[ video ]

[coffeeking]

[Ianto looks harried and bordering on frightened when he addresses the network.]

To everyone who just saw Jack Harkness's network post, disregard it. He's lying. That is not Jack.

[He stops for a breath, gathering his thoughts and words.]

Jack has been possessed for almost a month now. I thought it was a singular problem... If I had known other people could also be possessed, I would have addressed the network sooner. Judging by the most recent posts about the black cloud, I can only assume the thing that's taken over Jack is a demon. Eridan isn't the one who's dangerous. As far as I can tell, he's still himself, since he's completely prone to disregarding my warnings and playing right into the demon's hands.

[His lips thin as he glares disapprovingly at the camera -- for that moment, it's clear he's speaking primarily to Eridan, before continuing to address the ship as a whole.]

It's Jack who's dangerous. Don't go to his aid. I don't know what he's planning, but it can't be good. Look to your own friends and loved ones, make sure they're still who they claim to be. I'll... I'll take care of this.

[ooc: This is IC-ly posted within minutes of Jack's post.]

Comments

video

[askedtobe]

Possessed? [ This is getting more and more like Alien ever day. ] Think there's any way to... I don't know, confine it?

video

[coffeeking]

Confine it? I want to get rid of it.

video

[askedtobe]

Any idea how?

video;

[slayer_not_player]

[Tillman has never talked to Ianto before, but this hits a little too close to home for him to ignore. He needs to do some recon to get a better handle on the situation. His tone is military short.] A month-- since the last jump, then. Are you aware of any other affected individuals?

video;

[coffeeking]

No, not personally. There's no telling who else has been affected, or for how long.

video;

[slayer_not_player]

Roger that. If anyone reports any similar occurrences to you, will you pass them on to me? [Because this seems like the kind of post where people might mention that little Suzie has been eating raw meat lately, and that does seem rather out of character...]

[notpanicking]

Ianto.

--Do you need anything?

[coffeeking]

[He laughs shortly, with just a note of hysteria.]

I need this to not be happening.

[notpanicking]

If I could fix it, I would.

Tell me if I can help, at all. [Long shot, but.]

[theshabbiestofmen]

How can you be certain? Are there any particular signs?

[coffeeking]

[He struggles not to respond sarcastically. Remus has no way of knowing the hell Ianto's been through in the last month.]

He admitted it to me early on. Rubbed my face in it. His behavior has been... [He tapers off and doesn't continue]

There was... I thought I caught a glimpse of the real Jack, once or twice, but just glimpses.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Which means he's still in there, though. That all hope isn't lost. I don't know much about demons, but if it's reversible, we can find a way.

[audio]

[za_rodina]

Possessed? This place just gets better and better. [There's some very clear sarcasm in his voice, the too wide grin stretching across Russia's face hidden behind the blank face of the screen]

video

[appraysen]

[ and for once trish is sober, except possessed? that can't be right? god, can't things just be normal? nothing supernatural or anything? or space-shipy even. ]

When you say posessed, are you talking like The Exorcist?

video

[coffeeking]

Less projectile vomit and revolving heads so far, but yes.

[rebelled]

Find salt. Place a line at the foot of the door and across every window of whichever room you're in.

Then we'll talk.

[Because if there are possessions taking place too, he's not taking any chances.]

[coffeeking]

[After a moment's hesitation just glaring at the screen, he does as he's told, muttering something about there being no bloody windows on this sodding ship. It takes him some time to get the salt, but he returns and draws a line across the foot of the door before sitting down with his communicator again.]

Done. So talk.

[voice] [oh hey he even locked it the best he can]

[uncodlyawwesome]

[Which admittedly isn't very good but it's better than nothing. And he totally knows that he's in trouble and he actually feels really bad about it.



But still. He tries to do the whole Tough And Unaffected thing, but there's too much anxiety in his voice for that to work out.]

I didn't mean to...

But - howw do you knoww it's just all'a big possession-y type deal? An' that there's not any Jack goin' on there? Because - 'Cos, you knoww. There's a point to be made, wwith the fact that sometimes people come back different from the jumps. Not all the same as they used to be.

[video] [freaking secured]

[coffeeking]

[Ianto grits his teeth, but he tries to remind himself that he can't take this out on Eridan, no matter how stupid he was to fall for Jack's bait. But he's at his wit's end and he can't help it.]

Because he bloody well admitted it to my face and then proceeded to stalk me and leave me little notes mocking me for missing Jack for the last sodding month, Eridan! Because I think I know Jack well enough to determine how he would or would not behave, especially toward me, or people he considers friends! [That means you, Eridan.]

Just...listen to me for once and keep your head down until this is over. If anyone sees Jack's post and not this one, you'll be a target. And won't Jack feel just fantastic about that when he's back to himself!

[ video ]

[zooms]

A month...? [ He trails off incredulously, eyes sliding away from the video feed temporarily as he casts his mind back over the past month. Then, in cautious tones: ] Are you okay? It hasn't hurt you, has it?

[ video ]

[coffeeking]

[He smiles, bitterly.] No, not physically.

voice;

[jilt]

[ fuck that other stuff irene's only concerned with... ]

You allowed this to drag on for a month?

[ video ]

[coffeeking]

[Excuse him while he switches to "I am so stressed out and my tone of voice is now scathing" mode.]

Yes, I allowed it to drag on. I didn't try to figure out what was wrong with him, didn't tell a soul, and made no attempt whatsoever to find him and contain him.

Just because someone doesn't announce something to the entire network, doesn't mean they're just sitting back and mucking about.

[video]

[the_vishual]

Sir?

Maybe you're the one possessed.

I'm not sensing anything bad from Jack.

[video]

[coffeeking]

[He looks at her steadily for a moment, not appearing shaken or doubtful in the least. Chase has always freaked him out, but she's usually spot on. He knows that. But he also knows she's badly wrong now, which is enough to set off alarm bells in his head.]

Maybe you're due for a tuneup.