snowblindrpg | [network] @curiouschloride | morning 352 | video | But I flew too high [open] [cw memory loss]

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[network] @curiouschloride | morning 352 | video | But I flew too high [open] [cw memory loss]

[The shaky video shows mostly the ceiling of a stairwell. The young woman crouched over the tablet is breathing rapidly but clearly trying to be quiet, her eyes wild with fear. When the video starts she's already speaking in the rapid near-whisper of someone trying to contact outside help without alerting anyone nearby to her presence.]

My name is Tess Cauldwell, I don't know where I am but I think I've been kidnapped and I think they drugged me and this isn't even my computer and I can't get it to dial out of this -- network -- thing and if anyone's out there I really, really need you to call nine-one-one. There was --

[She swallows thickly. Flinches violently at the sudden sound of a thump against a nearby door.]

Body bags. It's a morgue, I don't -- I don't know more than that -- god, that thing can't be real --

[EDIT: I forgot that Tess would still be covered in red lines arranged in fractals, with her eyes completely red. Apologies for the oversight in description!]

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How the fuck do you know my name?!

[And it just keeps escalating. She does indeed throw the tablet, which is probably counter-productive to getting any questions answered. For a minute or two she can be heard yelling obscenities and about how she doesn't even know anyone in the mob, what the fuck, why this, etc., etc.

When she finally comes back to it she doesn't pick up the tablet, but stands looking down at it imperiously. Her voice is calmer, at least, the next question more coherent.]

Is this a kidnapping? Because that's not going to work; I don't know anyone with money. And I don't borrow money; I'm not an idiot.

[ He waits until she comes back and sounds calmer. ]

It is a kidnapping, but I'm not the one who did it. No, I'm not sure why they picked us out of everyone they could've taken. I know your name because you told it to me- you've lost memories of being here already. That can happen here, sometimes.

[ That's probably enough for the moment. ]

[She stands in silence, eyes narrowed down at him -- this is actually a really shitty angle for trying to get a read on his face, but she's making a point here, she's pretty sure. Tess abruptly shucks off the heavy yellow coat in which she woke up and rucks up first one sleeve of her shirt and then the other, turning her arms this way and that as she squints at her own hands and forearms. Both are noticeably scarred; beyond a myriad of little burns and nicks are larger chemical burn scars up her right arm.]

If I've been here a while, knowing me --

[She starts out sounding confident. No way could she be in a place that looks this much like Silent Hill for any significant stretch of time and not accrue a new scar. She's going to find nothing new and it's going to support her point that he's full of shit about the memory thing, sort of, and --]

...oh.

[She stops when she spots the mark of an long-healed laceration on her left arm that really, really shouldn't be there. As soon as she sees it, too, she suddenly sees what's around it -- so many marks, like someone had taken a razor to her arm, over and over --]

Oh. Oh, fuck. That's...how long?

[ He watches as she apparently figures out some way to tell, and- oh. Well, that'd do it, yeah. His voice takes on a bit of a softer tone as he responds to her. ]

You've been here...maybe a month and a half? Time's hard to keep track of here- that's partially why we go by days. It's Day 352 right now.

When people die and are revived by the system here, they lose something when they wake up for a few days. Memories seems to be a popular one. I had it happen to me recently, too- I lost my sense of touch.

[She shakes her head slowly, frown deepening as she finally stoops to pick up the tablet.]

Some of these new scars are older than that.

[Then the more important part of what he just said hits her.]

...Died??

Yep. We're not entirely sure how they manage it, but the nanomachines are medical nanomachines- the technology here is beyond what most of us are used to. And they're able to 'revive' us sometimes.

I'm pretty sure you also lost more memories than just the ones here, but- you kept a lot of that close to your chest. I'm not sure what all you've been through.

Edited 2018-04-25 16:51 (UTC)

No...oh, fuck. Fuck, I can't -- this is all too much, shit was just -- just normal last night....

Yeah. It's not fair you have to go through all this a second time. But we'll help you with everything we can, okay? As bad as it is, everyone on the Network does try to help each other out.

I'm Gabriel, by the way.

Tess.

[She lets out a mirthless laugh.]

I guess I didn't need to tell you that.

[ He responds to her laugh with a tired smile. ]

No, but- figured it was only fair you got my name, too.

I mean, that's cool of you.

...Any chance of this just being a really fucked up dream?

I wish.

But hey, maybe you'll get lucky and be the one to wake up out of it in a week or two.

Still too long.

...What do I do here? What even comes next? It's just...there's just this big fucking creepy hospital and that thing in the basement and I kind of don't know what I'm supposed to do with that.

Well... I think the first order of the day is to get out of the creepy hospital. I recommend traveling north. The residential area isn't so bad, and it's easier to travel around in. There are also beds, which is, unfortunately, a luxury around here.

The best way to get there is actually to the west, to building 132. It has a trap door that leads to underground maintenance tunnels. That'll get you to the residential area in a day.

132?

[Guess who hasn't read the map yet.]

Okay, and--food? What about food? I don't have anything.

[Not even a backpack, curiously enough.]

Huh, really? Usually, the Admin leaves us with a backpack and rations for a week.

[ Well, that's worrying, then. ]

In that case, we'd better get you to some food ASAP. You're still going to want to head to those tunnels- once you get to them, head north. You'll find a couple of hubs on your way. After the second one, you should head to the northwest, to building 2. Directly to the south is a convenience store that has some food. If you haven't heard the warning for lockdown by the time you resurface, you'll probably have time to go grab some. If not, wait till tomorrow.

You'll see an elementary school to the east once you get out of the tunnels- that has food, too. So you might want to try and head there next.

[ Hmm, wait. ]

All those building numbers are referenced on the map, so check that for where exactly you're going.

Right. Right, I think I can -- I should be able to do that. There's nothing down in those tunnels, right? Because where I woke up--there was this thing in there with me.

What-

[ Oh, right. ]

Did it look like a snake with feathers? I've seen it before- pretty sure it's friendly.

What do you mean, friendly?

Like, I've seen it curled up in your coat. It didn't look hostile at all.

I mean, I know this is just another thing to lay on you, but- I think it's your pet?

[Tess just lets out a little noise that's halfway between laughter and a cry of distress.]

Uh, yeah. Sorry? I don't think you have to fear for your life, at least.

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