Dinos and Goats and Trauma

[didntknowbest]

Who: Toriel and others
Where: Wonderland
When: February 9-11
Rating: PG-13-ish probably!
Summary: Toriel thinks she's in the middle of a war and just suffered some serious trauma.

One second, Toriel and her people are right in the middle of a war against humans, that they started, and now she's... somewhere else. She doesn't really know where.

Has she been kidnapped? Is this some sort of trap, or trick? She doesn't know, and she's really not in the proper state to think about or analyze these things.

Mostly, she's just nervous. Jumpy and panicked, and trying to avoid humans, and... whatever those really big things lumbering around outside are. Trying to explore, find out where she is and find some way back to... well, not home. She's not sure she really has a place that qualifies as that anymore.

Comments

[didntknowbest]

Toriel understood, like... half of those words, at best. She just looks completely confused, and especially when they show her... weird moving pictures of herself???

"That's... I have no idea how you're doing that, but that's... I mean, that is definitely not me! I'd remember something like that! And I'd remember meeting some freaky metal guy, too!"

[forwearemany]

"Error: This platform is constructed primarily of polymer."

...Priorities, Legion.

"A significant quantity of those we remember previously encountering do not remember our interactions. Hypothesis: It is likely memory alteration is involved, though we are uncertain if it is yours or ours."

If it's just them, it may in fact, be more likely that it's their memory being affected.

"Irrelevant. We have been tasked with ensuring the safety of those in this location. You are distressed?"

[didntknowbest]

"I- yes, I'm distressed!!!" She chooses to address that part of what they said, because it's what she can most easily understand. "I'm in the middle of a- I mean, I was... in the middle of a war..." She sighs, shaking her head a bit.

"I dunno about any memory stuff but... I mean... I do not know about any... things going on, with my memory..." Their calm, steady speech is at least... a little bit, well, calming. And reminding her a little that she's still working on speaking more like that. Proper and deliberate. "I just know something very... strange, is going on. No one's fighting and there are no homes being burned down, and... I am... fairly certain, that I am not where I was before."

[forwearemany]

"Acknowledged. We will treat this situation as though you are a recent arrival."

Since in a way she is, even if it does turn out that their version of events is correct.

"This location is known as Wonderland. It takes people from different words and universes. Escape of ones own volition is currently impossible, though this is not a cause for concern: time does not pass while you are gone."

Their speech remains calm and steady, even if what they say is probably more confusing and less reassuring than they think.

"Previously acquired data indicates that there was conflict between Monsters and Humans in the past. Is this the war you are referring to?"

[didntknowbest]

She nods. She thinks she gets it. She doesn't understand how any of it works, but, she thinks she gets the general idea. She's somewhere else now, and so are lots of other people from other places, and she's stuck here.

"I... yeah..." She nods again, looking down at the ground- arms holding onto her sides, and looking a bit like she wants to curl in on herself. This is the most relaxed she's been since... everything happened, and.

She doesn't think she likes it, actually. At least with the adrenaline pumping and worrying for her life, she didn't have time to... think. "Does that mean... if you heard about it... do you know... how it ends?"

[forwearemany]

They chatter, headflaps lifting before settling down. She desires to know the future of her people. They understand this impulse.

"We have heard reports, though as we are not from your universe, we are unable to verify them. Initially, Human victory results in Monsters being sealed underground. This lasts for approximately 1000 years. Eventually, the remaining Monsters are freed, and peaceful coexistence is achieved."

Not the most reassuring thing, but peace does happen eventually, at least?

[didntknowbest]

That... well. It isn't quite as bad as she feared. But not nearly as good as she hoped, either.

Her people were able to survive- but not because they won. Trapped underground for 1000 years... That sounds too horrible to even imagine. And that ending...

"...And how long does that peace last, before humans attack us unprovoked again?" That ending just doesn't seem at all reasonable, after what she just went through.

[forwearemany]

"Uncertain."

Their headflaps ripple.

"We have not heard reports of Humans attacking monsters. Those monsters in this location have existed peacefully alongside the Humans trapped here without significant difficulty."

They ripple some more. Legion is quiet for several seconds as they consider what to say next.

"Though we are aware of the destructive potential of Humanity, our personal experience has been overwhelmingly positive: A Human assisted us in saving our people."

When Geth are uncertain, they share perspective. Perhaps another perspective will benefit her as well.

[didntknowbest]

It's difficult to believe what they're saying. She... doesn't want to believe it, really. It's easier to be angry and upset when you don't have to address positive things about people.

...That's probably not a good way to be thinking. But she can't help but want to find ways around it. "...Maybe they're too busy being afraid of whatever trapped them here to be afraid of us. And maybe one human was able to help you but... maybe they were an exception. Maybe just... as a whole, they're just... awful..."

Her eyes drift to the ground again, curls herself in a bit more. What she's saying, feels... terrible, to say out loud. It's so completely against everything she was taught growing up, but... she's just so angry and hurting so much.

[forwearemany]

"You have experienced recent trauma. Additionally, it is common for Organics to succumb to this way of thinking."

They consider what to say next.

"It is unlikely a species that was entirely 'awful' would be able to form complex society. They would be unable to successfully cooperate."

...It is unlikely logic by itself will succeed in combating organic distress. She is Shepard-Commander's girlfriend. Thus, she is an ally. After a moment, they attempt to touch her hand.

"We cannot guarantee that you will not be threatened at this time. Many others we have encountered are also experiencing recent trauma and have no memories of this location. They are confused, frightened, and likely to be a danger to themselves and others. However, we have been tasked with ensuring the safety of those in this location: we will assist as needed."

[didntknowbest]

"Well... we'll see, I guess." She doesn't want to argue with them any more. Doesn't feel right, letting herself slip so far into hating them, with someone there being so calm and rational about it.

That said, though... "Humans have already attacked me twice, though, so... forgive me if I prefer to keep my distance." She still isn't particularly interested in being friendly with any humans.

[forwearemany]

"This is understandable. There are many nonhuman residents in this location. Perhaps you should seek them."

As always, they are calm.

"Query: Description of attackers?" It is their job to ensure safety. It would be beneficial to identify possible troublemakers.

[didntknowbest]

"One was a kid. Wearing a striped sweater, and tried attacking me with a stick." ...Saying it like that sounds kind of ridiculous, so she decides to elaborate a bit. "Um... I'm not sure how much you know about monsters, but... we're not nearly as tough as we look. That would've been more than enough to kill me if they really wanted to."

"The other one was... older. Somewhere in her teens, I'd say. Red hair. She had a knife." Legion would probably be able to piece together that she's talking about Shepard- with the state the both of them are in right now, it's probably not too surprising a fight would break out.

[forwearemany]

They listen, calmly, at least until the description of a redheaded female in her teens with a knife comes up. At these words, their headflaps flare out, and they begin to chatter.

"We are uncertain as to the identity of the first. However, the second is most likely Jane Shepard, captain of the Starship Normandy. When she was sixteen, her family, as well as the rest of her community, was murdered by nonhuman aliens known as Batarians. You have recently been at war with Humans. Conflict is understandable."

"Location in which this encounter occurred?"

[didntknowbest]

"...Now I... kinda feel bad, about getting into a fight with her, if that... It sounds like we were kind of in the same situation." She rubs at her arm a bit, feeling guilty- and the answer to their next question isn't really helping that.

"I'm sorry, no, I... it was just... Everything's kind of a blur, and I've just been... running blindly, a lot."

[forwearemany]

"Acknowledged." Well, they'll just have to keep looking on their own then.

More importantly... "Regret is unnecessary: your actions were based on incomplete data. Additionally, you cannot change the past."

They chatter softly.

"We are extremely gratified that this encounter did not result in fatality."

[didntknowbest]

"I mean, considering I was absolutely the one going to die there, yeah, I'm pretty glad too!" It's accompanied by a laugh, even though it's not really funny. It was just sort of terrifying.

"But... yeah, your friend is just fine. I'm guessing that she's your friend?"

[forwearemany]

They are quiet. Their headflaps flare slowly, settle.

"This outcome would have been ...nonoptimal." Though they have had limited interaction with Toriel, they do not wish for her to die. Additionally, it is likely such an occurrence would cause Shepard Commander extreme distress.

"You are correct."