DI Patricia Menzies (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
grip_on_reality) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
realityshifted2014-10-04 04:49 pm
grip_on_reality) wrote in realityshifted2014-10-04 04:49 pm
Entry tags:
[022]
[in the library, Menzies is sitting in a chair with a book in her lap, but that is everything about her appearance today that could be considered somewhat normal. at the moment, she isn't reading the book. in fact, what she is doing right now is staring at the floor as though she expects something on it to be staring back at her. she's even pulled her legs up to curl them underneath her in the chair, like she's in the middle of one of those jokes about the floor being lava]
[anyone who takes a closer look at her will notice a number of other strange factors in her normally-neat appearance, too. she's dressed casually in jeans and a blouse, her hair pulled back, but it's partially falling out of the hair tie, her clothing is rumpled, and her expression is one of weariness mixed with frustration. there are dark circles under her eyes, too. she obviously hasn't been sleeping well, and she looks suspiciously like she might have been napping in those clothes recently]
Damnit, what is that? What the hell are you!?
[also, she is shouting at the floor. because she is quite possibly at her wit's end at this point and has apparently ceased to care whether someone might overhear. either that or she's just assuming no one is around--incorrectly, as it turns out. still, from the state of her, wise characters might not approach her today...but then again, is wisdom really a strong suit for most residents of the Plane?]
[anyone who takes a closer look at her will notice a number of other strange factors in her normally-neat appearance, too. she's dressed casually in jeans and a blouse, her hair pulled back, but it's partially falling out of the hair tie, her clothing is rumpled, and her expression is one of weariness mixed with frustration. there are dark circles under her eyes, too. she obviously hasn't been sleeping well, and she looks suspiciously like she might have been napping in those clothes recently]
Damnit, what is that? What the hell are you!?
[also, she is shouting at the floor. because she is quite possibly at her wit's end at this point and has apparently ceased to care whether someone might overhear. either that or she's just assuming no one is around--incorrectly, as it turns out. still, from the state of her, wise characters might not approach her today...but then again, is wisdom really a strong suit for most residents of the Plane?]
no subject
You don't owe me an apology. [She shakes her head.] Just do what you can to remember that none of it is real. [A pause.] Would it do any good to tell me exactly what you keep hearing?
no subject
Ah...not sure. [she shifts, fiddling with the book in her hands a bit in nervous agitation. with most people, her response would be a fervent no, but she trusts Jacqli. and there's something about her--something Menzies wouldn't be able to articulate. but Jacqli doesn't judge like regular people. she's more logical than that and, in an odd way, more accepting. it makes Menzies feel safer being open about an issue that could bring her mental stability into question]
[so after a moment's thought, she sighs and gives her a wan smile] All right, don't think you're gonna call me mad, so there's that. And I suppose it can't 'urt--in case I'm not the only lucky recipient of this one. [a remote possibility, maybe, but it's easier for her to think of this in terms of how she might help others than to think of helping herself]
So to start, there's...a sound like something's in the floor. An animal or something. [she pauses, struggling for the right word to describe the sound] I hear it sort of...scuttling. Not all the time, but enough that it's like it's always around. I mean, I was assuming there was more than one since it doesn't seem to matter where I am on the Plane, but maybe that's just because it's...in my 'ead.
[she moves on brusquely from that admission, though] Okay, second. Trying to investigate that, I found out that if I put an ear to the floor, I can 'ear...gears turning. Like a literal machine. Not sure if that's been going on for the same amount of time as the scuttling since I don't normally 'ave an occasion to put an ear to the ground, but it seems likely. And that is constant.
And... [her expression darkens] Well, just to put some icing on the cake, I'm sure, I've also been 'aving...a nightmare. [she hesitates, trying to think of what to say. of the three, this is the hardest for her to talk about, being purely in her mind as it is] I mean...not that that's so strange? But I actually remember it. And more than that, that one's not just restricted to the Plane. It 'appens in Manchester, too. [she pauses for a beat, swallowing hard before she adds:] For days now. Every time I try to sleep. The same nightmare.
[that said, she looks up at Jacqli now, her gaze steady and jaw set, resolutely hiding how scared she is to see the other woman's reaction] That's all of it.
no subject
Gears... That isn't a new sound. Anyone with incredibly sensitive hearing can pick up on a grinding, mechanical noise while they're here.
[She's heard it herself, for one - but only because she was pointedly paying attention, after having read about a previous case, someone who used to be here but doesn't seem to be anymore.] So, no. It isn't entirely hallucination, even if I haven't heard any of the... scuttling you've mentioned.
[She crosses her arms. She really is remaining entirely neutral about this. No, she doesn't think Menzies is off of her rocker. She could probably stand to be a little more sympathetic, though, but she's also working under the assumption that Menzies will be okay if she just pulls herself together and focuses. But... maybe that is positive reinforcement after all - because she actually believes Menzies is capable of doing so, unlike other humans.]
Nightmares are always troublesome. Is there anything in your world that can give you sleep without dreams? Medicine, herbs, rituals...?
no subject
[Menzies is only hoping that she can live up to that sort of opinion and be okay despite these challenges. because she'd like to think that she can handle this, but it's surprising how hard focus can be when you're sleep-deprived. still, she certainly doesn't plan to give in to blind fear either, so she continues trying to be logical, dealing in facts rather than emotional responses. and if anything, Jacqli's response is encouraging to her--it keeps that focus going]
Ah, tried that--medicine, I mean. I still 'ad the nightmare, and it meant after it woke me up, I fell asleep again and...it repeated. [she makes a face; she'd really been hoping that would solve the problem] I mean, I did sleep longer, so it's not a bad idea. But it was just as interrupted. [she sighs] Really, I wouldn't mind any of this so much if I could sleep for more than a couple hours at a time. [her expression tightens into a scowl] But apparently this place 'as other ideas for me right now.
no subject
[She hates uncertainty. It's why she didn't volunteer the information right out. But Menzies asked, and she's not exactly going to not answer. That would be stupid.
She makes a face as well at the thought of longer sleep, but more instances of the nightmare. She'd been afraid of that.]
I'd offer other suggestions if I had any, but I don't. ... I'm sorry, Menzies.
no subject
[but at Jacqli's apology, she looks back up at her in surprise. and then she gives her an actual wry smile--the first smile of any sort that she's properly managed all conversation--and throws her own words back at her] You know, you don't owe me an apology either. [though she appreciates the sentiment, especially coming from Jacqli as it is]
Just... [she pauses, trying to think of what a next step could even be in a situation like this] Keep an eye out for anybody else with similar...symptoms, would you?
[she knows full well that an experiment like this could be affecting her alone, but treating it more like a case than some sort of Plane vendetta against her makes it easier. still, thinking just of her own plans, she sighs and says resignedly:] Otherwise...I guess I'll just 'ave to see 'ow long it lasts. [trying for optimism, she adds:] You know this place--it's bound to get bored eventually. [her attempt at a smile now, however, is much less successful, and instead just looks strained and weary]