#thread.nakia

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @vig1lantnakia location: THE JUNGLE timestamp: 7 DAYS AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Baskar thought they were doing well given the circumstances: haunted, hearing EVERYTHING, a little jumpy, but still managed to make people like them. Or well, they hoped people liked them. It would be sad if people didn’t. Though maybe they were more of a try-hard then. That was alright, they could be a try-hard now and be a friend later. They didn’t mind. They had more time now, they didn’t need to make people like them right away, they didn’t need to establish connections quickly. They were out of harm's way, they could stay here, rest here, keep a life here. 

And Nakia seemed the perfect person to hang out with, someone who actually had a power that was interesting to Baskar, who’d attempted to get a robotics degree. The fact that they’d managed to get the other to come with them to find more bananas to cut down was both a surprise and a gift. Though he tried not to go into asking questions right away, instead leading Nakia through the jungle and telling them of all the other places he’d found bananas before. “I know there are more around here,” he explained to them. “I’ve been in the jungle a few times before, they’re pretty high up, but when I lived in Indonesia me and friends would always go out and look for them. There weren’t a lot of wild banana trees, so we mostly had to beg older people if we could cut them down from their garden and share the harvest, but we always managed to get a few.” 

“Oh, there is a cave there, maybe we can check it out, there probably won’t be bananas in there, but I can try and hear if there is anyone, make sure it’s safe.” Adventuring. They really did feel like a kid back in Indonesia. They already had their hands on the construction headphones. 

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh smiled. The smile he reserved for people who said his situation sucked. It fucking did. But he tried to keep the words close that he should not make other people the victim of his own anger, his own helplessness. Still, he felt like begging the other to think again, to think harder. Surely they might find that name somewhere. They had to. Else he was going to walk around with the wrong name. 

“I get plenty of reminders,” he agreed through gritted teeth. He tried to ignore the frustration, but he always managed just a little bit. Just enough. He shrugged at the question thrown back at him. Though he considered the other’s answer: IT guy, helpdesk. Nothing was helping to make any memories boil up. And since the other recognised him - hopefully - it got to him even more. 

“Not many computers around here,” he said. “Camera’s though. Do you have experience with that too?” Or insights. Then he considered things for himself, sighed. “From the looks of me, I think I was probably not having a job or a home before I got here. That might be an oversimplification and perhaps I just liked dressing up like I didn’t have a shower.”

Their gaze swims over the person who calls himself Adarsh, the lines of his face, his clothing. The name feels as if it is at the tip of their tongue, an itch at the back of their mind. But it does not find Nakia, no matter how much they try. They will think of this for days to come, trying to bring themself to remember it somehow- for it must be there. They hate the feeling of failure, it tastes bitter on their tongue. Despite their own irritation at themself, they try to keep it hidden, not wanting to upset the other further. It seems like a terrible situation already, and there is no need for Nakia to make it worse. They don't utter another apology, for it seems as if that would be in vain. Instead, they tilt their head forward, and opt for honesty. "That... sucks." "Not that you need me to remind you that." Hands buried in the pockets of their sweatshirt, Nakia wonders if it would make any difference if they told him their actual profession. Not that they will or they actually could, it's a hypothetical that they consider only for a few seconds. "I was an IT guy. Helpdesk, helping people with their laptops, and all that. what about you?"

[mc-adarsh]

I usually have a good memory. 

The prickly sensation that settled on his skin was one of terrors he couldn’t really explain yet. His memories had been taken away, he had no idea who he was. And now he found someone who recognised him, and they too had no idea. Had he been erased? Was this all on purpose? 

His mouth felt dry. “I don’t,” he said, watching the other closely, hoping a closer look might spark anything. But if they hadn’t known him very well, who was to say he had. What if they’d only met in passing? What if they hadn’t met at all but he just looked like someone they’d seen before? He swallowed, but it did little to settle the feeling of dread. “I don’t know anyone.” 

He took a deep breath and shook his head. “I have no idea, I don’t know what I did before this, I don’t know… anything from before I came here, nothing at all. kuchh nahin.” He put his hands on his hips in frustration. “What did you do?” he asked them, hooded eyes looking back at the other. 

The first question doesn't seem right, as they watch the person in front of them, taking in all the details of his face. The hopeful tone of his voice, the questions that follow after one another, it all points at something Nakia does not know just yet. It also does not help how the actual name of this person is not something the techie knows. All they know is that it wasn't Adarsh — yet the actual answer isn't anywhere within their memory. It vexes them. Nakia hates not knowing things. "I — I think I do." They start, though their tone does not convey much confidence. The details are missing — does this have to do with their appearance here? Or is it disconnected to the mystery of the island? Nakia does not know. This many mysteries all at once does not spell anything good. "I don't remember very clearly, but you seem familiar. I can't point out when, or where. I usually have a really good memory." "You don't know me either then, huh?" When initially reaching out, their theory was that the person would remember them too. Does not seem it will be the case. Then, the person continues to speak, and Nakia realizes they have been a little inconsiderate, going off from the frustration and hesitance in Adarsh's words. "Sorry- to hear that." It's quieter, awkward, yet genuine. Losing their memories would probably be the only thing that could make this whole experience even worse. "I thought you would too. And we would figure it out after that —" The words are probably too honest, and Nakia pulls back a little, both literally and metaphorically. "It's fine- we can figure it out. What did you use to do for work? Back... back at home?"

[mc-adarsh]

Adarsh was convinced he was very much alone: nobody knew him, understood him, or seemed to much care for what he was going through. And now with his antics the day before, he was certain most people would keep away from him. Right now: he welcomed it.

But on the long run… he knew he was going to feel even more miserable for it.

When someone said his name - the one he thought was his, hoped was his - he barely reacted. It wasn’t until a face came into view that he realised he was being spoken to.

He frowned. “You know me?” he asked, hopefulness coming into his voice, scratching against his mind like a sudden wave of daggers. “You recognise me?” Recognise, he’d learned that word now. “What do you know me from?” He felt on the brink of shaking the other, demanding to know everything when the question got him off guard. “Another name? I… no, I don’t know. I don’t know if Adarsh is my name,” he admitted.

He felt suddenly frustrated for oversharing. For sharing his emotions without having needed to explode for some reason. He took a deep breath and studied the other. Nothing dawned. No emotions bubbled to the surface, the empty void stared back and watched with without supplying any information.

“I don’t know you,” he said, as the frantic look crossed his face. “There is nothing… shouldn’t I remember you?”

Maybe the other was wrong. Maybe they’d never crossed paths.

𝙻𝙾𝙲𝙰𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 : THE HUB, ON ISLAND. 𝙵𝚁𝙾𝙼 : SAAD, NAKIA. 𝚃𝙾 : ???, █████, ADARSH. [ @mc-adarsh ]

Nakia is nowhere near a spiritual person. Their belief lies with technology and science, and if there is anything unexplainable, they poke at it with a Phillips screwdriver until they can figure it out, or let it bother them until they come up with an agreeable theory to a problem. This, however, the feeling they have that they know this person — is not one they can figure out as easily as switching the RAM from their computer. They let it fester for a few hours, before making their way to the other, attempting their best at looking non-threatening. With their average height and hunched-over posture, they rarely do. Nakia is the type of person you don't notice sitting at the corner of a cafe, or the subway. It often works in their favor. "Hey- Adarsh, isn't it?" The hacker starts, mulling over their words before speaking them into existence. The tips of their lips are curled in an attempt at a smile, though nothing genuine crossed their expression much since they mysteriously appeared on this island. Maybe they will get used to it eventually, though Nakia seriously doubts it's any time soon. "It's Nakia." They begin, a proper greeting, even if it feels wrong on their tongue. Have they done this before? At another time, and another place? "I was wondering... If you go by any other names?" The cat's out of the figurative box, and they attempt to clarify the odd question. "I could swear we met before — but the name Adarsh really does not ring a bell, for some reason."