open-ish

[jolting]

who: Victor Frankenstein + You?
what: catch-all for March
when: various places
where: March
warnings: I have no idea, but it's Victor, so it might get creepy/morbid/idek

Hospital | Shopping | Want to do a thing but it's not listed? PM me here

Comments

[hylights]

[Zelda has to laugh at that, because it's so familiar a grievance.]

I know what you mean; I would never have space for all the things I see here that I'd like to collect. [She tilts her head curiously, following up with a question.] You've been to many worlds then? Even before this place?

[jolting]

[he smiles a little at that, and shrugs]

One world I was in briefly and the other I'm living in, but don't really travel a lot. Then of course there's the world I was born in, and this one. I've known people who've ventured into even more worlds than that. It's not an easy thing, but people do manage it where I come from all the time.

[hylights]

Wow... [It still sounds like a lot to Zelda.] I've met someone else here who says they've visited many worlds. For what reason would people travel to another world where you're from?

[jolting]

Well, it depends. I first crossed worlds in a professional capacity. Science wasn't a very strong presence in that land, so they needed my knowledge. Sometimes the other worlds are used as a kind of prison. Or helping ferry people across worlds could be your job. A friend of mine used to do that.

[hylights]

[The idea of whole worlds being prisons sobers Zelda up quickly. It's a dark notion, to have need of something like that. Still, it mustn't be all of them.]

You're a scientist then? It's a marvellous concept to me, being able to ask those of other worlds for their expertise to help in your own. Like travelling to an entirely different country on a much larger scale.

[jolting]

And a medical doctor. [he nods at her comparison] It is a little like that, I guess, though I don't imagine you need to walk through mirrors or get swept up in tornadoes to get there.

[hylights]

[Her eyes widen, and then she lets out a startled laugh.]

No, probably not! There's a legend in my world about another realm that could be reached through a mirror, but it's likely not the same thing.

[jolting]

Mm, a lot of worlds have legends that revolve around mirrors. [a pause] Sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet. Doctor Frankenstein, though just "doctor" will be fine.

[hylights]

It's nice to meet you, Doctor. I'm Zelda.

[She extends her hand to shake.]

But that's fascinating in itself, to know that many worlds have similar stories.

[jolting]

[he politely shakes her hand]

Yeah. It shows just how similar we are, despite the differences.

[hylights]

That's true. Though I find that those differences are much easier to notice at first glance. Just being in this place makes me feel very different from a society that's so far advanced in technology.

[jolting]

I get that. I'm from a fairly modern time and I was still surprised by some of the advancements. You get used to it after a while, though.

[hylights]

[It's strange to think about, but she has to agree. Even in her short time here she's come to grips with so many things that baffled her upon her arrival.]

You really do. I think it helps that there are so many here who are willing to help you, if it's something you don't understand.

[jolting]

Yeah. I think it's because we all come from so many different places, so it's not like anyone sees it as bad that you don't know how to work a cell phone or whatever. I can say the experience has been fascinating. Even with all the world-jumping, I've always been with people who know me or who know each other. When I first arrived here, everyone was a stranger. That was more of an adjustment than the technology.

[hylights]

It's a bit of a shock, isn't it? Arriving here and knowing absolutely nothing, and no one.

[She twines her fingers together idly, before unlacing them again.]

I was fortunate that a friend of mine arrived not long after I did. For the first few days though, it was just me. I didn't quite know where to begin or how to talk to people.

[jolting]

Seems you're doing a lot better now.

[he's abandoned the idea of buying gifts and is just getting books now. He has an eclectic selection: gardening, cooking, novels, poetry and a few science books]

I should get going and show off these books to my daughter. It was nice chatting with you.

[hylights]

[She smiles in response.]

I suppose I am.

[Nodding, she steps out of the way in the narrow aisle, letting Victor go past when he's ready.]

It was nice meeting you as well. I hope your daughter enjoys them.