007. Text // shoot here and the world gets smaller

[manufactured]

This month certainly has been interesting so far, hasn't it. Joanne - I know you're not going to reply, dear heart, but you might want to place a moratorium on calling things "exciting" for the next short while, seeing as apparently it just curses the entire situation.

Though perhaps I'm biased in some way; after all, my body doesn't exactly play nicely with fire anymore.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not one for bolstering one's spirit; either you'll find your own fortitude in times like this or you won't, and bluntly put the direction you choose to take is of very little consequence to me. However, that isn't to say that it doesn't hold my interest; whether you've run screaming into the flames or avoided them, my question is one of progress. Not physical, as I have no doubt that we'll receive updates on whether what we're doing is truly enough or not – but rather internal.

Consider it a question of morale, I suppose. How we're holding up, how things are looking for the days to come. Whether we all hate ourselves a little less, if that's the sort of thing you have to report.

If nothing else, it seems an acceptable concern to have at the moment.

[...That is literally the most stilted "how is everyone doing, hope you're all having a happy crisis and not literally dying in a fire" that has ever been written, but you know what, it's going to have to work for now.]

Comments

[thesettingsun]

I'm stable. Sometimes stability feels more valuable than 'doing better'.

[manufactured]

I'd argue that in some cases, they're the same thing.

[thesettingsun]

Some cases, but not mine.

[manufactured]

If you say so.

[thesettingsun]

I have ridden the getting better, getting worse, getting better, getting much worse roller coaster way too often. I'm pretty sure I have a fast pass.

[flametheif40]

Ummm...what did I just read?

Was all of that you trying to say "how are you guys doing and here's to us getting better"?

[manufactured]

Take it as you want.

[flametheif40]

Bit long for that but whatever.

I suppose I'm doing fine, my magic took a dramatic turn and became more powerful than I expected. Transforming got a little getting used to...like how the hell to get out of it.

Other then that, I suppose I am getting along just fine, and you?

[manufactured]

I find that I can't complain, at any rate.

Transforming into what, precisely?

[flametheif40]

I am not sure, I had no memories of that transformation.

Given the words I have to say though, I would assume I transformed into a Djinn, or some kind of manifestation closer to a Djinn anyway.

[mincingminuet]

Getting by I guess. This month is a lot to take in though. The stuff on the other side of those doors is just bizarre.

[manufactured]

Mind if I ask what it is you've seen...?

[mincingminuet]

Steampunk City with a giant bird?

Pretty darn weird.

[manufactured]

...Well.

If anyone here complains of boredom at any point, I suppose we can say it's their own fault, can't we.

[mincingminuet]

Absolutely.

The doors are freaking weird.

[standalonehuman]

I think they'll let me out of the hospital in a few days. I'm more relieved that I seem to be the only one here.

So, question. I'd assume nobody's body plays nicely with fire. Are you okay?

[manufactured]

I'm fine. It's simply a matter of being more durable than most, thanks to Retrospec's interference; fire is the primary exception to that, it tends to affect me rather badly.

Dare I ask what you did to end up in the hospital?

[standalonehuman]

Oh. Guess I missed the overall increase in durability. Glad you're being careful, then.

If you make it behind the fire, there's doors there. And those doors seem to lead back into patches of unreality again. Short version is the one I went in was dangerous. I've got nothing but time on my hands to tell the whole thrilling tale if you want it.

[manufactured]

Ah, no, the durability is a permanent thing, in my case; it comes along with several other powers that I've been granted as of about a year ago. The same incident that granted those is the reason I avoid flames if necessary; I've received several unpleasant memories involving being set on fire, and I'd prefer not to test it myself now that my body is in the same state that it was back then.

And if you wouldn't mind telling it, I wouldn't mind hearing it. If you're willing, I'll listen.

[standalonehuman]

Shit. Let me say thank you for going out and doing anything with this much fire around, then. I appreciate how hard that is.

So. I found one of those silver doors, kind of like we saw in November, to lead us to the places we could take the souls of the dead. But this time, what was behind it was different. In my case, it was an abandoned futuristic city. Towering skyscrapers and shiny metal, all abandoned to time. It was more sad than anything else.

[frostythehitman]

we're down a serial killer so that's a load off my mind at least
but yeah other than that there isn't much to do except for running into the fire and doing whatever's possible
it's way easier to throw my arm into the flames with a hose and let it go to town though
less chance of me getting burnt
i've been engulfed in flames enough for a lifetime already, no need to do it again

[manufactured]

...Hopefully that's all in memories, and not this life as well contributing on the engulfed in flames front?

[frostythehitman]

mostly
i mean, i did set my arm on fire once and send it to retrospec
but that's not much compared to other-me
kinda hard to beat dying in a missile explosion when it comes to the whole up in flames thing

[manufactured]

Thrown in a live volcano and hit with rockets, myself. Trust me, I am aware of how unreasonable past lives can be.

[frostythehitman]

AND?
damn
consider me impressed
which one came first