Voicemail

[mattersofscience]

"This is the inbox of Dr. Charles Saville. Leave a message, and I'll return your call at earliest convenience. Thank you."

Comments

[legellely]

I know that when we're sent home, we don't remember anything about this place. I think if people come back, there's a chance they won't remember their time here, or it comes back slowly. I don't know if anything we collect here goes with us, either. Which would be very sad. I've received a few very sweet gifts from people I was very close to. I'd hate to not have them but I guess if memories don't carry over, it makes sense for gifts and objects not to, either.

They're definitely handy for people who come back who kept them. I think you eventually remember but it can take some time.

I think that would be worse than a lot of things; having your memories taken away or changed without knowing.

[mattersofscience]

I'm aware of the threat of memory replacement in this place. That there's virtually no guarantee it hasn't already happened, or that it could at any time without any of us knowing, is certainly threatening and abominable. [He doesn't know what can be immediately done about it either, barring Elle's idea about journaling, or some kind of concentrated, and long-term resistance effort.]

How do you know people don't remember anything upon returning home? [She sounds so certain about it, and is the first person he's met who does.]

[legellely]

Oh, a few people who have come and gone have talked about not remembering this place or the people they've met while they were gone. I think they just pick up where they left off if they can.

There are people, too, who have fallen asleep and when they wake up, they have new memories from home. I'm sure it's nice but having them go into a comatose state with no idea if they'll wake up isn't great, either.

[mattersofscience]

Truly bizarre. I don't think it's the case, but people's memories of Duplicity staying locked in the city almost makes it tempting to think of all of this as some kind of test, or purgatory.

We at least seem to live in a kind of dimensional pocket, and one that could be separate from reality, itself.

I can see why some people prefer not to think too deeply about it. [It's disturbing, not to mention a waste of time, when none of it can be tested in a way he's aware of.]

[legellely]

I've heard people call it a different dimension before! I think they even referred to it as a pocket. It's way beyond anything I know or even understand. Half of what goes on here I have only read about or seen in movies. Even Cosmo couldn't prepare me for this place.

Cosmo, Cosmopolitan, is a lifestyle magazine where I'm from. It's practically the bible.

[ Not really, of course, but it's still essential for everything. ]

What's hot for the fashion season, skincare suggestions, how to spice up relationships...

[ He can't see it but Elle did, indeed, laugh when she sent that last message, trying to picture his expression. ]

[mattersofscience]

[He chuckles at that, too.]

Very multi-faceted. I can't imagine how that wouldn't prepare someone for an interdimensional sex city. [Which is his own, exceedingly British, way of joking right along with her.]

[legellely]

😂😂😂

Now, listen. It's not fair to make me laugh so hard that I snort into my smoothie!

I hope you're feeling a little better about everything. At least you know that you have lots of people to talk to when you need them.

[mattersofscience]

[That mental image. On his end, Charles chuckles again, himself.]

I do, thank you. Whether you mean to or not, you're making a habit of bringing a smile to my face.

[legellely]

Then my job for the day is complete. Snaps for me! Maybe even a gold star sticker. It's a good habit to have, too.