Experiment Log 02: Film Theory [Open]

[mementomoritz]

[Anyone passing by the theater in Limbo today, whether out of chance or curiosity, will find that it's running another one of its' "special presentations". In between the usual mix of random gibberish and actual films are two short clips, both featuring the same young girl.]

[Neither of them is a particularly long memory, but it's enough to see that the child in question is unmistakably a much younger Medic.]

[The first is a cheerful little memory, in it's own... unique way. At least the cat seems fine.]

[It's the second one where things get a little uncomfortable.]

[The source of the memories in question, once someone has eventually clued her in that she's getting another fifteen minutes of fame, can be found sitting in one of the theater seats and absently eating popcorn while staring at the screen, lost in thought.]

I didn't remember until I saw... Was the video the cause, or did it appear here because I was going to remember soon? [Thankfully, she doesn't seem too bothered by her personal business being shown publicly, but she does seem pretty wrapped up in contemplating it.]

[Alternately, if you show up later, you may hear a lot of thuds and clatters coming from the back.]

[Apparently, she's trying to get answers from the source by locating and breaking into the projector room. Her success is... mixed at best.]

[On the bright side, she left her giant bag of popcorn unattended. Free movie snacks?]

Comments

memory 2

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane, hanging around the back of the theatre, scowls at the screen.]

She hated it, didn't she?

[mementomoritz]

[Medic blinks and looks over at her, confused.]

Which part? I think she liked the fencing practice at first, but she did seem kind of angry there at the end.

I wonder why I never noticed that before...

[emberserker]

You assumed she had good intentions. And perhaps she cared, but she still wanted more. Or rather... to be special. Wouldn't anyone?

[Something feels hollow in Wolfsbane again, something she'd rather not think about.]

[mementomoritz]

[Plainly and genuinely, with no hint of dishonesty:] I always thought she was.

I don't remember much about her, but I know that she was smart, and strong, and never gave up on anything she wanted. [That last one may have, in fact, been the problem.] She was my er-jie, of course she was special. How could I think anything else?

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane doesn't know much about herself, but she knows, with what she's got, that what Medic's saying is so familiar it's sickening.]

Some people are just meant for certain things, aren't they? No matter how hard they try. Right?

[mementomoritz]

People aren't meant for anything. [Just stated in a very matter-of-fact kind of way.] We're not designed for anything in particular, we're just a randomly-assembled collection of traits- it's not like anyone gets to decide what we end up with.

Although I was working on changing around some of the things I got, afterwards. But then the FDA got really mad at me about it. [...it's probably best not to examine that part any further.]

[emberserker]

...Incomprehensible as ever. But I suppose you wouldn't be yourself otherwise.

[schardynfreude]

[He doesn't find much reason to come here, other than, well, occasionally there is a movie which is a way to relax, and it's also just otherwise a quiet and dim place to chill out.

This is...more than he's used to. Perhaps, on rare occasion, the flash of something going by--but this is like a movie unto itself.

The anger, the rage and the envy and the greed of the sibling, sits unwell with Chiron (and it is Chiron, right now in this moment at least, having fought down his own memories for a time with Medic's help). It's uncomfortable and confounding enough he stands there in the aisle, hand to his mouth as though he might be sick, but it never gets to that point.]

You truly don't feel pain, do you?

[mementomoritz]

Hm? Oh, no, I do- just not usually for very long. [Medic answers casually, seemingly unaware of how disturbed Chiron really is.] I tested it once, and I don't experience any less actual sensation than the average.

I think maybe it's more that pain just... isn't that scary, when you can heal yourself any time. As soon as I want to not hurt, I don't.

[Having that power from such a young age explains... a lot about how she is, really. Pain as an aversion, something to flinch back from instinctively, is a basic building block for most living things, how they react and develop. What happens when someone's never had to feel pain they didn't decide to?]

[schardynfreude]

You still turn it off, in a fashion. [Can one still be unafraid of pain if their power lets them stop the pain the instant it's possible to feel it?]

Goodness, she hated you quite a bit...

[mementomoritz]

I wonder what I did to make her so angry? I wish I could remember... [The possibility that is wasn't her fault somehow just doesn't seem to occur to her.]

[schardynfreude]

Exist, it seems. [Harsh, but possibly very true.] You and your--other sister? You both clearly possess some enhanced abilities. [Given the way Charity moved, at any rate.] And yet the one giving you a sound beating...perhaps she doesn't?

[mementomoritz]

[She nods slowly, sorting through the long mess of unconscious impressions and memories that came with the clearer scenes, a lifetime's knowledge and understanding of Prudence and Charity Moritz- although the surname still eludes her, fluttering away like one of Rei's butterfly Specters every time she tries to get it in her grasp.]

I know I could heal, even that young, but I can't remember er-jie ever doing anything beyond standard human capabilities. And da-jie... her power was kind of the opposite of mine, I think? It's fuzzy, but I remember that.

If she hurt you... it never stopped. Not ever, unless she let it.

[seasharp]

[Uncomfortable is right. Ariel can't help but think that she probably shouldn't have seen that. Well, not that she can help it, when its right there in the theater, but all the same, it leaves her feeling a little awkward.

...she'll leave for a bit, maybe some... late attempt at giving Medic some privacy? But she'll be back soon enough. Maybe with some chocolate from the concession stand. Looking at Medic as she's...

...

No, honestly, she's not sure what's happening here.]

Hmm, are you trying to sneak in backstage~?

[mementomoritz]

I want to find out how the projector reel works! Or... whatever it is they're using for these. [At least she seems curious and cheery as ever, as opposed to horribly traumatized by having her childhood shown to all and sundry.]

I'm not a mechanic at all, but if they're taking the memories directly from us there has to be something that interfaces with the nervous system somehow, right? I want to see what it is!

[seasharp]

Ah... probably, I guess, huh? Something like that.

[she says like she isn't already kind of lost.]

You're not worried it might, I don't know, just go through all your memories if you fiddle with it?

[mementomoritz]

Then I'd get to learn more about myself very quickly! [She's not seeing a downside here. What's a shame? Not anything Medic knows about, that's for sure.]

[seasharp]

Well... I guess that's true.

And... what if it fries your brains, instead?

[mementomoritz]

[Solemnly:] Then I re-died doing what I loved:

Science.

...wow, this door is really sturdy. Do you know how to pick locks?

[twibeast]

[ The theatre draws Beast to it every so often, especially since it's where he first awoke, and today is no exception. He's a bit surprised to see someone else here, but he quietly sits in the back for a while as the scenes play out.

...And then is very IMMEDIATELY uncomfortable.

He's quiet for a moment as Medic speaks out loud to herself, before awkwardly clearing his throat. ]

Does... does that not bother you, Lady Medic?

[mementomoritz]

[Medic turns around, blinking and confused, hand full of popcorn halfway-raised to her mouth.]

Does what bother me?

[twibeast]

[ He frowns. ]

That was you, wasn't it...?

It didn't... mm. [ How to put this... ] The younger one's actions. Don't they bother you?

[mementomoritz]

[She tilts her head quizzically.]

Do you mean the memory with er-jie? I wish she'd told me she was so upset, if that's what you mean. I really couldn't tell, back then... [The possibility that she might be upset about what happened to her doesn't even seem to cross her mind.]

[twibeast]

I see...

[ He puts his hand over his chin for a moment, thinking. ]

I suppose if it doesn't bother you otherwise then, I won't linger on it...

[ But why does it bother him so much then, other than not liking to see one of their own get treated in such an aggressive and resentful way when they were so young. ]

[mementomoritz]

[The confusion is continuing.] Did it bother you?