First Reality

[anxiousgrace]

[A soft sob... Coming from behind the clinic in town. There, a young, dark haired woman is curled in a ball, releasing more pent-up emotion than she has in quite a while. She's freaking out, and no surprise, all things considered. After all, she just woke up in a strange place, in clothing she's never seen, with wings.

It doesn't help that to her, this is just a sign that her schizophrenia is getting worse. It also doesn't help that the dress is vaguely reminiscent of the clothes patients wear at mental hospitals; she half believes she's in one.

Even though it's spring, it's a little nippy, and she's shivering in her thin cotton dress. She hasn't noticed the journal sitting by her feet, but she has at least stopped crying, though her breathing is still rapid.]

I don't know if I want this to be real or not...

Comments

[action]

[halfremembered]

[ His grip is strong and supportive, clearly meant to keep her on her own two feet. Do not worry, it seems to say without a single word being vocalized. I shall not let you fall.

A faint smile - hopeful, but a little forced, as if there's nothing to actually smile about - escapes Aether before he begins to walk, moving around the building and toward the entrance. ]

How long has it been since you arrived here?

[action]

[anxiousgrace]

[As a dancer, Cayla is used to communicating with her body and picks up on Aether's body language quickly. She grips his hand without desperation, but with immense gratitude as she is led to the entrance of the clinic.]

An hour, maybe more... I can't be sure. My watch is gone.

[action]

[halfremembered]

It must be in the clothing store. That is where all your things end up when you first arrive.

[ He looks over his shoulder, his steps just fast enough to lead the way without making her rush. ]

I must say, though, that I hope this place isn't your reason for needing a psychiatrist. All of this is real... both good parts and the scary ones.

Re: [action]

[anxiousgrace]

[She's walking quickly- not a recommended activity when you've been curled into a ball for an hour and your legs are just regaining bloodflow, but Cayla is managing.]

I'm not sure about the place anymore... [Otherwise he wouldn't be commenting on it.] ...but some things are just too strange.

[She notices him looking over his shoulder. He's obviously stressed...] Is something wrong? you seem tense.

[action]

[halfremembered]

Ah... it's nothing. This place has been a tad more strange than usual lately.

[ For all he knows, she is the same way: just another regular who had her old memories replaced with ones from a new time and place. It would not surprise him. If he thinks about it for more than a second, he realizes that he might be the same way. ]

This village is called Luceti. I would tell you more, but I find most people feel like sitting down after hearing the details.

[action] Can we safely say they've arrived at the clinic?

[anxiousgrace]

[NOPE SORRY NOT A REGULAR. Which unfortunately means things are unlikely to get easier for her.]

Ok, then, though I hope things settle down... It's a nice enough name, I suppose, for a village.

[action] Sure! I was about to skip over there, anyway.

[halfremembered]

It is...

[ He answers with a faint nod. This is around the time when they cross the clinic's threshold and Aether...

Actually, rather than being responsible and calling for an actual doctor, he simply seeks out a room they could use. Someone might feel confused about their tea disappearing from the shelves, but solving immediate problems by dragging even more people into them simply isn't Aether's style. ]

But the place itself isn't exactly nice. You should sit down. The story is a bit of a jaw-dropper.

[action] (I'm assuming they're in an exam room. And I apologize for her suspicion.)

[anxiousgrace]

[After they enter a more discreet room, Cayla takes a seat on the examination table. Why they were in a room, she isn't exactly sure, but she's grateful for the privacy. She also knows that if Aether tries any thing, she could either drop him or get out pretty quickly.]

All right. I'm listening.

[action] All good. He's not being 100% upfront with her, either.

[halfremembered]

First of all...

[ This might be careless of him, but Aether isn't actually looking at her. He's far too busy going through the drawers in search of tea. He might not be a common visitor to this building, but there is little doubt that it's there. Doctors do need something to drink. ]

...this world isn't your own. You could call Luceti a kind of Wonderland. Something drags people here. Whatever it is, it only sometimes lets them go.

[action] Understandable, considering the current state of Luceti.

[anxiousgrace]

[She just stares at him. It's hard to believe someone who's not making eye contact, and he does look pretty tense... but so far, he has done nothing to make her suspect him of dishonesty or bad intentions.

She still wishes she had the tube of mace she keeps in her purse. Just in case.]

Does this "something" have a name? [Names really do make things less scary.]

[action]

[halfremembered]

None at all. Far as we can tell, this world itself is responsible for it happening.

[ He finally opens the right drawer and... there we go. Tea, and cups too. He's not really in the mood for teatime right now, but he does take two. Best to at least pretend to be a good company. ]

It's not hard to believe once you've been outside the barrier. If the village is strange, everything beyond it is even more so.

Re: [action]

[anxiousgrace]

[Cayla watches, somewhat suspiciously, as Aether gets the tea-making equipment. Should he really be just... taking it? As far as she knows, it's his stuff, so she doesn't comment on it.]

So... There's some kind of barrier around Luceti? [Worrying, that.] And... you've been outside?