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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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I haven't listened to a lot of music, to be honest. I, uh, inherited some weird tastes I guess.

Sounds like one of the better memories some of us have had. You gotta let yourself be proud of that, at least.

[At the change of topic Clarence beams. He looks like a completely different kid compared to his usually scowling continence.]

This is Cheddar! I got permission to get him a while ago and he's the best! I didn't think I'd get to have a cat until I moved out, but Phil said it was fine with him as long as it was okay with Kris, and she said it was fine as long as I made sure to keep his litter box clean so here he is!

Yeah, at least it's not some of the other things I've heard of. I'll take this. Now I just need to steal her bass and her costumes, and I'll be set.

Now it's Clarence's turn to gush, and Lisa smiles warmly. This is surprisingly reassuring, and it helps her center herself again. Something about that nags at her, but she'll get back to it.]

Congratulations! He looks soft. You seem to be getting along, yeah?

[Clarence snorts at that, unable to fully hold back a grin.] Maybe work on getting a band together first. Steal her friends, maybe?

He's very soft! And so cuddly! I love him! [As if on cue, Cheddar presses his face against Clarence's chin, so happy to have attention.] The store said that his first owner moved away and couldn't take him along, so he's been waiting for something steady for a while. I think he would have been happy with just about anyone but so far he seems to like me just fine.

I don't think that works like that - and she'd be pretty mad at me if I took her bandmates anyway! I think I'll have to do it the hard way. Maybe I can look for a pickup bassist and drummer and keyboardist... that can speak whatever language this song's in.

I'm glad you found him a new home! I'm sure he's happy with you, too. He sure looks like it!

If you need help picking them out or installing them, I can help.

I know you barely know me so if you say no, I won't be hurt.

Are you into the fashion of fashion bloggers or do you collect haute couture peices?

Hmm... my budget is "poor college student", so I'm not sure what you had in mind. I was just gonna head down to Walmart or the hardware store or something. If you have ideas, sure, I'll listen! Installing, though... maybe? I'm still mentally balancing "someone was in my room, maybe" with "having more someones in my room now might make there not be any more someones in my room later", if that makes sense.

Let's call it the second one. I'm more of a "oh hey, that looks cute" when I'm in the store. With a healthy dose of "that's on sale and also looks pretty good" sometimes. I don't buy a lot of jewelry, though? I think that's why I was so surprised. Jeans, boots, jacket, sure, no problem. These are kinda out of left field for me.

Oh, it wasn't in English? That's kinda crazy. I would think you'd be able to understand them since it was supposed to be another "you" or whatever, but that's not something I've noticed about my own memories. But, I guess I haven't spoken much in my own memories so far. Except I did hear someone speak into my head in the last one.

Yeah. I'm so... so glad.

Well, I'd be in trouble both ways, I think. It's in something else - probably something Eastern, but hell if I could tell you what - and then sprinkles in a bunch of English. Like, every third line. Not super coherent English, either, but it's close enough, I guess? Whoever's writing their songs has a great grasp of music theory but needs to do better in her language classes. Which makes me really hope it wasn't me that wrote it, I'd be embarrassed through space and time for myself. [A beat while she processes what she just said.] Ugh, I hate time travel.

-voices in your head sound extra creepy, though? Like, we talking spooky voice, or helpful voice, or someone that sounded like they were on a phone call but just in your head, or-?

Well, you have standards. Maybe if you're famous enough, it doesn't matter how terrible your speech is as long as it rocks.

Well, like... Um.

[Now he looks awkward.]

In my memory, I helped save a cat. And after I did, she turned to me and spoke into my head and said "thank you" so it wasn't bad or anything. Just weird.

[Lisa laughs brightly.] Maybe! Sorry in advance if I end up speaking - or singing - in foreign languages and doing a really bad job of it. I'll blame it on the fame. Clarence said it was okay.

[Her smile quirks when he explains himself.]

You get the fun cats. Both of you. That must have been wild, huh?

I'd trust the hardware store before I trust Walmart.

We all have our hobbies.

The ear rings are a mystery. Let us know if you figure out where they came from.

[He shakes his head but he's still smiling.] Sure, sure. Blame it on me.

Yeah. I mean, wasn't great seeing the memory cat almost die, but she got better. [Cheddar flopped in his lap, putting his belly up for pets.] This guy probably hasn't had to deal with anything quite so traumatic as that. No reason for him to start projecting words into my brain.

[He nods, pride swelling a bit that he helped]

Sure. Breakfast sounds good. Do you have any favorite places you like to go?

Ugh. Yeah, probably. Hope they're not too much more expensive, all this Different stuff has eaten into my gig time. Not that I'd trade most of what I did instead, but...

Yeah, some more destructive than others. Someday I'll have closet space without a trip to Goodwill to get there. But absolutely, I'll let you know! I'm sure the conspiracy theorists will want to know that anyway. [Which probably includes myself now, she doesn't say aloud but unhelpfully pops into her head.] Maybe we can start a trend.

Whatever's good now, honestly. Anything but the smoothie shop, I'd flip out all over again. Maybe pancakes or something. Those are a good comfort food, right?

Well, no, that sounds like it'd be bad to watch. Glad it turned out okay there. But, uh. If Cheddar starts talking to you, I think it's probably cause for concern of a different kind, yeah? It's one thing if the Bureau's meddling with us, but other people? That'd be a little excessive.

What kind of gigs do you do?

Ah, I'm a musician. I play the clubs, bars, whatever needs a soundtrack. It's not a stable job, but it pays the bills, and you meet a lot of people.

Pfft, don't worry, I know better than to go around saying my cat speaks to me on the daily to just anyone. [He's rolling his eyes.]

I mean, we still don't know why they chose to mess with us or why we're the ones stuck with these memories and stuff. If it were just a matter of reincarnation or what have you, wouldn't it be more widespread than just the few dozen I've noticed at the meetings? Are there really so few of us? Or are there really only a handful of us, and some of the others there are plants by the Bureau sent to spy on us even closer than they already are?

[He scoffs at his own ridiculous musings.] Sorry, it's just so... frustrating still, you know?

Yeah. We still don't know anything, and that's just about the biggest problem we have. I don't... wanna think about the people at the meetings being plants, though. If we can't trust each other, what's left? I'm not going through this by myself. I'm not. I can't. [She's just about cried out, so instead she's just sullen for a moment. Lisa takes a deep, slightly shuddering breath, and then purses her lips in a firm, neutral expression. This morning has been too long already, and it's getting to her still.]

It is frustrating. I don't know how to fix it, but we're not gonna get anywhere trying to handle it by ourselves. To hell with that.

Yeah... Guess we gotta trust some others, at least. [He gives her a weak smile.] You, me, Elliott... I think I can trust Anakin, too.

[He drags Cheddar from his lap up to his chest and the cat flops over his shoulder like a floppy sack of potatoes. His purring is loud and unending.]

I'm still not sure how involved I want to be with the whole figuring stuff out nonsense. It may not even be real.

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