A Taste of Things to Come?

by The Conclave

Lisa's decision to muck about with Time and Space results in Lincoln's son and Lynn's daughter being stuck in the Loud House. Bringing with them a slew of questions. The chief one being, are they from the future or from another world entirely?

12. Episode 9B: Weep and you Weep alone

Episode 9B: Laugh and the World laughs with you; Weep and you Weep alone.

---

Carol drums her fingers against the wheel.

Her patience, critical to begin with, depletes visibly with each thump. But the sunny one insisted they wait for the bus as the online schedule says it hadn't arrived yet. There had been some discussion as to the best place to wait but honestly Carol tuned it out not particularity invested in this story.

To her right, Luna too was wanning, quiet literally as she sank lower and lower in to the seat. Any longer she'll be crouched on the floor. Trying to wrap her head around little Lulu having a kid. First Lincoln and Lynn, now Luan. Is it selfish of her to hope she isn't next on the list?

'Probably.'

Although she had decided yesterday to take life as it comes. Still though she kinda, sorta, would like to see it as a surprise.

She sighs casting a side eye back at Lincoln staring out the window at nothing but his own thoughts. His children look like him. So does she look like Luan or her father. Lynn's kids look like her. They seem to imply that Luan is meeting with her future husband but as far as Luna knew she was just meeting with—

Her eyes widen. Mouth agape.

"What other impossible things do you think she is capable of? Or the rest of us for that matter."

That's what Junior had said. Something about it now nagged at her.

She knew he was trying to comfort her but now she thinks of the way he said it. Not in his overly austere way but with more gravitas. Like it was something so important that it was too important to actually talk about. And he tried to play it off immediately after and in her compromised state she accepted it.

Now, well, now...

All the strange little things about them seem to stick out more.

"There." Lacy says.

As they look to the arriving bus, Luna instead looks at her.

She's smiling again. Or grinning. Her teeth displayed. Her chipped teeth. In her mind she puts Lupe next to her.

"I love Ronnie Anne. She has been there from the day I was born. I look at RaRa no different than I look at my own mother!" "As you wish, hermana."

Lacy's eyes snap to Luna. Her nostrils flaring.

"What's the plan Lacy?" She says more evenly than she thought possible.

Lacy lingers on her a moment as the others look to her. She turns back to the bus as Luan steps to the pavement.

"Two minutes." Her voice brokers no discussion. "That'll give us enough time to slip in without her noticing."

Luna nods. Then turns back to Carol. "Well, thanks for the ride, dude." Flippant.

Carol sneers. Fine. This is her out. It's not like any of this is her business. She fulfilled her favor to Lori. Besides the night is young and she still has plenty to do...it's not like she's bored...at home...all alone…

Then again she is in a car with a real life time traveler. On a secret mission to preserve the future. By uniting two lonely hearts wandering through life. And the slightest misstep could doom them to be lost to themselves and each other. And they would never know the change. The life that never was.

And Carol has a front row seat.

Maybe even a part to play.

Besides the gutterpunk would probably just screw it up anyway.

Luan takes another deep breath. No more effective now than the last 45 minutes.

The darn bus broke down. If she wanted coin toss reliability she would have just taken Vanzilla. At least then she could have gotten a shower in. At least she had time to hit up the ATM.

She shakes her tangled hair.

She sent a text to Mags about 20 minutes ago explaining the situation but she had yet to get back to her. That didn't bode well.

Luan checks again ready to send another telling her she's arrived. But doesn't.

She looks at the time.

There was something she had wanted to see.

Now that she has the money.

...

Maggie looks at the brush in her hand.
She sighs taking out her phone.
1 message.
25 minutes ago.

"La naiba."

Had she really spent so much time sulking.
Dumb question. What else is she going to do⸮
There is a reason she became an emo.
There is a reason why she is outgrowing it too.

She sighs returning the buds to her ears.
A new obsession.
A new canon.
A new song to help her plummet.

"Now that I'm alone."

That the distraction are gone.
The well meaning though uninformed intentions of strangers.
Time to remember who she is.
And why they can't be.

And we watched the World as it fell past
Softly she spoke these words to me
And with brand new eyes, open wide
We pressed our faces to the glass
As I sat sadly by her side

Maggie snorts, turning the phone off as she moves to sit on the boulder.

Luan seems to luxuriate, open up to the sun, as Maggie huddles in, crouching slightly.

Luan has a slight smile on her face as she enjoys the wind gently shifting her hair. Maggie tries not to think of all the ways she could ruin this moment. Trying not to click to lou-noisly in the stillness.

Luan stretches her arms, giving a hum of satisfaction, she rests her wrists on the top of her head. The movement causing shifting in her blouse and skirt. Maggie looks to the blossoms on the hill.

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł ₴₮Ø₥₱ɆĐ Ø₦ ₮ⱧɆ₥ Ɽł₲Ⱨ₮ ₦Ø₩⸮

Maggie adjusts her arms over her knees and hooks her ankles. Making sure her legs don't move.

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł ₱ɄⱠⱠɆĐ ₮ⱧɆ₥ ØɄ₮ Ø₣ ₮ⱧɆ ₲ⱤØɄ₦Đ⸮

She clenches her fists. Her nails digging in to her palms. She can still feel the dirt. There is no dirt.

"Don't you have allergies?" Maggie breaks the silence. Her tongue feels heavy. The tension from clenching your jaw too much.

She hums her eyes fluttering open fixing on Maggie. "Only a little. I took some medicine before I came out. I was Snot going to ruin such a lovely day." Her smile wavered but Maggie was too preoccupied to notice.

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł ⱧɄⱤ₮ ⱧɆⱤ⸮

"How's your leg?"

She gives it an experimental twist. Only wincing slightly. "Getting better. I think I just need to rest a bit." She lowers her lids. "Sorry about that. You know I uh..." She trails off.

"It's fine." Maggie dismisses. "We probably wouldn't of found this place if you hadn't fell." They take in the sight of the site again.

"Yeah I can't believe this has been here the entire time. I wonder who else knows about this place?"

₴ⱧɆ ₵ØɄⱠĐ₦'₮ ₲Ɇ₮ ₳₩₳Ɏ ł₣ ł ₳₮₮₳₵₭ɆĐ ⱧɆⱤ.

"Can't be too many because it's still here." She scoffs. "For now..."

Luan shakes her head chuckling.

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł гР₮Ⱨ₳₮ Ɽł₲Ⱨ₮ ₦Ø₩⸮

"Probably." Luan concedes looking to the sky. "But we're here now. Nothing is going to keep us from enjoying it but us."

ĐØ ł ₩₳₦₮ ₮Ø⸮

Maggie crosses her arms. "And just what was the plan besides pun as much as humanly possible?"

Luan keeps her eyes to the sky. A peek of a pink tongue pokes out between pursed lips. "Do I really look like a girl with a plan?"

Maggie huffs, "I understood that reference."

Luan raises her brow, "Reference?"

₩ⱧɎ ₩ØɄⱠĐ ł ₮Ⱨł₦₭ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł ĐłĐ₦'₮ ₩₳₦₮ ₮Ø⸮

Maggie shakes her head.

"Well, what do you want to do?" Luan tests her ankle. "Hopefully it involves laying." She smirks.

"Too bad. And here I was thinking of completely changing my image and becoming a track star."

Luan chuckles, "Trust me, if my sister Lynn ever asks for help, pawn her off on Lincoln." She rubs her thighs. "I thought my legs were gonna fall off."

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł Ɽ₳₦ ₥Ɏ Ⱨ₳₦Đ Ʉ₱ ⱧɆⱤ ⱠɆ₲⸮

Maggie spits. "I doubt you sister and me will ever have anything in common." She glares at the tree. "Let alone reason to talk."

Luan hums. "Some might say the same about us." She sits up. "Be honest, Maggie." She chews her lips. "Have you been..."

ɆVłⱠ ł₴ ₮ⱧɆ ₳฿₴Ɇ₦₵Ɇ Ø₣ ₲ØØĐ. ₳₥ ł ɆVłⱠ⸮

Maggie can't help it.

Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.

Clack.

Luan stops, rethinking her move, "You haven't brought me around your friends."

"You haven't brought me around yours." She counters.

She gives a slight chuckle. "Not much to bring around." She swallows the lump in her throat. "The theater kids are alright. It's just..."

ł ₴ⱧØɄⱠĐ₦'₮ Ⱨ₳VɆ ₮Ø QɄɆ₴₮łØ₦ ł₮. ₴₳₦Ɇ ₱ɆØ₱ⱠɆ ₵₳₦ ₵Ø₦₮ⱤØⱠ ₮ⱧɆłⱤ ₮ⱧØɄ₲Ⱨ₮₴.

"They just don't get it." Maggie says not explaining the it. Incapable of explaining the it. Not as she is now.

And she'll doubt she'll ever to explain this other thing.

ł₣ ₦Ø₮ ɆVłⱠ ₵ɆⱤ₮₳ł₦ⱠɎ ₵ɄⱤ₴ɆĐ. ₣ØⱤ₴₳₭Ɇ₦.

"But do we really want them too?" Luan runs her fingers over the sprouting grass. Surprisingly long for the season. "There is some...thing...about being seen how you want people to see you." She places her hands in her lap. "Except you're rarely seen that way."

Maggie squints.

"How you really want."

"Because it's not...completely real...it's a synopsis. A sale's pitch." Maggie adds. "Get them to take the time and...see if they can find the deeper meaning."

ł₮₴ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ĐłⱤ₮Ɏ ₲Ɏ₱₴Ɏ ฿ⱠØØĐ. ₱Ʉ₦ł₴Ⱨ₥Ɇ₦₮ ₣ØⱤ ₴ł₦ ₮Ø ₮ⱧɆ ₮ⱧłⱤĐ ₳₦Đ ₣ØɄⱤ₮Ⱨ ₲Ɇ₦ɆⱤ₳₮łØ₦.

"And you're terrified they will." Luan wraps her arm around herself. "Call your bluff and really see you."

"See...everything."

₵ɆⱠɆ₴₮Ɇ ₩₳₴₦'₮ ₳ ₲Ɏ₱₴Ɏ. ₵ɆⱠɆ₴₮Ɇ ₩₳₴ JɄ₴₮ ₵Ɽ₳ⱫɎ. ₮₳ł₦₮ ł₦ ₮ⱧɆ ₥Ø₮ⱧɆⱤ'₴ ₥łⱠ₭.

Luan laughs.

A deep resounding laugh. As she returns her wrists to her head the clouds seem to part. All teeth she locks her hooded eyes on Maggie. "Humor is the good natured side of a truth."

"A truth that's told with bad intent / Beats all the lies you can invent."

Luan rears her head back laughing.

₴ⱧɆ ₭łⱠⱠɆĐ ⱧɆⱤ₴ɆⱠ₣. ₳₦Đ ⱠØØ₭ ⱧØ₩ ₥Ʉ₵Ⱨ ฿Ɇ₮₮ɆⱤ ₴ⱧɆ ₩₳₴ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ł'ⱠⱠ ɆVɆⱤ ฿Ɇ.

"Don't surround yourself with yourself. Move on back two squares." Luan singsongs.

Maggie tilts her head.

"It's a song Luna was listening to the other day. I can't get it out of my head. I think it's about chess or something." She looks down again. "But it...made me think of you."

₴ⱧɆ ₵ØɄⱠĐ₦'₮ Ɇ₴₵₳₱Ɇ ł₮.

Maggie takes a breath to say...yell...something.

"Actually it made me think of both of us." Luan gaze turns her to stone. "In a lot of ways."

ł₮ ł₴ ł₦ɆVł₮₳฿ⱠɆ. ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ₵Ⱨ₳₦₵Ɇ ĐØ ł Ⱨ₳VɆ⸮

Luan is quiet searching for words. Oblivious to Maggie's cracks.

ł ₩Ø₦'₮ ฿Ɇ ₥ł₴₴ɆĐ.

"I think it's why our friendship works." she smilies at the younger girl. "Believe it or not I feel we do have as much in-common as we have differences."

₮Ⱨł₴ ₩łⱠⱠ ₦ɆVɆⱤ ₲Ø ₳₩₳Ɏ.

"And, okay, it does sometime seems like we're...trying to out maneuver or talk or stump the other. But it's..." She groans. "It's...it's like we're trying to get more out of each other."

₥Ɏ ฿ⱠØØĐ ł₴ ₮₳ł₦₮ɆĐ.

"Like you said we have our...Personas that we show everyone. We can do it in our sleep. And that's were most people stop." Luan looks away. "Not worth the effort."

₲Ɇ₮ ł₮ ØɄ₮!

"And as much as I annoy you and I know I do, you still...stay." Luan smiles again.

Not one of her expansive mischievous grins full of teeth and steel. The Rogue. The Jester.

The Harlequin.

This smile was small. Shy and precious. Truthful.

Terrifying.

"Opposition is True Friendship."

Luan looks up at her.

Maggie's face is lax. "I wouldn't be out here if you didn't go on and on about it." She looks at the phone in her hand. I wouldn't be carrying that stupid notebook if you didn't constantly bug me about it." Maggie scowls at her. "Because I think one day I'm going to scratch out something on that page that is going to be so amazing that I'm going to rub your smug face in it until you turn blue from the ink."

Luan is not sure how to react to that.

Maggie clenches her eyes shut. "Because I do care about what you think."

She can't look at her. She can't.

"I never wanted to care what anyone thinks." She hates her cracking voice. She hates the lachrymose display. "And you had to force your way in to my life, believing in me, because you don't know any better."

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł ₮ØⱠĐ ⱧɆⱤ ɆVɆⱤɎ₮Ⱨł₦₲⸮ ₮ⱧɆ₦ ₴ⱧɆ ₩ØɄⱠĐ ₭₦Ø₩ ł'₥ ₣Ʉ₵₭ɆĐ Ʉ₱. ₳₦Đ ₮ⱧɆ₦ ₴ⱧɆ ₩ØɄⱠĐ ⱠɆ₳VɆ. ₳₦Đ ł'Đ ฿Ɇ ₳ⱠØ₦Ɇ ₳₲₳ł₦ Ⱡł₭Ɇ ł ₴ⱧØɄⱠĐ ฿Ɇ.

฿Ɇ₵₳Ʉ₴Ɇ ł ⱤɄł₦ ɆVɆⱤɎ₮Ⱨł₦₲.

Her eyes snap open as she hears Luan groan as she pulls herself to her feet.

Those dark eyes pining her in place when every atom in her body is telling her to run.

Luan shifts forward. Slow and determined. Wincing with each step.

Maggie's heart thunders drowning out the voice.

Luan lowers herself to her knees, staring in to Maggie's soul. Giving her the chance to run. To give any indication she is overstepping. That she is going too far.

The brunette lifts her arms.

Maggie doesn't want Luan to hug her. To be this close. To risk her being contaminated by this taint, or curse or sickness.

But she can't push her away either.

So she stays where she is. Making no move at all.

ł'₥ ₴Ʉ₵Ⱨ ₳ ₴ɆⱠ₣ł₴Ⱨ ₵Ø₩₳ⱤĐ.

She said, "Father, mother, sister, brother,
Uncle, aunt, nephew, niece,
Soldier, sailor, physician, labourer,
Actor, scientist, mechanic, priest
Earth and moon and sun and stars
Planets and comets with tails blazing
All are there forever falling
Falling lovely and amazing"

Another birthday party.

At least this time she isn't the focus.

Her sister is.

She's 7.

Maggie hugger-muggers in the retreating shadow of the day, as the ragged rascals run roughshod and rampant across the yard.

In the corner of her eye she sees Izzy leading her friends by her, all sunshine and smiles.

No cares and no worries on her special day.

₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł₣ ł ₮Ɽł₱₱ɆĐ ⱧɆⱤ⸮

Maggie sees herself do it.

The blood. The tears. Dripping on her cute new shirt.

Everything would stop and turn at the cry.

Looks of concern for the innocent child. And hatred for her tormentor.

All except Izzy who will look up at her big sister with watery brown eyes full of betrayal and one question.

Why, Maggie? Why?

Izzy is across the yard before Maggie realizes she hadn't moved.

Still just to be sure.

Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.

She trains her eyes on the little girl again.

They share the same blood. Except it doesn't seem like it.

They only look alike when they are standing together. She takes after mom more than dad.

Maybe the curse skipped her.

Maggie has become an expert in hiding her...rituals. So surely she'd know what to look for.

But no...nothing.

Any concerns she has, troubles or worries, are that of a child. She looks to the World and sees only wonders. Because she belongs in it. Her mind is at peace.

No defects.

As it should be.

ł Ⱨ₳₮Ɇ ⱧɆⱤ ĐØ₦'₮ ł⸮

Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä.

No she doesn't.

It's good that she is free of this...thing. At least her parents have one good child.

Some one to put there hopes in.

She looks to her father. He made it back in time. At the pit talking with Mr. Rotunda.

She scans the crowd looking for her mom's distinct shade of Sienna. No more unnatural than purple.

She sees her talking to the clown they hired.

Her parents are young enough, though older than Maggie will ever be, they can try again.

It would suck to have them put everything on Izzy. Probably best to spread that around.

The clown girl moves to the stage.

The show must be starting. Which means Maggie can sneak away for awhile. She's only here for appearances anyways. She won't be missed.

She moves through the kitchen, bracing herself against the counter, her heavy lids wresting on the knives resting in their home.

She's so tired.

That is one thing she can appreciate about knives. They have nothing to do with 7.

2ł₦. ł₦ ₮ⱧɆ Ɽł₲Ⱨ₮ ₱Ⱡ₳₵Ɇ ł₴ ₳ⱠⱠ ł₮ ₩ØɄⱠĐ ₮₳₭Ɇ.
ØⱤ 3 ₵Ʉ₮₴ ₳₦Đ ₮₩Ø ₴₮₳฿₴.
฿Ø₮Ⱨ ₴łĐɆ₴ Ø₣ ₮ⱧɆ ₦Ɇ₵₭.
ĐØ₩₦ ₮ⱧɆ ₴₮ɆⱤ₦Ʉ₥ ฿Ɇ₮₩ɆɆ₦ ₮ⱧɆ₴Ɇ ⱤłĐł₵ɄⱠØɄ₴ ₮ł₮₴.
₮ⱧɆ₦ ₱Ɇ₦Ɇ₮Ɽ₳₮Ɇ ₮ⱧɆ ₣Ɇ₥ØⱤ₳Ⱡ ₳Ɽ₮ɆⱤɎ.
₣ł₦₳ⱠⱠɎ ⱠØĐ₲Ɇ ₮ⱧɆ ฿Ⱡ₳ĐɆ ₮ⱧⱤØɄ₲Ⱨ ₮ⱧɆ J₳₩.
₮ⱧⱤØɄ₲Ⱨ ₥Ɏ Ʉ₴ɆⱠɆ₴₴ ₮Ø₦₲ɄɆ.

ł₣ ł'₥ ₴₮ⱤØ₦₲ Ɇ₦ØɄ₲Ⱨ ₥₳Ɏ฿Ɇ ł'ⱠⱠ ₱łɆⱤ₵Ɇ ₥Ɏ ฿Ɽ₳ł₦.

Maggie shakes her head, spitting in to the sink.

'They are not real. You are not your thoughts.'

The glass door slides open. Maggie tenses.

"Oh hey Maggie."

Mr. Rotunda steps in. He closes the door behind him moving through the kitchen.

ⱧɆ'₴ ₴Ø ₥Ʉ₵Ⱨ ₴₮ⱤØ₦₲ɆⱤ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ₥Ɇ. ł ₵ØɄⱠĐ₦'₮ ₣ł₲Ⱨ₮ Ⱨł₥ Ø₣₣ ł₣ ⱧɆ ₲Ɽ₳฿₴ ₥Ɇ.

He moves by her smiling, "The shows starting soon." He says jovially before moving out the room towards the bathroom.

The tension doesn't leave with him.

ĐØ ł ₩₳₦₮ ₮Ⱨ₳₮⸮

She runs. Up the stairs. Slam. She rests against the door as she engages the lock.

Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

She fumbles for her earbuds siding to the floor. Loud as it can go. Drown the voice out. Clear the visions.

'You are not your thoughts.'

1̷-̷2̷-̷3̷-̷4̷-̷5̷-̷6̷-̷7̷ ̷ ₳ⱠⱠ ₲ØØĐ ₵ⱧłⱠĐⱤɆ₦ ₲Ø ₮Ø ⱧɆ₳VɆ₦.

Bang. Bang. BANG!

"Magda!" The handle jingles. "Are you in there!"

₣Ʉ₵₭ ł'₥ ₴ɆⱠ₣ł₴Ⱨ. ₵₳₦'₮ ɆVɆ₦ ₭ɆɆ₱ ł₮ ₮Ø₲Ɇ₮ⱧɆⱤ ₣ØⱤ ₥Ɏ ₴ł₴₮ɆⱤ₴ ฿łⱤ₮ⱧĐ₳Ɏ.

Maggie pulls herself off the floor. Fumbling with the lock as she wipes at her eyes.

She backs up in to the center of the room as her father pushes in the door. Disappointment heavy on his features.

₩ⱧɎ ₩ØɄⱠĐ₦'₮ ⱧɆ ฿Ɇ⸮ ⱧɆⱤɆ ł ₳₥ ₵ⱤɎł₦₲ ØVɆⱤ ₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲ ₩ⱧɆ₦ ₮ⱧɆⱤɆ ł₴ ⱤɆ₳Ⱡ ₴Ʉ₣₣ɆⱤł₦₲ ł₦ ₮ⱧɆ ₩ØⱤⱠĐ.

Ʉ₴ɆⱠɆ₴₴.

"What are you doing in here?" He shakes his head. "Your sister is about to open her presents. You couldn't put up with the normies for a couple of hours?"

₲Ø ₳ⱧɆ₳Đ. ₮ɆⱠⱠ Ⱨł₥ ⱧØ₩ Ⱨł₴ Đ₳Ʉ₲Ⱨ₮ɆⱤ ₵₳₦'₮ ₵Ø₦₮ⱤØⱠ ⱧɆⱤ Ø₩₦ ₥ł₦Đ. ł'₥ ₴ɄⱤɆ ⱧɆ'ⱠⱠ Ʉ₦ĐɆⱤ₴₮₳₦Đ. ł₮'₴ ₦Ø₮ Ⱡł₭Ɇ Ⱨł₴ Ⱡł₣Ɇ ₩₳₴ ₳ 1000 ₮ł₥Ɇ₴ Ⱨ₳ⱤĐɆⱤ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ɎØɄⱤ₴. ⱧɆ'₴ ⱠłVɆĐ ₮ⱧⱤØɄ₲Ⱨ ⱤɆ₳Ⱡ ₳ĐVɆⱤ₴ł₮Ɏ. ₩ⱧłⱠɆ ɎØɄ ₮₳₭Ɇ ₱Ɇ₳₵Ɇ ₳₦Đ ₮ØⱤ₮ɄⱤɆ ɎØɄⱤ₴ɆⱠ₣ ØɄ₮ Ø₣ Ⱨ₳Vł₦₲ ₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲ ฿Ɇ₮₮ɆⱤ ₮Ø ĐØ.

ⱧɆ ĐɆ₴ɆⱤVɆ₴ ฿Ɇ₮₮ɆⱤ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ɎØɄ.

He narrows his eyes. Then they soften. "What's wrong, puișor?" He moves across the room. "Were you crying?"

"n-No, tată." She tries to go for nonchalance as she wipes at the mascara. "I just got really hot out there. Just needed to come in for a bit."

He hums resting his hand on her forehead. She manages not to flinch. "Well you do feel a little warm." A groan of frustration.

Ⱡł₳Ɽ.

He smiles at her. "Here's what we'll do. Get yourself a big glass of water. And just give her your present. Then go ahead and come back in here and take a nap. If your mom has a problem I'll handle it."

Ɽł₲Ⱨ₮. łⱫⱫɎ ł₴ ₥ØⱤɆ ł₥₱ØⱤ₮₳₦₮ ₮Ⱨ₳—

'Shut up! Why shouldn't she be? She doesn't have you!'

She nods. "Okay. Just give me a minute."

Mr. Rotunda calls up. "I'm coming." Maggie manages not to spit. "Got to go get your sister's surprise."

She nods as he walks out the door. Collapsing on her bed. Head in her hands.

As the mother of sorrows looks down on her with pity.

Smack.

Smack.

'Clean yourself up.'

"That may be very well", I said
"But watch the one falling in the street
See him gesture to his neighbours
See him trampled beneath their feet
All outward motion connects to nothing
For each is concerned with their immediate need
Witness the man reaching up from the gutter
See the other one stumbling on who can not see"

There is very real resentment in Maggie.

A resentment she can recognize as her own fault. ₳₴ ɆVɆⱤɎ₮Ⱨł₦₲ ł₴ ⱧɆⱤ ₣₳ɄⱠ₮.

She has nursed it. Fed it and fostered it. Never failing to fail as it was the easiest thing to do. ฿Ɇ₵₳Ʉ₴Ɇ ₴ⱧɆ ł₴ ₩Ɇ₳₭. ₦Ø ₴₮ⱤɆ₦₲₮Ⱨ Ø₣ ₩łⱠⱠ. ₦Ø ₵Ⱨ₳Ɽ₳₵₮ɆⱤ ₮Ø ₴₱Ɇ₳₭ Ø₣. Ɇ₳₴łⱠɎ ₣ØⱤ₲Ɇ₮₮₳฿ⱠɆ. ₳ ฿₳₵₭₲ⱤØɄ₦Đ ₱ł₵₮ɄⱤɆ.

After all the World is built upon failure. The failure of people to listen to those angels of their better nature. To look at themselves and see their own failings before casting stones at their neighbors. Maggie is constantly reminded of hers, real or imagined, reasonable or ridiculous. ₳₦Đ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ Ⱨ₳₴ ₴ⱧɆ ĐØ₦Ɇ ₮Ø Ɽł₴Ɇ ₳฿ØVɆ ł₮⸮

So can she really blame her parents inability to understand that she can't control her thoughts? As she can't find the words to explain how that is a thing anyone can suffer let alone their daughter. ₩ⱧØ ₵₳ⱤɆ₴⸮ ₴ⱧɆ ł₴ ₦Ø฿ØĐɎ. ₴ⱧɆ ł₴ ₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲. ₴ⱧɆ ₦ɆVɆⱤ ₩łⱠⱠ ₳₥ØɄ₦₮ ₮Ø ₳₦Ɏ₮Ⱨł₦₲ ⱤɆ₳Ⱡ.

And it is all of this, swirling her head, that keeps her from enjoying this embrace. That keeps her bracing for the disconnect. The End. Of the hug. Of their friendship. For all of it she believes has a time limit. Equated to how much value she can have to this person. To which the answer is—V₳ⱠɄɆ⸮ ɎØɄ⸮ k̶i̶m̶o̶c̶h̶i̶ ̶w̶a̶r̶u̶i̶

...ɘm ƚquɿɿɘƚᴎi oƚ ɘmiƚ ɘɿom ɘᴎo ɘvɒʜ uoY...

Perhaps one would think that Maggie would take some comfort in seeing the girl's own failings. The notebook was bad enough. When she found the videos. She sat frozen at the screen. Jaw tight. Eye's wide. Nearly ripped her finger nails off.

Ⱡł₭Ɇ ɎØɄ ĐłĐ₦'₮ Ɇ₦JØɎ ₴Ø₥Ɇ Ø₣ ₮Ⱨ₳₮. ₣ØⱤ ₳ ₥Ø₥Ɇ₦₮. ₳ ₴Ɇ₵Ø₦Đ. ₳ ₮ł₮₮ɆⱤ Ø₣ ₳ ₵ⱧɄ₵₭ⱠɆ. ł₮ ₩₳₴ ⱤɆ₳Ⱡ ₳ⱠⱠ ₮ⱧɆ ₴₳₥Ɇ. ₣Ɇ₳₴₮ł₦₲ Ø₦ ₴Ʉ₣₣ɆⱤł₦₲. гРł₮ ₣ɆɆⱠ ₲ØØĐ ₮Ø ₴ɆɆ ₮ⱧɆ₥ ฿ⱤØɄ₲Ⱨ₮ ₳₴ ⱠØ₩ ₳₴ ɎØɄ⸮ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ₴ⱧɆ ł₴ ₦Ø ฿Ɇ₮₮ɆⱤ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ɎØɄ.

Kinda yeah. For that moment, that second. She could admit that.

But mostly it was concern. A genuine fear for her friend. That Luan might become like her.

Give in to feeding that viscous part of herself.

To quote another dead comedian. "After all a murder, a murderer, is only an extroverted suicide."

But she didn't. As far as Maggie can tell.

฿Ʉ₮ ɎØɄ ₵₳₦'₮ ₭₦Ø₩ ₣ØⱤ ₴ɄⱤɆ. ₳₦Đ ł₣ ₴ⱧɆ гРł₮ ₩₳₴ ₦Ø ₮Ⱨ₳₦₭₴ ₮Ø ɎØɄ. ₴ⱧɆ'₴ ₴₮łⱠⱠ ₲Øł₦₲ ₮Ø ⱠɆ₳VɆ ɎØɄ Ø₦Ɇ Đ₳Ɏ. ₴ØØ₦ɆⱤ ₮Ⱨ₳₦ ɎØɄ ₮Ⱨł₦₭.

'That's fine. Everyone leaves. And she has a future. She will do so much.'

₲łVł₦₲ ₮ⱧɆ ₩ØⱤⱠĐ Ⱡ₳Ʉ₲Ⱨ₮ɆⱤ ₩łⱠⱠ ₴ØⱠVɆ ₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲. ₳₦Đ Ø₦Ɇ Đ₳Ɏ ₴ⱧɆ ₩łⱠⱠ ₣₳ⱠⱠ ₮ØØ. ₴ⱧɆ'ⱠⱠ ₴ɆⱠⱠ ØɄ₮. ⱧɆⱤ ₩Ɇ₳₭₦Ɇ₴₴ ₩łⱠⱠ ₲Ɇ₮ ⱧɆⱤ ł₦ ₮ⱧɆ Ɇ₦Đ. Đ₳₥₳₲ɆĐ ₱ɆØ₱ⱠɆ ₩łⱠⱠ ₦ɆVɆⱤ ₲Ɇ₮ ฿Ɇ₮₮ɆⱤ.

ɎØɄ ₩łⱠⱠ ₦ɆVɆⱤ ฿Ɇ ฿Ɇ₮₮ɆⱤ.

Maggie pulls back and Luan disengages.

She looks down. "Sorry. I know you don't like being touched."

"It's fine." Maggie says sharper than she intends. As it's not the other girl she is mad at. "I don't know what came over me."

Luan smiles, "Don't worry about it. I'm always be Tear for you."

"I outta kick you."

Luan chuckles. "Please don't." She looks down again. Blushing slightly. No, not just down. At her foot. She locks eyes with Maggie again.

Maggie sighs. "Need help?"

Ⱡł₭Ɇ ł ĐłĐ₦'₮ ₩₳₦₮ ₳₦Ø₮ⱧɆⱤ ɆӾ₵Ʉ₴Ɇ ₮Ø ₲Ɇ₮ ₥Ɏ Ⱨ₳₦Đ₴ Ø₦ ⱧɆⱤ.

Luan nods. "Yes, please."

Maggie hesitates for a moment. As Luan tries not to squirm under her gaze. Suddenly the younger girl clasps her arms around her. Luan seizes up but soon enough shifts her weight on to her good ankle.

And finally she's on her feet but Maggie doesn't let go. She just stares in her not-black eyes.

JɄ₴₮ ĐØ ł₮ ₳ⱠⱤɆ₳ĐɎ ł₣ ɎØɄⱤ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ₣Ʉ₵₭ł₦₲ ₴₮₳ⱤVɆĐ ₣ØⱤ ₳₮₮Ɇ₦₮łØ₦.

Maggie sighs loosening her grip. "We should go." She drops her eyes.

"n-No." Maggie looks back up at her. Luan licks her lips. "I kinda like it here."

Maggie swallows the lump in her throat nodding.

₭ɆɆ₱ ĐⱤɆ₳₥ł₦₲. ł'₥ ₦Ø₮Ⱨł₦₲ ฿Ʉ₮ ₳ ₴₮Ø₦Ɇ ₮Ø ĐⱤ₳₲ ⱧɆⱤ ĐØ₩₦. ØⱤ ₩łⱠⱠ ł JɄ₴₮ Ø₱Ɇ₦ ₥Ɏ ⱠɆ₲₴ ₣ØⱤ ₳₦ɎØ₦Ɇ ₩ⱧØ ₱₳Ɏ₴ ₳₮₮Ɇ₦₮łØ₦ ₮Ø ₥Ɇ. Ɇł₮ⱧɆⱤ ₩₳Ɏ. ₮Ⱨł₴. ₩łⱠⱠ. ₦Ø₮. Ⱡ₳₴₮.

฿Ɇ₵₳Ʉ₴Ɇ ł ⱤɄł₦ ɆVɆⱤɎ₮Ⱨł₦₲.

Maggie shifts Luan, taking the older girl by surprise as she lowers her on to the boulder. Maggie backs away slightly before sitting on the ground. "Alright. Because I doubt we'll ever find this place again."

Luan shakes her head. ...ƚi ɘƹiᴎǫoɔɘɿ oƚ ɘƚɒƚꙅ ᴎi ꙅɒw ɘiǫǫɒM ƚɒʜƚ ƚoᴎ ,bɒɘʜ ᴎwo ɿɘʜ ɿɒɘ|ɔ oƚ ꙅɒw ʜɔiʜW… "Maybe not." She nods. Inhaling deeply before again meeting Maggie's eyes. "But I'm willing to get lost with you again."

Maggie feels her nails in her palms.

"Who knows what we'll discover next time."

That was the last time Maggie stepped in those woods.

Then she drew the curtains down
And said, "When will you ever learn
That what happens there beyond the glass
Is simply none of your concern?
God has given you but one heart
You are not a home for the hearts of your
brothers

"Don't you ever raise your voice to us, Magdalena." Her father stares her down.

Her skin burns and her blood boils.

What are they arguing about? Who knows. Something on TV.

More news from nowhere.

"Because the World is terrible and I don't want to contribute to that!"

Close to yelling as possible. Clenched teeth. Curled hands.

No clicking. No clacking. No clucking.

No crying.

He just rolls his eyes.

She would of preferred it if he'd just slapped her.

More dignified.

"So you are what? Going to live outside of the World? How exactly?" He shakes his head muttering. "I have lived like that. Born in to it. And trust me. There is no virtue in it." His eyes had fire too. "Society. Freedom. Words. Just words. Life is hard. It's what's unfair. It's predatory. Get over it! Because it's the only one we got. And if you can't find it in you to stand against it. It will destroy you."

He doesn't get it. He never gets it. She never gets it either.

Fuck. Why does Maggie even try⸮

But she can't say he's wrong. Or weak. He came from nothing. And gave her all he could.

But damn it his life isn't hers!

Her struggle is not physical. Her starving is spir—...ƚʜʞɒd iʞꙅɘq |ɒʜʞ ,ƚud |ɒʜʞ ᴎoʞ...

"Rakľi," He grimaces slightly nearly grinding his teeth. "everyone has to free themselves from Hell."

And God don't care for your benevolence
Anymore than He cares for the lack of it in others
Nor does He care for you to sit
At windows in judgement of the World He created
While sorrows pile up around you
Ugly, useless and over-inflated"

"The planet is fine the people are fucked." Luan quotes wearily. "Maybe he was right and all we can do is watch the Freak Show."

₮Ⱨł₴ ł₴ ₴₮Ʉ₱łĐ. ₩ⱧɎ гРł ₵Ø₥Ɇ ⱧɆⱤɆ⸮ ĐØ ł ⱤɆ₳ⱠⱠɎ ₮Ⱨł₦₭ ₴ⱧɆ ₵₳₦ Ʉ₦ĐɆⱤ₴₮₳₦Đ ₥Ɇ⸮

Maggie swipes at her eye. Black on white. All she ever sees anymore.

"So what we just laugh at the World as it burns‽" Maggie shells up. "Hiding in our apathy. Relishing in our sadism. Content in our intellectual superiority."

"I...I don't know, Mags." Gingerly Luan moves next to her. "If things were simple it would have been fixed a long time ago. Everyone would just know. But people just..."

"Everyone just cares what's on their plate." Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. "The end of the World three hot meals away." Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click. Click.

Luan grabs her hands. "The World is like a ride in an amusement park." Maggie tries to pull away. Luan pulls back. "And when you choose to go on it you think its real because that's how powerful our minds are, and the ride goes up and down and round and round. It has thrills and chills and its very brightly colored and it's very loud; and it's fun...for a while."

Maggie's skin crawls. It burns. The other girl's hands are too warm.

"S-some people have been on this ride for a long time and they begin to question 'Is this real or is this just a ride?' a-a-And,"

She can feel the other girl's breath. It's too hot. Maggie clenches her eyes tighter.

"Other people have remembered and they come back to us and they say," He voice cracks and she takes a shaky breath. "They say...Maggie." She implores.

₦Ø! ĐØ₦'₮ ĐØ ł₮! ł₮'₴ ₳ ⱠłɆ! ł₮'₴ ₳ ₮Ɽł₵₭! ₴ⱧɆ ĐØɆ₴₦'₮ ₵₳ⱤɆ! ₴ⱧɆ ĐØɆ₴₦'₮ Ʉ₦ĐɆⱤ₴₮₳₦Đ!

She feels the too warm hand squeeze hers again.

₴ⱧɆ ₮ⱤɎł₦₲ ₮Ø ₵Ⱨ₳₦₲Ɇ ɎØɄ! ₮₳₭Ɇ ₳₩₳Ɏ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ₥₳₭Ɇ₴ ɎØɄ ɎØɄⱤ₴ɆⱠ₣! JɄ₴₮ ฿Ɇ₵Ø₥Ɇ Ⱡł₭Ɇ ɆVɆⱤɎØ₦Ɇ ɆⱠ₴Ɇ!

She begins trembling. Her jaw hurts, Her head hurts. She feels sick. Disgusted. Why can't the older girl feel it? As close as she is. Too close. Closer than anyone has been in years.

₳₦Đ ₴ⱧɆ'ⱠⱠ ⱠɆ₳VɆ. Ø₦₵Ɇ ₴ⱧɆ ₣ł₲ɄⱤɆ₴ ØɄ₮ ₩Ⱨ₳₮ ł ₳₥! ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ł ₵₳₦'₮ ฿Ɇ ₴₳VɆĐ! ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ł'₥ ₦Ø₮ ₩ØⱤ₮Ⱨ ł₮!

Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä. Kä.

"Maggie, please." She pleads again.

Her eyes burn. More streaks. Blistering. Black and white. She can't breath. Her heart. This is how she finally goes. How she'll see.

'What am I doing Freaking out over nothing. It's ₮ØØ Ⱡ₳₮Ɇ! She can ₴ɆɆ!'

ⱠØØ₭! ⱠØØ₭, ₵Ø₩₳ⱤĐ! ɎØɄ ₭₦Ø₩ ɎØɄ ₦ɆɆĐ ₮ØØ. ł₮ ł₴ ł₦ ɎØɄⱤ ₦₳₮ɄⱤɆ.

ɎØɄ ĐØ ⱤɄł₦ ɆVɆⱤɎ₮Ⱨł₦₲.

It's always like this. A losing battle. The need to know you're right about everything being wrong.

Maggie's pale eyes meet Luan's dark ones.

And it is all wrong.

Because it's not how she expected.

Odium. Contempt. Detestation.

Everything she has for herself is not reflected back at her.

And that is even scarier.

"They say," She smiles, so fragile to be carrying so much in it, "Hey! Don't worry, don't be afraid, ever; because this is just a ride."

'No. ₦Ø. No. ₦Ø. No. ₦Ø. NØ!' If none of this matters then ₩ⱧɎ ĐØ ł ₵Ø₦₮ł₦ɄɆ ₮Ø ₴Ʉ₣₣ɆⱤ‽'

She tears away.

And runs.

L̶u̶a̶n̶ ̶l̶o̶o̶k̶s̶ ̶u̶p̶ ̶a̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶o̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶i̶s̶h̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶e̶t̶.̶ ̶

"̶A̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶k̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶p̶e̶o̶p̶l̶e̶.̶"̶ ̶S̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶r̶a̶p̶s̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶r̶m̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶o̶u̶n̶d̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶s̶e̶l̶f̶.̶ ̶"̶T̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶i̶d̶e̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶a̶l̶w̶a̶y̶s̶ ̶t̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶k̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶g̶o̶o̶d̶ ̶g̶u̶y̶s̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶ ̶t̶r̶y̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶t̶e̶l̶l̶ ̶u̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶.̶"̶ ̶S̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶n̶i̶f̶f̶s̶.̶ ̶"̶L̶e̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶d̶e̶m̶o̶n̶s̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶ ̶a̶m̶o̶k̶.̶"̶ ̶ ̶

A̶n̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶i̶t̶c̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶s̶t̶u̶t̶t̶e̶r̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶b̶r̶e̶a̶t̶h̶.̶

"̶B̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶d̶o̶e̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶ ̶m̶a̶t̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶s̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶i̶d̶e̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶ ̶c̶h̶a̶n̶g̶e̶ ̶i̶t̶ ̶a̶n̶y̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶ ̶w̶e̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶.̶ ̶ ̶I̶t̶s̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶a̶ ̶c̶h̶o̶i̶c̶e̶ ̶-̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶k̶,̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶j̶o̶b̶,̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶e̶f̶f̶o̶r̶t̶,̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶s̶a̶v̶i̶n̶g̶s̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶m̶o̶n̶e̶y̶," S̶h̶e̶ ̶w̶i̶p̶e̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶r̶s̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶e̶y̶e̶.̶ "̶ a̶ ̶c̶h̶o̶i̶c̶e̶,̶ ̶r̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶n̶o̶w̶ ̶b̶e̶t̶w̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶f̶e̶a̶r̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶l̶o̶v̶e̶.̶"̶ ̶

N̶o̶ ̶m̶o̶r̶e̶ ̶w̶o̶r̶d̶s̶ ̶a̶r̶e̶ ̶p̶o̶s̶s̶i̶b̶l̶e̶.̶ ̶N̶e̶i̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶h̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶d̶e̶a̶d̶ ̶m̶a̶n̶'̶s̶.̶ O̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶a̶r̶s̶.̶

B̶u̶y̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶i̶c̶k̶e̶t̶,̶ ̶t̶a̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶r̶i̶d̶e̶.̶

At which she turned her head away
Great tears leaping from her eyes
I could not wipe the smile from my face
As I sat sadly by her side

Maggie slams her fist on the sink.
It hurts. Just not enough. But it gets the job done.
She doesn't have time to reapply her makeup a second time.
She can't let her see her like that again.

Especially now that she has so much more to hide.

She pulls her phone back out.
Almost time.
Not enough time.
Always too much or not enough.

She unlocks her phone returning to her frozen face.

The video plays again.
And they're still there.
Now that's she's seen it she can't turn the blind eye to it again.
The genie's out of the bottle.

The smoke before the fire.

Because, you know, she's thought of it before.
That's the nature of what's wrong with her.
The need to know.
And you can never know.

Never enough proof.

She has wondered if she is a lesbian.
Or if she wanted to fuck her father.
Molest her sister.
Stab her mother.

Everything reprehensible in life on a loop in her head.

Violence.
Contamination.
Perversion.
Blasphemy.

She looks at the blue veins against her white skin and knows at least one thought is undoubtedly hers.

This thing she feels for Luan could be just another trick her mind is playing on her.
Another false positive.
Another question to never be answered.
Cause she will never truly believe that this feeling is real.

Not in herself or in Luan.

And yet…
if she does take a moment…
to indulge in it…
to think maybe the feeling is true…

She doesn't hate it.

The images.
A different kind of warmth.
A different turning in her stomach.
A different cause to the nervous energy and palpitations racking her form.

The cause being the cure.

And then the fear comes back. But the fear is always there.
What makes this any different⸮
Maggie knows she will destroy herself eventually. Inevitably.
Doesn't mean she wants to fuck up anyone else's life as she does it.

And what could be more caring than that⸮

Or is that just bullshit⸮
And just a convenient excuse to give up.
An illusion of virtue to cover-up your own failings.
Just like everyone else.

The human condition.

"La dracu." Maggie growls.

This has gone on long enough.

She's just stalling at this point.

Another breath as her finger hovers over the icon.

"La naiba." She hits the button.

The next video plays.

Luan gives on last lingering look before they move back in to the World again. As always a smile on her lips.

Though not the usual ones Maggie has seen.

Of mischief. Of amusement. Of humor.

Or that one strained under so much emotions.

Though this one too contained much for how small it was.

Contented. Bittersweet. Peaceful. Longing. Contemplative. Fleeting.

And before Maggie can think of some final adjective the older girl turns to to the camera.

And her whole being comes alive.

No not the camera.

That's not where those dark eyes are focused on.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Spooky." She holds her arms open. "I'm ready when you are."

The video ends.

And a few seconds later Maggie finally blinks.
Nope. Doesn't look like this is going away anytime soon.
But what is one more compulsion?
She already has so many. Injurious all.
Because she's always so fearful she is going to give in to the obsessions. Pain purifies.
But maybe this one wouldn't be so bad.
Mix a little honey with the venom.

"Coño."

Maggie pockets the phone. Standing at attention. She looks to the mirror again.

She's too pale. So are her eyes. A face somewhere between frightening and forgettable. And the less said about her personality the better.

Still though...still...Luan is waiting.

And Maggie's stalled enough.

Time to move the plot forward.

…

Luan tightens her grip.

Oh this is a terrible, terrible plan.

A joke.

Her first instinct was to get Mags the remake of that horror game from the 2000s but she heard the remaster sucked.

They even redubbed everything.

Sacrilege.

That's not how you rebuild a franchise for a new generation.

You can not advance like that.

So instead she finds herself going in to a store she has no business in. Looking at an item that is just wrong.

So impractical.

So not her taste.

And yet at the same time so beautiful.

It just won't leave.

A sleepy looking bottle blonde barely looks up from her magazine. "So you're back to ogle. If I didn't know any better I'd say you're casing the place."

Luan chuckles, "Heather."

She moves to the far counter. At this point she could do it in her sleep.

Her fingers hover over the glass. Don't want to make Heather work too har-...don't want to make Heather work.

The blonde looks up lazily.

Luan sighs. It's still there. For another day at least.

Although why that should matter is beyond her. It really shouldn't. It's kind of useless. And a really weird compulsion.

It's a brooch.

A flippin' brooch.

Who even wears a brooch these days⸮

Well it did look old so..not disposable...made to last.

A silver fiery heart. Pierced by seven swords. Engraved with a dark gold M. The patina showing its age. How it ended up here was anyone's guess. And while Luan wondered about it she knew better than to ask.

Having recognized the end of the younger girl's cycle of facial expressions, the only real entertaining thing in this job, Heather speaks up.

"Just to let you know, kid, you might have some competition for that thing."

Luan snaps to her. Heather idly turns the page, "About an hour ago this chick in a bespoke suit and a freaking Vacheron Constantin patrimony."

Luan blinks.

"It's a watch." Shrug. "That costs about as much as a new car." The page flutters. "It could have been a fake but if it was it was a damn good one."

Luan puts a smile on her face. "Wow. You sound like a real jeweler. Didn't know you could do accents."

Heather blows a sigh out of the side of her mouth. "I forgot my textbook." She holds up the catalog. A picture of a pink gold watch with a purplish alligator strap. "She seems to like that rose gold look. But she was real interested in that. Had it taken out of the case and everything."

Luan frowns looking at the brooch. Seeing strange fingers prodding it and turning it over in oily hands.

Heather squints. That's a new one. "If that douche Vin hadn't been so pushy she might have walked out with it." Eye twitch, huh⸮ "She seemed like she in to that psuedo-religious stuff."

Luan clenches her fist, her body shaking, as she gnashes her teeth.

Heather sighs, "Calm down, kid, I alre-"

Luan slaps the money down on the counter.

Heather hops up standing. Remorse on her face. "Kid, I..."

Luan shakes her head looking at the heart. "No. It's just...I have the money now."

Heather moves down the counter. Yeah looks like its all there. She looks back up. "If you need more time..."

Luan shakes her head not quite looking at her. "No. I'll take it now." Her voice low but firm.

Heather nods. Pushing herself to her feet she moves down the counter. She opens the case removing the brooch, her hand hovering over the money. "You never did tell me why you want it." She moves her gaze to the girl. "Doesn't look like your style."

"You say that every time..." She trails off.

Heather snatches up the money. "If this is the last time..."

Luan reaches across her body to scratch her arm. "It's for a friend."

Heather raises her brow along with her lips in to a smirk, "Must be some friend."

Luan colors, "The best I ever had."

Heather hums shaking the money, "Then I call that a bargain."

Luan gives a slight smile. "I know that song."

Heather gives her a questioning look but shakes her head, "Well seeing as I'm the only one here. Let me go ahead and wrap this for you." She winks. "Free of charge."

"Heat-"

"Nope." She looks between wrapping paper choosing the light blue. "I'm moving on soon anyways." Cut. "Thinking of giving California a shot." Fold. "Glad this went to someone who could appreciate it."

Luan remains quiet.

Heather wraps a pink bow around the box. She takes a deep breath licking her lips. "Just a bit of advice." Luan turns to her but Heather keeps her eyes down. "You never know how much time you will have with people you care about. Always let them know how you feel." Her eyes go glazed and Luan can tell she's far from here. Soon its gone as she looks up holding the box out to her. "Well, here you go."

Gingerly the brunette takes the box. Exhaling. It is done. Or very nearly. Wow this was a stupid plan. It's not like she would ever wear it. Who even wears brooches these days⸮ Wait, she asked that already.

The blonde finishes the necessary tasks for the actual sale. "Don't go getting buyer's remorse now." She holds out the receipt and change. "I don't care what the return policy is. I'm not taking it back."

Luan takes the slip of carcinogenic paper. Placing the items safely in her bag. Next to her planner.

"You take care of yourself, kid."

"It's Luan. And thanks, Heather."

"I'll be here until the end of summer. Let me know how it turns out."

"I will."

Heather watches the girl leave, a small smile on her face. "Kid's these days." She pulls out her phone.

4 more hours. Enough to get through towns A-D.

…

Lisa grits her teeth and bares it.

Darcy laughs turning to her friend. "He's funny. Don't you think so?"

"Its very...colorful." Sagan save her from children's television. At this point she is starting believe it is trying to dumb down the next generation.

Another spectacle and the 4 year-old is distracted.

Lisa sighs. She's being a bitch again, huh?

She came here because Darcy is the polar opposite of her. She is...normal. Unburdened by the knowledge of what she is. Or what Lisa is for that matter.

Lisa has colleagues. Many. But only one friend.

It's still a novel concept she hasn't quite understood yet.

Of course the idea that Lisa as brilliant as she is can be incapable of understanding something is a very unsettling concept.

Maybe that will come with age, the difference between experience and theory, but she's pretty sure she'll screw up this friendship by then. Just look what she does to her own family.

"Darcy, your mama needs your help." Her father leans in the door.

Her face lights up, "Coming!"

"Don't run."

"Sorry!" She hurries as fast as not running can be.

He grins. He moves the rest of the way in the door. Her eyes linger on his left arm.

"Mr. Helmandollar."

"Lisa." He says evenly. "Didn't know you were coming over today."

She looks back down on the plastic table and sheets of half colored paper jagged and random.

"Me either." She says softly.

The man narrows his eyes. And moves in to the room. "You know I don't think I've ever heard you admit you didn't know something. Even when you were trying to apologize for making my little girl cry."

"I'm still surprised you forgave me."

"Your four years old. Four. Years. Old. Who can truly expect moral behavior from a four year old?" He shakes his head. "We are not born with moral instincts we acquire them."

"Morality. Ethics. I have been studying them." She groans. "The college put a hold on my grants until I did."

Mr. Helmandollar chuckles, "Oh I would pay to see that."

"It was exceedingly frustrating. To have everything I'm doing, which is for the good of humanity, constantly questioned and scrutinized. Isn't that what science is for? To make a better World?"

The man guffaws, " 'the pursuit of science, despite its social benefits, is itself not a social virtue; its practitioners can be men so self-centered as to be lacking in social responsibility'."

Lisa certainly doesn't pout as she stares at the work of creativity before her.

"I was not making fun of you personally." He sits next to her, balancing precariously on a plastic chair, "You are a genius. But this, I can call you out on this, as you know nothing of this." The arm whirls as he lifts it. "In some things, experience trumps all."

Lisa looks up at him.

"When you say to make a better World what you mean is to survive." He shrugs his head. "But that's where we all start anyways. It truly doesn't become moral behavior until it is outside of us." The arm returns to rest. "Duty is the basis of morality as far as I'm concerned. To understand that you are not the whole of existence and that you have responsibilities outside of you. 'Moral behavior is survival behavior above the individual level'."

He rests his hand on the arm. "I gave my arm for that belief. Not for some misplace sense of heroism or some such egoism." He turns to the girl. "No. It was much simpler. Mad men where gathering and I stood between them and home. So that Darcy and you and the rest of your generation could have your chance at the World. See how you fair." He turns back to the door. "What you do with it is what you do. But I continue to do my duty by giving you the chance."

He hums amused. "Like I said, Lisa, your four-years old I don't expect you to understand it right away. Just look in to it. Because I do worry about you. You have tremendous ability but with that has to come a great responsibility as well. Because you are going to change the World, Lisa, I just hope you will be able to handle living with that. The price you'll have to pay."

The child is silent. Because she isn't sure she can.

Slowly her eyes move from the table to the man crouched uncomfortable on a toddler's chair.

"How are the upgrades to the arm?"

He smirks, "I guess they're worth voiding the warranty." He moves out fingers splayed, wrist turning,

"If you would let me do the implants-" "You are not drilling in to my head, Lisa."

"Well then Nanotech it is. Just give me a few years." She gives a slight smile.

"I'm in no hurry."

The door bell rings. Mr. Helmandollar pulls out his phone. "Well that seems to conclude our time."

"Can you..." Lisa trails off.

"Yeah, alright." He gets up making that dad noise. "Make it quick though. I don't know what you did but you're gonna have to face the consequences sometime."

He crosses the threshold, "That's also a part of growing."

…

Through the windswept coastal trees

Maggie takes a deep breath looking over the sea of lives.

Her tolerance to their pressing upon her almost nil.

Yet she's starting to get tired of running away.

With a teddy-bear clamped between her knees
She says, where can my L.O.V.E.R.M.A.N. be?

Her knuckles found a way to go whiter against the railing as her pale eyes search the crowd.

Not even considering taking her phone back out instead of searching for a dash of yellow in tenné.

Of course if she did she would question why Luan hasn't texted her.

She moves to the escalator.

Well, I'm down here, babe, with the Eskimos
With the polar bears and the Arctic snow

Luan massages her forehead.

And reminds herself what's done is done.

Now she has to buck up and go through with it.

With a party of penguins who do not know
How I can get back to thee

Her feet move her unconsciously upward. Partially towards their appointment but also knowing Magpie's affinity for heights. Or is it that just sparsity in general⸮ Nobody has reason to go up to the third floor. Which means security knows they'll have shoo them out at least once a visit. Just as well, gives them something to do besides chase Scoots around.

Luan smiles.

Oh baby, don't you go

Lincoln stops as Lacy holds up her hand. He feels Luna crash in to him.

Lynn's daughter looks around as Luan ascends. How much of that is necessary Lincoln's not sure as since Luan left that jewelry store she has seemed kind of distracted. Like she was earlier.

Maybe this day does have some significance.

Lacy motions forward but holds Lincoln then Luna. She motions with her head for Carol to get on first. Waits for the eyeline then follows.

Seems in her element.

'Huh, she moves like LJ.'

All supernatural on me
Supernaturally

A jewelry store. Luanty went into a jewelry store. She has a pretty good idea what that was about. Awww.

Lacy is now sure Lita is here somewhere.

And there is a real part of her that does want to run her down. And she could. Lita is good but she has weaknesses.

But that is not why Lacy is here.

Her nostrils flair.

Once I was your hearts desire
Now I am the ape hunkered by the fire

Loud isn't just a name its a character trait. Though the word has more than one meaning it is the silence that is most distracting at this moment.

Luna is straining. She has happened upon a few nuggets but has yet to strike the vein. Though is currently in no position to keep digging.

As for...the other one.

It would be fair to say that Lace was only half surprised by Lincoln telling Carol the truth.

She could certainly see her Father making that play. Lacy herself has done it three times in two days. Though not as her opening.

Either way those weren't calculated risks. They were countergambits. These are the shadows of the people who raised her. Thus they have taught her everything they don't know.

However this version of Lincoln doesn't know Carol. So this was a gamble. A shot in the dark.

Of course, he was only reacting to Lefty's play.

White Pawn to e4. Black Knight to c6. White to d4.

Junior knows Carol. Knows how difficult it is to run game on her, not that they couldn't as she is now. And while all he said was true and to those on the outside good reasons to involve her in the search.

If LJ wanted to find Lita he would have came himself.

Black to d5.

The boy her father was is struggling right now. He's lost just like RaRa. And Lori. And Luna. And Luan.

Wanderers.

Unlike her aunts, her father in this state is exceptionally dangerous.

Fortunately her mother found RaRa before it was too late.

Though they are not truly out of the woods yet.

Their bond is tentative at best. So easily rended. Hopefully it will hold long enough for them to secure the final piece.

White to e5.

But, still, LJ drew a line in the sand. Why⸮ It wasn't just Leman prodding him.

Where did he go after he ran?

'...to see a place so strange, so sweet, so fair...'

Lacy takes a deep breath.

She will have words with her sister and twin when they get back.

With my knuckles dragging through the mire
You float by so majestically

Carol leans in to the rail.

This is really getting boring. It's still early yet but she doesn't want to waste her Saturday night here. Not that she...anyways, she was hoping they would at least let her take a look inside Kerrity's. See if the girl's taste is better than it looks. Even if that creepy fake blonde is working.

Although if she's here to meet her paramour why go in to the jewelry store alone?

You're my north, my south, my east, my west
You are the girl that I love best

Unless she's scouting out for which hints to drop at the proper times.

Clever girl.

You know, now that she thinks about it, she's seen her before.

That's right, on that disastrous date with Brad. Ugh they're always named Brad aren't they?

So he takes her to a comedy club of all things. Macchietta. She was distracted by the Italian and when he said it was a bit sketch...oh well, it was her fault forgetting that Benny was the younger brother not the older. To many B names.

Ugh if she ever has kids she swears she'll never use alliteration….yup...never…not gonna happen...nope…besides girl's names starting with P are terrible.

Whatever, back to that night. Brad was boring but the night it self was...fine. She wouldn't have chose it and hasn't been back but some of the performers were palatable. And Lori's sister was pretty alright. Not as cringey as she expected though she really shouldn't laugh at her own jokes so much.

And have a little tact too. The girl just bowed, proceeds to hop off the stage to the floor and rushes straight over to her date. It would do her well to learn to play a lit...tle...harder...to...get...

Carol blinks. Nearly tripping as the reach the next floor.

Is the person Lori's sister is meeting a...

With an army of tanks bursting from your chest
I wave my little white flag at thee

She focuses on the words over the thundering of her heart and the blood rushing to her head.

Trying to match her legs to the tempo so she doesn't slow, doesn't stop, doesn't give herself the chance to run like the coward ₴ⱧɆ keeps telling herself she is.

She thinks this must be what being microwaved feels like. Her skin is burning but inside is a pit of ice.

Like that time as a child when she caught a fever and her hands swelled like two balloons.

At this rate she's going to rip her findernails off. At least then she won't have to keep coming up with excuses as to why she doesn't paint them.

ØⱧ ₩₳ł₮ ł ĐⱤØVɆ ₥Ɏ ₣ⱤłɆ₦Đ₴ Ø₣₣. ₦Ø฿ØĐɎ'₴ ₳₴₭ł₦₲.

She stumbles and flounders for a moment with the instinct to sink.

But the notes prompt the refrain so she does.

Can you see it, babe?

There are certain pins of paranoia as if she is being shadowed by some great beast.

Or just much too exposed.

But who would be following her?

Why would anyone?

Her dark eyes drop down to her hand still clutching the strap of her bag. The yellow still around her wrist.

She could take it off, putting her hair back up and looking behind her surreptitiously.

So she doesn't.

Because who would care enough to follow her?

The answer is the same for the other questions.

Nobody would.

Now I've turned the mirrors to wall
I've emptied out the peopled halls

𝓢𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓽, 𝓱𝓾𝓱? 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓸𝓵𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷.

𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝔀 𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭, 𝓹𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓼𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓮𝓻 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭, 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽?

𝓘 𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓲𝓭𝓵𝔂 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓵 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓾𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓵 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝔂 𝓭𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓽𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝔂𝓮𝓼. 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘'𝓶 𝓪𝓯𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓲𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓼𝓱 𝓸𝓯 𝓪 𝓭𝓻𝓾𝓷𝓴𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓬𝓲𝓰𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓼𝓴𝔂 𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓷𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓪 𝔀𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓭𝓪𝔂.

𝓝𝓸𝓻 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓫𝓲𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓭𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓷. 𝓐 𝓴𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓹 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓴𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓹.

𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓲𝓷-𝓼𝓹𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯...𝓘 𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓾𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓭𝓸 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼.

𝓣𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶. 𝓣𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽. "𝓗𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓶𝓹𝓽𝔂 𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓬𝓮𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼." 𝓝𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝓸𝓶 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓾𝓹 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓰𝓮, 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮. 𝓞𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓰𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓮𝓭, 𝓫𝓮 𝓲𝓽 15 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓽𝓮𝓼 𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓷 𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓻, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓮𝓻.

𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓶á 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓿𝓸𝓲𝓭.

𝓞𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓸𝓻𝓫𝓲𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓢𝓸 𝓸𝓯 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝓽𝓸𝓸𝓴 𝓲𝓽 𝓾𝓹𝓸𝓷 𝓶𝔂𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓯 𝓽𝓸 𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓾𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶. "𝓔𝔁 𝓘𝓰𝓷𝓸𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓪 𝓐𝓭 𝓢𝓪𝓹𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓪𝓶; 𝓔𝔁 𝓣𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓼 𝓐𝓭 𝓛𝓾𝓬𝓮."

𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓼 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝔂 𝓷𝓸𝔀.

I've nailed shut the windows and locked the doors
There is no escape, you see

𝓘 𝓭𝓸 𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓹𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓰𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓮𝓼.

𝓝𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓰𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓼𝓸 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓼 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓮.

𝓘𝓽 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓴𝓾𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓶𝓮. 𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓲𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓵𝓭𝓮𝓷 𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓶. 𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮𝓵𝔂 𝓪𝓽 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓲𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂.

𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓘'𝓶 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓮.

𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓽 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓯 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓲𝓽. 𝓦𝓱𝓸 𝓘 𝓪𝓶. 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓿𝓮 𝓶𝓮. 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝔂𝓮𝓽.

𝓚𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓛𝓪 𝓒𝓸𝓵𝓰𝓪𝓭𝓪, 𝓼𝓱𝓮'𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓹. 𝓛𝓙 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽'𝓿𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽. 𝓗𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓮𝓽𝓼 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼𝓷'𝓽 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓰𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝔀𝓮 𝓭𝓸.

𝓘𝓷 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓰𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓭𝓮𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷𝓼 𝓯𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓼𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼 𝓲𝓽 𝓭𝓮𝓿𝓸𝓵𝓿𝓮𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓪 𝓬𝓻𝓪𝔃𝔂𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮.

𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝔂 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮. 𝓘𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓼 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓸𝓶. 𝓘 𝓰𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓒𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓮𝓷𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓬𝓴 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰.

𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮.

I chase you up and down the stairs
Under tables and over chairs

Maggie cuts diagonally across the white tiles. The way is unimpeded by obstacles or barrier. There is just no more moves to make.

So she stands.

Because if Luan is coming she will have to move across this ground.

ł₣ ₴ⱧɆ ł₴ ₵Ø₥ł₦₲.

And in that moment Maggie does see it.

Her not coming.

Or worse, the good Luan finally seeing her for the fucking wreck she is and turning her head away. Continuing on her way. The straight and stronger course.

And Maggie stuck there standing.

All alone.

ł₦₴₮₳₦₮ ₭₳Ɽ₥₳.

And she allows herself to feel it. With every fiber of imagination. And her body responds to the phantom pains and the light dies from the World and all that remains is blackness.

Yet still she stands. To her own surprise. Her back strong enough for Troubles double-fold.

฿Ʉ₮ ₩Ɇ'ⱠⱠ ₴ɆɆ ł₣ ₴ł₥ɄⱠ₳₮łØ₦ ₮ⱤɄ₥₱₴ ⱤɆ₳Ⱡł₮Ɏ.

'Yes. I will.'

Then she turns the corner onto the darken square. As thirty white horse barred but unrestrained return color to the World. And it's just like the first time she saw her. Like every time she's seen her.

Never a frown with golden brown.

And like a moth, Maggie floats, drawn to her own doom.

I reach out and I touch your hair
And it cuts me like a knife
For there is always some little thing you gotta do

Something very much like relief but only going as far as reprieve washes over Luan as she completes the turn...b|uoʜꙅ ʏɘʜƚ ɘʞi| ꙅ|ɘɘᎸ ƚi ,bᴎuoɿǫ ɘ|bbim ƚɒʜƚ ɿoᎸ bɿow ɒ ɘvɒʜ ƚ'ᴎob ꙅᴎɒmɿɘᎮ ɘʜƚ bɘꙅiɿqɿuꙄ...

Allowing the brunette to forget the feeling of being hunted.

Until she notices the queer look Maggie is giving her.

And she thought she felt self-conscious before. Why is it so hot in here?

They run out of ground to cover. No more tiles between them. Just the silence.

"h-Hi...Sorry about being so late."

"It's whatever." Maggie says automatically, still staring.

Luan clears her throat, "So uh...are you sure your not mad at me?" She moves a lock behind her ear. "Your kinda staring real hard...like when your trying to blow someone's head up."

Ebony hair whips around. "Sorry. It's just, uh, I've...never see you with your hair down..."

Luan wasn't expecting that, showing her surprise clear to the rafters. "Surely you have." Right?

"No. I haven't." Luan blinks at that not quite sure what the tone was. Maggie finally looks away. You know, nonchalant like, complete lacking in chalantness. Yep. "Even when you've stayed over." Then quietly. "And don't call me Shirley."

Luan's face nearly splits. "You watched it‽"

Maggie sniffs, "Yeah, well, it was stupid."

Luan chuckles, "You said the same about the one with the kiwi vampires but you still liked it."

Her face takes on its characteristic scowl. "That's because I hate vampires." She looks away again. "I get that from my dad."

Yeah. Why hasn't she brought Maggie over to her house yet? She really needs video of her meeting Lucy. That would be hilarious.

She returns her pale eyes to Luan, who thinks that's not the only thing she got from her father.

Seriously, I know its June but get someone on that air condition or Beaverton will take everyones business.

"So uh what is the plan, kooky?"

Luan's eyes go wide.

Dang it, she knew she forgot something.

'You know what, screw it.'

Luan's grin grows, "It's a surprise."

Hey! Ho!
Oh baby don't you go

Luna certainly didn't expect to be back here so soon. She guesses its fortunate that she didn't get kicked out. Although so much has happened that it feels like a year since she was jamming with Neph. Oh that's right, he's only one of her nephews now. Now there's boy Lynn.

She bumps in to Lincoln. Looking down to see Lacy at the front. Her hand up. She then motions them forward but then grabs both her and Lincoln letting Pingrey get on first.

Huh. She...kinda looks like...LJ.

Lacy stalks on to the escalator and Luna shakes herself remembering why they are there.

Lulu's kid.

Luna holds in a groan as she thinks about all the signs that Luan was troubled. How unlike herself she has been over the past couple of weeks. Of course Luna hadn't felt much like herself either.

"We just go on and on but nothing ever really seems to change." Is what Lincoln said. In that moment reassuring her little brother had been more important but as she thinks on what he had said. Yeah. Maybe that had been it.

The situation with Sam acerbated by the fact it had gone on so long without being resolved. And then the future. And what that future entailed seemed like it would be chosen for her if she didn't act. Of course just cause you make a choice doesn't mean the outcome is in your control. But its better than not doing anything.

Right?

'Dude where is all that serenity from yesterday afternoon. How I long for yesterday...then again...'

Her eyes train on Lacy.

Hey! Ho!
Oh baby, no no no

Luna shuffles her feet as they reach the second floor.

Her brow raises as Pingrey starts to lag behind but softens her gaze when she sees the look on her face.

She can sympathize.

At the same time Carol doesn't have to be here. Facing these questions. She isn't family. So nothing about these kids from the future have anything to do with her. None what so ever. Nope.

Also if the way she acted at the house is any indication. She isn't going to like where her future leads.

Huh. Maybe that is the point of all this. If it has to have a point. No matter what happens to you in your life it is up to you to decide how you feel about it. Lori is a control freak. She had to know.

'Just like I had to know for sure about Sam. And neither scenario turned out like we thought it would. It's funny that she was told what she wanted to hear and I didn't but in the end we both ended up crying.'

Luan starts to smirk before she is stopped again by Lacy's hand.

She peers over the wall and, yup, exactly who she thought.

Huh. She feels like she should have saw this coming. As her sister and her friend fidget then stare at each other for too long followed by so pointedly not looking at each other it has the same effect. The smile fully blooms on her face. Awww.

'Come on, Luan. You got this. All the way to the bloody top.'

Hey! Ho!
Oh don't you go
All supernatural on me

𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷'𝓽 𝓱𝓮𝓵𝓹 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓬𝓱𝓾𝓬𝓴𝓵𝓮 𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓪𝓼 𝓘 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰. 𝓢𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼. "𝓘𝓷 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝔀𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭, 𝓼𝓾𝓬𝓬𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱, 𝓽𝓸 𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓿𝓮, 𝓯𝓲𝓮𝓻𝓬𝓮 𝓨𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓱 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔂𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓜𝓪𝓲𝓭."

𝓘 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓼, 𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮, 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓪𝓶𝓪𝔃𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓫𝓸𝓻𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓾𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓵𝔂 𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓵𝓮𝓼𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽.

𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹𝓼 𝓪 𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷.

𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝔁𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝔂 𝓳𝓪𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓽. 𝓘𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓰𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓯𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓼 𝓘 𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓼𝓱 𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓪𝓻𝓭.

𝓢𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓲𝓽. 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓪𝓷 𝓮𝓷𝓭. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓪 𝓯𝓮𝔀 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓼 𝓵𝓮𝓯𝓽 𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓴.

"𝓢𝓾𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓪𝓵𝓵𝔂."

Snap.

Carol eyes widen as she stares at the two girls. Then realizes she's much to close to the gutterpunk. She push away before they notice. Not fast enough.

Lacy snorts whipping around. Fixing he gaze on the blonde. Something about the angle of the light making them seem to glow and tripping some primitive part of her brain at once telling her to flee but that would be futile. And she knew all of this as her fangs slip out.

A blink and its like it never was. Her smile bright and warm. "Aww. They're so cute." She leans against the wall, left leg bracing her, as she shakes her head in amusement. Carol gives an uncomfortable heh and tries not to wrap her arms around herself.

The tryhard rocker gives a phlegmy throaty guttural approximation of a human sound of delectation. "Dude, how did I not put it together?" Carol's eye twitches but the future girl looks at her again and she doesn't say anything. "wh-Why didn't she come to me about it?" Carol looks back at her and her face has dropped, her eyes misty, her brows crinkling under the strain of her grief looking as though it will collapse her at any moment. And Carol feels that useless need to run again.

"I...know her from somewhere..." Lincoln says bringing them all back. "Don't I?"

Lacy places her hand on his shoulder, "Well, yeah, you did ruin her cake."

"That's her!"

Lacy laughs, "Life is strange, innit?"

Carol clenches her hand the immaculately manicured nails pressing in to her palms.

"Well it seems you found your sister and her..." The pause causes Luna to scowl. "Inamorata." How does everyone know that word⸮ "I'm sure your niece will be along shortly so I think this is where we will part company." Why the hell did she say it like that?

"Well...bye." Luna says dismissively. Confident the wannabe blue-blood can't shoot lasers.

Lacy shakes her head again as she tries not to laugh.

"Uh guys they're leaving." Lincoln butts in again.

"Well go follow them we'll be along in a minute." Her hand still on his shoulder Lacy pushes the boy to go after them.

"Like I said," Carol ratchets up the haughtiness to the point her ends almost curl in to ringlets. "I've fulfilled my favor to Lori." Luna rolls her eyes. Lacy's fangs slip out.

Lincoln tries to mimic his son's gait, trying to go unnoticed by the World as he stumbles through it.

Goes about as well as you would think.

He hears Luan say something about having a little more time before going in to a novelty gift shop.

Lincoln stops, hiding by a potted plant. Seems like they will be in there for a bit hopefully long enough for the girls to catch up.

'What was that girl's name again? I honestly forgot about her until now.' So much for lessons learned. 'No I remembered that. I just...' He trails off trying to find away not to come off as a utter prick. '...I never said a word to her….And I didn't see Luan do it either. And now she's suppose to have a kid with her‽' Well at least one, yeah. Look around you. I'm sure you've seen everyone here at somepoint even if your not aware of it. And even if you haven't do you think they cease to exist once you leave the scene?

Lincoln sighs rubbing his eyes. Then he hears whistling behind him.

He whips around only there's nothing but air. He moves to the railing looking down on the shoppers. Hmm. The whistling starts again.

"𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓾𝓷𝓬𝓱𝓲 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓘'𝓶 𝓼𝓸 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾.
𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓘 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓭𝓶𝓲𝓽 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼𝓷'𝓽 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓷' 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾."

He pushes off the railing racing to the other side of the plant.

"𝓞𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓱𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷'𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓴𝓲𝓭𝓼
𝓞𝓻 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓹 𝓪𝓵𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝔂 𝓱𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓭𝓼⸮"

"Lita? What the..."

"𝓗𝓲-𝓭𝓮 𝓱𝓲-𝓭𝓮 𝓱𝓲."

'Where is she?' Hi-de hi-de hi.

"𝓗𝓸-𝓭𝓮 𝓱𝓸-𝓭𝓮 𝓱𝓸."

'She has to be here.' Ho-de ho-de ho.

"𝓦𝓱𝓪-𝓭𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓪-𝓭𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝔂-𝓭𝓮."

Wha-de wha-de whey-de. 'Can you not right now?'

Lincoln groans sitting on the pot.

"Hi-de hi-de ho." He hears her whisper in his ear. He leaps in to the air startling some of the passersby.

"𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓲𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝔀𝓮𝓵𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭.
𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓪𝓲𝓷'𝓽 𝓼𝓸 𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓵𝔂 𝓻𝓾𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭."

'I don't even care anymore.' That's the spirit! Apathy! I mean it works so well for your son, right? '… … ...'

"𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓵𝔂 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮'𝓼 𝓵𝓸𝓽𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓷𝓮.
𝓛𝓮𝓽'𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓰𝓲𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓷 𝔀𝓮'𝓻𝓮 𝓰𝓸𝓷𝓷𝓪 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓾𝓷."

His eyes focus on the woman in the burgundy suit. She smirks, holding out the ILY sign, shaking it without breaking stride. "Bye-ni bye-di bye."

He hurries after as she moves behind the corner. Running head long in to a security door.

"Dang it!"

'Definitely Luan's kid.' By-di by-di bye.

𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓯𝓾𝓷. 𝓘 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓾𝓹. 𝓣𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓼𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓮𝓷𝓼, 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓻𝓮𝓽𝓻𝓸. 𝓘 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓪 𝓽𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝓮. 𝓘𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓸𝓶'𝓼 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓐𝓹𝓻𝓲𝓵 𝓕𝓸𝓸𝓵'𝓼 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓷. 𝓣𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓸 𝓪 𝓯𝓾𝓷𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮. 𝓢𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓬𝓴. 𝓘 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷 𝓾𝓹 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓻𝓼.

Carol stands her ground. Not like she has much choice. She wasn't about to kowtow to some toothy 14 year-old. Like that would ever happen. Yup, nope. Ahuh. Not gonna to happ'n, Cap'n.

This certainty of hers providing a good distraction from the feeling she couldn't actually move no matter how much she would want too. And as the prickles start her certainty loses its meaning.

Lacy takes a step forward, grasping Luna by the forearm, "I understand, Carol." She moves her head to the side, still smiling, "You did us a big favor. If you hadn't 'ave gotten us here so quickly we would likely have missed them entirely."

'th-That's right I did my part. What more can they ask?'

"I also get how this might be a bit boring, right? You don't know Aunt Luan and Maggie. So you may not be able to," She moves her head back to the other side. "Understand they're quandary. They are at such a precarious position. And as close as they are they're still so afraid to see themselves as the other sees them." Her smile falls now her face taking on the quality of her voice. "We are always so concerned with how others see us we never actually take in to consideration what that image really is. Or how we see ourselves."

Carol grimaces her stomach turning and her head starting to ache. What is she talking about?

"To us on the outside it may seem obvious that there is something there but we have the perspective of distance. Those little moments that leak out just become normal and we don't question them. It's just how we are, how they are, its just the way it is. Until one day it isn't."

Carol grimaces her hands finding her elbows.

"And we wonder where it all went wrong. And we look everywhere for that answer except the place we should have looked all along. And by the time we figure it out." She finally breaks her gaze.

Carol gasps as she feels the pressure ease.

Lacy raises her eyes again. "How different things would have been had we been truthful to ourselves. And how different they will be next time. I promise."

A hitched breath and Carol can't tell who it belongs to.

The girl smiles again, "But like I said you've done more than enough. But if I could ask one more thing could you please give us a ride back. I doubt it will be too much longer just long enough to see this surprise of Luanty's."

Carol's slowly regains her composure. "y-Yeah I guess."

"Great thank you, Auntie C. You just go run along and get some shopping in and we'll text you when we're ready. Just give Aunt Luna your number."

Luna is torn from her thoughts as Lacy slingshots her towards the blonde.

'I'm going to rub your faces in things you try to avoid.'

Lacy steps back.

Clenching her fist.

'I don't find it strange that all you want to believe is only that which comforts you. How else do humans invent the traps which betray us into mediocrity? How else do we define cowardice?'

Taking a shallow breath.

'...I am not the kind of person I want to be...'

Luna manges to skid to a stop before plowing in to the self-appointed Queen of Royal Woods. Who stupidly didn't try to move or nothin'. Heck she barely even reacts. Just her weird big eyes getting wider and her mouth slightly parting. Though she had to look really hard to notice considering how full they are. No wonder she doesn't wear lipstick that would really be distracting. Especially right now. 'Wait what was I doing again?'

Luna returns her eyes to the rest of the face. And finds she can't help but think of Marianne Faithfull for some reason. 'Go away from my World, and let me dream alone…'

Carol was still stuck in her feelings so she didn't notice the gutterpunk barreling towards. And luckily that lingering dullness in her reflexes kept her from swinging on instinct. Doesn't matter how short they are if you go for the uppercut.

Wouldn't be hard with her jaw out like that looking up at her. So open. And unguarded. Its all just...out there. Which a small part of Carol could admit that she appreciates the brunette's open hostility. It's nice not having to question where you stand with someone. Novel, really...

Luna finally looks away, her face flushing highlighting those dusty freckles. Carol can't help but be reminded of that corgi. Sure it was all cute and adorable and she just wanted to hug and squeeze it but it brought nothing but trouble. Yeah, totally incompatible. 'Wait what?'

Then her resting bitchface returns and Luna thinks of Debbie Harry.

'I wonder how she'd look in a vultures shirt?'

She pulls out her phone.

'...atomic...'

Handing it over to the blonde. Assuming correctly they'd be there all night if she asked for hers. With some unstated hesitancy Carol takes it punching in the digits with a level of efficiency she hoped could be defined as extremum. Trying simply to extricate herself from the situation as expediently as possible.

Luna takes it back looking at the screen.

God-Empress Queen Bitch of the Universe

The brunette blinks. Then looks up.

The blonde raises her perfectly groomed brow in response. "Problem?"

Luna takes a deep breath. "Hunky dory."

"Good." She turns on her heel.

"じゃあね"Lacy calls to her, waving ILY. She turns on her toes to Luna scowling at her phone like it intentionally went out of its way to betray her.

Finally she looks up at Lacy smirking. She takes a lengthy breath and gives a short snort. "They're not too far ahead of us." She manages not to grin, just. "I'm sure we could catch up. You know, when your ready."

Luna feels her eyelid itch. Huh. So that's why LJ does that. "You first."

He face splits as she spins. "行くぜっ!"

…

5 minutes 48 seconds.

That is how long her parents can manage extemporaneous causerie, street name: small talk, before they spiral in to their various obsessions. And Rainer knows this.

So 5 minutes. 35 seconds.

She groans massaging her eyes.

Not enough sleep. Too much caffeine. The flesh is so weak. Even if the will is iron the body can bend and break. Unless she fixes that too.

Iron within, iron without.

5 minutes. 18 seconds.

Really? Has she learned nothing yet? Generalizing her own failings to humanity as a whole.

Isn't that just passing blame? True or not. Isn't it in her to rise above. If not whats the use of being so damn smart? Forget the bars focus on the lock.

The persistent illusion has caught up with her. They had already suspected she knew their secret. Had anticipated it really. Now there isn't going to be a convincing way to deny it.

Not that she could at this point. She has to tell them what she discovered. Her pride be damned.

As soon as she gets back to the house she'l-

"So," Lisa falls out of her chair. LJ stares ahead from his own. "I take it it was yesterday morning at breakfast. I knew I should of washed those glasses."

Lisa stares up from the floor. She hadn't heard him.

"It doesn't matter it was only a matter of...tch." His eyes narrow slightly. "That's probably why I gave y'all that riddle. I've been accused of self-sabotage before." He rolls his eyes. "A time or two but only from glass houses." He growls. Rubbing his eyes. Nature or nurture. "That's not important now. Honestly my first instinct is to tell you 'whatever you're feeling right now stow that shit' but that might not be the best course of action."

3 minutes. 58 seconds.

He finally turns his eyes on her. The light in the room playing tricks on her mind. "Its so...fuckin' weird to see you like this." His face shows nothing but his standard resting prick face. "So...human."

Lisa gulps, "You...all don't like me very much..."

He holds her gaze, "Put yourself in our place. How long would it take you to come to grips with that?"

She considers considering it. Yeah fuck that she losses enough sleep as is.

"There are only so many ways you can. Lacy became a stoic after they stopped her from trying to kill you." Wait, what? "Leman started listening to power metal and becoming a general shitheel to the khakis." His eye twitches. "And Lupe." Twitch. Twitch. "You'll find out. Because they're waiting for us."

3 minutes. 16 seconds.

"What?"

"Oh yeah. My other two siblings. Lacy's twin and my other big sister. They showed up a bit ago. They're how we noticed you were gone after dealing with all that shit from earlier. They broke in your room to antagonize you. So whatever you had they know it now."

"That I didn't bring you. That the machine didn't work."

"Apparently Luna's daughter Lita is here. Add to the fact Leman and Lupe arrived in Hazeltucky only last night. They're memory is fuzzy too but they claim we were all together when it happened. You can rationalize two but never the third." He turns away.

2 minutes. 38 seconds.

"Third indicates a pattern. Third indicates..." He trails off. His gaze gaining laser focus.

Lisa again questions why? Why not, doesn't seem to cover it. At this moment, because she could, doesn't seem like a good enough reason to do much of anything. So besides consanguination, why?

"What is your World?"

He hums. "'Nothing is wholly obvious without becoming enigmatic. Reality itself is too obvious to be true'."

She squints.

"I would say that it is preferable to this apocalyptic wasteland that is yours but I'm reminded we still struggle with Hauntology at the end of history." He stands muttering. "Gene. Meme. Scene."

He stands over her for a bit. His eyes staring through her.

1 minute. 43 seconds.

Before offering his hand.

She stares at it for a moment. Unsure as to what it signifies. Unsure as to what this interaction means at all. Unsure where they stand.

1 minute. 30 seconds.

He pulls her to her feet, slightly more force then necessary as she wobbles. His gaze unchanging.

"We don't hate you." He says finally. "Lacy has never hated anyone in all her life." He looks away. "And I guess neither have I." He moves to the open window. "La familia es todo...Aunque se requiere algo de ensamblaje."

He's gone. And she's back where she started.

1 minute. 10 seconds.

Not nearly enough time.

"Hmph." Her lip quivers. "Click."

She moves to the hallway.

0 minutes. 0 seconds.

0 minutes. -1 seconds.

…

Lithe fingers gingerly slide over imitation ivory keys. The tablet resting against the rack. A pair of rose colored glasses balanced on the shelf.

𝓒𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮, 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝓮
𝓘𝓽 𝓪𝓲𝓷'𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓭

Her World fills with sound. Context. Meaning.

𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓬𝓵𝓪𝓲𝓶 𝓽𝓸 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭
𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾'𝓿𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓭

Her fingers move as her eyes stay focused on the screen. The figures she doesn't know but have always been there.

Echoes. Shadows. Intangibles.

A girl who will be woman who will be a mother. If the girl met the woman she would be struck by the chasm that separates them. But the woman, she would would recognize the phantom as it has never left her. Lingering pains. The foundation that has been built upon.

Tu fui ego eris.

𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝓰𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸
𝓛𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓶𝓾𝔃𝔃𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓵𝓪𝓹
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓵𝓮𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓸
𝓛𝓲𝓮 𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓷𝓪𝓹

Lita's mind wanders to LJ and how he is taking this exercise in practical psychological archeology.

Not great, likely.

Having inherited his NyNy's hatred of losing. And don't say you miss every shot you don't take that how you get put through a window.

Four times.

And then shot.

He'll never willingly play a game that has a greater loss than gain. Not that he is any less calculating than the rest of them just that he can't be bothered to hide it.

She sighs fondly.

If any one will gain anything out of this it will be Lacy, and she will pull them kicking and bitching by the ears in to the light.

𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝔀𝓮 𝓭𝓸 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓯𝓪𝓽𝓪 𝓭𝓮 𝓪𝓾𝓻 𝓼𝓸𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓾𝓼⸮

She sighs.

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪𝓲𝓻
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮
𝓘𝓽 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶𝓼 𝔀𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓷𝓸𝔀
𝓑𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓷 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻

Unchi Linky has been dragged this far. Still so far to go. He however can't be dragged the whole way. It won't work if he is.

Nor can Mom. Or Mama. Mătușile ei.

If they are going to be allowed to start any fires. To stand in their own light in this age of grand illusion.
They're going to have to go beyond what they have been taught they can. No pain, no joy, no power too great. It ain't easy, the level of strength needed to grasp fate. As the silent age gives way to sound. Ripples that leave the stream. And provided they never lose control.

Well…apokálypsis means revelation...then they will be hieros if just for one day. A fleeting moment.

Besides all the nobody-somebody people, five years, that's all they got, to run for the shadows, until the midwives of history put on their bloody robes.

Whether the World wants it or not it will have it all the same. The Earth is a bitch anyways and they've outgrown their usefulness.

...ꙅꙅɘɔoɿq |ɒuᴎiƚᴎoɔ ɒ ꙅi ƚi ,ɒiƚiǫᴎA ,ɘꙅqʏ|ɒɔoqɒ-ƚꙅoq oᴎ ꙅi ɘɿɘʜT...

She takes a steadying breath.

Non est ad astra mollis e terris via.

𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮
𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮
𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮
𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮

Through the electric eye mama's energy is palpable. Mom bracing to ride the wave rather than pulled under.

Yet if she'd just look outside herself long enough she would see it. A reflection. Like a fun house mirror, distorted, yes, but still recognizable.

The clown keeps juggling because to stop would be to fall. Thinking gets in the way. Just do. Trust your memory to the routine. And never face the audience.

Until you have no choice.

The make-up has to come off sometime.

Right⸮

Otherwise…otherwise...

𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓷𝓸𝔀
𝓐𝓻𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷
𝓢𝓸 𝓵𝓮𝓽'𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓹 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓵 𝓭𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓼
𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓯 𝓲𝓶𝓪𝓰𝓲𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷

A nervous smile as a joke falls flat. What is the time? Is she off?

Enough whimsical gewgaw. One last pun and they move to the door.

Next angle, Lincoln, his daughter and his sister hide behind the plant. And of course she notices immediately.

Her finger over the lens.

.-.. . - .- -. / .. ... / - .- -.- .. -. -. / -.. .. -. -. . .-. .-.-.- / ... ..- .-. . .-.. -.- / - ... .. ... / ... .- ... / -. - -. . / .-.. - -. -. / . -. - ..- -. ... ..-.. / .-.-.

𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓶𝓮 𝓢𝓱𝓲𝓻𝓵𝓮𝔂…

Switch to another angle.

𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓪𝔂'𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓮, 𝓫𝓪𝓫𝓮
𝓣𝓸𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓯 𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓸𝓾𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓹𝓲𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓼
𝓗𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓱 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰

Her fingers stiffen. She flexes them. Getting hungry again.

Right⸮ Right. Reason and logic.

They move closer to the appointment. Sighs of confusion but not annoyance breech her mom's mask as she notices her surroundings. Mama pointedly doesn't look at her still going on about the day.

Sim Sim Salabim. Abrahadabra. Alakazam.

None of them transform her. Or make her way any easier.

Only her will governing, drawing power from, this feeling she can't identify. That is what is keeping each foot moving forward rather than backwards. Which logic, and LJ, dictates would be the safest option.

Si nihil temptes raro cades.

𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮
𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮
𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮
𝓢𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝓮

Finally the beat of heart in to minutes becomes to much and mom has to ask. First with her eyes, looks and furrowed brows. Mama is still avoiding.

Another turn. Just a few more seconds to beat away.

"Luan." Is likely what she says.

Just a few more steps.

Luan! Louder now. And mama bites her lip. Holding out a bit longer.

Ex abundantia enim cordis os loquitur.

𝓦𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼
𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓪 𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓻 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓪𝓼𝔂 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮
𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓪𝓷𝔂
𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮

Lita is no longer playing. The screen in her hand as she finds the right vocal channel.

"We've been friends for a while." Luan starts. "Honestly...you're kind of my only real friend."

They're still walking, it makes it easier, being able to see her feet moving forward.

"Maybe the only real friend I've ever really had. Besides Luna. I don't think I've ever been this close to someone before. So I..."

Tick. Tick. Tick.

"I thought a lot about how to make your birthday this year better than your last." A small smile.

"y-y-" Maggie fails to start.

"It wasn't easy." Self-deprecating laugh. "I know we are very different people. Even more than Lemmon and Mathau." Another chuckle.

"I talked to your mom and…"

"You don't have to do anything!" Maggie yells having stopped. Eyes closed.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

"i-i-i-" She growls in frustration. Busting up her brain for the words. Finding none.

"I know. I don't need to do it but I want to."

She finally opens her eyes. Her pale ones meeting Luan's dark ones. So unfitting for both of them she has often thought.

"And, well," She shrugs. "We're here now." She gestures with her head. Maggie with some effort moves her gaze.

A salon.

"What?"

"Like I said, I was talking to your mom. And I, uh, knew there was one thing that you definitely wanted."

Maggie's mouth moves without sound. Just the tick filling the booth.

"You have an appointment. To dye your hair."

Maggie spins. Staring at Luan like she's never seen her before. The clown has nothing to hide her blush.

"She agreed to underlights." Luan looks back at her feet. "That was her compromise. Sorry, it was the best I could do." She lifts her eyes and stops.

"𝓔𝓽 𝓯𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓪 𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓵𝓾𝔁."

Maggie nearly knocks the brunette over for how stock still she went.

"I hate you so much sometimes." She hears in hitched breath in her ear.

Luan chuckles, "As long as its only sometimes." In hesitant jerky motions she moves her arms around her friend.

Lita exhales placing the tablet back on the piano. Her hands returning to the keys.

𝓦𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓮 𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼
𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓪 𝓼𝓪𝓯𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓮𝓪𝓼𝔂 𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓮
𝓘𝓽 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓶𝓼 𝔀𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓫𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓷𝓸𝔀

Luna wipes her tears. "Dude..."

Lacy wipes her eye too, looking away. "...yeah..." Her mind far.

Lincoln is quiet. A small smile on his face he nods. He looks at Lacy out of the corner of his eye.

From the adjacent corner Carol shakes herself looking around furtively before heading in to the department store.

𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓽 𝓪𝓲𝓷'𝓽 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻
𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓽 𝓪𝓲𝓷'𝓽 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻
𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓲𝓽 𝓪𝓲𝓷'𝓽 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻

…

There was silence. A thickness in the air that sound couldn't penetrate. But not LJ's "tch."

Lisa sits in the back, tail between her legs if she had such an appendage. Ahead of her LJ glares. Ahead of him Lynn glares, while next to her Ronnie Anne just looks unsure as to what she is supposed to do.

It would seem some understanding was reached if their close proximity was any indication. At the same time Lisa is in no hurry to find out the details of the arrangement. She knows the confrontation is coming but she is still off-kilter. And in this sad, worried, pitying state, is in no condition to defend herself. Hell she is lucky telepyrosis is but a fantasy of charlatans.

Lisa smirks.

Vanzilla pulls in to Ketchum Park again. Lisa looks confused. Then terrified.

LJ smirks but then goes placid as he moves to the door.

She watches him leave before she catches Lynn's stare pinning her in place.

Her parents give one last worried look in the mirror before exiting the vehicle.

Shun~ckt!

And as the three grow smaller in the distance the three remaining stewed in their silence. The pressure building for how chilly Lisa felt. Waiting for the pop.

It's Ronnie Anne who in her nonchalance begins, "So our son told you what's going on."

Lisa blinks. Huh. "That..." Quick glance to Lynn. "Your other children have arrived. A daughter and Lacy's twin."

"Leman and Lupe." Lynn says then blinks herself before looking to Ronnie Anne. "I guess I lost a bet on Leman but what about Lupe?"

"Great-aunt. I never met her but the way Grandpa Hector tells it she was really badass."

Lynn nods. Lisa furrows her brows. "You are really okay with..."

Lynn gives her an annoyed look. "Well, yeah." She gestures up and down causing the other two to blush. "Try to keep up. So I get what happened," Grit teeth. "wasn't your fault. Okay." Lisa raises her brow. "You're machine just nearly killed us all but okay." And there it is.

Ronnie Anne rolls her eyes. "What she's trying to say is, can you send them back?"

"I don't know."

Lynn cracks her neck.

"You have to think of this logically. Dispassionately. You two have accepted them as your children fine but that doesn't mean they are." Lynn growls, Lisa adjusts her glasses. "They could be from an alternate reality. One so similar to this you may never find the difference because the question you are not asking is if they are from your future, then you would remember where they are."

"Then we wait until we come from the future to get them." RaRa says squinting. "Hmm."

Lynn crosses her arms. "tch."

"You know, this all seems rather like a set up." Ronnie Anne starts out. "I already told you I was going to give up today. It was like it had to happen like this." She turns back to Lisa. "That's why we know they are ours."

Lisa shakes her head, "There is something else I think you should know."

They immediately get defensive.

"I noticed the similarities to Lincoln in Lacy that first night. Suspicions that only got worse as I observed them in the bunker."

"So that is why." Lynn coldly says.

"I know, I am a bitch, listen, they were communicating in some kind of code."

"Well they seem to know more than one language. I mean Spanish I could understand them probably learning but...Leman seems to speak some kind of Swedish I guess?"

"Some of what Lupe was saying wasn't any kind of Spanish I've heard. And the talking backwards."

"No this was different. It was based on hand placement near the mouth. But the question has to be, why know any of that?"

"Well Lincoln is a nerd. You know him and Clyde have their codes. And..." Lynn trails off. "When did you know?" She abruptly switches track.

"I tested they're DNA."

"For fuck sake, Lisa!" Lynn facepalms.

"Wait! Both of them‽ You have my DNA?‽ Since when‽"

"Nine days after I was made aware of your association with Lincoln but that is not the point. Don't you wonder why they know all these things? Why they would need too?" Lisa wasn't going to tell her how they could. What they are. Because she was not stupid.

"Well they are probably use to having to hide who they are. Although Lacy said Leman and Lupe wouldn't be...shit, Leman's hair."

Lisa raises her brow. "He has reduced melanin?"

"White hair? Yeah, him and Lupe but it is different than Lincoln's. And each others."

Lisa grabs her chin.

"They did say that Lucy daughter has white hair too and that she is absolutely not Lincoln's daughter. And Lacy hides things but she doesn't lie."

Lisa considers, "The follicle albinism is a hereditary trait as is Lucy's dark hair. It's a continuum. Just look at our eyes. Blue, green, brown." She takes off her glasses. "Amber. And Lucy's grey." She returns the frames to her face. "With that said though, the similarities will be more noticeable with such an obvious trait. And I take it you haven't told Lincoln."

"Of course we haven't fuckin' told him. He walked in on the middle of us cleaning up the mess you left. Then he went with Lacy, Luna and Carol for some reason to look for Luan's kid. And even if none of that happened...fuck!" She slumps laying face down on the back of the seat.

"Couldn't he just say he dyed it...and his eyebrows...that happens." Ronnie Anne offers. "I mean mostly weebs but it happens."

"Don't you dare put that curse on us." She groans before sitting back up and shaking her head. "Maybe your right that this is suppose to happen. We know...we left for a while..."

The two girls stare off in to their thoughts. Lisa sighs she is not good at this, "If your children have been here since last night they had to have thought of some...plan." She winces. "I mean all indications of the observed behavior of Lacy and LJ indicate they are familiar with protecting sensitive information. And while I have not met their siblings, I doubt very much they are going to do anything to jeopardize their own existence."

Lynn gives her a look, "Would you say I'm subtle? Lacy looks like me but Leman acts like me."

Lisa holds her gaze for a moment, "You hide in your boldness. You act like there is nothing behind it. And we never have a reason to question it. Now I'm starting to think Lacy may be more like you then we give you credit for."

"Best way to keep a secret is to pretend there isn't one." Ronnie Anne says amused. "But isn't everybody like that?"

"Maybe." Lisa looks to her own thoughts.

"So I guess we're just going to wing it?" Ronnie Anne asks.

In unison the sisters shrug and say, "Yeah."

That doesn't really sit well with any of them. Too much like waiting.

Lisa clears her thought causing them to both look at her. "I...am sorry."

"What?"

"I am sorry." Lisa repeated. "I haven't said it. Even of this wasn't my fault you were right about the dangers of my gate. So much worse could have very well happened because of my negligence. I...understand that now." She swallows the lump in her throat. "Believe it or not I do love you. All of you. I just...want...I just...Do you know what it's like to see the World so much clearer than others. How it can be made better if you just show them how you think?"

"Hmm." Lynn hums. Not dismissively but actually thinking about it.

"Ye-ah." Ronnie Anne replies. "Lisa everyone thinks like that whether they're smart or not. And okay maybe you do know a lot more but you still had to be locked in a van with us by our son to get you to see how what you've done effected the rest of us dumb folk."

Lisa averts her eyes.

"I've had to rethink a lot of things since moving to the city. And today too." Ronnie Anne shakes her head. "I'm going to help her fuck her brother." She point's needlessly to Lynn. Causing her and Lisa to blush. Not Lynn though she sniggers through her nose. "e-Eventually!" RaRa adds hastily. "When we're...you know...older-The point is! I am committed to this. This thing. Even though I know we are going to be," She closes her eyes. "Hated for it." She takes a deep breath. "And even though I know that. I also know I'm too young to really get what that means."

The sisters both look at her confused. "There is a reason my great-aunt had to be so badass. And carry that shotgun." She shrugs. "I've never even seen a gun in real life. Compared to what they had to go through I know I'm not that tough."

"I believe that if there is one thing to be learned form the last few days. None of us is what we seem. So none of really know who we are going to be."

…

LJ trudges ahead not looking back. He can hear them behind him if at a slower pace. He stops at the bench taking in the dwindling occupancy as darkness dawns in the East.

Not quite sure why he worded it like that but that's for later. His grandparents are behind him.

"Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Rita questions looking back slightly.

Guess how he responses. You get three goes.

They sit as he keeps staring off in to a clearing by the swings

"You know, this place looks...almost right. Except there." He points needlessly. "I mean I knew it wouldn't be there. Logically. Mom had it commissioned. But...it just seems wrong that it isn't here."

He turns to face them. "You know?" He asks a slight tremble in his voice. "It's like coming home and realizing you've been burgled. Everything is...altered, askew-ed, out of place. Changed. Even if they didn't take anything. It's no longer yours."

He squints. "Nearly getting into it with Leman is honestly as close to normal as I've felt since I hit the bottom of this hole." He snarls, "Which was probably the 混蛋 was intending."

The 君子works on the root. 孝 is the root of 仁. 'Fuck off I'm busy.'

"That was really intense." Sr. says. "That is normal for you?"

"Imagine if Lynn took the twins to kickboxing with her."

They make a face. LJ makes a face too but thats cause he threw up in his mouth a little. A little bit. Little bit. That analogy was a mistake. Of course he doesn't want to be doing any of this anyways.

"Wait until you get Lita and Lupe in a room together." He smirks shaking his head. "We all have our various...rivalries. We push each other to be...better. Or at the very least a little less douche."

"That sounds really hostile."

"Does it?" He cocks his head. 'More like who else can we compete with but each other.' "You mean to say my father and his sisters never compete over stupid things?"

They look to the sides. He smirks. "Yeah, well, Leman said it himself. The first born son." His eye twitches, but the opposite one to where they're facing. "And I'm the second boy born in this family. It's only natural we..." Shrug. "I shouldn't tell you this but ny-Lynn once told me she would wonder sometimes if you regretted naming her Junior when Lincoln was born."

Oh thats low. '… … … Whatever's necessary.'

Sr. looks off where the rocket isn't. LJ sighs. "Then she told me it didn't matter. It was pointless to imagine it another way. We're both Juniors, even if we had another name we'd likely be the same people." To which Lupe started singing Black Dresses when y'all got back.

"And then proceeded to sign us up in the same tournament." He shrugs. "We both lost by the way. But a Loud still took it so." He licks his lips. "I think the point she was trying to make is if I spend all my time worrying about what Leman is doing I'm never going to figure out myself."

He runs his hand through his hair, "And I am so worried I'm never going to make it home again. That everything, that my family, is going to disappear because of something we do or don't do here."

They nod. "That is...understandable." Rita says.

"If we...ever act in a way that makes you confused or...alienated. I need you to trust that we are doing so because of that concern. I...have to...believe we are here for a purpose or I'm going to lose my mind." He wraps his arms around himself.

Rita has enough and rises from the bench pulling the boy in to her arms. Sr. not far behind her.

"Now mom is here. And Lita...she could never leave well enough alone. So all that's left is..." He trails off.

"It'll be okay." Rita asures him.

"That's right, LJ. Whatever you need us to do."

He nods against them. "Just let us have the chance to make sure we will meet again. Trust that we have secrets not because we don't trust you but because any change will take our World from us."

His grandparents share a look. "Okay." Sr. says.

LJ closes his eyes sighing. Hoping this was the right move.

Lupe is so much better at this.

…

Lupe rubs her nose. And carries on.

"El viento sopla y nada me consuela
Sin ti mi vida, se acaba y ni te enteras
Mi alma flaquea, quisiera que me vieras
Mi estampa es triste me tupe la tristeza."

She shakes the drivers seat, "Come on, tío!"

He chuckles and joins in.

Lori watches the scene with a faint smile on her lips and a returning brightness to her eyes. Her smile growing as Lupe grabs Lucy around the shoulder and starts swaying her to the melody. This is what she was hoping would happen when she called Bobby here. She clenches her hand to keep from touching her eye.

She wonders how Luan will react when she sees her daughter. Honestly the topic never really came up, though, as she said, she doesn't spend as much time with Luan as she could. And she hadn't really mentioned any boys since that thing with Brad's brother fell through. In fact the only real insight in to her personal life is when she asked her for advice for her new frien-

Lori blinks.

"Here we are." Bobby says pulling in to the parking lot. Lupe leans forward between them focusing on the building. She takes a deep breath through her nose her eyes resting on a Crown Vic pulling in to a space near the back entrance. Stepping out is a Asian man in his early-30s and a fair haired youth.

Her eyes follow them as Bobby pulls in to a space near the office. She places a hand on Lori's shoulder. Her fangs slip out. "Here's the game."

Tía Lori will go in there playing up the black eye. Seem a little weepy a little paranoid and ask for a room. Now that usually has one of two reactions. They will be sympathetic or they will just want to get you out of the building before anyone sees you. Tailor your response to that."

She reaches under her cloak. "Here is the rest of my roll luckily even in this time I know you can't rent a room without a major credit card 'cuz I'm gonna need that back."

She raises an eyebrow, "You can't?"

"No have you never rented a hotel room." She sniffs the air. "So, what, you just try to be really quiet when y'all," She lifts her hands for helpful gestures.

Their face colors, "Lupe!"

She looks back a Lucy who gives the so-so gesture.

She rolls her eyes. "And while the nondescript clerk is distracted you sneak around and check the computer for these list of her known aliases." She hands her a scrap of paper to the child.

Marla Philips, Simone Templar, Nora Nichole Charles, Gail Stanhope-Falcon, N. Roxy Carter, Elle Queen, Judith Bolton, Theodolinda Bonner,Tamasin Carnacki, Bijou de Grandin, Joan Thunstone, H. R. Lee-Quin. Jessica-

"Not Nancy Drew?" She had questioned.

"Nah she hates that bitch." Lupe waves her off, "Meanwhile, tío Bobby and I will creep around the complex and see if we can sniff out anything."

They think for a moment before Bobby says, "You think it will work?"

"Depends on what you mean. The distraction will work we just won't find anything."

They stare at here, "Huh?"

"Yeah, I just said you can't check in without a credit card." Lupe takes her roll back. "I have no doubts Lita has money by now but she wouldn't rely on gifting to that level if she can help it." She coughs theatrically, pointing dramatically, "Get this, and get it straight: crime is a sucker's road and those who travel it wind up in the gutter, the prison or the grave. There's no other end—but they never learn." She sneers rolling her eyes.

Ignoring whatever the hell that was. "Then why suggest it?"

"Family bonding." She says as if it was obvious. Then sighs, shaking her head as hesgives them a genuine smile. "I know exactly where she has been staying because she tries too hard to be clever. But she isn't there. She is at the mall. And she will come to us when she's ready. When she's sure Luanty is going to make the right choice. So I thought, since Leman is making us dinner, we should at least bring dessert." She smirks leaning back, her eyes on the sedans.

"So Luan is..." Lori looks for the right words. "Meeting her..."

"Yup." She pulls out her cards. "Makes you wonder." She starts shuffling.

"So where has she been?" Bobby asks.

"At the base of the lighthouse." 2 of Diamonds. 5 of Diamonds. 3 of Clubs. Her eyes narrow. "But again she's not there, she's at the mall, being a creep."

"So should we just go home?"

7 of Hearts. 6 of Hearts. 7 of Clubs. Lupe stares out the window. "Yes. We need to leave." Slight edge to her voice.

"O..kay..." Bobby turns the engine over.

"LJ and them should be on their way back by now." Lupe says still watching the building.

"True. " Lori says. "I hope Lynn didn't kill Lisa."

Lupe chuckles, "Nah, Ma will remind her we still need her. She still might reserve the right to kick her in the cu-"

"How do you know so much about hotel's?" Bobby asks.

"Well, we do travel a bit." Lupe draws three cards. "And this a motel."

"What's the difference?"

"You can get to the rooms from the parking lot." She hums. "And they don't have to worry about Triskaidekaphobia."

He looks confused.

"That's fear of the number 13. When I check in to 1410 I know what room I'm really in tonight." She flips the card over.

"The Jack of Hearts is aching,

Silent like ꙅuʜɔuiʜqO, baby.

Does he ever crash into your mind?"

6 of Hearts. 5 of Hearts.

…

"Huh." Leman looks skyward. "Yeah that sounds about right." He moves to the oven. "I don't think Ma knows that though."

"Well she was really little."

"Relatively speaking, in my time," He chortles then in a raspy voice. "that hasn't really changed."

He stands to the side popping the oven open. Salivating. He holds his breath reaching in to remove the pan. He kicks the door close.

"So how did it happen? You were going through fabric swatches one day and it was the first time ma came across it and said, 'Yeah that'll do'?"

"Kind of."

His head falls, "Considering I found out a little bit ago what she actually wanted to name me." Shrug. "Kind of thinking I lucked out having it taken from her hands."

She looks up reminiscing. "It was when Lucy was born. They were getting ready to go to the hospital and Pop Pop had just arrived. And they still haven't thought of a name."

Leman hums. "I could see that playing out. And ma liked it?"

"I explained to her how difficult it is to make for how delicate it is. And sure it doesn't fit in with everything. But sometimes you just look at it and feel complete. Even if others don't appreciate it."

"…Wea~k..." He mutters. "Jag är glad Lítilvölva och jag har inte det problemet."

The revving of an engine cuts off any further response followed by a crash.

Leman chuckles. "Looks like Aunt Lola's done playing."

Lola sashes in to the room, "Leni, I need you to get Lana. She's a little tied up at the moment. Just put her at the table."

Leni tilts her head, "Again?"

Leman snorts. Lola trains her eyes on him in slight surprise but quickly recovers as Leni and Lily leave the room.

"So your Linky's other son?" Her brow raised.

"I'm Lacy's twin." Leman smirks.

Her face doesn't change as she crosses her arms. Leman grins. "On your 6, fǫðursystir."

Lola opens her mouth but only yelps as she is tackled from behind by an enraged Lana.

"You shouldn't tussle in the kitchen that's how fires start." He turns back to the stove. "On three separate occasions. Tommy."

Leni returns to the kitchen walking around the twins.

"I told you not to untie her!"

"I chewed my way out!"

Leman calls over his shoulder, "When Lacy gets back ask her were to get asanawa." He lifts the foil. "An~d the circle will be complete."

"AWAH!"

"Eww! Lana you better not drool on me I swear-"

"Mahk meh!"

Leman fixes the foil returning it to the oven. Pushing off he swings himself around running his hand through his hair. "Am going to have to do something about this though. Can't wear my colors all the time."

"Why don't you just tell them you dyed it?"

"Considered it. Some of the Rout and Asesinato do that to try to emulate us, though not the Unkindness, but..." He moves from side to side. "Seems kinda cheap."

"Hmm." Leni grabs her chin in thought. As does Lily.

"Bah bwah bah dah."

"Hmm could work but does seem kind of cliché."

"Beh bley beh gah."

"That's true. I think I can put something together."

"So that's what that feels like." Leman muses before Leni grabs his arm pulling him out of the kitchen.

…

The shop is winding down as only a few customers are left. It seems they will be the last ones today. After confirming their appointment Maggie is lead away by a woman who looks like she doesn't even need clippers she could just use all that edge.

So Luan knows she's in good hands at least. And while her face is still described as impassive, Luan knows better. Its the wrinkles around the eyes and the way she stops herself from moving too fast.

She's excited. Luan smiles as she backs up in to the seating area. It's gonna be exactly a while. And none of the magazines seem all that appealing right now.

Luan fishes her phone out of her bag, followed by the earbuds. She gives one last look to Maggie as the stylist explains something to her.

She scrolls through her phone.

Luan knows that they are very different people. Maybe too different as this whole fiasco trying to give her friend a good birthday has proven. So Luan tried to get in to some of the things Maggie likes with varying degrees of success.

She smirks.

Lately she has been trying to listen to some of the bands Maggie likes. Again, varying success. Though this one isn't too bad.

She give Maggie one more smile before she presses play.

I've felt you coming, girl, as you drew near
I knew you'd find me, cause I longed you here
Are you my destiny?
Is this how you'll appear?
Wrapped in a coat with tears in your eyes?
Well take that coat, babe, and throw it on the floor
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

The scowl is the first thing you notice with Maggie. Not the frown. The challenge in the eyes. They draw you. They did Luan, anyways, so maybe she is biased. And the first thing she thought was.

'Periwinkle.'

Luan had needed to be alone. Or at the very least around people who didn't know her. Or think they did. So she just took a walk. Trying to get her head right. She didn't really know what was wrong. If there was really anything. She later came across the word Toska and immediately thought of her friend but she's getting ahead of herself.

She had heard about the gallery from one of her teachers. She thought it would inspire her, get her out of this rut she found herself in. But wouldn't you know it, locked. She sighs laying her head against the door. Gathering the strength to make the walk home. And the questions of her absence. Not sure if she wanted them or not. When she hears heavy footfalls behind her. On the instinct she backs in to the shadow of the door frame as the figure falls to the steps panting.

That creeping felling started to make itself known. The feeling of awkwardness. No thats not it. Or not strong enough to encapsulate the feeling. Overly aware of herself and the situation of hiding in a door way, lurking for crying out loud. What a creep. She wracked her brain to figure out how to get out of this situation with out the girl seeing her making the situation worse.

Until she realizes they're not panting but weeping. Luan bites her lip. She doesn't like people crying. It gnaws at her. More so than her own uncomfort anyways. This girl probably just wanted to be alone like Luan wanted to be alone. Only Luan wasn't sure that is what she wanted when she let her house. So maybe...

"Hate to break it to you but the show is over."

And that's how it started. Like the first time she stepped on stage as a kid. Just hoping they would like her.

That they would want to see her again.

And as she gave her a look to kill. Luan couldn't help but think that thought again. And the sense of déjà vu. So she goes with it. Throwing herself in.

And just like that first time on stage its over all too quickly and she doesn't know where she stands.

But really wants to go again.

As you've been moving surely toward me
My soul has comforted and assured me
That in time my heart it will reward me
And that all will be revealed
So I've sat and I've watched an ice-age thaw
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

It didn't take too long for her to get her chance.

Luan returned to the gallery. To finish her quest for inspiration and partly in hopes of seeing her again. Seeing if she was alright. If anyone could use a laugh it seemed like this Maggie Cioabă could.

As she rounds the corner she feels the air change. Like ozone. As the dark figure stands before her staring at a tree like it was talking about her momma.

"I don't know about you but I'm stumped. Hahah, get it?"

What is it Lynn said? "Just keep on swinging, you're bound to hit something." Same idea applies. Just keep going and something will land. Or is she mixing metaphors again?

"How would you feel if someone was heckling you during your art?"

'Oh, now I get it. That's how to reach her. Melpomene and Thalia are sisters after all.' And Mel wasn't always so morose.

And right there in front of them, the other reason she came. "Pierrot and Harlequin." And the words come. Unheeded and unrehearsed. Just flows like water.

Enough to drown in anyways.

...!ƚɿɒɘʜ ɿuoʏ ꙅᴎoꙅioq ƚɒʜƚ Ꮈɘiɿǫ ɘʜƚ ƚɒ ʜǫuɒ⅃ !ɘvo| ᴎɘʞoɿd ɿuoʏ ƚɒ ,ᴎwo|ɔ ,ʜǫuɒ⅃ !ʜA ,ʞɿimꙅ ɒ oƚᴎi ꙅdoꙅ bᴎɒ ᴎiɒq ɿuoʏ ,ꙅɘʞoꞁ oƚᴎi ꙅɿɒɘƚ bᴎɒ ꙅꙅɘɿƚꙅib ɿuoʏ ᴎɿuT…

'I never meant to reveal so much.' Then stop speaking from the heart. "Is that what I'm doing? Huh...'

"What does it say to you?"

She throws it out, for want of anything else to do. One last play. One last, whatchamacallit, Hail Mary. And if Maggie caught it, Luan would run with it. If not...then I guess that's it.

"Pierrot is a ghost." Score!

Maggie begins to paint a picture. No, an entire World vibrant and living from a static image. And Luan wants to see more. So she joins in, hoping to coax out more from behind the scowl.

More. More. Drag the depths in to the light.

"imps of every color and size," As there words twist and blend together sharing the vision of how the World can be.

And finally. Finally. She smiles for her. All teeth and unrestrained. No fear. Nothing but unadulterated joy.

And then she starts to remember they are not alone.

And she starts to leave her.

Luan can't let her, grabbing her hand, and pulling her along. Trying to keep her in that ephemeral place with her. So she brings her to the next painting, hoping it wasn't a fluke.

That she found the way i-

Luan blinks back to the present.

'The way where?' The way in, kid. Duh.

Out of sorrow entire Worlds have been built
Out of longing great wonders have been willed
They're only little tears, darling, let them spill
And lay your head upon my shoulder
Outside my window the World has gone to War
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

The way in, huh? In what way exactly?

The way to make her someone as saturnine and dour as her to smile. And even laugh. A objective measure of Luan's mastery of the art of drollery. Grotesque. If that's all it comes down too.

And if that's true she ain't batting a...whatever number is good in that analogy...why is she making sports metaphors again?

The way to make a new friend? Was that what she was after? Probably. Yeah. And that is why when the day came to an end she was so reluctant to actually go. And wished at the very least she had something to remember it by. That it actually happened.

"Oh you are definitely a writer." Maybe a change in the real World. Something illuminated. That would be the proof she needed.

And when Maggie started carrying around that blue notebook, lets just say it took a lot for Luan to not spaz out. Again she is getting ahead of herself.

She left her. And Luan thought that was it. A chance meeting. If twice was still just a chance. Even in a town this small they hadn't meet again before. So how long would next time wait?

'Alakazam.'

She thought as lightening struck a third time. Without hesitating she dropped in to the seat.

"You know, I had a bus pun all ready take for a spin but after rolling it around I realized it was a Wheel-ly bad one."

Maggie gives her a look of disbelief. As if asking, how can you possibly be real? Or allowed in public unattended? Seriously, where'd you leave your helmet?

"Buckle up its going to be a long drive." Luan smiles sweetly.

Placid browed, Maggie reaches for the bell-cord, "Not if the next stop is mine."

"No! Please! Don't Brake up with me! Think of the child!"

Her face colors, "wh-What child?"

"Me of course." She grins, "Seriously there could be Tire consequences."

She glowers but lowers her hand. "No. More. Puns."

"I make no promises." Is what she said.

'I still can't believe she gave me her number after that. The perfect chance to shake me off. As those puns weren't even good.' Well you were unprepared. 'No excuses. Though I guess we all can't be Muses.' You'd be surprised. And look how far you've come from those shaky beginnings.

'It wasn't easy. I nearly wrecked it more than once.'

O we will know, won't we?
The stars will explode in the sky
O but they don't, do they?
Stars have their moment and then they die

A brown pony tail bounces own the street. Spring is in the air and in her step. It's prep week. The day of fool's is coming and this year she will pull out all the stops.

She cuts through the alleyway to get that much closer to her destination.

Last week went so well if Luan did get a bit red on reflection of jumping straight in to her friend's lap.

'Hehe yeah that was...yeah...'

She stops taking a deep breath. Like she said Spring is coming that's why its so unseasonably warm. Yup. Got in one.

She steps up to the door still feeling the jitters of stepping in to the unfamiliar. She flicks the doorbell, trying not to fuss, letting the weight of what's she carrying ground her.

"So schadenfreude, it's a German word, because of course it is. It means-"

Mrs. Cioabă answer the doors, giving her a pleasant smile after a moment of recognition.

"Hello, Luan." She opens the door wider. "Magdalena is up stairs."

"Thanks, Mrs. C." Luan steps by her making her way to the stairs. An echo of girlish giggles echo disembodied from above.

'Yeah right...' Try not to sound so wistful. 'Who me? Never.'

She stands in front of the door. "Shave and a haircut. Two! Bits!"

Maggie opens the door, stone like as ever. Luan can almost hear the scrapping as she moves.

'I swear I'll get her to crack up one of the days.'

"So I guess the movies you wanted to show me are in there."

Luan swings the backpack on to the bed. "Amongst other things"

"That doesn't sound ominous."

"Oh come on, Mags. Where is your sense of adventure?"

"Probably with your sense of restraint."

"Oh, well, my condolences then. It was a lovely funeral. You would of loved it."

"I've heard about your sister's work. Does she take reservations?"

"I'm afraid there is stiff competition. Folks are just dying to get in."

"And here I thought she would be the last one to let me down."

Luan looks at her for a moment in silence, then crumbles apart entirely.

Maggie turns her back on her, meaning she is smiling. "sh-Shut up. I stole that from Hollands & Hollands."

Luan stands back up, wiping a stray tear. "Yeah I was on a roll that day."

Maggie sighs, "Of course you thought of it."

"Lucy's club needed a chaperon and everyone else was busy."

"Or just chicken-shit. G~D forbid they have to confront their own mortality."

"That too." Luan agrees.

"So I know I'm going to regret this but," Maggie sits at her desk. "What's in the bag?"

With more pageantry and flair than strictly necessary, Luan produces her yellow notebook.

"Schadenfreude." She hands over the notebook with two hands. "It's a German word, because of course it is, it means-"

"The same thing as epicaricacy." She opens the marked pages. "Allegedly."

"Writer." Luan says with mock disdain.

'Is that really why I loved that holiday so much? I thought I just said it to get her on board. But I didn't understand her at all… When she looked at me with more horror than those movies could ever produce...'

Luan rubs her face as she remembers the pain. Anger. Embarrassment. Disappointment.

Fear.

Doubt. Which she refused to listen to and proceeded boldly against.

And was in no uncertain terms shown how easily everything could just be taken from her.

A price to be paid. But was it worth it? What could be worth so much?

Luan curls in in herself. Pulling her arms tighter. Tighter. Let her bruise and her ribs break if it explains this pressure. This wretched turning and twisting she feels as she lets her get further away. Some friend she is, unable to do anything when she is needed the most.

So is this how you're going to leave it? 'She doesn't want my...' Your what?

Luan didn't know she just kept staring at the weeds growing at her feet. Capsella bursa-pastoris. As if it held the answer. But it was no sage. And they didn't speak the same language anyways.

She stares back up at the moon. Does that look different to Maggie too?

"It's just a ride." She says again. Words that had eased her mind. Had emboldened her when she had needed it most. And failed to help her friend sending her running in to the dark.

He's dead. Barely known in his own time and nearly forgotten now. But every remembers there's no cure for cancer.

She chuckles wretchedly as she reaches for her headphones. "From the Greek, meaning the one that is melodious."

There's a Man who spoke wonders
Though I've never met Him
He said, 'he who seeks finds
And who knocks will be let in'

But the work was not finished, just the scene, and the moment passed in to the next. Winter was over. Though the fall was still to come.

"Ahh!"

The last thought she had before the World blinked out was, 'Where she lands there shall she be buried'.

And when it returned she thought, 'Oh so now they speak English. Such a cute voice for a weed'.

The Word ceases its incessant twirling focusing in on two very familiar colored dots before expanding in to a face, one fastly becoming a fixture in her life but currently very different in configuration to what she is use to. So she articulates the first full thought her tumbled mind can shake loose.

"When I fall for someone I fall hard." And she is reacquainted with the shrubery.

'Nope...still alive...ow...' This could be the other place. 'Not if Mag-'

She doesn't finish the thought. She found it exceedingly difficult to complete any thoughts when Maggie pulled her to her feet.

Maggie isn't really a touchy-feely person. That dash a line she is hesitant to cross. So this was only the third time they had made any form of physical contact. The jump scare. The cry. And now this.

'Who knew all I had to do was take an L to get her to the F.'

Which is not what she thought in that moment all she could focus on was, 'She always looks so cold with her marble skin. But she's not. She's really warm. Nothing like a ghost.'

'…Why haven't we gone back to that place?'

The desire was there. Sure. The longer she stayed away the more like a dream it all became. And that was part of the reason she hadn't brought it up.

It wasn't just the beauty of that place. It was objectively so. But a large part of that was the otherness of it. At the time it felt like it only existed for them. A World only they know.

'But that is dumb.'

Why?

Luan furrows her brow. She has yet to feel as close to Maggie as she had at that time, in that place. Of course, they were undoubtedly closer after than they were before it.

On that day, though, Maggie had reached out to her. Then she actually let Luan comfort her. Beyond words.

A stand-up is ruled by words. As is a writer. But Luan is also a clown. The backbone of which is physicality.

Maggie so preoccupied with words some times get lost in the nuances of them. She often fails to find the feelings, the meanings she is searching for.

Where language fails, actions must take over, or so Luan believes.

The fool smiles. Maggie had hugged her today. The 5th time they touched.

'She still so warm...How many besides me know that? Would even think that just looking at her and just feel -'

I think of you in motion
And just how close you are getting
And how every little thing anticipates you
All down my veins my heart-strings call
Are you the one that I've been waiting for?

Luan blinks. Once. Twice. A 3rd a 4th a 5th a 6th. And 7th time she reached the dark of her mind she always saw the same person. And different moments from these past seven months. And just like that, let there be light.

'Oh that...makes sense...'

She looks at the dark haired beauty.

When she locks eyes with her. Those periwinkle eyes. She laughs hysterically.

The beauticians and customers seem startled and concerned.

Maggie just rolls her eyes. And seems to say, "She does that."

So know what? '...I don't know...'

She gives a bittersweet smile.

'It depends on which Muse you are.'

Her eyes rest on Maggie.

'What was it Byron said about how comedies and tragedies end?'

…

Lacy leans against the rail. Head back, eyes closed, a soft smile on her lips. "The future states that both are left to fate."

Lincoln raises his brow.

Lacy reopens her eyes, placing her left back on the ground. "I think we are done here." She nods. Tounge on an cuspid. "They are going to be in there a while. And Cousin Lita knows we want her home."

She pushes off the rail, her eyes looking around the sky, "She's the daughter of artists. Drama is in her blood." She shakes her head chuckling. "All children come home when they're hungry. Speaking of which," She rubs her stomach. "Leman does make a great roast."

Luna gives one last look to the Salon. "Well what are we waiting for then? The next bus leaves in 10."

Lacy shakes her head again sans amusement. "We should invite Carol. As thanks for helping us out on such short notice. It's only right."

Luna frowns fishing out her phone.

Lincoln leans over the railing looking down on all the people rushing around. Trying to pick out familiar faces.

"Dude she keeps sending me to voice mail!" Luna snarls. Before she can really get in to her tirade Lacy gives her a disappointed look.

Luna wants to protest wants but still feels a little guilty about how it all went down earlier.

"How do I even..."

"You know Lori. Just look for the sale." She darts her eyes at Lincoln.

Luna sees it too. She sighs and grumbling turns. "Another bus leaves at 7. If I don't find her by then we aren't missing it."

'When will this day ever end?'

Luna did know Lori. They were closer once. Before her awakening.

Luan had always been a card. Knowing what she loved and perusing it doggedly.

Luna had looked to Lori for some guidance in her formative years. Lori having always been such a strong and forceful personality. Again it's why she couldn't understand her thought process.

But we are seldom who we think we are so why should anybody else be who we think they are.

Or something like that. All the philodoxing is starting to mess with her head honestly.

'Where to first? Bold Navy or Ringers'?'

…

"So...how's it going?" Lincoln asks as he senses her behind him.

"It has...been a day." Lacy smiles.

"Seems like it. So Lupe and...Leman?"

She raises her brows nodding shrug. "Yeah...that's a whole thing." She fights the impulse to dart her eyes away. "It didn't seem pertinent to mention our siblings. Spoilers and all. If Lita is here though,"

"It wasn't Lisa."

Lacy hums, "Still could be. Just not the one you know."

Lincoln finally faces her. "You're World must be very different than all this, huh?"

Lacy is still for a moment. "In ways." She shrugs. "Sure. A culture of steam." She puts her hands in her pockets. "A year from now things will be different. And in five years." She does look away. "Very different." She looks back smiling again. "You've see how much can change in a day."

He nods and she can tell the question is forming. "Yeah I didn't see any of this coming." He gestures weakly at the Salon. "Or even know any of that was going on." He crosses his arms. "What else don't I notice?" His eyes narrow. "Is that why LJ is the way he is? Always watching everything?"

"LJ has just always been taciturn and high-strung. And not to discount family social roles but that's just his temperament. Its the context which focuses it."

Lincoln nods. The gears turning. "Context?"

"Lesson one. It is important in all things. That," She points to the shop. "to them probably has more meaning than it does to us. And that meaning has been effected by a whole list of other little things that they both know and don't."

Lincoln stares at her again. "And that is why today is important to Lita. Whatever that means."

"Again. Maybe. We don't have all the cards here. That's usually Lupe's department." And here it comes.

"Yeah, mine and Ronnie Anne's daughter." Lincoln keeps watching her. "I'm here when our son arrives and she's here when our daughter does." He flexes his hands. "And now your brother's here too."

Lacy gives a small smile, "I see where this is going."

"Don't you want to find him. Is he...here...somewhere."

Lacy just stares at him. Her smile grows, "Not everything is so simple. Or should I say convenient. Just cause you and RaRa know the result doesn't mean you know how you get there yet. Life is complicated and we all have to earn our happy ending. My father taught me that. It's lesson two." She inhales deeply. Snort. "Leman and I will be fine. All will be well. You have enough on your plate as is. It's gonna be an awkward dinner. But it's gonna be fun." All teeth.

"You are definitely Lynn's kid."

"I'm glad someone noticed."

…

Ringer's it is I guess. She really doesn't want to do this. Heck how long has it been since she's been in this store anyways.

'Let's just get it over with.'

Ding-dong.

Luna braced for the crowding by over eager sales associates but only saw a pissed off brunette carrying an arm full of clothes stomping away.

Luna shakes her head. 'Focus.'

Carol holds the top up. "No." A dress. "Eww." Skirt. "What is it with this place?" She tosses the garment.

"That's what I thought."

Carol rounds on her. "What do you want? Or have they started catering to a new clientèle. Would explain somethings."

Luna grits her teeth. "You didn't answer your phone. We're ready to leave."

"There's the bus." Carol steps forward.

"My first choice but Lacy," Luna breathed out some of her frustration. "her brother is making a roast and she wanted to invite you for dinner. As thanks for bringing us."

Carol is quiet as if looking for something. "That girl is seriously creepy."

Luna starts to scowl but stops, "You haven't seen her mad." Luna sighs, "Look I can see that you don't like me. And I ain't asking you too. And I don't even care why. But I have learned she doesn't do anything without a reason."

"What happened to Lori's eye?"

She takes a breath and starts her tale. And at the end Carol steps back.

The look on her face made Luna forget her own animosity.

She's been there.

"Look...Carol...you have to know nothing is going to come from that."

Carol snarls. "What the hell are you talking about?"

'...Oh...oh...so that's what it is...It isn't my place...'

Luna looks away, "Lori and I made our peace. I still feel like shit but she forgave me. I'm not going to screw that up anytime soon."

Carol eyes her intently then turns to the mirror. Closing her eyes. "Fine. I already told toothy I'd take you guys back. But I'm not staying for dinner."

"Whatever you say, captain." She mock salutes.

'Yeah, whatever, what do I care?'

…

Vanzilla sputters as it pulls in to the drive. First back it seems.

LJ flexes his hands. He looks back locking eyes with each of those in the know. They were still rather apprehensive about Leman. It did seem a little unreasonable to have him keep his hood on for the entirety of however long they will be here.

"Well, end of the line." Sr. jokes as he turns the key giving the beast a reprieve.

Languidly they move to the exists crossing the walkway. Noticing the muffled sound from with in.

Despite himself LJ lip twitches up.

Rita moves to the door. And is blasted by Teutonic Terror. LJ messages his eyes.

They look in to the dinning room to see Lola tied to a chair. Ignoring that they move in to the kitchen.

Leni is sitting calmly in a chair knitting, Lily is banging on pots and pans, Leman and Lana are jumping around howling and screeching.

"We will give them the AX~E!" Clenches his fists raising them two the sky the song ends. "Willkommen zuhause." He turns his head slightly.

Wearing a cadet grey skull cap pulled down so only the minimum of his brows appeared. The cap had long tails draped down his neck fastened closed with silver beads in the center of the bundle and also hanging at the ends. LJ recognized them.

'So they really do just carry those everywhere.'

His eye twitches. He looks to Leni who smiles at him blinking with a movement of the head that says she forgot to keep one eye open again.

Leman spins around to face them. The sliver tinging as they collide. "The pressure cookers about done." He points nowhere near the stove. "The ovens going to be another 35 to 45 minutes however long it takes Lacy to call it a day." He points the opposite direction of the oven. "And Lupe should be here soon with dessert."

"You talked to her?"

"Nope." He completes his rotation moving to the stove. Sr. moves forward interested in what he's doing.

"You used the pressure cooker and the stove. I forgot we had one."

"It was a lot of meat. We can start with that and continue when the oven is done."

Sr. lifts the lid the aroma fully hitting him. "Where did you learn to cook?"

He hmph, "Between you and RaRa we can all hold our own. But I have a way with meat especially game." He grins.

"I taught you?" RaRa says without thinking.

He turns to her, tapping the cooker, "You always told me you both came up with this recipe together. I feel like I'm owed some royalties."

LJ moves back to the living room sitting down on the couch. Lisa nods to him as she ascends the stairs. Lynn sits next to him on the couch as Rita takes Lily up to her room. Gotta have that talk with Lisa about running off.

"So...how's it going."

"I don't even fuckin' know anymore." He sighs.

"tch." They both go.

Lynn raises her brow, "Do you...get that from me?"

LJ looks to the dining room, "I am your son."

Lynn's breath catches. Her eyes stinging. She chuckles. Then pulls him in to a hug.

LJ doesn't react having expected it. He closes his eyes taking comfort in the familiar smells.

"You're such a little shit, you know that?"

"And people think I don't have a sense of humor." He dead-pans.

Lynn cackles. "You're definitely my kid."

"So y'all keep telling me."

She shakes him. "So who is this friend of yours?"

He gives her a look but before she can try and decipher it the door handle jingles.

"tch." Lynn slides a bit away.

The door slowly swings open as a stack of boxes with legs waddles by. LJ and Lynn watch it go.

Lori stops at the door with her box. "Oh your back."

"Yeah. My son is waiting for you."

Lori is a bit taken aback by that but nods before she and Bobby move in to the dining room as Lupe closes the door grinning as she follows them.

"You may want to be a little bit more reserved about that. I tried to influence Gramps and Gam Gam not to dig too much into how we are but they will still think about it and wonder."

Lynn licks her lips, "If I'm honest, Junior. I kinda want to rub their faces in it."

He neck nearly cracks, his nostrils flaring.

She stares straight in to his eyes, "I know its wrong of me but they told me this is wrong too." Her gaze hardens, "That your siblings are wrong. I refuse to let something that makes me this happy. That is hurting no one be wrong. Fuck. The. World. If they can't understand that."

LJ just stares in silence for a few moments. Finally.

"Teach them or put up with them."

…

"Hi Lola." Bobby waves as he passes by. "Hi Lana. Nice dress."

Lola struggles against her restraints as Lana fixes her pigtails.

"Where do you want the pies?" Lucy asks causing everyone in the kitchen but Leman to jump.

"The boxes you got on the counter the rest in the fridge."

Sr. moves over to help them striking up conversation. Lupe stops in the doorway. Eyeing the skull cap. She shakes out her hair, wiping her lips with her right fingertips. "How's it coming along, Lemano?"

He doesn't turn around, wiping his lips with his left. "I promised a feast." And lifts the lid with his right.

She hands off her boxes as she moves next to her brother. Looking in to the pot they touch fingers. Lucy cocks her head.

"He said you were bringing dessert." RaRa smiles.

"Wouldn't be much of a feast without something sweet." She swipes her hand over the pot letting it waft through the air. "Though we could use something a little smokey."

"You and your peat."

Ronnie Anne raises her eyebrow.

She turns to her mother, "¿Dónde está Dr. Quijote Loveless?"

...

Lynn blinks in her confusion.

"That is Lacy's maxim. Her mantra." He lays his head against the back of the couch. "Her statement of intent. And glorious fuckin' purpose." He snorts. "There is a reason we all call her the Golden Child. The best of us. We are taught to believe in a better World. A radiant dawn we'll bring with our own hands." He lifts not his hand but his fist. Eyeing it with discontent. "But I think only Lacy can actually see it. All I can see is what's wrong with it. All that can go wrong along the way. Cause we're flawed too."

He drops it.

"I know what y'all have overcome for us. I'm just not sure they deserve the same. Or that we are capable of giving it to them." He snarls, "And to hear you say that." A tear slides down his cheek. "Really fucks with me."

Lynn shakes her head panting. As she remember what Lacy said in the park.

"...just look around you."

She hangs her head in shame.

"Sic Parvis Magna."

She looks up, he moves to stare in her eyes. "That is mine. From small beginnings great things. Nobody is born great. We become it by enduring. Mistakes, tragedy, failure. Like a lump of coal becoming a diamond. It means nothing until we give value to it. Until we come out of the dark." He sighs. "Even an ant may become Indra and back again."

Lynn nods. "Wow. That was just all in there?"

He shrugs "I'm paraphrasing. I'm not gonna give you the whole script."

"Ja even Báleygr was impressed."

"Well it did save his best boffin."

"Amitacide is counter productive but certainly operatic enough for Dreyrængill to—"

"How long have you been there?" LJ sets his jaw not looking.

"You're the one's having this conversation in the middle of the living room. Besides the speech only works if you actually believe it." She flicks at his nose but he moves.

"We still have our scene arranged with Rotwang." Leman swings his vest back on. He pulls the ends out from under the collar as Lupe bats the tinging runes.

"You look like that try hard we met from that other 'verse."

Lynn looks at LJ who also looks confused.

"Oh now that hurts." He moves to the stairs as she snickers.

"Or like your playing freebooters with Lixie and her snotl—" Her voice disappears.

…

Ker-shun~ckt

Maggie and Luna fall forward along with the wave of bustling shoppers overburdened with cheap plastic bags stuffed with over priced bits of designed obsolescence vying for the one precious commodity that can't be surpluses in this place. Space.

So they stake their claim.

Maggie keeps banging, swinging and flicking her hair watching for the amethyst to peek-out.

"The lady said you could go darker. Just give it a couple days." Luan says looking at her hands.

"n-No. I think it looks good."

"It really brings out your eyes."

They lock eyes and turn away just as quickly.

'Did she...does she...' ₦Ø₮ Ⱡł₭ɆⱠɎ. 'Fuck off, cunt.'

'Did I really just say that? Guh how lame.' And gay. But hey she's probably happy someone actually knows where her eyes are. 'Your not helping!'

Clack. Clack. Clack. "Hey Luan." Clack. Clack. Clack. "Do you wanna have dinner at my house? I'm sure mom figured you would anyway if she knew all this was going to happen. And uh," Clack. "if it gets too late you could just stay over." ₩ⱧØⱤɆ.

"y-Yes!" Scale it back a bit or should I just go get Erato now? "I uh really want to see how uh this new look goes over for you."

They take out their phones, each with a call to make. Exiting out the music player.

People just ain't no good
I think that's well understood
You can see it everywhere you look
People just ain't no good

The call ends. Mission accomplished. And in the silence island of the commotion around them they search for the words to fill it.

"So I've been listening to that one band you like. The seed one."

Maggie almost looks at her. Almost.

"Oh? What do you think?"

"I think I get why you like him so much." Luan nips at her lip. "He really paints a picture." She gives a bit of a smile. "And he's also really funny if you get the joke."

Maggie gives an amused hum. "Yeah. You can have a pretty wicked sense of humor yourself." She tries to force her hand open. It doesn't take. "Do yo think...that's why we became friends?" Clack. Clack. Clack. "Do you ever question it?" Clack. Clack. Clack. "I think about it a lot. Why you would want to be friends with me?" Clack.

"I ask the same question about you, ya know?" Luan snaps the scrunchy against her wrist. "I always worry today is the day I screw it all up." Thwap. "I go too far and say something that goes too far." Thwap. "And causes you to wake up."

"I don't believe you." Maggie scowls. "I'm the one that is going to cause you to leave." Certainty in her voice.

"How?" Luan challenges. "You can do so much better than me."

"What? Do you even hear yourself?" Now Maggie was getting mad. "Luan your amazing." She scoffs looking around her. "Your 14 and you have a lucrative business doing things you would probably do for free." Luan goes to respond but is cut off. "Sitting in this bus surrounded by so many people I feel like I'm going to freak out but you can just go up there and make them love you." Her voice looses its edge. "Can take whatever is separating them, makes them different in their self important lives and bring them together in laughter." She squeezes her eyes close. "That's fucking magic with a K."

"When the stars are right, maybe." Her voice full of sorrow. "But I fail just as hard and a lot more often." She sighs, closing her own stinging eyes. "I'm just clown, Maggie. And if I can't do that I'm nothing. Not like you. Now you, create Worlds." Admiration lifts her tone. "You can make people feel whatever you want."

"I write stupid shit nobody will ever read." Maggie grits her teeth but the bile still pours out.

Luan pounds her fist against her knee. "Only because you won't take the chance!" She growls shaking her head. "I get up on stage and I pretend to be a better version of myself. The person I want to be. But that's all it is an act. The stage and real life are different things. You remember when you told me you were going to rub my face in what you wrote. I'm still waiting." Don't stop, keep going! "I want that. Because I know you will put everything in to it. All of yourself."

"You don't want to see that." Clack. "I'm very ugly inside." Clack.

Luan grabs her hand.

Maggie starts trembling.

"I never showed you the videos." Luan takes a breath. "Of how ugly I can be. I was going to. Until you saw the plans. And it was almost enough."

"I was afraid for you!" He breath catches. "That you would become like me."

"Mags, you've never hurt anyone. Except for yourself." Luan runs the pads of her free hand's fingers across Maggie's nails. She tries to pull away but Luan doesn't let her.

'No! Oh G~D please no!' ₴ⱧɆ ₭₦Ø₩₴.

"I'm not going to leave you, Maggie." Her free hand joins their connected one. "So please don't run from me again."

The crack in her voice cause Magdalena to finally meet her eyes. And she finally sees what is really being offered. Being promised.

Everything.

The bus stops with a jerk and Maggie realizes she is almost home.

…

They come upon Rita and Lily in the hall greeting them with a finger to lips. She hesitates for a moment and smiles nodding her head.

They stalk past her to the open door.

Lisa sits in her chair. Elbows to knees. Hunched by the weight of her thoughts.

Leman peeks his head through the door. "The time has come."

Lupe does as well from the opposite side. "The Walrus said."

"To talk of many things." He strides in to the room. "Of shoes, of ships, of ceiling wax. Of cabbages and kings."

Lupe closes the door behind them

"Of why the sea is boiling hot. And whether pigs have wings."

Lupe unfastens his skull cap pulling it free.

Lisa gives no reaction but to reach behind her, holding up the two vials on her desk. "You gave me samples."

Leman crouches scratching his hair.

"Dealing with only those two I can see how there might be some confusion on that score." Lupe drawls running her fingers through his hair also.

"Not all of us have a problem with what we are. And even Lace excepts the necessity of it." Leman grins.

"Us?" She repeats. "How many..."

"More than the major arcana but less than a full deck." She crosses her arms across her chest, in each hand she holds the collective aces of each suit. Spades, Clubs, Hearts & Diamonds. Swords, Wands, Cups & Pentangles. "Though our clan," She removes all cards but the Ace of Hearts. "is the largest in the tribe."

Lisa stares at them a moment. "You two are very...particular."

Lupe slaps her brother's shoulder. "We should of picked up tea." He nods.

The vials clink in Lisa's hand as she looks them over again. "You are that certain you come from this World?"

"Not of this World but of the coming one." Leman shows his fangs.

The holds his hand out.

…

The BMW pulls up to the curb, the soft glow of its lights resting on the brown van reflecting off the faded painted letters.

Carol readjusts her grip.

The whole ride had been mostly silent but for the signals tuned in from outer space carrying the lingering memory of long dead composers.

"Are you sure you don't want to," Lacy moves to put her hand on Carol's shoulder but she shifts away. Lacy freezes.

Luna gives her a sympathetic look.

"No thank you, I have a prior engagement to get to."

Lacy nostrils flare as her face falls. "Oh well, thanks anyways. I'm happy we got to meet."

Carol studies her in the mirror, "You know me in the future don't you?"

"The Carol I know isn't in high school. It's a novel concept seeing us so close in age." Her lips reverse their curve. She gives her that mock salute over her eye. "Be seeing you."

The chime rings as she exits the door. Lincoln not far behind.

Luna rests her hand on the door. "How did you..." The question stops her from pulling the handle. She turns slightly.

Carol remains staring forward. The white knuckles on the wheel filling her vision.

"I learned a few months back that anything I gain from not being who I really am isn't worth anything. It won't make me happy. It'll just make me hate myself more."

"You don't know me."

"Do you really want me too?" Luna challenges. "Maybe Carol, right now, what you really need to do is figure out who you really are besides this Queen Bitch of the Universe thing." Luna grips the handle again. "I know I ain't much. But you'll always get what you see with me. Because when I look in the mirror I'm not afraid of what I see." She pops the door open in to the warm night air. Her hand lingering on the frame. "It's hard. But not doing it is even worse." She shuts the door moving across the lawn. As her foot hovers over the first step she hears the car pull away.

Lacy leans on the rail watching. Luna wants to ask a number of questions. So many since this girl has entered their life. But Lincoln is standing at the door his hand on the handle. Looking for the strength to push. She comes up behind him joining his hand.

The door swings open.

"ただいま." Lacy calls out over there shoulder.

"他媽的." LJ mutters.

Lynn gives Ronnie Anne the side-eye, "See? See what you've brought on us?"

"And this one?" She points to LJ.

"I'm willing to split the difference."

LJ messages his eyes. Luna and Lincoln stand confused in the door way.

"Oh hey." Lori emerges from the dinning room. "Did Carol leave already?"

Luna swallows. "Yeah. She had thing I think she said."

Lori sighs, "Well I feel like a jerk." She lifts her phone. "Let me send her a quick text."

"Lori..." Luna stalls out.

"May I come inside now?" Lacy moves between them. "Do you smell that?" She shakes Lincoln's shoulders. "Where is Luu and Lee?"

"Tweedledee and Tweedledickhead are upstairs."

"Language. And don't think I didn't hear what you said before just because I wasn't there to hear it, 狻猊."

Lynn crosses her arms, looking at Ronnie Anne again, "There is still time to escape."

"Run? Us?" Leman's descends the stairs flanked by Lupe and Lisa. "Only food runs."

Lincoln stares at them still unsettled by their existence. Why was it so easy with Junior? Well he looks like Ronnie Anne. The new girl however...but why does Leman unsettle him?

"So did you find her?"

"Kind of." Lacy answers.

"Well I'm over it." Leman moves to the dining room.

"Hmm. I see Carol didn't stay." Lupe says staring at her father. "Oh well. Whose up for a quick game?" She flicks her wrist.

"Is that clear?" Rita questions as Lola and Lana pout.

"Okay." They say in unison.

"Now clean up your mess and move the car." They go to leave and Leman leans down next to her ear.

"Luanty is going to call and ask you something. It is paramount you acquiesce." He pushes away before she can react. Lily claps babbling.

"How goes it?" Leman questions.

"I think its about ready, sport." Sr. says as he and Bobby pull out the pan. "You sure you made enough he jokes.

"There are a lot of us." He reaches behind him patting Lucy on the head. "And you never know who might stop by the Loud house. The law of hospitality must be upheld."

...

Dinner went off without a hitch. Her mother was relived it was so tasteful and even her father thought it was alright. Little Isabel loved it.

And as the door to her room closed, the distractions were gone. Only they remained.

Not their first sleepover but less than can be counted on one hand.

And each had the same anxiety. Ignorance is bliss because now that they know…

"I didn't bring any PJ's." Luan says absently. The thought just occurring to her.

"I'll just lend you something of mine." Maggie moves to her closet. "Even if its too dark for your taste."

"It's not like I have much to work with anyways." Luan jokes fanning her skirt out. Then rethinks how that my be interpreted. She looks up to find Maggie still. Probably dissecting the words. "What I mean is uh-"

Maggie throws her an over sized shirt with some band Luan has never heard off. "Something self-deprecating I'm sure. Don't."

"Do y-you mind if I go shower real quick? It's just been a long day and I don't wanna...st...stin..." Nope not finishing that thought.

"Oh ye-yeah gu..." Maggie red face motions to the door.

Another beat and Luan steps hurriedly in to the hall. Causing each girl to breath easier. And beat themselves up.

'What the hell was I thinking?' ɎØɄ ₩ɆⱤɆ₦'₮.

'This was a terrible plan.' What plan? You haven't started doing anything yet.

In almost mirrored step they walk in opposite directions. Each placing their phone on the surface in front of them as they stare at the image that they've seen a thousand times before.

Now that mountains of meaningless words
And oceans divide us

Maggie stares at the painting wondering again what separates her from the artist.

Of course it came down to words.

That was what she had been avoiding—talking about this thing. This thing that had been growing between them. So subtly. So seamlessly they hadn't noticed until...there was nothing to be done about it. No pruning it or plucking it out less they take to bleeding internally.

She gave a wretched half-laugh to the Mother of Sorrows.

Celeste had asked how she knew she was a mother? Again no words. Just feeling. That she'd had always known her.

Her eyes drift to the mirror.

And we each have our own set of stars
To comfort and guide us

Luan drops her arms, sizing up at the figure in the mirror.

How much of her time was spent gazing in to mirrors trying to change what she sees?

To show there is more past this. That there is more worth there below it all. Even if only to convince herself.

That was the point and purpose of the Mask. Prosōpon. Persona.

To become more. Great. Terrible. Just...more than Human. But the trade off is yourself.

Steam starts to fill the room obscuring the vision.

If no one ever really sees you how can they ever have real regard for you? Then all they only ever really love is the idea of you.

And that liberating mask becomes a prison.

Come into my sleep
Come into my sleep, oh yeah
Dry your eyes and do not weep
Come into my sleep

Maggie regards the girl in the mirror as she takes her down to her base.

The Voice hisses in her head.

Is that why she never felt comfortable as her? Why she tries so hard to erase her?

Maggie knows there are no demons in her head.

It's just her.

The same mind that allows her to see images of life and Worlds of such complexity and depth with absolute clarity regardless of the fact they have no more weight or presence than ink on a page. That is what torments her. That is the other edge.

A candle illuminating from both ends. A snake eating its tail. Consuming until nothing but its self can sustain it. And then not even that.

Luan was right.

She was going to drive herself mad with nothing to focus on.

The girl in the mirror was her. Whatever she was. And while she wished she could see herself the way Luan or her parents or Izzy, as anybody did who could see her and still believed she is worth something.

But that would mean being someone else entirely. So it useless to entertain it.

If she couldn't find a way to live in her own skin she would be nothing but a burden to them. A parasite. Everything she feared she was.

No matter how much they love her—Nobody can do that for her.

Luan said she wouldn't leave her. Maggie will not doom her to a life of watching someone who she cares for self-flagellate. Unable to do anything but sit there in grief.

A death of a thousand cuts.

Swim to me through the deep blue sea
Upon the scattered stars set sail

Hot water, lavender scented soap and nylon removes the physical traces of the day. While the intangibles remain.

The mechanical motions allowing her mind to wander free. The heat within greater than the sting on her skin.

She chuckles as the heat reaches her face.

Great and terrible.

She had meant what she had said. With a conviction she hadn't known she was capable of until it had tore free.

Maggie was right.

Look at what she had accomplished in her short life. From Funny Business to years of cartoonishly over complicated pseudo-death traps. And she hadn't wanted any of them half as much as she wanted what was in the next room.

Needed.

And wasn't that terrifying? Is that what her mother had felt? Or Lori? And when those kids stumbled out of that…

Luan braces against the wall.

Now there was a dream.

A goal to make her previous schemes and machinations look like child's play.

She chuckles or maybe sobs.

"Wow...that hurts." Still she smiles.

Fly to me through this love-lit night
From one thousand miles away

Maggie drops heavily in to her chair. Eyes trained on the door. Still no words to accompany the images and sensations in the depths.

Or none with sufficient power to express the feeling behind them. Too subjective.

Even when there not being twisted and bent to lose any real meaning to convey. Of course, Luan already knows about that. She is the one who brought her the sermon of the angry old man.

Was it a sermon? Might as well have been. With his complaints and grievances, still, life is worth losing for how much it's bad for ya.

Then there was the relentless revelations of the angry young man who never became old.

And for however long her life was going to be, she doesn't want to hate it anymore.

ĐØ ɎØɄ ₮Ⱨł₦₭ ɎØɄ ₵₳₦ ₵Ⱨ₳₦₲Ɇ ɎØɄⱤ ₦₳₮ɄⱤɆ ₴Ø Ɇ₳₴łⱠɎ?

'Nothing of worth is ever easy. Value is earned. Through toil.'

She grits her teeth.

'Life is beautiful because it isn't. Because you have to fight for it. And what I saw in that foolish girl's dark eyes...that is worth fighting a legion of you!'

ɎØɄⱤ ⱧɆⱤØ ₵ɆⱠɆ₴₮Ɇ ₩₳₴ ₦Ø₮ ₴₮ⱤØ₦₲ Ɇ₦ØɄ₲Ⱨ. ₩ⱧɎ ₴ⱧØɄⱠĐ ɎØɄ ฿Ɇ ₳₦Ɏ Đł₣₣ɆⱤɆ₦₮?

Maggie's eyes burned.

'Celeste was addicted to it. The ups and the downs. The Visions.'

₳₦Đ ɎØɄ'ⱤɆ ₦Ø₮? ɎØɄ'ⱤɆ ₲Øł₦₲ ₮Ø ₮ɆⱠⱠ ₥Ɇ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ɎØɄ ĐØ₦'₮ ⱤɆ₲₳ⱤĐ ₮Ⱨ₳₮ ₳₴ ɎØɄⱤ Ø₦ⱠɎ ł₦ⱧɆⱤɆ₦₮ V₳ⱠɄɆ?

'I can see so many Worlds...I should at least be able to build one. Even if I have to give them all up to do so.'

Bind my dreams up in your tangled hair
For I am sick at heart, my dear

She knew this shirt. Maggie wore it the first night they spent together.

She wraps her arms around herself. It seemed so much bigger on her own frame. She looks back at the mirror.

Disheveled hair and a borrowed shirt.

She likes what she sees.

There's that heat again as if her heart was on...the Brooch. And with that a new dream.

An Autumn day. Like the one they first truly met. Hand in hand. That brooch proudly displayed, shining like a star as the sky falls around them covering the World in a pale imitation of her skin.

Because its so cold.

Nothing like the warmth she gives.

She brings her hands to her cheeks. "Gah I got it bad." She giggles.

Her hands slide down unobscuring her smiling face. "Get a grip, kid. You still have to tell her. That these are words she can trust. I may be just a fool. A clown. But not when it comes to this. I will never regret feeling this. And I'll show her...somehow."

Bind my dreams up in your tangled hair
For all sorrow will pass, my dear

฿ØⱠĐ ₩ØⱤĐ₴ ₳₦Đ Ɇ₥₱₮Ɏ ₱ⱤØ₥ł₴Ɇ₴. ĐⱤɄ₦₭ Ø₣₣ ₴Ɇ₦₮ł₥Ɇ₦₮₳Ⱡł₮Ɏ ₳₦Đ Ɇ₥₱₮Ɏ ₵ⱧłⱠĐł₴Ⱨ ₲Ɇ₴₮ɄⱤɆ₴. ⱧØ₩ ⱠØ₦₲ ฿Ɇ₣ØⱤɆ ₮Ⱨł₴ ₵Ø₥₥ł₮₥Ɇ₦₮ Ø₣ ɎØɄⱤ₴ ₩₳VɆⱤ₴? Ʉ₦₮łⱠ ₴ⱧɆ Đł₴₳₱₱Øł₦₮₴ ɎØɄ? ₳₦Đ ɎØɄ ฿ⱤɆ₳₭ ⱧɆⱤ ⱧɆ₳Ɽ₮?

'I know I will never deserve her. But as far as I'm concerned no one ever will. Nobody will ever be good enough for her. You often tell me I'm greedy and selfish. Okay then. I will be greedy and selfish in this. I will not give her up. Especially not too my own fear.'

₮ⱧɆ₦ ɎØɄ Đ₳₥₦ ⱧɆⱤ ₩ł₮Ⱨ ɎØɄ. ɎØɄ ₩łⱠⱠ ₦ɆVɆⱤ ฿Ɇ ₣ⱤɆɆ Ø₣ ₥Ɇ!

'So you've said. You are me after all. So if I can make my life Hell I can make it Heaven too. Up and down. It's just a ride. And if she really wants to ride it with me. Then fuck it. She can sit on my lap.'

ɎØɄ ĐłⱤ₮Ɏ ₣Ʉ₵₭ł₦—

Maggie is no longer listening. She loves this part of the song.

Take your accusation, your recriminations
And toss them into the ocean blue
Leave your regrets and impossible longings
And scatter them across the sky behind you
And come into my sleep

She smiles. Because those are the words. The ones she couldn't find within herself. But that's okay. They weren't right until this moment. She may not of created them on her own but she now realizes she doesn't have to do this all alone. She will have to hew her way free of this darkness but not alone. Even if they can't do it for her. The people she loves will be there. Urging her forward.

Always forward.

"For my soul to comfort and keep - my sleep."

Her eyes back to the door.

Come on,
Come on,
Come on.

And as the song ends the wait is over.

Luan steps in to the room. Her clothes bundled in her arms. The scrunchie still bundled on her wrist. She leans her back against the door. As the lock engages.

They just stare at each other as the strings play. Eigengrau and Periwinkle. They just look within each other and what is buried as it bubbles to the surface.

This garden that I built for you
That you sit in now and yearn

Its still too much to be let go in mere trickles and spurts. No. What was needed was to let the damn burst.

I will never leave it, dear
I could not bear to return

This wasn't a story to be plotted, revised or chucked in the bin and started over again.

This wasn't a joke. Timing, gestures, tone, pauses, mannerisms, ramp up the tension for the release and while all thats certainly applicable they are all in service to one thing all jokes need. Every joke needs one exaggeration for the punchline. That level of performance to separate it from you. Even if you believe what your saying it has to be able to be laughed at.

And find it all untended
With the trees all bended low

There was no point trying to put control on this now. Had they control in the first place they would never of found their way here. In this place.

"...ɘɿiꙅɘb Ꮈo wobɒʜꙅ ɘʜƚ ʏ|ᴎo ꙅi ƚi ||iƚ ɘviꙅꙅɒq ꙅɘmoɔɘd ꙅɘɘɿǫɘb ʏd ƚi b'ᴎiɒɿƚꙅɘɿ ǫᴎiɘd bᴎA .ǫᴎi||iwᴎu ɘʜƚ ꙅᴎɿɘvoǫ ɘɔɒ|q ꙅƚi ꙅqɿuꙅu ᴎoꙅɒɘɿ ɿo ɿɘᴎiɒɿƚꙅɘɿ ɘʜƚ bᴎɒ bɘᴎiɒɿƚꙅɘɿ ɘd oƚ ʜǫuoᴎɘ ʞɒɘw ꙅi ꙅɿiɘʜƚ ɘꙅuɒɔɘd oꙅ ob ,ɘɿiꙅɘb ᴎiɒɿƚꙅɘɿ oʜw ɘꙅoʜT..."

'Fuck it.'

This garden is our home, dear
And I got nowhere else to go

Maggie cross the floor in quick strides pulling Luan in to a kiss.

No form or skill or finesse. Just the need to act. The words she couldn't verbalize echoed around her. So she poured everything out.

Everything. All of it. All of her guilt, shame and hatred. The profound sadness of her being.

And then what she felt for Luan. All the moments she's revisited throughout the day. And all the one's in-between she missed.

An annoying girl that wouldn't leave. Talking to her about everything and nothing. Always reaching out to her.

This was her reaching back.

Pulling on the cord to find her way out of the tangle. Having found only herself in the depths. Not a monster at all.

No need for the prison or the sword.

So bring it on
Bring it on
Every little tear
Bring it on
Every useless fear
Bring it on
All your shattered dreams
And I'll scatter them into the sea
Into the sea

Maggie clings to her.

The fear was awe inspiring.

She dare not look. As they're not yet out of the dark. And the song can always become one of grief if you change how you pluck the strings.

The geraniums on your window sill
The carnations, dear, and the daffodil

No clacks, no käs, no clicks, nor flicks, nor checks.

No surrogate self-inflictions of any kind to ease the terror of being fully present in this moment.

Maybe that was always the source of her fear, the uncertainty of Existence.

Well, they're ordinary flowers
But they long for the light of your touch

'So warm.'

Feverish she felt as the forehead rested against hers, the hot breath tracing her lips, the embrace she was cocooned in.

Was life always so cold for her?

And of your trembling will
Ah, you're trembling still

She tightens her own grip.

It was like the sun had exploded.

If not for the door at her back and these arms she felt like she may fall away.

Floating, falling, was there really a difference before the splat?

And I am trembling too

"To be perfectly honest I don't know
Quite else what to do."

"So bring it on."

Luan tries now.

Tries with everything. To prove she is worthy of what is being given to her.

She will not bend. She will not break. She will not falter.

They don't have to be alone anymore.

Bring it on
Every neglected dream
Bring it on
Every little scheme
Bring it on
Every little fear
And I'll make them disappear

Life is painful. This will be to. But not doing this would be so much worse.

Maggie will never be normal. Everyday will be a fight. Only now she knows why she is fighting. Because this—this is beautiful.

And it will save her World.

So bring it on, bring it on
Bring it on
Every little thing
Bring it on
Every tiny fear
Bring it on
Every shattered dream
And I'll scatter them into the sea

Finally periwinkle meets eigenlicht again. And all the words unsaid are understood. Accepted.

And believed.

"Hi."

"Hey."

Things were different now. Totally and irrevocable and yet elusive at the same time. They were still the same just...more.

Now they could truly see.

Luan caresses her face. "I was always afraid I'd never find you."

Maggie leans in to the touch. "I never thought someone would be foolish enough to look."

Luan giggles, "Love sought is good, but giv'n unsought is better."

Maggie gives a slight sobbing chuckle. "Nerd."

The music had stopped. They didn't need it any more.

"If you really think I'm worth that much...I'll give it all to you."

"And I'll give you mine because it always belonged to you anyways."

They meet in the middle. Soft and tender. A promise.

Luan sighs her head thudding against the door. "This went a lot faster than I thought. I hope you won't think less of me for being so easy." She chuckles.

Maggie licks her lips and hums absently.

"So what do you want to do now...girlfriend?"

Suddenly Maggie is entirely present staring unflinchingly in to her eyes. "Tie you to the headboard, throw your legs over my shoulders and wear you like a feed bag."

Luan's mouth drops.

Maggie remains stone faced.

Luan's mouth moves but sound is rather difficult at this precise moment. "I...I...understood that reference..." She squeaks.

Maggie raises her brow, "Reference?"

Yo sis, tune up the kithara, your up!

Maggie rears her head back and laughs.

A laugh birthed from a lifetime of repressed anger and fear and uncertainty. It all came tumbling down. Just a girl having a laugh with her best friend.

It's the most beautiful thing Luan has ever seen.

"You got me." She simply says.

…

"Is that it? I thought there would be more to it than that."

"Of course there is. It's up to you to fill in the gaps. All the information is there. I can't teach you imagination." Leman says. "Lillebror was right, can't give you all the scripts on how to raise us."

He removes the foil from the pan.

Leman howls as the smell hits him causing him to rock back on his feet.

"Food!" She hears Lupe call out.

Ronnie Anne looks in to the pan. Dang. "That is a lot even for 14 of us." She looks over to the big pressure cooker.

"Again, you've seen ma eat. Or maybe you haven't we are still kinda fuzzy on what year it is."

"It's 20-"

"Smells great Leman." Sr. interrupts.

"Was just telling RaRa there is a secret to consistency of taste between cooking methods. Ya'll figure it out."

The kitchen begins filling as Rita sits at the table.

Her and Sr. were in the habit of plating last. Making sure the children had enough. Once more the kiddie table was being set up as they still needed to plan how to keep Ronnie Anne for the foreseeable future.

Lisa had already confirmed her machine didn't work but she was hopeful that something did connect to it to bring them here. She was hopeful that the data she had gained from its time active would yield results.

Rita notices that Luna had not moved from the table. Seemingly heavy in thought. "Are you okay, sweetie?"

Luna gives a glance to the congregation in the kitchen and then motions her head to the living room. Rita nods taking Lily. Luna moves near the couch, arms cross and a scowl on her features as Rita waits patiently for her to gather her thoughts.

"You know who she is with, right?" She asks in a complicated tone.

Rita takes a breath, keeping her tone even, "Maggie, right?"

Luna nods curtly. Then sighs. "There is something I need to tell you. Something I should have told you first." Rita gives her full attention. "I like girls." She rocks to the side. "I mean I like boys too but...I think I like girls more." She swallows. "I actually tried to ask out Sam the other day but..." Rita lets her speak. Get it all out. "Nothing bad. We're still best mates its just...it's not fair."

She starts to tear up. "Luan shouldn't have been outed like this. I was so worried about telling you guys. I mean, yeah, the McBrides are like family and half the siblings figured it out but its just..." she finally goes quiet."

Rita sighs. Luna winces at the sound of disappointment.

"You should never be afraid to come to me and your father." She rubs Lily's back. "And I'm sorry you felt you had to."

Luna hangs her head. "I was afraid you might think I...did something to Luan or was a bad influence on her." She raises her head, her eyes focused, "But the look they had when they were together. I had never been more jealous in my life." She chuckles. "It was like when you and pops are being all embarrassing. And Bobby and Lori are at there most annoying. No wonder they have kids together." She shakes her head, a grin on her face. "Top 40 at least. And compilation material."

Rita smiles and Lily giggles. Then it falls.

"Are you okay with it?"

Rita blinks. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Luna clenches her jaw.

"Of course I want my children to find love. What kind of parent wouldn't?"

Luna really couldn't answer that.

The phone rings and her eyes unconsciously moves to the dining room.

"It's Luan."

"I had a feeling."

"Me too." Her mother replies holding out Lily to her. "Go eat. I promise I know exactly what to do."

Luna does as she is told.

"Hello, sweetie."

"Hi mom. Maggie invited me over to eat dinner at her house. So we can you know show off her new look." She slows down. "I'll uh probably stay over if that's alright with you and dad."

Rita can hear it in her voice.

This is her sitting in Banger's & Mosh waiting to see if he showed up. And hearing the phrase, "I have someone waiting for me."

That 5th date in the rain. Where all the cards were laid on the table.

Just hopefully not that full night.

"No problem at all, Luan. But you have to bring her over some time soon. I know there is a lot of craziness going on at the moment. But your father and I are just dying to meet her." She smiles, "You have been so much happier since she came in to your life."

"I uh..." She goes quiet.

"Any one who can do that. She's already family. And welcome here anytime."

Luan gasps.

A hitch in her voice. "Thank you." She coughs slightly. "I will. I promise."

"Good luck, honey."

"y-Yes. Love you, mom."

"And I love you, baby-girl. Now don't keep her waiting."

Luan chuckles, "I think we've both had enough of that. Bye."

Rita gives her own farewell. As she hangs the phone back on the receiver, she wipes a stray tear from her eye as they wander over to three generations of Louds gathering at the table.

It was all worth the risk.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

Tap. Tap.

Rita moves to the door.

"𝓑𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓫𝓲𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓹 𝓽𝓸 𝓯5."

…

Fuck me this was hard. Not as technically hard as Episode 7 but this was a bitch. Although I finally got some good cigars so I made it through. Thank G~D for Nicaragua.

That's where the whole idea for implying Maggie's mother is Dominican came from because that's what I was smoking at the time I figured she was probably Afro-Latina. Or might as well be. Way back in Episode 4 I think. It was early days either way. Back when I could manage 1 chapter a month.

But no iteration of this story was not going to have this ship. I wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't for this ship or more accurately without JamesSunderlandsPillow's Wanderers. If you haven't read it get off your ass.

That was the first fic I ever read about this show. Hadn't even seen it. I do sometimes use fics to vet shows. And for years I would periodically just look at the crossover section for Silent Hill. It amuses me the combinations people come up with in that section.

Although I first came across it on AO3. I loved it. It got me to come over to and start reading. And I noticed an interesting dynamic in this fandom at that time.

Folks hate Luaggie it seems more than Loudcest. When I started reading on the Lewd House writer ran the fuckin' section. There was a few like the Gammerman (who I referenced with the Spooky and Kooky thing) and Wicked-Space-Witch (Horror movie slumber party). If not for the artists like Coyoterom and JaviSuzumiya (the "Just because it's a cute picture?" line way back in Episode 3 was about them) Might of thought I imagined the whole thing.

And why, because they never actually interacted? This is fanfiction we're all scum of the earth who think we know better than professionals anyways.

The whole ship is a product of headcannon. What you believe Luan is really like. In mine she's kinda fucked in head like all great comedians are. Then there is the comedy-tragedy themes and Pagliacci. Maggie is an interesting way to explore that.

She is a canvas. A Rorschach. We know enough to start but not as immediately constrained.

I will say the emo thing was kinda hard to deal with for me. My brothers were emos back in the day. I've heard it. And I couldn't do it so I found a way out.

Actually there were going to be more Nick Cave but cut quite a few of them cause it was getting much too long. Also cut down the Motel interlude 'cause that was going to be much longer and in a visual media it would have been a better scene. If you've ever seen Dust or Beyond the Sea or Get on Up. Kinda like that with them playing out the distraction in their head and changing the scene at a whim.

Like Lori dressed as Scarlet O'Hara, for some reason (with the curtain rod still attached), and Lucy with bat wings and smoke bombs.

Again it just didn't flow right.

Also I realized I probably should of made this a one shot. Or wrote it from the idea that Luan and Maggie were already dating secretly but I didn't and your down here anyways so whatever.

None of these chapters seem to go how I think they're going to. I wrote snippets of scenes way back in the early days that didn't get used but are here in transformed ways. Like initially Lacy was going to talk to Luan at the mall but the setup I hadn't thought of just that Luan would not have figured it out and Lacy kind of gave her the push to reevaluate things.

And the whole Gypsy thing was not from Peaky Blinders because I hadn't seen it until this past March. Mostly cause Cillian Murphy has always been creepy looking to me. As has David Bowie, Willem Defoe & Hugo Weaving. I'm sensing a pattern here.

Honestly, Magdalena Rozalia Eloísa Cioabă. That whole name is funny to me.

Now the proto-idea of the fic originally was going to be Lacy and Lina coming out of the portal. Although the whole thing was going to turn out Lincoln was the donor for Sam and Luna. Then JSPillow decides to effectively launch a ship singlehandedly.

Now I like the Sam and Luna ship (the ending of Racing Hearts was a fucking copout) and I thought long and hard about whether I should slam the door on that or not. I eventually decided to on account of I felt something had to go wrong for Luna specifically. She had to fail. And not be killed by it.

So I decided to go with Moonsong. Or at least acknowledge that's how it plays out in the future. I think I'm done exploring Luna's love life for now. I don't reckon Lyra and Layla are going to show up.

And I wasn't going to write Carol as a bitch. I wasn't I swear. She was going to be the opposite in fact but her being antagonistic to Luna amused me too much so that's how the smoke drew it out.

...So about Lyra…naw I'll save that one.

And finally to those we have lost while writing this drivel. Three immediately stick out to me; Charlie Daniels, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Chadwick Boseman.

Know I know everybody knows The Devil Went Down to Georgia but Running With The Crowd had a profound influence on me growing up.

Also I'm kinda tired talking about feelings, how 'bout next Episode we punch some shit?