LABYRINTHUM INBOX

[placation]

THE DOCTOR IS IN text / audio / video / action art credit code credit

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[dothemonstermeshi]

oh yeah, I've done that before. It's one of the best way to save someone who's being attacked by nightmares.

But the thing is... I had a weird bad dream last night. When I woke up, I checked under my pillow, but there weren't any nightmares there. So I think it was just the normal kind of bad dream. But it's sort of stuck around in my head all day...

[placation]

Sorry, ah, real quick- were you expecting to find some sort of physical manifestation of nightmares under your pillow?

[dothemonstermeshi]

Yes! Nightmares are a type of dragon, that in their inert form look like a clam. They hide inside people's pillows and give them nightmares, then feed on their negative emotions.

[placation]

Ah! That's how it worked back in your reality? That's fascinating... and I think it would put me off clams for good!

Unfortunately, though, it's entirely possible here to have nightmares without a creature like that being in your bed.

[dothemonstermeshi]

They're actually pretty tasty if you boil or steam them!

But yeah. And thankfully nightmares not caused by monsters are way safer, because you most of the time won't actually die from them.

It doesn't stop you from thinking about what you dreamed of after you wake up, though.

[placation]

Of course, these things do tend to stick with you, especially if they were particularly emotionally resonant.

Would you like to tell me about the dream you had? I'm all ears.

[dothemonstermeshi]

If you don't mind...

Should I do it through writing like this, or would it be better to do it in person, in your office?

[placation]

[ Maruki when people who haven't gone through the hellish trials of actually gaining his trust and becoming his friend have genuine consideration for his time and energy ]

Whatever is easier for you, Laios-kun. If texting is simpler, go for it.

But if you'd like to visit my office, please feel free. It's in the business district, obviously, a little green door squished between two larger buildings. There's usually a cat sleeping outside, and a sign with my name on it. You can't miss it.

[ And if he does come in, well... someone whose compulsions require all counseling threads to be in one central location will just drop this here. ]

[dothemonstermeshi]

I think I'll stop by, if that's okay. i'm still trying to get the hang of typing on these tiny keys, so it's kind of annoying.

Did you hav e anything like these Oracles where you came from, Dr. Markui?

[placation]

Ah, yeah, if you're not used to this level of technology I'm sure it's a difficult adjustment.

We did have devices like this back in my reality. In fact, what's given to us here is fairly outdated to me. If you ever need help figuring out technology, I'd be happy to assist.

I take it you're from a [ medieval shithole like Somnius? ] less modern reality?

[dothemonstermeshi]

Apparently so... I was talking to this boy about that when we were stuck in one of those videeo games together.

[ Is that a typo or does he just not know how to spell that word? ]

It all feels like magic to me. or, at least, that's the closest thing I can compare it to. But i get the sense that it's not actually magic.

[placation]

Well, it may or may not be magic. We simply don't know.

If the way you understand oddities like this is through the framework of magic, then personally, I don't believe there's anything wrong with approaching it like that. I certainly do the same with my own lens of understanding.

Are you a magic user, then?

[dothemonstermeshi]

Not really... Nnot primarily, at least. I've been learning a little magic from my friend Marcille, who'se a really great and powerful mage. But I can't do any of it here, for some reason. I guess the labyrinth dungeon is blocking my mana or something?

[placation]

[ Has nobody told this guy anything??? Welcome wagon Maruki strikes again... ]

Ah, no, I'm afraid it's not that simple.

When you first arrive here, any special abilities that you had in your reality are, for all intents and purposes, taken from you. Everyone starts on equal footing.

You can wish for your abilities back, but... well, that has its own set of risks, or so I've heard.

[dothemonstermeshi]

[ He's been told some... mostly by Izutsumi. But what information manages to actually sink in is incredibly selective, and seemingly random. ]

Oh, I see. So that's one of the rules of this dungeon.

[ Now, THAT! That, he will make a point to remember. He may even write it down. ]

You can wish for them back from the crystal? is that right?

[ Another thing he had retained, somehow. ]

[placation]

That's correct. Good job.

[ It's like praising a particularly dim student for grasping the basics... Sakamoto all over again... Kinda endearing, honestly. ]

However, if and when you do utilize the crystal, I would recommend being as clear as possible with your wishes. Having no abilities myself, I don't have any direct experience with this, but I've heard from many others that the abilities they've regained have been weakened or altogether different from what they were used to back in their realities.

Just one of the many ways this place can mess with you...

[dothemonstermeshi]

Oh, okay... So if I wanted to ask the crystal to change my name on the Oracle, I shouldn't just go wish for my name to be changed, I should go there and specifically wish for what I want it to be changed to?

[ Yeah, it turns out that the username "layout.today" is not intentional. Who'd-a thunk it? ]

[placation]

That's right. Is that your main concern?

[dothemonstermeshi]

I wouldn't say it's my main concern.

But wish based magic can be dangerous. And it might not be a bad thing to test it out on.

[ And besides, it's kind of embarrassing that he mis-typed his name one time and now he's stuck with it. ]

[placation]

Oh? Dangerous wish-based magic is common in your reality too?