002 . . . video [ backdated to 25th ]

[sliceofapple]

[ Early on the morning of the 25th, a video void of any faces appears on the network. The feed itself is blurry, save for a blob of colors that slowly materialize into an old wooden countertop. Just when it starts to look like nothing will come of the feed, maybe someone accidentally leaving on a camera, an instructional index card slides into the frame. As if on cue, the sound of feathers and clucking follows and in a slight pan up, a scrawny chicken appears to be dangling upside down before the viewer. It's close to the camera, enough for the audience to see its rapid blinking, the dilating and retraction of its pupils and, eventually the central focus of the shot, the pulse in its throat.

Without any preface, a single downward cut from a knife slits the bird's throat, the blade indicatively retracing its mark much like a pointer. While the bird flaps its wings and life itself pours out of it, the camera eases back revealing nothing more of the one filming besides a bit more of their arms. Once the bird falls limp and the steady flow of lifeblood ends, it is unceremoniously dumped onto the countertop and the identifying features of its head and neck that were previously highlighted as a closeup are cleaved away by a knife, then tossed offscreen.

For those that continue to watch, the bird is boiled, cleaned and gutted. There is an apparent patience to the action, from peeling away layers of feathers and singing hairs to isolating and removing the gallbladder as not to taint the meat. Not a word is spoken, though there is the occasional cough or clearing of a throat from a man.

The feed cuts once the entrails are being cleared, emerging again to reveal a more normalized image of a rotisserie-style chicken being cooked over a steady flame. Its browning flesh lingers on screen for a moment before the feed cuts once more, returning to the same countertop, now slick with various fluids. Finally, a concluding message slides into frame, then the feed ends.]

[ In addition, a few will find themselves the recipients of gifts. ]

TO SALLY: The wine bottle is wrapped in plain brown paper and fastened with a green bow with gold detailing. It is delivered to the bar on the afternoon of the 26th. The label is intact, aged apparently well and described as a rich, red wine for the true romantic.

How she finds out the bottle contains not wine, but a sizable amount of chicken blood, remains to be seen.

TO RICHIE: The other present is not wrapped and might not be taken for a gift at all-- lying on his doorstep is the carcass of a long dead cat, limbs rigid in death and lips curled into an eternal snarl. It doesn't appear to be flattened by any vehicle or the victim of any butchery. If inspected, Richie will find its chest, front paws and portions of its face are singed, hair blown back as if by force. It was found near the barrier, apparently dying trying to make an escape.

Lastly, a mass text follows the video, reading as follows:
BLOODY LEG BONE RESERVED FOR ONE ANGRY MAN WHO SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE OPENING DOORS. SOURCE OF LEG NOT TO BE DISCLOSED, SHOULD DO SIZABLE DAMAGE TO SELF AS REQUESTED.

[ ooc: links are free of any gore, just pictures of lightly bloodied index cards. c: descriptions enclosed involve, well, preparing a chicken for cooking. ]