yet there are no associated records about it. [=BadGrav31=] responds wondering if the catalog is outdated and encourages [=RedCanary=] to go for it. [=ArcherK=], the admin in charge of the catalog, explains that the Magnus Institute was given "cleared" status by their predecessor and suspects that the Magnus Institute went unexplored because of it. [=RedCanary=] decides to go, and after two days reports that the Magnus Institute is "Definitely not cleared. Really weird place." before promising to tell the full story the next day. Another two days later, [=FlowersUnderground=] prods [=RedCanary=] who explains that they're having difficulty uploading their photos. They describe the Magnus Institute as being in surprisingly good shape despite being abandoned for twenty years after the fire that destroyed it. They found the Institute's archive and were surprised to find no paper remains whatsoever. They also found graffiti of "symbols and stuff" as well as "some pretty suspicious stains on some floors", and it all "Felt legit in a way most of it doesn't." When [=BadGrav31=] offers to help with pictures of the graffiti, [=RedCanary=] announces that the photos are corrupted but tries to upload new photos of a wooden box with similar symbols they recovered, though these photos corrupt as well. [=ArcherK=] reminds [=RedCanary=] that taking things from sites is against the websites policy, and [=RedCanary=] snaps back with an apology and an accusation of receiving anonymous DMs [=DMs=] threating to dox them, and warns [=ArcherK=] that they know how to dox people too. [=ArcherK=] gives [=RedCanary=] a warning, telling them that the website doesn't have an anonymous DM system. When [=BadGrav31=] asks for a photo of the graffiti again, [=RedCanary=] uploads a photo that is quickly taken down by [=ArcherK=], along with the caption "Canaries should stay above ground." [=FlowersUnderground=] and [=BadGrav31=] see the image before [=ArcherK=] removes it and react with revulsion and horror, with [=BadGrav31=] asking "Are those eyes? Are you alright?" [=ArcherK=] tells [=RedCanary=] that they have violated the website terms by posting an image of gore and issues them a temporary ban. Nine days later, [=BadGrav31=] writes "Any more word on this? Is canary still banned? Kinda worried about them after those pics." before the thread is locked by [=ArcherK=].
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Changed line(s) 48 (click to see context) from:
* DrivenToSuicide: Implied to have happened to [=RedCanary=] after they recovered a strange box from the ruins of the Magnus Institute, if the comments on their photo are anything to go by.
to:
* DrivenToSuicide: Implied to have EyeScream: Whatever happened to [=RedCanary=] after they recovered a strange box from the ruins of the Magnus Institute, if the comments on [=RedCanary=], whether it was [[DrivenToSuicide by their photo are anything own hands]] or by something else's, it involved their eyes being torn out according to go by. the comments.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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Changed line(s) 68 (click to see context) from:
'''Therapis:''' That's good to hear.\\
to:
Added DiffLines:
* FalseReassurance: Daria insists that she wouldn't have tried to harm herself, and then immediately details how she would have done it if she wanted to, which is hardly reassuring.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
[[Recap/TheMagnusProtocol Main]] | '''Season One'''
----
[[foldercontrol]]
%%[[folder:Trailer]]
%%Gonna add this in when I have a moment to relisten (no transcript). If you see this and want to add it in, go for it!
%%[[/folder]]
[[folder:1: First Shift]]
[-[=CAT1RBC5257=]-12052022-09012024-]
[-Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email]-]
[-[=CAT23RAB2155=]-10042022-09012024-]
[-Transformation (eyes) -/- Trespass [chat log]-]
A computer microphone starts recording at a company farewell get-together for Teddy Vaughn, who is leaving the OIAR for an insurance job. Attending are Teddy's soon-to-be-former coworkers Alice Dyer, Gwen Bouchard and new hire Sam Khalid, their manager Lena Kelley, and OIAR IT technician Colin Becher. As an afterparty at the local pub is organized, Lena spots the microphone, which belongs to Teddy's computer, recording and has him shut it down.
Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris reads the incident.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Email
Harriet is called by a consultant she had been meeting with following the death of her husband Arthur, which Harriet's sister Darla disapproved of. Harriet notices that the consultant sounds more eager than before as he asks to meet at a nearby cemetery. Dubious but curious, Harriet decides to go. As she enters she sees a figure which is the wrong shape to be Arthur and too short to be the consultant. Fearing a setup, Harriet starts to leave when the figure calls to her in Arthur's voice. Confused, Harriet turns back and as the figure steps out into the moonlight she sees its unnatural appearance and movements. Horrified, Harriet asks if it's Arthur, and it answers in Arthur's voice "Some of him." before laughing and tossing its head back and forth "so fast I could hear bones snapping".
->'''Harriet:''' I don’t know what to do now. I’ve not left the house all day. I keep thinking I see something at the bottom of the garden, but I can’t bring myself to check. Do I call the police? What could I even tell them? I tried calling the company helpline but no one answers. Are you free tonight? I don’t want to stay at the house. I know you warned me that it was too full of memories but this isn’t that. I’m afraid Darla and worse, I think it's Arthur I’m afraid of. Or what’s left of him. Please get back to me a.s.a.p.\\
H
----
Sam is horrified but Alice tells him to get over it and do the assessment. Gwen chimes with how she'd categorize it, irritating Alice since she doesn't think it really matters and getting so particular about the assessment has caused Gwen to fall far behind in her workload.
At this point, Lena calls Gwen into her office to reprimand her for sassing Lena at the get-together, insisting that even if Gwen doesn't respect her as a person she still needs to respect her as a manager. Lena reminds Gwen that she is free to leave the OIAR if she so desires, but Gwen reveals that she wants Lena's job. Lena simply replies that Gwen doesn't "have what it takes".
Sam tries to introduce himself to Colin with a joke supplied by Alice, but only succeeds in infuriating Colin until he comes clean about it. Colin explains his endless and as-yet-fruitless battle against the systems used by OIAR, and even learned German when he encountered some German source code, though it didn't help.
After returning to the office, Gwen asks Sam what "awful, terrible thing" he experienced to get a job at the OIAR, but he doesn't say. Their conversation is interrupted by another text-to-speech voice, Chester, reading Sam's next incident.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Urban spelunking forum
[=RedCanary=] starts a thread asking about the Magnus Institute, which according to the catalog of sites has been "cleared" (fully explored), yet there are no associated records about it. [=BadGrav31=] responds wondering if the catalog is outdated and encourages [=RedCanary=] to go for it. [=ArcherK=], the admin in charge of the catalog, explains that the Magnus Institute was given "cleared" status by their predecessor and suspects that the Magnus Institute went unexplored because of it. [=RedCanary=] decides to go, and after two days reports that the Magnus Institute is "Definitely not cleared. Really weird place." before promising to tell the full story the next day. Another two days later, [=FlowersUnderground=] prods [=RedCanary=] who explains that they're having difficulty uploading their photos. They describe the Magnus Institute as being in surprisingly good shape despite being abandoned for twenty years after the fire that destroyed it. They found the Institute's archive and were surprised to find no paper remains whatsoever. They also found graffiti of "symbols and stuff" as well as "some pretty suspicious stains on some floors", and it all "Felt legit in a way most of it doesn't." When [=BadGrav31=] offers to help with pictures of the graffiti, [=RedCanary=] announces that the photos are corrupted but tries to upload new photos of a wooden box with similar symbols they recovered, though these photos corrupt as well. [=ArcherK=] reminds [=RedCanary=] that taking things from sites is against the websites policy, and [=RedCanary=] snaps back with an apology and an accusation of receiving anonymous DMs threating to dox them, and warns [=ArcherK=] that they know how to dox people too. [=ArcherK=] gives [=RedCanary=] a warning, telling them that the website doesn't have an anonymous DM system. When [=BadGrav31=] asks for a photo of the graffiti again, [=RedCanary=] uploads a photo that is quickly taken down by [=ArcherK=], along with the caption "Canaries should stay above ground." [=FlowersUnderground=] and [=BadGrav31=] see the image before [=ArcherK=] removes it and react with revulsion and horror, with [=BadGrav31=] asking "Are those eyes? Are you alright?" [=ArcherK=] tells [=RedCanary=] that they have violated the website terms by posting an image of gore and issues them a temporary ban. Nine days later, [=BadGrav31=] writes "Any more word on this? Is canary still banned? Kinda worried about them after those pics." before the thread is locked by [=ArcherK=].
----
Sam is even more disturbed by this incident than the last one, and Gwen tells him that "if you're going to stick it out here you're going to need a stronger stomach". Sam asks if Gwen has heard about the Magnus Institute, which Sam has some prior knowledge of. Alice gives Sam a bit of comfort, telling him he can take a break after incident assessments if he needs to, and invites him to a pub after their shift ends. In spite of the disturbing material, Sam thanks Alice for getting him this job since "it's something to focus on". He then asks Alice if the incidents they read are real, but she never gives it too much thought. Sam admits he doesn't know what the OIAR really is, and Alice's theory is that it was set up to keep tabs on the ghost hunting craze in the seventies and the government just forgot to shut it down.
In the office, Colin finds a computer microphone recording.
->'''Colin:''' You're not as clever as you think you are. You think you've got us all fooled, that no one knows you're listening. But I do. I know. I'm going to find you, and then-\\
<''click''>
----
* DrivenToSuicide: Implied to have happened to [=RedCanary=] after they recovered a strange box from the ruins of the Magnus Institute, if the comments on their photo are anything to go by.
* FalseReassurance: {{Invoked}} by Alice when Sam expresses shock at the ancient OS he's expected to use.
-->'''Sam:''' Is this Windows 95?!\\
'''Alice:''' Of course not! Don't be ridiculous. <''{{beat}}''> This is a modified version of Windows NT 4.0, the business-focused predecessor to 95.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:2: Making Adjustments]]
[-[=CAT3RBC1567=]-23092022-18012024-]
[-Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic [video call]-]
Sam tries to figure out how the OIAR's categorization and serial number system is designed, but Gwen insists that that's Colin's battle. Alice arrives three-and-a-half minutes late, triggering some bickering between her and Gwen.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Video call therapy session
Daria's camera doesn't seem to be working, but she seems to think it's better to start that way with her new therapist.
Daria's job as a visual artist has caused her to resent her own appearance due to how much time she spends on Instagram because of it, even though she knows so much of what she sees isn't real. She does as much as she can to improve her appearance: changing her hair, losing weight, buying new clothes. As she scrutinizes herself in the mirror, she decides to get a new tattoo, "something that really changed my look." She looks for a tattoo artist that is both unique in their designs and not to expensive, and eventually finds [=Ink5oul=], who offers a discount to clients that agree to do a post-procedure photoshoot. Daria contacts [=Ink5oul=] and gets a quick response accepting her as a client. Arriving at [=Ink5oul=]'s studio, Daria sees it to be "the most influencer setup imaginable" with neon lighting and huge speakers. Daria doesn't remember much about [=Ink5oul=] themself, aside from a hyper-realistic snake tattoo running up their arm to their neck. Instead of asking what Daria wants, [=Ink5oul=] asks why she wants the tattoo and about her life, and when Daria mentions her art career [=Ink5oul=] becomes excited, declaring "The artist becomes the canvas!" Without warning, [=Ink5oul=] starts a livestream and begins to work on Daria's arm even though Daria didn't decide on a design. Though she's had tattoos before, Daria is thrown into panic as she feels the worst pain she's ever experienced and it's all she can do to not move. Before she knows it, the ordeal is over and [=Ink5oul=] is cleaning their tools. Fearful that she's been mutilated, Daria looks to her arm but is stunned to see a beautiful paintbrush tattoo covering her inner forearm, "a flurry of colorful floral patterns entwined with symbols I didn't recognize". [=Ink5oul=] hurries Daria out, claiming to have already taken their photos. At home, Daria looks at herself in the mirror and for the first time feels the need to do a self-portrait. She works passionately through the night, and the result is her best work. Daria passes out at some point, and when she wakes up she sees her own face looking back at her, and she notices an imperfection. She takes a small knife to fix it, checking in the mirror to see if it worked and finds that she isn't wounded but the imperfection is gone. Realizing she has the power to fix all her imperfections, Daria goes all in on her self-modifications. As she gets to work on her arms, however, she notices that her new tattoo is starting to leak and spread over her skin and she tries her best to avoid touching it, though as it grows she finds it harder to fix imperfections near it. Daria's roommate Sarah arrives home and panics when she sees Daria. Daria tries to restrain Sarah so she can explain but Sarah hits her away and calls an ambulance, telling them that Daria had tried to kill herself with an acidic art supply. Daria is court-ordered to undergo therapy, and she hasn't made any more modifications.
->'''Therapist:''' ''Did'' you try to harm yourself with acid?\\
'''Daria:''' Of course not. I never wanted to hurt myself. I just wanted to be… better.\\
'''Therapis:''' That's good to hear.\\
'''Daria:''' If I wanted to clear the canvas, I would have used turpentine.
----
Sam asks Alice how she and Gwen can listen to these stories without any visceral reaction, and Alice explains that she just doesn't pay attention. "I just skim the case for keywords, and if it’s a talker I hit play and get on with other work. Then when it’s done being creepy I process it and move on." She again reminds him to not worry if the incidents are true.
In the break room, Gwen warns Alice that Lena is planning to make their jobs redundant.
After getting off a phone call with her brother, she sees that Sam is researching the Magnus Institute and warns him to not take his work home.
----
* BlatantLies: Daria likes to think she started out small with her modifications.
-->'''Daria:''' I slightly lengthened my fingers, made my ears little more delicate, straightened my nose and reangled my cheekbones, tapered my chin, slimmed my waist, increased my bust, narrowed my frame, lengthened my legs, adjusted my calves, thinned my wrists, shortened my feet… Nothing much, really.
* IronicEcho: Gwen repeats Lena's "No one's making you work here" to Sam.
[[/folder]]
----
[[foldercontrol]]
%%[[folder:Trailer]]
%%Gonna add this in when I have a moment to relisten (no transcript). If you see this and want to add it in, go for it!
%%[[/folder]]
[[folder:1: First Shift]]
[-[=CAT1RBC5257=]-12052022-09012024-]
[-Reanimation (Partial) -/- Regret [Email]-]
[-[=CAT23RAB2155=]-10042022-09012024-]
[-Transformation (eyes) -/- Trespass [chat log]-]
A computer microphone starts recording at a company farewell get-together for Teddy Vaughn, who is leaving the OIAR for an insurance job. Attending are Teddy's soon-to-be-former coworkers Alice Dyer, Gwen Bouchard and new hire Sam Khalid, their manager Lena Kelley, and OIAR IT technician Colin Becher. As an afterparty at the local pub is organized, Lena spots the microphone, which belongs to Teddy's computer, recording and has him shut it down.
Later on, Alice is helping Sam get ready for his first overnight shift. She introduces him to [=FR3=]-d1, nicknamed "Freddy", a program that searches databases all over the internet for "incidents" which it passes on to them to read and assess. As Sam reads his first one, an email, he is quickly shocked by the contents but Alice assures him that it's just a bog-standard incident. She walks him through the assessment process, which consists of determining the incident's category based on what's mentioned most and then using a chart to translate that to a serial number which is assigned to the incident before it's submitted. When Sam asks where they're sending their assessments, Alice assumes they go to "some long-dead database that no one will ever look at or care about." Now even more confused as to the actual purpose of this job, Sam starts on the next incident and is surprised when a text-to-speech voice starts to read it aloud. Alice explains that about a year ago, three different text-to-speech voices started reading random incidents aloud and Colin has never been able to figure out the cause. Alice has nicknamed the voices "Norris", "Chester" and "Augustus", though Augustus doesn't seem to pop up as much as the other two. Standard procedure is to just take a coffee break while they read, but Sam decides to stay and finish his onboarding paperwork while Norris reads the incident.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Email
Harriet is called by a consultant she had been meeting with following the death of her husband Arthur, which Harriet's sister Darla disapproved of. Harriet notices that the consultant sounds more eager than before as he asks to meet at a nearby cemetery. Dubious but curious, Harriet decides to go. As she enters she sees a figure which is the wrong shape to be Arthur and too short to be the consultant. Fearing a setup, Harriet starts to leave when the figure calls to her in Arthur's voice. Confused, Harriet turns back and as the figure steps out into the moonlight she sees its unnatural appearance and movements. Horrified, Harriet asks if it's Arthur, and it answers in Arthur's voice "Some of him." before laughing and tossing its head back and forth "so fast I could hear bones snapping".
->'''Harriet:''' I don’t know what to do now. I’ve not left the house all day. I keep thinking I see something at the bottom of the garden, but I can’t bring myself to check. Do I call the police? What could I even tell them? I tried calling the company helpline but no one answers. Are you free tonight? I don’t want to stay at the house. I know you warned me that it was too full of memories but this isn’t that. I’m afraid Darla and worse, I think it's Arthur I’m afraid of. Or what’s left of him. Please get back to me a.s.a.p.\\
H
----
Sam is horrified but Alice tells him to get over it and do the assessment. Gwen chimes with how she'd categorize it, irritating Alice since she doesn't think it really matters and getting so particular about the assessment has caused Gwen to fall far behind in her workload.
At this point, Lena calls Gwen into her office to reprimand her for sassing Lena at the get-together, insisting that even if Gwen doesn't respect her as a person she still needs to respect her as a manager. Lena reminds Gwen that she is free to leave the OIAR if she so desires, but Gwen reveals that she wants Lena's job. Lena simply replies that Gwen doesn't "have what it takes".
Sam tries to introduce himself to Colin with a joke supplied by Alice, but only succeeds in infuriating Colin until he comes clean about it. Colin explains his endless and as-yet-fruitless battle against the systems used by OIAR, and even learned German when he encountered some German source code, though it didn't help.
After returning to the office, Gwen asks Sam what "awful, terrible thing" he experienced to get a job at the OIAR, but he doesn't say. Their conversation is interrupted by another text-to-speech voice, Chester, reading Sam's next incident.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Urban spelunking forum
[=RedCanary=] starts a thread asking about the Magnus Institute, which according to the catalog of sites has been "cleared" (fully explored), yet there are no associated records about it. [=BadGrav31=] responds wondering if the catalog is outdated and encourages [=RedCanary=] to go for it. [=ArcherK=], the admin in charge of the catalog, explains that the Magnus Institute was given "cleared" status by their predecessor and suspects that the Magnus Institute went unexplored because of it. [=RedCanary=] decides to go, and after two days reports that the Magnus Institute is "Definitely not cleared. Really weird place." before promising to tell the full story the next day. Another two days later, [=FlowersUnderground=] prods [=RedCanary=] who explains that they're having difficulty uploading their photos. They describe the Magnus Institute as being in surprisingly good shape despite being abandoned for twenty years after the fire that destroyed it. They found the Institute's archive and were surprised to find no paper remains whatsoever. They also found graffiti of "symbols and stuff" as well as "some pretty suspicious stains on some floors", and it all "Felt legit in a way most of it doesn't." When [=BadGrav31=] offers to help with pictures of the graffiti, [=RedCanary=] announces that the photos are corrupted but tries to upload new photos of a wooden box with similar symbols they recovered, though these photos corrupt as well. [=ArcherK=] reminds [=RedCanary=] that taking things from sites is against the websites policy, and [=RedCanary=] snaps back with an apology and an accusation of receiving anonymous DMs threating to dox them, and warns [=ArcherK=] that they know how to dox people too. [=ArcherK=] gives [=RedCanary=] a warning, telling them that the website doesn't have an anonymous DM system. When [=BadGrav31=] asks for a photo of the graffiti again, [=RedCanary=] uploads a photo that is quickly taken down by [=ArcherK=], along with the caption "Canaries should stay above ground." [=FlowersUnderground=] and [=BadGrav31=] see the image before [=ArcherK=] removes it and react with revulsion and horror, with [=BadGrav31=] asking "Are those eyes? Are you alright?" [=ArcherK=] tells [=RedCanary=] that they have violated the website terms by posting an image of gore and issues them a temporary ban. Nine days later, [=BadGrav31=] writes "Any more word on this? Is canary still banned? Kinda worried about them after those pics." before the thread is locked by [=ArcherK=].
----
Sam is even more disturbed by this incident than the last one, and Gwen tells him that "if you're going to stick it out here you're going to need a stronger stomach". Sam asks if Gwen has heard about the Magnus Institute, which Sam has some prior knowledge of. Alice gives Sam a bit of comfort, telling him he can take a break after incident assessments if he needs to, and invites him to a pub after their shift ends. In spite of the disturbing material, Sam thanks Alice for getting him this job since "it's something to focus on". He then asks Alice if the incidents they read are real, but she never gives it too much thought. Sam admits he doesn't know what the OIAR really is, and Alice's theory is that it was set up to keep tabs on the ghost hunting craze in the seventies and the government just forgot to shut it down.
In the office, Colin finds a computer microphone recording.
->'''Colin:''' You're not as clever as you think you are. You think you've got us all fooled, that no one knows you're listening. But I do. I know. I'm going to find you, and then-\\
<''click''>
----
* DrivenToSuicide: Implied to have happened to [=RedCanary=] after they recovered a strange box from the ruins of the Magnus Institute, if the comments on their photo are anything to go by.
* FalseReassurance: {{Invoked}} by Alice when Sam expresses shock at the ancient OS he's expected to use.
-->'''Sam:''' Is this Windows 95?!\\
'''Alice:''' Of course not! Don't be ridiculous. <''{{beat}}''> This is a modified version of Windows NT 4.0, the business-focused predecessor to 95.
[[/folder]]
[[folder:2: Making Adjustments]]
[-[=CAT3RBC1567=]-23092022-18012024-]
[-Transformation (full) -/- dysmorphic [video call]-]
Sam tries to figure out how the OIAR's categorization and serial number system is designed, but Gwen insists that that's Colin's battle. Alice arrives three-and-a-half minutes late, triggering some bickering between her and Gwen.
!!Incident
!!!Format: Video call therapy session
Daria's camera doesn't seem to be working, but she seems to think it's better to start that way with her new therapist.
Daria's job as a visual artist has caused her to resent her own appearance due to how much time she spends on Instagram because of it, even though she knows so much of what she sees isn't real. She does as much as she can to improve her appearance: changing her hair, losing weight, buying new clothes. As she scrutinizes herself in the mirror, she decides to get a new tattoo, "something that really changed my look." She looks for a tattoo artist that is both unique in their designs and not to expensive, and eventually finds [=Ink5oul=], who offers a discount to clients that agree to do a post-procedure photoshoot. Daria contacts [=Ink5oul=] and gets a quick response accepting her as a client. Arriving at [=Ink5oul=]'s studio, Daria sees it to be "the most influencer setup imaginable" with neon lighting and huge speakers. Daria doesn't remember much about [=Ink5oul=] themself, aside from a hyper-realistic snake tattoo running up their arm to their neck. Instead of asking what Daria wants, [=Ink5oul=] asks why she wants the tattoo and about her life, and when Daria mentions her art career [=Ink5oul=] becomes excited, declaring "The artist becomes the canvas!" Without warning, [=Ink5oul=] starts a livestream and begins to work on Daria's arm even though Daria didn't decide on a design. Though she's had tattoos before, Daria is thrown into panic as she feels the worst pain she's ever experienced and it's all she can do to not move. Before she knows it, the ordeal is over and [=Ink5oul=] is cleaning their tools. Fearful that she's been mutilated, Daria looks to her arm but is stunned to see a beautiful paintbrush tattoo covering her inner forearm, "a flurry of colorful floral patterns entwined with symbols I didn't recognize". [=Ink5oul=] hurries Daria out, claiming to have already taken their photos. At home, Daria looks at herself in the mirror and for the first time feels the need to do a self-portrait. She works passionately through the night, and the result is her best work. Daria passes out at some point, and when she wakes up she sees her own face looking back at her, and she notices an imperfection. She takes a small knife to fix it, checking in the mirror to see if it worked and finds that she isn't wounded but the imperfection is gone. Realizing she has the power to fix all her imperfections, Daria goes all in on her self-modifications. As she gets to work on her arms, however, she notices that her new tattoo is starting to leak and spread over her skin and she tries her best to avoid touching it, though as it grows she finds it harder to fix imperfections near it. Daria's roommate Sarah arrives home and panics when she sees Daria. Daria tries to restrain Sarah so she can explain but Sarah hits her away and calls an ambulance, telling them that Daria had tried to kill herself with an acidic art supply. Daria is court-ordered to undergo therapy, and she hasn't made any more modifications.
->'''Therapist:''' ''Did'' you try to harm yourself with acid?\\
'''Daria:''' Of course not. I never wanted to hurt myself. I just wanted to be… better.\\
'''Therapis:''' That's good to hear.\\
'''Daria:''' If I wanted to clear the canvas, I would have used turpentine.
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Sam asks Alice how she and Gwen can listen to these stories without any visceral reaction, and Alice explains that she just doesn't pay attention. "I just skim the case for keywords, and if it’s a talker I hit play and get on with other work. Then when it’s done being creepy I process it and move on." She again reminds him to not worry if the incidents are true.
In the break room, Gwen warns Alice that Lena is planning to make their jobs redundant.
After getting off a phone call with her brother, she sees that Sam is researching the Magnus Institute and warns him to not take his work home.
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* BlatantLies: Daria likes to think she started out small with her modifications.
-->'''Daria:''' I slightly lengthened my fingers, made my ears little more delicate, straightened my nose and reangled my cheekbones, tapered my chin, slimmed my waist, increased my bust, narrowed my frame, lengthened my legs, adjusted my calves, thinned my wrists, shortened my feet… Nothing much, really.
* IronicEcho: Gwen repeats Lena's "No one's making you work here" to Sam.
[[/folder]]
