01 | voice

[longaevus]

It would appear that time is a more delicate entity than belief would have it.

[ Her voice is curious, if cautious. The sounds you would hear for someone being outside are audible - sounds of the forest, to be specific. Helen isn't quite certain as to how she arrived here - could Adam's portal's stretch so far? She didn't know, and she wasn't prepared to pose the question with more unknowns than that around ]

We're often told to be careful with it, for it may simply just pass. [ And doesn't she know it ] But what about when it stops?

[ Helen's speaking more to simple fill the gap until she's certain she's ready to ask something - and she knows what to ask, although she's hoping to see something other than this forest first (or that may become the question) ]

Or paused. Doing that may sound difficult in of itself but how would you restart it? One would hope so, lest everything cease. [ And she's seen that before, and it didn't go with time stopping.

But there. There it is. The edge of the forest and... something else indeed ]

Thankfully in this case it would seem that all is well, or at least that time is moving. [ All is not well when you're not where you should be ] But when? I'll forgo the where, [ For now. If you hadn't learned that she was new by her unfamiliar voice than this was your cue ] and settle for when. What year is this? [ It's important when you've extensively travelled ]

Comments

[rianofski]

I must admit, getting used to some of the more futuristic technology has been difficult, but ultimately intriguing. However...

[A slight sigh.]

The people who run this city, who call themselves Deities -- which is, of course, utterly ridiculous -- don't make it easy for one to enjoy themselves here. Has anyone told you about the 'curses' yet, or do I have that dubious honor?

[longaevus]

I'm afraid that the honour is yours. [ But at least she has the nugget of his intrigue in the technology to come back to later, if a more pleasant topic is required ] I take it then that these Deities cause the 'curses'?

[rianofski]

The Deities cause the 'curses,' yes. Different days bring different curses, from the mundane to the humiliating to the downright dangerous. Some days a person may be affected by said curses, some days they may not. It is, seemingly, up to the whims of our captors.

[He has to decide how much information he'll give at once, but she seems to be handling this relatively well, so he decides to go on ahead.]

For example, we had a curse around the winter holidays that placed mistletoe all over the City, which then impelled people to kiss each other. We have had several incidents where our secrets from home have been revealed publicly, via video or picture. There was also an unfortunate zombie incident...

[longaevus]

[ If she'd felt a little more relaxed Helen may have rolled her eyes at the mistletoe one. But she's listening and- ] Zombies. [ That one wasn't her (this time) ] I take it then that a cure was found? [ The area has seemed non-Zombied ]

[rianofski]

The zombies were dealt with, yes.

[longaevus]

Dare I ask the damage that was caused?

[rianofski]

Other than the inevitable emotional scarring that I'm sure many people endured? A fair amount of people were seriously injured, and there was, of course, some property damaged sustained in the attempts to deal with the attack.

[longaevus]

Forgive me if I believe that to be an understatement. [ At least compared to her 'Zombie' experience, anyway ] How long ago did this occur?

[rianofski]

It is, perhaps, an understatement. However, they were a bit unlike what one might imagine -- they were, seemingly, individuals who had been dead in our own worlds and resurrected here. It was an unpleasant experience, and it occurred several months back.

[longaevus]

Resurrected but not fully reanimated? [ That could possibly be her worst nightmare (or one of them) ] I can imagine how that would feel. [ To see someone you knew in that way, anyway - she's not been undead herself ]

Has there been any situations of similar magnitude?

[rianofski]

We've had other dangerous situations, yes. Most recently, some residents of the city found themselves on a cruise ship, and were then instructed to murder each other. Ostensibly they were told that if they killed their "target," they would be released from the City.

[longaevus]

[ Just... give her a moment there. Zombies is one thing but this kind of barbarianism? Does not compute. She already had to wonder over some of what she'd heard, and wonder how believable it all was but ]

I fail to see what they could wish to gain from that.

[rianofski]

I assume it's a means of controlling us in whatever way they can. The people who were killed during the weekend were, somehow, brought back.

[A pause.]

I'm sure this is all very confusing for you.

[longaevus]

And no doubt the other methods of control weren't of use to them? [ Which is sarcastic. Dead pan but sarcastic. She's disgusted, truthfully ]

That's certainly one way to describe it. [ Confusing. Horrifying. Unbelievable ] And no doubt it becomes easier to swallow with time? [ Or not if said curses are frequent occurrences, but she knows that ]

[rianofski]

They seem to be perfectly willing to snatch at any kind of control they can get.

[He makes a thoughtful noise before responding to her second question.]

Yes and no. We begin to expect the unexpected, if that makes it any easier to swallow. And there's always the chance that a curse may pass us by entirely, harming our neighbors but not ourselves.

[longaevus]

Then I don't suppose that anyone has found a way to prevent the curses, or protect from them?

[rianofski]

Not as far as I know. Thus far, I've found that people are far more focused upon dealing with the day to day effects of the curses than figuring out how to prevent them. I'm sure, however, some people -- myself included -- would very much like to find a way to protect from the curses or prevent them entirely.

[longaevus]

When it comes to an unpleasant experience or avoiding it I have no doubt that all would wish to avoid it. [ Just a theory ] How is the day to day?

[rianofski]

The day to day is surprisingly manageable, assuming, of course, that one isn't afflicted by one of the more life-threatening curses. In some ways, this place is a city like any other -- people find employment, pay their rent, form relationships... it's oddly mundane.

[longaevus]

[ That sounds like settling. She's not sure what to think on that ] And what of you? Did you find a job?

[rianofski]

I have business interests, of course, to keep me busy, but my real business is still at home.

[longaevus]

I would imagine that much of what we have would be difficult to replicate here.

[rianofski]

And you? What do you do, at home?

[longaevus]

I'm a doctor. [ Although Helen isn't certain if the exact what will be here, she hasn't had an indication of it yet, but at least she can still doctor ]

[rianofski]

That should prove useful. As you can imagine, the hospital is often occupied by those experiencing curses.