hadriel | 001 [Video] | Forward-dated to midday the 24th

[Well, it's definitely been an interesting two weeks.

Too interesting, maybe, because after two weeks he's learned a little about a lot of things regarding this place, but not nearly enough on any one subject. Most information comes from individual sources too, with little to no corroboration from others, making it less reliable.

And then there's the people themselves.

So, being no stranger to the internet, he decided to try out making a post on Hadriel's network. Figuring out how to do it isn't too difficult, especially since he's already spoken to Will over video--that was certainly a thing--and so he's soon broadcasting from the spare room in the apartment he claimed; it's not particularly decorated yet, mostly because he can't move or lift anything heavy at the moment, but it'll get there.

He offers a small, genuine smile to the camera as the video starts, and to those that met him on the first day he looks a lot better now, still a bit bruised but bright-eyed and not nearly as pale. He's also found a new suit--or a few of them, actually, thanks to the whole ball thing--and so appears more put together, even if the way he talks doesn't necessarily match his appearance.]

So um, hi everyone. My name's Lance, and I just got here a few weeks ago.

[He'd debated for a bit with himself about how formally to introduce himself and decided to with the most casual for a few reasons.]

You all probably get this a lot, but I have a few specific questions I was hoping to get different takes on. I read the guide for new arrivals and several people here have been really helpful in explaining things, but the more perspectives the better.

[Although he can't directly ask some of the things he's most interested in, answers from enough people about other subjects might tell him something. However, on that note--]

Before I start, though, I feel like I should be upfront with the fact that I'm a psychologist. I know not everyone is comfortable talking to psychologists or psychiatrists or any other mental health professionals, so full disclosure.

That said, I'm just as lost being here as anyone else was when they first got here. I mean, I can't exactly psychoanalyze my way out of a cave in another dimension.

[Not that he thinks that's actually what's going on, but that's an issue for another time. Point is that sure, he fully intends to read into people's answers and pick up as much of what they're not saying as what they are, but that's no reason not to answer his questions. He does genuinely need the help and insight.]

So I guess my first question is what exactly is 'normal' here. I've heard that a lot of occurrences that have happened in the past were difficult or outright dangerous, but few specifics on anything that's happened so far or what can be done to manage the situations that arise.

I'm also interested in what people do in this place when something specific isn't happening.

[Aka he feels like boredom might become a problem, and boredom is the last thing he wants to deal with at the moment.]

The last thing is about the supposed Door that brought us here. I've heard there's certain criteria for who it brings through, but does anyone know anything more about that?

[Because he's not taking Will's word for it alone, that's for sure. Also, ow. That's more talking in one short span of time that he probably should've done, so he'll just end things there.]

[[ooc: I have a permissions post up here for Lance's shrinky psychologist analyzings, so anyone willing to fill it out would help me a lot! ♥]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, but there might be the necessary testing supplies at the clinic. I'd hope so, anyway; it'd be kind of hard to do a blood transfusion without them.

[Actually, do they even have the equipment for that either?

And Cashmere's last comment is one he's definitely entertained the thought of more than once so far.]

I guess it could be, if you believe in purgatory.

[ she shrugs. she tries to avoid the clinic. Hope would bring her back from the dead anyway. ]

I don't. But I do believe in people with power punishing those who don't for their own entertainment. And stranger things have happened.

[He can't argue with any of that.]

So you don't believe we're here by accident?

I think very little in my life has happened by accident. Sometimes things from home show up here. Maybe the gods didn't really do the choosing of who stays and who goes, but someone did.

[ and it's easier to believe someone did this to them, rather than believe she's had a strange stroke of (bad?) luck. ]

[He considers that for a few seconds, thinking it over, and again he's inclined to agree.]

I've heard sometimes people from the same place, who knew each other before, also show up here.

[ she nods to that. ] Someone from my home was here. But she's been gone months now.

[Well, that's interesting and good confirmation, but sympathy first--]

I'm sorry to hear that; was she a friend of yours?

[ Cashmere considers that a moment, and then laughs loudly. ] Johanna? No. She killed me. We have never been friends.

But it wasn't terrible having someone else from Panem here.

[The laughing is fine; wouldn't be the first time and before she responds he assumes--apparently correctly--that they were something a little more antagonistic than friends. But exactly what she says just... Takes a moment to process, complete with a briefly stunned look before he finds his voice again.]

I'm uh, hoping you mean 'killed you' as a metaphor.

[And the only reason he's even asking is because of what he's heard from others about coming back from the dead here, or arriving in the first place only after dying in their worlds. He's not sure he believes any of it, but he can't dismiss the entire idea completely for several reasons.]

Not a metaphor. I mean an axe through my chest. And it was televised. Funny thing is they all said she would scalp me but I never got close enough for that. [ she is super casual about this. it is appropriately unsettling. ]

But I bet it was a really great 60 seconds of television.

[Okay, there's so much wrong here that he's not even sure where to begin; he half thinks she's telling the worst joke in the world, but she seems sincere.

What the fuck.]

I think I must've missed something.

[That's the only thing he can say to that answer.]

[ oh sorry was that too much at once? she only realizes she's overshared when she sees the look on his face. Cashmere reels in her weird casual amusement with her own death, taking a more serious tone for his benefit. ]

My world's pretty fucked up. I forget that most people deal with figurative backstabbing. Not literally stabbing.

[He's still a bit stunned, but considering the entire situation--of being in another world, or dreaming, or whatever is going on here--he really can't dismiss the idea that she's telling the truth. And she really seems like she's telling the truth.]

Uh, yeah, I think 'pretty fucked up' might be an understatement.

Maybe I'll tell you more sometime, after you've gotten settled in. [ maybe not. she doesn't need to traumatize everyone. ] You don't need to worry about it right now.

This place has a lot of downsides but for some of us, it's better than where we came from.

[He seems to get ahold of himself at her words, especially the ones about not needing to worry, and he feels an immediate stab of guilt.]

No, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted that way.

[It's not her job to have to hide things for others' sake, and it is his job to listen to and help people with their problems, even if those problems are pretty outside of anything he's ever heard of happening.]

And I'm sorry that this place is better than where you come from.

[Although that sentiment is less guilt and more sympathy. For him, not being here is definitely better, unless he's--

He's not thinking about that possibility right now, though, even though what she said about being killed means he really, really should.]

You can react however you want. [ she's certainly acted a number of emotional, wild ways because of what's happened at home. that's far away now. ]

And it's okay. It's all I've never known. I didn't know anywhere else would be different until I wasn't there anymore, and I met people like you.

001 [Video] | Forward-dated to midday the 24th

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