citynet | Voice | UN: IGNIS

Thankfully, I've always preferred to make my own meals-- and can cook most things anyone could want with my eyes closed.

[Badum tch.]

What's a beef wellington? I don't believe I'm familiar.

Heh, well, you'll be fine then. Me, I'm just figuring out how to cook recently. It's... been a progress.

I don't know all of the exact ingredients, but basically it's a prime cut of beef wrapped in pastry and cooked mushrooms. I don't know the process, sadly. I'll just have to dream of it.

Ah, a newcomer to the culinary world! Welcome. There's plenty of adventure and excitement to be had in the kitchen.

A prime cut of beef wrapped in pastry with mushrooms...

[A hum of consideration, followed by a decisive snap.]

That's it! I've come up with a new recipe-- well, new to me. At the very least, I will do my best to recreate this 'beef wellington', so I may assist you in learning how.

If you should want for said assistance, of course.

The extent of my cooking skill is quite narrow, I'm afraid. I can mix a good cocktail, but even I'll admit that's about the extent of it.

[did he just witness someone's catch phrase what is going on]

Uh. Well. ...You know what, sure. It's probably better that I learn a variety of things to make now, anyway.

I'm Daan, for the record. A doctor. I have a makeshift clinic, but let's hope you don't need it in the future.

There's something to be said for a 'liquid diet', but I would hesitate to indulge in our current surroundings.

[He sure did.]

Ignis. Very creative username, I know. I wasn't in the mood to play coy.

Pleased to make your acquaintance, Dr. Daan.

Do you find yourself quite busy here?

Oh, rest assured, I indulge when I have no patients to tend to. But having something more substantial is probably a good idea, too.

[He makes an amused, soft sound.]

Honestly, it's still better than mine. It's a pleasure, Ignis.

Mm, busier than I'd like, to be honest. Not as bad as it could be, but I try to make sure I'm available when possible. You never know when someone thinks they can just walk off an injury and then realize the damned thing is infected because it turns out they didn't think to clean it. [He sounds a bit annoyed, but it is what it is.]

How exactly do people come to be injured here?

I've only just arrived, but in my limited experience of this place... there is an impressive amount of nothing.

Aggressive plants in the garden. In-fighting. Accidents.

But more commonly: when a new area is opened up to us, it is with a caveat that something else will likely occur along with said area. For example, just last month, several of us were transported to and stuck in some sort of... makeshift "haunted house", if you will.

Only, something could cause people to suddenly attack the other. ...Something I bore witness to a few times. And it could become fatal.

Understood.

Exactly how many of 'us' are there? I walked for what felt like hours today and didn't come across a single living thing.

If it hadn't been for this device, I might have assumed I was... alone.

We haven't exactly performed a census, but I estimate we're about a hundred give or take, which would make any city feel absurdly empty, admittedly.

Only a hundred? Why build a city of this scale for so small a number...

The more I learn of this place, the less I understand.

A good question. But I will say that there is evidence that there were previous residents. As to what happened to them, I couldn't say.

What kind of evidence?

[A quiet sigh.]

Apologies for the interrogation. Obtaining information is my way of... settling myself.

[There's a small sound, almost like a chuckle.] No need to apologize. Honestly, I did pretty much the same thing when I first got here.

There are... items inside of the apartments. Like people just got up and left while they were in the middle of something. There were also some research papers found in the university. I believe implying experimentations? Something to that effect.

A kindred spirit, then.

[Daan can't see his face, but the smile is evident in his voice.

At least until the mention of experimentation.]

These people who disappeared... is there any evidence they may have transformed, or mutated, into something else altogether? Do you have 'daemons' in your dark?

So it seems.

[There's a pause at the question.]

Not that I am aware of. No signs of transformations of any kind within these areas. Beyond the various items without specifics, there isn't much more evidence than that.

Though now I must ask you explain "daemons" to me.

I can't decide if that is more or less comforting. The devil you know, and all that.

[An exhale at the mention of daemons.]

As per the Lucian textbooks, daemons are an 'Appellation of organisms infected by a mutant strain of Plasmodium malariae, rapidly distorting physiology and manipulating behavior so as to render their hosts' original forms virtually indiscernible while also dispersing a light-absorbing miasma.'

In more common terms, beings who thrive in darkness and hunt the night. Man turned monster. Nature made unnatural. We called it the 'vanishing disease', until we realized that those afflicted were not vanishing so much as... changing.

Concerning how similar it is to other mutations I've encountered in the past, but that's not all that urgent...

If it is any consolation, transformations are rare here, and often only temporary. I, myself, have turned twice on account of the aforementioned tea. Once on accident, another on purpose. The effect allowed an entity of my world to possess my body. For others, it could be a more general mutation, or something influenced even by another world, but all have been as that: temporary, and not a full permanent change.

So, it is not a true encounter likened to your daemons, if nothing else. The trigger is with a purpose, as deemed by our esteemed captors, whoever the fuck they are. Either way, I haven't seen evidence yet that the previous residents had suffered any changes. Simply that they are gone.

Transformation via tea? That sounds right out of a children's book.

Simply gone... If only anything were that simple.

Sure does, doesn't it. But it's what happened. Hence why I caution against the prepared meals.

Mm, I'm sure we'll inevitably find out the real reason. And we won't like it. But for now, I don't think any of us know where they went.

What about sealed, mass-production items such as... canned coffee and other beverages?

I unfortunately agree.

Those seem to be fine so far. Instant noodles, alcoholic beverages, and such also seem to be safe.

Thank the Six.

So long as I have caffeine, I can tolerate just about anything.

Heh.

I can relate. Though more for me, so long as I have decent bourbon or whiskey. I respect that, though.

I do appreciate a fine bourbon when I have the opportunity to do so.

Coffee, I drink every day. Morning til night. Rain or shine.

An indulgence I don't understand? Cigars. Absolutely dreadful.

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