01 | video | day 73

[intelligently]

Well, this is just perfect.

[ No, it was far from perfect and it was obvious, you didn't even need Lydia's tone to work that one out ]

So, let me get this straight. I just witnessed [ pause ] something which I apparently can't describe [ and that is rare for Lydia Martin ] and then what? Some kidnaps me and brings me to this dump? And don't even get me started on why I'm even doing this.

[ Because, Lydia, you're ever so slightly hopeful that there is someone out there, someone other than the creepy kidnapper ]

Comments

[manofiron]

You and everybody else who's here. At least, that's what I'm told. If someone came here willingly, they're not speaking up about it.

[intelligently]

[ ... Huh. There is someone there ] And everyone else is?

[manofiron]

What, like a directory? I don't know. I just came back a few days ago. The population changes. Why and how, we don't know.

I'm Tony. Tony Stark. Part-time bearer of bad news.

[intelligently]

So, crazy kidnapper starts killing everyone. That's helpful. And obvious.

[stiling]

Yeah, that's, uh. That's the idea as always.

[ His face jerks emphatically, his free hand throwing up into the air. ]

You're back! I can't believe you're- [ He cuts off with a flat smile, something that goes a bit crookedly downward at the end, almost concerned. ] Did you go home?

[intelligently]

[ Oh. Stiles is here too. That's... ] Were you listening?

[stiling]

Wow, okay, nice to see you too.

Uh, yeeeeah, or- Er.

[ He splays a questioning hand, shrugs his shoulder. ] What's- missing.

Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Yeah, we've all been kidnapped, sorry to say.

Voice

[intelligently]

And how's the escape going?

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'd call it whatever the opposite of a resounding success is.

[enchangement]

Start thinking in the plural.

Kidnappers.

[intelligently]

Fine. There's more than one. I'll watch for that.

this is all video because I am the laziest and forget

[enchangement]

A dozen, a dozen, and a dozen more all set ashore, stolen from their homes, their lives.

Tampered with. Memories and hearts and souls and atoms. Tempered with, taken, brought, taken again.

Welcome back Lydia Martin. Didn't talk to you the first time around.

[thezerothlaw]

Lydia?

[Daneel is alert and anxious at once. He'd thought her return unlikely by this point.]

Are you well? I am no longer in that same house but I can come assist you if you require anything.

[intelligently]

And saying yes to that would clearly not make anything worse. [ Did she just accuse him of doing this? Maybe. But she doesn't know him and it sounded a little strange ]

[thezerothlaw]

[Daneel looks at her a moment. Were he human, he might frown in confusion, but as it is his expression remains blank. That's... not the response he would have expected.]

I am... very sorry if I have given you reason to doubt me.

[Is that hurt? Not exactly. To be exact, it's a sort of discomfort: he's apparently harmed her in some way to prevent her from trusting him, and he doesn't know how or why. 'Hurt' is close enough, perhaps, as is 'worry.']

( v i d e o )

[mentis]

[ Well, he's adopting everyone else under a certain age so why not this one? ]

Hello. Are you in need of any assistance?

( v i d e o )

[intelligently]

I've been kidnapped. What do you think?

( v i d e o )

[mentis]

Mm, I'm aware. Unfortunately all of us have been in the same situation. Beyond that though, the question still stands.

[video]

[goodluckkobra]

Lyds? Shit, I've been worried fuckin' sick about you. Where are you?

[ He's missed her so much, but if she's back, maybe Party will come back, too, and he can take everyone who matters and just fucking keep them. ]

[video]

[intelligently]

If I knew that I wouldn't be kidnapped. [ No she probably still would be but she's not saying lost ]

[video]

[goodluckkobra]

Well, the town's not that big. Are you in the woods? Shit, Lyds, it's not safe out there.

[ He's already grabbing his jacket so that he can find her. ]

video

[greenisnteasy]

[ Bruce watches the video and starts to reply, but then he stops and watches it again. Something sounds off, and maybe he's misunderstanding, but why should she be indignant about being kidnapped and brought here when she was kidnapped and brought here months ago? Unless she doesn't remember. He knows she disappeared, which she's done before. Maybe she came back with a little amnesia. Maybe it's something worse.

When he finally replies, there's an unmistakable sadness coloring his features, but he's trying to smile through it. ]

That's how the story goes. Hi, Lydia. Do you remember me?

video

[intelligently]

No. [ This is quite possibly the first not creepy person talking to her who knows her name. Minus Stiles but that can be debated ] Should I?

[greenisnteasy]

If you remembered anything about the past couple of months, yeah, you should. [ His smile is maybe even sadder than it was before. Nothing like breaking the news that she's cycling through this special prison again. ]

My name's Bruce Banner. I'm a doctor and a physicist. You worked for me in what passes for a clinic around here, and I was teaching you about physics.

How are you? Are you hurt?