Narrator:
Episode 3 = Das Haus Der Jennys
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Interior = Das Haus der Jennys [Parlour]
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Well, good morning, sleeping beauty. Did you sleep well, Mumei? (Playful, teasing tone)
Narrator:
Asks Jenny Dreaming as Jeni Mumei steps into the room, shutting the door to her bedroom garage behind her. Jenny Dreaming cannot help but think about what they've all done to her… She knows what Jeni Mumei is going through; they all do.
Jeni Mumei:
*yawn* Depends on how you mean. It was fine until I was suddenly awoken by an unexpected triple orgasm. [slightly groggy voice]
Jenny Awake:
Oh, yes. Sorry about that, Mumei. We were all deeply distressed last night after bringing you into the collective. We all needed an endorphin flood to ease the emotional storm, as it were.
The options we figured were either cry it out or love it out, and since our dear Dreaming is a consummate non-cryer, we decided on the latter option. I'm afraid what you experienced is just one of the side effects of us all technically being of one mind and one flesh. With time, you'll learn to filter out unwanted sensations caused by our collective link.
Narrator:
Explains Jenny Awake from her position on a nearby couch, where she sits, clicking around the colorful blocks of a Rubik's cube.
Jeni Mumei:
That reminds me, aren't I dead? And what do you mean by emotional storm?
Jenny Somewhere:
The dead thing is a bit of a tricky question. The simplest answer is that you are both dead and alive. Your corpse was left back in your world, but you are still very much alive, as part of the same psionic collective to which we are all a part.
Narrator:
Replies Jenny Somewhere, who sits in a chair in the corner, a book in one hand and a mug of morning coffee in the other.
Jeni Mumei:
But I no longer have an actual physical body?
Jenny Awake:
Again, yes and no. You see, none of us have our physical bodies anymore, and so we share a sort of physical homunculus body that we all affectionately call 'Jenny Nowhere,' which takes on the flesh and blood appearance of whichever Jenny is in the primary driver's seat.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Now, as for the emotional storm part of your question, we wanted to discuss that with you, actually.
Jeni Mumei:
Okay?
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
We meant your grief and pain. We all felt it last night just as much as you did. We don't want to gloss over what we did to you. That's no way to start our new relationship with you, and to do so would only disrespect what we know you are going through.
We know you are a person who keeps their pain inside. We respect that. But we want you to know that we acknowledge what we took from you. We know you loved her as we now all do. You see, you're one of us now, so your emotions are our emotions. Your memories are our memories. Your love for her is now our love for her. Your loss and grief is something we all now share. You are not alone.
Jeni Mumei:
I see, sort of… I'm sorry. This is all just a lot to process.
Jenny Awake:
You have nothing to be sorry for! It is a lot for us, too. We're new to this, too; none of us are experts. We are just trying to learn the ropes of the situation as we go.
Jeni Mumei:
Like you said, I grieve in private. That's who I am, but last night I dreamed of a girl. A girl I've never met, but I know I would do anything for. I know how much this girl means to all of you because I feel it in my heart.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere and Jenny Awake in Unison:
Little sis. [mournful sombre tone]
Jenny Awake:
Her name is Anytime. She's the one who was stolen from us, the one we all seek to save. [mournful sombre tone]
Jeni Mumei:
Right. Anytime. Got it…. I think? As for what you did to me, what you took from me… What's done is done. Nothing can change that now. But I do understand why you did it. I feel your love for this girl... your need to save her at all costs. If I were in your position, and it was Kitty, I would do the same thing.
I guess what I'm trying to say is,... You can't change the past, and I'm here now. Your mission is my mission, so I'm ready to help in whatever way I can. Now I would prefer it if we drop this subject.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Fair enough. Awake made breakfast. If you want some?
Jeni Mumei:
Yeah, breakfast sounds nice. Thank you.
Jenny Awake:
YAY! I did it! I solved this multicoloured torture puzzle! You must be a lucky charm, Mumei! You become part of us and BAM! I finally fucking crack this thing!
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere and Jenny Somewhere in Unison:
*Amused laughs at their precious Awake*
Jenny Somewhere:
Come on, let's get you to the kitchen so you can eat. [Amused tone]
Narrator:
Replies Somewhere, who walks over to Jenny Mumei and takes her by the hand, leading her to the kitchen with Dreaming and Awake following close behind.
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Interior = Das Haus der Jenny [Kitchen}
Jeni Mumei:
So what is this place, anyway?
Jenny Awake:
We call it Das Haus der Jenny. Dreaming and I are both German, and because it was our fusing that created this psyscape reality, or whatever you want to call it, it seems to have taken on the form of our 'family's' ancestral manor.
Jeni Mumei:
Wait, so you and Dreaming are like sisters in the biological sense?
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Oh, no, no, and I could never see her that way. To me, she was and is the only true love of my life from the first time I looked into her eyes as she forced back the hell of my own nightmares. In that way, she has always been my one true sanctuary, my light.
Narrator:
Dreaming pulls Awake in close for a moment, placing a quick kiss on the side of her head. Awake smiles before standing up and walking over to the simmering teapot on a nearby stove. She pours herself more morning spring mint tea before heading back to the table and setting it down.
Jenny Awake:
The cultist that birthed us and our little sis, Anytime, raised us in a family structure as a cover, but we're not actually related. We have reason to assume that no Jennies are actually related to each other, but we don't know why that is.
Jeni Mumei:
I, see.
Narrator:
Awake proceeds back to the oven, grabs a pot of coffee and pours some into a mug for Jenny Mumei. She also dishes up her Mumei a plate of fresh eggs and bacon before walking back to the table with the coffee and food, which she places down on the table in front of Jenny Mumei with a warm, cheerful smile.
Mumei looks at her and smiles back awkwardly before picking up her fork and cutting up her eggs into easier bites.
Jeni Mumei:
I really am hungry, but this all still feels so weird. I can feel what they are feeling, hear what they are thinking, taste what they are all tasting. Somewhere's Coffee is sweet yet strangely tart, Dreaming's brew is so earthy. It makes for a very odd mixture on the palette. It's all just so weird. Wait. If I can feel their emotions, they can, oh, shit! They can hear my thoughts, too. Dammit… am I being rude with my thoughts and uneasiness?
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
No, you are not being rude with your thoughts. We understand how weird all this is at first, and we love you.
Narrator:
As Dreaming speaks, Somewhere reaches out to take Mumei's hand in hers, reassuringly, but stops just short of it, realising Mumei may not be ready for physical contact with them yet.
Jenny Somewhere:
Please do not be worried. Out of respect, we are all doing our best to tune out anything but your surface-level feelings and thoughts as best we can. Please remember you are not alone. You are one of us, and your feelings and thoughts matter to us.
Jeni Mumei:
Thank you. I appreciate that. I am not used to my thoughts being open to others, and I try to avoid love whenever possible [end with a nervous laugh]… Though I suppose that did not serve me as well as I hoped it would. [tone heavy and sullen as her mind drifts back to Kitty Kate]
Narrator:
Jenny Mumei's mind drifts solemnly back to thoughts of Kitty Kate, and how horribly she treated her just to keep the one woman who truly loved her at arm's length. She shakes the thought from her mind and buries it before taking a nice sip of her warm coffee, letting its heat soothe her in at least some small way.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Oh, trust us, darling, we know how much you try to keep love at a distance. [amused playful tone]
Jeni Mumei:
Right [still nervous and wanting to change the subject]… So this is a psyscape, meaning we are not actually in any physical world right now?
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Correct. This house we all share is just a psyscape… a sort of psionic pocket dimension that is contained within the mind of the Jenny Nowhere host body we all share.
Narrator:
Dreaming walks over to the fridge and grabs herself another brew before walking back to the table and sitting down.
Jeni Mumei:
So if I'm just a psionic construct now, why do I still need to sleep, eat, and such? I'm sorry this is all still just alot for me to wrap my head around.
Narrator:
Somewhere nods understandingly as she refills her coffee mug.
Jenny Somewhere:
We do not know why we still feel the need to sleep and eat. We know that if no one is driving the shared body, or if we all fall asleep at the same time, then Jenny Nowhere becomes inactive and defenceless. Thus, we make sure that someone is always awake and driving the body unless it is in a safe place.
For example, the reason we can all be here chilling like this right now is because Jenny Nowhere is sleeping safely in the IRL Ancestral Manor. In Awake's old bedroom, to be precise.
Jeni Mumei:
I guess that makes sense. If the host body is killed because we left it driverless somewhere unsafe, that could be really bad for us all.
Narrator:
Jenny Mumei pensively takes another bite of her eggs and a sip of her coffee as her mind buzzes with all the weird and unsettling ramifications of the things she is learning about her new status quo.
Jenny Awake
No doubt. We also know that there are many Jennys like us scattered across many various realities. They are all different, and they all have their own skills and special powers, and by killing and absorbing Jennys into our collective, the stronger our Jenny Nowhere avatar becomes and the more skills and abilities it has access to.
Narrator:
Dreaming, Somewhere, and Awake all take a big, long drink of their preferred beverage in unison as Mumei takes another sip of her coffee, observing them all, so different from each other and from her… and yet somehow they are all now one.
Jeni Mumei:
Which is why you killed me. Because in order to save Anytime, the collective and our avatar need to become as strong as possible.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Exactly.
Narrator:
Awake exhales softly, finishing the last sip of her tea before standing and adjusting her jacket slightly. With a quick 'Let's go' shake of her head, she steps away from the table.
Jenny Awake:
Well, talk to you all later, girls. I have scouting to do.
Narrator:
She does a few stretches and quick shakes of her hands to get herself nice and loose.
Jeni Mumei:
Scouting? You mean for the next Jenny… the next target.
Jenny Awake:
Precisely.
Narrator:
Awake gives Mumei a playful wink.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
You already finished your passive recon on the target, so what is your next move for Active Recon?
Jenny Awake:
Well, the next Jenny or Sha-Nor, as her world calls her, is an alien…
Jeni Mumei:
Wait… an alien, like alien alien… As in not from Earth.
Jenny Awake:
You betcha, far out right?
Jeni Mumei:
Yeah, far out.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Anyways, you were saying?
Jenny Awake:
Oh, yeah, right. Since she's alien, the first step will be downloading her language from her mind while she is sleeping. Afterall, we can't infiltrate her society if we can't speak their tongue.
Jenny Somewhere:
Makes sense, well. Have fun.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Yes, very smart thinking, good girl. [tender supportive voice]
Narrator:
The words 'good girl' from Dreaming's lips send a cute, rosy blush through Awake's cheeks, causing a bunch of nonsensical babble to escape from her.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
[Start with cute laugh] Sorry, Awake, but I don't speak 'bottom'. [Amused tone]
Narrator:
Awake blushes even harder, frozen in place as if her mind is buffering as her body trembles.
Jeni Mumei:
I think she's broken. [Amused]
Narrator:
Somewhere laughs, nodding in agreement.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Don't worry, I got it.
Narrator:
Dreaming stands and steps to Awake. Dreaming tilts her head with smirking lips. She wraps the blushing, stunned girl in her tender, loving arms, holding their bodies together.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Come back to us. [soft, tender voice]
Narrator:
She murmurs, gently brushing her thumb along Awake's jaw. Then, without hesitation, she pulls her into a deep grounding kiss, until the stars in the confuzzled girl's mind realign, snapping her back to the present.
After a few more moments locked in each other's embrace, Dreaming steps back, eyes closed, savouring the last lingering taste of Awake's sweet lips. Awake clears her throat, her brain finally functioning properly once more. Dreaming smiles at her before gesturing for Awake to get her game face on. Awake nods and gets a stern, focused look in her eyes before turning and marching out of the room with steely determination.
Dreaming cast her eyes to the now equally blushing and heavily panting Mumei sitting at the table next to her.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
You okay there, Mumei?
Jeni Mumei:
Yes… It's a… wow… It's just, I felt that too. Holy shit.
Narrator:
Dreaming grins wickedly as Mumei gently nibbles her own lip, still somewhat lost in the excessively pleasurable sensation of what she just experienced.
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Glad you liked it, stores open if you ever want more… How about you, Somewhere? Did you feel it?
Jenny Somewhere:
[bursts of laughter] Of course, I'm just better at hiding it. But great kiss, 10 out of 10. [Amused tone]
Jenny Dreaming/Nowhere:
Damn right, anyways, see you two gals later, I've got guns to clean and blades to sharpen.
Narrator:
Dreaming turns and proceeds out of the room whistling a jaunty tune.
Jenny Somewhere:
You going to be okay?
Jenny Mumei:
"Yeah, it's just… that was like the best kiss of my life outside of Kitty Kate.
Jenny Somewhere:
Yeah, Dreaming's one hell of a kisser, and if you think that's great, just wait till she goes down on you. [sensually stage-whisper the last half]
Narrator:
Mumei suddenly starts choking on her eggs at Somewhere's words.
Jenny Mumei and Jenny Somewhere:
[Mumei choking while Somewhere is laughing playfully]
Jenny Mumei:
What? What do you mean? [stunned and still somewhat struggling for air]
Jenny Somewhere:
You'll see. [playful, amused voice]
Narrator:
Jeni Mumei stares back down at her plate, trying to avoid the watchful gaze of Somewhere who continues to just stare at her as she drinks her coffee.
Jenny Mumei:
It really is so natural for all of you, isn't it?
Jenny Somewhere:
What? Love? Being loved?
Jenny Mumei:
Yeah… It's strange… I admire it… some part of me even wants it, but…
Jenny Somewhere:
You don't think you deserve it, and you're scared to feel it.
Jenny Mumei:
Yeah… Pretty stupid, huh?
Jenny Somewhere:
No. Not stupid at all. But hearts can heal too, you know, if you let them and being loved is not such a bad thing.
Narrator:
Jenny Somewhere stands and places a gentle, loving kiss on Jeni Mumei's cheek before leaving the room without another word, leaving Mumei alone in the kitchen with half-eaten breakfast and her thoughts.
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Interior - Royal Palace [Sha-Nor's Bedchambers]
Narrator:
Dark grey clouds gather on the horizon as the song of falling rain and the churning rumble of distant thunder cry warning of the storm steadily approaching. Little Princess Sha-Nor tosses and turns in her bed, bound by the tentative embrace of uneasy sleep.
A glistening bloom ripples across the full-length crystalline mirror that hangs suspended from the ceiling by ornate golden chains coiled with feintly glowing moonvine over in the nearby corner of the young princess's royal bedchamber.
Silent as a phantom, Jenny Awake emerges from the flowing surface of the mirror like mist parting through glass. Gracefully, she sets one foot down in front of the other onto the polished shell-marble floor without a whisper. Cloaked in shadows, she pauses to listen.
Spotting the young princess sleeping uneasily in the nearby bed, Jenny makes her way swift and silent to the girl's side. Jenny ghosts her hand from the girl's forehead down her neck, across her chest and down to the princess's right hand.
Jenny Awake:
(Inner Monologue)
Emotional wavelength is dreamy but moderately uneasy. Subtle fear, oh dear, poor baby, she's scared of the storm growing outside. No worries, I'm here, little one, even if you don't know it… [Casual work tone that moves into loving and tender at the more personal and caring moments] I came for your language, my little darling, but since the opportunity is right, how about I look at a memory or two and see just what kind of sweet little girl you are.
Alright, let's see. Despite the slight fear, her REM Cycle is stable… Okay. Let's
Begin.
Narrator:
Jenny raises her hand slightly as the lines of her palm start to shimmer, sending forth writhing, squirming threads of pearlescent psionic light. The reaching, grasping tendrils of light engulf the young girl's hand. Awake's pupils dilate and her eyes roll backwards as her mind unfurls, plunging deep into the psychic ether of the sleeping girl's mind, diving not just for syntax and language, but also for the sacred virtues and tender natures that define the soul of the girl before her.
Refracted glimmers of memory beam out in all directions around Jenny Awake, like an all-encompassing nexus of psionic lenses reflecting with the purest inner light of little Sha-Nor's soul. All the child's past, her thoughts, fears and fantasies are laid bare for Jenny to witness in silent vigil.
Memory-glimmers wash over her like slow luminescent waves of shimmering starlight:
A tearful Sha-Nor rushing with a trembling baby Sun-Crone in her arms, its broken wings bleeding violet. Despite the rebuffs from the palace guards, she hurries past to the court healer to whom she pleads on bended knees for the life of the injured bird.
Jenny shifts her gaze to another memory. A tiny kitchen servant no older than Sha-Nor herself, sobbing for mercy in front of Sha-Nor's father after breaking an heirloom vase. Despite her father's anger, Sha-Nor hugs the scared girl tightly and whispers, "You're worth more than anything here," before pleading on the girl's behalf for her father's mercy.
Jenny Awake:
(inner monologue)
She doesn't hesitate in her empathy or care, even when those with power yell and threaten her. A truly brave girl. If she was ours, I would be very proud, but she's not ours. Well, not yet anyway.
Narrator:
More memories rush by of the two girls sneaking away to spend time with each other, playing and laughing, dancing and singing together. Going on pretend adventures in the back gardens or playing house and having tea parties in empty dining rooms.
Jenny Awake:
(inner monologue)
Well, those two really are adorable together. It's shame their world is so against them. But still, this is not what I need. Time to go deeper, shall we?
Narrator:
Jenny thrusts herself further into the girl's mind, searching for memories the girl holds truly special and sacred. Jenny searches and searches until, like a tender rose held safe against the girl's innermost heart, she finds what she is seeking. A small cluster of the Sha-Nor's most foundational special memories.
Jenny Awake:
(inner monologue)
What I'm seeking must be around her somewhere, dearest Sha-Nor. Come on, show me something that truly matters most to you.
Narrator:
One of the memories calls out to Jenny… a painful bleeding memory…
Jenny focuses on the calling memory, letting it envelope her. She finds herself standing on lavender grass beyond an outer garden wall behind the royal palace. The sun is setting just beyond the horizon as she casts her eyes at the scene playing out before her. She sees little Sha-Nor burying Coral-Bloom pods in a secret little garden all her own. Her mournful heart and crying eyes, weeping for the lost company of a dear and loving friend that her father tore away from her. As she cries, planting the pods of the other girl's favourite flower, she sings a gentle song to herself in remembrance, a song she and her friend used to sing together in their precious, tender moments when it was just the two of them and nothing else existed. Her heart bleeds for what it has lost but finds bitter comfort in what it remembers. She kiss her finger tips and then places them at her heart as she whispers a name 'Lih-Chell'.
Jenny Awake:
(inner monologue)
Wow, how truly sad and yet there is something cute about her. She really is a good girl with a good heart despite her pain Wait… That's strange, this memory is linked to the memory to that other memory. I see so the girl she loved was the servant girl she defend against her father's wrath in the previous memory. I guess the girls became too close for the king's comfort. Tragic, really, but despots and bigotry tend to go hand in hand. Still, though, to strip away your daughter's only friend because their affection for each other scares you is a new low.
Honestly, it feels strange to find a Jennie trapped in such a medieval, backwards place such as this. She is also the first Jennie we've found from a world where magic is commonplace. We will have to keep that in mind when planning our strategy.
Well, at least I am almost done downloading her language, general culture, mythology and societal structure, all the things I should need for a proper infiltration.
As the final strings of Sha-Nor's alien language etch themselves deep into Jenny's mind, she pulls back slowly, preparing to make her swift retreat back to the mirror and home beyond its silver horizon. When lightning suddenly scorches the sky violently, causing a massive crack of thunder to erupt forth from churning black clouds.
[Emphasise that last sentence with a sharp, resonant boom of thunder.]
Child Sha-Nor [Jenny Everyone]:
FRANU-DAGG PRESERVE ME! [Borderline crying with terror and shock.]
Narrator:
The terrified princess bolts up violently in her bed. Small tears flow from her golden eyes as she whimpers. Then, suddenly, her eyes widen as she spots the unknown intruder standing before her in her room.
Child Sha-Nor:
Who… who are you? What are you doing in my room? [voice scared and trembling]
Jenny Awake:
(inner monologue)
Shit. Not good. Think fast. Think like a Jenny. Lughkie, no trickster gods can be scary, wait. I got it.
Jenny Awake:
Do not be afraid, Sha-Nor. Fore I am Vaer Nótt." {Pronouced = Va-Air No-unt}
Narrator:
Proclaims Jenny as she twirls back toward the young girl with a faye flourish as she offers a quick showman's bow to the princess, locking her gaze with the young girl's. To reinforce her bluff, Jenny Awake uses some trick magic to give herself a strange, ethereal glow, like silver moonlight.
Child Sha-Nor[Jenny Everyone]:
Va… Vaer N… Nott. T-The Dream Mother? Bu… but you're not… [still shaky and scared] {Pronouced = Va-Air No-unt}
Jenny Awake:
Storms are the heartbeat of the heavens, little star-bloom. You feared its song… the voice of the rains, the chorus of wind, and the drumming of its thunder. I sensed your fear, my child, and so I came. Your dreams are sacred to me, for their light shines brighter than most.
Narrator:
Explains Jenny comfortingly as she sits back down at the scared girl's side. Sha-Nor stares, slack-jawed with wonder that a goddess has seen fit to visit her. Her fingers clutch the blanket, but don't recoil as Jenny gently reaches out and brushes the tears from the girl's cheeks.
Jenny Awake:
Would you like me to stay until the thunder stops, little star-bloom?
Narrator:
The princess nods and smiles at Jenny.
Child Sha-Nor[Jenny Everyone]:
Yes please… I don't like being alone.
Jenny Awake:
Then alone you shall not be.
Narrator:
Jenny gently guides the girl back under the covers, tucking her back in nice and snug. Jenny perches at the edge of the bed, taking the girl's hand in hers, lightly, reverently. And with a slow breath, she starts to sing.
Her voice is low and warm, drawing inspiration for her song from an ancient melody plucked from Sha-Nor's mind, an alien lullaby, laced with sacred-hymns and childhood whispers. She lets the song flow from her like a calming tide over Sha-Nor's heart.
Child Sha-Nor[Jenny Everyone]:
Vaer Nótt? [soft and small as if on the very verge of sleep]
Jenny Awake:
"Yes, little star-bloom?"
Child Sha-Nor[Jenny Everyone]:
Will you ever visit me again?
Jenny Awake:
Every night, when your dreams call to me. Even if you may not know it, I'll be there, watching over you
Narrator:
The little princess drifts softly back into slumber, caught in the gentle pulling tide of sleep. Awake watches her just long enough for the girl's heartbeat to steady… Sensing the moment, she slowly slips back toward the mirror. Then, with one last loving glance back at the child who will one day become something so much more, she whispers in the only language the two of them now share
Jenny Awake:
Sleep well, Sha-Nor. You are more loved than you know.
Narrator:
Without another word, the world breathes deep as the mirror ripples, and she is gone.
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Narrator:
Thank you, dear listeners, for joining us for this third episode of 'I, Jenny'.
The character of Jenny Somewhere is available for use by anyone, with only one condition. This paragraph must be included in any publication involving Jenny Somewhere, in order that others may use this property as they wish. All rights reversed.
The character of Jenny Nowhere is available for use by anyone, with only one condition. This paragraph must be included in any publication involving Jenny Nowhere, in order that others may use this property as they wish. All rights reversed….
We here at Ashcroft Production House look forward to having you all join us again for future episodes of I, Jenny and our many other fine works.
Thank you again, and good night.