Lude 1.5: Daddy Issues

Sunday, 7/20/2014

* Amy is now known as GMAmy

<Trune> BUT WILL I BE ALLOWED BREAKFAST!?

<GMAmy> NO

<GMAmy> NO BREAKFAST FOR YOU

<GMAmy> == Lude Start ==

<Trune> ;_________________;

<GMAmy> Later in the day after waking up in the infirmary, Trune is attempting to settle into his quarters. They are small, but definitely bigger than the others' rooms, since his are designed to accomodate his wheelchair.

<GMAmy> There is a tentative knock at the door.

* Trune is staring at the wall in quiet thought, before his head jerks upwards towards the sound, "Yes?"

<GMAmy> The door creaks open, and a middle-aged man's face peers in. Dr. Cedric Albien wears wire-rim glasses, and his blond hair is uncombed. There's a bit of stubble on his chin, as well as a few lines of worry on his face. "Trune...? Can I come in?"

* Trune blinks hard for a moment, as if something is conflicting with his thought process. He shakes his head and it quickly subsides, "Dad? Yeah, of course."

<GMAmy> Cedric opens the door wide enough to enter, closing it behind him. He stands awkwardly for a moment, hands in his pockets. "So uh...I understand that you've all had some memory issues."

* Trune lets out a breath, "Oh yeah. Everything's sort of in double vision for me." *He stops, looking up towards his father* Don't worry, I do remember you though.

<GMAmy> Cedric smiles a bit, hesitates, then shrugs and leans down to hug his son tightly. "I missed you, Wheels."

* Trune hugs him tightly back, "Aw, wheels? C'mon, couldn't have been that bad."

<GMAmy> Cedric straightens, then sinks into a chair in the room. "You were gone more than four weeks. Updates were pretty irregular, and mostly limited to 'Situation normal, satisfactory progress' from that damned AI. Of course I was worried."

<Trune> Sheesh, forgot they said four weeks. Feels...longer somehow.

<GMAmy> [Cedric] Oh? How long?

<Trune> Oh geez....like months. Not just that...but it's like they had this whole history for each of us that went beyond just what we experienced. Some of it is starting to kind of get hazy...but like...I remember having this whole other family, memories of childhood. It's eerie in a way.

<GMAmy> His eyebrows climb. "Really? That's highly interesting. And not really something I had been told." He frowns. "I rather wish I had been. It would have helped a great deal with my own work. Besides...I would just like to know about these things, where my son is concerned." He hesitates. "You say you had a different family?"

* Trune nods, "Yeah. My mom was kind of...there. My Dad was..."

* Trune makes a face, "Kind of a...well...kind of a dick."

* Trune quickly backtracks, "Not to imply in any way that this guy is remotely like you! ...Really, he's the opposite. Not making this up."

<GMAmy> A wry look. "Really? So, tell me more about this other life of yours. I assume you had some interesting adventures?"

<Trune> Well...We were in a world that was recovering from a huge disaster. Like an apocalypse or something. I lived in a town with a bunch of people who were good at willforce...er...guess it's kinda like magic? I was really good at it.

* Trune looks a bit cagey, as if he's not quite revealing everything. He squeezes his hands on the handrails of his wheelchair a few times as he talks.

<GMAmy> [Cedric] No surprise there. You've always had an uncanny knack with Geodes, ever since they first appeared. *He nods, encouraging his son to go on.*

<Trune> So we were trying to stop this woman called the prophetess. Wanted to remake the world or some bull like that. She looked a lot like...What was her name? Oh yeah, Dr. Griffin.

<GMAmy> [Cedric] I did hear that there was some big uproar related to Dr. Griffin. Wasn't sure I really understood what it was.

<Trune> Yeah, well, we thought it was her when we woke up. Ryllan tried to stab her....in his defense the Prophetess int the simulation never really did play fair.

<GMAmy> Cedric winces. "Captain Barak did that? Interesting. I'd heard he was pretty level-headed. This simulation must have really screwed with your psyche." He doesn't look too pleased at the thought.

<Trune> /me grins, "Don't worry. He seems to be a bit more with it now."

<Trune> /me grins, "Don't worry. He seems to be a bit more with it now."

<GMAmy> [Cedric] That's good. *He clasps his hands and leans forward.* And how are YOU?

* Trune grips the handles of his wheelchair again, but shakes his head, "Sort of loopy, seeing a bit of doublevision. They said it'd pass though."

<GMAmy> Cedric nods. "I get the feeling that you've been through a lot that has seriously affected you, for good or bad, and I'd really like to hear more about it. When you're ready. I mean, you went really deep in the sim. It's got to have had a major effect, and you've essentially lived a portion of your life I know nothing about. If something from the sim is important to you, I'd like to know more. But I understand if it's hard to talk about right now."

<Trune> Damn, you really can read me like a book.

<Trune> Well...one thing that's sort of messing with me...

<Trune> ....I could walk in the sim. Hell, I have memories of running. And they felt REAL.

<GMAmy> Cedric's face looks pained and full of sympathy for his son. "Oh, man, Trune...I'm so sorry. That must have been really hard." He glances at Trune's hands, tightening on the wheels.

* Trune notices his father's glance and removes his hands, "...Starting to accept it a little bit, but I've forgotten the sensation of just...walking. To not have it again is just...well...Can't even really describe it."

<GMAmy> Cedric nods. "Well, I'm hoping you'll find the experience of piloting a Makhai somewhat freeing. It may not be the same as actually walking, but we'll see. I've been helping with some of the design ideas in my spare time, when I'm not working on my primary project."

<Trune> Really?

<Trune> Anything I'm privvy to, or is it classified?

<GMAmy> He shakes his head. "Unfortunately, it's currently security level 4. But as I understand it, you're going to be getting briefings for gradually higher security levels, depending on the success of the program. So we'll see what happens."

<GMAmy> Cedric pauses, something else seeming to weigh on his mind. "...This is going to sound weird."

<Trune> I've been in a whirlwind of weird, so go ahead.

<GMAmy> He gives Trune a sheepish grin. "Did you make any new friends at school today?"

* Trune groans, "Oh geez, Dad."

<GMAmy> Cedric chuckles. "Clearly I haven't lost my touch as a father."

<Trune> That's the other thing...I thought I DID, but now I don't KNOW.

<GMAmy> [Cedric] Oh? How's that?

<Trune> Well, we all got pretty close in the sim. Been through hell and back, right? Well...Ryllan is pretty much the same I think...and Mikel...well...I don't THINK he's different. I have two other friends I got pretty close to. Niri was one...find out she's a SISTER and she's been weirdly detatched since we've come back. This other friend of mine...He was called Vytor int he sim but Victor here...He looks at me like he doesn't even

<Trune> KNOW me. It's eerie.

<GMAmy> [Cedric] Have you tried talking to any of them, one-on-one? I'm sure you're all pretty disoriented. Maybe once you've had a chance to adjust, you'll find things are not as different as they seem. It's worth a try.

<Trune> I've thought about it, but it's just....awkward. Eventually, I will, yeah.

<GMAmy> Cedric nods in agreement. "Yeah, it's a bit soon yet. But the only way you get through stuff like this is talking about it, I'd guess. The problems are not going to just go away on their own." He pauses. "They keep me pretty busy with my own project, but if you ever need to talk or just want some support, send me a message and I'll be up as soon as I can. You know, if you want me to be there when you talk to your friends, or just give you a pep talk or whatever."

* Trune smile is a bit more geninue now, "Thanks, Dad."

<GMAmy> Cedric stands and claps his son on the shoulder. "You're welcome. Good to have you back, kiddo."

<Trune> Good to be back, I think? Eh, give me a day or two to sort things. My answer will probably be the same though.

<GMAmy> [Cedric] You'll do fine. You've always been pretty resilient. *He opens the door to head out* I'll see you tomorrow. I know you've been asleep a long time, but you need to get some real rest. What you had in the sim chamber didn't count.

<Trune> Pfft, all this technology and they can't replicate real sleep? What a let down.

<GMAmy> Cedric raps his knuckles gently on Trune's head. "Your brain was still working most of the time. That needs a break too." He turns the door handle. "Anyway, hang in there. See you tomorrow, kid."

<Trune> Seeya, Dad. Don't work too hard.

<GMAmy> Trune's dad waves and closes the door.

<GMAmy> == Lude End ==

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