Lost as the Princess of Darkness (50% Drone)

[hontobakabaka]

[Action]  2242 Steven's Road front yard

[Ruri woke up, she was of two minds and neither of them meshed.  It'd be easier if that other voice wasn't screaming things in her head like 'memory default' or 'faulty backup data, please express caution' then other loud thoughts about cheerleader tryouts for next year didn't scream in her head in retaliation.]

"I....  So many memories...."

[Phone]

"I....  I am having odd thoughts...  Bad thoughts...  Ones that would make baby Jesus cry.  Does anyone want to help me forget about them?  I turn 16 on Thursday so maybe we could plan a party, or you could help me train for the chee....  No.  Those are stupid.  Such a headache.  Omoikane is trying to run a system scan on me but it keeps coming up in fault.  Does anyone else have things like this going on?"

[Action]  Rec Center

[Ruri is sitting at the edge of the pool with a confused look]

"I know I prefer doing this but gosh, I need to practice if I want to make the team.  No.  Wait.  Still not right."

Comments

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"A computer in my brain? That sounds so squa... Wait, no. Yes, he serves as my Id sometimes... I... Yes, the party, everyone says to focus on that. Do... Do you have two sets of memories too?"

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

You're too young to need a--yeah. Yes. I...I've got two, too. One here in Mayfield, and one across th'universe but--it's got to be the stress of the holiday. They're...they're probably...[She winces, and massages her forehead a moment. Why can't she decide which side to fight toward?] it must mean something if we're both experiencing it.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"I'm... I'm leaning towards... The memories that say this town is a horrible prison. Because that's what the other voice in my head that one set of memories thinks is my friend is saying. But several people have been experiencing it which means... I think something terrible is happening."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

It...makes sense. We're both experiencing it so it's got to be--unless it's mass hysteria? [That'd still be terrible, though, wouldn't it.]

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"I don't think this is how mass hysteria works... But I'm only a gir.. No. That's not right. That's very not right."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

But it's...what's more possible? What's more likely? Mass hypnotism or mass hysteria?

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Given as you can't avoid television and radio in this place, the hypnotism is a more plausible hypothesis. Mass hysteria I'd think involves more screaming."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

Then again,television and radio's prone to give people flights of fancy. Maybe we've all just had too much television.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"Well golly... I don't know I've been practicing so ha... No... That's not right. Too much television would make us afraid of other people, not ourselves."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

I...yeah. You're right. This has happened before--hasn't it?

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"I... Think so? Its so hard to know."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

It...seems like it, but I could be imagining it.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"I know. I wish there was better reference materials to confirm with in town."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

Maybe if we keep looking we'll find...people who share our memories--or no one, and we'll know. We'll...have made it all up or not have.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"I.... I hope so. Maybe with time. I just.. I'm not sure."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

...Yeah...I know. But--but no matter what's true we've got t'find an nswer, or we'll just go crazy.

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"I.... I've seen crazy people. I grew up with them. But I don't think this is what happened to them."

[dimensioncannon.livejournal.com]

You...grew up with them here or...?

[hontobakabaka.livejournal.com]

"My... My ship. Everyone was the best at what they did... But... Had personality problems that kept respectable ships from hiring them."