I'm starting to become worried about a Proxy...
Normally that sentiment, when announced by a runner, would mean something to the effect of "Oh God, there's this Proxy stalking me, and oh fuck what do I do?" Well... it's a human. So I suppose you would shoot them. That sounds like an idea. Honestly not my first choice of reaction, but just saying...
But no, for me that's not really ever been the concern. Proxies are not the enemy, but I've been over this before. So when I start worrying about any given proxy, it's for the same reason you might worry for a fellow runner. You think they're starting to lose themselves to the monster... or that they're going to die... and that makes you feel bad. Because you don't want to see them go like that.
Now granted, I'm still an optimist when I can be. Hope is not lost. I firmly suspect that each of the proxies I'm presently concerned with will pull through in the end. I believe in them. Odd as that may sound to some. But that doesn't stop me from being concerned about them.
Which leads me to the point of the matter I suppose. In most of the current cases there is one standout feature which seems to hold the highest degree of relative significance when searching for the root cause of their dilemmas. And for once, it's not the Construct. It's the Bureaucracy.
Lately, whatever mild admiration I had for the effectiveness of the proxy organizational structure has been summarily lost in light of recent events. With so many bungled mishaps, infiltrations, and clear abuses of power, I'm left to wonder why any self respecting proxy listens to these so called "Highers" at all. What sway could they possibly hold over you? What reason have you to believe that the orders they give you come from the Construct at all? I for one am left to believe that these fools are sitting around wanking it in a comfy chair while sending people out on suicide missions for their own personal amusement. And in regards to human ass-fuckery, this is about as evil as you can get in my book. These bastards are sending people off to die while they stay it safe in a hole somewhere, never once rewarding successes, yet quick to anger at the slightest failure. That sickens me.
Am I drawing the wrong conclusions here? Do enlighten me. I'm always happy to learn more about the system. Or the "culture" if you prefer that.
But if I'm anywhere near to correct, then wouldn't you agree it's about time for some new leadership? I mean seriously, what's stopping you from revolting against these clowns? The Construct? You think it cares? Unless you suddenly change sides, it doesn't even seem to notice you lot, so that can't be it. What do you think is going to happen? The Highers are going to send some elite proxy kill squad to eliminate you? What elite proxy kill squads?? Last I checked, you guys ARE the elite proxy kill squads. They have nothing on you. Your leash has an invisible chain. They can't tug back on something that isn't there.
But maybe I'm being too idealistic. It's not my place to be making such calls. But given what we've been seeing lately... a little defiance shown from you guys now and then would be a much appreciated change of pace. Hell, you might even make some actual Progress if you tried it. Just a thought.
Ugh, I dunno...
Just... just stay safe out there... you crazy bunch of bastards.
((Except you Writer... you've recently managed to achieve sole ownership of my list of "People Who Can Go Die in a Fire." So that means you're a bigger douche than David now. Congrats!))
Well y'know, speaking for myself, I really only listen to the higher-ups because most of the time I'm not doing anything else anyway. 'Course, they pretty much only pay any attention to me after I've created a huge fucking mess for them to clean up. So I think it all balances out in the end.
ReplyDeleteStay frosty.
PS: You're out of your hole now, I see. We should meet up sometime, grab a couple beers, whaddaya say? Just like the old times. You remember when we snuck up on the Wooden Bitch and painted an asscrack on her? Good times, huh?
This sounds like an act which begs to be repeated, whether I recall any such original occurrence or not. I shall have to take this offer into serious consideration....
DeleteCurious.
ReplyDeleteYou're trying to get us in trouble aren't you. Two goofy experiments and then a serious question while our guard is down.
How cunning,... probably.
If you'd like to believe me that clever and manipulative, then be my guest. XD But were it my aim to get anyone in trouble then I'd have specified names...
DeleteI'm not sure exactly how all that beuracracy works. About three useless weeks after Phillip showed up in my class I received an e-mail telling me that I was his handler. When I e-mailed the person back to tell them that I wasn't a proxy and I had no desire to be anyone's handler, and by the way you're at least two weeks too late for this information to be worth anything to me, I just got some BS about how we all play roles for the "Father" and if I didn't like it I could take it up with Him personally. I figured it was more productive to just block to e-mail address after that, I clearly wasn't going to get anything useful out of whoever it was.
ReplyDeleteThey better not sign me up for the weekly newsletter, I am not a freaking proxy.
See you around
-Cage
Aww... but then you could have made a post about how stupid the weekly newsletters are. XD
DeleteThough I'm impressed that without even "joining up" you've already managed to climb to the prestiged rank of "Handler". Of course, if you think about it, even without accepting, you've already kind of been acting as Phillip's Handler, haven't you?
There's a newsletter? Why haven't I heard about this? If I'd have known that I would have made posts about how stupid it is.
DeleteNobody bothers keepin' a brother in the loop. Asshats.
Stay frosty.
I don't doubt it was just someone noticing that there was a pathectically small operation somewhere they really didn't have a lot of activity and trying to make sure they got any potential credit for sucess. I highly doubt that they'd give me any athourity over anyone or anything actually important.
DeleteGeneral notice for everyone to see: That newsletter is totally a real thing and not just something I made up for the sake of a joke. Do whatever you wish with this information, but be sure to bring it up frequently.
See you around
-Cage
Wait the people who went insane and startedfollowing Slenderman around have a beuracracy? How does that even work I mean like they do paperwork and stuff? That seems strange but I think all of us aer people and maybe some of them can be saved! M doesn't seem to think so though...
ReplyDeletePaperworks sucks.
DeleteOn a much lesser note, don't go dieing trying to save murders. That's such an ugly way to go.
Strangely enough that would seem to be the case (with at least half of them anyways). Apparently, no matter what the situation, there is always going to be that one guy who demands that all activities be documented and filed neatly in order. But hey, the more paperwork they have to fill out, the less time they have to murder people, so I'd say it works out pretty well for us.
DeleteAnd I will echo the "don't die trying to do it" part of Swan's statement, but otherwise, yes, I believe some of them can be "saved" as you put it. Wouldn't be easy though, given their closer ties to the monster... but it's as plausible a feat as saving a runner.
It would be wrong to ever stop. What makes the next life worth more than the last? Once you've started, stopping demeans the value of every life you have already taken.
DeleteWell you can save the numb at least partially, the ones that join of their own free will yeah their harder to save.
ReplyDelete-Manic
The newsletters are like mini, boring love letters from the trolls of the bureaucracy.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure they listen because handlers tend to be people like Writer or Valtiel that are honestly almost more terrifying than slendershit himself
ReplyDeleteTo say something is "almost more terrifying than slendershit himself" is to debase the very idea of terror. Or perhaps to debase one's imagining of what terror is. Nevertheless, I doubt Writer or Valtiel could come close to the terror that the Slender Man represents, yet many still fear them simply because they are more comprehensible, more human than the Pale King. For this, they are less frightful though, since terror implies the unknown and the Slender Man is the unknown given form.
DeleteFrom an eminently practical standpoint, I worry more about them-slendershit wants me alive. They do not.
DeleteAlso, you weren't in that fucking forest, you don't know what Writer can do.
And for that matter. There are... things that humans can do to each other that slender would not.
Everything a human can do, the Slender Man can do. Whether he will do them is a different matter entirely. It is true, I was not in the forest and from the story I read, it was not pleasant. But the forest was a byproduct of the Slender Man, not Writer. If Writer had never seen, never been touched by the Slender Man, he would only be a common sociopath, subject to the rules and laws of man.
DeleteCurious, though, that the sociopaths tend to gravitate towards the Slender Man. They are usually not one to become servants to other men or groups. They provoke a human terror is us, rather than the incomprehensible terror of the Slender Man.
Okay, then let me clarify. There are things that they can and will do that slender doesn't stoop to.
DeleteThat's what makes a twisted, fucked up human with godly power so terrifying.
Heh. That's cute.
ReplyDeleteNo, darling. They don't even come close. Father is in a league all His own. Of that, I can assure you.
And why didn't that attach to Elaine's comment? Oh well...
DeleteIn any case... The Highers are indeed a pain. One which I attempt to ignore as much as possible... all while still being well aware that we still have jobs to do. It's an odd balance to hold, honestly. The Dragon has too many heads. It would be amusing if it weren't so pathetic. However, to attempt to organize anything against them... well, you're suggesting a movement to get murderers, thieves, and born traitors to place their lives in each others' hands. To speak honestly without fear of being stabbed in the back.
Think of it like trying to herd cats.
Only if one cat got away to report the activity, every other cat would have some very tough weeks ahead of them.
So it's basically the same problem as always, never enough people willing to actually stand together. Not surprising. But then, that leads me to wonder how the organization came into being in the first place...
DeleteIt's possible that the organization as it stands is something the master had created at one point. They are after all sucessfully herding cats. It's not hard to see the appeal of a place or group that can keep your army, or a at least a part of it, functional and focused.
DeleteI'm even inclinded to believe the in fighting is by design.
I did say almost. Having had run-ins with Valtiel and Writer personally, I can quite honestly say that they're right fucking up there
DeleteI am glad you agree with me, although your words mark you as one uncouth motherfucker.
DeleteDisincentives are more Effective than most forms of Incentive.
ReplyDeleteLaws are obeyed because there is a penalty, not because there is a reward for not breaking them.