16th Zapfish [Audio; Violet City]

[agent3]

...Anybody ever...go home...while they're sleepin'?

[The person speaking definitely sounds like Thida, with her usual hesitance and sort of rounding out of 'ing' words, but there's also something tired to her voice, more tired than just from sleeping for far, far too long. It's weary, is what it is, too weary for a teenager.

Thida is quiet for a moment, huffs, and there's the distinct ruffle of hair, as if she's running a hand through her bangs.]

...Think I just did. I dunno. It's a thing, maybe? Does anybody know? 'Cause...um, wait a minute...[There's some taps and soft chimes from someone accessing another part of the 'gear functions while recording.] It was...August 28th...th'last I remember. And now it's September? 'N...that's just a week...but...ngh, so much...

[So much happened. Too much. Could it have been that she dreamed it all up? But it felt so real, and...]

...Just...tell me if that's happened. Please. If people go home while sleepin'. If that's real.

Comments

audio;

[bertall]

<sub>[Ah... Yep, this just happened pretty recently to himself, so this is still a raw wound for him.

But still--]</sub>

It, uh... It happened to me. I think.

[Audio]

[agent3]

[She winces, though of course Bert can't see it - moreso because if it happened to other people, it's definitely more real than just a coincidence for her.]

There's a way t'be sure, though? Like...besides memories? Is...does it do other stuff?

[Audio]

[bertall]

I'm not as tall as I was before. And I, uh... I lost some weight.

_{[Plus the gigantic hand-shaped bruise around his torso, but that's anoter thing.]}

I also woke up somewhere else too, because the last thing I remembered was being in Blackthorn, then I woke up in the Whirl Islands.

[Audio]

[agent3]

Y...You got shorter?!

[How is this even possible]

Shorter 'n in a new place...? Were you okay?

[video]

[paladinlost]

It does happen, and it is real. Part of you remains here in a coma, while the rest returns home for some time. I lived through it a few months ago.

[Audio]

[agent3]

[This is the second person to confirm that it's real, and now Thida is feeling a bit of a chill about the whole thing. So...everything she saw and felt, it really happened? Her parents, and the Cap'n, and the Octoling girl...

She's suddenly so grateful she opted not to show her face from the start.]

...But...I was sleepin' a week, here. How'd...how does it fit all th'time inside one week?

[paladinlost]

[He frowns thoughtfully. How to explain...?]

...It might not be the same for you, but sometimes it feels as though my dreams last much longer than a single night. Perhaps those comas follow the same logic, over a greater period.

[agent3]

Oh. Like. Uh...'dream logic'?

[It's a term that, since she attends actual school and not a home school, she can now understand and use.]

So it fits two years into a week...

voice

[tookashirototheknee]

It's definitely a thing. My two closest friends have both done it.

One was gone for longer back in our world than the other, but they did go and come back.

[Audio]

[agent3]

[Another confirmation. So it's not an isolated thing, it can and does happen, and it's very real. Matt can hear Thida gulp softly, as if trying to keep her nerves in check.]

...Dunno if it's worse or better 'n goin' back home for good...

Audio

[bent_the_world]

It didn't happen to me, but...it happened to someone I know.

[Audio]

[agent3]

Oh...they're okay, though? They were okay?

[Audio]

[bent_the_world]

Yeah, they were fine. And I've never heard of anything going wrong or anything...

[Audio]

[agent3]

Okay. So...it can be okay.

[It's just so strange to her, for her own body to turn off for what was essentially a system update.]

...So weird though.

[Audio to match]

[tearsofademon]

Yeah, it's happened to me. A couple times, actually. It was years ago, but... It happens, sometimes.

[Audio]

[agent3]

H-Happened to a lot of people, huh...

[She's surprised so many folks turned out to respond to her!]

...'S weird. Weirder than...other weird things.

[Audio]

[tearsofademon]

It's pretty up there, in terms of unexplained stuff around here, yeah. It just... happens, sometimes. And there's no predicting it or getting it to happen on purpose, so nobody's got any idea why or how it happens, either.

[Audio]

[agent3]

Ergh...

[So weird. So weird.]</small. Just...my turn, then?

Audio

[sleepallthewayhome]

You went home in your sleep?

Are you alright?

[Audio[

[agent3]

Yeah! 'S so weird! 'M okay, but...thought y'just go home for good, not sleepin'...

[Audio]

[sleepallthewayhome]

Yeah. I thought you vanished when you went home. That's what normally happens.

...I'm glad you're okay though.

[Audio]

[agent3]

...Thought so, too. Kinda...scary t'think about.

[She could've been gone for good and never remember anyone or anything from this world...and her life would have been so much lonelier. It had been, when she was back there.]

[Video]

[thenightsky]

[Can you see the relief on his face? Because it's obvious as he appears on the network with Carbuncle perched on his shoulder looking just as worried.]

Hey Thida.

[Welcome back.]

Sounds like what happened to me. Sort of.

[Video]

[agent3]

[She switches only so she can properly talk to Noctis, and it's clear that she still looks exhausted. Still looks the same - a short 16yr old girl - but there's a deeper expression in her eyes, a bit darker, a bit more haunted.

A lot more tired.]

Noctis...'m sorry...didn't know it'd happen, I...wouldn't've done it if I knew...

[Video]

[thenightsky]

You don't have to apologize, Thida. None of us have control of this stuff. I'm just glad you're back.

[Looking a little rough around the edges, harder, but she was definitely still the Thida he knew.]

All your Pokemon alright?