Video | Forward dated to the middle of the night

[mightbeconcussed]

[ Lucy is sitting up in bed, blankets rumpled around her. She's wearing pajamas and she looks exhausted because she hasn't slept well since she saw that cottage. She's twisting a strand of hair that's fallen out of a sleep-mussed ponytail around and around her finger, releasing it and twisting it again. There's a giant ginger cat curled up amidst the pillows. The edge of a sheet covered mirror can be seen not quite out of frame. She presses her lips together, teeth digging into her bottom lip before she releases it with a puff of air. ]

At what point in the whole insomnia cycle do you start seeing hallucinations? I've pretty much decided I'm going crazy because curses don't last this long. And yet...

[ She pauses, rubbing a hand over her face. ]

I'm sorry. I'm just tired and according to Fight Club, you can't die from insomnia so...[ She shrugs. ] I've lost my train of thought. Good night, City. I hope you all sleep better than I am.

[ She leans forward, flicking the recording device off. ]

Comments

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[candothat]

[Pavel is awake to see this pop up on the network (and why wouldn't he be? normal sleep cycles are for normal people) and replies promptly. He's outside somewhere; it's impossible to tell from the camera angle just where that somewhere is.]

Seventy-two hours, I think. We were briefed on torture techniques like this at the Academy, but Dr. McCoy would know for certain.

What are you seeing? Would you like company?

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[mightbeconcussed]

[ Oh Pavel... he should be careful outside at night.

Of course he knows how long until insomnia starts causing hallucinations. ]

An approximation is good enough.

[ She hesitates ]

Black, like mold or rot creeping up through my veins and spreading until my skin is entirely black. [ She nods enthusiastically.]

Yes. Please. If you're not busy doing something else.

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[candothat]

[He's careful! He was trained in--well, he didn't do that well with combat training, but he's great at sneaking around and running away.]

Are you seeing this actually, or in mirrors? I have heard of mirrors showing frightening things.

No, I can be there very soon.

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[mightbeconcussed]

Just in the mirrors. Yeah, I thought it was a curse at first and I know other people are seeing things. It just...hasn't gone away.

Thank you. The door is locked, but you've got your key, right?

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[candothat]

It will go away in time. These things always do.

I do, yes. Give me five minutes?

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[mightbeconcussed]

[It's comforting to hear him say that. ] I know; It's just...weird.

[ There's a look of gratitude on her face. ]

Take as long as you need. I'll be here.

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[candothat]

The City often is. I will see you soon.

[He hurries to her apartment, concerned. This isn't the first time he's let himself into her apartment at some ungodly hour of the night, but she seemed genuinely upset. That doesn't bode well.

Pavel makes it in under five minutes, lets himself in, and calls for Lucy (which is probably unnecessary, as animals aren't usually bad at announcing company.]

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[mightbeconcussed]

[ Indeed, Masha looks up from the pillow when he opens the door. Bryant ventures out from beneath the table and lets out a couple of deep barks. They know Chekov well enough not to put up much of a fuss though.

For Lucy's part, she gets out of bed and walks barefoot down the stairs to meet Chekov. She still looks mussed and exhausted, but she goes up on her toes to press a brief kiss to his lips before going back down to the flat of her feet to rest her forehead against his shoulder, leaning more of her weight on him than she usually does. She's absorbing all of the safety and security that Chekov generally makes her feel. ]

I made Red Velvet cake eariler and fried chicken if you're hungry.

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[candothat]

[Pavel addresses Bryant in hushed Russian until Lucy comes down. She really does look like she could use some sleep.

He envelopes her in a hug and nuzzles the top of her head, trying to protect her from whatever it is that she's seeing in the mirrors and anything else that is troubling her. She must be troubled if she's been making fried chicken.]

Later, maybe. We could talk now, or stay like this.

[hairdu]

Kinda seems like going crazy is the theme around this place.

[mightbeconcussed]

You have no idea. It's practically a mission.

[hairdu]

I guess I'm kinda, uh, learning. Slowly.

[mightbeconcussed]

People usually do. You're new?

I'm Lucy, by the way.

[hairdu]

Um, yeah. I'm Radu. Nice to, uh, meet you!

[mightbeconcussed]

You too. HOw long have you been here?

[hairdu]

Um, a week? Or so?

[mightbeconcussed]

Ooooh. Have you been cursed yet?

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[mortemscintilla]

H-Hallucinations?

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[mightbeconcussed]

In the mirrors. I thought maybe it was a curse at first, you know?

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[mortemscintilla]

Who knows? It might be one of those extended curses. It is October.

[ He says this because several people on the Network -- himself included -- are having issues with mirrors. ]

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[mightbeconcussed]

Okay. Point and maybe I feel a little better.

How screwed up is that? I feel better knowing something is out of my control rather than it.

[ Maybe she's making progress as a control freak or maybe she's just used to the City by now.]

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[mortemscintilla]

[ From one control freak to another, ]

That's not screwed up at all. [ Control is a theme in Hei's life, in every mutable shape. Not having a lick of it. Being in superlative possession of it. He's spent a majority of his existence being exploited as a tool by his employers, while simultaneously using other people as tools to get the secrets or outcomes he desires. That word -- control -- is a two-faced monster you have to keep a firm grasp on, or it can turn on you in an eyeblink. ]

Think about it. Your body and mind are your most valuable assets. If they fall apart ... it's like losing everything that makes you, well. You. At least if it's a curse, you know what to expect. A bad day or week, and then it's over.

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[mightbeconcussed]

[ Hei gets Lucy a lot more than she realizes, probably because he's too busy being Li around her for her to realize. In any case, yes. Accurate.

She takes a deep breath and gives him a wavering smile. ]

Thanks. I mean...that makes sense and I kind of thought I was beyond sense.

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[mortemscintilla]

[ Hei's trained to be good at human arithmetic. What Contractors lack in empathy, they make up for in perception. In theory. In Hei's case, as a Tiresias between human and inhuman, he possess both. It's why he's dangerous. He can see the cracks in another's mask. But he can intuit why they're there. ]

Even if you were beyond sense, no one would blame you. [ He offers her a reassuring little smile of his own. ] Anyway, you aren't. Is anyone with you? It's a bad idea to be alone, with the mirrors playing awful tricks.

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[mightbeconcussed]

[ The smile is good, as are the words. ] Not right now.