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.

[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?

Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

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

[intelligently]

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

[intelligently]

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

Voice

[intelligently]

And how's the escape going?

[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.

[intelligently]

Tampered with. How? [ Juuust casually ignoring the welcome back for now. Because it's clearly insane, she's never been here before ]

[manofiron]

Just telling it like I've seen it. I'd give you directions to the complaint department, but I haven't found it yet myself.

[enchangement]

Oh a list was given. An insertion, a cut, a slip, a pair of forceps to the left hemisphere. [ River clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes. ]

No one knows. Changes go into effect and later they fade. People are taken and later they arrive again, from after or before or the same point.

This is quiet horror. No one knows very much at all.

Re: Voice

[recognize_an_opportunity]

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

[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.

( 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?

[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. ]

[stiling]

Wow, okay, nice to see you too.

Uh, yeeeeah, or- Er.

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

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?

[intelligently]

If it's someone this psychotic they wouldn't even care.

[intelligently]

[ Hey, out of all the people that could be here that she doesn't want to see? Stiles at least makes it onto the list of people she doesn't mind. And okay, fine, it's good to see him. Once she's calmer... or a little explained ] What's missing? I'd start with sanity. I mean, it has to be someone crazy that did this.

Voice

[intelligently]

Then I'd probably get back to working on it.

[intelligently]

That's starting to become obvious. [ Because that didn't sound like much of knowing either ] Fine. What do you know?

[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 ]