The Magnus Archives - MAG 131 - Flesh

Episode Date: March 21, 2019

Case #0182003Statement of Jared Hopworth, the Boneturner, regarding his association with Flesh and recent activities.Content warnings for this episode are at the end of the show notes.Thanks to this week's Patrons: Zachary Pinz, Adina Adriana Ceara, Griesly, Ash Sullivan, Jenna Nolt, Erika Kvistad, Bradie Forsberg, Lorna M, Rose Marie Wong.If you'd like to support us, head to www.patreon.com/rustyquillEdited this week by Elizabeth Moffatt, Brock Winstead & Alexander J Newall.Written by Jonathan Sims, directed by Alexander J Newall, produced by Story Sylwester.Performances:"The Archivist" - Jonathan Sims"Melanie King" - Lydia Nicholas"Helen Richardson" - Imogen Harris"Jared Hopworth" - Alexander J NewallSound effects this week by editor_adp, kylepyke, deleted_user_877451, alienistcog, ProductionNow, smokenweewALT, draftcraft, JoelAudio, stomachache, coltures, MinigunFiend, mmaruska, jop9798, 000600, TheBuilder15, leonelmail, and previously credited artists via freesound.org.Check out our merchandise at https://www.redbubble.com/people/rustyquill/collections/708982-the-magnus-archives-s1You can subscribe to this podcast using your podcast software of choice, or by visiting www.rustyquill.com/subscribePlease rate and review on your software of choice, it really helps us to spread the podcast to new listeners, so share the fear.Content warning for:self harmbody horrordismembermentemotional traumaknife violence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Episode 131 Flash Flash. Oh, my God. Oh come on. Everyone else can carve out the alchemy but when he actually needs it... Oh, come on. Everyone else can carve up the alchemist, but when he actually needs it... What are you doing? Oh, Melanie, I'm sorry. I didn't know you were there. What are you doing? I'm... Would you believe I'm trying to save Daisy? With more bullshit surgery.

Oh, I... Melanie, I'm so sorry. Oh, fuck off. I was trying to save your life. Yes, well, you did. I think. But I also, you know, see your face now when I wake up screaming. I feel you digging into my leg. So, you know, see your face now when I wake up screaming.

I feel you digging into my leg. Chalk it up as a win for Team Archive, I guess. I wanted to ask you. And if you had, we wouldn't be talking right now. I'd have said no, and I'd probably have hurt you. Basira was right. The only way to do it was to completely betray my trust and destroy any remaining sense of safety. So, yes.

Thank you. Yeah, I'm surprised you can stand to see either of us. Who else is there? I mean, Basira is... she's been the only one for a long time, and yes, I sort of, maybe, hate her now. I don't know. I can't look at her without my leg hurting, but what else am I going to do? I don't want to be on my own, and I'm stuck here. So... But Sarah said you were doing better. Would you just stop?

This isn't better. I'm not dying, and I don't want to kill you. It's just different. Yes, it's sort of better, maybe, but I can't... Melanie... Don't tell me to calm down. Don't you dare! Right, yes. Basira is...

Basira deals in intel these days. In usable data. Assets, not feelings, not people. Crying, shaking, nightmares, that is better. It doesn't feel like it, but as far as Basira sees it, I'm not compromised anymore. And that is better. At least it's out. Maybe it's enough to start healing. Start letting go of the anger.

Just stop. Just stop and listen. Okay. Yes, the bullet was bad, right? But it didn't make me angry. Anger is... anger's been all I've had for a very long time. Years. Maybe since. I don't know, but everything I've done, everything I've pushed for was because I was angry. Angry at being passed over, being disrespected, ignored. That sort of anger,

it powers you. Right until it slips out and hurts someone. I hurt someone and then one day I suddenly have this thing that takes all that rage and it holds it. Tells me it's right. That it's me. It didn't stay in my leg because of some ghostly master plan. It stayed because I wanted it. Shit. Yes.

Melanie, I... So, why are you trying to chop off your finger? Oh, I need a... I've been thinking of it as an anchor, I think. I... no. Something I have a connection to, that I can use to find my way out of the coffin when I reach Daisy. I figured the strongest anchor would be part of my own body. Okay, so just cut it off. I'm doing my best.

Hmph. Can't go through with it. Oh, the blade keeps going in, and... It hurts. Hurts plenty. But then it heals up. Pretty much the moment I take it out. No wound, no scar. Nothing.

I could try. I don't think that would be a good idea right now. Maybe not. I mean, you'd think I'd have a better idea how to do it. All these... All these statements and... You know who I need? I need the bone turner.

Just reach in and grab a rib. Job done. What? Melanie? Come with me. I was down here just yesterday and there wasn't- Here. Oh. This door, it shouldn't be here. Yes? I don't want to open it. I'm not going to.

She's been helping us. It has never helped anyone. Not without a cost. If I am an it, Archivist, then what does that make you? Hi, Helen. I have been told that you can help. I have been trying to, but the last time you were very rude. And you're still wearing her face.

Not this again. I'm not wearing anything, Archivist. I am at least as much Helen Richardson as you are the Jonathan Sims that first joined this institute. Things change. People change. It happens. We're not people, though, are we? Not anymore. Names, categories. It's all so important to you, isn't it? You do know none of it's actually real. It's all just meaningless boxes. Is he still in there? Oh, yes. He's not exactly something I can digest. He's a bit of an irritant, to be honest. If you're looking to let him out, I could be persuaded.

When did you say they attacked? A couple of months ago. And he's been in there ever since. I helped clean up. After I took care of things. All this time. Why didn't anyone tell me? Basira said not to. I see.

Why didn't you kill him? I stabbed him in three different hearts. Didn't work. If you want to go hunting for a fourth, knock yourself out. I, uh... I'm all right, I think. So, what's the plan? Right.

I go in. I offer freedom if he... helps. Then I hope he doesn't kill me. If he tries anything... I would suggest running. Try to find a door. Naturally.

Oh, er... Pass the recorder? Seriously? Fine. Right. Hello? Hello? Is that... Hello?

Did I... No, wait. I came through. Jared Hotworth? That's what it says on my licence. Mind you, the picture's a bit out of date. Yeah. I tried to kill you, and you threw me in here. And now what?

You just walk in. I didn't... That wasn't me. You're people. You're Gath. And you wanted to kill me, specifically. Still do. Right.

But you know if you do, you're never getting out of this place. What do you want? I, uh... I want a favor. For letting me out? Yes. Right. Right. Oh.

Okay, do you need to know what it is? Not much, you good one. Come with me. Put something in me. Take something out. Which is it? Take something out? A bone? A rib? Probably. Something I won't miss. Done. Come here.

I, uh, how do I know you won't just reach in and kill me? What guarantees do I have? No, I have. Guarantees? None. For I want to leave more than I want to kill you. Not like it was my idea in the first place. So, why did you and the others attack us? I was asked. You want my statement?

That's going to cost you another room. I could just pull the information out of you. You could try. Okay. Fine. A rib for me, a rib for you, your freedom, and a statement. Yeah. Right. A. Statement first. Fine. Statement of Jared Hopworth, the Bone Turner.

Statement begins. Where do you want me to start? Growing up? My folks? How about that gross bird when I was nine? He left me taller than all the other kids. I hated them. The way they stared.

But they were scared. And that felt good, even back then. Felt right. My dad was proud of him too. He was a short man. Only watching me loom over people really made him happy. Mum just scowled. But then, she always did. I wrecked my school. I did have friends, but they left me one by one until all I had were the drinks, the ones who stayed because they were too scared to leave. We were always either in trouble or looking for it. Those were bad times. I tried to look ahead, but I couldn't see anything.

No future, no hope. Just bitter parents or whatever misery I could pass on to everyone else. God knows what would have happened if that little prick Sebastian hadn't given me that book. I didn't know what it was at first, not really, but it talked to me about bones and flesh and muscle and blood, the bits of me I actually knew and liked. So I listened, and all read, and I learned, or I fumbled through the lessons the book wanted to teach me, and my first try was clumsy. Stupid. Turns out Dad didn't like being told nearly as much as he thought he would, and mum didn't like a new smile either. So I left. I wandered around for a bit. Worked

a lot of jobs where it didn't matter what you looked like. There's always a spot for someone who can get rid of people. You must have heard about me. I left plenty of people scared and crying, itching to tell someone what happened to them. Some of them must have made it to you. There were others. Others of skin and hunger. They tried to talk to me about guns. They'd go on and on about remaking the world of a new day of blood and flesh. I told them to piss off. I like the world just as is. I take what I want and I feed myself more and when people look at me, that fear, it feels amazing. Some of my mates at Thorns are helped find their proper bodies. They listened and went to feed the hunger. Not me though. I never was that ambitious.

The letters started coming in about two years ago. Good white paper, large print, nice and simple. Don't know who sent them, they were never signed and I don't know how they kept finding me. There was never much in them, normally just a name and a place or a time. I ignored the first couple but they kept coming, and eventually I got curious, so I followed the instructions in one of them. I found Regan has an aim of 70 clam on guns, and that got rid of most of my doubts. I don't blame people for thinking that all bones are the same. Most people don't have much experience. But it's not true.

There are good bones and there are bad bones. And Regan has named out some very good bones in her. They were solid, healthy, and they jumped at my touch. I didn't doubt the letters again. They came pretty regular after that, and they always led to something good. Quality bones, a new mate, or some unlucky fool who wouldn't look at me for the fear. It got so I trusted them. Letters, I mean. So I didn't question.

There's a lot of stuff in this world I've never understood. And these were no different. Then I got one about your lot. Your archives. Told me to go there and kill you. They even sent a picture. So I did. Well, I tried.

Didn't know about those tunnels or whatever this place is, but the pipes, they were wide enough for me and a few mates to squeeze through, bit by bit, one bone at a time. When we came up through the floor, it was wonderful. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on their faces. It was like their world had gone with the floor. A weak one legged it, and I thought the skinny one did too. It was just the copper.

One dressed like one, but I know police when I smell it. They tried to run, but we were everywhere and they couldn't stop us undoing them for cards. You weren't there, which was sad, but it made it easier. At least until the knife. I don't know what the skinny one did, what she was, but that knife hurt. She screamed and stabbed and cut through all the others, ruining their perfect bodies. Then she turned on me, reached out with some of my hands to get inside her and pull her apart and she cut them off. I got scared. So I ran. I ran through the first door I found and now I don't know where I am.

I'm starting to think the letters were a trap. Was it you? Did you want me here? Because if so, well played. Mind you, I've trouble to go through just to lose a rib. So maybe not. That's it then. Do you want to do this or what? That's it. Hardly worth a rib.

Alright. Alright. Is it... Is it going to hurt? Dunno. Nothing will hurt me. Is it going to hurt? To know? Not hurt me. That's yours. What's it for?

Um, an anchor. Oh, right. Anyway, this one's for me. That's a weird one. Not sure I like it. Still, mine now. I suppose it is. You said I could leave? Yes, just if you start walking that way, I'm sure there'll be a door for you. There'd better be.

Yes, I... I... Still alive? Seems to be, yes. And he's certainly holding a bone, for some reason. Said it was going to be an anchor. Hmm.

Bodies are strange. Rather glad they're not my concern anymore. Must be nice. It really is. Did you let that thing go? He found a door. Where did he come out? The door may have been in a wall some distance above the river.

Nice. Is it, um... All done. Right. Thank you. For your, uh... For your help. You are very welcome.

I have decided that I support what you're doing, and I'm happy to assist. I think we'll all be much happier this way. Basira's not going to be happy that you let him out. Basira isn't here. And if this works, I'll have Daisy waiting for her when she gets back, so I don't think she'll be thinking too much about Jarrod. You're going now? No.

No. Now, I am going for a lie down. That was... That was not what I expected. Come on. You can use Basira's cot. Good luck, archivist. Be seeing you.

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