Disclaimer: Here we go again.
AN: Okay, sorry I haven't updated during the week like I promised to. It's been hard, what with school and homework and stuff, but I'll do my best to bring you an update every week.
Maddie Travil (14)
When humans are feeling down, or have lost something, or are just not having a good day, what do they do always do? What humans do best. They pout about it.
He really did a number on me this time. This is totally unfair. Okay, I may have gone a little too far with the leaf-blower, but still! Nobody was hurt, and I even made sure not to damage the furniture. Mostly. That vase was cheap anyway.
Dad also did not approve of my comments regarding my idea of sweeping. Nobody really does. Molly says I have a tendency to be a bit of a smartass. But I wasn't lying when I said the living room looked spotless. You could barely see the black ceramic shards I shoved under the sofa.
I plop myself down in the center of my nest and pull out my phone. Looks like I won't be able to run the game, seeing as I'm lacking of any compatible devices. This totally sucks. After five minutes of screwing around on my phone, I'm lying face down in a pile of blankets and bored out of my mind. I end up balancing my phone on my head for about fifteen minutes before the incoming message causes it to vibrate and fall off.
- trueDivination [TD] began pestering lemurEnthusiast [LE] at [11:45] –
TD: i got my copy!
TD: now we can play sburb!
TD: hello?
LE: Hey.
LE: Sorry, but I might not be able to play with you for a bit.
TD: huh?
TD: why not?
LE: I'm grounded.
LE: Dad took my computer away. I still have my phone, but I don't have anything to run the discs on.
TD: i talked to you an hour ago! what did you do in an hour that made him confiscate your computer!
LE: I swept the living room using a leaf-blower.
TD: WHY!
LE: I was mad at him.
LE: We had an argument last night, and I wanted to get revenge.
TD: see this is your problem! you act on impulse!
TD: you really need to think things through!
LE: Sorry.
TD: what were you even arguing about?
LE: I don't want to talk about it.
TD: why not?
LE: Because I just don't.
TD: awww.
TD: i really wanted to play the game with you though!
LE: Give me an hour or so. By then I should have my computer back.
TD: how are you going to get it back?
LE: I have made plans. Plans upon plans. Each more needlessly complicated than the last.
TD: i guess i'll play with you in an hour then.
LE: No it's okay.
LE: Start without me. I'll connect further down the chain.
TD: are you sure?
TD: i don't mind waiting.
LE: Yes you do.
LE: Go ahead.
TD: okay thanks!
TD: see ya!
-trueDivination [TD] ceased pestering lemurEnthusiast [LE] –
Plans upon plans huh? Better start coming up with some. I contemplate my situation and rack my brain for ideas. The brain rack seems to be fresh out of them today. I don't really have time to do any more thinking, because my phone's vibrating again.
- clinicallyEmpathetic [CE] began pestering lemurEnthusiast [LE] at [11:55] -
CE: hey!
LE: Yo.
CE: are you still grounded?
LE:…
LE: You know it's kind of creepy when you do that.
LE: That psychic thingy?
LE: It's weird.
CE: heehee. actually, alice was the one who told me you were grounded.
CE: molly told her, and now she's freaking out.
LE: Why? I mean it sucks, but normally she wouldn't seem to be the type to be concerned about my current state of boredom.
CE: she's not.
CE: she's just paranoid that it wasn't supposed to happen like this. she's worried that if you aren't molly's server player, we'll all die.
LE: What.
LE: What the hell are you talking about.
CE: okay, time isn't really my thing, but i'll give you the explanation she gave me.
CE: think of the progression of your life as climbing a tree. you start at the trunk, and then work your way up. every decision you make creates a branch that splits off from the trunk. there are hundreds of branches, but only a certain path will make sure you get to the top of the tree.
CE: for every decision you make, there exists a different reality where you made the opposite decision. but if that decision wasn't supposed to happen, it creates a little pocket of time where we all die as a result of that decision. understand?
LE: So you're telling me...
LE: That because I'm grounded…
LE: We will somehow all die?
CE: umm, not really. alice is just worried, that's all. but she worries all the time. (hehe, time!)
CE: i don't blame her. it's her job to keep us from making the wrong decisions.
CE: sometimes i think she plays the most important role out of all of us. even more important than yours!
LE: Wait what? What's my role?
CE: i dunno!
CE: all i know is that soon you will make a very important decision, and your decision will determine the fate of all of us.
LE: Okay… slightly pressuring but okay…
CE: don't worry! i know you'll make the right decision. i believe in you!
CE: you are capable of really great things!
LE: You don't need to remind me about how awesome I am. I knew that from the start.
CE: i know. but really!
CE: you were able to wake up all by yourself. you didn't need anyone's help.
LE: Wake up by myself? I'm pretty sure everyone can do that.
CE: nonono, i meant wake up and dream. you woke up and dreamt on prospit!
CE: by the way, why did you jump out the window?
LE: Stop it. Stop knowing stuff that you shouldn't know. It's really creepy.
LE: Did Molly tell you about my dream?
CE: nope! i was there. i saw the whole thing.
CE: congratulations on waking up! prospit is beautiful isn't it?
LE: So you were actually the one that caught me? You were really there?
CE: yep! tell me when you're going to sleep next time. i'll show you around the moon.
LE: So, next time I fall asleep, I'll wake up in the golden city?
CE: yes. every time you sleep, you're consciousness will switch to your dream self.
LE: Well, I guess I'm going to pretend I know what's going on and just agree with you.
CE: so why DID you jump out the window?
LE: Because I wanted to.
CE: and that's it?
LE: Yes.
CE: really. (i know you're lying, btw. i'm just being coy) ;)
LE: Okay, fine. I use adrenaline rushes to forget about things I don't want to talk about.
CE: like…
LE: I had an argument with my dad last night. i was mad so i jumped out the window.
CE: what was it about? and i'll know if you lie.
LE: … I really don't want to talk about it.
CE: oh come on! i'll be your supportive friend here, and help you through your emotional problems!
LE: Fine.
LE: I got into a fight with my dad because I wanted to visit Molly for her birthday. Happy?
CE: what?
LE: I haven't seen her in eight years. So i wanted to show up on her birthday next week and surprise her. I had it planned out and everything. I was going to take a bus to Delaware and show up at our old house.
LE: But my dad said he didn't want me going alone, and he certainly wouldn't drive me, so yeah. That's what happened.
CE: oh.
CE: sorry.
LE: Nah it's fine. It's not that big of a deal. I just got really mad at him for it.
My phone vibrates, heralding a new message from another chum.
LE: Oh, gtg. Michael's pestering me and he claims it's important.
CE: oh i see. as soon as he says a word to you, you drop everything to reply back.
LE: Well yeah. I've already spent a ton of time talking to you about nonsense stuff. I might as well talk to someone sane.
CE: you really can't ignore when your teacher's summons, can you?
LE: Nope.
LE: See ya.
- lemurEnthusiast [LE] ceased pestering clinicallyEmpathetic [CE] -
CE: you know, if it makes you feel any better, you'll see molly really soon.
CE: trust me.
CE: ;)
- enigmaticInferno [EI] began pestering lemurEnthusiast [LE] at [12:15] -
EI: do you have a computer yet
EI: seriously we need it soon
LE: Hi Michael!
EI: im going to take your answer as a no
EI: i need you to get a computer now
EI: alice says that you absolutely have to be my server player and we might not have much time
LE: Time for what?
EI: long story
EI: just go get a computer and make it snappy
LE: I'm kinda locked in my room right now.
EI: he locked you in your room
EI: i didnt think other guardians did that
EI: i thought my sister was the exception
LE: Yeah, I don't get it either.
EI: okay i can probably teach you how to unlock the door from the inside depending on what kind of lock it is
LE: Will this be another one of our "How to be Awesome" lessons?
EI: consider it extra credit
EI: now get moving and tell me what your lock looks like
LE: Umm, it's pretty simple. The doorknob has an indent that you can turn to lock the door. But it only unlocks if the lock on the outside is unlocked.
EI: seriously
EI: those ones are easy
EI: just slide a credit card halfway through the first lock then push on the second one and it should pop right open
LE: All right give me a second.
I grab my debit card out of my wallet and wiggle it through the lock. It takes a couple of tries, but eventually the lock clicks and I experimentally open the door
LE: Okay got it.
EI: good now go get your computer
EI: do you know where it is
LE: I think so.
I slip out into the hall. Long ago, Michael taught me the art of sneaking around unnoticed, and I have since then perfected it. My socks muffle my steps as I carefully tread the wood floor, staying close to the wall to prevent the floorboards from creaking. Eventually, I make it to the kitchen. I use my phone as a mirror to check to see if Dad's still lurking in there. Yep, there he is. Suit, tie, expensive dress shoes. The marks of a truly awful parent. I manage to sneak past him and enter the living room without incident. He has casually thrown your precious laptop on the sofa. The bastard. I mean, I do that all the time, but it's a hundred times worse when he does it!
I'm grabbing the laptop when I hear the footsteps. My father is standing in the hallway, watching his daughter steal back what was taken from her this morning. I don't think. I run straight at him, tuck and roll between his legs before dashing off to my room and locking the door. My lock does have one advantage. He can lock me in, but I can lock him out. I think he's given up, because he doesn't even bother trying to open the door.
LE: VICTORY!
EI: awesome
EI: now install your server disc and connect to me as your client player
I sprawl out inside my nest and prop my laptop up on Mika's giant head. The game loads and I get a view of a small, old, brick house, sitting along in a row of other small, old, brick house. I use the mouse to zoom in and see an image of a teenage boy sitting on his bed with crossed legs and a computer in his hands. His tan colored hair is swept off to the side, and his face is contorted into a very bored expression. He's wearing a white shirt with a golden lighting bolt across the front, and a pair of faded jeans with sneakers. Michael's room is painted a bright gold, and isn't very big, but looks very cozy.
LE: I've connected!
EI: good so have i
EI: start installing things in my house.
LE: Nice shirt!
I drag the alchemiter to the kitchen and plop it down with a thud right next to the fridge.
EI: speaking of that
EI: we need to talk
LE: Oh not this again.
I let out an exasperated sigh as I drop the cruxtruder into the basement.
LE: And btw you have mice in the basement.
EI: crap theyre getting in through the hole aren't they
EI: anyway
EI: we need to have a discussion about your life choices
LE: For the last time, a sweatshirt isn't a life choice!
EI: its the middle of april
EI: even with air conditioning youll die of heat while wearing that thing
LE: For your information, it snowed last week.
EI: wait what
LE: Yeah I'm not kidding. It did. Minnesota weather.
EI: well its hot as hell in virginia
EI: and even if it is snowing that thing is way to big for you
LE: I'll grow into it!
EI: youve been growing into it for the past year and a half
EI: actually i take that back you werent even growing
LE: You promised you wouldn't talk about my height issues!
EI: look the fact of the matter is that while wearing the sweatshirt you look fairly adorable
EI: we need to change that
LE: Why? I like it. It's comfortable!
EI: three years ago i selected you as my protégé likw my sister selected me to carry on the art of being awesome
EI: i have taught you how to sneak around unnoticed, to get to the kitchen without touching the floor, and how to generally be awesome
EI: you have done well in most subjects but no one is going to respect you if you keep wearing the sweatshirt
LE: Why don't you just choose someone else to teach?
LE: I'm sure Molly would love to learn your skills.
EI: molly lacks certain qualities that you have
EI: youre naturally ambitious and adventurous but you still have an attitude problem
EI: youre overly stubborn, overly skeptical, and always rush head first into things
EI: we need to work on that
EI: and the first step is getting rid of the sweatshirt
LE: :[
LE: Btw, there's a turquoise glowy thing in your basement.
EI: what
EI: you mean my kernelsprite
EI: how did it get out of the cruxtruder
LE: I didn't touch it.
EI: im heading downstairs to check it out
EI: oh crap
AN: Okay, done with that chapter. Man, that was a long one. Hopefully that makes up for not updating this week.