[audio] you can't say that all my friends are not dead or in jail

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket came back from his trip back home awhile ago, promptly ignored any messages he may have received, trapped his room, and then just for good measure retreated into an empty room, so he could mull this over and work the problem out. This was worse than Yondu. This was something he under no circumstances wanted to sit down and be sympathized with about.

But he can't hide forever, so when he finally makes an appearance on the network (audio only), it's to pretend he didn't just fall off the grid and make some (seemingly) unrelated observation.]

Has anyone ever, like... Met people here, and then went back home, and met those same people again, only you didn't remember 'em until you got back here, and now you've got two sets of experiences with that person?

And if it sounds crazy and don't make any sense, then try having it happen to you. It's a real headtrip.

Comments

[audio]

[chief_of_staff]

I've seen one person I recognized from back home here, but we never actually interacted before. Kinda like the two you're talking about.

I have to wonder how people are chosen to be sent here.

[beatupgrass]

Don't think about it. I've been here for four years and I can tell you there ain't any logic behind it.

[chief_of_staff]

That's kind of disappointing to hear, but not too surprising I guess.

You've been through a lot here, I'm taking it?

[beatupgrass]

A little too much, if you get what I'm saying, but it means it can't really surprise me.

[chief_of_staff]

I think I do. Sorry to hear that.

[He hopes he doesn't have to go through too much here, especially since he was in the middle of something stressful back home. If he was sent here for a reason, it had better be a little more pleasant than what was going on there.]

[beatupgrass]

Don't be sorry. Just brace yourself, and try not to bitch too much, 'cause trust me, we've all had it tough here and everywhere else.

[Said Rocket, the Grand Poobah of Bitching.] At least we stopped it with the zombies.

[chief_of_staff]

[He's about to comment on the first part of that, but the mention of zombies completely distracts him.]

Zombies?

[beatupgrass]

Dead people walking? It happens a lot. Apparently a good 10% of our number have dealt with 'em in various forms, so that's awesome.

[chief_of_staff]

Huh.

[He pauses and thinks for a moment.]

I heard of someone back home who could kind of ... create zombies, but I never went to their island or interacted with them. I know it wasn't just a rumor, since my work revolved around learning the truth about everyone.

Still!

I don't want to deal with that here! [He laughs.]

[beatupgrass]

Oh don't worry, you definitely will. Buuut at least if you don't have memories of it, then nobody's gonna pull it from your head.

[chief_of_staff]

Great!

[Wait, what? He hesitates before asking this burning question:]

Memories are pulled from our heads here? How? Why?

[beatupgrass]

Oh man, you are new. That's what events are, man- they take things you experienced and then make everybody experience 'em.

[chief_of_staff]

I don't want anyone to experience what I've been through.

[beatupgrass]

Yeeeeeah, that's not really an option. Sorry, dude.

[chief_of_staff]

I guess I should apologize to you for when you inevitably have to go through all of that, then.