[Game 18] The Waking World

[arsgoetia]

After successfully talking Zan into waking up—the world around you starts to dissolve and break apart. There's a lurch, like the sensation of abruptly falling into sleep, but backwards; and all around you, the glass begins to crack apart, splintering and sending ocean water splashing everywhere, gushing forward, a cascade of blue and black, alternating between starfish and actual stars, suspended in liquid sky.

. . . reality seems to bleed in overtop of it and, sluggishly, you find yourselves waking up all over a suburban basement in New Jersey. There is a lamp on near the bed, where someone is still asleep, though fitfully beginning to wake up.

More noticeably, there is a woman sitting up in bed with him, arms wrapped around her bare knees as she watches them with amusement, extremely beautiful and . . . extremely familiar.

"Wow." One hand drops to Zan's hair. "I don't even know where to start with you guys."

Comments

[psychopompous]

[have you ever seen someone appear out of thin air and stop a car with one foot? well. now you have]

[innerdemon]

[Looks up at him over the still-locked steering wheel]

[psychopompous]

. . .




[steps aside]

[innerdemon]

[VROOM I have no idea how to drive but Luka's actually just making the wheels go around and around

Taking off.]

[psychopompous]

. . .

[star_and_stone]

*...lands beside him*

Thank you.

[psychopompous]

[flares up immediately with anger, eyes burning white for a moment]

Do not speak of this to anyone.

[star_and_stone]

Don't worry. My word that I won't.

...and I think I'd best be leaving, in case someone else asks that question.

[psychopompous]

That's wise.

[star_and_stone]

Farewell, then. And, even if you don't technically need it, good luck.

*TO THE SKIES*

[loveinvein]

[ Okay. OKAY. WE DID IT. C...checking Zan is okay as they drive. Wherever. ]

[delivoreance]

[to Elli]

P-put your iPod earbuds in. If he tries to say something I can do static so you won't have heard anything.

[innerdemon]

[gives her a strange look for a moment.]

You can't keep the car from hearing it. He's outside right now.

[delivoreance]

[mfffff]

I was hoping that if he didn't have ears, it would work... the car radio?

[innerdemon]

[Bites her lower lip]

Sure, if you want.

[delivoreance]

Elli?

[innerdemon]

You know, I definitely had a moment of "I could get him to help me" too? Hah...

[leans over to Mika]

Not waking up yet? Where should we even go?

[loveinvein]

A hotel? We can say he passed out from too much partying and we're fr out of town. I still have Tristan's credit card too.

... for what it's worth, I think it's fine to have those moments as long as you know better than to act on them sometimes. And you've definitely proven trustworthy.

[innerdemon]

Maybe that's what I want you to think. I hope they phone when everything's resolved. I hope everything's resolved and they're not held hostage to get us back.

Okay, let's find a...a cheap hotel. Nothing nice is gonna be still open on New Year's.

[delivoreance]

I... can probably keep Tristan from tracing his card's use back, if we use it.

Elli...

[innerdemon]

We can use my money. You got it for me anyway, so you know how safe it is.

[delivoreance]

Yes.

I wasn't concerned about you. Or Luka, except for what danger he might be in if he hears politically sensitive information.

[innerdemon]

...Yeah, well. We were already plausible deniability eavesdropping.

[loveinvein]

[ wryly ]

I'm aware. I've got a history of trusting people who are outright using me, let alone those who could be. And I like my chances with you best.

Anyway, cheap hotel sounds good. We can wait for word there.

[innerdemon]

I'm reliable~.

Okay. Let's do it.