2020-01-28 - Post-Op Texts

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Hey. Just wanted to check and see how you were holding up?

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : I should be asking you that, you're the one with the shredded leg. What did your doctors say?

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : I'm not talking about physically. But, yeah. My leg will be fine. Stitches in it, I'll be on crutches for a bit while it heals. Going to convince them to let me head down to the morgue to work.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : You should give yourself a few days at least. And I'm...

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : ...I take it what happened to me happened to you? This is what They do. They dig deep to find the festering wound and open it up.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Yeah. That about sums up what happened. Think it... triggered something else, too. But I need to talk to Alexander about that. You still haven't answered the question, however.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : I'll be fine, Yule. They didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know. What about you?

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : So you aren't fine right now? It's all right to just say that, you know. And I'm trying to get out of my own head. Which is why I'd rather not wait a few days to go back to work. It was... bad.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : I'm just tired. Yesterday was a long day. I slept a lot today though, and I'm about to go for a run.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : I do love a good run. I'd offer to join you, but...

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : May I ask what happened? I thought it was bad even before we called the ambulance for you. You had that look in your eyes.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Yeah maybe putting your foot up instead would be better in your case. Do leg lifts.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : I'll share if you share. Only seems fair, yeah?

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Okay. For what it's worth? I'm glad we had your science brain to back us up.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Took all of us. Glad I had you both there. For me? I saw my sisters. I guess... disowning me would be the best way to describe it? I'm adopted. My sisters aren't. They were taunting me about it. That not even my real parents wanted me.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : I'm sorry. That's awful, Yule.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : At the end? They turned their back on me. And then I saw them... shriek and melt? I guess that's... the closest way to put it.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : With this...we just have to remember that this is what They want us to feel, and that we shouldn't let Them. I know it's more difficult than it sounds, but They feed on this, too. I don't think They're sustained by physical pain alone, otherwise They wouldn't be digging this deeply.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Yeah. I could tell the fear and despair is what they wanted. Why I tried to get us to think of other things. But. What is it you saw?

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : My brother. I think I told you about him before, how he vanished the night of Junior Prom. It's an old story, and a very cold case...and the method is old too, I think. Tormenting someone over an unmitigated loss is an age-old method of torture.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : You did, yes. The trip gone bad, if I recall right, yeah? It's why you are here after all, isn't it... you wanted answers. But it's one thing to live with it, come to terms with it... but another to have it so visually shoved in your face.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : It is. I can't say that it was pleasant. It was just exhausting and does nothing but feed Their gears. Like I said, I'm not at all saying that it's an easy thing to get over what They did, but we should definitely try.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Course we should. And we will. And we did learn something. Are you going to be coming back here after you defend your thesis?

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Yes we did. Learn something. It wasn't a waste of an effort, but I think we should have a full discussion about the risks once we're both well again. And of course I am, I have a consult to finish, and there are matters here that I would like to see through. Was there any doubt that I was returning?

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Yes. I sort of feel like making a kit for folks for common science reactions. A chalk grenade, a well equipped first aid kit, other things that might combat typical things.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Once you are done with your thesis, there is only so much reason professionally to stay here, yeah? Your ship work can only last so long, right?

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : You know, that might not be a bad idea. Anne Washburn was attempting to compile a standard gear list for expeditions out there. Maybe you could tell us what you think such a kit should contain? Especially since we've been getting penalized more and more for using our abilities over there.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Yes, that's also true. I have some decisions to make once I'm at the end of my consult here and if Oxford decides to grant me a doctorate.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Yeah, I can do that. And I'm wondering what the power source of our abilities are. Glimmer. It's not like it makes us fatigued, or need to eat a lot. But we have to draw the power from somewhere, yeah?

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : And, see? Sounds like there is some doubt, at least. When does your consult here end?

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Also, is it too soon to tell you I have another idea?

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Maybe it's like a radio? The brain generates electricity, doesn't it? Maybe we're just better calibrated to the controlling fabric of the universe that if we obtain the right frequency, we can use our will to exact tangible changes to our environment. That sort of thing. And whenever I exhaust all my research endeavours here, I suppose. I've managed to obtain some traction, but if the leads dry up, there would be no reason to keep working on it. That could be next month, that could be sometime further down the line. It depends.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Why? Are you that eager to get rid of me, or did you just want to make sure I was still here for your ship naming ceremony? ::dragon head emoji::

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : What other idea?

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Yeah. Maybe. But it still has to be fueled by something, right? Radios need batteries to run. So on and so fourth. I wonder if we pull energy from Over There somehow, and that is why it makes it easier for them. As for your presence...

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Curious. It's good to have a fellow intellect to talk through these things with. You'll be missed if and when it comes to that.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Well, we'll figure it out soon enough, or at least find some correlation. I'll tell you about a recent expedition at length when we're feeling better to wrap our brains around it but we're presently trying to track how changes here can fuel changes there, and vice-versa. So if we do establish a link, then your next idea probably has a foundation to stand on.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Aw. I'm touched. I do mean that, and I would miss your company also, but I'm not going anywhere just yet.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : As far as the idea. You remember our talk about the ancient cultures, and how maybe some of their fantastical beliefs came from their interactions with Over There?

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Yes. How could I forget?

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : So when you visit museums... have you ever taken a look at some of those things to see if they glimmer? If belief or their old ways might have actually done something? It'd have to be authentic, obviously, and something that had a large level of meaning in their culture.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : I haven't actually. Not in the period when I left, like I said, I tried my best not to use my abilities after I left Gray Harbor. Admittedly getting away from it was a more difficult endeavor than I thought initially, some traits are simply 'built in', like my attunement to physical space. But that's an interesting thought. I think in order to properly test it they would have to be artifacts obtained from thin points we know of, like...here. Might require a trip to Taholah.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Well, maybe. When those artifacts existed, thin points might have been in different locations, right? Hundreds or thousands of years ago.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : It might all just be very residual glimmer on them now. Rather than anything active, most likely, after all this time.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : That's also correct, but I think especially for analysis on something in which we know little to nothing about, it helps to gravitate to something we do know and work out way outward. I mention Taholah because the Quinault nation has been active in this region since before the 1700's, well before Gray Harbor was ever Gray Harbor - my neighbor is a member and a friend, which heightened my interest a few months ago. Taholah is the Nation's headquarters and they have a major museum there. I can then compare notes if I find anything there, and even older artifacts in the museums in the UK when I land there.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Interesting. Then that would make sense. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help out.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : It's something to think about, at least. This is your brainstorm, I'm just providing ideas as to how we could pull some tangible data out of what already exists.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : No, I like it. Think we should take a look at it, yeah? It's locak, makes sense, easy to review and establish a baseline, at least.

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Agreed. Just throw it in the list, though I think our utmost priority at the moment is to recover from the last ordeal. When are you checking out of the hospital? I'll let Alexander know that you would like to talk to him.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : Tomorrow. I'm sure he'll want to give me dour looks, too!

(TXT to Yule) Isabella : Of course, but just remember he shouldn't be one to cast stones in that regard, though honestly these days he's doing a lot better than either of us, so maybe he could. Feel better, Yule. And thank you for checking on me.

(TXT to Isabella) Yule : I'll talk with you soon, Isabella. Take care.