>Check the Whatever That Is Door
You leave the phonograph thing alone for now, and decide to investigate the animal door you don't recognize. Nothing really surprising about that, all things considered.
The room is unlit...and smells like iron.
Something looms in the dark, and you can hear a ragged, wet breathing.
The room is unlit...and smells like iron.
Something looms in the dark, and you can hear a ragged, wet breathing.
FERN:
H-h-hi? C-can you...understand me?
H-h-hi? C-can you...understand me?
???:
Hhhhhhhhhh...
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH............
.............HhhhhhhHHHACK!
Oof, excuse my sinuses! Of course, dear, are you alright?
Hhhhhhhhhh...
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH............
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.......
.............HhhhhhhHHHACK!
Oof, excuse my sinuses! Of course, dear, are you alright?
FERN:
Sorry, sorry, I'm having a rough layer...I'm sure you must be, too.
I'm Frannie. I know the other staff haven't been much help, but I'm here for anything you need.
Sorry, sorry, I'm having a rough layer...I'm sure you must be, too.
I'm Frannie. I know the other staff haven't been much help, but I'm here for anything you need.
HEATHER:
How do you do, Frannie! You can call me Heather!
I can't imagine how busy you must be! I can scoot over if you'd like a seat!
How do you do, Frannie! You can call me Heather!
I can't imagine how busy you must be! I can scoot over if you'd like a seat!
Whatever Heather's sitting on emits a low, muffled sigh.
FERN:
Oh uh, that's alright, Heather. I need to know how you're holding up right now...we've got a bunch of parents in here with their kids missing.
Oh uh, that's alright, Heather. I need to know how you're holding up right now...we've got a bunch of parents in here with their kids missing.
HEATHER:
Oh, I know! I've heard such a ruckus, and that soft little doctor...I don't think he knows what he's supposed to be doing!
Admittedly, I don't know where my babygirl got off to either...but I'd be more worried for your sake!
Oh, I know! I've heard such a ruckus, and that soft little doctor...I don't think he knows what he's supposed to be doing!
Admittedly, I don't know where my babygirl got off to either...but I'd be more worried for your sake!
FERN:
...My sake?
...My sake?
HEATHER:
She can take fine care of herself, but, ah, maybe a bit too much. I wouldn't want to be such a fragile little thing in your shoes! SNRK!
She really is a GOOD girl when you give her a chance!
She can take fine care of herself, but, ah, maybe a bit too much. I wouldn't want to be such a fragile little thing in your shoes! SNRK!
She really is a GOOD girl when you give her a chance!
FERN:
Iii, er, I'm sure she is. Any idea where she might be? Do you remember what happened when you came here?
Iii, er, I'm sure she is. Any idea where she might be? Do you remember what happened when you came here?
HEATHER:
I remember it well! I was taking Allie on her first fog-stalk, and we'd just about expungified some lower-grey brute when the ugly thing - no offense! - took a swing at her with some dirty old pole off the ground!
Don't worry, though; she got him gooooood. They'll be sponging him out of six different zones for a metaspiral! That's my girl!
Still, she had a bit of a boo-boo. Nothing serious! Not for MY baby!
That's why it was so surprising when Amber came for us. she's sustained so much worse, and they've still only ever treated her through one of those egg things. The little doctor fellow...Pharge, was it? Pharge always said it was for her protection as much as theirs, but I know he was just being polite. Not that I'm offended! Couldn't be prouder of my tough little cookie!
I remember it well! I was taking Allie on her first fog-stalk, and we'd just about expungified some lower-grey brute when the ugly thing - no offense! - took a swing at her with some dirty old pole off the ground!
Don't worry, though; she got him gooooood. They'll be sponging him out of six different zones for a metaspiral! That's my girl!
Still, she had a bit of a boo-boo. Nothing serious! Not for MY baby!
That's why it was so surprising when Amber came for us. she's sustained so much worse, and they've still only ever treated her through one of those egg things. The little doctor fellow...Pharge, was it? Pharge always said it was for her protection as much as theirs, but I know he was just being polite. Not that I'm offended! Couldn't be prouder of my tough little cookie!
FERN:
Haha, I'm sure you are! How, um, hooow tough are we talking, just out of curiosity?
Haha, I'm sure you are! How, um, hooow tough are we talking, just out of curiosity?
WILLIS:
fern...she smells...too strong...
fern...she smells...too strong...
HEATHER:
Hohoho! Who's the little one?! Don't worry, dear! I wouldn't purge just anybody!
My Allie, on the other hand...well...she hasn't quite learned to smell who's marked just yet...not without her mama!
As for where she might have gone, that's a good question...she's an explorer, that one, a real drip off the old blob! She loves to climb, and it's hard to keep her out of that abyss, unfortunately. Those poor things never see her coming!
Hohoho! Who's the little one?! Don't worry, dear! I wouldn't purge just anybody!
My Allie, on the other hand...well...she hasn't quite learned to smell who's marked just yet...not without her mama!
As for where she might have gone, that's a good question...she's an explorer, that one, a real drip off the old blob! She loves to climb, and it's hard to keep her out of that abyss, unfortunately. Those poor things never see her coming!
FERN:
Ha! I'm sure they don't! Kids, right?!
Ha! I'm sure they don't! Kids, right?!
HEATHER:
You know!! SNRK!
Actually, Frannie, the last time I had to manifest here was to collect her myself, if you'd like my advice.
You know!! SNRK!
Actually, Frannie, the last time I had to manifest here was to collect her myself, if you'd like my advice.
FERN:
Oh, of course.
Oh, of course.
HEATHER:
*Ahem,* well! They had her hooked to an eggly, or whatever they call them, and she got it in her head to step through the other side. An eggler is a zonal conduit, you know. A makeshift doorway, if you're half as strong as Allie-pie!
Long story short, Pharge had to show me how to trap her in an empty spare and send her home. Nobody else could get close to her, of course! I'd be happy to do it again, but, well...it seems as though I can't make it very far from this room before I wake up here again.
*Ahem,* well! They had her hooked to an eggly, or whatever they call them, and she got it in her head to step through the other side. An eggler is a zonal conduit, you know. A makeshift doorway, if you're half as strong as Allie-pie!
Long story short, Pharge had to show me how to trap her in an empty spare and send her home. Nobody else could get close to her, of course! I'd be happy to do it again, but, well...it seems as though I can't make it very far from this room before I wake up here again.
FERN:
I see. Any guesses as to why?
I see. Any guesses as to why?
HEATHER:
Hmmmmm, well, it's most likely something offed me, you know, but that would be QUITE odd. I don't usually go down so easily, and only doctors are usually that leveled...
Hmmmmm, well, it's most likely something offed me, you know, but that would be QUITE odd. I don't usually go down so easily, and only doctors are usually that leveled...
FERN:
You don't say. That's, alarming, to say the least.
You don't say. That's, alarming, to say the least.
HEATHER:
Is it? It must be such a pain to experience...what do you call it? Phweer?
Is it? It must be such a pain to experience...what do you call it? Phweer?
FERN:
Fear?
Fear?
HEATHER:
THAT was it! Sweet, though. Do you mind me saying yours smells succulent?
THAT was it! Sweet, though. Do you mind me saying yours smells succulent?
FERN:
I would, um, prefer you not say that, no, nothing personal.
I would, um, prefer you not say that, no, nothing personal.
HEATHER:
Oh, dear, I'm so sorry! Zonal etiquette is tough, you know, even without my big blabberfunnel!
Oh, dear, I'm so sorry! Zonal etiquette is tough, you know, even without my big blabberfunnel!
FERN:
It's. Fine. Is there anything else you can tell me?
It's. Fine. Is there anything else you can tell me?
HEATHER:
Hhhmmmmmmmmm...nope! Just...good luck! You'll need it!
Hhhmmmmmmmmm...nope! Just...good luck! You'll need it!
FERN:
Sounds like it! Ha! I'll, uh, be back!
Sounds like it! Ha! I'll, uh, be back!
HEATHER:
Cute! That's the spirit!
Cute! That's the spirit!
