[Video | Computer]

[gobybessie]

[ John is carefully poised at the desk, fingers folded and elbows resting on the hard surface. He starts by clearing his throat. ]

As a previous post hinted, another clinic employee has lost their Echoes. That employee is Mordin Solus. But don't worry; it is still safe. He left notes for himself, and there is still at least me from the network working there. Should you for whatever reason prefer to have someone from the network present if you need to see us, I would be happy to do so at any time if at all possible.

Otherwise, I hope everyone is well out there. Things are turning ... even less favourable. Which makes me regret the fact that I bought plane tickets to go back to the UK from the seventh to the twenty-first, but I don't think I'll cancel them. It's rather important. More on that in a minute.

I have a few questions first. Three, to be exact. One.

[ While he opens a drawer and leans back to reach into it, he holds up a finger. ]

Does the name Gallifrey ring any bells for anyone? I think that's my home planet. My other self's home planet. But that's all I know about it for now.

[ Aside from remembering fleeing it, but he'll leave that bit out since he has no idea why he did, after all. Just knows it was fleeing. And that the time machine he has is probably stolen. Doesn't seem important, though.

He puts a paper down in front of him and turns back, holding up a device. ]

Two, does anyone know what this is? It doesn't work. There's a button, but pressing it does nothing.

And lastly, [ this time he holds up the paper; a drawing, ] does anyone recognise this? I drew it as well as I could. I'm inclined to say it's a robot. It talked like one, and looks the part. It had a sucker cup for an arm whatever reason, and the other arm is a weapon. It can paralyse people for as long as it likes, but if it can kill I don't know. Wouldn't surprise me.

[ He puts it down, and sighs. ]

I intend to tell my family. I have spent enough festive occasions without them. There is only one big problem.

I don't look like the same person anymore. And I really do mean that. For anyone who missed it, I used to look like this.

[ Cue holding up a photo. ]

I am not entirely sure how to go about it, so having some people with me who might be able to help reassure them would be helpful, or any suggestions you might have. I want-- I need this to work. That is also why I'm going back to the UK. My brother and parents are there. I'm aware of the Echo situation, of course, and I don't know what will happen but I would like to try.

[ There's a pause, and he nods. ]

I suppose that's that.

[ And he reaches out and cuts the feed. ]

Comments

[disdainfully]

The echoes seem to wear off to a degree once we leave Locke; you might look more like yourself in England, which would probably help.

[gobybessie]

I might prefer the appearance not changing. Could be unpleasant.

[disdainfully]

I didn't feel anything when I left the echo boundaries recently - I had to be careful when driving because of the changing body size, but that was it.

[gobybessie]

Hm.

That'll probably be fascinating on the plane. And troublesome. My old self is still officially missing.

[ He has his old passport and ID and everything still but. Good gracious. ]

[scarlet_devil]

Gallifrey? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with it, or that odd robot and that pen thing.

[Things are turning less favorable, he says? That's a bit of an understatement.]

...Yes, I can see the change of face being awkward.

[gobybessie]

[ Sigh. ]

Ah, well.

[ He grimaces. ]

Awkward isn't quite the right word. Difficult certainly is.

[whoops, video of course]

[scarlet_devil]

[Emi looks a little sympathetic, however she doesn't exactly have a frame of reference.]

Perhaps, like it's been said already, you'll look like your old self outside Locke?

[seed_of_memory]

That drawing almost looks like a kettle. Or a salt shaker, depending upon how you look at it.

[gobybessie]

I wish it was only a salt shaker. It was surprisingly intimidating, considering the appearance.

[seed_of_memory]

... I can't really see how. I mean, I'm not even sure how it moves around, looking at it?

[espigeonage]

Man... The LSR used to be all numbered. I can't believe it's gone that far.

[he didn't care much for Mordin one way or another, but Julien can't think of going off network+the clinic without somberness.]

Have you tried going out of the bounds before? It's not a long drive, I do it a few times a week.

[gobybessie]

I haven't. I probably should, to see what happens.

[espigeonage]

Do it. If nothing else you'll get to find out exactly what to tell them.

Take a selfie while you're outside.

Written

[ghostly_heiress]

You could see if your fingerprints are the same? If you can't just use intimate, only you would know knowledge.

Though echoes supposedly wear off when we leave, so if you're out of Locke, you should look as you did?

Written

[gobybessie]

I was thinking I'd go with the intimate knowledge.

That brings about its own set of troubles I would have liked to avoid. But if I can't, I suppose that's that.

Re: Written

[ghostly_heiress]

It would probably be less of hassle.

Oh?

What did people think happened to your appearance? Here, I mean.

[video]

[ruleorserve]

[It's not the voice that catches Emil's attention. Or rather, not entirely. Truth be told, he only notices the post because of the fact that it's someone else talking about other worlds. It isn't until the picture of John's former face comes up that he really starts paying attention, and even then he's not certain that he wants to believe that someone could change so much.

Still it's video on his end when he answers, and for all that he's undeniable older than he'd been last John's actually seen him, the voice is still the same as ever.]

The... Echo situation could be problematic, yes. Especially if you really have changed as much as all that.

[video]

[gobybessie]

[ Well, if that wasn't ...

John's eyes flicker to check the number, and it matches. Matches the handwritten post he reacted to before. And while it's been a long time since they've seen each other, he can't deny the familiarity of that face. It could still not be the one, but ...

The voice. It's as he remembers it, even if it was vague up until now. A reminder was all he needed. ]

Most people seem to think I'll change and look the same as I used to, which is problematic in an entirely different way.

Maybe I should change my ticket. Fly from a different city. That might make it easier.

[video]

[ruleorserve]

[It's the only face he's had. Which can't entirely be said for John, it seems, but he can take some small comfort in the fact that he's still as he normally would be.

Especially with what he knows about how the Echoes are supposed to work. And without a family to call him home in quite the same way, he can't imagine that he'll need to worry about it. And besides, he's yet to find anything so dramatically appearance altering as whatever John seems to have gone through.]

You might need a form of identification that shows you as you used to look. Especially if you won't look like this, once you've left. But it would likely be easier to leave from somewhere else. Or at least, a great deal less confusing for anyone who might care.

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Nothing you showed is familiar but wow...that's a pretty drastic physical change. Not quite like gaining animal or robotic parts, but still.

[gobybessie]

I haven't even attempted to compare them.

[ But a part of him feels like being contrary and saying that uh, yes, it actually is kind of like that. Possibly worse. ]

[moreweaponsthanyou]

Can't help thinking that at least you're still all human...the non-human echo people have a different set of issues these days.

There's no one that can act as I guess...a character reference?

[Video]

[greenisthenewblack]

That's... uh... sure is a grinning one-eyed cat robot. In a trashcan? You sure have been busy lately, John.

[Sheila waits for a moment, but no sudden realization hits her.]

Sorry. Your questions have me stumped. Anything I can help with?

[Video]

[gobybessie]

[ A snort. ]

Trashcan. Pepper pot. What else?

[ He shakes his head. ]

Well, you're a teacher at my daughter's school. Maybe you could put in a good word for me.

[Video]

[greenisthenewblack]

I could give it a shot, though I don't know how much credibility I'll have. Though I can demonstrate that I'm Numbered if I need to.

[She holds up a glowing hand.]