[network] @beyonce | video | day 207 | I'd Rather Go Blind [open] [cw cognitive impairment]

[thewarningafter]

[It's midday when Stephen appears on the network, eyes rimmed red from crying, the vaulted ceiling of the chapel visible behind him. It's ridiculous to feel betrayed, as though there had ever been any reason to trust in the healing powers of a system of resurrection he doesn't even understand, but the shock of waking up in a body bag has been chased by grief and anger.

That's not why he's posting an open video to the network, though. Stephen's first thought had been to send a quick message to his traveling companion to let her know he's alright back and arrange a place to meet, but that plan had gone down the toilet the moment he'd opened up the network and realized he didn't recognize any of the names. That's deeply disturbing inconvenient, but there's an obvious solution -- he'll just have to identify people by sight instead of by name for a few days. It's fine. It's not real brain damage, it's something to do with the way the revival system works, so it's fine.

He offers the camera a fairly convincing smile, though his voice is a little raw.]

So the good news is that I'm alive. I'm not quite sure where I am, though, and I'm guessing I need to get out of here sooner rather than later if I'm going to make shelter. Anyone recognize this place?

[He lifts and turns the tablet, giving the camera a look at the altar. It's a lie, of course; he's already looked this place up on Nat's guide. He just wants to see some faces, get back in contact.]

Comments

@ASolomons; audio

[devoutish]

The chapel.

[Someone not knowing that doesn't ring any alarm bells for Alfie - him never having been there before is a perfectly reasonable possibility.]

You look fucking awful.

Permavideo

[thewarningafter]

[ Stephen huffs out a laugh at that. ]

Gee, thanks.

[ He doesn't recognize the name, isn't able to place the voice. Someone he doesn't know? It's perfectly possible but he wishes this guy would have replied on video. The answer doesn't help him, but he'll keep up the ruse of needing help placing himself for the moment. ]

That's near the pass, isn't it?

audio

[devoutish]

Yeah. To the west of it, yeah. Is that where you're wanting to go?

[thewarningafter]

Possibly. I might be needed closer to where I am.

[ He's distracted, not as interested in the topic of discussion as he should be. Hell with it. ]

Would you mind turning on your video?

video

[devoutish]

That's not a request I hear often.

[Too many perpetual texters in Norfinbury. He switches it on gladly.]

Why? Never thought you cared much.

@hotstud_xxx; text; private

[rubikscomplex]

how are your hands?

video->audio | private

[thewarningafter]

[It's a good thing Stephen automatically accepts the incoming message's privacy settings, because as soon as he reads it his face crumples. The mystery user will be treated to a view of the chapel ceiling as Stephen abruptly puts the tablet down on the pew beside him. After a few moments in which he tries to compose himself, the image jostles and then cuts out as he switches to audio.]

The burns healed.

permatext | private

[rubikscomplex]

"no" is a lot shorter if you wanna take a minute to cry, bro
interesting
my leg, but not your hands
or solomons' back

how recent is the injury?

perma-audio | private

[thewarningafter]

[He's taken his minute to cry. He's thrown the tablet a couple times, yelled a lot -- he'd gotten it out of his system before he got on the network. That was the intention, anyway.

"my leg." Look at that, he didn't even have to fish for information to get this one figured out. Stephen should tell him to fuck right off with his puzzles.]

Two years. The more relevant question might be how debilitating Solomons' back is.

[He keeps his eyes on the text message as he reads off the name, careful to get it right.]


Your mobility was impaired by your leg; I don't need hands to run from monsters.

private

[rubikscomplex]

but you need them to be relevant as a doctor here
beyond prescribing them sweet, sweet drugs

mobility might be it
need to get another cripple to find out

@Spoiler ; video

[spoileralert]

[ Steph frowns at the feed. The wound on her cheek has finally scabbed over, so there's no bandage anymore.

She wonders why he's been crying, but she can't exactly just come out and ask something like that. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't know you had died.

You're at the chapel, by the entrance to Hsiaoke Pass.

permavideo

[thewarningafter]

[Stephen tabs over to the incoming video, his eyes roving hungrily over the screen. Here's going to be his proof that the first guy who replied is just an acquaintance he happens not to know by sight; odds are someone who used video unasked is someone whose face he'll have seen before.

Nothing. Not a glimmer of recognition. He tamps down the urge to panic.]

I think it was yesterday.

[spoileralert]

Yesterday?

[ She blinks. ]

That was quick.

You okay?

[thewarningafter]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.

[No, he's not. His hands are still fucked and he doesn't know who he's talking to.]

I think I must have lost some memories, because I don't know -- I haven't noticed anything else.

[It's a good story, it'll work until he can verify. Two people isn't enough, he needs more faces, needs to --

-- needs to go back and look at recent messages on the network. He's bound to recognize someone from them.]

Listen, I need to check on something. Thanks for letting me know where I am.

@snowpiercer; text

[peacemongering]

[Sorry Doctor, but he doesn't do more than text unless he absolutely has to. He has never posted video and doesn't plan to either. You're stuck with his name.]

Are you quite alright? You look distraught, Doctor. Is the price horrible or are you upset for a different reason?

[thewarningafter]

It's just a little hard to get used to the idea of having been dead.

[That's a boldfaced lie, but Stephen's just doing his best to hold it together at this point as he flicks through older network posts without finding anyone who looks familiar.]

...Would you mind turning on your video?

[peacemongering]

Is it? Even with a near-death experience under your belt?

I apologize, but I don't utilize the video function. If that's a problem, I can speak to you another time.

[thewarningafter]

[Who does he know who knows (or can figure out) that he's had a near-death experience, but who doesn't use video? It's not the doctor he helped in the hospital; he wouldn't be using punctuation. The detective who'd had the memory problem? Stephen remembers being frustrated over him not showing his face on the network. I apologize seems like an unlikely phrase from him, though.

He's reread the reply three times now; he should say something.]

It's not quite the same thing.

Day 208; @notasidekick; video; private

[nursetemple]

[It takes her a while to respond, and when she finally does, she goes through the answers she can see on the post already. What's obvious is that Stephen doesn't remember anything.

Still. It takes so long for her to get herself in a position where she's able to answer. It's - a lot, since every time she looks at his post she sees him getting swallowed up by the anomaly.]

Stephen, hi. I'm so glad you're back, and seemingly unharmed. From what I gather, you're having some difficulties with your memories? Do you remember what happened to you? I was there with you.

video; private

[thewarningafter]

[He's been waiting for this call. He'd trusted the person he was traveling with -- maybe not as a tried and true friend, yet, but as a decent human being for sure. Cutting off all interactions would be one way to keep himself safe, but if he runs into someone else by accident he'll have trouble. Better to deliberately meet up with someone who will have his back.

He can't take her message at face value, though. He doesn't think anyone's caught on who would do anything to him, but he could very easily be wrong. He'll have to test her.]

I'm not sure. I remember leaving the shed near the school.

private

[nursetemple]

[She bites her lip, her heart beating double time right now. It's relief and fear mixed up together, churning up in her insides.]

There was an anomaly. Do you remember that? Do you remember the microscope? You didn't want to let go of it.

[She swallows with difficulty, looking down and back up at the camera.]

Do you need any help? I'm not exactly far from you, right now.

private

[thewarningafter]

[He sees how hard this is on her, but he keeps his mouth shut, waits to be sure. He'd given her a memory a few days out of date to see what she'd make of it, but even this level of detail is enough to reassure him. No one else would know it had happened because of the microscope.

He breathes a sigh of relief he hadn't realized he was holding in.]

It is you. I've been experiencing an atypical form of agnosia since I woke up in the chapel; as far as I can tell I've lost all ability to process names and faces. I don't think anyone's figured it out yet, but my situation's just a little precarious right now.

@309_W1C_2DZ; text

[howdull]

[He feels a low swooping sense of guilt. Did he encourage this? He's got no evidence that Stephen Strange died by his own hands, but all the pieces fit together. All the conversations they've had, the interest shown, the long-term damage to his hands that he would surely wish to heal.

It doesn't take the world's only consulting detective to put the pieces together.]

Were my findings instrumental in your death?

permavideo

[thewarningafter]

[Findings? Without the context of who is speaking to him the question initially seems nonsensical. Stephen gives the tablet a blank look for a few seconds too long before it comes to him. Data points. He supposes he's just contributed one himself.]

My revival fits a known pattern, if that's what you're asking.

[howdull]

[Oh no.

Oh no.

This is his fault, he doesn't have to be a genius to read between the lines of that answer. It's not fair, not to Stephen, but Sherlock can't handle this right now and so he simply hangs up.

He's miscalculated again.]