[center][h2][color=875f9a][b]Valerian Nico Alvarez-Knight[/b][/color][/h2][/center]
Valerian couldn’t tell Emily was annoyed from her expression, but her manner of speech was definitely a bit different than usual – at least for a moment. When they initially felt rather awkward for interfering when they usually wouldn’t and causing a briefly somber mood in Emily, her nearly immediate change to being all plucky left them feeling confused. Should they be apologetic and guilty or relieved she’d listened to their advice? They weren’t sure, and ended up with a jumbled mess of emotions, which ultimately swinged towards Val being tentatively glad for the development.

They caught a glimpse of her journal, and cocked their head at the sketches. They were fairly good, and seeing it brought a slight feeling of nostalgia. Once upon a time, Valerian had carried a sketchbook everywhere they went, too. Nowadays, they usually drew from memory or photo and video references (which they sometimes made themselves). They still did go out to sketch here and there, but it was a more organized, purposeful activity nowadays. They smiled at Emily’s work, but did not comment upon it, still preoccupied by her previous words.

[color=875f9a]“Uh, I- Thanks for listening, Emily,”[/color] the words of gratitude were hesitant but genuine, spoken as if Valerian was enacting some rarely used advice they’d received. Which was pretty much the case, though channeling one of the things they’ve learned from the Doctor (that expressing themselves was often better than keeping it all in their head and staying quiet, and that people were especially receptive to words so practicing that was good) was painful now that Stanton was dead.

Their heart clenched at the reminder, and they brushed a hand through their dyed hair, feeling the loss keenly. They’d never get to see Stanton anymore, or talk to him, or learn from him…no more getting helped by him. Would the group even remain together? Or would they get different therapists, have to meet with new people? Valerian bit their lip as they considered all this, forgetting their initial intention to relay to Emily that they may have an idea or two about the ‘make doors’ thing they heard her mutter about.

Then…despite all of Valerian’s precautions, the pair closest to the mirror was sucked in and transported. Even Val, who was one of the victims, didn’t know how it happened. One moment, they were in Stanton’s office, and the next…well, they were still in Stanton’s office, but obviously different. It was as if the building had been destroyed at one point, then left abandoned for [i]years[/i]. [color=875f9a]“Oh,”[/color] was all Val managed to utter before they slumped down, half-leaning on the wall next to the mirror rather than fully collapsing.

[color=875f9a]“They got us now,”[/color] they whispered, desolate. The irritating mantra of [i]Don’t go[/i] was on a loop, and the frustration of being subjected to that was what eventually got Valerian going.

They pushed off of the wall, sighing, glancing at the mirror. Surprisingly, not seeing their reflection was weirder and more off-putting than seeing it. [color=875f9a][i]Fuck, we have to get back somehow. So, now I’ll be forced to make a portal myself…[/i][/color] Honestly, they were scared more so than determined, but nonetheless they decided to do the first thing that popped into their head.

Valerian began searching for and picking up mirror pieces, trying to collect all of them and slot them back into their proper place. Maybe, fixing the mirror would fix the gateway that’d brought them there. If not, they’d have to find something else, and Val didn’t think that’d be so simple. Not that anything about this situation was simple, really. 

[color=875f9a]“I might be able to restore this,”[/color] they commented quietly for Emily’s sake, glancing at her. [color=875f9a]“Wanna help or…?”[/color] they trailed off, looking from her to the presumed source of the stranger's voice. Their priority was finding a way back, but based on all that Emily had said before they were transported, Valerian was uncomfortably certain she’d now want to approach what she thought was a helpless victim.