[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

[comebewe]

[he grins when she gets it, and they dutifully clap their hands together, giving her a round of applause]

Very nice. Although the aesthetics are a bit different, I must admit.

[A few seconds later, the portal closes. But Matthew doesn't look bothered.]

Yours won't last long - and it'll be six hours before you can open another one. So until you learn how to get around that, you'll want to step through your portals quickly when you make them, and don't make one if you're not prepared to be stuck where you're going for a while. You'll also find that your portals will take you back to wherever you last left the jaunt.

If you want to go back now, though, we can make another portal for you.

[mytearsaremine]

[The momentary look of delight turns into dismay rapidly when the portal flickers out, so his explanation is a big relief. She huffs out a sigh.]

I probably should. Go back, I mean. Though... there's not really a decent shower there, is there? Maybe I'll go back after I find the Workshop for a little bit, here.

[She doesn't look dirty or messy or have any sign on her that she'd died... but she still feels gross.]

[comebewe]

You don't have to. Not if you don't want to.

[mytearsaremine]

I think I'd go a little nuts if I had to stay in liminal space for the whole rest of the Jaunt.

[She offers a little bit of a smile, with that.]

But maybe I'll stay here a little while. Until my portal will work again, so I can try to use it myself.

[comebewe]

Well, since at the moment it's either 'go nuts in liminal space' or 'possibly get infected with mad mermaid disease'...

[Matthew shrugs]

It's not exactly the best of options, I'll admit.

[mytearsaremine]

... oh yeah. That's kind of a thing, isn't it.

[Jolie looks less certain about her plan, but after a beat, she decides:]

I don't have to decide now. I am gonna go take a shower, if I can find the Workshop. Um, thanks. For coming to get me, and helping me out. I really appreciate it.

[Another quick pause, and a look of embarrassment.]

Remind me your name again?

[comebewe]

It wasn't any trouble. We were...glad for a reason to leave the jaunt ourselves.

And I'm Matthew.

[mytearsaremine]

Jolie. It's nice to meet you, Matthew. You know, for reals, with an introduction and everything.

[Since she knows they've talked before. She gives him a grin, or an attempt at one; it comes out a little lop-sided.]

And thanks for the silence protection thing. Gonna brace myself for awful noise while I hunt down my room.

[comebewe]

Here.

[they take a moment, and then liminal up...a fair of earmuffs. Not the fluffy, warm kind, but the ones that are designed to block out noise. They also happen to be blue.]

Probably won't keep it out entirely, but it might help.

[mytearsaremine]

Wow. You can do all sorts of stuff, huh?

[Jolie accepts the noise-blockers with relief, but before she puts them on, she says,]

Thanks, Matthew. I'll see you around, okay?

[comebewe]

Sure. [and then he waves her off]