Travel Log: An Insanity Clinic Spinoff

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

Just now, Spark of Hope said:

“Corrupt government?” she guessed.

"Very much so. We might be able to start fixing it."

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, InfiniteInsanity said:

"Very much so. We might be able to start fixing it."

“So… we go inside, we find the people who started the meeting here?"

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

3 minutes ago, Spark of Hope said:

“So… we go inside, we find the people who started the meeting here?"

"We go to the meeting. And decide if we like and trust them, and if so, join them. We have no idea who started this whole group."

[Through the Living Hope]

1 hour ago, InfiniteInsanity said:

"We go to the meeting. And decide if we like and trust them, and if so, join them. We have no idea who started this whole group."

“Okay.”

[Through the Living Hope]

@InfiniteInsanity

Aventine turned away. Then she winced. She felt a quick pain right at the center of her ribcage, where.. that dark being.. had first stabbed her. Her hand drifted upwards as the memories came back. She closed her eyes.

Elan noticed.

You okay?

Fine. Just.. memories. I don’t want to talk about it.

Are you sure?

Yes.

She took a deep breath quietly and opened her eyes.

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

On 3/11/2026 at 3:36 PM, Through the Living Hope said:

@InfiniteInsanity

Aventine turned away. Then she winced. She felt a quick pain right at the center of her ribcage, where.. that dark being.. had first stabbed her. Her hand drifted upwards as the memories came back. She closed her eyes.

Elan noticed.

You okay?

Fine. Just.. memories. I don’t want to talk about it.

Are you sure?

Yes.

She took a deep breath quietly and opened her eyes.

Insa noticed. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she seemed to almost scan over Aventine. She then glanced between Ave and Elan as though she could tell they were talking. 

Something was wrong, that much she could tell. But she had missed a lot in avoiding life earlier, so she had no clue what it could be. She ran through options in her mind. The likelihood, considering what seemed to be a general commonality between most Clinic members, is that if she asked, Aventine would deny it. So that wouldn't work. 

She thought for a moment longer.

"I know of a place we could rest until it's time to go to the meeting. And perhaps, you guys could catch me up on how things... changed while I was gone."

[Through the Living Hope]

22 minutes ago, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa noticed. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she seemed to almost scan over Aventine. She then glanced between Ave and Elan as though she could tell they were talking. 

Something was wrong, that much she could tell. But she had missed a lot in avoiding life earlier, so she had no clue what it could be. She ran through options in her mind. The likelihood, considering what seemed to be a general commonality between most Clinic members, is that if she asked, Aventine would deny it. So that wouldn't work. 

She thought for a moment longer.

"I know of a place we could rest until it's time to go to the meeting. And perhaps, you guys could catch me up on how things... changed while I was gone."

“Yeah.. a bit of a rest would be nice,” she admitted.

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

1 minute ago, Through the Living Hope said:

“Yeah.. a bit of a rest would be nice,” she admitted.

Insa nodded. "Perfect." She pointed down the road to a simple building, which was larger than most they could see in the little town, though relatively still small. "That's where we'll go. It's a little inn. We can get a decent room for pretty cheap." 

She began walking, motioning them to follow. 

 

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa nodded. "Perfect." She pointed down the road to a simple building, which was larger than most they could see in the little town, though relatively still small. "That's where we'll go. It's a little inn. We can get a decent room for pretty cheap." 

She began walking, motioning them to follow. 

 

Aventine nodded and quietly took a deep breath as she followed. Elan stayed by her side.

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

On 3/13/2026 at 9:54 AM, Through the Living Hope said:

Aventine nodded and quietly took a deep breath as she followed. Elan stayed by her side.

Insa led them into the inn and approached the front desk. She got the keys to a few rooms and then started to head up the stairs.

She's silent for a moment as she climbs the stairs. "Aventine, tell me what's wrong, please."

[Through the Living Hope]

1 minute ago, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa led them into the inn and approached the front desk. She got the keys to a few rooms and then started to head up the stairs.

She's silent for a moment as she climbs the stairs. "Aventine, tell me what's wrong, please."

She swallowed. “It’s just.. it’s a painful memory that came on suddenly. I’m fine.”

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

3 minutes ago, Through the Living Hope said:

She swallowed. “It’s just.. it’s a painful memory that came on suddenly. I’m fine.”

Insa opened a door and held it open for Aventine and Elan. 

"Usually memories don't involve wincing."

She looked Aventine in the eye. "I won't send you back or anything, but if I don't know what's happening, I can't help at all. You won't scare me off. I fought in the Kaos Wars. I've nearly lost my free will. I've had all manner of pain inflicted on me. At this point, I would be very shocked if any story you had to tell me actually shocked me."

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa opened a door and held it open for Aventine and Elan. 

"Usually memories don't involve wincing."

She looked Aventine in the eye. "I won't send you back or anything, but if I don't know what's happening, I can't help at all. You won't scare me off. I fought in the Kaos Wars. I've nearly lost my free will. I've had all manner of pain inflicted on me. At this point, I would be very shocked if any story you had to tell me actually shocked me."

She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak, but she choked on the words. Her tongue just wouldn’t let her speak. She swallowed and tried once more and, this time, once she got started, the story just started to spill out. 

The terrified young boy she’d taken in as her son. His rapid growth within a few days. His betrayal, the reveal that it had all been a lie. The fire and sand in the clinic hallway. The five times the knife entered her body, the slam against a sand dune. Pain so bad she couldn’t move. Elan coming to save her and killing the boy. Maybe reliving it wouldn’t hurt so bad if she were able to cry right now. Elan put his arm around her shoulders. 

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

4 minutes ago, Through the Living Hope said:

She took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak, but she choked on the words. Her tongue just wouldn’t let her speak. She swallowed and tried once more and, this time, once she got started, the story just started to spill out. 

The terrified young boy she’d taken in as her son. His rapid growth within a few days. His betrayal, the reveal that it had all been a lie. The fire and sand in the clinic hallway. The five times the knife entered her body, the slam against a sand dune. Pain so bad she couldn’t move. Elan coming to save her and killing the boy. Maybe reliving it wouldn’t hurt so bad if she were able to cry right now. Elan put his arm around her shoulders. 

Insa listened to the whole story. The only readable expression she wore the whole time was a quiet empathy and understanding. 

Inside, there's a growing guilt. Life was already bad for people in the Clinic. Adventures galore, sure. But often with a high cost. Often, except for a full-on universal war, being in the Clinic was just a way to find healing and a reprieve between adventures. Then they all tried to act tough and keep going. In this case, Insa could directly trace an added burden to an already burdened life back to her and her actions. Influenced by a god, sure. But still her actions. And even beyond that, when Bookwyrm had disappeared, she had practically disappeared as well. Maybe she could have helped.

You could have been a hero.

Shut up. You didn't even want me in the Clinic.

And I never wanted to be a hero. I only wish I had been able to help. 

"I'm so sorry, Aventine." She stood and moved to a small table. A pitcher of water and a few glasses sat on top. She poured a glass and brought it over to her. "Drink."

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa listened to the whole story. The only readable expression she wore the whole time was a quiet empathy and understanding. 

Inside, there's a growing guilt. Life was already bad for people in the Clinic. Adventures galore, sure. But often with a high cost. Often, except for a full-on universal war, being in the Clinic was just a way to find healing and a reprieve between adventures. Then they all tried to act tough and keep going. In this case, Insa could directly trace an added burden to an already burdened life back to her and her actions. Influenced by a god, sure. But still her actions. And even beyond that, when Bookwyrm had disappeared, she had practically disappeared as well. Maybe she could have helped.

You could have been a hero.

Shut up. You didn't even want me in the Clinic.

And I never wanted to be a hero. I only wish I had been able to help. 

"I'm so sorry, Aventine." She stood and moved to a small table. A pitcher of water and a few glasses sat on top. She poured a glass and brought it over to her. "Drink."

The glass slightly shook as she lifted it to her mouth. It seemed to calm her down a bit, but the water did nothing to remove the memories now bouncing through her head. 

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

4 minutes ago, Through the Living Hope said:

The glass slightly shook as she lifted it to her mouth. It seemed to calm her down a bit, but the water did nothing to remove the memories now bouncing through her head. 

"Did you ever get everything treated? Like by Ash or any other infirmary staff member?"

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, InfiniteInsanity said:

"Did you ever get everything treated? Like by Ash or any other infirmary staff member?"

“Um…”

I got it, Elan sent to her, then switched to sending to Insa. After her injuries, she received painkillers- and nothing more- from Jar Man. She was then captured by a group that tries to turn magic-welders into soldiers free of emotion. They cleaned and treated her wounds, but gave her nothing for pain and weren’t exactly careful with her. She was only there for a few hours, but it’s still a horrible memory. 

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

On 3/16/2026 at 10:00 AM, Through the Living Hope said:

“Um…”

I got it, Elan sent to her, then switched to sending to Insa. After her injuries, she received painkillers- and nothing more- from Jar Man. She was then captured by a group that tries to turn magic-welders into soldiers free of emotion. They cleaned and treated her wounds, but gave her nothing for pain and weren’t exactly careful with her. She was only there for a few hours, but it’s still a horrible memory. 

Insa nodded slowly. "Would you mind if I took a look? I know a little about long-term treatment for wounds, and especially ones that have magic. They cut me across my back with my sword. I took care of it mostly on my own. And of course, Ash and I are friends, and I've watched her work before. Maybe I could help a little? If not, that's alright."

She smiled gently. "It's up to you. And I'm glad you were able to tell me about this."

[Through the Living Hope]

10 minutes ago, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa nodded slowly. "Would you mind if I took a look? I know a little about long-term treatment for wounds, and especially ones that have magic. They cut me across my back with my sword. I took care of it mostly on my own. And of course, Ash and I are friends, and I've watched her work before. Maybe I could help a little? If not, that's alright."

She smiled gently. "It's up to you. And I'm glad you were able to tell me about this."

“Y-yeah, that’s fine-“

”Wait, I just remembered,” Elan interrupted, “Lerac healed her as well.”

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

8 minutes ago, Through the Living Hope said:

“Y-yeah, that’s fine-“

”Wait, I just remembered,” Elan interrupted, “Lerac healed her as well.”

Insa nodded. "Lerac is pretty good at what he does." She thought for a moment. "Two questions. How long ago did the stabbing happen? How often does this cause you pain?"

[Through the Living Hope]

Just now, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa nodded. "Lerac is pretty good at what he does." She thought for a moment. "Two questions. How long ago did the stabbing happen? How often does this cause you pain?"

She looked down. “A few weeks ago, maybe. This is the first time.”

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

1 minute ago, Through the Living Hope said:

She looked down. “A few weeks ago, maybe. This is the first time.”

Insa raised an eyebrow. "A few weeks ago? You got stabbed five times in a manner of betrayal a few weeks ago?"

[Through the Living Hope]

2 minutes ago, InfiniteInsanity said:

Insa raised an eyebrow. "A few weeks ago? You got stabbed five times in a manner of betrayal a few weeks ago?"

She watched the tiny ripples in her cup of water and didn’t answer. 

[InfiniteInsanity she/her]

1 minute ago, Through the Living Hope said:

She watched the tiny ripples in her cup of water and didn’t answer. 

"Aventine? Have you truly had any rest since then?"

[Through the Living Hope]

3 minutes ago, InfiniteInsanity said:

"Aventine? Have you truly had any rest since then?"

She nodded a little. 

Elan confirmed. “She’s had time to rest. Having other things to think about helps.”