-| U.M.I.R.A. |-

[SHIVERS]

You idly drum on your snout with the pen while you think of a move.

"How's having a body?"
"I like it. It's my first.
...Probably the only one I'll have, so I can't exactly compare.
But I'm enjoying it.
It's nice to be able to move something as my own."

She holds up her hand in front of her face, opening and closing her claws robotically as she watches.

"Feeling muscles and nerves pull and pulse about in response to it.
It's a little exhilarating, in a way.
Not being without one, I'm sure you wouldn't know."
"Weird. 
Probably."

You move your hand as she did, and feel a little sick.
"God, now you got me like... thinking about having muscles and nerves and all that."
"I've cursed you. Have fun."
"Ugh."
"Though, you don't actually have those, for the record."
"...Huh?"
"Concepts don't have--"
"Right. Riiiight rightright."
"You're basically just a weird, empty bag."
"Yeah, well, you're--
Of course I, don't have those.
Nerves are boring, anyways."
"Okay, Herrera."





Another question hits you as you jot down your move.
"Do you uh..." 
You suddenly lose confidence in the question, but it finds its way out regardless, your face scrunching up. 
"...eeaat...?"
She cocks her head, squinting at you as she mimics your odd tone.
"...Yeees?"
"Cool. ...Cool."
You can't work up the nerve to ask 'how'.

Instead, you hand the tray back to her.





"Sooo you... worried about anything?
'Specially with the new body and all that, bet there's a lot going through your head."
"Oh, plenty."
You hang on, expecting a list, but get nothing.

"Do... you wanna talk about any--"
"Nope."
"Cool. Yep. I didn't want to, either, actually.
I mean, not that--
I didn't want to... bother you. 
About it."
"Then why did you ask?"
Your proxy watches you struggle to think of a response, clearly enjoying the show.
"Seemed... like... the nice? 
Thing to do?
For you, I mean.
Since you're new... here."
She doesn't respond, but you think you can see a tiny smile.
Either she liked your response, or was enjoying tormenting you. 

Possibly both.





As she ponders her move, a realization hits you; something you'd really like to know.
"Wait a sec; what's your earliest memory?"
"What's yours?" She fires back instantaneously.

The question blindsides you.

You have no idea.

Probably something from when you were a kid, though you can't remember much from back then.
Could be school.
Or your old friends, none of which stuck.
Or, time spent with your family.
It's difficult to place which singular snippet that hits you comes first chronologically.
And frankly, you'd rather not think about your past right now.

"Not an easy question, is it?"
"Well, but you've kinda got... a lot less than me, though, right?
Memories?" You wince, feeling guilty right away for mentioning it.
But, you already started the train of thought, and you feel like not finishing it would make it come off worse.
"So it... uh... 
...shouuld be... easier to..."
Your volume erodes away the longer you speak, your voice attempting escape.
"...narrow it down?
...Mmaybe?" 

why exactly do you feel the need to blurt out the FIRST THING that pops into your head
please just THINK



Vigil's posture droops ever-so-slightly, as if she's trying to hide how much that affected her.
kill me
"...It isn't by choice... you know."
"Right. No, yeah, totally. I get it."
You rub the back of your neck.
"...Sorry." 

She sighs and puts the pencil down, looking up as she searches her mind.
"...Earliest I can think of at the moment, if I were to try and order them, would be your voice.
Sometimes entire one-sided conversations you'd have with me, sometimes just a phrase or two, or just the vibration from your voice.
But there are other things.
Images of road signs and puddles, the feeling of warmth from sunlight, a name.
And still more that are too fuzzy to discern."



She picks up the pencil once more, finally jotting down her move before passing the tray.
"Is that what you wanted to know, then?"



"Yeah, no, it's... interesting.
Just makes me think like... is there any place you wanna visit?
Down the road or whatever."

"Hmm..."
Vigil once again drifts into deep thought, taking a little time to respond.
"I vaguely remember a big cave system.
One lit up with lots of colored lights.
There were trams down there, and some sections where you could explore on your own.
It was very pretty, I'd definitely like to go there myself."

"Wait. 
Hold up.
That's..." You snap your claws repeatedly, the words on the tip of your tongue. 
"Division Caverns!" You blurt out.
"I haven't been there in years.
How would you have seen it?"
"Probably from you. Your memories."
"...My what?"
"Your memories.
Proxies can pick up memories from those that summon them, especially when a proxy becomes conscious."
She shrugs. "It happens."
"So you just... know things?
About me?
Like stuff I did, or--?"
"Herrera, it's really not anything to worry about.
It can be a natural part of the process."

You are worried.



You can continue talking with Vigil - you're sure there's plenty left to say. 

Though you need to make a move as well.