[Three days into the mingle]

[mytearsaremine]

[There's a new voice piping up on the psychic network, a nervous and stressed-sounding voice. One who has spoken up on the network before, though at least this time she isn't screaming.]

I'm stuck. I'm stuck in liminal space. I-- I don't know how to get out and there's this awful music and I keep sinking in the water or whatever it is and can someone come and get me? Please?

[Guess what. Jolie is back from being torn apart by a Stricken, and she still doesn't know how to make portals. She may also kind of sound like she might be trying not to cry. Oops.]

Comments

[mytearsaremine]

Oh, uh, no, that was just when I was an octopus. They were octopus sisters. She doesn't really even like me, when I'm myself.

[memoryandtheft]

That must be awkward.

[There's a tightness to her voice that suggests her actual opinions are a lot stronger than just 'awkward', but she's at least trying to keep her cool around the traumatized kid.

Thankfully, it's not far to safe harbor, and she pushes the door open with only a little more force than is strictly necessary.]

After you.

[mytearsaremine]

It could be worse. She did try to banish me once, since I guess I'm something a lot like something she really doesn't like-- Justice called them Elder Gods and eldritch-- but she's over that. She even helps out sometimes, like, after the first time I was somebody else.

[Jolie does step through. If she were a little less traumatized, she might even notice how unhappy Toby seems to be, but she's just a little too self-focused at the moment. And since she does feel weirdly bad about the whole dying thing, with regards to her not-actual-sister, she keeps rambling about it. Better than thinking too hard about other things.]

I do kind of wonder if the Arcana made us sisters to try and get her over that more. Justice told me to talk to her, you know.

[memoryandtheft]

I wouldn't put much past them.

[The door swings shut behind them, cutting off most of the noise from outside.]

That's better. Here - I'll stick around if you want some company after you've changed, but I'm betting you want some privacy to clean up and make sure all your limbs are back where they're supposed to be.

[She holds out the small satchel she's been carrying, generic and waterproof, and holding a change of clothing that might be a little oversized, but is at least dry and warm.]

[mytearsaremine]

[Jolie takes the bag, obviously relaxing a little when that awful noise is muted. She offers Toby a little smile.]

Thanks. I really appreciate the help. And these. You can stay if you want to, but I'm probably just like... going to take a really long shower, I think, so you might be waiting a long time.

[memoryandtheft]

I don't have anywhere else to be.

[She pulls out a chair and takes a seat, legs stretched out in front of her to telegraph that she's settling in for a while.]

I'll be right here if you need anything. Just shout, okay?

[mytearsaremine]

[Jolie's smile is a little hesitant, then, but also grateful.]

Okay... thank you.

[And she retreats to the room she'd picked out for her own, for that long shower.]

((timeskip, or fadeout?))