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un: trienemybest; video

[The video feed opens in Varian's creepy basement lab where health and safety regulations go to die. The boy himself isn't looking that great, his skin has a grey-ish tinge to it and he looks more exhausted than usual. But that's fine, he's fine. He turns the camera around to take in some sapphires on his workbench. Some are soaking in various chemical substances, some are under a microscope, some are in various steampunk-y machines: it's clear some testing has been going on. ]

So, Flynn was kind enough to give me some of the crystals that grew on his corpse during...whatever weird new thing death is here. [He doesn't sound as excited about this as his usual projects and anyone who knows about his deeply unfortunate past will know why.] I have experience in creepy, magical death rocks -no...no I'm not going to elaborate on that- so I decided to study them. They seem to be crystalising the actual cells of the body- so not just a separate coating. I also found traces of warmblood within the crystals themselves, which I think is what Flynn is? A-anyway, it seems they're working on a cellular level, like they're what jumpstarts the reversal of the cell degeneration after death- so- so it's possible they're what reverses then entire process.

Anyway, moral of the story is, they're probably super important in resurrecting people so maybe don't mess with the process when it's happening? Of course, without having any other samples to compare this to, it's all conjecture right now.

[A beat, he turns the camera back to himself, grimacing.]

Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. Please don't take that as encouragement to get yourselves killed in the name of science.

[Another beat, then he waves a hand airily.]

Thaaaaaat said, this is October, so statistically, there's a high chance that a not-insignificant portion of the population will be dead by the end of the month. So...if you wanna donate your death crystals for science then, that would be less...morally grey. Probably? Probably.

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[She may be queen of the dumbasses, but she's also compassionate. Her eyebrows go way, waaaaay up at this, then scrunch down in a frown.]

That's -- messed up, man. Kid's got the creepiest damn nightmares out there. Cause'a the...full frontal context, I guess.

[Pre-frontal cortex, she means.]

[Oh no, Dumb But Soft. He's so very doomed.]

Pre-fontal - but yeah. She had... a really hard time of it, and it made it a difficult world for us to live in, through no fault of her own. Anyway, every October, things went really bad. Like- blood flowing in the streets, people turning into monsters bad.

[Welcome to the life of everyone who's ever met this dumb wolf lady.]

Jeeeeeeezus. [Saxsice has a curl wrapped around one finger, twining it around and around as she takes this in. Then, in the same tone of severity:] Was she a Libra? [She's...not being snarky or sarcastic, she's genuinely assuming that has something to do with it.]

[At least he's used to her Type. ]

Um- I'm... not actually sure? I don't- I'm. Do you mean like the constellation? Like..the stars?

Yeah. Dependin' on when you're born, what sign you're under and whatever, it kinda determines your life and personality and stuff. [A pause, then she waves a dismissive hand.]

Not important right now! More important: how'd you get from dream-world to squid-world? How'd I get to squid-world and, most important, how do I leave?

Oh. That's- astrology? I - was not aware that had anything to do with anything.

[So skeptical. ]

Well, we went into the ocean as people in the dream world and turned into squids. And- and you're in the squid world already? Like-like right now? You came here as a squid, and just...took a different form. I don't think leaving is an option?

Yeah, that thing. Folks where I'm from are all about it. I'll do your birth chart sometime, it'll be great.

[But anyways! More important stuff, like not being able to leave. Saxsice looks blank for a moment, then shakes her head.] Well, then I'll make it an option. I don't exactly have time to be hangin' out in cephalopod central. [Oh, we know the word cephalopod but not pre-frontal?]

[That gets a chuckle out of him, oh boy.] Seems a little much don't you think? Betting everything on astral bodies?

[Not even magical ones like the Sundrop and Moonstone were, wow.

He kind of wants to question how she knows cephalopod, but he's spent enough time with nice-but-dumb folks to know it's best to never ask. He never gets a good answer for it.]

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeah, good luck with that. Where do you plan to go?

You'd think so, but people are really into that stuff where I'm from. Spend all kinds'a money gettin' better star info, plannin' their lives around it. Crazy shit, man.

[Then she frowns, quirking an eyebrow up.] Uhhhh, home? To where I live? In my home where I live? S'that a trick question?

Wow, really? I can understand it as a hobby, I guess? But planning their lives around it seems a bit much.

[Varian snorts, amused.]

Oh wow, so you want to leave leave. Yeah, I doubt that'll happen. This is a whole other dimension and trust me, trying to push through to get out of it does not work.

Eh, people want direction. My momma was super into the moon goddess and planned our lives all around it, so. [That's...a weird thing to just. Casually mention in passing, Saxsice.

Her expression sobers a little at this, arching both eyebrows.] Yeah, I wanna leave leave. I have a life that I'd really like to get back to. Got people dependin' on me.

[That is so weird and Varian has so many issues around the moon so he's just gonna...hmmm.]

A moon goddess? Really?

[Ah. Right. Wow. His own expression sobers. ]

Uh...I don't know if it'll help or not? But the idea we got as the dream was dying is that we're...kinda like... alternate versions of ourselves? Here? And there's a...prime you still...living your life. Back home? Sooooo technically you're already living that life. But you also have one...here?

I think? It was all pretty complicated.

Yeah. Gave us our ancestral blessin', should be honored and revered at all costs, blah blah blah. [Heavy eyerolling goes here.] Maybe my not doin' that is how I ended up here? Some kinda...moon-curse?

[Whatever! Saxsice listens to all this with a neutral sort of expression, arms crossed.] ...so at least they're not worried. That's...kinda comfortin'. [A short, shaky laugh.] Not as comfortin' as bein' able to go home, but.

I don't know, given how many of us end up here, it's probably more random chance than anything else. Though I have noticed that the people who come here usually have a large part to play in their world's history? Like...they are either very important people or attached to important people or they did something important. Sometimes you get just...Regular Joe - but it's rare.

[Which...in the dream was probably to make sure they were capable enough o survive it and not consistently die every week, he guesses.]

Yeah, I know it's not like... a hug with words or anything. But it's better than nothing at all. Sorry you didn't want to be here- at least we had a choice.

...I think I'm just an average Joe. I mean, uh. Comparatively. [She raises and lowers her shoulders.]

It's fine. I mean, you're stuck here too.

You sure? You don't know anyone that's important? Or have yo been anywhere near big, world-changing events? Or...you know, you can enjoy being a rarity. I don't think it'd get you a free drink at a bar, but you can always try.

[Maybe she'll be considered special in her normalcy. ]

I am, but I had the choice to go home and I chose here. It's... I don't know. It doesn't feel as cruddy for me, I wanted this. You didn't.

...I mean, I'm a werewolf, but I'm not like...an important one. [Like the president werewolf or something.

Saxsice shrugs, a little stiffly.] I've got a life, yeah. Got a home, a kid, some friends. I want that life.

I think just being a werewolf is...uh enough for this place. But that's cool, I know a werewolf back home.

[As you do. ]

...Oh wow, you have a kid? [Well. That's...pretty awful. ] I'm really sorry, that's- that's a big thing to suddenly lose while you're stuck here.

Yeah? What kind? I'm learnin' there's more than one. Some'a them are strictly moon-based, y'know.

[Saxsice raises and lowers a shoulder, arms crossing over her chest. She's not great with sympathy, but she appreciates it, albeit awkwardly.] Yeah, it's...yeah. He's ten. Just turned ten.

It's more a...curse? I guess, for her? She has a wolf spirit in her, so she can change whenever she wants.

[Which has at least come in handy for her. He frowns softly.]

Oh...geez. That's really young. I can't blame you for wanting to get back to him.

Oh, far out. I guess mine's kinda...similar? Ish? [Vague shrugging.] I dunno how it works, it just happens.

[Saxsice huffs out a low, shaky breath.] Yeah. Yeah, it's -- too young for me to not be there, y'know? I've already screwed up a lot, and I don't...wanna make it worse.

The only information we really had on it was written by a werewolf hunter who made it all up to try and kill the next host. She's...figuring it out though.

[Catalina is only young, but she's tough as nails. He has faith she can deal with it. ]

It's not your fault that you're...you're stuck here, y'know? This isn't your screw up. You can't blame yourself for being plucked into a place by...something.

Well then, that's a real biased source'a info. My momma has her faults, but at least she gave me werewolf tips while...bein' an actual werewolf.

[Saxsice shrugs, leaning against a rock and crossing her arms. She...is definitely still on the beach.] Sure I can. You aren't my dad, can't tell me what to do.

Catalina never really had that, but she's been working it out in her own way, and we're there for her if she needs anything.

[Or well...he was before he came here, anyway. He snorts lightly, amused. ]

I sure hope not, I'm pretty sure I'm younger than you.

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