Night Patrol

[doofyissues]

Iris wakes up on the train.

Being dead and having total amnesia is a lot of nothing to process, so she stays on the train for a while. The prospect of getting off at the first stop and just exploring at random is daunting, so she stays on the train as it makes a full revolution around Limbo. When it's clear that the train isn't stopping anywhere else, she gathers her courage, and steps out into the station.

Rather than seeking out any specific services or businesses, Iris's first instinct is to just wander the streets. She doesn't know why that feels right, nor does she know what she's looking for, but quietly going down random streets and alleyways feels more comfortable than barging in somewhere to ask big existential questions to complete strangers. There's just too much she doesn't know - why is she here? Are these other people also dead? Is there something she's supposed to be doing?

None of the answers are revealing themselves from just walking around the city at random, but there's something just a little bit comforting about it. Moving feels better than staying still, and if she needs to be doing something else, hopefully it will make itself apparent soon. Until then, Iris wanders, sometimes stopping to look at the few people who immediately stand out from the crowds - Executors, she would eventually learn - but never approaching them directly. She'll work up to that.

Eventually.

Comments

[emberserker]

[Wolfsbane has not had a good day since she woke up in Limbo. Currently, she's walking out of the conbini, suspiciously eyeing the pack of gummy frogs she got for a few coins and rocks, when she notices Zoe looking at her. She looks up and rolls her eyes.]

Yes, hello, what is it?

[doofyissues]

[Iris starts, as if the idea that someone might talk to her hadn't even entered her mind.]

Oh! I'm sorry, I just... I'm new here, and... I don't really know what's going on... or what I should be doing...

[She looks so nervous that it's like she's about to will herself into disappearing off the face of Limbo.]

[emberserker]

[She blinks and steps back, almost dropping the candy.]

You're awake? Like the rest of us, then? What's your title?

[doofyissues]

Awake...? Uh...

[Title? Not name? Oh wait, she doesn't remember her name. She tries to dig something up, and a single word stands out for her to latch on to.]

...Iris...

[emberserker]

Iris? You're lucky, then, at least that's a name. Not like some of us. You can call me Wolfsbane. I suppose you haven't spoken with Rei yet, either.

[pride_of_amarcia]

[One particular Executor who was regularly prancing around was... A scarf-wearing girl who had what felt like way too many pockets. A bit of a disaster, walking around with an overconfident smile from place to place.

And then, she'd spotted someone. Someone specifically looking at her. Multiple times, actually.

That could only mean one thing! Namely, that Brainiac had to tromp right up to the girl.]

Oh hi there! You seem like you're awake. How are ya?

[doofyissues]

[Someone else just wandering from place to place. Maybe they have something in commonOH NO HERE SHE COMES]</small. I-I'm okay... I mean.. not really, but...

[pride_of_amarcia]

Yeah, I get that. You just realized you're dead and you're kinda all "NOW WHAT", right?

Because yeah, that was me kinda recently too. Weird town, the role of Executors in it, all that stuff.

[doofyissues]

[Less intimidating than the last girl, at least.]

Yeah... Wolfsbane told me about the basics, but... It's a lot to take in...

[mementomoritz]

Good morning~! [Unfortunately for Iris, someone has spotted her. And said someone is now leaning over right in her face, looking alarmingly cheerful.]

Well, I have no idea what time it is, but philosophically morning is whenever you wake up, right? And you definitely look more Awake, now.

[doofyissues]

[PERSONAL SPACE. PERSONAL SPACE, PLEASE. PLEASE LEAVE PERSONAL SPACE.]

I... I guess so... Um...

[mementomoritz]

[What's a personal space, can you dissect it.]

Yep, that sure sounds like a personality to me! Congratulations on the consciousness!

[She beams happily and sticks out her hand, in case Iris might want to shake it, although she doesn't pause for a response before continuing to speak.]

It's nice to meet you, I'm Medic! Aside from being dead, do you have any health conditions?

[doofyissues]

I'm Iris... and, um... one of my eyes looks weird...?

[Is that a health condition?]

[daughterofthemark]

[Royal Veil is one of those people who stand out a bit... but she doesn't seem to have picked up on that herself, as she's engaged in a very circular conversation with an ordinary Spectre just outside the coffee shop when Iris passes by.]

Yes, it is quite sweet, aren't they? No, it is not a problem in the least. The sweetness is...

...ah! Hello.

[SHE'S SPOTTED IRIS! RUN!]

[doofyissues]

Ah, sorry... I didn't mean to interrupt you...

[Iris would love to run, but she reacts to social anxiety like a deer reacts to headlights.]

[daughterofthemark]

[Well, that was probably her only chance to escape. She's steadily approaching now.]

No, it's all right. I don't believe I've seen you before, have I? It's wonderful to meet you. You may call me Royal Veil.

[doofyissues]

Yeah, uh... my title's Iris, I guess... Nice to meet you...

[It doesn't feel right, but it's the closest thing she has to a name.]

[pioailurophobia]

As Iris investigates, she finds an oddly detailed statue depicting a knight in armor standing completely still in a rather... inconvenient location. That is to say in the middle of the sidewalk. Right in front of her path.

Investigate?

[doofyissues]

Everything about this city is weird, but this seems even weirder than normal. Trying to shake the feeling that the statue is watching her, Iris does her best to get past the statue without touching it and without stepping into traffic.

It's a delicate process.

[pioailurophobia]

The statue snores.

Extremely loudly.

[doofyissues]

Iris eeps, jumping back in surprise. Statues don't snore, do they? She can't remember any specific statues, but she's still pretty sure that's unusual.

"Um... Hello...?"

[crosscutting]

[Huh?]

[Oh, hey, she doesn't recognize this one. And she's definitely Awake, though sort of...shy? Well, whatever.]

Hey there! You need help or anything?

[doofyissues]

Oh! [Someone closer to her age! She hasn't seen many of those around.]

I'm just... exploring, I guess... I just arrived today...

[crosscutting]

And you already ran into Rei? That's pretty fast, she must be really on top of this!

[...Pariah...no...]

[doofyissues]

[It takes her a second to figure that one out. Wolfsbane did mention someone named Rei...]

Ah... If you mean my eye, it was like that when I woke up... I don't know why...