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Severance

Severance

Severance is the forty-sixth episode of TribeTwelve, and the 6th video of season 2. It was uploaded on December 25th, 2013.

This video is the first half of a two-part series. The second part is titled "Bridge to Nowhere".

Description

I was sent a letter on December 24th. This is what happened after I opened it. Part 1 of 2.

Transcript

[Video starts with Noah in his room.]

Noah: So. I just went out to get my mail, and, uh, I found this blank envelope...

[Noah holds up a blank white envelope and shows it to the camera.]

Noah: ...In my mailbox. You know, like, uh... there's no address or anything written on it? But...

[Noah turns the envelope over. It is held close with a purple piece of tape, on which there is the Pokémon Haunter]

Noah: ...Yeah. I'm a bit troubled.

[Noah lets the envelope drop]

Noah: I'm... pretty sure I know who sent it to me. Um... I mean, fuckin' purple tape's a dead giveaway, but, uh... that Haunter... pretty sure I've seen somebody wearing that on a shirt before.

[Cut to video from EverymanHYBRID of Evan/HABIT wearing a Haunter shirt in the woods. Cut back to the previous shot.]

Noah: Yup. Evan. [Sighs.] I'm, uh... not looking forward to opening this thing, at all, but... but if there's one thing that I've learned... from all this... it's that no progress is ever made from just staring pensively at unopened letters. So I'm gonna open it.

[Noah tears open the envelope. He pulls out a piece of Christmas-themed stationary.]

Noah: ...The hell is this? It's a letter...  in an envelope, who would've thunk it? Can't tell nowadays, can ya? Let me- let me give you guys a better look.

[Noah adjusts the camera so that it points at the letter.]

Noah: Okay... let's read along, shall we?

[The letter is written in what appears to be Comic Sans and reads as follows:]

"Dear Mr. Maxwell,

It has come to my attention that you are currently struggling to maintain your grasp on the situation involving "Stick-In-The-Mud". I understand and sympathise with your plights. It is not an easy ordeal to undergo, by any means, especially when you are as clueless and outgunned as you currently seem to be. So, I have decided to lend you, Noah, my assistance through the means of bestowing upon you knowledge that will, in fact, save your life. The time will come when we will speak to one another face to face, until then, do your best to stay alive. Lock your doors, brush your teeth, clean your ears and stay sharp my friend. 

Sincerely,

[A purple piece of tape appears with a drawing of a Haunter's face.]

The Habit.

P.S. (See back)"

[Noah reads much of this letter aloud.]

Noah: [Chuckles.] Okay! Um... So, uh, one, I don't accept help from, uh, evil possessed lunatic murderers... [Chuckles.] ...and two, h-how am I supposed to trust this psycho? For... for all I know, I'm a loose end. I mean, they let me into their houses... [Chuckles.] ...when I visited, so... I-I mean I know things I probably shouldn't. And he's... he's planning to off me, or something, because I know too much. I-I really don't want to meet up with Evan, or... or this... this HABIT or whatever the fuck he wants to call himself. Maybe, in the future, uh, when I become a scary God-demon, yeah! But, uh, I'm not that yet. For all I know, he's just doing this to piss me off. I- look at this! What is this?

[Zooms the camera into the edge of the stationary, which is adorned with Christmas trees and other associated decorations.]

Noah: This is fuckin' Christmas borders he put on this paper? I mean-- he's just doing this to piss me off. He knows I'm Jewish. He's mockin' me. He's not just evil, he's like... he's like silly-evil. And that's disturbing as shit. What is this - "P.S. see back..."

[Noah flips the paper over. On the back it reads: "KNOCK KNOCK".]

[Distortion occurs. Instead of normal distortion, this causes purple flares in place of shadows.]

Noah: ...Huh?

[Knocking is heard, seemingly from inside the house. Noah whips around with the camera to the source of the noise.]

Noah: Wha--?

[Knocking.]

Noah: [Chuckling, incredulous.] He's here? In my house? He came to me?

[Noah walks towards the door.]

Noah: Well, okay! Let's do this shit!

[Noah opens the door, and sees the hallway is empty. The knocking is coming from a door further down the hallway. He turns on the light, and pauses as the knocking continues. A momentary camera glitch occurs, then the camera intensifies and more purple distortion occurs.]

Noah: You can do this.

[He opens the door into someone else's laundry room. Noah pans his camera around the room.]

Noah: What the fuck?

[There's a bang as the door shuts and Noah jumps as even more purple distortion occurs. The door has a computer-printed page on it, saying "WHO'S THERE". The distortion ends and HABIT can be heard laughing. The room's light brightens, buzzes, and pops, blackening the room. Some glass can be heard breaking, possibly other lightbulbs in the room. The knocking builds to a constant pound, and HABIT hoots loudly. Noah opens a door and comes into someone's dining room. HABIT is seated at the table, doodling on a whiteboard. He has a knife by his right hand. HABIT is using Evan's body, but when he speaks, his voice is multi-toned. He also has some blood streaks on his face and arms.]

Noah: What--?

HABIT: Noah! How are ya!...Shut the door, man, the cats'll get out.

Noah: What the fuck?

[HABIT rises to his feet.]

HABIT: Yeah, shut the door, c'mon.

[Noah turns around, the camera revealing that the door he just came out of now leads to a street outside, rather than the laundry room he was just in.]

Noah: Where the fuck am I?

HABIT: Shut the door--

[HABIT leans past Noah and shuts the door. Purple distortion occurs.]

HABIT: --Cats'll get out. [He grins at Noah and locks the door.]

Noah: E-Evan?

[HABIT shrugs and waves a hand.]

HABIT: Close. How are ya?

[He walks back to the table, pulling a chair out.]

HABIT: Take a seat.

Noah: No.

[HABIT stops smiling.]

HABIT: Take a seat.

Noah: I don't think so! You can fuck right off.

[HABIT steps a little closer and starts grinning again.]

HABIT: You're in my house. Take a seat.

[More purple distortion occurs as Noah takes a seat. HABIT sits across from him.]

Noah: What the fuck am I doing here? Where am I? What is this?

HABIT: My house! Oh! Don't worry. You're safe here. Nothing's...gonna come...slitherin' in. He can't really... touch it. So you're fine. Think of this as a nice little vacation spot.

Noah: God, you look terrible.

[HABIT loses his grin again.]

HABIT: Well, fuck you, too! I invite you into my house so graciously and you insult me!

[Cut.]

HABIT: Well! That is hurtful.

[HABIT starts smiling again as he takes a marker.]

HABIT: How are ya?

Noah: Not very good!

HABIT: Mmm, yeah, well, you know, the economy...

[Cut.]

HABIT: Well! There's a reason that you're here.

[Something jingles.]

HABIT: So don't worry. And it's not a bad one. Okay?

Noah: Okay.

HABIT: Can you trust me that I'm not going to hurt you?

Noah: No.

HABIT: Okay, that's probably a good idea.

[HABIT leans over the side of the table and reaches down toward his cat.]

HABIT: Well, hello!

[Cut.]

HABIT: I'm very interested in you and your life. That's why I brought you here. You see, I knew you really wouldn't come under your own initiative. You're not... as stupid as the other ones, really. Um, so...what I did, I brought you here. That's why you walked through my house. Pretty sweet trick, right? Pretty cool?

Noah: Ah...I suppose?

HABIT: Okay, cool. Noah. I'm gonna ask you a few questions. First of which, how is school?

Noah: Um...school has nothing to do with anything. Why...

HABIT: [Pointing at Noah.] Bam! Correct! Now! Second question: Do you have the journal yet?

Noah: Wh-which one? There's more than one.

[HABIT seems momentarily taken aback.]

Noah: You've gotta be more specific.

HABIT: Ah, okay.

[He looks down, and bends down again.]

HABIT: [Babytalk.] Oooh, girl. Don't scratch me.

[Noah bends over the side to show a fat black-and-white cat laying on its back on the floor.]

HABIT: Don't look at my cat.

[Cut.]

HABIT: A while ago, a few years ago, like a bunch of years ago, um...I was working with a group of people, they--you might know of them--what were they called again--NAZIS! [Purple distortion.] Yeah, the Nazis! So! The Nazis had themselves a little bit of a... project; there was one particular man on the project-- I believe his name was Sebastian-- and Sebastian had himself a little bit of a journal, so it's Sebastian's journal, written by a Nazi.

Noah: Ohhhhh. 'Kay, I know that, I know that.

HABIT: Good. Do you have it?

Noah: No.

HABIT: [Quietly.] Not good.

Noah: I've been trying to get it.

HABIT: [Still quiet.] Try harder. Trust me. Because that journal is the only thing that's gonna keep you alive.

Noah: What is it?

[HABIT frowns.]

HABIT: Think about it like the uh...Pope Bubble. Nothing can hurt ya. Well. He can't hurt ya, specifically.

Noah: What?

[Cut.]

HABIT: Think about it like a bulletproof vest, but for a very particular kind of bullets. His bullets.

Noah: Okay, okay.

HABIT: Except not a real bulletproof vest, and real bullets will still hurt you.

[HABIT laughs, and his voice distorts.]

HABIT: And fuck will they hurt!

[Cut.]

HABIT: Get the bulletproof vest. You're gonna want it. Ahhkay, Noah.

[Noah's camera lags for a few seconds.]

HABIT: Second order of business: There is a particular symbol in your life, that you've seen a lot since all this dirty bid-ness got started. Do you know the symbol I'm talking about?

Noah: Yeah.

HABIT: Yeah. Looks kinda like an eye or whatever.

[More video lag as HABIT picks up the dry-erase marker.]

HABIT: ...That's more so the reason that you're here. I want you to draw that symbol. Do you think you could do that?

Noah: Yeah.

HABIT: Excellent.

[HABIT turns the whiteboard around.]

Noah: But why do you want me to draw it?

HABIT: Um...because you're in my house, and you're my guest, and I'm asking you to do it. So if you could just get down to doing it. Left you a space.

[Noah looks down at the whiteboard. It has a game of hangman, a recipe, a word square, and a couple of notes, like "Diner: Assume drunk (will be alone)" and "Vin drive". Noah takes the marker with his left hand and starts drawing.]

HABIT: Knock yourself out.

[Noah draws a very rough intersecting eyes symbol.]

Noah: That's it.

[HABIT pulls the board back to him, caps the marker, and looks at it.]

Noah: Right?

HABIT: You know, Noah, I appreciate you doing this for me. You are kind of in a bit of a pickle, staring in the face of someone whoooo...

[HABIT looks himself over.]

HABIT: ...still has blood on him. Of course you're going to be a little bit cooperative, so I see that you're intelligent.

[Cut.]

HABIT: You know when to say 'yes' and when to say 'no', when to go with the flow and when to stop. This would be a time to go with the flow and not be a time to--

[Purple distortion occurs as HABIT gets angry.]

HABIT: --fuck around. So I want you to do it again. Better.

Noah: Why?

HABIT: [Stops smiling, speaking very quietly.] Because I fucking asked you to, that's why.

[Cut back to HABIT as he pushes the board across.]

HABIT: Do it again. This time, with your correct hand.

Noah: Okay.

[Noah sets the camera to the side of the board.]

Noah: I'll play your little fucking game.

[The camera only records Noah's hand and an almost horizontal view of the table and whiteboard. HABIT leans over as Noah draws.]

HABIT: That's nice. What is that...? HD...

Noah: [Still drawing.] Don't touch my camera.

HABIT: Don't tell me not to touch your camera.

[Noah finishes, picking up the camera to show the lopsided symbol he drew.]

Noah: Is that better?

HABIT: Yeah, oh yeah, it's better if you were trying to draw a sack of shit.

[HABIT erases it.]

HABIT: Let's do it again. This time, if you don't do it right, I am going to...

[He rolls a large polyhedral die with a diagram of a man on each face.]

HABIT: ...cut off your... left shoulder. That means you lose the entire left arm. Do it again.

[Noah sets the camera back down and picks up the marker. As soon as he does, HABIT puts his hand over Noah's and begins speaking seriously.]

HABIT: Wait. Maybe violence isn't the best motivator. I want you to think about something. I want you to think about every time that you've ever seen this thing, every time that it's ever popped up into your life. Think about where, think about why it could have been there, what it was involved in, and then...Noah...most of all, I want you to think about its relation to him, and I want you to think about your freedom. Do you understand?

Noah: ...Y-yes.

[Noah begins drawing the symbol while HABIT continues speaking in a low tone.]

HABIT: All right. You've got to put meaning into this. Feel it. Think about all the different shit it was used for, the places in which you saw it. Should practically draw itself...All...encompassing...the master in the middle...split amongst it...and dispersed.

[Noah picks up the camera to look at the symbol. HABIT starts laughing. Purple distortion occurs and HABIT pulls the board toward him, nodding approvingly.]

HABIT: Yeah. That's better.

[He picks up the marker and begins speaking in a high-pitched Southern accent, imitating Bob Ross.]

HABIT: An' then we can draw happy little mountains an' little trees--

[HABIT quickly scribbles a few hills and trees, and laughs again.]

HABIT: Well done, fuckin' fantastic.

Noah: Okay, what does it mean?

[HABIT looks up at him.]

Noah: Does it have a name?

[HABIT is at a loss for words for a moment, and begins gesturing at the symbol.]

HABIT: That is it, that is the name. That is, that is what it means. What it means is this.

[HABIT waves his hands for a few seconds.]

HABIT: Names come from...trying to apply meaning to something, but this doesn't need a name. This, in and of itself, is the meaning. It represents what it is, and what it is, is separation. This little symbol right here basically represents....severance. Cutting the puppet strings. Do you catch my drift?

Noah: Yeah.

HABIT: So you could use it to...

[HABIT looks expectantly at Noah.]

Noah: Uh...sever ties with something?

HABIT: [Nodding and smiling.] Exactly.

[Cut to HABIT as he pulls the board back across.]

HABIT: It's not really important, getting it exactly right. It needs to be...ballpark, but with the correct intentions. You understand?

[Cut.]

HABIT: An example: You found this on your computer, right?

[Noah confirms.]

HABIT: Involved with your accounts, correct?

Noah: Yeah, YouTube, Twitter--

HABIT: Exactly, exactly, your accounts were no longer entirely yours.

Noah: No...So are you telling me that, this can hack my accounts?

HABIT: [Slows down mid-nod.] Ye-eesss...that's not what it's meant for, but it can. Thinking that it's just a hack tool is an insult to what it is, quite frankly. I'll put it in a way you can understand, though. I can't take it as an insult, you just don't understand. Yes, Noah, it can hack into your accounts, it was used that way but...broader scale, it can hack into a human being. Broader scale, it can hack into something...grander, something much bigger. Something much more...

[HABIT sits up straight and more purple distortion occurs]

HABIT: ...powerful.

[Cut.]

HABIT: It traces all the way back to magic and runes and shit like that, but y'all never did it right. There's plenty that actually work.

[He taps the board around the symbol.]

HABIT: This happens to be one of them.

[He gets up from the table.]

HABIT: The symbols run on feeling, on emotion, on your want, and your meaning. Desire for it has to be grander.

[Cut to HABIT sitting down.]

HABIT: If you were to say...put this on something, and that something were to enter someone, then that someone now loses control over the person that did the thing in the--the---

[HABIT picks up his knife and his voice distorts as he gets angry.]

HABIT: Put it on a knife, you fucking retard, and shiv 'em in the neck!

[Cut; HABIT has calmed down.]

HABIT: If the will is there...

[HABIT picks up the knife again and bounces it in his hand.]

HABIT: Put it on...something that can be used.

[HABIT looks over his shoulder at the cat, which is on its back in front of a door in the hallway.]

HABIT: Isabelle. Get away from that door.

[He turns back to Noah.]

HABIT: Put it on something that can be used. Allow the tool to...

[He mimics a stab.]

HABIT: ...enter the controller, and the controller...

[He stands up and begins to move around the table.]

HABIT: ...and the controller loses control--

[Noah jumps up and backs away.]

Noah: Stay the fuck away from me!

[HABIT freezes for a second, then smiles.]

HABIT: --of the wielder. You're a jumpy one.

[He sits back down and puts his hands behind his head.]

HABIT: Now. Let's say-- 'cause I'm sure it's on your mind-- worst-case scenario, what if I'm lying, what if I'm a son of a bitch and I'm lying, well, then you're dead.

[Cut. HABIT claps his hands and rubs them together.]

HABIT: So. That's pretty much all I wanted to talk about. So...Any questions?

[Cut to HABIT scratching the back of his head.]

Noah: Okay, I got a question.

HABIT: Shoot.

Noah: Why are you telling me this?

[HABIT starts to answer but gets interrupted by someone coughing behind a door.]

HABIT: Noah. I'm Evan, I'm your friend.

Noah: Don't bullshit me! I know you're not Evan. You're HABIT! 

[HABIT stands up moving side to side saying "oh no", then laughing.]

Noah: I saw you kill Jeff, I saw you kill your friends!

[HABIT keeps laughing, and starts mocking Noah.]

HABIT:  "I killed my friends!" No, I didn't. I killed his friends.

[Cut; HABIT moves to open the door.]

HABIT: You know, Noah? [Pauses.] ...It's a crazy world out there, you never really know what's gonna happen next...So I would take your friends where you can find them.

Noah: [Very scared.] Who is that?

[HABIT goes to knock on the door, grabbing his machete; the coughing starts again.]

HABIT: Hello-o-o? Are you okay? [Laughs.]

Noah: Who's in there?

HABIT: Haaa, I love my life. What's behind door number two?

[HABIT opens the door.]

HABIT: Oh. Howdy, pilgrim!

[Someone is seen in the room, holding his left hip, which is bloody and soaking a sizable part of his shirt. He seems to be coughing into a sink.]

Noah: Who the fuck is that? God, who is that? Is that Vinnie?

[HABIT chuckles as the man's coughing intensifies.]

Noah: That's not Vinnie.

HABIT: [To the man.] Well, goodnight.

[The man can be seen collapsing as HABIT closes the door. He can still be heard coughing. HABIT laughs again.]

Noah: Who the fuck was that?

HABIT: I don't know, a drifter. People walking in and out of people's houses these days, that you of all people should know that, Mr. Intruder Man. [Laughs.] So, it's probably about the right time to say that you should be skedaddling, getting on out of here, so I'm gonna go ahead and unlock this door for ya. Aw, I'm sure you're in a big hurry. Um... remember what we talked about; it will be literally be the only thing that saves your life, 'kay?

[Cut to HABIT opening the door.]

HABIT: I've been expecting pizza, and I don't want you having any.

Noah: But I-I-I don't even know where I am!

HABIT: That's cool, I-I-I don't care. Get out of my house.

[Noah tries to speak, but gets interrupted.]

HABIT: You can leave my house like this, or you can leave with a broken arm.

[Noah starts to leave.]

HABIT: I thought you'd choose this one, that's what I was thinking.

Noah: Well...

HABIT: Remember, Noah...The only person that can save you, is you. Good luck. FUCK OFF!

[HABIT shuts the door.]

Noah: He can't just leave me here, fucking asshole!

[Noah opens the door.]

Noah: Tell me where I am, you sick fuck!

HABIT: [In mock surprise.] You're not the pizza guy!

Noah: Wha--

[HABIT kicks Noah in the chest; Noah runs away.]

Noah: Fucking asshole.

[HABIT then laughs and closes the door.]

[Noah coughing, looking around the dark street, and walking.]

Noah: Where the fuck am I? The fuck is this place? Jesus Christ, not again!

[Cut to black. Continued in "Bridge to Nowhere".]

Analysis

  • HABIT reveals that the intersecting eyes symbol, commonly associated with the Observer (and, ostensibly, the Collective) is actually a rune of great importance and power. It symbolizes "severance", and acts as a separator between someone's or something's and a specific object—placing it on an object severs ties between that object and its owner or controller. It is stated that, in many cases, the Observer used this symbol to hack into Noah's computer and his various online accounts, by 'separating' them from Noah's control. HABIT explicitly states that applying the symbol to a weapon would turn it into something that would harm the Administrator, or at the least free Noah (and possibly the Collective) from the Administrator's control. It's possible, however, that HABIT is simply lying; even HABIT admits this may be the case.
  • As previously suggested, HABIT states that Sebastian's Journal acts as a "bullet-proof vest" against the Administrator.
  • HABIT's old-fashioned approach to manners, shown when he insists on Noah doing his bidding because he's a guest in HABIT's house, supports his claim that he is centuries old (or possibly older).
  • The distortion seen in this video is completely different from most of the distortion in previous videos, with a purple static-like overlay floating on the screen and making the imagery darker. This distortion has never been seen before in TribeTwelve, but it has appeared in EverymanHYBRID when HABIT is around or messing with the footage.
    • Similar distortion occurred in EverymanHYBRID's "Northern Trip Footage"; in the scene when Noah is looking at the Administrator from a distance shortly before getting in the car, Evan also notices the Administrator's presence and films it, showing the same distortion Noah had with HABIT.
  • While Evan/HABIT is talking, it's noticeable that at times (usually during distortion) that two voices can be heard speaking at once: Evan's, and a darker demonic whisper-like voice. The latter is considered to be HABIT's "true" voice. This voice can also be heard in the EMH video "A summoning", though it is clearer and more prevalent here. In "Bridge To Nowhere",  HABIT uses only his demonic voice for most of the video.
  • One of the scenes of HABIT talking is identical to one of the hidden images seen in "Obituary".

Notes & Speculation

  • The blood all over HABIT is possibly from the man in HABIT's bathroom.
  • HABIT was telling Noah to try and draw the symbol perfectly. In one of the Observer's Formspring answers, he revealed he could see through some of the symbols. Perhaps Evan/HABIT could have been assisting the Observer and the Collective and allow them to listen in to the meeting easier?
    • On the other hand, HABIT erased part of the symbol during his explanation shortly after the symbol was drawn, which could potentially cut out the connection with the Observer. Were he assisting the Observer, it's unlikely that he would have made this mistake.
    • However, HABIT mentioned that as long as the symbol is drawn with the "correct intentions" it doesn't really matter if it is drawn incorrectly or partly erased.
  • HABIT was insulted when Noah thought the symbol was merely a hacking tool. HABIT possesses people, taking control of their bodies; he may have a more intimate connection with that symbol than he let on.
    • It is possible that HABIT used this symbol to help liberate Firebrand.
  • It is possible that the identity of the bleeding individual in HABIT's bathroom is entirely irrelevant, and that he's merely present to remind Noah that while HABIT may be helping him, nothing has changed in his true nature. However, speculations about his identity include:
    • Jeff from EverymanHYBRID, who was in such a situation in the EMH video ":D"
    • Chris from DarkHarvest.
    • Noah himself. Since time is something that is manipulated by HABIT and the Collective, it is possible that Noah was stabbed by the a knife with the symbol on it, transforming him into Firebrand.
    • Lee from WhisperedFaith.
      • In the latest WhisperedFaith video, Lee was taken by the Rake. The Rake is a creature seen in EverymanHYBRID, which appears, as HABIT puts it, as "a horrible deformed dog thing". Could HABIT have found Lee and taken him into that room, and could that possibly explain the blood on his shirt?
    • Michael from MLAndersen0.
      • The individual wears the same wristband that Michael wore  in the MLAndersen0 series. See below.
      • This is the most logical and most widely accepted speculation.

Gallery

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