View topic - [Website] Enhance Yourself

unforum
a.r.g.b.b

Welcome!

New users, PLEASE read these forum guidelines. New posters, SEARCH before posting and read these rules before posting your killer new campaign. New players may also wish to peruse the ARG Player Tutorial.

All users must abide by the Terms of Service.

Website Restoration Project

This archiving project is a collaboration between Unfiction and Sean Stacey (SpaceBass), Brian Enigma (BrianEnigma), and Laura E. Hall (lehall) with
the Center for Immersive Arts.

Announcements

This is a static snapshot of the
Unfiction forums, as of
July 23, 2017.

This site is intended as an archive to chronicle the history of Alternate Reality Games.

Our Esteemed Contributors

The time now is Wed Nov 13, 2024 2:40 pm
All times are UTC - 4 (DST in action)

View posts in this forum since last visit
View unanswered posts in this forum

Calendar

Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » ARG: Monster Hunter Club

[Website] Enhance Yourself

Page 3 of 3 [40 Posts]

Goto page: Previous 1, 2, 3

Author

Message

Sylvia
I Have No Life

Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 2062

update

http://enhanceyourself.org/site/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Quote:

Friday, 23 February 2007
Silent Lucidity

Sometimes, when it's been days since I slept well, I enter this state of being where I feel like I'm barely floating on the surface of my consciousness. Just my forehead and nose are above water and the rest of me is submerged in the blood-warmth. And I keep remembering snippets of things throughout the day and I can't determine whether they actually happened or if they were part of a dream. Sometimes it's obvious � of course I wasn't accosted by a baboon in the middle of Central Park who stole my cappuccino and ran off with it, turning around long enough to smack his ass at me and laugh. But some things take me a minute to categorize. Did Jon call me "Babe" or "Hon"? I'm pretty sure it was "Babe," but hell if I can remember for sure. Was that whole episode of my life a dream? Did I really run off to California like it was the promised land and I was the hero gone off to make my fortune? What's real?

On the one hand, all that I've been working towards seems to be set on a foundation made of crumbling sand. I thought I knew Jon, thought we were soul mates and would be together for always in an honest and loving relationship. Now Jon is gone and I question what, if anything, was ever real about us. And I thought that my friends lay in the body modification community, good, salt-of-the-earth people who were solid and real. And now, as I approach them one by one, they turn their backs to me until all I see down the infinite row is just a big line of asses.

But on the other hand, the shimmering fantasyland mirage that I used to scoff at is coming into focus and looks to be set on iron. I see Derek uncovering new clues every day about monsters � just the word "monster" sounds like something a little kid has nightmares about � but these seem to be real. Tangible, clear, honest. The opposite of Jon Paine and his Painiacs. And it turns out that what I thought was the most important thing in the world � self-enhancement � could just be a joke, and what's important is the possible world-wide implications of the things that Derek and even Matt are involved in.

So as I try to sort out my dreams and my wishes from good old reality, I get little wake up calls along the way. The tattoo community here in NYC is just as responsive as the one in California. That is to say, they're not. Nobody seems to give a shit, really. Was it a dream to think that they might be straightforward and helpful? I think the only drama they're interested in is that of their own making. At first I thought it might have been a bad reaction to seeing Derek with me (what the hell is Beaver Cleaver doing in here? he's not like us so he is bad!), but now I think they're just self-centered pricks who don't have time for anything but creating their own false realities.

Ol' Painted Soul, ol' Gefilte Fish buddy of mine, still apparently has nothing to say to me, either. I'm just so glad that he'll spill his damned guts to the rest of the world, people who never even met Jon Paine, but he can't even give me the time of day.

I'm so frustrated. I need to sleep. Or I need to wake up. I can't decide which.

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 12:51 am

Sylvia
I Have No Life

Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 2062

I think I found Jon or cryptidtruth did see my post here http://monsterhunterclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1070#1070

It helps to view the video in a somewhat dark room. Don't have your lamp shinning on it.

Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 2:22 am

danteIL
Unfictologist

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 1990

Amie speaks again:

Quote:

Tuesday, 27 February 2007
On Sarah Jessica Parker

Once upon a time there was this gawky little square peg who couldn't fit anywhere. But then she grew up to be a beautiful swan and married Ferris Bueller and now she wears thousand dollar shoes. The end.

So seriously � what is the happy ending here? I'm the square peg, it seems. The body mod scene doesn't really GAS if I crap or go blind. I've become a modern-day version of the nomad; the little baby bird wandering around the world asking everyone, "Are you my mother?" And by that, I mean, "Are you like me? Do you like me? Will you hurt me? Will you make me one of yours? Will you help me to understand who I am and embrace it? Will you love me?"

And so far, the answer is always no.

Other people are a little luckier. TaintedSole's� er, Painted Soul's contact (and Painted Soul himself, for that matter), has no desire to talk to me. I'm in the untouchable caste. No, he wants to talk to Sun-Yi Park, the blessed, beautiful, and bright. Why would anyone want to sully themselves with the coarse cheese grater that is Amie when they can pamper themselves with the pretty powder puff?

But at least there's hope of some sort of resolution. Sun-Yi has agreed to go, and that's decent of her since this is definitely not her problem. Once again, Amie has to ask someone else to help clean up the big pile of shit she's standing in. I'm sorry to drag Sun-Yi into it. I just hope she can succeed where I've failed miserably by finding out something about Jon.

Jon� Jon, Jon, Jon. Do I even need to mention all the connotations that the name scatter-shots into my brain, hard little shotgun pellets that bring fear and anger and pain and dashed dreams? Now here's something weird � Sylvia over on Monsterhunterclub.com thought that one of the monster sighting videos had Jon's arm in it. While amusing, I think it's probably just coincidence. It gave me a good laugh, though. Wouldn't that be ironic? Jon altering himself to become the actual monster that he feels people see him as? At least it would give Derek an honest-to-God monster to chase instead of the giant yellow-eyed mysterious squid thing in the lake. Yeah � first real laugh I've had in a while, and for that, I tip my hat to Sylvia.

I'm crossing my fingers for something to come out of this meeting. Should know soon.

P.S. Sorry about forgetting to put the comments through. I set it to moderated when I left town and then forgot to check the queue after that. Should be posting now, and I'll try to remember to check the pending ones more often.

We can now read the comments on her blog from the "Members of the Guild" gang, but there doesn't seem to be much useful at first glance.

Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 11:01 pm

Sylvia
I Have No Life

Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 2062

update

Quote:

Written by Amie
Friday, 02 March 2007
One Big Happy

When I was in second grade I had a crush on this guy named Burt, but being kids we displayed our affection with cat-and-dog fighting. The teacher called attention to it and threatened to tie us together and hang us out the window. I was horrified, not only to be singled out, but that people might guess my secret longing for Burt.

So maybe I don't have lustful desires for Sun-Yi, but someone's certainly metaphorically tied us together and hung us out the window. She and I are just so different; I'm not even sure it's fair to say we're the same species. But we've got to work together, and we're both learning how to whittle away some of the burrs so that we fit together better. And as much as I hate to admit it, I have a grudging and growing respect for her. She doesn't have to do this thing, this meeting a total stranger, for me, but she will. Do people really help out their fellow (wo)man like that anymore? I thought it was a long-dead practice. As for me, I feel flat-out miserable that this chick I barely know, who resents me and whom I resent, could be in harm's way because of me. It's not like I inspire people to do courageous and dangerous things on my behalf (well, except for my dad). What's she getting out of this? Nobody does stuff just because. Do they?

Sun-Yi and I are working hand in hand on all this � I'm filling her in on Jon's methods, circumstances, and what I thought were his motives. I'm also trying to keep her from shitting kittens if the contact guy is a hard-core modder. Derek's been helping out too, and even Matt's been pitching in, helping me to remember anything and everything that could possibly be useful. One big happy family. Can't help but glance over my shoulder, looking for the other shoe about to drop.

But damn it, I have to know. Maybe I'm just a selfish bitch who thinks nothing about inconveniencing and hurting others for my own gain, but I need to know what happened with Jon. Whether I'm right to miss him or I'm right to curse his name. I had a nightmare last night about him, where someone posted a video and it wasn't just an arm-like thing in the water but all of him, discolored, bloated, river flotsam. Swaying gently in the current, caught at the bank by a rock. I ran to him and fell flat with a splash right next to him. Called his name. Suddenly his eyes opened to stare at me balefully. They were yellow. I woke up.

Yeah, I'm sure digging into the symbology and events can reveal deep truths about my inner self. What a crock.

Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 10:30 pm

drizjr
Unfictologist

Joined: 28 Nov 2003
Posts: 1700

update

Quote:

Written by Amie
Tuesday, 06 March 2007
Making a Dent

Well. After all the bitching and moaning I've done about the insular and tight-lipped body mod community, here I am cooking up a nice entree of crow for dinner tonight. What do you think is better � roasted, or baked in a pie?

Turns out that some discreet inquiries using the name "The Miller" have actually rung the cherries in some cases. I've kept slogging away visiting (and revisiting, and re-revisiting) all the tat parlors within train distance from here. I dropped The Miller's name this week to a few places and got the look. The one that means there's something there. First one guy told me that his partner was off to see The Miller (off to see the wizard?) just before he disappeared a few months ago. Then I called some of the people I contacted a while back who had told me about the other disappearances recently. I'm sure they were so happy to hear from me, having thought they were properly rid of me weeks ago, and I could hear their sour thoughts in their voices when I said who I was. Then I asked about him, The Miller, and sour turned to acrid, smoke that disappears in a puff of air. Yes, they said, yes, that was the guy, that's him. He's the dude that nobody talks about but everyone knows of. He's who you go to when you want something beyond the pale. He's everywhere and nowhere.

What the f***, I thought. It's Batman?

Everybody knows that this guy does radical body modification, and yet nobody has ever seen his results. They just know someone who knows someone who knows how to get in touch with him if you want to go off to see the wizard and get that extra limb or cyborg implant. And then, apparently, you never come back. The Miller is the roach motel.

Did anyone know how to contact him? No. But how do you know about him? Because the wind says his name. If you really want to get to him, he will know and get to you. Have I mentioned how much I can't stand this mystical shit? Give me a freaking phone number and quit talking in bad high school goth prose, for chrissake.

Anyway, we're not any closer to finding The Miller, but we have independent verification that other people have at least heard of him, plus his name comes up in conjunction with disappearances. And now I'm really worried about this meeting tomorrow. Is the mysterious contact The Miller? Am I sending Sun-Yi into the roach motel? She's book-smart but oh-so-street-dumb. I've been trying to learn her about the ways of the world, but especially now I'm just paralyzed with fear that I'm sending her off to a bad end. I even thought that, since it's so flipping cold here right now, I could just bundle up real well and pretend I'm Sun-Yi tomorrow, but with my luck that would completely blow the deal and I'd be left with eternal questions.

So, as Derek would say, nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile (gag) and sit here and wait until tomorrow. I can stare at the clock and watch the minute hand barely twitch forward for hours, only to realize that it's been 30 seconds. Maybe I should watch some more public access TV.

asterisks are mine

Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:06 am

enaxor
I Have No Life

Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Posts: 2395

[Update] March 9

Quote:

Written by Amie
Friday, 09 March 2007
I don't have much to say.
I guess you've seen this by now. Yes, that's him. What's in my mind is this big amorphous glob of earwax and different things keep forming out of it. First, crushing grief. Then, a thousand pounds of guilt for being so angry at him for the last few weeks. Denial that he could possibly be dead. Then, relief that it's over. Guilt at being relieved. Anger. Grief. Guilt. Relief. Spinning faster and faster until my thoughts just look like stripes. I get dizzy and have to sit down. I don't want to believe it, but I'm starting to against my will. I hate it. I wish I'd never come out here. Thank God for my friends � my real friends, Derek and Matt and Sun-Yi, who are all also shell-shocked but they're here for me, and it's the first time I've really had friends that I could 100% count on. So I guess I'm glad I came here� at least I've got an answer, even if I hate it. And friends to lean on.

Sun-Yi said the man in green mumbled something to her when he grabbed her, and she's trying to piece together what it was. I hope it was something like "My balls hurt." Bastard.

I'm all out of words for now.

_________________
10/05/2007, 04/23/2009, 07/02/2015
The world is a much dimmer place.

Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2007 7:41 pm

danteIL
Unfictologist

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 1990

[UPDATE] Amie blog

New entry from Amie on Enhanceyourself:

Quote:

Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Tired and I wanna go to bed

I wrote earlier about my reasons for leaving Pittsburgh and heading for California with Jon. I thought that it would be my golden place, my promised land. It was supposed to be home. But the only thing to anchor me there was Jon, and now I'm untethered and finding myself drawn like iron filings to the magnet of my real home. Now that I realize that it really is home. That maybe Dorothy was right after all, even though I've spent years scoffing at her simplistic promise to avoid adventure. Because adventure, I thought, was what people were supposed to do. Being tied down was death, if not of the body, then of the spirit. I fancied myself a nomad, able to pick up and relocate at a moment's notice like a cat, never turning around to say goodbye. When cats want to go, they just go. They don't screw around with that prolonged farewell crap. And I admired that.

But when the cat jumps off your lap, there's a warm place that gradually grows cold. A void which still exists, even though you may grow less aware of it as the moments pass. And chances are, the cat just wanted a quick snack or something, and he'll jump back up and sit in exactly the same place that he left, and the two of you will feel more complete.

I jumped down from Pittsburgh a good long while ago, and I'm pretty sure that the warm lap I left has since stretched its legs and found a way to forget I was ever there. But I was happy there, once, even if I didn't realize it at the time. Things were better there. I was content. And so I'm packing my things to go back and try to find a comfortable spot to curl up in again. It's gonna be weird; it's gonna be scary � not just for me, but for my mom and Billy, too. Things have been pretty strained between us since I left, but I think we can fix it. I have a hell of a lot more faith in the possibility of making up with my family than I do in trying to bring to justice some mysterious doctor on the other side of the planet. And I'm just tired and I want to be anywhere but where I've been for the last three years.

And at least I'll have Derek there with me for a few days over his spring break. I think, anyway. I'm trying to convince him of the futility of our rag-tag little group trying to do anything productive with whatever we've learned about this Genero guy. I'm pretty sure that particular Humpty Dumpty isn't ever going to be whole again.

I'm going home.

So given the tone of these messages from Sun-Yi, Derek, Amie, and even Scott, I am really wondering now if this is the end of the game.

That would kinda suck.

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 7:40 pm

WolfHawk
Entrenched

Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Posts: 1247
Location: St. Louis

Re: [UPDATE] Amie blog

danteIL wrote:

So given the tone of these messages from Sun-Yi, Derek, Amie, and even Scott, I am really wondering now if this is the end of the game.

That would kinda suck.

I agree! I was wondering the same thing!! But what about the other sites on m-a-r-a.org??!! And what is the "Thing in the Water" really??!! Just a fake to make his point or a real (IG) thing?? Has Matt sifted through all ther pertinent information from his grandfather??!! The Miller MUST BE STOPPED!!!!!

Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:02 pm

drizjr
Unfictologist

Joined: 28 Nov 2003
Posts: 1700

[UPDATE] Amie blog

Update on Enhance Yourself.

Quote:

Written by Amie
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
We shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds

Jon Paine was a hominid, it is true. And at the core, that means he was human. Like all the rest of us, he was prone to foibles, likely to err at a moment's notice. Flawed, as we all are. But a diamond may be flawed, yet still sparkle brightly. And Jon did. He scintillated. He had an intensity of life and spirit, deep and sometimes hidden facets, and he was a beautiful example of a true gem. And for all his faults, I will miss him dearly. Although maybe not deliberately, he helped me to see what is truly precious in my life, and for that I will be forever thankful.

Chekov said, "We shall find peace. We shall hear angels, we shall see the sky sparkling with diamonds." For Jon's spirit, I pray there will be peace. So I have come to realize that I owe this debt to Jon: I will help find the person responsible for his death, and I will bring him down. Then may we all have peace.

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 1:19 pm

danteIL
Unfictologist

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 1990

New post from Amie. Feels like endgame to me:

Quote:

Sunday, 18 March 2007
Where everybody knows your name

It's been a ride, hasn't it? All of us have been through a lot. More than most. But I like to think of it as tilling the soil. A violent process, full of upheaval, but it leaves fertile ground with good, sweet earth. And maybe we can all grow the better for it.

I know I've been burying my head in the sand for far too long. The way to mend your troubles is not to hide from them, or even run away. Those who face their problems may win or lose, but my God, at least they did something.

I also realized that the only person responsible for Amie's happiness is� Amie. I can't keep blaming others for my failure to thrive. I'm the one who knows what I need in order to survive, and depriving myself of it will only bring grief to me and those I drag down with me.

So in that vein, I'm going to go back to my roots. See what it's like, now that the ground is nice and tilled and the sun's been shining on it for a while. Dig my toes in the dirt.

We have a good thing going with Steelhart's. There's a real heritage there. We were all happy there once � a machine that hummed along. And our customers are really part of our family, too. We've seen people get engaged there; come there still in their wedding clothes to celebrate with friends; we've seen people break up, get on the wagon, fall off the wagon, laugh, and cry. And I miss that. Everyone belongs there, even if it's the first time they've been. I haven't belonged to anything since I left, but I know that when I walk in the door, I will be greeted as warmly as everyone else who walks in. I want to be a part of that again, to belong again, and I should find a way to do it before that's taken away from me, too.

I don't know what the future holds for anyone else, but for me, my future is back with my family at Steelhart's. I'm going to see if I can't help fill the empty space my dad left. And find a way to graft myself back on to my family and friends in Pittsburgh. I don't know if I'll get to see Matt or Derek or Sun-Yi � damn, I miss Sun-Yi � but I hope I will. They are family now, too.

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:00 pm

Display posts from previous: Sort by:

Page 3 of 3 [40 Posts]

Goto page: Previous 1, 2, 3

Forum index » Archive » Archive: General » ARG: Monster Hunter Club

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum
You cannot post calendar events in this forum