meadowlark | @lance.sweets

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@lance.sweets

For recent arrivals and anyone who missed it before, a few weeks ago I compiled what information I could find about our experienced here into a document. It needs to be updated with recent events, such as the offer from Riverstone, but should otherwise be mostly complete up to a short time ago. Like last time I posted this, if anyone has corrections or additional information, please let me know.

On a related note, I was wondering if anyone who's still here has met Johann Grey in person or otherwise seen him, and would be willing to share that memory with me. I just want to know what he looks like, not whatever experience you had with him (unless you want to go into that), so it could be as short of a memory as you'd like for it to be.

Similarly, I wanted to know if anyone met or saw images of the James Henries in Zerzura. I don't have any real reason to believe he isn't actually the same person, or at least versions of the same person, as the James Henries here, but it's still worth verifying.

For everyone who isn't particularly interested in or otherwise doesn't have input on the other things I mentioned, I have a different question. What's something that you wished that you knew when you first arrived here?

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[ This document that Lance has put together continues to be impressive, and it does make Jack wonder at what his profession was before the two interdimensional kidnappings. A quick glance through the network offers up the answer: FBI profiler. Well, that makes a whole lot of sense.

Someone like that is worth knowing given their situation, and while Jack can't say he's willing to offer Lance his trust just because of some of their shared experiences, a working relationship isn't a bad idea.

So, he'll bite. ]

Seems like you've got some intel on Johann Grey already. What else did you want to know, exactly?

Anything that I don't already have and you're willing to share. The more information that we have, especially about someone who seems to be involved in so many places, the better.

Specifically, I was hoping to find out what he looks like; I know some Displaced have met him, and there's a description of him, but it's unfortunately very general. It seems like one of those pieces of information that might end up being very useful.

It might seem "general" because he doesn't have much in the way of distinguishing traits. He'd come across as unassuming until you started talking to him, I'd think.

[ Or until you were on an exam table and at his mercy. ]

That's totally understandable; sometimes that's really the only description you can give. It just isn't enough to be able to recognize or identify him elsewhere without knowing what he looks like specifically.

Well, I'm not much of an artist. I don't think I'm the only person who's seen him in the flesh here, though.

If you're willing to share a memory--even just a brief flash--that would work, but if you don't want to that's completely fine.

One other person has mentioned they've seen him as well; do you think there's anyone else, or just you two?

Oh, right. I heard that's something we can do, but haven't tried it myself.

At this point, it might just be us. I think everyone else who signed up for that meeting may be gone now.

It takes a little getting used to, but so far I've found it's really useful if you're careful about it. Kind of like using the empathy bond, but more purposeful and directed.

How long ago did that happen?

Seems like there's a lot of ways it could go wrong.

This was back in February.

The first time I used it was by accident since I was unaware of it, but since then it hasn't been a problem to control. Not that it's impossible something could go wrong, but so far it doesn't seem to be a high chance.

Was that the only time anyone has had direct contact with him?

There was the one person who met him in person to hand over Judas, but you already know about that. Other than that, just us few who decided that getting our heads opened up was a good idea. Or if there is anyone else, I don't know about it.

So, like Reyes, I'm not sure how clear my memory would be. Especially since he blinded me partway through the operation.

Was that one of us, or someone else? I'm unclear on some of the details about events, even if I know generally what happened.

[And the rest of what he says sounds... Even worse than the brain surgery part of things itself. He can't quite infer through text where the blinding was purposeful or an accident--it is brain surgery, after all--but either way would've surely been a horrible experience, and he feels like he should say again--]

If you don't want to bring those memories and experiences up again, then please don't feel like you have to.

[The information isn't worth potential retraumatizing someone.]

One of us. You have her account linked in your document. This one. I didn't know her, though, so I can't tell you much more than that.

[ If anything, Lance's considerate response is all the more reason for Jack to feel like he should share what he can. He doesn't like to be coddled or treated like he's fragile, for one thing. For another... ]

The point of the surgery turned out to be a bust, so if something else can come out of that experience, may as well share what I can.

Thanks; even though I put this document together, it's still a little difficult to keep track of what's actually in it.

[So although he feels a little ridiculous, sometimes that's how it goes. But okay, moving on--]

Okay, if you're sure. Seeing experiences from both you and Gabriel will help account for any inconsistencies in your individual memories, so it'll be very useful.

[Two different accounts will make it easier to get a more accurate idea of what Johann looks like, especially since people tend not to perfectly remember faces in the best of situations let alone one like they've described.]

I don't know if this will make it any easier to track him down, but after you see the memory for yourself, we can discuss some of the things he said to me. I have my theories, but I think you'll probably be able to add some additional insight.

You'll just have to talk me through how the memory sharing works.

That would be great; anything you can add would be useful in some way, I'm sure. I'm hopeful that after this I'll also have something useful to share with you.

[Provided his theory pans out, but he doesn't want to say it just yet both to avoid confirmation bias and because it really is kind of out there.]

Of course, and we can practice with a less serious memory first, if you want. When would you like to meet?

I don't have work tomorrow, so any time works for me. Where did you want to do this?

[ It should be somewhere private, and he hopes that goes without saying. ]

I'm free tomorrow too, so whenever is convenient for you.

[And he gets the signal so--]

Do you have somewhere that would be your first choice? If not and you're okay with it, you can come to my apartment; I could go to yours too, if you prefer.

[It's totally his call.]

I can come to your place. Just send the address over.

[He does as requested, followed up with--]

Just let me know whenever you're on your way over tomorrow; see you then.

[ It's not as if Jack is eager to go sharing his memories with someone who's still more stranger than acquaintance, and it's for that reason that he doesn't make his way over to the address Lance provided until partway into the afternoon. He does send a quick message when he heads out, and it's about a fifteen minute train ride to get from his place to Lance's.

He probably should have asked about potential roommates, but then again, he figures Lance would have warned him if anyone else might be around while they do this. There's little point in stalling any longer, and so once Jack reaches the right door, he raps on it and then settles back on his heels to wait. ]

[Lance does have a roommate, but indeed he'd expected Kyna to be out for most of the day and so the place is empty except for him when Jack arrives. Lance lets him in soon after he knocks, expecting him because of the message but also just somewhat anxious about this whole thing.

The apartment is small and well-organized, personalized without being cluttered, and Lance offers a faint but genuine smile in greeting. It's always a risk letting someone he doesn't know well into somewhere he lives, but he feels confident enough that Jack doesn't intend to be a threat and is probably far more nervous about this whole thing than he is, so he's opted to be as disarming as possible so as to try to put him more at ease.]

Hey, come on in.

Hey.

[ Jack nods to Lance as he steps inside, but almost immediately goes about mapping out the immediate area, taking in any details the room has to offer. He would guess that based on a place of this size (which isn't that big, but so it goes when you live in a megacity), Lance must have a roommate, but he doesn't sense that anyone else is here. Good.

There's a reason that Jack insisted on coming here rather than having Lance over, and it's because he's just as wary about letting someone into his living space. Seeing how he's the one doing the favor here, it's for the best that Lance didn't take issue with offering up his place for their meeting.

So, here they are. There's no way this isn't going to be a little awkward. ]

Where do you wanna do this? And... like I said, you might need to walk me through the how of it.

[ While Jack might be anxious about this, about possibly revealing too much, he's become pretty practiced at sectioning himself off. It should be fine, and he doesn't have many tells when it comes to his nerves. ]

[Lance shuts the door but leaves it unlocked; he isn't really concerned about his neighbors, and he wants to leave Jack the easy escape route if he chooses to take it. This is definitely a big favor, and he's going to do his best to make it as easy as possible.

He's watching Jack's expression and body language to try to gauge how he's feeling, but he doesn't know him well enough to be sure of anything just yet. Still, it's easy to guess the basics, and so Lance leads the way over toward the couch.]

It's probably easiest to be sitting down, just so you have to split your attention less.

[And in case this whole thing ends up bringing up more emotion than expected.]

As far as the actual process goes, it isn't too difficult; I've found what works best for me is to just concentrate on the memory with the intention to share it. Do you want to practice first with something really mundane, so you can get the hang of it? I can also send you a memory, so you can see how the other person will experience it.

[In case he's concerned or unsure about what exactly the other person will know when a memory is shared with them.]

[ Sitting down makes sense, and so after a moment of pause, Jack moves to join Lance on the couch. It does feel odd to be making himself comfortable in someone else's living space when he doesn't know them that well, but it's not like he's really comfortable anyway. This isn't a social call, and they both know that.

He considers Lance's instructions, glancing down to his lap. It would be a lie if he claimed he hadn't thought back on this particular memory, unpleasant as it might have been to be so thoroughly at someone else's mercy.

Really, Lance is making all sorts of concessions, trying to be as careful as possible. He seems to understand how much of an ask this is, and in truth, Jack would like to know what the process is like before doing it himself. ]

Yeah, why don't you share one first? I assume we have to touch.

[ The empathy bond must be a prerequisite for something like this, right? It usually is. He yanks his glove off of his left hand, then holds it out for Lance to take. ]

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