[Her face is familiar, this human woman in her thirties with dirty blonde hair, but there's age in her eyes, one of them crossed with a scar. Her arms are also marked with little black maze-like lines - you would have had them if you'd held it together - and you pointedly look away from her arms. But you're speaking in your native language, and it's comforting, and you listen to that voice that sounds the same as so long ago.]
"I'm glad to see you too, Bren. I mean, it's been well over a decade that... And still often I've talked about and wondered where you were, if you were okay."
How did I... [You clear your throat and feel yourself breaking into a cold sweat.] How did I get to the Sanatorium?
"We took you there. You had a breaking point and understandably... began to lash out. Part of that same spark that was seen in you could create a lot of sparks everywhere else." [She reaches up and scratches a bit, and you can see there's burn scars on the side of her neck.] "But for your own good. We took care of you. And we brought you there. But we had to subdue you first. You were too dangerous to us and to yourself."
I was there a long time.
"And we always hoped that you'd... that you'd improve, and at times you did, and... I mean, to be honest, even looking at you now and hearing some of the things that you are doing... I mean, you've defied all of our expectations. And if you feel like you've failed, then know that everyone's path goes at different paces. You've certainly proven now that you are in no way or shape a failure."
[She's wrong. She's totally wrong in multiple ways, but you'll always be a failure.]
What are you doing these days?
"I'm doing a bit of tutelage. I'm... doing what we were meant to do, which is keep our people safe."
[It feels like the sweat is freezing on your skin.] Is it difficult for you?
"At times. But I take pride in my work. And I've stopped some terrible things from happening. And I have seen some of the possibilities of what can be done... with the right application with the right minds."
Had you heard, that my, uh, friends and I were here?
[More than friends. Family. Not the same as the one you went and fucked up, that'll never be the same, but you're more comfortable calling them that than anything else, now. Not to other people, but still.]
"And it was rather rapid chatter once Trent had notified us of the return of a lost pup."
[Even though you know he's here, even though you've seen him, even the sound of his name makes your blood run cold. You feel like you can't breathe for a moment, and open your mouth to say something else -]
[Well, whoever this is does. Arthur, on the other hand, comes back to himself.]
Week 2 Thursday Morning [Critical Role 2x89 Spoilers]
"I'm glad to see you too, Bren. I mean, it's been well over a decade that... And still often I've talked about and wondered where you were, if you were okay."
How did I... [You clear your throat and feel yourself breaking into a cold sweat.] How did I get to the Sanatorium?
"We took you there. You had a breaking point and understandably... began to lash out. Part of that same spark that was seen in you could create a lot of sparks everywhere else." [She reaches up and scratches a bit, and you can see there's burn scars on the side of her neck.] "But for your own good. We took care of you. And we brought you there. But we had to subdue you first. You were too dangerous to us and to yourself."
I was there a long time.
"And we always hoped that you'd... that you'd improve, and at times you did, and... I mean, to be honest, even looking at you now and hearing some of the things that you are doing... I mean, you've defied all of our expectations. And if you feel like you've failed, then know that everyone's path goes at different paces. You've certainly proven now that you are in no way or shape a failure."
[She's wrong. She's totally wrong in multiple ways, but you'll always be a failure.]
What are you doing these days?
"I'm doing a bit of tutelage. I'm... doing what we were meant to do, which is keep our people safe."
[It feels like the sweat is freezing on your skin.] Is it difficult for you?
"At times. But I take pride in my work. And I've stopped some terrible things from happening. And I have seen some of the possibilities of what can be done... with the right application with the right minds."
Had you heard, that my, uh, friends and I were here?
[More than friends. Family. Not the same as the one you went and fucked up, that'll never be the same, but you're more comfortable calling them that than anything else, now. Not to other people, but still.]
"And it was rather rapid chatter once Trent had notified us of the return of a lost pup."
[Even though you know he's here, even though you've seen him, even the sound of his name makes your blood run cold. You feel like you can't breathe for a moment, and open your mouth to say something else -]
[Well, whoever this is does. Arthur, on the other hand, comes back to himself.]