audio; un: loveless

[limbical]

I'd like to keep this as efficient as possible, so I don't plan on talking your ear off.

Call me Daan. I'm a doctor. That should about cover all you need to know about me.

So, first question: is there already a clinic arranged by someone here? Have there been any injuries on top of there being a willing killer out there? Illnesses or whatever else. I can probably help you, even a little.

Second question: who has been here since the start of this whole mess of being trapped in a part of this city? Ideally, I'd like someone who can be informative, but I'm not overly picky.

Comments

audio, un: junpei

[coolerjunpei]

Hey, Doctor Daan. [And somewhat mumbled, like it's only just occurred to him:] Did we have any doctors here before...?

[Fucked up if not!! Anyway though,]

Uh, I've been here since the start, nnnot that that means I know everything. I'm Junpei.

[limbical]

Evidently, there is another. I just spoke to her, though I admit I'm not sure what field she specializes in.

Hello, Junpei. How would you summarize your experiences so far?

[coolerjunpei]

Oh, huh. Well, maybe she's new, too. I guess that doesn't matter, since you guys are here now.

[Just in case they really do start trying to kill each other, uh, more often--]

As for my experiences, [there are air quotes here, regrettably unseen] -it's been... quiet? There's proof that someone is here, doing this to us, but nobody's seen 'em. I've uh, been through this kind of thing before, and usually there's some jackass bragging about being the almighty string-puller by now.

[limbical]

Fair enough.

Hm, it's a shame to hear how many other people have been in similar situations like this before. But you're right, usually there is some kind of revelation by now or direction to indicate the expectation. Yet we lack all of that. Perhaps whoever is responsible is extremely patient to get to his villainous monologue.

[coolerjunpei]

Yeah, maybe.

[Thinking about it, though...]

Or maybe there aren't enough of us here yet? I mean, you and a bunch of other people just turned up weeks after the rest of us did. No one's been taking a headcount, but there could be a bottom line number for... for whatever we're here for.

[limbical]

Perhaps. Either way, we can only really speculate in this circumstance until something or someone reveals their hand. It would be convenient to know what's expected of us, though.

What was your previous experience like, if I may ask?

[coolerjunpei]

The waiting's a killer. Uh, no pun intended.

[badum tsh]

So, last time? I actually- [broke into,] -was part of a real experiment, like not for crazy people? There were nine of us, and after about a week we were knocked out and brought to a different facility to "play a game." You know, like in those movies where "game" just means "torture trap."

It was in the desert, so... out of the frying pan, into more of the same shit, I guess.

[limbical]

So, really just for shits and giggles for whoever was responsible, huh? Or some excuse about getting around to "appreciating" your life, or enlightenment.

[coolerjunpei]

Well, uh, not exactly. [A beat.] Okay, he was an asshole, so maybe a couple shits and giggles.

[Now, does he bother opening ye olde can o' worms... He might as well, he's been doing it plenty lately:]

This is going to sound crazy, but stay with me—what do you know about alternate histories?

[limbical]

[A big sigh. This sounds like a can of worms.]

Very little, so I'm afraid you'll have to explain it to me.

[coolerjunpei]

Damn, I didn't even start yet... [don't sigh like that, he's sensitive,] Well, uh—okay.

So, you're you, right? Let's call you Daan A. Think about something you, Daan A, did this morning that got you here, to this moment. Somewhere out there in another history there's a Daan B, who did something else—and Daan C, Daan D... you get it.

[One can hope, anyway.]

Back home, moving around the histories is a thing some people can do. Our last bastard mastermind put us through hell to... unlock us, I guess.

You still with me, or did I lose you? I know how it sounds, trust me.

[limbical]

So, what this sounds like is... hm. Different timelines, almost? Or am I not following you here?

If that's the case, I pity these other possible Daans. Sorry bastards.

[coolerjunpei]

Yeah, basically. Just... travel-able. Accessible? Never mind; yeah, like that. You got it.

[Anyway, oh, sounds like yet another Person With Issues here in the creepy liminal city--super! Junpei relates.]

Right. Well... that's what we were doing locked up in the desert. This one can't be like that or I'd have gotten the hell out of here already and let Junpei Z handle it.

[limbical]

That is admittedly quite interesting. But you're right, this isn't really the same situation at all. I can't tell if that's a good thing or not yet.

[coolerjunpei]

I give it a "could be worse" out of ten. But that's just me. Third time's the charm, right? Maybe the optimists are right.

[But also... maybe....... not!! He's definitely on team "maybe not."]

Hey, you mentioned a clinic, right? Did you have a place in mind?

[limbical]

That's about where I stand. Even if it's begging for trouble to say so.

I was considering District One so I wouldn't have to travel as much. Probably an apartment. I could pick an office building, but that just seems soulsucking.

[coolerjunpei]

[A brief huff, not quite a laugh--] You're probably fine, I said it first.

But yeah, gotta say that not having to think about picking up work shifts is the only real perk of this place. The apartment's probably a better idea, anyway... Did anyone tell you about how this place resets itself?

[limbical]

Then if we're jinxed, I'll blame you. Good to know. [There's a hint of teasing in his voice, even if he sounds mostly just tired.]

I've heard. Supplies get reset, but you don't really lose what you receive. Meals in restaurants are conveniently what you'd desire in the moment, so you don't actually need to make anything.

It's a little too kind.

[coolerjunpei]

Glad I could help.

And... I dunno if I'd call it kind, but it's something. The apartments don't reset, though, at least none of the ones I've seen people staying in. So if you set up shop in one of them, it should stick around. No idea if the offices would just eat all your supplies overnight, you know?

[limbical]

Oh, but it is a cruel kindness. After all, we'll be in deep shit if or when they stop resetting the supplies.

But that's a good point. Definitely going to use an apartment, then. Maybe have my personal space next to the office. Seems the most convenient.

[coolerjunpei]

[He nods, remembers he's on audio and makes a kind of hum of agreement; yes cool, the apartment clinic, sounds great. They're definitely going to need that, especially if.... well,]

And that's when they're going to tell us to start picking each other off, I bet. "Kill this many people if you want to eat!"—Maybe the rest of us can hide out somewhere.

[limbical]

Just what we need, a battle royale. I'm hoping we'll end up avoiding such a thing, but I suppose it's inevitable.

A back-up plan would probably be wise. Something to consider among fortifications.

[coolerjunpei]

Like what, though? Sedating people who keep trying to kill the rest of us? Dunno how long that'll work...

[limbical]

I'm considering our options as I go through our supplies. I would prefer to attempt to be ethical, but we'll see how things pan out.

[coolerjunpei]

Sedating people's at least a little more ethical than killing each other.

But yeah, I get what you mean. I guess that's something to think about.