06. Text

[baldrshand]

[A photo appears shortly before the post beneath.]




It seems that there is a lot of... strangeness happening to people. So far, I haven't noticed any drastic changes in my person or my thinking, but I think I'm one of the more fortunate ones. This seems like a good time to issue my customary greeting to all of the new "Chosen" of Aldrip.

Hello! My name is Ethlyn. (If you're not new, hello again!) If you find yourself ill or injured, I manage the Willow Clinic. It's not too far from the Inn, between the residential and commercial districts. You'll know it immediately from two things: the willow tree out front, and it being a farmhouse in the middle of a lot of four-and-five story apartment complexes made out of concrete and whatnot.

Since it's come up: I don't charge money for medical services (although if you would like to make a donation it's welcome!). I'm not interested in making injured people fish through their purses while they're trying not to bleed out.

As well as the Clinic, I lead the Arztenritter--we're a mounted brigade of healers. Anyone is welcome to join; if you don't know how to ride a horse or set a bone, we will happily teach you. Should you need emergency assistance, please send a message on the network, or message myself, Marianne, Toph, or Minato.

I've been here for over a year, and I've lived through the many disturbances and changes of this world, so if you have any questions, I would be happy to help...

I suppose that means I've grown another year older, hasn't it? Twenty-one.


[She's not going to add FUNNY GIVEN THAT I'M DEAD but she's sure thinking it.]

Comments

un: drmccoy

[homeostatic]

I'll throw my hat in the ring.

My name is Dr. Leonard McCoy, and I'm happy to help you and your team however I can.

Re: un: drmccoy

[baldrshand]

Ah, you're a doctor yourself! Wonderful! [there's a pause as she thinks about how to phrase her next question.] May I ask what era of technology you're from? I've come to understand I'm from "medieval" times (though I've done a great deal of study to fill in the gaps in my knowledge!) so it's helpful to know.

text, un:asura

[demonicbookworm]

[That's the person he's heard about from Minato and Gogol!]

Hello, my name is Ruca Milda. I am not a healer but I wish to become a doctor in the future and I read a bit on the subject. I would be happy to help, if it's okay!

Sadly, I don't know how to ride a horse, but I am willing to learn if it's necessary!

text

[baldrshand]

Then this will be a wonderful chance for you to learn! I have many books in my clinic and I'd be happy to lend them to you.

It's the best way to get to emergencies, so I would be happy to give you lessons.

I haven't heard your name before--are you one of our new arrivals?

[demonicbookworm]

Thank you, Miss Ethlyn! I'll do my best!

And yes. I have gotten here some time ago and I'm still trying to get used to it.

[foxphorus]

My name is Abe no Seimei. While I am not a doctor, I believe my skills in purification may be of use should an incident such as the theft of a resident's cursed organs happen once more, and I do believe it is always wise to know someone skilled in non-spiritual healing.

Which is to say I would like to properly make your acquaintance and offer my services should they be required.

[baldrshand]

Oh, yes, I recognize your name... you were of great help in that incident, weren't you? (I certainly HOPE nothing like that happens again.) I'm sorry I never thanked you properly for that, but I had my hands full in the aftermath and it slipped my mind.

Spiritual maladies are an area where I don't have much knowledge or practice, and I would welcome your help and your expertise.

[foxphorus]

No thanks are necessary. I was merely doing my duty.

If I may, I would like to visit this clinic of yours in the coming days. I've not had a need for it as of yet, but in the event I do it would be best to commit the route to memory.

un: guinaifen

[firekiss]

A year, huh? Longer than a lot of people I've talked to. What's the weirdest thing that happened since you got here?





[...a couple of moments later, message 2:]

Oh wait! I forgot MY introductions. I'm Guinaifen. I can't set a bone or ride a horse, and you'll probably want to ban me from your clinic in five minutes cause of the mess I'd make. So I won't be any help with any of that. But I read your entire message before I responded, I promise!

[baldrshand]

The weirdest thing? That could make quite a list. Maybe it was the massive oceanic monster that attacked the town and turned out to be a tiny, ordinary octopus when we
stopped it.

[That probably isn't the ACTUAL weirdest, but it is the first thing that comes to mind.]

It's nice to meet you, Guinaifen. If you ever want to learn those things, I offer lessons. It's always good to have a knowledge of at least basic first aid if you ever get into an emergency (which is unfortunately very likely here) while you wait for one of us to arrive.

[firekiss]

Sounds like a lot more goes on than I thought at first glance. Once I got over how I got here (kind of) the place seemed kind of...sleepy? Not in a bad way, just the sort of city people might like to retire to. Plenty of nature, plenty of stuff to do, that sort of thing.

Then people mentioned stuff like that octopus or danger in general or the city growing twice as large as it was and it just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover. What happened to the octopus after that?

As for first aid, I probably won't be the best student but I wouldn't mind sitting in on a few classes? I'd offer to return the favor but the only things I can offer aren't exactly...practical?

[And/or they'd ruin the practical medical vibe but shhhhhh.]

un: principal

[nuraridouman]

I fear that my first-aid skills are rather rusty, but I know how to ride and should be able to help with most kinds of demonic mischief as well as curses and other dark arts mishaps.

Though, if that question is alright to ask... How do you finance your recommendable efforts?

un: principal

[baldrshand]

We've had more call to deal with demonic mischief this year than I would have hoped, so I would be happy to have you and your skills.

We get some donations from the community, and we also teach classes for locals and provide other similar services for a reasonable fee. And occasionally someone does insist on paying!

[nuraridouman]

Then I shall lend them whenever needed for only a minimal fee. Just call or text me on this account and I will react ASAP.

Thanks for indulging an old fool's curiosity. I like to be charitable, but it's always wise to check twice before one decides to support something that might sound a little bit too good to be true. It speaks for you and the community that your project is working out.

[Hard work to make goodwill worthwhile and turn out some real results that will make even more people invest in it. That's how positive changes are made in society, in his experience.]

Happy late birthdays, by the way. Now you are legal in all parts of the world.

Text; un: kurama

[sinningtree]

Perhaps my proficiency with plants may be of some assistance to your clinic.

Text

[baldrshand]

Ah, are you an herbalist? That would be very useful, yes!

[sinningtree]

Not precisely, although my skills do include experience with poisons and antidotes as well, it may be more accurate to describe as horticulture. It would be my pleasure to demonstrate for you some time.

text; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Ange is definitely noting that last part. And immediately texting someone else about it. But it's exactly because of said texting - and birthday surprise preparations - that she doesn't mention a thing about it in the message she actually sends to Ethlyn herself. ]

I think the strangeness is that people are being replaced or turned into alternate versions of themselves.

That's my current working theory, anyway.

[ She'll share it with you because she trusts you to take it seriously, Ethlyn.. Unlike some other people.. ]

text

[baldrshand]

You know, Claude said something about that a while ago... the notion that there are different versions of us out there in some parallel world, living different lives through having made different choices. It sounded outlandish to me. But perhaps it's less far-fetched than I thought.

[entreats]

[ ... Huh. ]

Wait, Claude was talking about that?

Does he have experience with it?

text

[feintofhart]

It was your birthday? When?

text

[baldrshand]

Back in March... that was when Ragna blew up City Hall and we all lost our real memories for a while. I guess that's why it slipped my mind.

[feintofhart]

I was about to chastise you for forgetting something that important, but you know what? That's fair. I would have forgotten mine too.

But we should do something to celebrate it anyway! What's a birthday without a present or two?

voice; (anonymous)

[endcaller]

[Despite the clunky awkwardness of it, Fandaniel answers in voice, as he always does.]

You've been here over a year?

I believe your stay is the longest I've heard of.

voice

[baldrshand]

There are one or two others who can say the same... but not more than that. People depart from here quite often.