Log:A Trap for the Mind

The Madness of David Flyte 2020/02/03 Radical|Connor Randal Grimm 14

Connor stops in to check on Randal, using his key to get into the place. He has his gear with him, but not on currently. "Randal, are you here?"

Randal comes out of the other room, looking a bit manic, "Connor! There you are. I didn't sleep well last night. I kept having dreams about the research. I have a lead. I can feel it. I just need a little more time. But..." He grins, "This is invigorating."

Connor blinks a little, looking at how Randal is acting, and starting to see a little of David Flyte's demeanor.

Connor sighs, looking concerned, "Randal. You're not yourself. I can see it. We talked about this. You need to let me try to remove the influence of the writing."

Knowing the Durans are studying on her behalf, Gabrielle arrives with two big bags of takeout food. She didn't know what they liked, so she overcompensated by getting a plethora of cuisines. Plus she feels the need to overcompensate to make things up. She walks up to the front door and knocks on it.

Randal tries to wave him off. "No, no...I can't stop. I won't stop. I need to help. This is the best way, right?" He makes his way over to the door with his cane, and opens it, revealing Grimm. "It's a sign. See? C'mon in."

Gabrielle blinks in surprise as he mentions a sign. "Hello, Randal," she smiles, stepping in. But her smile flags a bit as she looks at Randal for a moment. "How are you?" she asks in an odd tone.

Randal's eyes go wide, "I think I'm onto something to help you." He closes the door...and doesn't even register when Connor touches his shoulder and starts to apply the healing spell forcibly.

Connor focuses his power, trying to hopefully undo the effect on the older man's mind. If this doesn't work, he's not sure what to do.

Grimm glances over at Connor, seeming to understand something, then looks to Randal to keep him distracted. She offers the sweetest smile. "That's great. I brought some food to help, and I could make you coffee?" she offers. The healing spells starts to clear Randal's mind.

Randal blinks. "Oh..yes....coffee would be great, so I can...stay up late. Yes..." He's already looking a bit more coherent.

"Good. But you should sit down for coffee," Gabrielle says gently, trying to hide her concern and just behave well-meaning.

Randal nods and blinks again, moving over to his comfy chair, which is fairly close to the door. Connor doesn't even have to move to maintain contact. Randal pats Connor's hand. "I'm not sure what's up, nephew, but..." That's when he looks up at Connor, and he realizes what just happened. "Oh. Oh."

Grimm moves around the chair and crouches in front of it, looking up at Randal. She asks gently, "Are you okay, Randal?"

Randal runs a hand through his hair and he licks his lips. "I suspect I Was just walked away from a ledge, metaphorically."

Connor pats Randal's shoulder, and he looks to Grimm, "He and I were researching the book Flyte used. Amelia recorded it electronically. And Randal here was able to make some sense out of some of the language. I wasn't."

Grimm pats Randal on the knee. "You're safe now. Your mind's free of the influence." She rises up to look to Connor as he explains. "I don't think you guys should be researching the book anymore, in any format."

Connor looks closer at Randal, "I think...I just undid its influence on you." He nods to Grimm, "I agree. We need to destroy what recordings we have. I thought we might be able to get away with investigating since we didn't have hte actual book."

Grimm nods. "Can I see the recording? Before you do?" she asks hesitantly.

Connor nods slowly. "Sure." He then smiles and says, "Don't make me have to cure you too, though."

Connor grabs Randal's PDA, and pulls up the recording for Grimm to look at.

Grimm takes the PDA carefully after setting the bags down. "If I act weird...take it from me, okay?" she asks Connor. She looks down and starts watching the recording.

Connor nods. "Of course. I suspect you probably won't that quickly."

"How long did it take to affect Ran...dal..." she says. Gabrielle squints at the recording. "I'm okay," she notes.

Connor smiles, "Longer than that. A couple of days, maybe?"

Grimm stops the recording. "There's a psychic...imprint on this."

Connor raises a brow, "What do you mean?"

"Meaning it's trying to alter the minds of people who look at it," Gabrielle tries to explain.

Gabrielle thinks for a moment. "I don't really understand how, but this is dangerous. It's a trap for the mind."

Connor blinks, "How is it working through a recording, though?" He furrows his brow, "Should I delete it now? Or do you need to see more?"

"I don't really understand it," Gabrielle says as she scrubs through. "But I can sense the psychic influence about it. I think the symbols themselves are related to it."

Connor nods. "We'll need to send a note to Amelia to delete any copies she has too."

Gabrielle looks to Randal, then to Connor. "I think if you're tempted to read it again, maybe delete it. I'm not even sure if I should see more. I don't understand the symbols...but the more I look at it, the more I want to."

Randal looks torn. He clearly wants to help. "No...let's be safe about this. Delete it."

Grimm smiles gently at Randal. "You're right. And there's got to be another way."

Connor nods...and takes the PDA. He then goes ahead and deletes the file.

Next: Log:We Happy Few