[He lifts his hand up to cover Isaac’s on his chest, running his fingers along the back of his hand and wrist. The shift in tone makes him straighten slightly, letting Isaac know he is listening, he’s nodding before Isaac finishes.]
I’m okay, I’m up for it…I’m not sure I’ll be able to answer everything, I just might not know, but I’ll try. [It’s not unexpected, whenever he was aware enough to remember at the hospital, he was also curious, but it’s definitely better they waited until now for this. To be able to speak candidly and without having to worry about interruption or distraction.]
I’m ready, whatever you have to tell me or want to ask me. We’ve got this. [He’s trying to be encouraging, but he’s also fairly confident that they can handle whatever needs to be discussed.]
[He leans up to press a kiss against Dagny's cheek, grateful that he's willing to talk it out, that he doesn't seem too concerned. He's not really concerned about how it will go over, for the most part. Mostly just nervous about trying to explain things. Pretty much everyone he's talked to about it has known more about how this works than Isaac does. He's not sure that's going to be true this time, but that's not going to stop him from trying.]
Tell me what you do know, then. Do you know why it's like this? Or how?
Uh, no. [Laughs slightly because right out the gate he already doesn’t really know. He squeezes Isaac’s hand gently before going back to running his fingers over it. Not because he’s nervous, but almost to make up for lost time, he’s desperate to touch now that he has the opportunity to. He clears his throat slightly, starting again.]
Okay, uh, best my parents could figure was that it was because of all the spells and rituals…I said the first time it happened was when I was thirteen but my mom actually thinks it was in utero, I wasn’t supposed to be born, she just didn’t realize it then. [Medicine wasn’t as advanced then as it is now. The last few months of her pregnancy, Dagny’s mom had to be on bed rest, but it wasn’t until later that she realized Dagny likely would have been a stillborn, if not for whatever the witch did.]
By the time we all realized it was more than just a miracle, my mom had lost contact with the…witch, for lack of a better term, so we couldn’t ask her about it.
[He doesn't plan on making an attempt to move away, his thumb brushing back and forth gently. It's incredibly weird to recognize that he missed the contact as much as he did, especially given he hasn't gone far for the last few days. But it's been a lot more awkward in the hospital. This is better.
He hums softly, just taking in the information for a moment.] But it doesn't change anything else? I mean -- you're still healing. Obviously. It doesn't stop you from getting sick or anything?
So far there hasn’t been anything I can’t heal from, it just doesn’t happen immediately.
[Clearly, considering the current ailment. But he’s confident he will make a full recovery regardless. Aside from scars, he’s never had any other lasting symptoms from his injury or disease. ] I still get sick, still get hurt. All that seems the same.
[He hesitates for a moment, before deciding now is a good as time as any to share, since it’s all coming out.]
I have nightmares sometimes of getting trapped somewhere, like being buried alive or swept underwater. Just stuck that way, not able to die, alone and…suffering. Forever.
[Pneumonia was a little bit like that for him, his lungs unable to get air, every second more painful than the last but still forced to breathe. It’s why he dislikes the ocean, why he was so adamant to make it to the hospital after getting shot. He tries not to worry about it, but sometimes when he’s sleeping, the worry finds him anyway.]
[He turns his head to bump a kiss against Dagny's shoulder, a soft, soothing gesture. Filing it away, something to know. Not that he can fix it, but it seems good to be aware of.
He falls quiet for a few moments, just considering. There's not a lot else that he has to ask anyway, especially not things he gets the feeling he's going to get much of an answer to. Maybe if he knew more, there were things that he'd know more to ask about that might narrow down information -- but his own awareness of how this stuff works is pretty piecemeal to begin with. He figured he'd learn it as he went along, hasn't spent a lot of time trying to learn anything new.]
You never found someone else to ask about it? Other witches, or whoever else? [A cautious little question. Mostly he's trying to get an idea if Dagny's had any other interaction with the supernatural at all, or how much he's going to have to explain.]
[When Isaac kisses his shoulder, he turns to press a kiss to his temple, just reveling in the comfort for a moment before they move on. It’s helpful to be able to share these fears, until now they’ve always just sat in his head with no where to go.]
Isaac, you are the first person I’ve told about this — my parents basically told me about it, and I’ve always been to scared to let anyone else know. I kind of figured this isn’t the kind of thing that happens all the time.
[But maybe he’s wrong about that, Isaac said he had similar experience, maybe this is more common than he thought, or maybe they both just got really lucky to find each other.]
Not all the time. But there's... a lot of stuff out there.
[He hesitates, aware that it's probably a good time to confess and not sure how to start it. Closes his eyes for a moment, before he just jumps straight in.]
...I was never in a car accident. There was some -- ritual, or spell, I don't know what it was, but I ended up in the middle of it?
[Another hesitation, as he tries to remember the explanation.] I don't know a lot about this stuff, honestly. But there's -- other planes, all sort of up against each other and affecting each other? [He takes his hand back now, just so he can gesture, stacking his hands and pressing them tight together as if demonstrating.] They were trying to rip a hole through to another one, and I... walked into it, I guess.
[It’s repeated but not with any accusation, just trying to wrap his head around it. He pushes himself up a little more when Isaac starts explaining, giving the discussion his undivided attention.]
Apparently this stuff is kind of hard to get your head around if you're human. [A little warning. He shifts a little, turning so that he can look at Dagny properly, see if he's following.] It... belongs to death? Not an afterlife, it's more like where death comes from. Sometimes other things leak through it on their way out of wherever they come from, but they don't usually stay long.
[He's not actually sure that makes sense, fuck knows he barely understands it, but he just pushes on for the moment, trying to get the basics out.]
They covered it up, so nobody knew for a while. My sister realized something was weird, she figured it out eventually and found me. But I was stuck there for a while.
Are you not human? [His eyes widen slightly but he doesn’t seem otherwise upset about it if Isaac is somehow other, unsure if his statement included or excluded him.]
Like an underworld or something? [It’s impossible for him to really understand, but he can at least try to relate it to something he knows. Hercules is the first thing that comes to mind. Truthfully that part doesn’t matter as much as the fact Isaac was there and apparently there for awhile.]
Who is they and why did they cover it up? [Puts his hand on Isaac’s leg, far more concerned with this story than whatever the hell he himself has going on.] Are you okay? How long were you there? [Looks a little sheepish, apologetic for all the questions he is asking.] Sorry, it’s just, a lot to take in.
It's okay, I know it's... weird. And I've only told a couple people, who knew a lot more about all this than I did. So, uh, I'm not sure how much sense it's all going to make.
[He shrugs a little, apologetic, covering Dagny's hand with his own.] I don't know who did it. By the time Genie got me out, it was already all taken care of. I know they were trying to fuck with stuff, I don't know, it's a weird... cult thing. They covered it up so that nobody got suspicious, so it just looked like I died.
[The next part's harder to explain, and he pauses, before offering slowly:] And I'm not exactly not human? I'm just not normal, either. A lot of things changed while I was there. I'm not actually sure how long it was. Time doesn't work exactly the same in other places. But it was seven years here. I don't think it was that far off, I didn't really keep track.
[Nods occasionally as he listens to Isaac, not necessarily understanding but at least comprehending what he’s saying and to show that he’s listening.] So they won’t try to come after you now?
[If they did, he’d figure out a way to keep Isaac safe. He’s sure about that. Hell, apparently his drunk self was sure before his normal self ever caught up. He’s in this for the long haul, whatever that might mean.
He looks excited again at Isaac’s last reveal, but also like he’s trying to not look excited. Like he’s trying to be respectful.]
What things changed? Do you have super powers? Can you read my mind? [So maybe not doing a great job holding back his excitement. His eyes widen as he thinks of something else, his hand moving out from under Isaac’s, taking his wrist carefully instead.] Hold on, how old were you when this happened if it’s been seven years. And how long have you been back, has it actually been less than a year?
No. I didn't really matter to them, I was just an accident.
[He's about to start answering when Dagny changes gears and he stops to listen, offering a little lopsided smile.] Most of what I told you about, um, waking up was true. Except it's more like since I've been back? It's been about seven months. I did have to learn how to read again. And I did forget a lot of stuff from before. Most of it, actually. I was nineteen when it happened. Only things that belong there age there, so...
[So he's still nineteen, sort of, and also sort of not. He makes a little gesture with his free hand, not even trying to do anything to explain how weird it is, and then shrugs, tone apologetic.] I told you it was weird.
[Said with far too much fondness and a little bit of awe. He also leans forward to kiss the corner of Isaac’s mouth, because he is glad to have him here, and to let him know that he still likes him.]
Okay, still young, still hot, I’m still a cougar. [Waves his hand at that point since it hasn’t changed much in light of new information.] You were about to tell me about your cool powers. Like lasers for eyes.
[He smiles a little at the kiss, leaning in to try and draw it out for a few extra seconds. It's just a relief to be able to tell him the truth. Hiding things isn't Isaac's strong suit.]
They're not that cool, most of it doesn't affect anyone else. I can make people feel things, a little bit, and that's it. Um, and I'm pretty good with ghosts.
[He seems to be genuinely trying to figure out if he's missing anything for a second. He doesn't actually do anything with most of what he can do, a lot of the time he honestly forgets about it.]
It's more like it changed me. I can tell when people are dying, for one. That's what confused me when you.... [He just lets it trail off, gesturing vaguely towards where the bullet wound is.] I knew you died. I've never seen someone come back before.
[Another brief pause, as he blows out a breath as he considers what else to mention.] My heart and my breathing both got screwed up? I'm pretty hard to hurt. And really hard to poison, but that's probably because of one of the things that bit me while I was there. Most of it's stuff like that.
Feel things? Like what? [Even if it’s not a lot, even if it was nothing, he’s still in awe of everything Isaac can do.
When Isaac mentions him dying again, he gives another apologetic look, his hand releasing Isaac’s arm to reach up, resting against his neck, tracing over his jaw for a moment, he still feels bad.]
Your heart and your breathing are screwed up how? [He also wants to ask about what bit him but he’s trying to just do one thing at a time. He feels like all he has are endless questions.]
Whatever I want, in theory. But it only really happens by accident, so usually it's whatever I'm feeling. Angry, or afraid. It's not very strong, though.
[He doesn't look bothered to bring it up, but he leans into the touch anyway, giving Dagny a little smile, his hand coming up to touch the back of his wrist. He doesn't seem to mind the questions either; it gives him a place to start. He doesn't answer immediately, taking hold of his hand instead, tugging it over so two fingers rest against the pulse in his neck and Dagny can feel for himself. It's a sluggish rhythm, distinct seconds of silence between each beat.]
I can hold my breath for a pretty long time before it starts to do anything. I can go a while without sleep too. It took a while to get that way, I just started... getting used to it, eventually. It might go back? Living people don't usually get back out again, nobody's really sure.
[He looks confused at first when Isaac pulls his fingers to rest against his pulse, then he slowly leans forward as he notices the difference, the pauses in between beats, he smiles before it turns into something cheekier.]
Does anything make it speed up? [It’s like a challenge, see if he can get Isaac’s heart back to normal, to beat faster. He’ll have to think of more ways to test that theory.]
I’m pretty sure all of those qualities just make you hotter. All I got was lousy eternal life. Who wants that? [It’s mostly a joke, realistically everything Isaac does is attractive, it would be hard for him to think of anything he does as otherwise.]
Sometimes. [He quirks a little grin, before admitting:] Pretty sure you would've noticed by now if you weren't so good at that, so.
[He's laughing quietly at the joke, shaking his head.] Right now I wouldn't knock it, you're still here. [It's still light, but he absolutely means it, too. It's hard to be anything but grateful for whatever makes that true, right now.]
[His smile widens at that, proud and a little flattered, now that he knows about Isaac’s heart rate, he’s going to be paying more attention to it, just so that he can note when it goes normal. He presses another kiss to Isaac’s mouth, this time on his lips instead of to the side.]
I never thought I’d say this, but I think the bigger miracle is that you are here. [It seems like whatever happened to Isaac in those years, it was bad. He feels so grateful to everyone involved in getting him back, he can’t even bare the thought of him still being there.]
[He leans into the kiss, fingers stroking softly over Dagny's wrist. Lingering because it's easier to do that now that they're home again, because he's glad everything's out in the open, just because he has the option and he doesn't see why he wouldn't take it.]
I got lucky. A lot. [It's an agreement, not an argument.]
[Also an agreement, just expanding on the luck. It’s not just Isaac but extends to him as well.]
How did you not go crazy? [Said softly, a little sadly. Being stuck in another dimension, plane, existence for seven years, he doesn’t know how Isaac did it.]
I don't know if I didn't. [Matter-of-factly. He shrugs, glancing down.] It was rough. When I came back -- it took a while to remember how things work here. I'm still not great at remembering how you're supposed to deal with people. Didn't really see any while I was there.
You do okay with me. [More a reassurance than an argument against his point. He might not handle everything the way Dagny would but he’s never been put off by that.]
If you need me to help you remember anything, just let me know. I’m happy to help. [He might not always be the best judge of what is normal, but he’ll do the best to make Isaac feel more comfortable around others. ]
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2025-02-11 04:55 pm (UTC)I’m okay, I’m up for it…I’m not sure I’ll be able to answer everything, I just might not know, but I’ll try. [It’s not unexpected, whenever he was aware enough to remember at the hospital, he was also curious, but it’s definitely better they waited until now for this. To be able to speak candidly and without having to worry about interruption or distraction.]
I’m ready, whatever you have to tell me or want to ask me. We’ve got this. [He’s trying to be encouraging, but he’s also fairly confident that they can handle whatever needs to be discussed.]
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Date: 2025-02-11 07:54 pm (UTC)Tell me what you do know, then. Do you know why it's like this? Or how?
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Date: 2025-02-11 08:46 pm (UTC)Okay, uh, best my parents could figure was that it was because of all the spells and rituals…I said the first time it happened was when I was thirteen but my mom actually thinks it was in utero, I wasn’t supposed to be born, she just didn’t realize it then. [Medicine wasn’t as advanced then as it is now. The last few months of her pregnancy, Dagny’s mom had to be on bed rest, but it wasn’t until later that she realized Dagny likely would have been a stillborn, if not for whatever the witch did.]
By the time we all realized it was more than just a miracle, my mom had lost contact with the…witch, for lack of a better term, so we couldn’t ask her about it.
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Date: 2025-02-11 09:05 pm (UTC)He hums softly, just taking in the information for a moment.] But it doesn't change anything else? I mean -- you're still healing. Obviously. It doesn't stop you from getting sick or anything?
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Date: 2025-02-11 10:00 pm (UTC)[Clearly, considering the current ailment. But he’s confident he will make a full recovery regardless. Aside from scars, he’s never had any other lasting symptoms from his injury or disease. ] I still get sick, still get hurt. All that seems the same.
[He hesitates for a moment, before deciding now is a good as time as any to share, since it’s all coming out.]
I have nightmares sometimes of getting trapped somewhere, like being buried alive or swept underwater. Just stuck that way, not able to die, alone and…suffering. Forever.
[Pneumonia was a little bit like that for him, his lungs unable to get air, every second more painful than the last but still forced to breathe. It’s why he dislikes the ocean, why he was so adamant to make it to the hospital after getting shot. He tries not to worry about it, but sometimes when he’s sleeping, the worry finds him anyway.]
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Date: 2025-02-11 10:21 pm (UTC)He falls quiet for a few moments, just considering. There's not a lot else that he has to ask anyway, especially not things he gets the feeling he's going to get much of an answer to. Maybe if he knew more, there were things that he'd know more to ask about that might narrow down information -- but his own awareness of how this stuff works is pretty piecemeal to begin with. He figured he'd learn it as he went along, hasn't spent a lot of time trying to learn anything new.]
You never found someone else to ask about it? Other witches, or whoever else? [A cautious little question. Mostly he's trying to get an idea if Dagny's had any other interaction with the supernatural at all, or how much he's going to have to explain.]
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Date: 2025-02-11 10:52 pm (UTC)Isaac, you are the first person I’ve told about this — my parents basically told me about it, and I’ve always been to scared to let anyone else know. I kind of figured this isn’t the kind of thing that happens all the time.
[But maybe he’s wrong about that, Isaac said he had similar experience, maybe this is more common than he thought, or maybe they both just got really lucky to find each other.]
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Date: 2025-02-11 11:02 pm (UTC)[He hesitates, aware that it's probably a good time to confess and not sure how to start it. Closes his eyes for a moment, before he just jumps straight in.]
...I was never in a car accident. There was some -- ritual, or spell, I don't know what it was, but I ended up in the middle of it?
[Another hesitation, as he tries to remember the explanation.] I don't know a lot about this stuff, honestly. But there's -- other planes, all sort of up against each other and affecting each other? [He takes his hand back now, just so he can gesture, stacking his hands and pressing them tight together as if demonstrating.] They were trying to rip a hole through to another one, and I... walked into it, I guess.
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Date: 2025-02-11 11:19 pm (UTC)[It’s repeated but not with any accusation, just trying to wrap his head around it. He pushes himself up a little more when Isaac starts explaining, giving the discussion his undivided attention.]
What does that mean? Where did you go?
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Date: 2025-02-11 11:26 pm (UTC)[He's not actually sure that makes sense, fuck knows he barely understands it, but he just pushes on for the moment, trying to get the basics out.]
They covered it up, so nobody knew for a while. My sister realized something was weird, she figured it out eventually and found me. But I was stuck there for a while.
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Date: 2025-02-11 11:51 pm (UTC)Like an underworld or something? [It’s impossible for him to really understand, but he can at least try to relate it to something he knows. Hercules is the first thing that comes to mind. Truthfully that part doesn’t matter as much as the fact Isaac was there and apparently there for awhile.]
Who is they and why did they cover it up? [Puts his hand on Isaac’s leg, far more concerned with this story than whatever the hell he himself has going on.] Are you okay? How long were you there? [Looks a little sheepish, apologetic for all the questions he is asking.] Sorry, it’s just, a lot to take in.
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Date: 2025-02-12 12:02 am (UTC)[He shrugs a little, apologetic, covering Dagny's hand with his own.] I don't know who did it. By the time Genie got me out, it was already all taken care of. I know they were trying to fuck with stuff, I don't know, it's a weird... cult thing. They covered it up so that nobody got suspicious, so it just looked like I died.
[The next part's harder to explain, and he pauses, before offering slowly:] And I'm not exactly not human? I'm just not normal, either. A lot of things changed while I was there. I'm not actually sure how long it was. Time doesn't work exactly the same in other places. But it was seven years here. I don't think it was that far off, I didn't really keep track.
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Date: 2025-02-12 01:54 am (UTC)[If they did, he’d figure out a way to keep Isaac safe. He’s sure about that. Hell, apparently his drunk self was sure before his normal self ever caught up. He’s in this for the long haul, whatever that might mean.
He looks excited again at Isaac’s last reveal, but also like he’s trying to not look excited. Like he’s trying to be respectful.]
What things changed? Do you have super powers? Can you read my mind? [So maybe not doing a great job holding back his excitement. His eyes widen as he thinks of something else, his hand moving out from under Isaac’s, taking his wrist carefully instead.] Hold on, how old were you when this happened if it’s been seven years. And how long have you been back, has it actually been less than a year?
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Date: 2025-02-12 05:24 am (UTC)[He's about to start answering when Dagny changes gears and he stops to listen, offering a little lopsided smile.] Most of what I told you about, um, waking up was true. Except it's more like since I've been back? It's been about seven months. I did have to learn how to read again. And I did forget a lot of stuff from before. Most of it, actually. I was nineteen when it happened. Only things that belong there age there, so...
[So he's still nineteen, sort of, and also sort of not. He makes a little gesture with his free hand, not even trying to do anything to explain how weird it is, and then shrugs, tone apologetic.] I told you it was weird.
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Date: 2025-02-12 05:38 am (UTC)[Said with far too much fondness and a little bit of awe. He also leans forward to kiss the corner of Isaac’s mouth, because he is glad to have him here, and to let him know that he still likes him.]
Okay, still young, still hot, I’m still a cougar. [Waves his hand at that point since it hasn’t changed much in light of new information.] You were about to tell me about your cool powers. Like lasers for eyes.
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Date: 2025-02-12 05:49 am (UTC)They're not that cool, most of it doesn't affect anyone else. I can make people feel things, a little bit, and that's it. Um, and I'm pretty good with ghosts.
[He seems to be genuinely trying to figure out if he's missing anything for a second. He doesn't actually do anything with most of what he can do, a lot of the time he honestly forgets about it.]
It's more like it changed me. I can tell when people are dying, for one. That's what confused me when you.... [He just lets it trail off, gesturing vaguely towards where the bullet wound is.] I knew you died. I've never seen someone come back before.
[Another brief pause, as he blows out a breath as he considers what else to mention.] My heart and my breathing both got screwed up? I'm pretty hard to hurt. And really hard to poison, but that's probably because of one of the things that bit me while I was there. Most of it's stuff like that.
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:06 am (UTC)When Isaac mentions him dying again, he gives another apologetic look, his hand releasing Isaac’s arm to reach up, resting against his neck, tracing over his jaw for a moment, he still feels bad.]
Your heart and your breathing are screwed up how? [He also wants to ask about what bit him but he’s trying to just do one thing at a time. He feels like all he has are endless questions.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:19 am (UTC)[He doesn't look bothered to bring it up, but he leans into the touch anyway, giving Dagny a little smile, his hand coming up to touch the back of his wrist. He doesn't seem to mind the questions either; it gives him a place to start. He doesn't answer immediately, taking hold of his hand instead, tugging it over so two fingers rest against the pulse in his neck and Dagny can feel for himself. It's a sluggish rhythm, distinct seconds of silence between each beat.]
I can hold my breath for a pretty long time before it starts to do anything. I can go a while without sleep too. It took a while to get that way, I just started... getting used to it, eventually. It might go back? Living people don't usually get back out again, nobody's really sure.
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:28 am (UTC)Does anything make it speed up? [It’s like a challenge, see if he can get Isaac’s heart back to normal, to beat faster. He’ll have to think of more ways to test that theory.]
I’m pretty sure all of those qualities just make you hotter. All I got was lousy eternal life. Who wants that? [It’s mostly a joke, realistically everything Isaac does is attractive, it would be hard for him to think of anything he does as otherwise.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:39 am (UTC)[He's laughing quietly at the joke, shaking his head.] Right now I wouldn't knock it, you're still here. [It's still light, but he absolutely means it, too. It's hard to be anything but grateful for whatever makes that true, right now.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:49 am (UTC)I never thought I’d say this, but I think the bigger miracle is that you are here. [It seems like whatever happened to Isaac in those years, it was bad. He feels so grateful to everyone involved in getting him back, he can’t even bare the thought of him still being there.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 06:56 am (UTC)I got lucky. A lot. [It's an agreement, not an argument.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:02 am (UTC)[Also an agreement, just expanding on the luck. It’s not just Isaac but extends to him as well.]
How did you not go crazy? [Said softly, a little sadly. Being stuck in another dimension, plane, existence for seven years, he doesn’t know how Isaac did it.]
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Date: 2025-02-12 07:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-02-12 07:16 am (UTC)If you need me to help you remember anything, just let me know. I’m happy to help. [He might not always be the best judge of what is normal, but he’ll do the best to make Isaac feel more comfortable around others. ]
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