un:the dancing doctor | @everyone + @various

[ethnobotany]

[ space mom has been taking notes in the short time this glitch has been going, so she has a slightly better idea of what's happening. tempers are flaring, bears are being poked, and she's really not looking forward to this being long-term. so, she sends a few texts out. character limits are such a pain... ]

The Dancing Doctor to @everyone, split up into multiple texts - Let's try not to take each other's heads off. Apologies for the multiple texts incoming but this is important.

Firstly, some of us have names we don't want to discuss. Please respect us if we say we don't want to talk about it.

On that note, please do not reference my new "name." I really don't appreciate it.

Secondly, the Observers have never made life easy on us. We need each other in order to survive here. If we spend our time needling each other, that's more time that they have to tear us apart and hurt us later.

We don't all have to get along perfectly, but let's at least try not to hurt each other.

Thirdly, I have herbs to help headaches if anyone else needs it. Just let me know and I'll bring some to the Inn for you.

The Dancing Doctor in separates texts to @Finnick + @Stella + @Peggy + @Helen - Are you all right?

Comments

un: Secret Whore

[fishermansweater]

[ At first, Finnick isn't sure whether even to reply or not. Seeing the name appear at the start of any message addressed to him makes his body burn with the shame he'd tried so long and hard to shake off.

But he thinks, from the series of texts this person has just sent and from the fact that the username says doctor, he knows who this is. ]

Beverly?




I've been better.

[ethnobotany]

Yes. I didn't actually say that, did I?

Can I bring you and Annie something?

un: Daddy Issues

[ex_assertiveness90]

[ she's been avoiding the network ever since catching on to the change in names, not that she's used it much anyway. the ping catches her attention, but it takes her a while to respond. she has a pretty good guess as to who this is and very few people in the village would actually single her out to ask if she's all right. ]

You said all of that much more politely than I would have.

I've dealt with worse. - S

[ the initial added after it occurs to her Beverly probably doesn't recognize the name. she's certainly dealt with worse, but she's also furious at the violation of privacy. ]

[ethnobotany]

[ the initial does help her narrow it down. ]

Blame my Starfleet training.

[ that statement would have a wry element to the tone if this were spoken. she adds another text after a moment. ]

Maybe so, but that doesn't mean this is easy on any of us. Can I bring you something? I've got enough headache and calming herbs to share.

un: Locutus

[enterprisingheart]

I wasn't aware people were needling each other.

[There's a pause, as he realizes the username that's being displayed and then:]

Ah. Wonderful.

[ethnobotany]

In a manner of speaking, though they do seem to be isolated cases.

[ she notices too now. ]

Seems like we've all been hit with this.

[enterprisingheart]

It does seem that way, yes.

[ethnobotany]

Hopefully, this won't last long.

[enterprisingheart]

If it's anything like their usual tricks, it shouldn't?

[ethnobotany]

Yes, well, it would be just like them to change the rules now. Keep us on our toes.

[enterprisingheart]

It would be. And either way, there's not much we can do about this at the moment.

un: Captain America's Gal

[womanofvalue]

I've had better days
Thought I'd left this behind me

At least it's not a radio show

[ethnobotany]

I'm not sure I really want to know about that one.

Whatever game the Observers are playing this time, they seem to either be obvious or just plain cruel.

[womanofvalue]

In my case, it's cruelty.

It takes research to know why mine is so spot-on and awful.

Yet, it's what the world thought of me.

[ethnobotany]

I'm sorry about all of that. Do you need anything? A cup of tea or a friend?

[womanofvalue]

Alcohol. Plenty of it.

Barring that, I wouldn't mind you telling me something.
That you don't think of me that way.

[ethnobotany]

I'm missing that first part.

But I can tell you that I think you are one of the kindest and hardest working people I know. I've never thought of you by anything other than your name and I'm glad to call you friend. You're very special all on your own. If anyone thinks of you solely by what the network is showing, they don't really know you at all.

[womanofvalue]

The whole world thought that of me. My office, even friends.

I know it's not who I am, but it made that uphill battle so hard to fight.

[ethnobotany]

I know. But the fact that you did anyway and still are now is a testament to your strength. You're a wonderful person and I wish the rest of the worlds could see that.

[womanofvalue]

I do too.

I also wish our captors weren't so quick to remind me of this strife.

[ethnobotany]

They seem quick to remind all of us of some kind of unpleasantness in our lives. It would be nice if they wouldn't pick these particular scars to prod at.

[womanofvalue]

Especially when certain people are around.

Then, it's far too easy to slip back into old habits, old thoughts.

[ethnobotany]

I guess it's something we all need to break away from, remind ourselves that we are more than what history or other people might think of us. Hard though that is.

un: shrieker

[pharmakis]

Someone has stated that the Observers want us to speak about this. Do they play these sort of games often?

[ethnobotany]

They might, but we can speak about it without tearing each other down.

Not this exact kind, no. We hadn't had the ability to contact each other over text until a few months ago.

Replacing our names with these... phrases is definitely not something we've ever experienced.

[pharmakis]

Yet they do play certain games to try and test us?

They seem to know quite a bit about us to find these particular names.

[ethnobotany]

That they do, in both cases. If we knew who was behind the Observers, it might help, but that sense of anonymity always holds a bit of power.

[ a bit like what's going on with the network names now. ]

[pharmakis]

There is no sign of them? Nothing that would help us determine who they are?

[ethnobotany]

Not that I'm aware of. Stella or Peggy or someone else who's been here longer might know more, but as far as I know the only real contact we've had with them has been through cryptic and demanding letters.

[pharmakis]

It doesn't seem they wish to play the role of gods but watch us. I wonder why?

[ethnobotany]

I think if we knew the answer to that, it would solve a lot of problems.

/noctis lucis caelum

[noctyourking]

I'm new, the names don't mean anything to me. Other than I don't know the name of the person until they identify themselves.

Why would Observers implement this sort of mischief?

[ethnobotany]

Well, that's lucky. On that note, I'm Beverly Crusher, one of the doctors.

Probably the same reason they do anything: see what we'll do.

[noctyourking]

Nice to meet you, Noctis Lucis Caelum.

Is this the worst they've done?

[ethnobotany]

Nice to meet you, Noctis.

It's the first time they've done this exact thing, but sadly no. Not worst thing they've ever done to us by far.

[noctyourking]

Do you mind, if I ask? What's the worst thing they've done?

[ethnobotany]

That depends on the person you ask, I think. For me, dredging up old wounds fades in comparison to some of the suffering and injuries some have dealt with here. Lightning, cold, illnesses that leave you delirious with fever. That sort of thing.

[noctyourking]

I would say that seems to be significant in comparison to a few name calling.

[ethnobotany]

It is, which is why I keep saying we need to stop aggravating each other. There's no telling when they'll do something else that's worse than this and we'll all need to help each other to survive.

[noctyourking]

Agreed. I'm sure there are more who feel the same rather than not.

[ethnobotany]

Hopefully so. I guess all we can do is wait and see while trying to be the voice of reason.