.o1 - New Arrival

[felis_fidelus]

[Hello, it's the newest arrival at 1250 Williams Road! He sounds very much not pleased, a bit irritated, and very, very confused.]

What on Gaia - this isn't Edge. It's too clean to be....

... I must be hallucinating. Shalua always said I'd overwork myself into nervous collapse. Never thought she'd be right. I have enough imagination to

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[heartofheaven]

Reeve?

[felis_fidelus]

... Tifa?

[heartofheaven]

So it is you! Reeve, I'm so sorry. I'm not sure how to begin to describe what's happened to us...

You're right, this isn't Edge. It's Mayfield.

[felis_fidelus]

So I've been told. Though that doesn't clear things up much.

But- how long have you been here? You're not alone, are you? Are you all right?

[heartofheaven]

A while. I guess it depends what you mean by alone. There are a lot of people here, so I've never really been alone. And there are the families they give us. And... Cloud's here.

We still don't really know what's going on. I don't think this is real. I think our minds are trapped here somehow... It's the only explanation I can think of.

[felis_fidelus]

[silence for several moments- he's not exactly enjoying the idea of being handed a fake family]

... mm. Is he with you now?

No one seems to have an idea of what's going on. Still... from what I've been told, this sounds relatively benign, compared to everything else we've been through. I'm not fond of it, but it sounds as though we have no choice but to play along for now.

[heartofheaven]

No... He was assigned to a different family. They brainwash you if you stay in the wrong house for too long.

And this place really only pretends to be benign. Have you seen the drones? That's what you become when they brainwash you.

[felis_fidelus]

... I must admit, I'm not fond of the idea of being forced into a- a sham marriage.

No. Not yet, but I've been warned about--

Tifa, a child just walked by here and called me 'dad'. Are you sure we haven't all just gone insane?

[heartofheaven]

[She laughs, slightly bitterly.]

Believe me, I've wondered that. And that child is a drone. They're all part of the charade.

I hope that at least your wife is real?

[felis_fidelus]

Dear Gaia. To put children in this sort of position....

I don't know. I have yet to see her. Hopefully not- I don't think I'd be able to stay in a house full of brainwashed drones like this.

[heartofheaven]

I know. Everything about this place is wrong.

You can visit me if you want. As long as you go back to your house every couple of days or so, you'll be okay. I'm at 341 Brady Lane. Do you know where you are?

[felis_fidelus]

That's an understatement.

I'm... [papers rustling] These letters say I'm at... 1250 Williams Road? Wherever that is. I'd like to check and make sure there's not another sane person here before I take off, but... yes. I believe I will stop by at some point.

[heartofheaven]

Okay. Take as much time as you need to get used to it all.

[felis_fidelus]

... thank you, Tifa. I appreciate it.