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[forensicks]

[Walter has recorded a video message from the point of view of someone who has just come through the door into his cabin and sees Walter at his desk in the chair turned around to face the viewer. He gives a little salute-wave.]

Didn't get me. But nice try.

Comments

[forensicks]

No, I'm in the library with no patrons? For once this actually feels like a desk job. But in the nightmare flood, I had some dreams that were about stuff like listening to music, and others that were, well, you know. So.

[abrightboy]

The nightmare flood was like a normal night's sleep for me. But this... is different. And it might come to more than just.... this. I'd suggest going to your cabin. For safety. I can come walk you there, if you want.

[forensicks]

Thanks but no thanks. I can't exactly hide in my cabin forever, so I might as well make the most of the time that I can be out safe, right?

[abrightboy]

It's not forever. It's maybe a week. I can bring you supplies.

[forensicks]

Considering that the nightmare flood didn't spare cabins, how do you know that this flood will continue to spare cabins when it gets worse?

[abrightboy]

It might not, but it is right now. You said the danger was your major concern and you were upset because you didn't feel like I was taking it seriously. But... now that I am, you aren't?

[forensicks]

I'm not— [He lets out some kind of grumble, probably rolling his eyes.] I'm not not taking it seriously, I'm asking questions because I'm trying to understand.

[abrightboy]

In that case, I would suggest that the cabins weren't safe last time because the invasive entities were physically replacing us, so they could go where we could go. The cabins are... usually safe from floods. And if they start that way, they generally stay that way. Do you have your shield with you? [Oops; is he supposed to know Walter has one?] ...I mean your alarm.

[forensicks]

Put, put a pin in the alarm—You're even counting the special person flood, not just the one that got us while we were sleeping?

[abrightboy]

They always touch the inside of our heads, obviously, but... the dream one was internal. This is external.

[forensicks]

No. No! Wasn't it all, you die in the dream, you die in real life?

[abrightboy]

Yes. Which. Thank god that isn't always true. But the manipulation was being done from inside. It had to be; we were entering other people's dreams. Melding our own into them. How else could your grandmother be in Claremont Psychiatric?

[forensicks]

[Immediately harsher:]

My grandmother is apparently perfectly capable of appearing in contexts that aren't dreams. Has there seriously been some kind of internal/external flood distinction no one told me about this whole time?

[abrightboy]

...I don't know. It's just something I've observed. ...What other contexts has your grandmother appeared in? Or do you just mean the visitor flood?

[forensicks]

Yeah, that, I—I just don't get it. Why is fog appearing around us some weird external event a way that visitors wouldn't be?

[abrightboy]

The visitors physically took our place, so they had our access and privileges while they were here.

[forensicks]

I just don't get it. Dreams are basically like breaches to me, and I heard the other day you can get death tolls from those too.

[He sighs.]

What I told my grandmother was to stay out and about, where there were plenty of witnesses and exits. Not hide somewhere she could be cornered.

[abrightboy]

...That's good advice in prison.

[forensicks]

...

[A tiny noise. He almost snapped. He's trying to be patient but he is pretty sure Malcolm's about to confirm "prison, unlike here"...]

[abrightboy]

[He hears the noise.]

That's not where you told it to her, was it? How did you tell her that here? By note? Did she have to solve a riddle to read it?

[forensicks]

I told her that with an actual note, yeah.

[abrightboy]

Did she take your advice?

[forensicks]

Yes...?

Look, this isn't about me being right and you being wrong. I just really don't get where "safe in your cabin" is coming from after two floods in a row.

[abrightboy]

I didn’t think your advice to your grandmother was exhibit 6 in cabins aren’t safe; I thought it was a tangent. But I’ve been through more floods than you have and the ones you’re talking about penetrated cabins from minute one.

[forensicks]

So... is this something you actually do? And always did?