▶ TDM .001

[prismods]

Cybernetic dream, something like you've never seen

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"Michael Sembello - Automatic Man (original music video)" (Watch on YouTube)

▶ Lisa Frank's LSD Fun House
anytime, anywhere on the moon Iris | top

Everything is darkness except for dim lights sparkling in the distance, a faint gleam that greets you as you start to unfurl from your dormant state. Your body is hemmed in by shards of crystals, gently sparkling and possibly pricking your skin. The surrounding landscape is dyed in the pinks and purples of the dusk filled with crystals protruding from the ground, some as large as a skyscraper. Throat parched and skin dry and aching, you grope your body in alarm to make sure your possessions are still in place. This is far from home— perhaps a dream? You pinch your skin and slap your cheeks, yet nothing seems to do the trick. Searching for answers only rewards you with an endless expanse of purple dust as far as the eye can see. You have four options: one, panic; two, soil yourself; three, admire it all then soil yourself; or four, go into survival mode. Eventually, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.

A ⬤ As you traverse the near-barren landscape, you feel something sting your skin. It's small and subtle at first, then you finally catch sight of it: an elegant, crystalline mosquito buzzing around from the corner of your eye. However, a pest is still a pest. After a while, marks near your welts begin to form strange patterns on your skin, mimicking ancient runes. Each rune has with it a particular side-effect that may hinder you on your journey:

✾ The Mark of the Enchanter: Hallucinations, hallucinations galore. Your character will see everything and anything their imagination can conjure and will have difficulty separating reality from fiction.
₪ The Mark of the Destroyer: Limbs start to cease their function, causing you to stumble or try and get around one-handed. Other certain body parts may be affected as well. Look at the bright side: you can stop worrying about jiggle physics and hiding your fear boner.
⍢ The Mark of the Sinner: Your hunger, your thirst, your fatigue and your desire are at an all-time high. Your impulses are rabid and uncontrollable. Maybe you experience only one of those symptoms. Maybe you experience them all. All you know is that you want relief now.

These effects will eventually clear up with a bit of accidental or purposeful physical contact with another person, making you wonder if there was anything wrong with you at all.

B ⬤ Hunger starts to gnaw at you vigorously. Perhaps you consider hunting the moon's creatures to sate your hunger. That's when you see it: a thick, meaty, juicy meal on legs. No, we're not talking about Alex Louis Armstrong. A wild silver-white pegasus runs across the purple landscape, its hair billowing in the wind as its hooves smack loudly against the ground. Try and shoot it, and you may find your efforts curtailed by its legendary rage. Eyes aglow and wings beating up a storm, this pegasus is no dainty horse. Two thousand pounds of pure muscle swoop down and charge at you, all blades and ammunition deflecting off its impenetrable skin. Taming appears impossible; it will buck anyone away and leave a sizable horn- or hoof-shaped hole in them for their efforts. Hunting it, however, should be easier. Relatively.

C ⬤ Or you may decide that you'd like to take a drink in the prismatic waters. A small pond can be found just a few miles away from where you first awoke, but gazing into it reflects what appears to be a window into your own world. You see the faces of loved ones or at least someone very close and familiar to you gathered around your prone body, shaking it frantically as though to try and rouse you, yet your image lies frozen and unresponsive, not even a whisper of life running through you. Did you die in your world? Is this your afterlife? The questions start to pile up along with the gnawing dread that you may never return home again.

▶ Camp Nowhere
anytime, anywhere on the moon iris | top

Time moves strangely when you're trapped on a moon with no sun to guide you. Hours feel like days, and days feel like weeks. Travelling has rendered you weak and tired. Luckily, a few crystal formations in the shape of a cavern may offer you a small place refuge as you decide to nap. You notice a few artifacts left over from previous explorers.

D ⬤ A comm unit abandoned within the cavern will display the former owner's idol obsession. As you tap the buttons indiscriminately, a holographic screen will appear, and you will see a fabulous recorded concert featuring three bubbly young ladies in animal print, singing to you about something called Cordis, a cat, and a bag of gems. Does this make any sense to you? Probably not, but the beat is catchy. You may even find yourself tapping a foot along to it. Don’t worry. We know it’s plastic love.

E ⬤ There's a small cooler-like container of preserved powdered food bags labeled with only the word “Edible” that can be safely consumed. Although the powder tastes as bland as you’d expect, it’s oddly filling, sating either hunger or thirst. But who will be the first — and the bravest — to try eating them?

F ⬤ A strange, pointed instrument is among the effects found in the cavern. It's silver, long, and thin with a curved end and a light. When you grip it with warm hands, it seems to vibrate enthusiastically and comes in three settings indicated by a frowny face, a neutral face, and a happy face. What could it mean exactly? No one knows, but you can fiddle with it to your heart's desire. Just don't ask yourself where it's been before. You don't want to know.

▶ Interstellar Action Force Assemble
prisma, iris | top

Over a day has passed when a group of people find you worse for wear. Some are full of uncertainty and fear while some are full of curiosity and excitement. They claim that they are scientists from the planet Prismatica here to investigate the sudden appearances of rainbow crystals in the skies. That means you and the others they’ve located within the area. You are all a surprising find to them, and they are quick to load everyone in their transport vehicles for examination and questioning.

You all may have your usual inquiries — Where are we? Who are you? What's going on? Why are the pegasi so ill-tempered? — and the Prismals are almost too eager to answer. They do have questions on their own, so it’s only fair to trade. They tell you about their world as they poke and prod you, trying to understand what you are and how you came into their land. If they’re not trembling in fear, some of them may ask you odd and invasive questions in return, such as what the rate at which your body achieves thermoregulation is, how long your refractory period is, and if you would be willing to submit various kinds of body fluids to them. It's up to whether you wish to comply or protest.

G ⬤ If you react violently, you will be restrained and nerfed with a specialized neurotransmitting gun that releases a numbing agent through the top of your spine. They came prepared, so have fun with that! In any case, conscious or not, you’ll be brought into one of the transport vehicles. If you choose to peacefully cooperate, you’ll be provided any necessary first aid and a refreshing drink to help you recuperate after the rough time you had for the past few days. Each transport vehicle has a few small rooms to rest in, but due to the limited space, you’ll have to snuggle up with someone else on that bunk bed. Unfortunately, the moonshine fruit the ship is also carrying in its cargo has an extremely sweet smell that’s been permeating through certain areas of the ventilation system… Taking a whiff of it may inebriate you for the rest of the trip.

H ⬤ It’s a bumpy ride as terrain vehicles draw over various crystal formations until you see a large dome-like structure up ahead. Within its confines lies the seat of the Prismatica's government, Prisma. It’s a bureaucratic wet dream: skyscrapers practically touch the upper surface of the dome, windows glimmer with a prismatic sheen as daylight hits them, and small ships can be seen flying to and from its spaceport. The scientists, members of the Lunar Scientia, usher you into their facilities for tests. Arrivals are likely to twitch, tremble, and panic as Lunar Scientia fellows take and broadcast every embarrassing, unfiltered detail about you — height, weight, age, strange odors, estimated frequency of sexual activity —- to one another. These scientists will ask you politely to undress, too, but understand if you don't want to. They're especially fascinated by the readings of pure Chroma inside you, whispering among one another excitedly about the possibility of the new arrivals being a new moon species. What should they call them? Moonborne? Moonblessed?

I ⬤ At long last, the questions and physical examinations are done. They’ve decided to call the arrivals as the Moonblessed. They’ll take you under their care until they understand more about you. You're allowed a very refreshing hot shower and a warm meal for your efforts. Don’t worry, the meal was imported from their planet. “Planet?” you might ask, but you won’t need to wonder for too long. The ships are preparing for their next destination: the nearby planet Prismatica, where you will be dwelling for the time being. You're free to explore the government center until then.

▶ Wildcard
Lunatia, Prismatica | top

It only takes a couple hours for the ships to reach their home planet. The ships drop the characters off at the city of Lunatia, where they will be given their communication devices and a plastic card they can present to certain landlords at any residential district for their subsidized (read: absolutely free) lodging. Officials at Prisma instructed the newcomers to await further instructions from the government, but you have a lot of time to kill before then. Why not explore in the meantime? Learn the ins and outs of the world, get a job, transform under the full moon, and discover the many mysteries of planet Prismatica!

TDM OVERFLOW can be found here!

Comments

connor | detroit: become human

[bleps]

LISA FRANK'S LSD FUN HOUSE: B;

[It shouldn’t make any logical kind of sense, he thinks, catching sight of the crystalline insect buzzing and darting off in his periphery, only barely-caught by the breadth of his internal scans. It’s gone in a blink, having left behind a gift that spreads across the back of his hand in a symmetrical, blossoming design, blooming against skin that isn’t really skin, only the illusion of flesh which hides plastic-white beneath. It’s unreasonably impossible, certainly curious, but it seems to fit the alarming trend — having woken up, swathed in crystal, faced with a colorful landscape that definitely is not the city he knows, perhaps this is only par the course.

Scans peter out on command, with Connor raising his hand to better view his new adornment. But beyond his gaze, eyes focus and snap onto a familiar figure, or at least a vivid hallucination of a familiar figure.

Brow furrows into a slant, hand drops down and mouth tugs into a thin frown. Connor’s body language stiffens, his shoulders squaring, and he looks at whomever is nearest, perceiving them as someone else entirely; the circular LED glowing at his temple transitions from blue to a slowly undulating yellow.]

PL600. Daniel. How are you here? You should’ve been deactivated long ago.

[And also not at all functional, what with all the bloody-blue bullet holes.]

INTERSTELLAR ACTION FORCE ASSEMBLE;

[Odd and invasive questions? This particular android seems keen on firing back answers as quickly as they come, though there is still the shadow of consternation prevalent on his features, unsatisfied with the state of circumstances as they are. He deals with each query as if they’re items on a list to be marked off, one by one, answer by answer, getting them to of the way so he might have his turn at asking questions.]

Technically, I’m at a constant state of homeostasis, continually regulated by my core biocomponents as needed. I— no, I don’t have a refractory period, and— Again, I’m not comfortable with donating Thirium unless there’s a means of replacing what’s been offered. Since you don’t seem to know what I’m talking about, I’m going to assume the answer to that is a ‘no’.

[A faint hint of exasperation? Surely not.]

WILDCARD;

[Hit me with your best shot!]

interstellar

[magocracy]

[It isn't his intention to rudely eavesdrop on the conversation, but given the scientists are projecting their data collection for the entire room to hear, Dorian would have to stopper his ears to avoid it. A belabored sigh signals his interruption -- fortunately well-timed, as it seems Connor's intake session is wrapping up.]

Most definitely a 'no', and I'm afraid I've never heard of Thirium myself, nor Chroma, nor any of the other strange fantastical words thrown around since we were roused into this waking nightmare.

[He gauges Connor with a look, hoping not to appear too... exasperated. It's been a tiring day.]

I'd be interested to know more about Thirium, if you're willing to share. May I ask, are you human?

[bleps]

[Dorian’s interruption is two-fold; it cinches the fact that his session of many, many questions is over, encouraging the well-intentioned interrogator to move on. It also means that Connor’s window of asking questions in turn is not only shortened, but utterly slammed shut, leaving the android watching the Prismal depart with a lingering glance.

An actuator moves in his jawline, and a hand lifts up to allow deft fingers to straighten a tie that’s already evenly aligned. He looks over at the other, blue LED blinking at his temple, schooling his face into something politely neutral.]

It looks like there’s going to be plenty for all of us here to learn, by way of necessity. This would be far less disorienting if they weren’t in such a hurry to gather as much information as possible, as quickly as possible.

[And not!! Satisfactorily!! Answer!! His!!]

...Thirium is a blue fluid that circulates both energy and data between my biocomponents. It’s colloquially known as ‘blue blood’; a partial misnomer. You can probably gather from that much that I’m not human at all — I’m an android.

[A beat.]

My name is Connor.

[magocracy]

I understand the frustration. Perhaps they're too overwhelmed by the sheer number of us -- as they've muttered amongst themselves, we appear to be a new species entirely to them.

[Dorian's eyes travel the perimeter of the crowded facility, numerous rooms, tables laden with foreign instruments, technology the likes of which he's never seen. He's glad his own session is done and over with, but it doesn't make him eager to learn how that information is going to be used.

Ah, anyway. Connor the android.]

I'm afraid I've no idea what an 'android' is, you'll have to enlighten me. Though your description of this 'blue blood' is quite fascinating. [You reeled in a big ol' nerd here.] It almost reminds me of mana, if it had some tangible form within the bodies of mages.

[bleps]

[A strange mode of classification, to take a varied group of potential multiple species (doesn't he skew the trend just by being synthetic, alone?) and solidifying them all into one. Based upon this apparent potential for "Chroma", if he's correct about what he's gathered thus far. A term he would've liked to have asked after, if not for the missed opportunity.

He queues it up in his prioritized task list, slotting it somewhere neatly near the top, to be tended to later.

Connor moves the conversation forward accordingly.]

An android is a synthetic creation made to resemble a human. A machine, so to speak, though programmed to exist and interact with society in accordance to their original purpose for being created. [Thankfully, this android often gives thorough answers when he can!]

Sorry, "mana" and mages- [The faint scrunching of his brow, questioning.] You're referring to... magic?

[magocracy]

[A thorough answer, but no less puzzling for it. Many of those words suggest a whole breadth of terminology that he can only grasp at -- but there's context, from which Dorian manages to cobble together meaning. A being created by another's hand and designed to exist within society according to a set intention. It calls to mind the Maker's children, even if the parallel isn't identical.]

I see.

[As best he can.]

And yes, magic. Is it something you've heard of? Don't tell me your world contains both these sentient purposeful machines and magic.

lisa frank with a side of acata crau

[paladorable]

[ Admittedly, this isn't the first time that Arenvald has found himself somewhere strange, but usually these things came with a bit more warning.

This time, there's nothing. No announcement, no strange pulling sensation. He's just... here, and what a place it is. His watch seems to have gone missing, as well, so there's no hope of him reaching out to anyone else -- not the first time that's happened, either.

Nothing left for it but to start moving, and as luck would have it, he stumbles across the familiar rather quickly. It's nothing short of a relief to see Connor especially, but something is clearly not right. Connor spots him and the reaction is not one of a friend.

Daniel. Arenvald knows that name, remembers the face that goes with it. He actually turns to look behind him as if the other android is standing there, but there's no one else around. ]

Connor? It's me, Arenvald.

i'm ready

[bleps]

[Well, this is unfortunate.

Because Connor doesn’t see his friend standing there, a man who would be a most welcome sight in the wake of this new, jarring transition. In fact, the crystallized landscape begins a slow melt along its edges, like a watercolor painting gone too damp, to fill in the empty spaces with that of a high rooftop, a night sky, the fractal lights of a pool reflecting off of the individual before him — Daniel. Not Arenvald, but Daniel.

It doesn’t make sense, he shouldn’t be here; did Astoria’s magic have something to do with it, this twisted replay from memory? Or was the other android really standing before him, his plastic casing already shot through with high caliber rounds, eking spattered blue, yet still grasping tightly onto a gun, still hoisting up a young human girl to be kept hostage?

It can’t be, it doesn’t add up, but it is, the scene is as clear as day, and Connor steps forward.]

How is this possible, you can’t— [LED blinks, circles in quick succession.] Please. Put her down.

[paladorable]

[ Arenvald might be more confused if he hadn’t witnessed the scene himself, if he hadn’t seen the rooftop and Daniel and all that transpired. Connor is seeing things that aren’t there, and while he can take some small comfort in knowing that there are no rooftop snipers to blast him full of holes, that doesn’t account for what Connor might do if he thinks this vision is real.

He raises his hands, well away from where he imagines the illusory hostage would be, in hope that it has some bearing on what Connor sees. ]

Connor, listen to me, listen to my voice. Daniel isn’t here. I’m Arenvald.

[bleps]

[Arenvald’s seen a measure of this scene before; Connor’s approach, placating and appealing, tone purposefully made to win trust, to increase the probability of a mission success. The slow but promising crawl of percentages rising in his favor, informing each word, each step made closer. And after it was done, parameters met, a hollow-eyed android on his knees and shredded through with blue, the act had fallen off his features like a mask. A wordless turn, a silent stride, returning to CyberLife.

Now? Now there’s something different in his tone, something shaped like guilt etched in the curvatures of his eyes, the lines of his mouth. He moves forward with the same caution, towards that precarious lip of a rooftop, external sensors falsely registering the harried spray of pool water tossed up by invisible helicopter blades, but the hand at his side flexes in a nervous tic, the other raising to pacify.

Needless to say, he doesn’t register anything Arenvald is saying. His voice raises.]

I don’t want to do this again. You didn’t give me a choice last time, but we don’t have to make it a repeat; that little girl is innocent in all of this. Just put her down — this is between you and me.

[paladorable]

[ Arenvald watches the desperation in his friend’s face, that desire to make right what he once put wrong, and he doesn’t doubt that it is anything less than genuine. It’s almost heartbreaking to watch, because he has to wonder if Connor thinks it will work at all. After all, Arenvald remembers Daniel’s final words.

I trusted you Connor.

It’s clear whatever he’s saying isn’t getting through, and he’s at a loss for what to do next. Let it play out? That seems cruel. Slowly, he takes a step forward. Connor shook him out of a fever induced nightmare, snapped him back to reality with their fingers carefully laced together. Mayhap he can return the favor now. ]

Interstellar

[diamondize]

[Diamond's been having some similar problems here, laughing nervously as they attempt to poke and prod at them. Not that they get far--there's no fluids to extract from them, not even saliva, no body heat generated, etc. etc.]

Sorry... [The scientists leave rather exasperated, leaving Dia's attention to instead turn to Connor, full of curiosity.]

They're really persistent sometimes, huh? It's hard getting them to understand when you just can't part with some things... Or don't even have them to begin with!

[bleps]

[To say that Connor’s not the eavesdropping sort would… frankly be a lie. Programmed to observe — and finding himself in sudden, highly unusual circumstances to boot, which makes it all the more paramount — means that listening in to the conversations of others is just part and parcel of his basic functions.

So the revelation that this individual has is lacking in a few basic attributes of a biological body isn’t much of a revelation at all. Curious and worth questioning, but his baseline for strange has suddenly shifted quite dramatically as of late.]

Right. Though I would assume that’s partly because they’re so curious, and any refusal to part with something, even something crucial, is going to be met with disappointment.

[So seems to be the case as the Prismal departs from his side, off to bother someone else.]

May I ask what you are?

[diamondize]

That's true, I can see that! Especially if it's something they've never encountered before. I'm much the same way. [Diamond can't help getting disappointed when they can't poke and prod at new things themselves. Thankfully, this place has been full to bursting with humans and the like to study, so there's no disappointment for them.

They do look delighted on how quickly Connor asks 'what' they are instead of just 'who,' though] Were you listening in? My people don't really have a set name, I think... I guess you could just call us 'gems'!

[They stick their hand out in greeting] I'm Diamond! Which is both my name and 'what' I am too! [There's no give to their hand or arm like flesh might have, because there's no actual skin, despite the carefully applied powder that gives the illusion of it. Their eyes, hair, eyelashes, brows, etc. are all also made of diamond (the hair just so fine it's actually able to be moved and manipulated much like real hair), along with their 'nails'--which is really just unpowdered sections of their fingertips.]

Are you... one of those 'human' things?

[bleps]

Yes. Sorry, it was difficult to not overhear.

[Sorry, he says, not actually sorry about it at all. Nosy, curious, ever wanting to gather pertinent information — there’s nothing to really be sorry for, other than some line of his social programming dictating that he offer an apology for it.

Connor’s face is often schooled into a polite, subtle smile where introductions are concerned, and this meeting is no exception to that rule. Displaced and supplanted from one world to another, none of that seems to matter for a few seconds — this is a custom easy to fall into, easy for him establish a first good impression, which remains important moving forward in a strange world, filled to the brim with unknown faces.]

My name is Connor. [The handshake is followed through with, firm but not forceful.] And no, I appear human, but I’m an android in actuality. [He drops his hand to his side.] So does that mean you’re literally your namesake?

[Sure sounds impossible, but then again, his expectations have been turned upside-down.]

[diamondize]

Oh, I don't mind! I was doing the same, after all. [Diamond at least does look genuinely apologetic and sheepish about it. It's not polite! But they do like their fair share of gossip, so it's hard to not listen in on everything when they can.]

Pleased to meet you, Connor. [A strange name, to them, but Dia's too distracted to go blurting that out loud right that second.

For a moment they don't know which part to address--Connor's question or to bring up their own, before they opt to answer first] I am! I'm a diamond! I suppose you could just call me and my people 'gems,' though I don't think we really have an official name or anything like that. We're just... us. There's nothing else to really differentiate ourselves from...

[They tilt their head curiously, looking down at their clasped hands before Dia finally lets go] What's an... Android?

Interstellar Action Force - also Mom CRAU I'm so sorry

[fuckingpassw0rd]

[Considering everything that has happened so far and the apparent loss of his powers, Hank should feel some amount of relief to hear that fucking goofy voice off nearby when they are found. It's not much but he'll take it.

Besides, it is amusing to hear him go on like he's listing items off a grocery list sprinkled with words that make as much sense to Hank as all the goddamn questions they are being asked. Eventually, he makes his presence known behind him, aware that the android probably already knows he's there. Unless he had his android 'powers' deactivated for all he knows. Fucking wouldn't be a surprise at this point.]

You could have just told them no.

[Half sarcastic, half teasing, all Hank Anderson.]

[bleps]

[Even an android’s attentions can only be pulled in so many directions at once, and while Connor was very aware of a presence behind him (several presences), the familiar voice seems to snag across the veil of his focus, making him turn his head and catch sight of the Lieutenant.

Recognition sparks in his eyes, or at least some programmed and prearranged semblance of it, and the RK800 practically wheels his body around to face the older man properly.]

Lieutenant. You’re here, too.

[Stating the obvious? Excusable given the circumstances, surely. He frowns, even if it’s not an unwelcome sight.]

Are you all right? [If he’s doing a quick, precursory scan, then Hank definitely can’t see it.] The trek here wasn’t exactly uneventful, and that’s not taking into account the… jarring aspects of being so far removed from Detroit.

What's his canon point btw 👀

[fuckingpassw0rd]

Yeah. Guess I'm also stuck in Lisa Frank's fucking nightmare.

[He can't be sure if it's the same Connor he knows. It's a somewhat depressing thought, but one he's already used too, having lived it before.]

Anyway I'm as fine as I can be, considering the situation. [The scan wouldn't detect much as it might have had just barely a few hours ago; his bloodstream cleaned of the radiation and the nano-like machines, leaving just a few odd statistics; he was a little thinner than before and his muscles seemed to have been reinforced. Staying three months in a world and being dragged by all sorts of androids from various worlds for a morning jogging session will do that to you. It's not a huge thing, but a step in the right direction, despite all of Hank's complaints.

He really already misses being able to lift a car. Made his life easier.]

Well uh...I'll save you the details of how I managed to get here in one piece.

after meeting kamski!

[bleps]

[The scan detects nothing abnormal, but compared to Connor's knowledge of the man's physical state prior, a handful of these readings are unexpected. Weight loss, an extra degree of muscle mass. The result of a stint of daily exercise, certainly, not fully impressive nor worrying, but nothing that should've cropped up between this moment and the last he remembers of Hank.

Needless to say, the figurative question marks are all cropping up in his mind, parsing this information while simultaneously listening to what Hank is telling him.]

...If they're relevant or worrying details, you should probably tell me. Especially if it has anything to do with the slight physical changes you've undergone.

Oh no... (oh yes)

[fuckingpassw0rd]

Slight physical changes?! Hey! Fuck you, I've been working my ass off to--

[It is unnerving to know that this Connor doesn't know about his daily morning torture but after his brief outburst of his pride being clearly a target from the android's choice of words he considerable calms down and looks away before speaking again.]

Sure, I'll tell you...but first you gotta tell me your last memory before you came here. Maybe that'll help us both out.

lisa frank

[hasitsthorns]

Uh.

[ Eloquent. While she's been mistaken for someone else before (who hasn't?), she has to say that someone calling her "Daniel" is new. Rose hadn't seen the mosquito nor has she been annoyed by any so she can't say that she knows what people are going through. Yet. ]

You alright, dude? Maybe we should find someone to get you checked out. [ This is a pretty stressful situation. She gets it. Most people aren't used to world hopping. Technically, she's not supposed to let on that she is either but... Obviously, he's not taking it well. ]

[bleps]

[Being met with a ghost of the past, real or not, is not often a means to make anyone feel comfortable. Connor, whose mind operates on reasoning, if-then proofs, and probabilities of successes versus failures, struggles to understand what it is he’s seeing — someone who should not be standing there, as if he’s been transported back in time to experience the same night again.

Logically, ironically, maybe he has. What’s he supposed to assume as possible after all that’s happened?

The landscape turns to night, the ground forms instead the rooftop as seen through a fish-eye lens, because “Daniel” is the only place where his focus currently lies. He steps closer, not hearing her words as her own, not really.]

This isn’t a mistake worth making a second time — you saw the result of that. Put the gun down and let’s talk. I think we’re both confused after all that’s happened.

[hasitsthorns]

[ Okay, so-

One thing is clear. This dude is absolutely tripping balls. Is it the stress of an unexpected world hop? The weird crystal mosquito creatures buzzing about? There's honestly a lot of things it could be, but- Rose knows she needs to tread carefully.

"Put the gun down," he says, and she makes a motion like she is. Better to play along with the delusion, right? Rose actually isn't sure but it seems safe a bet as any. ] Right. I'm definitely confused, but- We can figure this out.

[ Oh, no. He's coming closer. The woman tenses but doesn't make any sudden movements. For the first time, she notices that little yellow LED circle on the side of his head. Oh. That's... interesting. The blond holds her hands close to her chest now defensively. ]

Just talk to me, dude.

[bleps]

[The woman's inclination to humor his command blessedly reflects in the hallucination. “Daniel” lowers his weapon, though his grip on the little girl — Emma, with cheeks still streaked with tears — hasn’t budged.

This is a stark parallel to the past, talking him down. But maybe it’ll end differently this time, maybe the gaping blue hole in his side can’t be repeated a second time, some dreadful hallucinatory logic hopefully informs him.]

I need you to step away from the ledge. It's going to be all right.