[ text ]

[acclimatized]

It feels weird posting here after everything that has happened. The first day after I arrived, someone told me things weren't usually this hectic. And I doubt R.E.M envisioned zombies, grenades and mutinies when he wrote Man on the Moon.

But now I think I can suspend my disbelief and accept that I have been here before and can't remember a sodding thing about it. So, this is a re-introduction. My name is John Watson and I'm a doctor. I would like to help if I can and apologize to anyone I might have accidentally ignored.

Cheers.

Comments

voice

[acclimatized]

[ he switches to voice because honestly, who wants to wait around for a slow text response. ]

That's what I've been told, yes.

[anklets]

[It's why she's avoided it, and she's grateful now because it leaves more room for the quiet grasping of tablets.

"He's been told", she hates that sound.]

I didn't realise that could happen. Somehow. Coming and going without remembering it.

[acclimatized]

Me neither. It took me a while to accept it. Because surely I'd remember something like this, right? This isn't like forgetting where you've left your keys or posting a letter.

[ a beat, while he wets his lips. ]

Maybe I'm just unlucky.

[anklets]

[It's a low exhale from her end, making her sound quite young, and doubly tired. The Transporter picks its soldiers by chance, was it? Poor luck goes without saying, then.]

Maybe. At least to have been snatched twice. [ it could happen to anyone

anyone at all ]

There's so much we don't know about our own technology.

[acclimatized]

Yeah. Bit worrying, that... but still! Aside from the memory issues, I haven't noticed any other side effects and I guess I should be thankful that I'm in one piece.

[ but her weary tone raises a small flag of alarm in john's mind and, bleeding heart like he is, he cannot ignore it. ]

Er, are you all right?

[anklets]

[Immediate, embarrassed:] Sorry. No worse than anyone else.

[No worse than a man who has to fight someone else's war, twice, who isn't even granted memory of the first time.]

I'd hoped once we were returned home, we would stay there. I suppose.

[acclimatized]

No, no, it's fine. I was just trying to be optimistic about the whole thing... no use moping about.

[ a phrase that has become sort of a mantra for john lately and seems to be working out well. ]

Who knows, maybe some people are left alone. This is the first time I've really talked about it.. you know, apart from the person who told me about this.

[anklets]

[She, too, is familiar with such a mantra, but- isn't always so good about seeing it through.]

Most are let be, I think. [ a breath, then, ] Are you alright with talking about it?