voice; the simulacrum is true

[crossedstaves]

[Calm and clinical, the man speaking seems to be doing so primarily to himself, at first.]4:24 PM Eastern time, what appears to be New York. Resting pulse at roughly 80 beats per minute. Transition of memory seamless. Pupils normal-sized, reaction times typical. I'm not discernibly drugged or delusional, but it would make more overall sense if I

Comments

[Video]

[theheterodyne]

Welcome to the city, Dr. West. It looks like you've already done a fair amount of research on your own, which puts you ahead of most new arrivals.

Do you need any assistance?

[voice]

[crossedstaves]

Thank you. I don't need any assistance, but I'm interested in information, if you have the time. Mainly on these "superpowers," which don't exist where I'm from.

[video forever]

[theheterodyne]

Ah.

Well, if you didn't have a special ability before, you'll have at least one now. There are a variety of things people can do here that are quite interesting. I really ought to make a study of it.

[crossedstaves]

So I've read, and witnessed a bit in my reading.

You are a scientist?

Voice;

[heart_my_hat]

[Curiously, maybe a bit doubtfully;] ... You're a doctor?

Voice;

[crossedstaves]

I would have difficulty proving it, but yes. I am a clinical psychiatrist specializing in work with abused individuals.

Voice;

[heart_my_hat]

... Psychiatrist...

They work... with a person's mind, right?

Voice;

[crossedstaves]

In a manner of speaking. Sometimes we focus more on behavioral changes, or use medication to try to alter people's brain chemistry.

text;

[improvesmorale]

I like the unfortunate acronym.

text;

[crossedstaves]

Every day must be like a little gift for you, then.

text;

[improvesmorale]

Something like that. Anyway, I work there.

text;

[crossedstaves]

In what capacity, if I may ask?

[crossedstaves]

A superhero has secrets to keep. If they chose to share them with a doctor, even if that doctor promised not to keep a file on them, their enemies might threaten the doctor in hopes of information.

[crossedstaves]

They're one degree closer to superheroes and superhero business than everyone else in the city. Potential victims, unwitting accomplices, innocent bystanders — whatever their chosen or unwilling role, I think it's safe to say things are a little riskier to get involved with overall.

permavoice

[purmoncul]

Oh, it's a fun time for everyone, the sudden appearance in a world where people ask you for a little card with your picture on every time you want to do something interesting.

As for whether it's real or a dream, that's debatable, but I nicked myself shaving this morning, which is is something I do fairly often in my own life, but don't often dream about. Thank Merlin, because what sort of life would that be, if domestic banality was the only thing worth dreaming about? Go easy on yourself and you'll sort your own understanding of things out.

permavoice

[crossedstaves]

I know I'm not dreaming. Certain parts of the brain don't function well when people sleep, namely the ones having to do with sequential ordering, but I just read and retained an entire newspaper. It's not an easy conclusion to come to, but this is as "real" as anything I've experienced before; I have to accept my part in this delusion.

Re: permavoice

[purmoncul]

Huh. I didn't know that. ...What if you dreamed that you understood what you read?

[crossedstaves]

You may dream that you have the vague understanding of something you read, but recalling specific details would probably be difficult.