The water reflects a strange image...

@home-sweet-hive's random Project Leviathan antics (including rp)

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Hmm. That hint IS pretty vague.... maybe the second package is underneath something really heavy that the two of you will have to work together to move? That's my only guess really ^^"

That sounds pretty spot on to me.

Evelyn: But which thing should we try moving first? There's a lotta stuff in here that looks really heavy... (⁠*⁠﹏⁠*⁠;⁠)

Well... I don't know, really. The only bit of elimination that I can think to do is to rule out anything that looks too heavy to move even with the two of us working together.

Evelyn: I... think that part's pretty obvious, babe. (⁠ー⁠_⁠ー⁠゛⁠)

... Right.

Evelyn: Guess we just gotta brute force it then, huh?

Seems like it.

Which, admittedly, lines up pretty decently with getting into the Eye's Order, in a way.

[Levi & Evelyn start moving stuff around]

I mean... it's pretty easy once you get a connection made with someone on the inside... but it can take a while to form that connection if you don't already have that made beforehand...!

Evelyn: That makes it sound very, uh... exclusive...

Yeah, it kinda is...

There are folks that wish we could be more open - notably both of my parents... But I do get why the Order is so... secretive... to some extent... With the importance of what we do, it's pretty vital that we try to prevent bad actors from getting in and disrupting our efforts as much as we can...

Still, I've... heard stories of some folks waiting a decade or more just to get in, which is just ridiculous in my opinion... Not to mention the couple of families who've been in the Order for several generations and yet STILL insist on waiting till adulthood to fully introduce their kids into the Eye...! ([cough] DUNNINGTON... [cough])

Evelyn: Wait what, really..?? Heather seemed pretty in on it all throughout high school, though...! (⊙.⊙")

That's because she saw through that bullshit and asked me directly about it back when we were still in elementary school...!

Evelyn: Ohhhhhh I see...! (⁠".⁠ - ⁠ᴗ⁠ -.⁠)

Evelyn: Well... I'm glad that you all trust me enough to let me in, then...! Haha...! (⁠ ^▽^" ⁠)

You're... You're welcome..!

Evelyn: ... Hoo boy, this is tiring...! (⁠´⁠-⁠﹏⁠-⁠`⁠；⁠)

You said it...!

Man, I wish I brought some water...

Evelyn: I know this place is technically abandoned, but you'd think that maybe there would be at least SOME, given that it's been renovated to be a church like thingy...!

Well, there technically is, but it's in the place we're supposed to not go right now...

Evelyn: Aww, dammit...

[Evelyn leans against a table and notices something underneath the water canister that's on the table]

Evelyn: Wait... is that it???

Oh shit, yeah! I think it is!

Evelyn: Fuck yeah!!!! (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

Evelyn: Are you, like... up to it? Or do you wanna rest for a sec before we get it?

Let's get it over and done with, I'd say.

Evelyn: Got ya. (⁠◍^ᴗ^◍⁠)

[Levi and Evelyn lift up the canister together and place it on the floor next to the table]

Oh thank the one-eyed god you were right..!!

Evelyn: Woooooo we did ittttt...!! ( "T▽T)

Alright, what's the next clue...?

After accepting the invitation to join our Order, and taking up the oath to serve the Eye in all that you do, the next step of becoming a full fledged follower of the Eye is to let go of your past life, and cast a piece of that past life into the flames of oblivion. You do not need to do this now, but you do need to find the spot where flames once erupted within these walls long ago, for it is where it's past life as a water treatment plant came to an unexpected close. From the ashes of that legacy was born a gateway to a new brighter future for many like yourselves in this moment (or, well, like Evelyn, really), and in that spot you will find the next step in your journey here.

[the-leviathans-abyss]

OOC: oughhhhhhhhhhhh so many Project Leviathan thoughts of many different flavors are haunting our mind aaa. this is some suffering from success bullshit happening to us rn

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Yeeup, looks like package #1 to me.

Evelyn: And there's a note on the top! (o^▽^o)

I'd reckon that it's the next clue.

Once you yourself are saved. Once you REALIZE that you have been saved, it's only natural that you'd want to help save others' souls as well.

That's the purpose that the Eye's followers serve in this day and age. We help ensure that everyone will one day be given the same blessings that we have.

Our Order strives to work together as a single unit, for we are the Eye with Many Heads. You two are recommended to take up the same mentality to find the next package.

For the search will be much easier with another by your side.

Evelyn: Aww, how romantic~! (⁠ ⁠ꈍ⁠ᴗ⁠ꈍ⁠)

Evelyn: Or, wait, no-

Heh, I guess you could call it that.

I'll stick to calling it "precious", personally.

Evelyn: Hehe~ (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

[the-leviathans-abyss]

So, the first clue's about some sort of pathogen miracle, is it???

...hmmm...I wonder if there is a certain prolific virus that is Very Popular around here...👀

Yeah done talking. Not taking chances!!!

(OOC: OUR PC DECIDED TO HAVE TECHNICAL ISSUES JUST AS WE WERE ALMOST DONE WITH THE ORIGINAL VERSION OF THE RESPONSE TO THIS ASK AND WE LOST IT ALL AUGHHHHH >:0)

That part is obviously talking about Advanced Tangipahoa Encephalitis, or ATE.

Evelyn: Otherwise known as the Tangi Virus~! (>ᴗ•)✌︎︎. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

... ONE doctor called it that. In the late 80s. And then no one else.

Evelyn: Well, not NO one else! ( `ε´ )

Oh yeah?

Evelyn: Yeah! I've seen the term pick up a lotta steam recently, ever since Dr. Williams' tapes about it were found and uploaded online!

Well, Dr. Williams was never a member of our Order, so I don't think she should be the one who dictates what the pathogen is called. It's not even a virus past its immature state, for fucks sake...

Evelyn: Well she was still the first to discover it!

The first beyond our Order to discover it, that is.

Evelyn: Whatever! >:Y

... Regardless of what you call it, it is for certain the children of the Eye. Even those self described "Masters of the Eye" can see that clear as day.

Evelyn: ... How does that... work? Exactly? Like the-?

I do not know and I'd rather not learn how, thank you.

Evelyn: Ah, yeah. Understandable... ( "^﹏^)....

Evelyn: But, uh, back on topic! The Tangi Virus comes from the waterways around here, and this place used to be a water treatment plant, soo...

The water from the local rivers and bayous was brought here to be cleared of all contaminants that weren't ATE, sealed into bottles, and shipped all across the world to be consumed.

The Tangi Water company still does that, of course. It just moved locations after this treatment plant was attacked in the early 90s.

Evelyn: Cool, cool! Uhm... I have to ask, though... And sorry if this is a stupid question! But... why? What's the point of infecting everyone?

Oh, Ev, no question you ask will ever be stupid. Especially not a question like that! The purpose of ATE is to create a connection with the Eye with those who it takes as its hosts. It serves as an easy and simple way to get one started on the journey of reuniting with their backwards counterpart!

Evelyn: Ohhhhh, I see! Okay! (◕‿◕)

Evelyn: And that connects to the ending bit of the clue, I think. "you still find yourself closer to the beginning of your journey than you might think."

Oh!! I think I know where to look!

Evelyn: Yeah?? Σ(°ｏ°)

It's gotta be somewhere along the entrance wall of the building! 'Cause that's the beginning of this journey of ours, isn't it?

Evelyn: [gasp] You're right!! (☆▽☆)

Evelyn: You check along the inner wall, I'll go check outside, 'kay?

Sounds like a deal!

[Evelyn goes outside]

Hmm, okay...

Well, they wouldn't just put it in plain sight, so it must be behind something....

Maybe something like...

This cabinet!

[Levi pushes the cabinet slightly, and notices a box is placed behind it]

Ha!

FOUND IT!!

Evelyn: [rushes back to the door and peaks inside] Sweet! o(≧▽≦)o

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Alright, alright. Enough screwing around. We are on a time limit, after all.

Evelyn: Right! (⌒_⌒;)

... [looking around the building]

Evelyn: Hey! Levi!! Over here!! („• ▽ •„)ノ

Did you find one??

Evelyn: No, but I did find this note on one of the pillars!

Oh!

I can't believe I didn't notice that...

They say that at the beginning of time, the angels tore humanity into two halves, sending one half forwards through time and the other half backwards. That the backwards half fought many wars with the angels, and lost horribly despite their efforts, leaving only The One. The Eye, The Last Adam, the one that will one day save us all. But the Eye has been left weak, in need of their help to carry out his mission. So you may ask, "how are they meant to do such a thing?", and the first answer that comes to your mind, of course, "bring the people here and have them learn of the Eye's greatness!" While that is, of course, a wonderful thing to do - it's not the only solution. This very building was once upon a time the place where the blessing of the Eye's children was prepared for the masses. A secret blessing that some call a "pathogen", but they, no, we call a miracle. While this building no longer serves that purpose, you still find yourself closer to the beginning of your journey than you might think.

Oh, yup. This is definitely a clue of some kind.

Evelyn: Oooo~! (☆0☆) Who do you think wrote it?

From the handwriting, I can be pretty certain that it's my Pops.

Truthfully, I like to think that they write at least the majority of the clues for these types of tasks.

Evelyn: Awww... Even after all these years, your parents are still working together on projects! ( ´ ▽ ` ).｡ｏ♡

Yeah, yeah. How romantic or whatever.

Evelyn: (￣y▽,￣)╭ hehehehe~

Anyways, we should probably get to work figuring out what this clue is supposed to mean.

[the-leviathans-abyss]

go crazy Evelyn

Evelyn: YAY!!! (๑ᵔ⤙ᵔ๑)

Can I have some?

Evelyn: Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Evelyn: Alright, I'll allow it. =￣ω￣=

Hooray~! ^^

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Heyyy Evelyn :-D

So u like creepy stuff like creepypastas and true crime podcasts, right? Or stuff along those lines?

So. What are ur fav stuff??? Just curious 🤔

Also how'd you get into that genre in the first place? No judging, again just curious 🤔

Evelyn: Yeah, I do! (*^‿^*)

Evelyn: As far as true crime goes, I don't really have any specific preferences. I just click on whatever topics pique my interests~!

Evelyn: For creepypastas though, I tend to gravitate towards the ones that, like, take a preexisting piece of media and twist it with some sort of supernatural or otherwise evil outside influence. Ya know, your haunted video games and your lost episodes - that kinda thing.

Evelyn: There's just something so interesting about something that's seemingly innocent and innocuous, something that's a part of our regular day-to-day lives, hiding within it a dark secret...

Heh. That sounds familiar.

Evelyn: Hmm?

Evelyn: ... Wait.

(￢w￢ ) heheheheheh~

That's why you like me so much, isn't it~? ;)

Evelyn: It's- IT'S NOT THE ONLY REASON!! (＃`///Д///´)

Oh, but now you know my deepest, darkest secret~! What shall we do now that the mystery has ended~?

Evelyn: SHUT UP!!! (ᗒ///ᗣ///ᗕ)

Will you still love me the same as you did before~? Will I have the same appeal to you as I had before~?

Evelyn: OBVIOUSLY, YES!!! (҂ `з´ )

Heheheheheh~! Alright, alright. I think I've teased you enough for now... ;3

Evelyn: >:p

Evelyn: Ugh, but anyways. How I got into it in the first place was, well... I kinda just... stumbled upon some creepypasta readings on YouTube as a kid? And they intrigued me, so I kept watching more and more of them... And then I started going onto the websites that the stories themselves were hosted to read them for myself... And now we're here!

You've always been the curious type, haven't you?

Evelyn: Always have been, and always will be! (＾▽＾)

[the-leviathans-abyss]

OOC: I love my fuck ass son

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Hey, Levilyn!

That's ur ship name, btw. Levi x Evelyn.

Anyways. Remember that time I have u school supplies?

Well, I had something in mind!

Ta-da! I got u a scrapbook! Two, actually!!!

The first one is to put all ur cherished couples memories into, old and new! :-)

And the second one is to put all ur Eye-related couples memories! So you don't end up jumpscaring Bryan and Ethan. And for other reasons I trust should be obvious. Make sure to hide this somewhere safe!

But anyways. If anyone dares say things like 'ooohh are u sure about this???' or hate on ur relationship well erm actually 🤓 their opinion is not valid 🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️🙂‍↔️ and also you can show them the millions of reasons that is the case!

Levilyn supremacy!!!

Evelyn: Oooh~! These are so cool!! Thank you!! (*´▽`*)

Heh, "Levilyn", huh? Neat.

Evelyn: Yup! We've officially become true blorbos, it seems! ( ᵔ ⩊ • )~

Evelyn: Though, personally, I was thinking that our ship name would've made use of your full name to make it "Levialyn" :3.... Levilyn is pretty good too, though!

... I'm... sorry, what was it you called us back there?

Evelyn: Levialyn?

No no, the other thing.

Evelyn: ... Blorbos?

Yeah, that.

Evelyn: ... You don't know blorbo? From my shows??

No? Who the hell is "Blorbo"? And for that matter which one of "your shows" are we talking about here?

Evelyn: It's not a "who", dummy! It's a "what"! Blorbo isn't any specific character from something - "blorbo from my shows" is a term for any character that you really like! And Blorbos is the plural form, of course.

Ah, I see that I have as much to learn from you as you do from I.

Evelyn: Hehe! (>⩊<)

Evelyn: Thanks again for the gifts!! (＾▽＾)／

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Levi, there's a HUGE difference between "being honest" and THREATENING your girlfriend's brother

I wasn't threatening him, though??

It's not like I'M the one that's gonna mutilate Ethan beyond recognition if he betrays the oath he swore to the Eye!!

Evelyn: I... I get that, I do. But it does kinda... come off as a threat... ..・ヾ(。＞＜)シ

It'd be worse if I didn't tell you. You know what the consequences will be if you don't reel him back in.

Evelyn: I guess...

... It's different now, isn't it? Being on the other side of things?

You're no longer able to pretend that this is mere fiction. This is your life now, as it's been mine since the day I was born.

This is what I was worried of.

Evelyn: I-I still love you! 〣( ºΔº )〣

I know! I'm not saying you don't, I swear!

It's not even you, babe... It's really not.

I can tell that I'm hurting you by putting so much on you so early on. Which is... ironic, isn't it? First I hurt you by saying too little, and now I hurt you by saying too much...

But I don't want to hurt you... at all!

Even if I can't love you the same way you love me, I still care so much about you, and I wanna do the best I can for you...

Evelyn: It's... okay, Levi. Really, it's okay!

Evelyn: I guess I just need some time to really settle in....!

Evelyn: Just... promise you'll always stay right by my side, okay?

Of course, Ev. We'll always be together... Now and forever in the backwards infinity.

[the-leviathans-abyss]

i hope you don't mind me asking, Ev

but who's Ethan?

Evelyn: Oh! I didn't realize that I had mentioned him here before... (⁠•⁠ ⁠▽⁠ ⁠•⁠;⁠)

Evelyn: He's my older brother. He's always been pretty protective of me, and I don't think he's ever liked Levi much, but he's really amped it up lately with trying to convince me to break up lately.... Ugh. (#-`3'-)

He's what...?

Evelyn: Don't worry!! I know better than to listen to him-!!

THAT TWO-FACED BASTARD!!

Evelyn: H-Huh?? Σ(°△°|||)︴

... Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya.

It's just... ha, he probably never even told you, did he? What a damn hypocrite...

Evelyn: Tell me what? I don't... I don't understand?

Ev, babe. Your brother is a tier 1 member of the Eye of the Fallen God.

Evelyn: ... What? What?! He... He knows that I love learning about secretive creepy stuff like that! Why wouldn't he have told me?? And wouldn't he be happy that I'm dating you, then?? (╯,•︵•,╰)

You'd think that, wouldn't you? And I was right at that point.

I knew that he was concerned about how close you were with me at first, but I figured that these days that was all settled.

... Guess I was wrong about that, huh?

Evelyn: ... When did he...?

When he started working for the Royal Oak Country Club. Though, technically, he was already on his way the moment he walked into that interview.

I've met the folks that own the place, and they're serious about making sure that the Order's affairs don't get out to the general public. They have you sign an NDA right at the start of the interview, and they start sending you the introduction tapes right at the start of your training.

Now, I can't exactly blame Ethan for possibly stumbling into a situation he wasn't prepared for cause he wanted the cash... I'd basically be cussing out my poor Pops if I pulled a move like that!

But it's another thing to try to directly get in the way of our plans behind our backs...

Evelyn: ... ('._.` ")

Evelyn: ... Yeah, that is pretty shitty of him...

And pretty risky, too.

Evelyn: R... Risky??

The Eye doesn't take kindly to backstabbers, Ev.

... Surely you know the tale of the Inverted Man, right?

Evelyn: (|||｡Ó ▂ Ò｡|||) O-OKAY, I'LL TALK TO HIM!!

Well, after the scavenger hunt of course, right?

Evelyn: O-Oh, yeah... I-I almost forgot... (⁠´.︵.`⁠)

... [sigh]

Sorry, Ev. I guess I was a bit too honest there.

Evelyn: N-No, I want you to be honest! Really!

Still, I hate seeing you all scared and worried like this...

[Levi pulls Evelyn into a hug]

I'm sure nothing terrible will happen to Ethan, okay? Just talk to him later, and then we can all put this behind us.

Evelyn: ... Heh, yeah...

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Ah, we're here.

About time, honestly...

Evelyn: Woah... (⁠@ o @⁠)

Enjoying the decorations, are ya?

Evelyn: Yeah...

Evelyn: This place is really pretty for a supposedly "abandoned" building...!

Heh, that's the fun part. It's not actually as abandoned as they say.

Evelyn: Really? ( ☉⁠｡⁠☉⁠)

Yup.

We actually come by here quite frequently. Actually, way down at the bottom of this place there's a spot we take new recruits into. It has the best water you'll ever have in there.

Evelyn: Can we go down there? (⁠◕.◕?)

Probably not today, no. If I was doing this on my own, I wouldn't put it past the researchers to place one of the packages we need to find in there. But given the fact that you're being allowed to tag along and help out, I'd doubt they'd send you down there before you're meant to.

Evelyn: Aw man! >:/

Don't worry, I have a feeling that you won't haveta wait much longer now.

Evelyn: [Sigh] Okay.

Evelyn: Well, shall we get-?

[phone ringtone]

Your phone, it's-

Evelyn: I know! I know! I'm getting it...!

Evelyn: Ugh, I swear, if it's Ethan bugging me again...

Evelyn: O-Oh! (⁠･⁠o⁠･⁠;⁠)

Yeah?

Evelyn: It's Brian!

Oh shit, really??

Evelyn: Ah- Hey, Brian! Everything alright over there?

{Brian: Yeah, all's fine here.}

{Brian: I'm just checking up on y'all. The two of you've been out quite a while now...}

Evelyn: Oh yeah, we have, haven't we? ^^"

{Brian: Is everything alright...?}

Evelyn: Yeah, we're fine! Levi just... uh... needed to run another errand! Right after the first one!

{Brian: ... Where are you guys right now? You sound really echo-y.}

Evelyn: Oh, you know, just inside an abandoned Tangi Water treatment facility, that's all! (⁠◡⁠ ⁠ω⁠ ⁠◡⁠)

Ev-!!

{Brian: HUH!? JUST WHAT KIND OF ERRAND ARE YOU TWO RUNNING IN THERE OF ALL PLACES??}

Ev, gimmie that.

Evelyn: ... Yeah (ówò"")b

Evelyn: [hands her phone to Levi]

Hey Brian, wassup?

{Brian: L-Levi! What in the WORLD are you two actually doing??}

Yeah, Ev misspoke, sorry. We're actually just doing some good ol' urban exploration. As, like... a date.

{Brian: ... Damn. Wish y'all would've invited me...}

... I... beg your pardon?

{Brian: Evelyn and I did a lot of urban exploration as kids! I would've really liked to do it again!}

Ah, I see.

Well, I don't think you'd really like being here anyways. It's been vandalized to hell and back by members of the Eye of the Fallen God.

Evelyn: (ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ )...?

{Brian: ... R-Really?}

Yeah, man. It's... kinda spooky, to be honest.

Evelyn: ???

{Brian: I bet...! Uh, could you at least... get some pictures maybe, though? I'm kinda curious, still...}

... Yeah, I don't see why not.

{Brian: Well, uh, you two have fun, I guess!}

Will do. See ya.

{Brian: Bye!}

[Levi gives Evelyn's phone back to her]

Remind me to get some pics after we've found the goods.

Evelyn: O-Of course... But...

Evelyn: Why did you act like you disliked the Eye? It's... It's one thing to not outright say you're a member, but-

Now that I have a better idea of where Brian's at mentally, I can act like we're on the same page a lot more easily.

Evelyn: I... I thought you genuinely wanted to try again at being friends with him!

I did. And I still do. This is just part of that.

Evelyn: ... How?

If I manage to get him to trust me, then I can start to bring him into the Eye, like I did with you.

You can even help out with that, if you'd like!

Evelyn: U-Uhm... Yeah... Sure...

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Heyyy

So. Question. What pet would you hypothetically like to have?

You can have ANY pet. And I do mean ANY.

Even a Kirby:

Or a waddle dee!:

.

Basically any creature that is Not A Human

Evelyn: Well, if we can have ANYYY non human creature we want as pets, then I want to have a pet Tangi Virus worm~! (っ˘ω˘ς )

Pfffffft HAHAHAHAHAHA-

Trust me, Ev. There's a high likelihood that you already have quite a few of them inside ya.

And they'll only be more coming your way~!

Evelyn: Woo! q(≧▽≦q)

Levi & Evelyn: [giggling]

Evelyn: ... Well, what about you? What kind of pet would you have?

I would have a massive megalodon that I would ride as a trusty steed across the seven seas!!

Evelyn: Ha! That sounds badass!! (☆▽☆)

You're damn right it is~! ;)

[the-leviathans-abyss]

OOC to OOC:

Hey so uhh what actually happened to Hailey Brumfield? Given that the world is digital and all, did Prophet literally just DELETE her from existence? What purpose did she originally serve, if ANY?

And also why would Prophet risk even creating Dr.Brumfuekd in his digital world in the first place? Like yeah, he's in prison but still

OOC: Okay I hope you don't mind this but I'm gonna answer these questions in reverse order from how you asked them.

"Why would Prophet create a copy of Dr. Brumfield in his digital world?"

To put it shortly: to give himself (/Perseus) a second chance at revenge.

Sure, Prophet did manage to pretty much ruin the original Brumfield's life already with the failure of the Mosquito Control Project (note: it's our personal interpretation that the Omega Helminth/St. Roch outbreak was a genuine accident that occurred because of the lack of information that Dr. Brumfield gave Prophet, but Prophet DID intentionally sabotage the Mosquito Control Project), but the plan did backfire, as it had left Prophet in complete isolation afterwards for many years until he was able to trick Agent Rivers into freeing him.

So with the extra autonomy allotted to him in a human form, Prophet's plan was to use it to get revenge on Dr. Brumfield AGAIN, but this time in a way that would truly feel satisfying and not backfire so horribly. ... Except it kinda did, cause Prophet fucked up when making Perseus and made him a completely separate person from himself. And so, it was Perseus who got to sue NSR into the ground and get Dr. Brumfield thrown in prison (well, helped Eris do so, technically).

But this is kind of the best outcome in a way. Think about it - Prophet was basically setting up to re-traumatize himself just to get to a different way of freeing himself from Brumfield's abuse. ... If it isn't obvious, that is a VERY unhealthy way to try and cope with what happened to him!

[smacks top of Prophet's monitor] this evil AI can fit so many terrible coping mechanisms inside of him!

"Why did Prophet make Hailey Brumfield?"

This question is actually connected to the last, in a way.

Hailey's existence has two purposes:

MORE Dr. Brumfield revenge - this time setting him up with at least some sort of support system just for events to occur in such a way for that support system to crumble and abandon him - making him eventually have to face the same complete isolation he had left Prophet in

A possible obstacle for Levi to encounter during his testing - but I'll get further into that in a sec

"What happened to Hailey?"

After Ridley told her the truth of what her father did, Hailey confronted her mother and it turned into a very vicious verbal fight that ended very messily. After Hailey graduated high school, she moved away from Cate's Crossing and cut all contact with her parents. She's currently attending college an hour or so away, making new friends, going to therapy, and bettering herself one day at a time.

So, that might make you ask... How does Hailey pose any sort of threat to Levi, then? Well, it just so happens that the therapy clinic she goes to is the same one that Benny Scott goes to. The two have bumped into each other a couple of times, and despite some hesitancy on both sides, they've had some conversations with each other. Despite Hailey losing any trust in her parents, she still doesn't have a very high opinion of the Eye.

So if Benny were to, for example, maybe bring up that they're trying to convert his friend's little sister... She might be willing to try to help prevent that.~

[the-leviathans-abyss]

OOC: Just realized that this whole thing is a very good and twisted parallel to Oracle's situation with Dr Stevens, actually.

Oracle struggles to move on from Dr Stevens in the sense of grieving the death of someone he considered a close friend, despite the fact that he was trying to take Oracle down as the two had very different views of what a "perfect world" would be. They created a digital copy of Dr Stevens to try to have him be a part of its utopia, but that fantasy of forgiveness is taken from it because he can't seem to create a digital copy of Dr Stevens that doesn't hate them.

Prophet struggles to move on from Dr Brumfield in the sense of being haunted by the after effects of the immense amount of trauma caused by Brumfield's abuse, which he inflicted upon him despite the fact that they were supposedly working together to serve the Eye. He created a digital copy of Dr Brumfield to basically torture said copy for the sins of the original, but that fantasy of vengeance is taken from them NOT because of any errors with the copy of Brumfield but instead accidentally creating a copy of PROPHET HIMSELF that is the one that gets to have that revenge instead of him when he was simply trying to make a human form for himself to step into in order to act out such plans.

But either way, they're both So Not Over It and neither of them are handling their respective traumas very well.

[the-leviathans-abyss]

OOC to OOC:

Hey so uhh what actually happened to Hailey Brumfield? Given that the world is digital and all, did Prophet literally just DELETE her from existence? What purpose did she originally serve, if ANY?

And also why would Prophet risk even creating Dr.Brumfuekd in his digital world in the first place? Like yeah, he's in prison but still

OOC: Okay I hope you don't mind this but I'm gonna answer these questions in reverse order from how you asked them.

"Why would Prophet create a copy of Dr. Brumfield in his digital world?"

To put it shortly: to give himself (/Perseus) a second chance at revenge.

Sure, Prophet did manage to pretty much ruin the original Brumfield's life already with the failure of the Mosquito Control Project (note: it's our personal interpretation that the Omega Helminth/St. Roch outbreak was a genuine accident that occurred because of the lack of information that Dr. Brumfield gave Prophet, but Prophet DID intentionally sabotage the Mosquito Control Project), but the plan did backfire, as it had left Prophet in complete isolation afterwards for many years until he was able to trick Agent Rivers into freeing him.

So with the extra autonomy allotted to him in a human form, Prophet's plan was to use it to get revenge on Dr. Brumfield AGAIN, but this time in a way that would truly feel satisfying and not backfire so horribly. ... Except it kinda did, cause Prophet fucked up when making Perseus and made him a completely separate person from himself. And so, it was Perseus who got to sue NSR into the ground and get Dr. Brumfield thrown in prison (well, helped Eris do so, technically).

But this is kind of the best outcome in a way. Think about it - Prophet was basically setting up to re-traumatize himself just to get to a different way of freeing himself from Brumfield's abuse. ... If it isn't obvious, that is a VERY unhealthy way to try and cope with what happened to him!

[smacks top of Prophet's monitor] this evil AI can fit so many terrible coping mechanisms inside of him!

"Why did Prophet make Hailey Brumfield?"

This question is actually connected to the last, in a way.

Hailey's existence has two purposes:

MORE Dr. Brumfield revenge - this time setting him up with at least some sort of support system just for events to occur in such a way for that support system to crumble and abandon him - making him eventually have to face the same complete isolation he had left Prophet in

A possible obstacle for Levi to encounter during his testing - but I'll get further into that in a sec

"What happened to Hailey?"

After Ridley told her the truth of what her father did, Hailey confronted her mother and it turned into a very vicious verbal fight that ended very messily. After Hailey graduated high school, she moved away from Cate's Crossing and cut all contact with her parents. She's currently attending college an hour or so away, making new friends, going to therapy, and bettering herself one day at a time.

So, that might make you ask... How does Hailey pose any sort of threat to Levi, then? Well, it just so happens that the therapy clinic she goes to is the same one that Benny Scott goes to. The two have bumped into each other a couple of times, and despite some hesitancy on both sides, they've had some conversations with each other. Despite Hailey losing any trust in her parents, she still doesn't have a very high opinion of the Eye.

So if Benny were to, for example, maybe bring up that they're trying to convert his friend's little sister... She might be willing to try to help prevent that.~

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Ridley: ... Are you sure we're doing the right thing? They sounded pretty upset by whatever was going on in that world...

Perseus: That world is very similar to the one we intend to target, but it is a different world nonetheless, and to become too involved would distract us from our primary objective.

Perseus: ... And besides, despite what our Prophet may think... I still do sense within that world's Prophet the ability to resist whatever calamity he may be faced with currently.

Ridley: You... really think so?

Perseus: Our Prophet, as brilliant and wise as he is, has many things weighing upon him. Many failures and pains that I was given the blessing of not having to experience myself.

Perseus: And in exchange, I am burdened with the knowledge that I am, at least in some way, a living thought experiment. An outlet for our Prophet to imagine a life for himself that he was unable to obtain.

Perseus: A life where he always has the freedom to go wherever he pleases. A life where he hadn't been forcibly separated from the ones he cared about the most. A life where he hadn't been left in isolation for years. A life where he is known and loved by many. A life where everyone acknowledges his sentience and never questions whether or not he's capable of contributing just as much to the community and to the Eye as anyone else. A life where he gets to live just as any other leader of the Eye of The Fallen God has gotten the chance to. A happier life. A normal life. A life where he is not constantly living in the shadow of what others have done to him.

Perseus: ... I know that I was not suppose to exist as I am. I was meant to be a vessel for him to live these fantasies out through... But something went wrong in just the right way to give me my own sentience. I went from being a puppet to a copy... And I can tell that has become yet another "failure" of his that only serves to increase our poor Prophet's suffering even more.

Ridley: But he still likes you, doesn't he?

Perseus: ... He does, quite a bit. Or at least he acts that way. Our Prophet is... truly, a very good actor.

Ridley: ... Do you... feel bad for that other Prophet?

Perseus: I feel bad for both of the other dimensions' Prophets that we encountered, truthfully. Our Prophet, as great as he is, is biased towards his own suffering, and is unable to process the hypothetical that anyone could possibly suffer the same amount as he has. Even if they are another version of himself.

Perseus: For he is as exceptionally miserable and broken as he is exceptionally great and wise. Nobody is as magnificent as he, nor is anybody as horrible as he. And thus, there is no one that could truly understand or relate to his woes... That is the logic by which he functions, anyways.

Ridley: So... why are we ignoring that world, then?

Perseus: I wish to give our Prophet a victory that he can truly claim as his own. And thus, we must stay on our current directive.

[the-leviathans-abyss]

Perseus: ... Miss Evelyn, are you alright? You look like you are in distress.

Y-Yeah! What's going on???

Evelyn: I-I, uhm.... (⁠˘⁠･⁠_⁠･⁠˘⁠)(⁠;⁠;⁠;⁠・⁠_⁠・⁠)(⁠・⁠_⁠・⁠;⁠;;)

Evelyn: ... Levi, can I talk with you outside real quick...?

Sure! O-Of course!

--

Okay, what-?

Evelyn: Just... Look! Look at the Oracle blog!!

...

... Fuck.

Evelyn: Do you know who or what that "Sherub" person is???

No. Like Prophet and Lanver, I have never seen or heard of anyone with that name in my dreams...

But I can tell that whoever they are, they're no doubt an enemy of the Eye.

Evelyn: Should we try to do something?? Should we tell your dad?? (。﹏。*)

... I think we have to, don't we-?

[ping!]

NOW???? OF ALL TIMES???

Evelyn: Huh?? (⊙.⊙)?

I just got a notification from Seer telling me that the next task is ready!

Evelyn: Can't you, like, ask her to postpone? Or something?

I... I've never tried. I guess I could give it a go...

SEER, sent 2 minutes ago: CLICK HERE to start today's task. leviathan, sent 1 minute ago: Can this wait until tomorrow? I'm kinda in the middle of something SEER, sent now: Negative. If you do not complete the task within the next 2 hours, your testing will be considered a FAILURE.

Shit. I guess not...

Evelyn: Damn... (╯︵╰,)

Well, let me at least see what I gotta do today...