deernet | [002] video | un: lyreplayer

[ It's late evening when Orpheus's video goes up, finding him standing outside a what looks like a small shop in Willful Machine, though the sign is only partially in frame. True to form, he also seems to be having some trouble getting the camera pointed fully at his face, also only partially in frame. ]

Hi, everyone? [ he says, waving, the camera swaying slightly as he shuffles out of the way of someone trying to get by him on the sidewalk. ] I'm Orpheus, and I, um. I found this artisan who says they can make blood into jewelry? And they seemed pretty interested in mine.

[ He frowns a little, turning his back to the shop and lowering his voice slightly. ]

I'm just not sure if it's a good idea? Giving my blood to someone else, when it seems to have so much power here? But I wanted to surprise my wife with a real wedding ring, since I couldn't afford one when we got married.

[ Something seems to occur to him, and he pauses, thinking. ]

Would it be better to try to find something else, though? I thought maybe if it were made from a part of me it would be more personal, but now that I say that, it sounds kind of off? The people here don't seem to mind it, but...

[ He trails off, glancing back over his shoulder at the shop behind him. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Second chances can be rare, but they do seem to happen, especially in places like this one. It may bring us terrors, but it does often make the impossible more likely.

I am glad for you. I hope you both are happier here than you were before.

[ Orpheus nods, smiling. ]

Thanks! I hope so too. Being able to learn from our mistakes instead of having them be final is a blessing, and I'm not going to take it lightly.

How have you been, though? Are you settling in well?

I am well enough, I think. My pets were able to make the journey with me, for which I am very grateful. Beyond that, I have been settling in by studying the blood types that seem to be part and parcel of our new home.

I'm really glad to hear that! It would've been awful having to leave them behind.

[ Bad enough leaving other people who are capable of understanding what's happening behind. Animals don't necessarily know enough to get why they're being abandoned even if it's for reasons that can't be helped, and that kind of makes things that much more tragic. ]

Oh? Have you found out anything interesting? I still don't really understand much of what's going on, but it seems like it's both really important and really fascinating if you're good at that sort of thing.

I've been experimenting with my own blood, mostly. It seems my blood type can both poison and heal people in turn, depending on how they are used -- which I admit, is strangely fitting, all told.

Oh! How so? I've seen a lot of clinics around that advertise something called blood ministration, but I haven't really looked into or asked about it. Do you think that's related?

I believe so. Some blood types can heal, and some can be transferred to others for beneficial properties, and there are those who specialize in such transitions. I admit, it intrigues me, though I have not asked for such a transfusion as of yet.

Wow. I guess that makes sense? If the new powers some of us have now are because of our blood, then it keeping some of that power even if it's in someone else. But it would be kind of strange to get a transfusion if you weren't really hurt.

[ It just seems to Orpheus like having too much blood could be a really big problem on par with not having enough. He's no doctor, though. ]

It would be, I suppose -- or it would in worlds like our own. To be quite honest, this system of blood defies all of the medical science I was ever taught. I keep trying to apply the rules I know to what is here, and I continually am proven mistaken.

That must be really confusing? You must have a lot to - unlearn and relearn, I guess. Are you working with someone to figure things out, or reading books on it, or... ?

I am reading a good deal, and keeping track of the news and goings-on of this place. I've also done some experimenting.

Right! It seems like there's a lot more written down about what's going on here than there was in Deerington. Which makes sense? Since it's not a dream, and people have been living here the whole time and all.

[ Which means it'd be much weirder if there wasn't a ton of documentation of everything, honestly. People love writing stuff down. It's just human nature. ]

I wish I were better at research, so I could help with that kind of thing, but I'm glad you've been able to find what you're looking for! If there's anything I can do to help, with your reading or your experiments, just let me know.

I appreciate the offer. Perhaps I may ask for a blood sample at one point, if only to run tests.

What type did you find yourself with? I am not sure I ever asked.

I'm a paleblood, and I'm still figuring out what that means for me? It seems like these things vary a little bit, from person to person. Mostly what I've noticed is that I glow a little bit when I sing sometimes, now.

[ Which is neat! But seems a little less dramatic than some of what the others are going through. ]

[002] video | un: lyreplayer

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notifs on this entry are being weird, wow, sorry

It's all good!

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