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[michinniuint]

[Hello Aliunde, there is a somewhat disgruntled woman with the fakest of smiles on her face, glaring daggers at the screen, chin propped up in one hand.]

Is this where I say that I'm ever so grateful for waking up with my kidneys intact and not a mark on me? Oh wait, that would be Cedric because he's an idiot. Look, there are things I want and need

Comments

(video)

[sunnyworks]

I don't think any of your friends are here, miss. [At least, not that Vanille recognizes.]

[sunnyworks]

[Ooh, shiny. She'll collect them in a sticker book for display purposes.]

Crystallized? But I, uh, woke up 500 years later.

[michinniuint]

How did you wake up without needing serious medical attention? I've never heard of anything like this at all.

[sunnyworks]

Magic? [Another awkward smile. She can't really explain it besides, you know, magic.]

[michinniuint]

You must have an awful lot of it to pull that off then.

[sunnyworks]

It's complicated. [Very much so. And totally not what you want to hear right now, Shirls, let's change the subject.] But enough about me! Did you have any questions about this place? I can try to answer them the best I can.

[michinniuint]

[A change of subject would be very welcomed right about now.]

Is there anything I should be aware of around here? I feel stupid asking but considering I woke up on another planet - do weird things happen? Anything sort of out of the ordinary that could catch me off guard? No probings or suddenly being called in by the Head Doctor or anything like that?

[sunnyworks]

Don't feel stupid, they're perfectly reasonable questions! It depends on your definition of weird things, but it's pretty darn weird. The doctor likes to do, um, experiments? Once she took something valuable from everyone and made them follow clues to get it back, another time we all got pretty bad hallucinations because of some sort of drug she released, stuff like that. And sometimes bad things just happen, like someone tries to take over or monsters get loose. And then sometimes it's just...quiet, like now.

[michinniuint]

I'm used to vampires, werewolves, witches - it'd take a while to list the things I know about but to a lot of people, I'm used to weird. [The thought of experiments has her frowning, worried and annoyed.] It can't just be physically valuable then I take it, seeing as there's only one thing I'm waiting for that holds any valuable.

[Why was she brought here? Everything she hears she likes less and less and she doubts she'll sleep tonight, wide awake and overthinking it all.]

Well Aliunde sounds utterly charming, monsters, experiments and no doubt my mind being poked and prodded if hallucinations are at hand.

[sunnyworks]

Ah, then you shouldn't be too surprised by anything. Not that it makes such surprises any better. [Vanille frowns too. This is always the worst part of meeting new people here, telling them what Aliunde's like.] There doesn't seem to be much rhyme or reason to how the Doctor in charge operates. But at least it's been fairly quiet lately.

[michinniuint]

Ah, so what I take for granted will finally pay off, good to know. Surprises are often less than welcome, regardless of intent. [It's better she hears about it though, it'd be worse if she blundered in blindly.] I suppose I'll have to make the effort not to set her off. [Which could be tricky, she's not prone to sugarcoating anything unless it's to hide something nastier so it can fester later.]

[sunnyworks]

She's not in contact with us much, only when she puts out announcements or video messages, so you should be fine. Unless you really go looking for trouble! Though she makes it really hard to get answers from her. [She scowls. Nothing worse than someone who won't answer questions when asked.]

[michinniuint]

I think this will be one occasion where I decline to stir the pot unless there is no other option out there.

[Experiments are an ominous threat that she doesn't want to try her luck with.]

[sunnyworks]

That strategy tends to work most of the time. You'll be fine. [She smiles reassuringly.] Has anyone else told you about your things? The apartment and money, I mean.

[michinniuint]

No, I don't think they have - I was trying to ignore thoughts of where I was going to live, I was too busy worrying about where I was and my magic unfortunately.

[sunnyworks]

[Ah, this part Vanille has down perfectly.] The doctors should have given you some cards - one has a bit of money on it, the other is for your apartment. It's small, but I like to think of it as cozy. And your magic will be given back, don't worry!