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video, morning;

[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.]

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The Bureau... is guarding secrets. There won' be consent. For all we know, the stuff's coming from them. We just... we don't know anything. That scares me, too.

Yeah... I don't know what to think.

I- [She's shaking, and after a second, she looks at her hands to realize that; Lisa's eyes widen, and she mouths no, no, no before she scrunches her eyes shut, stands up, and walks out of frame. There's a muffled, soft sound somewhere between a groan and a scream, then after a few seconds' quiet, she softly calls,] Just a second. I- need to decompress. I'm a moron.

[The distant sound of running water, a murmur of Lisa's voice that quickly turns into what sounds like shakily vocalizing a song, and the sound of something plastic and kinda heavy falling. After a minute or two, the water turns off, and Lisa returns into frame, bangs damp and holding a hand towel as she dries her face a bit. She seems... slightly calmer?]

Sorry, Elliott. I'm setting myself up for a breakdown again and I should know better than that by now. Or at least enough not to keep doing it in front of other people. [The ghost of a smile hits her lips, but it doesn't reach her eyes.]

[It's awful, knowing she's this upset and unable to really ease any of her fears or help at all. All he can do is wait and try not to feel terrible]

Hey, no, it's okay. I'm sorry. Um, if there's anything I can.. [He glances off, shoulders dropping, then runs a hand over his head] I mean, if you want to hang out or talk or something.. I know it sucks to go through this by yourself.

[Not that she feels much better for doing it to him. It'd be one thing to scream by herself, it's another entirely when he's still on the line and she'd feel even worse just hanging up on him, even for that. Still, he's trying, and she appreciates that a lot, managing a real, if small, smile.]

I think I'd like that. I don't want to freak out all over you, though, unless you're really okay with that. [A hollow, slightly wet chuckle.] I swear, I'm not normally like this! I'm a lot more fun and a lot less... the last ten minutes.

[Elliott returns her smile, feeling a little better about it]

I know. You're really good at thinking about all the angles. This is probably just a downside of that. And it really is okay, if that's what you need. I'd be a hypocrite if I thought any less of you for it.

But um. What are you comfortable with?

[Lisa's laugh now is more full if a little more watery, and when she winds down, her eyes are bright again.] You're starting pretty well already. I felt really ugly for a few minutes there. Thank you, seriously.

I... hmm. As much as I'd love to stay in and see if I can find a bottle of wine to properly decompress with, that's both a bad influence and probably not a good idea. A coffee shop or something might help me not turn into an utter mess in public... and maybe sugar will help. Or breakfast. It's kinda cliche, but I just need to not be alone right now. And not being in my room that may or may not have had secret agents in it in the last twelve hours would probably help. [Starting to ramble again, but she sounds. Stable? That's something, at least.]

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.

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.

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.

Have you tried searching the internet for their manufacturer?

That is an excellent point. They are a way to get to know people first and set up ways to talk outside the meetings.

I will try to look for you the next meeting I go to.

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.

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?

I haven't, I only just got them this morning. I'll probably try that, though - thanks for the idea, I wouldn't have thought of it.

-and yeah, I'm not really up for what would feel a lot like cold calling people. Walking over with a quiet remark and a tap on the arm, I can do that. So I'll look forward to seeing you there.

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.]

I like them. I bet the manufacturer has other cute designs also.

You should put up hidden cameras.

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.

I don't even know if they have to be hidden cameras. Just cameras at all would probably help, yeah? If they're gone then whoever did it has bad intentions. I'm not sure I'd be good at hiding one. I guess I could have a few, at least?

I hope so! I could get used to stuff like this, I think. It's different but it's nice. I just hope they're not some fancy boutique brand that's super expensive for no reason. [Lisa glares off-camera in what is probably the direction of wherever she's keeping her jewelry in her apartment, before sighing softly and shaking her head.] Fashion. If I didn't spend so much on clothes I could afford a bigger apartment to keep them in!

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.

Hmm, if I say they are easy to hid I feel like I'm conveying the wrong message.

They don't have to be hidden.

[Lisa blinks, then her eyes widen.]

Oh! Oh, yeah, okay, I get it! I'll just. Yeah, that makes sense. Just put up a million cameras, they'll be fine. Sorry, it's kind of been a long morning already.

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.

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?

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