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Kevin Kostelnik prided himself as a man who's in the know-it-all. He keeps tabs on what's going on in the world, especially on social media. That's how he survived as a prominent writer and producer in the Good Mythical Morning Show. He was the one with the fresh ideas and creative pitches. He suggested months ago to do a game on the show about Eponym.
Eponym was a grade-A stalker that fancied himself/herself as a seeker of the truth. This person's mission in life is to bring down A-list celebrities and expose them for who they really are. No one knows who he/she is, what is their motive or how they keep doing what they're doing.
Eponym finds a target every 10 months and stalks the hell out of them. By the end of that time period, Eponym releases a forced one hour report of the targeted person by hacking into every network provider in the world and forcing the broadcast on every available device, overcasting every channel and station.. even Youtube. There is no escape. Everyone has to watch it whether they like it or not. No one knows how it's done. Many have tried to stop it and failed. Eponym have ruined careers, relationships and lives. They have created a world where secrets of the famous and wealthy is no longer an option. They have single handedly eliminated three of the top actors in the world and 5 of the best known singers, turning them from Gods to trash within the hour.
At the beginning, it was a big deal. A lot of people went on the news condemning him/her and voicing their disgust with their intrusive methods. Eponym responded by leaking personal embarrassing info or clips of those who opposed them and slowly the world submitted to their will. He/she works in silence, leaving no trace or evidence until the day of broadcast. No one knew who the target was, even the target themselves. It created a vicious cycle that left most celebrities living in fear. Paparazzi were no longer the worst compared to the lengths Eponym went to find the scoop. Her/She loved to sink ships and Kevin knew that mentioning their name on the show would turn some heads.
Link kept blocking his requests every time.
His boss felt strongly about Eponym's ethical motives and loathed the intrusive nature of how they obtain their information. He told Kevin over and over: "No one should find joy in hurting others, even if it's to expose their dark side. Just because they're famous, doesn't mean we have the right to judge them and condemn them. No one is perfect."
Kevin didn't have the heart to argue with him. Link's kind nature and simpleminded approach to life baffles many of the crew sometimes. Rhett called him stupid and praised it as a 'good quality' for their brand. It kind of amazes Kevin and pisses him off sometimes. As a head writer on the show, he is normally one of the ones who speak up for Link when other writers talk shit about him. But nowadays, it's getting harder and harder to defend the stubborn man.
Kevin looked at the clock on the side of his computer screen. It showed up this morning, signaling the upcoming release of the new piece on Eponym's latest victim in 2 hours.
Ellie enters the office and says: "Did you see the count down?"
Kevin nods: "Yeah.."
Ellie stares at him: "You're not planning to suggest the Eponym game again, are you?"
Kevin sighs loudly: "What's the point? Link will shut me down like always."
Ellie sits near his desk: "He has a point. Imagine if you're one of those people Eponym ruined with his intrusive report."
Kevin shrugs: "I'm not famous. I did not sell my soul to the devil and cried when I got burnt for it."
Ellie tsks: "That's dark."
Kevin smiled apologetically at her: "Sorry, I'm just frustrated. Link has been shutting down 95% of the pitches we put on the table. I know Stevie told us to be patient with him but it's making our lives hard."
Ellie nods: "I know. Something is up with him.."
Kevin stands up: "It's not our job to suffer because he's having issues.."
Ellie stands to join him as they make their way towards the meeting room: "True. But he is our boss.. We have no other choice."
They entered the room and waited for Rhett and Link to join.
For once, they were both on time and as usual, Link kept turning down more ideas than accepting them.
Kevin was so close to calling him out when the screen in the meeting room fizzes to life and the masked face of Eponym shows up:
"Good morning world,
Miss me?
It's been so long since I published my last piece.
I'm glad that most of you saw the truth and shunned the last guy. He never deserved your love and worship.
I honestly didn't know who to cover when I was done with that scumbag. Just like you, I have started to lose faith in humanity.. Until I walked into the grocery store and saw this.."
The Mythical crew, like everyone in the world, were helpless. They all sat in silence and watched this masked person deliver his speech.
They didn't expect what they saw next.
It was a fuzzy video, probably stolen or bought from the grocery store surveillance footage, of a tall skinny man with dark hair, wearing glasses and pushing a shopping cart. He passed by a mother with her crying toddler in the middle of a tantrum and she was almost ready to have a nervous breakdown.
The tall man in the video kneeled near the toddler and said something that made the girl stop immediately. He smiled at her and she smiled back.
The video speeds up as the tall man helps the mother by shopping beside her and entertaining the child the whole time, keeping her calm and giggly.
Eponym's voice returns: "I was one of the assholes who passed by and condemned the woman for not having control over her stupid baby but not this guy.. He helped her without a reason and even refused the cup of coffee she offered to buy him afterwards. I found myself intrigued.
This must be a one-time good deed, right?"
The video cuts to a split screen where the same man, wearing different clothes on different days helping others in the grocery store: reaching up to grab something for a short boy. Leaving his cart on the side to help an old lady push hers. The screen kept splitting to more and more shots of him helping others until the screens became too small to see.
Eponym: "I've never seen anything like it.
I literally thought he was an angel.. So I naturally followed him.
I normally pick someone from the so called A-list but fuck that shit.
I'm over those pompous asses who do nothing but make us hate ourselves with lies and illusions of perfection.
This man though..
He is not someone random.
After following him for 10 months, I can safely say that he's my favorite of all time."
Rhett felt Link grab his arm in a vise and turned to see what's going on. Link has turned white, breathing heavy and looking at the screen with wide eyes. He heard him whisper: "No.. no.. no.. no.."
Rhett turned to see what was scaring Link shitless when the last video Eponym showed was clear enough to show the man's face.
He sat up in alarm as did most of the crew as Eponym continued with the report:
"Many of you might know him as part of the Duo: Rhett and Link.
He hosts an early morning show called Good Mythical Morning on YouTube with his best friend for many years. He is a man who claimed that his life is an open book. He wasn't lying.. to an extent.
I found out so many things, Charles.
But for the first time ever, I'm doing this for your own good so please don't get offended."
Eponym went on to talk about Link's childhood and his career. Nothing any devoted Mythical Beast didn't know about.
Rhett turned to look at Link: "Link?"
Link inches his chair closer to Rhett: "Make it stop.. Please!"
Rhett looks sadly at him: "You know I can't."
Link pulls his feet up and wraps his free arm around them, burying his face in his knees, hoping he would be able to block the world or somehow stop it.
Eponym didn't seem to care:
"Most of you might not know, but Charles is not one of the lucky ones.
He tragically lost his wife a few months back, right around the time I started following him.
Since then,
He had to put his dog down.
He fell into hard times but never complained once.
On the contrary,
Let me show you the true Charles Lincoln Neal the 3rd."
Eponym shows a clip of Link playing with Lando in the park.
It shows a clip of Link parking at the side of the road to pick up trash from ongoing traffic that's bothering people.
Link cheering for Shepard at his soccer game.
Link standing in the middle of the sidewalk, protecting a turtle as it crosses to the other side.
Link paying for a man who forgot his wallet at a coffee shop.
Link sneaking into the homeless shelter to drop off food and clothes.
The screen once again splits into many videos of Link doing random acts of kindness.
Eponym: "This all happened in a span of 10 months. I don't know about you all but I haven't done in my lifetime what Charles does in a week. I mean.. Why bother, right?
Charles, seriously, why bother?
Do you even know what people say about you?"
Eponym shows a screen of pop up comments from different social media platforms:
"Let me sum it up for you: They think you're a dumb, loud person with a fake personality. Some of them called you disgusting because of your constant retching and chewing noises. They called you a shitty singer, poor excuse of a human being and the worst host of all time.
There are even multiple sub Reddits on how to get you removed from the entertainment industry entirely.
Those people don't deserve your kindness, Charles.
I've seen you read those comments. I've seen you bite your nails and chew your lips bloody from those haters."
Eponym shows a video of Link in his office, hugging one arm around his body while the other one scrolls:
"I see everything.."
Eponym shows a video of Link walking in the mall with Lily. While he was waiting for her outside a shop, a man shows up and throws his soda at Link, screaming: "You suck, Link Neal!"
Link didn't say anything back.
Lily showed up and he laughed it off, saying that he was clumsy and spilled his soda on himself. Eponym caught the moment Link looked down in sorrow while his daughter wasn't looking.
Eponym: "At that point, I actually expected you to lash out at the man but you didn't.
From my research, I know you're not the kind of man that takes a 'slap' without retaliation, even from someone you love.
So, why not this time?"
Eponym shows a clip of Link entering his room, looking tired and defeated.
The video seems to be taken from a far lens, outside his window.
Eponym: "I see everything. And I see your heartache, Charles.
It's about time people see it too.
You deserve better."
The video switches to a night vision one.
Eponym has been to Link's house and taken a video of his wife's closet.. His shrine of notes for her.. His Jade box.. His makeshift bed..
Link tears run down his face.
His death grip on Rhett's arm will definitely bruise but he was beyond freaking out.
He felt deeply violated.
He was caught with his pants down and now the whole world is free to make fun of his misery.
Eponym didn't give him a chance to dwell on it:
"I grieve with thee, Charles.
I see your friend trying to help you, but it's never enough.
So I will do you a favor, as my favorite.
Since I couldn't find anything a good man like you didn't already reveal about themself, I will show the true colors of those who are surrounding you."
Eponym shows Link getting out of the car in three different clips, wearing a cap and holding an envelope. He drops each one at different places and walks out.
Eponym: "When I first caught you doing this, I was happy, thinking that I finally found something juicy to pin on you. Turns out, you were paying half the rent of three of your employees without them knowing."
A man with a blurred face and disfigured voice shows up on screen: "He's a nice guy. When I decided to raise the rent because of the economy, he approached me in secret and asked if he could pay the half without telling my tenant. He said that he was family and didn't want to embarrass his niece by offering her money while she's still starting out. So I thought why not!"
Eponym asks: "How long has he been paying you half the rent?"
The man sighs, thinking hard then says: "Maybe three years.. Or something like that.."
Eponym shows three blurred pictures of Mythical Crew members that only those who knew the show would recognize them and said: "You paid their rents for around five years, three years and two years, and they didn't even know. You made sure to pay it before you even paid your own bills.
You called them family, but what did they call you?"
Eponym shows different clips of mythical crew around the office talking:
"He's such an asshole.."
"So stupid.."
"Greedy bastard.."
"Why am I working for such a slave driver?"
"The most stingiest man alive!"
"I want to smash his face through the nearest wall, URG! HE'S SO FRUSTRATING!"
"I wish he'd just quit, man. I'd rather have Rhett yell at me all day than hear Link's stupid jokes."
"Let's put more spice on his stuff. It's fun watching him squirm.."
..
The videos go on for a good 10 minutes.
Link wanted to cover his ears, hoping to block the sound as well but it wasn't working.
He always thought his crew liked him.. They barely tolerated him.. They hated him..
Eponym: "The truth hurts, Charles. You have to hear it though.
I found a chain mail that goes back seven years between the Mythical Crew."
Most of the people in the room physically flinched as Eponym shows parts of the email chain: "They have a betting pool on you: When you're going to hurt yourself, hurt others, say something stupid, talk about a food you don't like, number of times you gag, if you mumble..
But lately, it seems like the winds have shifted. They're betting on when will you pass out on the show, stumble, if you will finally do something stupid or kill yourself..
Tsk tsk tsk.. Mythical Crew.."
Eponym shows a clip of Link showing up in the office in the middle of the night and putting foods in containers with names on them.
Eponym: "You thought Mythical Chef Josh was the one doing this.. But it was the stupid, selfish greedy boss you enjoy tormenting.
He might not show it, but he listens to you when you talk and takes time out of his own rest time once a week to make or order something special for each one of you.
You don't deserve him, you bastards.
The only Hail Mary in this story is the guardian of the Angle; Rhett McLaughlen.
The life long best friend.
I honestly thought that your friendship was solely on-screen but it truly runs deep. Even though you guys have ups and downs like any other relationship, watching you two interact was like catnip to me. No wonder your fandom ships you both.. Hard.."
Eponym shows a clip of Link talking animatedly, moving his hands like an uncoordinated octopus while Rhett gently pushes him to the side furthest from the road to protect him from passing traffic.
Rhett opens a soda can for Link while they eat outside.
Rhett gives a cold Link his jacket as they wait in line at a store.
Rhett picking tomatoes from Link's sandwich while he's texting.
Rhett doing so many small things, practically stuck to Link's side at all times.
What boiled Rhett's blood in his veins was the part where Eponym showed Rhett hugging Link after his mini-freakout in their office.
He reached out and grabbed the hand practically scratching his arm when it started to shake uncontrollably.
Eponym: "The only person who appreciates our Angle. A true friend and guardian indeed.
For your service, I will give you the gift of the final truth.
Charles, you deserve happiness and without clarity, there shall be no progress.
I know you've worked hard to keep this part a secret, but the world needs to understand.
You are in pain, and those around you need to cut you some slack.."
Eponym shows a clip of Link walking into the hospital.
Another far shot of a doctor removing Link's shirt and attaching something to a port on his right chest area as he sits back and takes deep breaths.
"Charles 'Link' Neal was diagnosed with Chronic Mycomere six months ago.
He's been getting treatment alone, suffering alone and withering away to nothing alone.
You deserve better, Charles."
Eponym shows a video of Link limping his way out of the hospital.
Link leaning behind the bleachers while attending one of Shepherd's practices, vomiting his guts out where no one can see.
Link crying in the car while parked outside of his house.
Link leaning his head on the table between takes of the show.
Link sitting fully clothed under the shower at home, eyes closed and slowly curling into himself.
Many more small clips of Link suffering that might have not made sense without the context Eponym just revealed.
He finally showed Link, looking sadly at his reflection, examining the prominent bones on his naked chest and his skinny figure as he whispers in a mantra: "It's fine. Just one more day. The kids need you. Rhett needs you. The crew needs you. The Mythical Beasts need you. Just one more day..".
Eponym: "Now the whole world knows who you are, Charles.
An awkward man who speaks his mind even if it hurts or sounds stupid. Genuine to a fault.
Therefore, I don't want you to suffer any more.
Angels are rare and I am sure once this is over, people will agree with the title I have bestowed upon you.
You will have an army of guardians to join the ranks, starting with me.
I will be watching over you now.
I hope you feel better, Charles.
Eponym, out."
The room was bathed in utter silence.
Half of the crew wanted the earth to open up and swallow them while the rest were stuck looking at the blank screen in utter shock.
No one..
NO ONE ever expected Eponym to take interest in a barely-recognizable YouTuber, let alone turn him from a nobody to a true Mythical creature over an hour.
Link stood up and ran out of the room.
Rhett took a few minutes to get his bearings and by the time he looked at Link's direction, his friend was already gone.
.
The world erupted into chaos after that report.
Link's photo and info was plastered on every news outlet in the world.
His name was on every conversation like nothing else in the world mattered at the moment.
Rhett was freaking out.
The FBI and Homeland Security showed up at their office an hour after the broadcast ended and Rhett has yet to find his friend.
Everyone wanted to speak to Link and all he wanted to do was make sure that his friend was alright.
Stevie volunteered to pick up the kids and take them to Rhett's house while they searched for the smaller man.
Link left his phone, car keys and wallet in the office.
After being questioned for a few minutes, Rhett knew exactly where to find Link.
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