I wasn't new to this. I knew how these things went—it was stupid to freak out about it.
But that still felt like a physical blow.
-
[crabwalker]: Hey maybe don't doxx people????
[woundwire]: accountability looks like discomfort. deal with it
[overclocked]: "accountability" my ass, you're just enjoying the pile-on
[netspite]: actions have consequences. maybe he should've thought of that before showing his face
[paperfault]: everyone wants fame until they're asked to be accountable
[fanaticlee]: "don't doxx him 😭" cry louder. we just shared a link.
[patchroot]: imagine thinking you're the good guys while doing this
[brinecloud]: you guys talk about empathy until it's someone you don't like
[softfail]: man wanted attention. congrats, he's trending
[moneying]: who said anything about empathy. delete your empathy. he wouldn't waste his on you
[gridhum]: oh please, he probably leaked it himself for clout
[breadlatch]: are we seriously doxxing a random civilian now?
[greyspine]: he lives in a city, not a bunker. chill
[inbong]: reporters have shared worse. this isn't even personal info
[bloodbanana]: y'all acting like he's a random civilian. he made himself public when he stood next to Llewellyn
[limetrapeze]: the internet didn't ruin his life. his choices did
[parchmode]: at least people know where to protest now
[mirrorcoil]: I swear to god if anyone actually shows up there ur crossing a line
[mistlamp]: they already crossed it. too late
[stormpebble]: it's wild how fast y'all turn stalking into righteousness
[rewired]: well, accountability means facing people. maybe he should try it
[stormmint]: "accountability" doesn't mean mobbing. learn the difference
[tuftcoil]: maybe take a walk before you ruin another life for clout? just a thought
[goldenpit]: none of you care about justice, you just like the sound of yourselves
[hollowroot]: if this is what knot activism looks like now, count me out
[looparc]: tell me again how he's the victim when he hides behind the strongest hero alive
[slipmirror]: posting someone's location isn't activism. it's endangering him
[deadkey]: people die in knot sites and we're supposed to worry about his feelings???
[flatgale]: he's a person. this is doxxing.
[kindnessqueen]: maybe he doesn't deserve the luxury of safety while we die
[lightmine]: you don't look dead to me
[madned]: this stopped being a conversation the second coordinates got dropped
[frostmarrow]: stop pretending this is moral. you're all the reason nobody trusts online movements anymore
[tiredinput]: this whole thing's getting dangerous and none of you care
[sandbarrow]: I don't care what he did, leaking his address is messed up
[sporesport]: if he can't handle the spotlight, maybe don't stand in it?
[rendmint]: you're all typing "justice" while committing an actual crime
[windforge]: if he gets hurt because of this, that's on you
[junglecookie]: imagine being so sure you're right you start doxxing ppl
-
What now? Could I do anything about this?
Maybe I should move? I was only renting after all.
Or maybe that was too extreme?
Besides, what if they found me again? Would I just keep moving houses?
As if that wasn't distressing enough, the Confucian angle kept coming back, getting worse each time.
-
[darkspindle]: nothing sacred left in Innishae anymore
[blueberriesdefender]: I'm from Innishae, my grandmother raised me. I could NEVER
[fraisland]: this is what happens when people think they're too good for tradition
[phymaj]: Innishae literally has statues of Yun Seojun who brought Confucian values there. This guy spits on that legacy.
[comicluck]: The fact that he's from Innishae makes it WORSE. He should know better.
[projectguillotin]: he hates activists because they remind him what real care looks like
[silencehurts]: "I'm not a good person"—the only honest thing he's ever said
[shadehotel]: I'm begging you to explain to me how we went from Llewellyn to this guy
-
I should have expected all this. And I did, sort of, but it was still—
My heartbeat was loud in my ears.
Penguin pressed closer, making soft distressed sounds. When I reached out to pat him, my hands weren't exactly steady.
On my screen, people kept talking about Gran and Llewellyn and—
-
[realthoughts]: Llewellyn really knows how to pick them. A violent, unstable man who can't even care for his own grandmother.
[neverforfait]: Remember this when he tries to play victim.
[frightbrain]: If he treats his own blood like that, what chance do strangers have?
[tellytally]: You can measure a man by how he treats the helpless. Look at him.
[griefindex]: Remember this next time he postures about "not being a good person." It wasn't a joke.
[savagesloth]: he wanted to be seen? mission accomplished.
[grindglass]: can't be both anonymous and famous, pick a lane
[redsleep]: nobody forced him to exist in public. he walked there
[saltweaver]: if you live by the algorithm, you die by it
[halfgolem]: anonymity expired the second he stepped on camera
-
Niamh was calling.
I really didn't want to talk right now, but I couldn't ignore her—she was my manager and, for the company's standards, this was a social media crisis of sorts.
"Hey," I said.
"Listen," Niamh said, with no preamble whatsoever. "Emma called. She wants you off this and I agree. I'll take over until I find someone."
I rubbed my eyes. "Am I getting fired?"
…I liked my team. The job sucked at times like this, but these were the best colleagues I'd ever had. It's not like I had many people in my life.
I didn't want to quit. At least not like this.
Besides, that would just give the online crowd more ammunition if they found out.
"What?" Niamh said, sounding startled. "No! I'll fight to keep you if I have to. You'll be in my team until you decide to leave yourself, if I can help it. Besides, I want you in the next meeting about the upcoming Yun Seojun celebration. So, absolutely not, no one is firing you on my watch. But I really don't think you should read this stuff, Ryo. Would you let Llewellyn read this sort of stuff about himself?"
I let out a breath.
…Yeah, I could see her point.
"Oh! Opal just got back to me. Great. She's going to clock in now. You're off. If anything concerning comes up, I'll let you know. Take care, and if you need anything reach out immediately. I doubt I'm going to get any sleep anyway."
I thanked her.
Then, after hanging up, sent a quick message to Opal to thank her too.
Opal: It's really not a problem! I'm happy to help! But these messages are horrible. Are you sure you're okay???? They even found out where you live!!!! Should we call the police????
Ah, I really didn't know.
Ryo: I think it's fine for now. But if my full address is leaked, please let me know as soon as possible.
Opal: Of course!
This whole thing sucked. What was I even going to do?!!
[System Notification: User's distress exceeds safe threshold!]
Now it realized?!
[System Notification: User should not be left alone.]
I mean, I wasn't alone. I had Penguin, who was snuggling against me, rubbing his head into my chest with increasing alarm.
[System Notification: Relocation in 3… 2… 1…]
That shook me out of it.
"What?!!" I said out loud. "Where are you even teleporting me to?!!"
No answer. My living room vanished.
A second later I was sitting on something warm and solid.
"…"
…Llewellyn's lap.
!!!!! And this was supposed to calm me how?!!!
I jumped back, scrambling off him immediately only for Llewellyn to leap up like a lion and tackle me down on the sofa in a split second.
Then he stared in surprise and went, "Ryo?!"
I bumped my head back.