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[doctor_seward]

This is the Diary of Dr. John Seward, taken by Phonograph.

Should I be unavailable to attend to your needs please leave what message you will via recording and I shall respond promptly.


Should recording by phonograph fail to please, or in the case of urgency, hold over telegram immediately.

Comments

i ran some of this by Kelly before. :D

[topslug.livejournal.com]

I understand the risks involved. I won't put myself in unnecessary danger.

[ Of course, she says that, but actually doing it is a different thing entirely. ]

Well, I'll start with what I know. Frankie Nichols was the first known victim, but his actual identity is unknown, so he's simply referred to as that for convenience. News headlines from around the time of the first murders eventually dubbed him as the faceless killer, because of the way that the faces were disfigured. They were all killed the same way-- with a garrote. He's estimated to have killed between ten to fifteen people before he was finally arrested, but the police don't know for sure.

Beyond that, the news articles don't go into very much detail. I'd like any information you can provide about the limits of his powers. What kind of people is he drawn to? Does he adopt his victim's persona completely, or is there something you could consider to be the core of his personality? I was told to bring proof of his identity, but I'm not sure what would count...

And... [ She's silent for a long moment. ] Do you think he understands exactly what he's done?

[psyd-seward.livejournal.com]

[That's...quite a lot for one person to know without digging into a more private file.]

His symptoms point to a form of dissociative identity disorder, taking on the bodies and identities of persons he's killed. He cannot resist his urges, and as you've said he disfigures the faces of his victims.

On some level they probably understand their ability, and have a sense of identity instability because of it. (I say "they" as Frankie is of an indeterminate gender. Male as far as we know—but only as far as we know. It's for simplicity's sake.) They're malleable in body, so why not in mind? I suspect once Frankie questions himself Frankie has the impulse to adopt someone new to become. They kill out of envy for someone else's secure existence, targeting victims who are very well self-defined. Someone who is certain about themselves and where they are in life. Then, once they are successful in taking over someone's life they...Start over. Arguably the stress or a trigger prompts Frankie to go after another, and another...

It has been difficult to pinpoint his movements or even a pattern beyond that single trait, but over time the desire for a more and more specific identity fueled Frankie to target someone no one could mistake. He became frenzied and sloppy as a result...But he's more cunning than he'd let on. A superb actor. Luckily he was brought to the asylum shortly thereafter, and has stayed there since. Until now.

The only thing that appears to remain consistent is that need. That constant drive that makes him antsy and perhaps even constantly on edge. That and the appearance of Frankie Nichols himself. He favors that form for reasons no one can tell.

[topslug.livejournal.com]

[ As he speaks, there's the rustle of paper and the soft sound of a pen scratching against it. Yako's taking notes, but it's what he says last which surprises her. ]

So Frankie Nichols is the appearance and the persona they default to when they aren't actively attempting to become someone else... [ She frowns in thought. ] Has he been known to revert back to any of their other victims, in the time he's been in the asylum?

Who was the person that they couldn't successfully become?

[psyd-seward.livejournal.com]

I am...not entirely sure. I've not worked with him for any extensive period of time, but there have been fears of him assuming the identities of any one of the staff members if they allow close contact without safeguards. This has not—to my knowledge—been the case however.

He has not been successful in assuming staff member identities, nor those he has not killed. It would seem that he either chooses not to when the individual in question has not fallen by his hand or he cannot do so.

It may be that he is simply covering his own bases so to speak, as if he were to leave a victim alive and still assume their identity who is to say he wouldn't be named immediately as an impostor? It's difficult to say exactly. Pure speculation on my part.

[topslug.livejournal.com]

All right. Thank you, doctor, for your time. Those are all the questions I have, for now, and you've been very helpful.

[psyd-seward.livejournal.com]

Miss Katsuragi, wasn't it?

You're welcome, but please remember that should you encounter him he is probably best dealt with by the authorities or if you've a sedative I'd keep it handy if I were you. [Let's hope for your sake you don't have to get that close.]

Should you require any further assistance do not hesitate to call me at this number or at the asylum itself.