Inbox (Somnia)

[cantilevers]

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[bogeyman]

Something else. [ A beat. ] It told me the way to solve things for everyone was in those voids. Go in there and solve the problem.

[ A sensation of a shrug sent through their connection. ] Got a few scales torn off but otherwise, I'm fine.

[cantilevers]

Hmm, sounds like they were trying to play. There was a lot of indications that our light was meant to be extinguished, which feels like a permanent end.

[He hummed in sympathy.] You're a tough guy. Glad you made it mostly unscathed.

[bogeyman]

What's death here even look like? I mean - those Hosts - if we die, do we become those things?

[ Does anyone know? ] Glad you came out okay, too.

[cantilevers]

Dunno, but the Hosts seem like they are a fate worse than death. I wonder if anything of who they be are still in there, trapped in a body that's been hijacked.

[There were so few answers in this place. Or maybe he wasn't investigating hard enough.]

You a drinker at all?

[bogeyman]

[ Through the Murmur, their connection, he feels disquieted about the idea of someone still being in those things. ]

Not really, but feel I can easily change that.

[cantilevers]

[Oh Murphy... damn man, make a case for alcoholism, why don't you?]

I'm hoping to invest in some spirits around these parts. Might need a taste-tester or two. Interested?

[bogeyman]

Sure.

[ A beat and self-deprecating laugh. ]

Might as well try out being a taste-tester while I still have two legs to go to a bar.

[ A beat. ]

Hey - are you - changing in any ways?

[cantilevers]

[There was a pause on his end.]

I guess you'll be the true personification of "drinking like a fish" soon, huh?

[Unless those scales he had seen meant something else.

Cue time for his mildly uncomfortable silence.]

I... maybe. [He cleared his throat.] In my dreams, it feels like... I'm being hunted by this massive beast. This is going to sound so stupid, but when it catches me... it turns out I'm the beast all along. [He tries for a laugh.] This place is messing with me...

[It's obvious he's lying even to himself.]

[bogeyman]

Sounds about right.

[ It's best to start laughing about it than not. Even if he isn't actually laughing, his tone is light. Of course, there is an undercurrent of worry, concern, disgust, about his transformation.

But he pauses. ]

You're right. It does sound like this place is getting to you. [ He lets out a shaky sigh. ] What is that? You're the monster all along type storyline? Maybe it's a guilty conscience and you just need to confess to whatever...

[ Another slight laugh huffs its way through. ]

[cantilevers]

[It would be funny if it wasn't also horrifyingly frightening on some level. What were the chances that all of this would somehow get worse? Probably high.

He sensed some of Murphy's feelings on the matter through the Murmur.]

It shouldn't. I should be stronger than this. [Would-have, should-have, could-have he mentally said to himself.] I wouldn't doubt some have that opinion of me. Maybe they're on to something, and they can soon gloat their vindication about their correct opinion.

[He hummed.] Are we at the point in our relationship of confessionals?

[bogeyman]

[ A long pause follows. ]

We're at the point where we're willing to shove people's heads into fungi. What step comes next after that? Is it confessionals?

[ But it does feel like Vander has something weighing down on him. ]

Listen, I don't know anything that is going on in your world -- [ Still so weird to use that phrase. ] -- or anything like that, Vander. So you could talk in the vaguest of terms and it'd probably go over my head.

I guess that's saying if you have something to say... I'm a good guy to say it to since I doubt I'd be able to piece anything together.

[cantilevers]

Depends on the person, yeah. I'm surprised there isn't a place set up for confessionals as it seems like lots of people in this place has have baggage.

[He huffed in amusement, ready and willing to downplay the moment. He was not in a position where he would air his issues. He preferred to keep them buried deep, even if a little had slipped out.]

I appreciate the offer, Murphy. It's very kind of you. Sometimes it just feels like I'm living a double life, that's all and this place messes with us all.

[He was living a double-life. He just refused to acknowledge it.]

[bogeyman]

Yeah.

[ It's a soft agreement. Everyone has their own baggage. Even in the months he has been in this place, he's been cagey about his own past. Well, maybe not "cagey" so much as pretending he didn't have anything going on beyond that odd town. ]

But you're right. There are things we can't talk about back home with anyone... and it's difficult to feel like we'll get any closure talking about it here. So, I guess there might always be secrets between us and the people around us. Even as we're all just trying to survive and trust one another.

[cantilevers]

True. Nothing we do here matters back there, does it? In the end, we'll probably end up right back there eventually.

[And some of them had nothing more to give. They were spent.]

I trust you. I would like to get to know you better so maybe we can have those discussions about home that otherwise seem pointless and yet weigh so much.