o5-- you can go your own way-- [accidental video//action]

[strangeboy]

[The stream turns on to show the back of a certain young Musketeer holding a biscuit in his hand, looking down, and speaking to someone or something unseen.]

Sit. Yes, good girl! [Let's hope it's not a woman he's speaking to.

He bends down, makes a few kissy noises and straightens up, moving out of the frame. As he disappears, a husky can be seen, sitting patiently. If you're familiar with Philip, you're probably familiar with his dog, Faraday. Except she's D'Artagnan's dog now, and he's trying his best to be good to her. Really. She tilts her head as D'Artagnan swears off screen, whines at him, and stands.

D'Artagnan appears again, offering her another treat. She takes it and he scratches behind her ears. He moves offscreen again, mumbles something the microphone doesn't pick up and Faraday whines at him again, jumps around for a moment and then bolts out the door.]

Hey, hey wait! [D'Artagnan runs to the door, holding a bright tennis ball, and then runs back into the room, grabbing his device.]

Hello, yes, if you see a dog, could you please let me know? She won't hurt you or anything, she's just friendly. Her name's Faraday, but only responds to that sometimes. Thank you.

[And the feed cuts off with a blur-- most likely D'Artagnan running out the door with it. How far has she gotten? D'Artagnan has no way of knowing.]

Comments

[alwaysnext]

Wait, so everyone can see your-? How does that work? Are they specific types of memories, or do you get stuff like where someone left their keys?

[strangeboy]

Ah, no more like--

[He pauses, thinking of how to phrase it.]

General memories of something traumatic, I believe. Or, not traumatic but. During the last event, the whole mansion turned into tents and cottages, and the grounds changed completely, as if it were someone's home world. Another time it turned into a hospital. A bad one. Does that make sense?

[He'll see in the next one, anyway.]

[alwaysnext]

[It makes no sense at all, but the general content of what d'Artagnan was saying was chilling enough. He dumps the crisps, grips the counter and rubs a hand over his face, looking way too stressed.]

Oh no. No, that's not possible. The memories can't hurt you, right? They can't be real.

[strangeboy]

[D'Artagnan raises his eyebrow. Perhaps he's had a traumatic past. That doesn't bode particularly well for future events...]

They can kill you. [A beat.] But then you come back.

[alwaysnext]

[Coming back is not entirely a plus in Luke's book, not if you like an intact timeline. Or, apparently, having to die all over again the next time an "event" happened. But in some terribly human part of his soul, he thinks it's better than dying permanently.

He takes a moment to breathe and collect himself, then gives d'Artagnan a short nod.]

Great. Just great.

[strangeboy]

[D'Artagnan shrugs. It's not the greatest thing, but it's the hand they've been dealt. There's no use in being upset about it. Or, upset and unproductive.]

You're always welcome to join those who wish to figure out a way back.

[alwaysnext]

[Luke was surprised. It had never occurred to him to do anything else, and he thought it was a little odd d'Artagnan hadn't included himself amongst the "them". He leant his elbow on the counter, grabbing the crisp packet again.]

Have you given up?

[strangeboy]

I'm not much use in figuring things out.

[He's better at following orders, not making the plans.]

[alwaysnext]

[Luke finds this statement depressing. While wants to say something inspiring, all the options he comes up with seem like they'd embarrass them both. D'Artagnan is so chill, he's like the complete opposite of Luke's emotional frankness, and it leaves him struggling to respond.]

I've completely distracted you from your dog, haven't I? How did you even get one here? Shouldn't it be a walrus or a Bandersnatch?

[strangeboy]

I have no idea what either of those things are, so maybe? But a man named Philip gave her to me.

[A pause.]

Where did you see her run off to?