SWITCHBOARD

[transmittable]

If you'd like to ask the Transmitter something over the phone, go right ahead! The Transmitter will answer the phone as soon as she's available. Leaving messages is impossible, given how old these phones are, but you should be able to reach her at almost all hours.

Comments are screened for privacy; all Patients are offered confidentiality, didn't you know?

Comments

[transmittable]

[ A moment and...the usual static and feedback, nothing off like this morning. Except for how tired the Transmitter sounds. ]

Yes. My voice is working, a lot better than it was.

[nachetanya]

Ah, that's good.

[ Nachetanya... once more slinks into that sitting position she's been in for most of this calls. ]

Direct intervention as decided upon, it seems? Or was that always in the program?

[transmittable]

...You mean the incentive, or their little show of displaying it?

[nachetanya]

Both, actually. But if you're asking, that would imply that one was intended but not the other.

[transmittable]

The incentives were going to start no matter what. After the first week, that...here was no stopping that. How it happened, that's... That was unexpected.

[nachetanya]

Are you alright? I was told you needed to take vicodin, and a different voice took over the phone.

[transmittable]

It's nothing that hasn't happened before. Or...won't happen again, probably. I'm just a little out of practice with it.

[nachetanya]

What is "it," though?

[ she does sound genuinely concerned.

... Well I mean the Transmitter of all people knows Nachetanya is an amazing liar so who knows if that's true or not but she sure sounds it ]

[transmittable]

...what do you think? I'm sure you all talked about it, it... It was the Risen.

[nachetanya]

I know that much, yes. But I'm actually a little bit unsure about why you ended up suffering for it.

[transmittable]

Because that's how it works. ...If they want to have full-reign, it's not really fun for me.

[nachetanya]

[ . . . She presses her lips together and she then asks, ]

Do you share a body?

[transmittable]

[ ... ]

Yeah. We do.

[nachetanya]

[ That... explains a lot. She glances down at herself. ]

Rin said you had a migraine earlier - would you prefer that I text you or speak softer?

[ Not that Nachetanya's sweet baby bird voice (in contrast to her true personality) is particularly sharp ]

[transmittable]

No, it's...mostly pretty much gone by now. Achey other places, but the head's alright, mostly.

[nachetanya]

I see.

[ She exhales again - ]

I had taken it for granted the Risen was an organization. Could it be that it's just another individual?

[transmittable]

No. It's more. They're more.

[nachetanya]

[ . . . Wouldn't that- ]

All within one body?

[transmittable]

Assertive. I can't answer that. ...Don't push for things I can't answer.

[ There's an underlying tone of worry in her voice. ]

[nachetanya]

You know that I have to, and that I will based on how we've handled things so far.

[ Her tone softens. ]

But I'll drop that for tonight, at least so directly. Why don't you chose what we talk about?

[transmittable]

...How do you like the new rooms?

[nachetanya]

Honestly, I've only sparingly been in them. My first time lingering with the room with the machines was this morning. I think I will spend more time in that art room soon, though.

The medicine room had a great deal of useful things in it, as well. The number of beds reminded me of the dining hall.

[transmittable]

Yeah, that one's... The art room's better. We- ...We tried to make sure there were many things of use in the infirmary. Hopefully it'll be put to good use.

[nachetanya]

I confess, I have less experience with art than you might expect for a princess. I did some letter work, but I never learned to embroider or sew... Actually, I suppose that's more a matter for that sewing room. But I've rarely painted either.

[transmittable]

Take some time. Channel creativity. ...You know, hospitals- they have a lot of different kinds of...things like that for people to use. Art therapy, craft therapy. Like that. Something for people to focus on to take their minds off everything else.