While I was in Struxta I had a dream. A very real dream...
After that, I woke up looking different and memories trickling into my head over the course of the day. Can you tell me anything about why that happened?
[ astoria blinks, when she sees shiro through the connection, and her brow furrows slightly. and, for a split second, the bubbly happy personality flickers into something a little . . . older, a little more contemplative. ]
What a bizarre little thing.
[ quietly, as she peers at shiro. ]
And this happened on Struxta? Are you hurt, or did anything bad happen to you when you were there?
[He draws in a slow breath. He hasn't talked about this with anyone that wasn't from home. He shuts his eyes and in his mind's eye is the timeless expanse within the Lion imposed over the deadly dance in a facility.]
I got hurt in my memories. I'm recovering from those injuries...I'm mostly over it. Sorting all these memories will take longer for a lot of reasons.
[His brows draw down, and he looks imploringly at her.]
...do you need to examine me? I can explain why it's...complicated. I just don't want to do it over these watches.
I can, if that is what you'd like. I'd like to figure out how this happened . . . sometimes, my connection on you all wanes, and you all get sent home, but this feels different.
[ and, just like that, astoria appears to shiro's left. she's short, in person, with bare feet, a lot of hair, and a faint glow to her. she's solid, but almost looks transparent, at the same time. she also has faint circles, underneath her eyes -- tired, but she seems healthy enough! ]
I am not sure what I can do to help you, but I can try my best.
[ sincerely, as she leans forward, to peer at shiro a little more closely. ]
You do feel different . . . like Akira. But Akira looks the same, you look different . . .
[He stays still, refusing to cross his arms. He won't be uncomfortable. She's here to help. In for a penny...]
In my memories, I died. I spent time within the life force of another being before my soul was shoved into my dying evil clone. I have memories of my first body and my new one.
[He looks away from her. This is harder to say to a stranger/acquaintance his voice lowers almost to a whisper.]
I'd be surprised if I didn't feel different after that.
[ it isn't what she meant, but the information is appreciated all the same. and she listens, intently, as she surveys shiro, before she reaches out with a hand to gingerly brush her fingers against his (good) shoulder. curious . . . ]
I am sorry that happened to you, Shiro.
[ quietly, her brow furrowed. she looks . . . puzzled. not scared, or upset, or anything. just confused. ]
But I am not the one who brought you home, and took you back again. I am not sure how this happened.
[Neither of them knows what this is about. He'd normally be suspicious but she looks so confused and Astoria has always been thus far upfront. He will trust she has no idea. He folds his arms over his chest and stares into the middle distance.
Until something about what she said sinks in. He looks at her with wide eyes.]
'Brought me home and back'. That's...what happened to us?
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text;
Date: 2018-08-21 11:01 pm (UTC)After that, I woke up looking different and memories trickling into my head over the course of the day. Can you tell me anything about why that happened?
text;
Date: 2018-08-22 12:54 am (UTC)I'm sorry, what?
You look different?
[video - Private]
Date: 2018-08-22 01:20 am (UTC)...it's a little more complicated than that. But I guess that answers my question. [He holds up his white and grey hand.]
Or I didn't phrase it properly.
[video - Private]
Date: 2018-08-22 01:24 am (UTC)What a bizarre little thing.
[ quietly, as she peers at shiro. ]
And this happened on Struxta? Are you hurt, or did anything bad happen to you when you were there?
[video - Private]
Date: 2018-08-22 01:42 am (UTC)I got hurt in my memories. I'm recovering from those injuries...I'm mostly over it. Sorting all these memories will take longer for a lot of reasons.
[His brows draw down, and he looks imploringly at her.]
...do you need to examine me? I can explain why it's...complicated. I just don't want to do it over these watches.
[video - Private]
Date: 2018-08-22 01:45 am (UTC)I can, if that is what you'd like. I'd like to figure out how this happened . . . sometimes, my connection on you all wanes, and you all get sent home, but this feels different.
[ hm. ]
May I come see you in person?
[video - Private]
Date: 2018-08-22 01:53 am (UTC)You have my permission. Come to see me, please. I want to understand what happened. And thank you for the help.
[ action ]
Date: 2018-08-22 02:16 am (UTC)I am not sure what I can do to help you, but I can try my best.
[ sincerely, as she leans forward, to peer at shiro a little more closely. ]
You do feel different . . . like Akira. But Akira looks the same, you look different . . .
[Action]
Date: 2018-08-22 02:22 am (UTC)In my memories, I died. I spent time within the life force of another being before my soul was shoved into my dying evil clone. I have memories of my first body and my new one.
[He looks away from her. This is harder to say to a stranger/acquaintance his voice lowers almost to a whisper.]
I'd be surprised if I didn't feel different after that.
[Action]
Date: 2018-08-23 12:27 am (UTC)I am sorry that happened to you, Shiro.
[ quietly, her brow furrowed. she looks . . . puzzled. not scared, or upset, or anything. just confused. ]
But I am not the one who brought you home, and took you back again. I am not sure how this happened.
[Action]
Date: 2018-08-23 07:16 pm (UTC)Until something about what she said sinks in. He looks at her with wide eyes.]
'Brought me home and back'. That's...what happened to us?