[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

It's hard to believe that I've been here for over a year. I can see the greeting card section now... 'Happy Luceti-versary! I wanted to shift you in a really cool gift but all I got was this stupid card.'

...Admit it, you know they would be that bad.

[A year, and what does he have to show for it? He's uncovered things here and there in pieces, compiled an extensive set of files... and yet he feels no closer to really understanding this place than before. Not only that, but his own personal quest has been delayed so much. It's... kind of depressing. Ok, moving on from that thought for now.]

Not that it's all been gloom and doom here- it's been a valuable experience so far for yours truly. Give or take an experiment or so. There's so much more I still want to know, though... about this place, about the forces in control of it, what causes some people to be drawn here, why some are sent home never to return, why others are stuck here indefinitely... everything.

I guess there's a lot of work ahead...

Comments

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

It's Ami. I'd like to look for those answers with you.

I don't know if it's happy, but I'd like to send greetings for the year, too.

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

Good, thanks, Ami. I know you'll never give up.

[He only hopes they'll be around for that, but... so far so good?]

I've been thinking about that myself, and I have no idea how I should feel about this. Which seems to be how I feel about most things I encounter here.

[He's noticing that for months he's been perpetually in some mix of HOW AMAZING IS THIS and PARANOIA THEY'RE GOING TO KILL US ALLLL]

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

[In his defense, both are pretty true.]

It can be a confusing place. I don't even know how to feel about some of what's happened.

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

I'm always torn on that, myself. It's proof of everything I've ever wanted to find... but at the cost of everything that happens here.

[It's not even always just the experiments- it's the disappearances, the kidnappings, everything that goes with all of that.]

[Voice]

[geniustheveil]

It also may not be proof for your world. What exists, or doesn't exist, here doesn't necessarily speak to there.

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

I'm hoping I can prove otherwise... though maybe it'd be enough to at least know that everything exists somewhere.

[Voice]

[mistlegacy]

Admit it, you'd die of boredom if the answers were that easy to uncover.

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

What a way to go... the penalty would so not be worth it. Ok, you've got me there. I'd be out of a job if I knew everything.

[But a few mind reading pyschic powers to help that wouldn't hurt any... just a few. Maybe?]

[Voice]

[mistlegacy]

That isn't to say I don't agree with you to some extent. We need to know more than we do.

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

After a whole year here, I haven't given up on finding those answers. We really need to grab old Blue Ass and bring him in for a chat, among other things.

[Voice]

[mistlegacy]

Got a list all written up?

[Knowing him, she wouldn't be surprised if that's the case.]

[Voice]

[cop_an_attitude]

You investigate this sort of thing, then? Are you a detective?

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

Yes- I'm an FBI agent back home, specializing in the paranormal. You could say my work has stuck with me here.

[Or he's stuck with the work, whichever way that goes. He's not very good at letting go of his obsessions.]

Re: [Voice]

[cop_an_attitude]

Paranormal? ...Probably has an application in this place.

[That's about all she's going to say on that matter in the interest of not ruffling any *ahem* feathers.]

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

This place does put the 'normal' into the paranormal- it's a way of life, we're immersed in it. Have you been here very long?

Re: [Voice]

[cop_an_attitude]

Mm. It's admirable how well everyone has adapted.

Not long at all; just got here.

[voice.]

[folklorist]

Oh this certainly warrants a celebration, doesn't it? Time always feels funny in this place. A year or even two...I didn't even realize it's been that long. It sort of...all blends into one another, really.

[ A hm on his end. ] But I certainly agree with you. So much is still left unknown and unsaid...I wish they would at least let us research those ruins in the forest.

[voice.]

[most_unwanted]

It really is all too easy to lose track- it makes me wonder if in say, ten years from now, we'll all become so ingrained into this way of life that we forget everything else...

[Right, hence all the obsessive file keeping. Still, he's all flavors of paranoid about getting too comfortable and used to life here.]

Those ruins would probably be a goldmine of information. I'm sure that's one place where we could find better clues about this place. Along with drafts and missions for out of barrier experiences...

[voice.]

[folklorist]

Ten years... [ he sounds almost taken aback with that. ] Do you think we'll really be here for that long? I-I mean...it's possible, anything is really, but I don't know. I hope that the fighting and this war can be solved in less than that.

[ It's a sad thought for him to even consider. ] I think you're right though about the ruins. If anything can teach us about the past it's the written history and stories left behind by the original people of this world.

[voice.]

[most_unwanted]

I'm just being prepared for any scenario that comes up. We might be out of here in a couple weeks for all I know. [But he doesn't hold out quite that much optimism. Still, he intends to make the most of it no matter how long they're stuck here for.]

The more we can find out about the past, the more clues we might have to solving this conflict now, in the present. That whole saying about history being doomed to repeat itself usually holds true...

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

... I... suppose it would be strange to, er, say this, but...

... It has been... nice, to have you here. I... I only hope that Luceti has not been too unkind to you...

[They've both been here more than a full year. What a shock...

Also, lingering awkwardness from Valentine's Day's beach escapade. Um.]

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

[So very, very awkward for many reasons, but at least Mulder is used to "Luceti made me do it" as the prevailing way of things. And it could always be worse. He has told himself that much.]

Looking back, I wouldn't say it's been any harsher than earth ever was. Better in some ways. It hasn't been without its horrifying moments, but I'm still glad to be here. It beats going to work everyday and sitting through disciplinary meetings.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert, for his part, is glad it was Mulder and not a complete stranger - someone he trusts, and at least is on good enough terms with to feel reasonably comfortable with.

... Also it was both of their faults and not any one particular person. They did agree to eat the fruit together.]

Luceti is... certainly s-strange in that regard, for being that blend of... better and worse...

... Though it makes me, er, qu-question things. Often.

[Voice]

[most_unwanted]

[This is true. It could have been so much, much worse getting all close and cuddly with a random stranger.]

There's nothing quite like those days that have you questioning the very nature of reality several times over... At least here I have a lot more freedom to pursue my interests, so there's that, too.

[Though there are resources he wouldn't mind having from home, he's also come to realize that some of it wouldn't make as much sense here.]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

Not to mention... validation. Luceti certainly... does quite a good job of that.

[After all, if it's convinced Robert in some ways...

... Not that he doesn't want to analyze everything in more detail.]