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[Jackie appears on the network, looking agitated and wearing an outfit that makes him look like he just stepped out of Carrie.] So, for real, does anyone think we’re not dead and this isn’t just some fucked-up section of hell? ‘Cause I’m not buying it. Between Life, Dreaming, and Death...nah. I know I died. [He still looks shaken when he thinks about it. Given how traumatized he seems and the state of his clothing? The manner of his death wasn’t pretty.] I just think whoever runs this place has a weird sense of humor.

Also… [He looks at his clothes and grimaces. Dammit, this was his favorite hoodie.] Does anyone know how to get bloodstains out? Like...really bad bloodstains? [He shows off the bloodied hoodie, tank top, and jeans he’s wearing.] That healer lady, Milyn or whatever her name is, don’t get me wrong, she fixed me up real good, but she’s no laundromat.

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For my own part, it would have been very close to impossible to suddenly die in the place and company I was directly before appearing here. [She tilts her head a little, looks what she can see of him over some more.] The people here are rather pleasant, for a hell. Further, some of the foreigners have come through with injuries suggesting they were in danger, but to my knowledge nothing immediately fatal. I'd be inclined to say you're not dead.

[Allowing for all possibilities, though.] It is possible, of course, but death behaves... oddly here.

[A beat, in which she taps her fingers on something and thinks.] There is a hospital here. If you're injured again, or simply concerned about your living status, I'd recommend coming by. It's in the Metal sector. [She sends a location ping via the console. She's guessing since he mentioned Milyn that he's not life-threateningly injured despite his astonishingly bloody appearance, but she also knows too many people who like to pretend they're fine when they're really not.]

[Being told that other people here are most likely alive is not really doing much to ease Jackie's concerns. That meant he was sort-of alive again, and he'd only just adjusted to having been killed.] Oddly? Like how?

[When she pings him the hospital's location, he nods gratefully.] Still got a couple broken fingers and toes. Maybe I'll go by there.

Oddly. [She seems like she's about to say more on the topic, then pauses, makes a thinking noise.] Would you mind continuing this vein of discussion in person? I don't trust the consoles lately. I work at the hospital in any case, so it shouldn't be out of the way.

[Yes, Raine has been told she's got a suspicious nature.]

[Jackie knows all about suspicion and paranoia. Especially now.]

Oh. Yeah, okay. Meet you there...soon enough, I guess.

[She gives him another long look, trying to discern if that's a brush-off or actual acquiescence, and after a moment just nods.] Ask for Raine Sage, when you do. I'll be here most of the day.

[Jackie hems and haws, and after a little while he decides to bite the bullet, such as it is, and go see Raine.

The hospital's a nice-looking building. Seems new, too, or at least recently repaired. He almost balks at going in - there's a general distrust of doctors and hospitals in the Sun On Yee, doctors are trouble, doctors ask questions - and being in the hospital hadn't done Uncle Po too much good, either. He'd been getting better, and then, suddenly, bam, Jackie was at his funeral.

Hospitals. He's not a fan. Still, he goes inside, and asks the kedan at the front for Raine Sage.]

[The kedan knows exactly who he's talking about, tells him to wait just a few moments and goes to locate Raine. Raine herself makes it out some minutes after the kedan has resumed their post. It takes her a moment to spot Jackie, but when she does she heads straight for him. She's holding a staff a few inches shorter than she is, too unbalanced to be a real weapon and too tall to be a walking stick.]

Good, you came. You said you still had some broken fingers, correct? [A pause for realization.] I didn't ask your name, earlier.

[At least his injuries are far less dire than the state of his clothing earlier implied they had been. Perhaps this is something she won't pry for details on, for a change.]

[Jackie's a little surprised by the big stick in Raine's hand. It's a little big, but who knows, maybe it's a support cane. Probably wouldn't be too bad for whacking people, either.

He nods at her question.] Yeah. Couple toes too, I think. I kind of lost track after a while. [He does his level best to sound nonchalant, like he's not talking about the brutal torture he'd endured, in his frame of reference, only a scant few hours ago. Dying took the edge off the pain, maybe, or maybe he was still too hopped up on adrenaline to properly feel it.]

I'm Jackie. Jackie Ma.

A pleasure to meet you. [Completely said for the purpose of being one of those things you say upon being introduced to people. Raine's mind is busy putting together one and one and coming up with torture, and she very much disapproves.] May I see? I'd like to ensure nothing heals crooked that could have been avoided. This won't take long.

[In all truth there's higher than average odds that even if a bone or a fragment is out of place, the spell will catch it, but she likes to cover all her bases and be mindful of how much energy she expends.]

Yeah, likewise. [He holds up his left hand for Raine to see. The pinky and ring finger have been broken, and if Raine is familiar with these types of breaks, she might be able to tell that it was done with a hammer.] Thanks for taking a look at this, by the way. 'preciate it.

[As much as she wishes she wasn't, Raine has seen so many different kinds of injuries by now that the first few seconds of looking are enough to tell her that while it could have been an accident, it likely wasn't. He doesn't seem the type for carpentry.] It's no trouble. I have the ability to help, and can't in good conscience ignore that.

[Exceptions are made contextually.]

[She examines his fingers carefully, not touching; she can tell it looks like a multiple fracture, probably, but nothing's so far displaced as to be breaking skin, and fingers are delicate enough she doesn't want to mess with it more simply to save energy.] All right. This shouldn't hurt much if at all. If it does, say something immediately.

[She half-closes her eyes, and a circle of white light spins into existence under them. That disappears momentarily, in favor of a warm green glow around the broken fingers. The bones should pull together completely with a minimum of discomfort.] Cure. How's that?

[Jackie nods. Doctor types had a creed or something, right? The Hippo-something Oath. Hippopotamus Oath? No. That didn't sound right. He lets her examine his hand.] So what, you gonna splint it or--?

[And he abruptly stops talking when the white light circle and green glow happen. Damn, does everyone and their mother know how to do magic around here? He feels a slight pull as things knit back together, and it's weird, but the pain fades with the glow and his hand doesn't hurt anymore. He tests his fingers experimentally.] Damn, it's...better. [He looks up at Raine, disbelief on his face. He's seen magic a fair amount in the past few hours, but he's still getting used to it.] How'd you do that?

[The look on his face is a little gratifying. She smiles back.] Good. It's a healing arte-- in short, I used my own energy to direct and greatly speed your rate of healing. [Any longer of an explanation would turn into a full blown academic lecture.] Your toes, as well?

[Cure should have been enough to fix anyone completely, but Jackie was a human with what seems to be an average healing rate, and it's taken Raine this long to adjust to having to overpower every healing she does. It's just safer to double check.]

Uh. [Jackie gingerly flexes his foot in his sneaker. No pain response from his toes; the throbbing pain he'd very nearly gotten used to over the course of the day had faded as well.] I think they're fixed.

[That healing arte sounds dead useful. Would sure have made a difference back home.] Could you teach me how to do that?

Excellent. [Things working as they should is cause enough to be at least a little pleased, here and now.]

[But that fades shortly, and she looks a little apologetic. People who want to learn, people who might actually desire for whatever reason to intake the magical knowledge she has in plenty, are uncommon enough as it is, and she doesn't want to disappoint him, but...] Unless you're an elf or a half-elf, or otherwise have the ability to sense mana, I likely can't pass the techniques on, though I'd be happy to if I could. The ore known as Aionis could also confer that ability on a human, but I don't know that I could come by it here.

There are some classes offered here on mundane first aid, at least, but most of the magic-users I've met don't seem to be able to pass on their skills.

[And, because that is part of why she asked him to come here instead of persisting via network,] How much have you gathered about the situation here?

[Jackie looks disappointed for a second. There's someone else telling him he can't do something, he's not smart enough, he's not fast enough, he's not strong enough.] Oh.

I guess...maybe I could learn some first aid stuff. Something a little better than putting a band-aid on whatever. [Elves, half-elves, Aionis...yup, more weird D&D bullshit.] So what, are you an elf or something? Like that guy from those Lord of the Rings movies, the one Conroy had a crush on before he figured out he wasn't a chick?

[He bites his lip at her question.] Uh. There's a name I'm not supposed to say, and there's some lantern or other I probably shouldn't spend too much time away from.

[She genuinely feels bad about disappointing him but there really isn't a way around the biological limitations, to the best of her knowledge. Maybe if Regal were here, but she's no martial artist and wouldn't know where to begin with those artes.] I believe the receptionist has more information, if you're interested in first aid. It can prove invaluable.

[Some of the rest of what Jackie says makes very little sense on first listen, but she can mostly extrapolate from context.] Or something. I'm a half-elf. [It doesn't sound like something she's particularly proud of, though.] Lord of the Rings?

You're right on both name and lantern. The first is of an ancient evil that we were brought here to help combat, and the second keeps you anchored, so to speak. Death, at least for foreigners, is a little atypical here. [Raine doesn't know what all he's had explained, so is aiming for simply some of the high points, expecting he'll ask if he's unclear.]

[He tries a smile.] Yeah. Maybe I will.

[Jackie pauses and shakes his head.] Yeah, uh. Sorry. Forget I said anything.

[At the mention of death being atypical, he gives a wry laugh.] I, uh, kind of figured. Normally when people die, they stay dead. And I'm a little worried about this lantern keeping me anchored, since it looks pretty flimsy...

If you do, there's also the option to work as a field medic. Often foreigners undertake dangerous missions for the Emperor, with the end goal of damaging the enemy's hold. Having someone capable with even basic medical techniques with them can be useful. [A little shrug.] It's your choice, however. [She is probably pushing this a bit overenthusiastically, but the help is always good to have.]

[But she doesn't want to forget he said anything.] No need to worry about it. I'm simply curious.

[And to his statement about people staying dead, she nods along.] The anchor is spiritual, not physical, but either way the lanterns are more sturdy than they look. That's not to say touching them much is a good idea, as they do contain our souls, but a little bit of caution and care is all that's required. And if you should die while here, they keep you from a permanent death. [She's come to terms with all this already, and is a bit more blunt about it than optimal with someone still adjusting.]

No kiddin'? [The mention of worrying away at the enemy is intriguing, and it's obvious.] Like, what kind of missions?

[He looks a bit rattled at the thought of the soul lanterns.] Shit, man, I'm not gonna be messing with those! [Souls are real??? Souls are real. Souls are real, and they can be kept in lanterns.]

No kidding. [A small, quirked smile.] It varies. There have been missions to make contact with other cities and civilizations, to see what aid they might render. There are more violent missions, rescues or infiltrations, but I don't have the details of those. Most are relatively confidential.

[She does turn a little graver as it comes to the subject of the lanterns, though.] A wise decision. I can't say I like the idea of the lanterns, but it seems to have been the only available option, and I don't think there's any changing it at this point.

[Jackie's thinking. The little hamster wheel in his head is going. Go, hamster wheel, go!] Huh.

So I'm walking around without a...a soul in my body? What the fuck!

[Raine regards him dispassionately, without apparent concern on the topic of souls or lack thereof.] You're still you, aren't you? You haven't been left an empty shell, it's simply that your essence is anchored to an external vessel. It's unsettling, but not harmful, if care is exercised.

[Probably no one should be this calm about not having their soul in their body. Not pictured here: several hours of staring at her own lantern trying to get to grips with the issue.]

[Jackie still looks rattled. Raine's spiel hasn't really done all that much to calm him down...but he trusts her, because she helped him.] Yeah, well, I'm not exactly cool with having my soul hanging out somewhere that isn't in me! Is there any way we can like, fix that?

[She opens her free hand palm up, gives a little shrug.] The magic appears to be... particular. The person to talk to about that would be Evastelei, the one who moved them, but my understanding is that the person initially responsible for the appropriation of our souls is, unfortunately, dead. There may be little recourse for tampering with the spellwork, and the backlash has the potential to be unpleasant.

[There's a pause, as Raine studies him thoughtfully. Then she adds,] At any rate, this method for keeping a soul separate from the body does seem benign.

[Left loudly unsaid: this could be much, much worse.]

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