Boy, that's a lot of words and sentences that sure do say a bunch of things. Jane takes the time to read the message through at least thrice, but her eyes keep catching on the same words.
And they get her to turn the video on.]
Dirk...[Her voice is soft, hesitant, her brow furrowed with concern. There's a lot of hurt in her eyes, yes, not the pitying kind but the reared back, cautious kind of someone expecting a fight - none of that has left her since they first spoke. Not really. She pauses, swallows, tries again.]
...No. I know I don't know you, either. That's very obvious. But whatever you had become back home, [whatever a conglomerate of selves even is,] that's...I don't want to say "not you anymore", because that'd be foolish. But...you're a person. [She presses a hand to her chest.] I'm a person. We and everyone else who's been brought here, and yes, even the natives to this place, are people. And despite the fact that this world is a game, that doesn't make it any less real. That doesn't invalidate what's happening right now, because it's happening and will happen and has happened. Real is one of those things that's somewhat intangible...
[It's a concept, it's not something you can hold in your hand and bend to your will.]
You're...are you...um...[What's the word? What's the - oh, right,] Are you dissociating right now?
[A tender edge pokes through her voice despite the mask of bitterness. Do you need help?]
[Video]
Boy, that's a lot of words and sentences that sure do say a bunch of things. Jane takes the time to read the message through at least thrice, but her eyes keep catching on the same words.
And they get her to turn the video on.]
Dirk...[Her voice is soft, hesitant, her brow furrowed with concern. There's a lot of hurt in her eyes, yes, not the pitying kind but the reared back, cautious kind of someone expecting a fight - none of that has left her since they first spoke. Not really. She pauses, swallows, tries again.]
...No. I know I don't know you, either. That's very obvious. But whatever you had become back home, [whatever a conglomerate of selves even is,] that's...I don't want to say "not you anymore", because that'd be foolish. But...you're a person. [She presses a hand to her chest.] I'm a person. We and everyone else who's been brought here, and yes, even the natives to this place, are people. And despite the fact that this world is a game, that doesn't make it any less real. That doesn't invalidate what's happening right now, because it's happening and will happen and has happened. Real is one of those things that's somewhat intangible...
[It's a concept, it's not something you can hold in your hand and bend to your will.]
You're...are you...um...[What's the word? What's the - oh, right,] Are you dissociating right now?
[A tender edge pokes through her voice despite the mask of bitterness. Do you need help?]