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

[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.]

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[ 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?

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

Edited 2017-02-07 19:42 (UTC)

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?

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.

[The man on Stephen's screen might as well be a stranger -- maybe is a stranger, because maybe he could still be right that this happens to be someone whose face he's never seen. Stephen's brow furrows and his mouth sets in a line as he stares too intensely at the image on his screen, trying to decide how scared he should be right now.

Question. He was asked a question.]

I'm, uh.

[He sniffs, forces himself to take a calming breath.]

Just feeling a little shaky right now.

Mmmm.

[Alfie squints hard at the little tablet screen, then switches to private.]

Bad death price, or just a bad death?

As far as deaths go? Not that bad. I'd give it a three out of five.

[Haha, see, it's funny, because dying isn't a big deal. He should ask -- he should just get it over with and ask if he's supposed to know this man, but he's afraid of the answer. Any minute now someone else is going to respond with video and he'll recognize their face and it will just be names he's lost, he won't be in a sea of complete strangers who know him. He just has to ignore the signs that he's wrong about that until then.]

It's the death price, then, isn't it?

[Yes.]

I'm not sure what it is yet.

Probably memories, then.

It's not anterograde amnesia, if that's what you're getting at. I remember waking up here. I'd be able to tell you what I've been doing the last half hour.

[His brain isn't that broken. The reminder is a small comfort.]

A specific memory, then. Something that you wouldn't know was missing if it were gone.

That's as likely as anything.

[And a good cover story if he's right about the full extent of it. He's seen people take advantage of a death loss; he's not interested in spreading the word about this.]

[Alfie Solomons: absolutely someone who has taken advantage of a death loss.]

Mm.

Emily's still coming along.

[Alfie who now? Stephen doesn't have any enemies per se, but there's plenty of reason to be leery in general.]

Yeah?

[Who's Emily and coming along in what sense? Stephen leaves the word hanging, unwilling to commit to an actual question.]

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

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