018 // [VIDEO] // Say Aaaahhhhh! Or... something else, I'm good either way.

[echo_of_utopia]

It appears the mansion at least has restored itself. I hope its people are doing all right as well.

Do I remember correctly that these events are based on one person's memories? Can anybody tell me whose memories these were?

[ Granted, the ghouls would have to be taken as a metaphor, but much of the overall setting was uncomfortably familiar to

Comments

[VIDEO]

[40410]

[ Shadowed room, cameras in the background, terrible haircut - yep, it's Alex, justifying his collection of tags about never contacting anyone else. ]

Sof'. Can I...

[ He's looking at her oddly, like he doesn't want to believe something. ]

...ask you something?

[VIDEO]

[echo_of_utopia]

Of course, Alex.

[ In an 'as if you even need to ask' tone. ]

In person?

[ A 'just in case' in order to cater to his paranoia. ]

[VIDEO]

[40410]

Probably best.

[ Neutrally. ]

[VIDEO --> ACTION]

[echo_of_utopia]

I will be with you shortly.

[ A pause, in case he wants to suggest a different place to meet.

When she hears no objection she goes on her merry way, soon arriving at his room without the mansion's interference.

She knocks. ]

Alex, I'm here.

[ACTION]

[40410]

[ He opens the door, looking fairly serious. Not that that's, you know, exactly a change of pace for him. ]

Hey. You alright?

[ He makes room for her to come in. She'll find that the cameras are all in place - though only the key ones actually feature the tiny red light which means they are recording. ]

[ACTION]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ She steps inside, nods. Finefinethankyoufine. ]

And you?

[ You seem tense. You should RELAX more. ]

[ACTION]

[40410]

[ NEVER. ]

Yeah, sure.

[ Absolutely no mention of the spliced-up few weeks. They're just an extra depth to the shadows under his eyes. ]

I... [ He closes the door. ] ...was talking to Jack. You know Jack.

[ACTION]

[echo_of_utopia]

[ OHCRAP. I mean uh... OHCRAP. ]

Jack Ryan, yes.

[ In a ~go on~ sort of way and SMILE AND OH GOD CLENCHING HER TEETH SO HARD. ]

[ACTION] *awkward turtle*

[40410]

[ Oh man, this is difficult. He wants her answer to be no, but he'll be surprised and suspicious if it is. Why would Jack lie? And Jack's claim has precident. This has been whirling around in his head for a while, and those two things are what he keeps coming up hard against. ]

...

[ That pause was just for him to do the locks. Really. No, really. Stop looking like that. Uh, 'difficult' doesn't mean he's not gonna ask. ]

Did you... give him a knockout drug when he didn't want one?

[ That would be the featureless voice of 'you don't get to know what I'm thinking'. ]

Re: [ACTION] *awkward turtle*

[echo_of_utopia]

[ THEY WERE *JUST* A CULT, THE "CRAZY AND BRAINWASHED" IS A COMPLETELY UNFOUNDED VALUE STATEMENT OF- WHAT?! Oooohhhh. Oh, that. Pffff. ]

Would that be about the sedative I gave him during the event?

[ACTION] I'm glad you agree.

[40410]

[ He nods, unsmiling. ]

[ACTION] Huh? Subject line?

[echo_of_utopia]

[ ~WORRIED~ ]

Is there a problem? I spoke to Jack earlier, he said there were no side-effects, but-- is he all right?

[ACTION] I'm afraid so.

[40410]

[ Wh ]

He's okay, but that's not the point. You can't go around drugging people.

[ YEAH, HE REMEMBERS. ]

Have you seen a little action tag around here?

[echo_of_utopia]

What do you--

[ ~MOMENT OF REALISATION~ ]

This is not even about Jack, is it?

[ Sitting down on the couch now. Mmmh, couch. ]

There was an action tag here. It's gone now.

[40410]

[ Beat.

A twitch. ]

It's about both of us.

I'm sorry, the action tag looked exactly like my dead wife.

[echo_of_utopia]

Jack and you?

[ Mmmmmhhhhm. ]

Then perhaps we ought to start with him. If his health is not the problem I'm afraid I don't quite follow. You disapprove because you think I injected him without his consent?