x002

[allwehad]

[A] Action: Dairy]

[Margot has definitely been tipped off that something is up during the early hours of the morning when the tv had gone on the fritz, waking her up from a booze induced coma on the couch.

It’s only amplified when, later, she tries to go out the backdoor to have a pre-breakfast cigarette and manages to pass through the door. She plays with this for a moment (in-out-in-out) before it becomes solid again, ramming her face rather painfully into the wood and feeling like a fool.

It gives her an idea, though.

For most of the morning, she listens in to the phone network, confirming that other strange things are happening (and, really, all she has to do is look outside at the drones to know). Before noon, after she’s taken a trip to the floor through one of the kitchen chairs, she works up the nerve to head out and towards the dairy, willing to try something.

It’s Dist’s words that urge her on -- things are falling apart. Time to act. She feels good about this, pumped. She can do it.

The dairy door is in sight, she keeps striding purposefully forward, almost there and...

BAM!

She bounces unceremoniously off the door and lands flat on her ass, rubbing her forehead.

Okay. It only worked part of the time with the door at home and then randomly with the chair, maybe it just needs a bit? She gives it a few more minutes and then tries again, but this time more cautiously.

Same thing. Solid as a rock.

She can be found at this for the next several hours with absolutely no success whatsoever. Gold stars for trying?]

[B] Phone]

Has anyone else tried going through the walls of the dairy or city hall or the post office? It seems like things are -- are flickering. Like something is wrong with the illusion?

I tried myself, but had no luck. Maybe someone else will get it.

[And yes, someone does sound bitter about this.]

Comments

[allwehad]

Alright. A break and then the post office?

[In all honesty, she's done for the day and is looking for an excuse not to go, at least not yet.]

I think I could use a nap or something at this point.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas seizes on this.]

Yeah. You must be really exhausted. ...You should go home and get some rest, Miss Margot. You don't want to wear yourself out before the real bad stuff starts.

[allwehad]

[At the mention of that, she suddenly looks tired and worn.]

Yeah, it'd really suck not to be fully rested for that, wouldn't it?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Tug tug tug. Lucas will gently pull her in the direction of her house.]

C'mon, Miss Margot. Let's get you home.

[allwehad]

[This makes her smile a little. She says teasingly:]

Alright, dad, geez. I'm coming, I'm coming.

[a_gentle_boy]

You'll get sick if you don't get enough sleep.

[Lucas puts on the sternest face he can manage.]

And have you had any vegetables today or is it all junk food?

[allwehad]

[That face just makes her burst out laughing, feeling better than she has all day.]

No! I made myself eggs and toast, so I promise an extra helping of veggies tonight with dinner.

[a_gentle_boy]

And an early bedtime, too.

[Lucas nods in satisfaction.]

I can make you an omelet for dinner if you want! I can just grab some onions and tomatoes and peppers from home.

[allwehad]

You know how to cook?

[Because even if his last baking attempt was a couple of years ago, it's not a distant memory.]

[a_gentle_boy]

...

[Lucas huffs a little.]

You said you liked the cookies.

[allwehad]

[Shit.]

I did -- I do! I just didn't know you knew how to make other stuff since I left...

[a_gentle_boy]

[He laughs good-naturedly at that.]

Eheh... I'm just kidding. I know they were awful. I fed some to a squirrel and it started choking.

...No, cooking is a little different. I can do that OK now. And I've been making omelets for a long time now.

[allwehad]

Oh, thank the Weaver, because those were terrible, but you seemed so happy...

But sure, I'll take you up on the offer. It would be lovely, thank you.

[a_gentle_boy]

...

I had one later myself. I think I put too much of the baking soda in - it tasted a lot like Coca-Cola.

[...Anyway. Lucas pauses.]

...Oh! I don't know where you live anymore, do I?

[allwehad]

First attempts are allowed to be disasters. Just follow the recipe more closely and do variants once you've gotten that.

[Yeah. She's basically parroting Nadia there. Unless it can directly be set on fire or is really simple, this girl can't cook very well either.]

Oh! Oh right! I'm on Mitchell now, at 1449. You... can't miss the street. Netherlands has that giant ship in his backyard and I'm across from him.

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh, you live across from him! That's great.

[A brief pause.]

So... you've talked to him some?

[allwehad]

We talked for a little bit. He remembers my name, I don't know why or how. It's really weird.

[a_gentle_boy]

...That's right.

After he... died the last time, he came back with amnesia. And then... when that went away, he said he knew about some of the things that had happened between us before.

It's... weird. There was the Mr. Netherlands from before and then... the one from later. And they were a little different, but... Now it's being all...

[Lucas makes a collapsing motion with his hands.]

[allwehad]

Yeah... It's like -- I know what you mean, I just don't have the words for it.

[She makes a face.]

Has that happened to anyone else, do you know? I've heard of people coming back and forgetting everything, but then remembering again... I guess if the town is going to go crazy, it's like we may as well too.

[a_gentle_boy]

...Luke, too. But he was a little different, I think - he came back at a different age and then he got a regain and he suddenly knew everything from before even though he was younger than he should have been.

[allwehad]

Still just as a strange. Makes you wonder, though, doesn't it? You know, how much of us are a part of the illusion.

[It's a good thing she prefers her own shitty reality to this place or else there may be an existential crisis to deal with.]

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas shrugs with a rueful smile.]

It's probably all of us, to be honest. But I don't think it really matters as long as you believe you're you.

[allwehad]

Pretty sure I'm me, last time I checked. If I was going to make up up a fake life or whatever, I'd make myself a lot cooler.

[a_gentle_boy]

Mine would have a happy ending where we all escaped from Mayfield.

[allwehad]

Mm. Well. We can try to make that one a reality.