Cause all the Walls of Dreaming Were Torn Wide Open (Nov Catch All)

[redlightgreenlight]

Characters: Valdis and open
Date: Month of November 2015 (2016 in game)
Location: Various
Situation: Due to Asruld’s attack, Valdis has lost her memories, however, this might not be an entirely horrible thing.
Warnings/Rating: In Starters if needed

The highs of last month have vanished, quite literally in fact. She doesn’t know this place anymore, nor the people in it. It was frustrating, not remembering people that apparently knew her, not recognizing places that she had apparently been before. But she was determined to look on the bright side of things, at least she had a name. Didn’t she? Even that was confusing. But, she was here now, so she might as well make the best of it. New memories and new places could be fun, even if you couldn’t remember where you came from or who you were.

Comments

[gistful]

Anton had gotten enough details from the people involved that he knew ... mostly ... what had happened. He very pointedly did not leave the Hotel to pursue further detail. Other people were taking care of the issue. He didn't need to get involved.

It didn't stop the gist from turning restlessly in his chest every time he passed by or through his room and checked to make sure Valdis was resting comfortable. It wasn't the first time they had been in this situation ... but it was the first time it hadn't been because of Valdis herself, that Anton could tell.

The wards couldn't actually tell him whether people were awake or asleep--it was unnecessary and something of a breach of privacy, anyway--but he happened to open the door soon after she'd sat up, and stood for a moment in the doorway before stepping in and closing it behind him. He asked gently, "How do you feel?"

[redlightgreenlight]

The door opened and she squeaked, startled by the sudden movement. The man standing in the doorway was really tall and looked like he was dressed for a funeral. She stared at him, eyes wide, uncertain if she should be afraid or not. When he stepped into the room and shut the door, she decided on fear, scooting back until she hit the headboard and shut her eyes.

The man's voice wasn't angry, it was soft, almost familiar...almost. It's ok, it's ok, she thought, just keep calm...umm. What was her name? She couldn't remember. How could she not remember something like that?

She tucked her knees to her chest and closed her arms around them, taking a deep breath, trying to find something in the depths of her mind, but there was nothing to find. She dropped her head to her knees, she didn't have an answer to his question. how could someone even begin to describe how this felt?

[gistful]

Hardly before Anton got the words out he knew the answer to his own question was a negative one. He stilled, not moving any deeper into the room. That look on her face had been--was now--terrified. But Valdis wouldn't be afraid of him.

Not Valdis. But the woman in front of him was nevertheless frightened, and not only that but uncomprehending.

"Be calm," he said gently. "I won't hurt you. What do you remember?"

Surely Valdis, if she'd simply forgotten Keeliai, would attack before she'd withdraw. But that was only if she'd forgotten Keeliai alone.

[redlightgreenlight]

She knew he spoke the truth when he said he wouldn't hurt her, but she didn't know how she knew that. She slowly lifted her head, her eyes less fearful, but her muscles still tense, her heart still racing. But this place was safe, this man was safe and those feelings came forward in her mind, soothing her anxiety enough that she could answer, though it was with a quiet, wavering voice.

"Nothing," she said, her voice rising as saying it out loud revitalized her anxiety, "I can't remember anything."

[gistful]

Nothing. From the panic in her voice, that was nothing at all--not just nothing of Keeliai. Anton put a hand on his chest. "My name is Anton Shudder. I am--" Not ... anything that would complicate matters, he thought. "--a friend of yours. This is my Hotel; you stay here."

How much ought he say? At the very least, enough to give her a grasp on her sense of reality. "Does the name Valdis seem familiar to you?"

[redlightgreenlight]

A friend, that was a start, she might not remember him, but an instinctive trust set in and she began to relax again. She didn't answer him right away, trying to think. The name was familiar, but it felt wrong, it felt like a name reserved for some sort of darkness.

"Yes?" She replied, her voice tentative and confused, "But it's wrong. I don't know why, but that name..." She shivered, "I don't like it."

[gistful]

That was enough of an answer. Anton nodded and moved forward--cautiously, even though her manner had relaxed--to sit on the very end of the bed opposite her. "Your name is Meira," he said. "You're in a city named Keeliai. There was an incident which rendered you unconscious."

Explaining too much was a bad idea; Anton remembered that from the times Hopeless had lost his memory. But he needed to say enough to jar her, or perhaps ... Hm. Perhaps a walk through the city to the Healer's Guild would help jog something.

Not yet, though. Best to see her reaction to this first.

[redlightgreenlight]

Meira. Yes, that sounded nicer, it sounded more familiar, more friendly than the other name. She eyed him warily as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed, but she reminded herself that this was a friend.

"Keeliai?"

She didn't know what kind of name that was, it held no meaning to her, but a foreign city could be...an adventure. She took a breath, calm sweeping through her. She could handle an adventure.

[gistful]

"Yes." Possibly he should wait until later for the 'turtle' part, but the grounding breath was encouraging. Instead Anton suggested, "Would you like to see it? If you do not remember I would like a healer I trust to see you, but if we walk there then seeing the surroundings may help jog something."

If she was willing, there was no need to wait, and the sooner Raine could attend her the sooner they could figure out how to handle it.

[redlightgreenlight]

She hesitated, she wanted to see the city and knew that she was safe with Anton, safe here, but she knew nothing about herself and that was intimidating. A healer though, a healer might be able to fix what was wrong.

"Ok," she replied, slowly uncurling and sliding away from the headboard. She felt fine physically, it seemed that it was only her mind that had been affected by whatever happened. "Is it far?"

[gistful]

"Within walking distance," said Anton, "but far enough for you to see the city properly on the way. I will answer any questions you might have in the meantime."

He rose and held out his hand, and smiled his gentlest smile. "It is a beautiful city, if nothing else, and Raine Sage--the healer--is very good at what she does."

[redlightgreenlight]

The problem with questions was that she had no idea what to even ask, hopefully something would come to mind. She reached out to take his hand, also standing, but not sure where to go from there.

"Raine?"

The name seemed familiar, but she couldn't even picture the woman in her head, but she supposed that she would have a face to go with the name soon enough.

[gistful]

"Yes," Anton agreed. "White-haired, very calm, usually wears an orange jacket. This way." He tugged her hand gently so she stood beside him, and then laid it over her arm so he could guide her.

"The Midnight Hotel is where we are," he said as he led her from the room and into the lobby. "It's a magical building, and it has a unique position in the city."

How much she remembered and what she thought of magic was the next thing to determine.