synopsychic | [Open to Fellow Investigators]

[Gilbert has really gotten to the point where he's had enough. He's confused, and he knows he should have paid better attention when people were talking about things before, but he's still just, well, a mess.

Those who know him might not be that surprised by this.]

If someone is... if someone is an infiltrator [That's the word, right? He thinks so. Terminology.] Is there any way to snap them out of it? How long does it last?

[He doesn't like it. Any of it. So he adds, in a mental mutter.] What if you shake them really hard?

[Right okay back to being an adult. A sulking adult.] My brother doesn't remember me. Once this is over, he will again, right? Are there lasting effects? Is it dangerous to him now if I talk to him? I mean, if I'm a reminder of his actual life or anything, it won't break anything in him, right?

[Someday he will not have this many newbie questions. Maybe.] Is there anyone this has happened to before, where you forgot who you were and became someone else because of these Trumps? Were you all right? When it ended... were you really all right?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...the face that Gilbert makes as Break brings up that point is clear and convincing evidence that the older man has it exactly right. Oh no, he doesn't want Break in his head at all. Ever. That seems tremendously dangerous and makes him feel nervous all at once.

His expression sobers as the conversation continues.]

Mm. That's... the way it seems. He's like Elliot, but he doesn't remember being Elliot.

[But he is still his brother, and Gil isn't going to let anything further than memory loss happen to him on this Jaunt.]

He believes you though? A little?

The fellow I spoke to? Yes, I think so. Perhaps. That said, he's the most —

[ He catches himself and grins, making pointed eye contact with Gilbert. ]

— aha, no. He's the second-most gullible person I know.

Then...

[Hold on a minute that sounds like a jab. Gilbert is no fool. Well a little. But.

A frown.

That... yeah, he's taking that as a jab.] ...Hey. I'm not gullible. Not anymore.

[As a kid, he'd been trusting enough, or desperate enough to believe what was placed in front of him.]

[ He glances down at Gilbert's empty sleeve. His expression softens.

Quietly: ]

I... suppose you're right about that.

[ His gaze goes unfocused, as if he's lost in nostalgia for a moment. Then, with an apparent effort, he shakes himself out of it. ]

Oh, the other thing I wanted to tell you — Oz is here.

[Gilbert finds himself blinking in surprise at the agreement, having not expected it at all. He considers asking about it, wondering if something's wrong, if something is on Break's mind, especially with that look on the older man's face.

He's... Break is all right, isn't he?

And he may well have asked about it, except then Break says those words and Gilbert's heart leaps into his throat.] Oz? Here? Where? Where is he?

[And why is he only hearing about that now?]

I'll tell you, just... just hang on a minute. There's something you should know first.

[ He takes a breath and glances to one side, as if he were debating how to go about saying this: ]

He is...

Well, you know, what you said about Elliot. The same in some ways, and different in others. That is, er, true of Oz as well. Haha! I didn't recognize him at first.

[He's not sure what to think of this, why Break is beating around the bush this way, why he's not just telling him where his master is, where Oz is because Gilbert should be with him right now. Oz can't be left on his own.

And he must be wondering where Gilbert is too, right?]

What do you mean you didn't recognize him? Where is he?

He is, well....

[ He shrugs his shoulders, opens his hands, and says apologetically: ]

He's a she.

Or at least, I think he is. She is. She was wearing a dress last I saw her. She waits tables at the Ground.

A... she.

[Gilbert's eyes narrow and he fixes Break with a flat look.] That's not a funny joke. It's not...

[That's not how these things work at all. Also picturing Oz in a dress is really derailing him here, so hold on a second. Except halfway through that imagining, he feels a cold splash of concern all over again.] Are you talking about Ada?

[Explain this to him, Break, how blind are you in this place?!]

[ He has a fair idea where your mind just went. Gilbert, that's creepy! ]

Oh no. Definitely not Lady Ada. She's much bigger than Oz is, after all.

[ He's just going to let that statement and all its implications spin out for a while. Then: ]

Anyway, I thought I ought to warn you. So you don't act strangely around her.

[It's not creepy, what else was he supposed to think with Break saying such strange things? And continuing to say strange things. So he'll just stare at him, splutter for a moment before falling silent.

If Oz is here, then...

Then he shouldn't be standing here, having this conversation.]

I need to go find him. [Him her whatever it doesn't matter if it's Oz. It's never mattered, if it was Oz.]

Off you go, then!

[ Gilbert, never change. ]

If she's not in the Ground, I'm sure you'll find her somewhere.

...he'd better be there.

[He will come for you, Break. He will come for you once he finds out the truth and he will, well, splutter at you angrily mostly.

Be prepared!

For now, he's running off.]

[ He gazes after Gilbert, waving. Were he a better person, he'd feel guilty. ]

[Open to Fellow Investigators]

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