video, morning;

[traceofeffort]

[There certainly aren't many video posts on the network, not that Lisa could find. But it'd be kinda hard to express her present concern otherwise, so here she is, a moving picture complete with worried, slightly stressed drawl, and hair a bit less elegant than her usual composed look. Almost like she keeps-]

Hey. Lisa here. Uh, I know it's kinda sudden, but- has anyone gotten things back? Not just memories, but stuff? When I woke up this morning, there was somethin' on my bedside table. Lock was still set on the door and the window, so I don' think anybody got in, but then-

[-brushing her hair back to one side, showing off (or looking at) a little pink earring, shiny like enamel or something; it looks like a cartoonish rabbit with a shocked expression, blank eyes and mouth open wide, and hanging upside down. Compared to the understated gold she's been wearing in public until now this is fairly different to her norm. After a second, she lets her hair fall back to her side, a flash of pink from the other side of her head proving it's a paired set.]

-these were there. They're cute, I like 'em, but they're not really... me? I think they're hers and I don't know how to feel about that.

[A beat. Then, belatedly:] Oh, and I got a memory too, but I'm not so worried about that. That's fine. Other me knows her way around a bass, and her friends can shred. I'll decide if that's a big cosmic joke later when I'm a little less shaken up.

Uh. I hope everyone's okay. I know it's apparently been a rough day or two on the network. I'll be okay - if anyone needs someone to talk to, I'm here for you.

[Lisa takes a deep breath, before seeming to relax a little, smiling and giving a little wave as the camera feed ends.]

Comments

[darkforcerising]

That's a twist.

What makes you think they are hers?

[traceofeffort]

Ah, well... that first night, the first memory I saw. I think she was wearing them. This weight feels familiar, I guess? That, and otherwise I have to assume someone broke into my room overnight, somehow didn't break my lock or wake my roommate, left me earrings, and didn't touch anything else.

[A pause, and a grimace.]

I guess I still have to assume that - how did they get here?

[darkforcerising]

That is very weird. I mean it, very weird.

Because, why would someone break in so stealthily to leave something?

[traceofeffort]

Super weird. That makes no sense whatsoever. And yet- [Lisa shakes her head, earrings swaying, perhaps reminding herself they're there again.] -what other explanation is there? Magic? Ninjas?

[darkforcerising]

I don't know how to explain it. It doesn't fit with anything I've been thinking explains the stuff we're going through.

It does sound like magic or ninjas. Or a creepy stalker.

[traceofeffort]

Ugh, don't tell me that, I thought I was done with stalker fans when I left home and didn't give anyone but my parents my new address! I'd rather have the magic! Not the ninjas, ninjas in the modern day sound kinda lame.

...and sorry for throwing your theories out of whack? I think?

[darkforcerising]

You should put up hidden cameras.

[ashenscipher]

Those earrings are adorable.

You don't remember buying them?

[traceofeffort]

No, I tend toward... elegant but understated, is probably the right description? And I'd remember something like these for sure.

Oh, and hi! I don't think we've met? I'm Lisa- ah, I guess I said that already. [She laughs at herself, trying to decompress just a little bit.]

[ashenscipher]

They are very unique. I would not forget buying them.

Hello, I'm Bitterblue. Have you been to any of the Support Group meetings this month?

[traceofeffort]

Right? These would at least be worth a selfie.

Ah, yeah, I did hit... one? Two? Definitely two. I'm kinda trying not to go to too many of them, but I don't want to completely cut them out, either.

[ashenscipher]

And you obviously do not have the selfies proof?

I do not know what I get out of those meetings. I cannot help but think they are more to monitor us.

[traceofeffort]

Nope. So... I have no idea where they came from. I don't see anything about where they came from on them, but I didn't think I would anyway.

I think I go because it's an easier way to meet people, y'know? I can talk at people here until my voice goes out, but I think it's easier when the other person's actually there. It means more, maybe, and then we can trade numbers and do it the other way. But yeah, they're absolutely to monitor us.

[bearshermark]

Yeah, I got a sword two weeks ago. I just kind of put it away, because what else would I do with it? Definitely a past-self thing.

It's good to hear from you.

[traceofeffort]

A sword. Elliott, I'm officially concerned. I hope you've at least hidden it somewhere? You'll get arrested or something if you get caught with it.

...but yeah. Sorry I've been quiet, I'm trying not to run my mouth too much on here. If it makes people worry less, though, maybe I can try to post more.

[bearshermark]

Hey, I'm not taking it out of the house or anything. People have decorative swords and stuff, right? Surely I can't be arrested just for having one.

[traceofeffort]

Well... yeah, but I'm still worried. Why the hell would you need a sword? Either of you?

[bearshermark]

I don't! But I guess past me did. Seems like it was the weapon of the time.

I'd put it out of mind for awhile, but if you have something from a past life now too, I wonder if something about all this has changed if we're getting actual stuff from who knows where.

[traceofeffort]

I more meant, what did past-you do that he needed a sword? I don't think the average villager carried a weapon, right? He must have used it.

And mine isn't as important as yours. I'm kinda wondering if I took these out of other-me's dresser now, though. Or at least where this stuff's coming from.

[hardtoignore]

Those are really cute. Are you not going to wear them?

It's nice to hear your past self seems to have her stuff together. Bass is cool.

[traceofeffort]

Oh, I will, they're just not my usual, so they immediately caught my attention. If they'd left me cheap gold I'd have thought I just left them out. Thanks, I'm glad you think kinda-me has good taste. [A small giggle; she's taking what she can get out of the situation because she's still just a little freaked out.]

I haven't seen much of her doing normal stuff, so I don't know how together she is, but if I can gush for a second - she puts on a fantastic show. Five piece band, vocalist is super serious, guitarist is too but she loosens up once she gets into it, I'm the bassist but I don't recognize her bass or their guitarist's piece either, the drummer is tiny and having a blast, and they have a keyboardist set up in the back that I can barely make out through her curtain of hair. [She pauses.] Drummer girl's hair is in purple twintails. Guitarist's hair I can only describe as aqua and gorgeous. Either her stylist is amazing or they've got some crazy hair colors where she's from.

[...talking about not-her's band is making Lisa oddly excited? Her funk is disappearing almost like magic, and she's talking faster as she goes.]

[hardtoignore]

Definitely cute on a girl. Not sure how many guys could pull off that level of cuteness but I dig it.

[She still seems a little distraught. Clarence pulls Cheddar, his new orange tabby tomcat into his lap and starts to stroke him. He's an older cat, at least a few years old, so it's not a tiny, cute kitten, but he's still cute. Cheddar presses his face happily into Clarence's hand, eyes closing in bliss.]

[Sure, he'll allow the gushing. It's kind of cute how passionate she is about it, and a lot less worrisome than any other memories that someone might have had.]

Sounds pretty punk rock but without the mohawks. Not sure if the music was that either, but I like their style. Must be nice, knowing you potentially could have been in a successful band.

[traceofeffort]

Oh, I'm sure it wouldn't be too bad. I don't know anybody off the top of my head, but I could see it working out.

[Lisa definitely sees the cat, her eyes definitely are looking at Cheddar for a good few seconds. But she's already running her mouth, so she'll come back to that in a second.]

Punk isn't... quite right. I think glam is the word, but kinda edging back into mainstream? Give me a couple days to work out the guitar line, I should be able to at least play that, and probably sing lead vocals. I- I didn't think I'd appreciate these memories being so vivid, but I can still remember how the pick felt in my hand- ah. Her hand. Damn.

[hardtoignore]

Oh yeah, definitely. Most guys are too weird about cute stuff to give it a try, though.

[He smiles, eyes turning down towards his cat.]

Glam, huh? I'll google it.

I'm interested to hear what the song actually was. If you guys were popular, it must have been a good one, right? [He looks back up, no longer smiling but not upset. Just neutral.] You don't have to force yourself to think of them as a different person. At least, not when you're speaking to us other Different.

[traceofeffort]

I'm not up on my rock terminology, so there's a good chance I'm wrong there - you'll have to settle for the acoustic version once I can wrangle the chords, and you can be the judge. But... [Lisa closes her eyes for a moment as she pictures the concert again, smiling softly at the image.] The place was hopping, but it wasn't super big. Underground too, no windows. Still, there was an energy - another band played before us, and when we took the stage and started our song, the crowd exploded. Penlights everywhere, cheers, I almost couldn't hear the vocalist over everything. I- [Lisa blinks as she adjusts to the morning light again, a wistful tint in her eyes.] I wish any of my shows had been that big. I can't believe I'm jealous of myself.

[...it's too early in the morning for this. Nope, compartmentalize, we'll deal with that later, Lisa. The budding melancholy disappears like it'd never been there, and she brightly switches topics to something clearly more important:]

So, cat, huh?