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[ Determination equal to a bloodhound. Laurent engages evasive manoeuvres: ]

I was having trouble sleeping. It's a fairly common affliction, one you have yourself.

[ What happened to that long list, Laurent. ]

[Well, there's always the Direct Attack:]

Didn't you just say there are several things on your mind? Tell me. What else have you to do at this hour?

[ Certainly not sleep at this rate. ]

Several things keeping me from sleeping, yes. Are you offering to analyse my dreams?

Edited (wrong icon...) 2017-11-15 02:08 (UTC)

I can certainly make an effort if you describe them to me.

[ ... Well he didn't expect you to say yes. Who even offers to try and analyse a strangers dreams?

He supposes this is why Faolan likes this person. They're insufferably patient and wry. ]

I don't think there's much symbolism to analysed, unfortunately. I suspect they're memories.

Even more trouble, for memories give us far more to lose sleep over as time moves on.

[He would know, truly.]

What is it that you remember?

[ On the one hand, Laurent doesn't really want to talk about this. On the other, people always say admitting a fear helps alleviate it. That, and talking around it forever won't really work. He can at least make a concession: ]

Nothing pleasant. It appears I had enemies who wished me harm. I suppose I might still have.

What sort of enemies? And why do you believe this may still apply?

[It's understandable, to be fearful of it. But he's not alone in it, for there have been many people here who have had memories of conflict and strife.]

Because at least one of them exists in this world. The other, well, I've never met but that doesn't mean they don't.

Really?

[Well, that's a bit more worrying, if only because of his growing anxieties that he believes the same might come to be true for him... someday. His emotions towards those from his "old" world do not bode well, at any rate.]

Have you confronted them about it?

You want me to tell someone I had dreams they hired a man to kidnap and kill me and ask how they feel about it?

Is this someone also on Retrospec?

Not at the moment, at least not that I know.

I see.

[Then that is a little more difficult.]

Then perhaps that's for the best, if they remain oblivious. A surefire way of knowing if they suddenly become a user of Retrospec is to merely check the app.

[But, ah, he wonders how much that actually helps.]

Know you're not alone in these memories bringing doubt and uncertainty. I've experienced my fair share as well. Keeping it to yourself does little good in the end.

[h y p o c r i t e there are a select few he refuses to tell.]

Does telling people help much more? I suppose there's a sense of relief at first, but beyond that the facts stay the same. Then two people are concerned instead of one.

I've found that it can. There's a sense of solidarity to be garnered from it, not to mention that you know someone else exists around you to help you solve the ever-growing mystery of who you once were.

Perhaps that is a mystery I have no wish to solve.

Then that is your decision to alone to make. Regardless, what Retrospec is doing to us is not a switch you can merely flip off.

[ Not a switch you can merely flip off?

Laurent supposes not. Although if it became bad enough, he could definitely think of a way to make it stop permanently --

The thought makes Laurent stop a moment, surprised at himself. The spectre of the man in his dream seems to loom over him, the sense of helplessness, the knowledge that there was no way out and nobody coming to rescue him. He can feel that mindset already mixing in with his own, and a spike of panic has him back off from the conversation for a few minutes. Then -- ]

I suppose you are correct.

[ You're wrong. ]

Edited (lure??) 2017-11-21 20:49 (UTC)

[If this were more than just text, maybe he could read the other's expression and fish a bit more, out of a fledgling sense of concern. But it isn't, and there's little Ardyn can see through the words blinking up at him on his phone, and so-]

Would you like to tell me more about what you remember of this man?

[At least he can offer an ear to listen with, which might make the rest of the night more bearable for Laurent, if this is truly keeping him awake.]

Given the option, I'd rather find a way to forget about it entirely.

Perhaps you'll get what you wish for one day. That Retrospec should disappear from your phone and you'll remember absolutely nothing at all.

Is that what you're hoping for?

I'm not certain.

I'm certain I was happier before all of this.

But there are some people I wouldn't want to leave to puzzle this out alone.

[Happier. Perhaps that was true. But more ignorant as well, and-- well, he cannot change what he knows now, and he knows for certain that he would not wish to be ignorant, no matter the nature of the truth that awaited him.]

Then that's something we can both agree on. People that I care about, that I would hate to leave to the machinations of Retrospec, just for my own peace of mind.

I suspect I owe you another cup of coffee for listening to all this.

(no subject)

daemonized - 2017-12-01 15:22 (UTC) - Expand