I like that I'm me too. I can see how he would have gotten where he was - and I hope that my understanding of how it went is right, because it means he'll be pretty harmless going forward - but I'm glad I didn't wind up in that kind of wedge in the first place, I'm not sure how well I would have done.

:I get that. I'm not sure what I... No, I would've probably been a boring normal person and done boring normal things that didn't save very many people at all. I mean, apart from the thing where I'm a Companion and all: 

I think there's something to be said for that! I was going to be a therapist. Quiet safe work. Probably donate a lot to charity. But -

But then I noticed that my college's vice-chancellor's secretaries kept disappearing, and I warned one, and he almost ate me.

:Yeep! Does that, um, does that sort of thing happen a lot there: 

Depends what you mean. He turned out to be a dragon, those are rare, but ogres eat people. Mermaids do too. I'm probably forgetting some, it's been a while. In a sufficiently classy hotel you can order human meat as room service. It'll just usually be slaves, not secretaries.

:I don't like Materia. ...Except you did come from there, so I guess I'm glad it exists and has some neat people in it even if it's overall horrible: 

It has lots of nice things and plenty of perfectly decent people. I was working on reinventing all the good bits, in Arda.

:Fair enough. Maybe someday we'll find all the good bits of all the world and we can smush them together – huh. Is there actually anything good about our world that one of either Materia or Arda doesn't already have better?: 

I... don't think so.

:Damn it, that's a little embarrassing: 

It has combinations that neither has, and those are worth having! If someone has the three worlds to choose from and they want... the ability to perform experiments on mold and also sunshine... then here is the place to be.

:Fair enough. All right, I'm going to head to the stables for a nice rub-down and then go graze some delicious grass. See you round, Bella: 

"See you." Pat pat.

Sayshen trots off down the field. 

And Bella goes to get a change of robes and lunch and do a shift at Healer's.

It is a quiet and uneventful shift and people are only giving her a few weird looks. Melody is getting more of them, actually. 

Are you doing okay? she asks Melody.

:Mmm, what? Oh, I'm fine. Er, I generally try not to think about my personal feelings about things while I'm at work – ask me later, maybe?: 

Bella tries again after dinner, knock-knock.

:Bella? I'm really glad you're back in town, by the way, if I didn't say that earlier: 

It's good to be back! How are you doing, though, you seemed kinda...

:...Honestly, I don't even know anymore, Bella: Pause. :Want to come over for a bit?: 

Yeah, sure, on my way.

Melody's quarters are very nicely furnished at this point. She offers Bella a comfortably upholstered chair and asks if she would like tea or wine. 

"Neither, thank you."