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

[limbical]

Times like these, it doesn't hurt to think ahead even a little.

Hm. It does make sense. There is a certain strength in unity, but there can also be a stupid sense of a pecking order that comes with it. Well, that's fine; it's not really my problem right now.

How are you holding up?

[halbird]

[ just ■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■ ■■■■■■■ ■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■■■■ ■■■■ ■■■■■■ ■■

great thanks! ]

Oh—

[ actually yeah he pauses over that, as if that's not what he expected. ]

—S-sorry. I thought you would ask more about our situation in general, so that question was.... Um, I'm okay. Even if it's been a little frustrating, not being able to find clear answers.

[ ... ]

How... are you? You seem good at adjusting, but it's probably confusing coming into a place like this.

[limbical]

It's fine. It did come out of left field from me, didn't it?

[But he can't really help it. He did a little bit of the same to other young adults he'd spent time with; essentially grown up, but he still saw them as too young to be forced to deal with the shit they were in.

Habit.]

I suppose at this point, there's not too much more to ask unless you want to offer your insights. Not to say I don't think you could be helpful, but it seems like a lot of similar answers. Plenty of theories, though.

Hmm. I guess you could say I'm used to being involved in a real pickle. This is almost easygoing for me in comparison to what I've dealt with before, and it's not like I'm holding anybody up in my world if I don't go back anytime soon.

[halbird]

[ the people from questionable places trend continues, huh. emil's not... exactly surprised to hear that, but it's a little sad that everyone he's talked to seems to be involved in some Yikes Narrative.

or perhaps that's better, considering the whole kidnapping context of this place. no — he doesn't think daan deserves either thing, considering the impression he's giving.

some part of emil seems to have relaxed at that realization. at that question asked, and then settled. ]

Maybe... a lot of people here are the same way.

[ which isn't really emil offering his own insights, but it's an observation he'd picked up from somewhere else nonetheless.

anyway. ]

May... I ask about where you're from, Mister Daan? I don't have much to add about what's here if you've already heard a lot. There's only really asking about each other, but it's also okay if you'd rather not share.

[limbical]

It's a shame, isn't it? To know how many people have struggled and find this place peaceful. I'm not saying I'm thrilled to be here, but you know.

[He considers a moment, then decides it's harmless to answer.]

I was living in the Kingdom of Rondon. I was last visiting the town of Prehevil in the country of Bohemia. I'll understand if none of those locations are particularly familiar.

[halbird]

[ he... does not think this place is peaceful.

rather than linger on that, show himself too much, he'll commit daan's unfamiliar places to mind. rondon, prehevil, bohemia. like they'll be of particular use in the future. ]

They aren't.

[ obviously. ]

We don't... have anything like that where I'm from. Kingdoms, countries.

[limbical]

Oh? Hmm. What sort of places did you have?

[halbird]

[ ah. how to say this in a way that's not weird as hell considering the circumstances.

emil'll settle on saying it in a way that very much shows he thinks it's weird as hell considering the circumstances: ]

A City. Just a City. [ the second part after a beat of thought to save daan the question of "and what else?" because. there isn't anything else. commonly travelled, anyway. ] Like this, with Districts. But they were bigger, and it wasn't as... mm. It wasn't as peaceful.

[ should he say the last part? well, someone else from the city will probably say the last part eventually. it's fine. ]

[limbical]

You're not the only one to respond like that, actually. A City, but not this one specifically.

May I ask what manner of conflict it was?

[halbird]

There's five of us from there, so I shouldn't be surprised that you've heard from someone else first. They'd be better at describing it.

[ just— that, first, as he tries to parse how exactly to answer daan's question.

what manner of conflict was it? it'd be easier to answer what kind of conflict it wasn't, because it seemed like it was every manner under the sun. when emil does answer, he's clearly having some difficulty defining it. it's not as new, it doesn't make him freeze up... but it's easier to simply participate in it because you have to than actually talk about it when you don't. ]

There's a lot of fighting, for different reasons. It's not like a war, or one general conflict. It just... is. People trying to survive, wanting things. That's what I've seen recently.

[ syndicates, fixers, capitalism. even the places thought safe aren't so safe, given his rich boy town got burned down by a cult. but, it's fine. it's fine. ]

[limbical]

That's fair. I'm sure it's a bit of a loaded question I've asked.

[Still, he listens anyway, curious.]

Is the world is disarray then? People will do anything to survive, after all.