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Post by cory on Apr 17, 2012 16:26:43 GMT -6
==> Cory: Knock.
You appear just outside the door to Venn's house.
You are reasonably sure this won't end in disaster, but it never hurts to be polite.
You knock. [/center] |
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Post by venndiegram on Apr 17, 2012 16:42:16 GMT -6
==> VC: RUMINATEYou have JUST FINISHED TALKING WITH A GREAT FRIEND. You are SOMEWHAT CONCERNED because of the rather abrupt note the conversation ended on. You sure hope she's okay! Said friend often feels really sad and you'd hate for her to be all sad and alone. The thought almost makes you want to frown, but you don't! You are the sort of person to TACKLE A PROBLEM HEAD ON. You hear a knock on the door. ==> VC: ANSWER DOORYou leave your computer and proceed down the SPIRALLING STAIRCASE. You remember to grab your scythe. GOTTA BE READY FOR A SHOWDOWN on this crazy island. You open the door, scythe in hand. ==> VC: FLABBER YOUR GASTSYou FLABBER YOUR GASTS IMMEDIATELY. You let your scythe lean against the doorframe. ==> VC: PREPARE ARMSYour arms are prepared. ==> VC: PREPARE BODYYour body is ready. ==> VC: HUGYOU HUG. IMMEDIATELY. You FRIENDSHIP WRAP YOUR ARMS ABOUT YOUR FRIEND AND SMILE A BUNCH. [/center] VENN: HOLY MOTHER OF NESS!E
VENN: ARE MY EYES DECE!V!NG ME
VENN: !S MY SENSORY !NPUT ENT!RELY FAULTY
VENN: OR AM ! HUGG!NG THE SPECTACULAR CORY R!GHT NOW?
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Post by cory on Apr 17, 2012 16:54:50 GMT -6
==> Hug back.
You smile just a little bit when you see him, and just a little bit more when he wraps your arms around you.
It's not much, but it's the first time you've smiled all day.
You hug him back, gently wrapping your spindly arms around him.
[/center] hi, uh, venn
no, this is, ah, real
i just, really needed a hug?
thank you
==> Spike.
You spike. Your entire body blurs and shifts, crackling with lightning. The air smells like burning ozone, and you do your best to keep Venn from falling into you.
Glimpses of the Furthest Ring. The sun is especially bright today. It always is.
[/center] |
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Post by venndiegram on Apr 17, 2012 17:04:51 GMT -6
==> VC: be overwhelmed by questions
YOU ARE, in fact, OVERWHELMED.
There was a BRIEF MOMENT THERE where you could STARE INTO THE INFINITE RECESSES OF THE COSMOS THROUGH CORY'S CHEST. You sort of stare and blink for a second.
[/center] VENN: hoo boy!
VENN: okay !t !s REALLY QU!TE GREAT TO SEE YOU
VENN: and ! don't want to DERA!L TH!S CONVERSAT!ON !NTO A D!SCUSS!ON OF CRYPT!C PHENOMENA
VENN: BUT !F YOU DON'T M!ND ! FEEL !T !S MY DUTY TO ASK
VENN: WHAT ON OR OUTS!DE OF EARTH WAS THAT?
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Post by cory on Apr 17, 2012 17:18:28 GMT -6
==> Explain.
Not quite yet. A conversation like this would just get uncomfortable held across a doorstep.
You move the both of you to Venn's room, shifting reality to suit your needs.
[/center] um, the short answer, uh, is really kind of the wrong, answer, but, uh, i'm god
basically
You sit down on Venn's bed, looking down into your lap, fiddling with your hands. A nervous spike ripples through you. [/center] and, uh, the long answer, is
uh
i'm a guardian, kind of
the first guardian
and, uh, i'm kind of all-powerful and, uh, all-knowing
also, uh, kind of almost as old as the planet?
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Post by venndiegram on Apr 17, 2012 17:27:46 GMT -6
==> VC: flabber gasts
Where'd all your gasts go? They scattered to the far winds after they were so thoroughly flabbered just a few moments ago. You gather up your gasts so they are ready to be suitably flabbered once more.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, YOUR GASTS GET THE FUCK FLABBERED OUT OF THEM. You kinda stare at Cory for a bit. You realize you're sitting on your bed.
You recover your mental faculties. You were BORN to do this.
Okay. What do you know.
POSSIBLE CRYPTID: check
BEST FRIEND IN YOUR ROOM: check number two
You decide the second one is more important.
[/center] VENN: well um
VENN: ! am NOT ENT!RELY SURE WHAT TO SAY TO THAT
VENN: though !t sure !s pretty cool!
VENN: and ! guess !t does expla!n a bunch!
VENN: but WHAT !S TRULY !MPORTANT
VENN: WHAT !S REALLY FAR OUT
VENN: !S THAT YOU ARE HERE AND OH MY GOD--OH MY CORY ! GUESS
VENN: OH MAN WE'VE GOTTA DO SOME SUPER FUN STUFF
VENN: L!KE
VENN: !'d show you my collect!on of CRYPT!C MEMORAB!L!A but ! guess that must seem l!ke CHUMP CHANGE to such an ANC!ENT AND POWERFUL !ND!V!DUAL
VENN: do you have any recommendat!ons?
VENN: TH!S !S JUST TOO MUCH OF A POTENT!ALLY AWESOME FR!END!NG TO PASS UP
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Post by cory on Apr 17, 2012 17:34:25 GMT -6
==> Attend friending.
Venn doesn't panic. You are extremely relieved.
[/center] um,
uh
i'd really, like to see, uh, your collection
if, ah, that's okay, with you
You get to your feet. [/center] lead, uh, lead the way
if, uh, you don't mind
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Post by venndiegram on Apr 17, 2012 17:45:59 GMT -6
==> VC: FR!END!F!CATE
That probably isn't a word. You immediately take Cory's hand and lead her out your room and down the hall to your Study.
==> VC: ENTER STUDY
You ENTER YOUR STUDY. It is filled with VARIOUS CRYPTOZOOLOGIC MISCELLANEA, AND SEVERAL STACKS OF NOTES. you are a METICULOUS NOTE-TAKER. You walk past all the collections of articles, journals, and papers you have written and had published-- MOSTLY DEDICATED TO THE NOBLE FIELD OF DEBUNKING--to a few skeletons on display which you have been UNABLE TO DEBUNK. They are all of VARIOUS SPECIES WHICH YOU ARE UNABLE TO CLASSIFY. One bears a STRONG RESEMBLANCE TO SOME SORT OF BIRD except it has SIX FULLY DEVELOPED LIMBS. The rest are somewhat vulpine in structure, though they also possess INDICATORS OF REPTILIAN STRUCTURE AS WELL.
This is infinitely fascinating to you.
[/center] VENN: well, these are my pr!de and joy!
VENN: ! HAVE THUS FAR BEEN UNABLE TO DEBUNK THE!R CRYPT!C NATURE
VENN: though ! suppose that must seem k!nda s!lly to you S!NCE YOU PROBABLY KNOW ALL ABOUT TH!S STUFF ANYWAY
VENN: BUT ! K!NDA L!KE THE CHALLENGE OF D!SCOVERY
VENN: that's one of the reasons ! wanted to get onto th!s !sland!
VENN: THERE ARE LOADS AND LOADS OF DECEASED CRYPT!DS BUR!ED BENEATH THE D!RT
VENN: PRESERVED ACROSS THE M!LLENN!A
VENN: !T !S QU!TE THE HOBBY
VENN: oh man now that you ment!on !t th!s place !s k!nda dusty
VENN: and just f!lled with paper and old foss!ls huh.
VENN: OOPS HAHA ! SHOULD PROBABLY BE F!ND!NG
VENN: AN ACT!V!TY MORE CONDUC!VE TO FR!END!NG HUH
VENN: unfortunately much of my behav!our !s pretty sol!tary!
VENN: OH MAN DO ! EVER FEEL L!KE A DORK
VENN: oh well
VENN: !t !s n!ce just be!ng here w!th you!
[/center][/justify][/blockquote] |
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Post by cory on Apr 17, 2012 18:02:39 GMT -6
==> Say nothing.
You respect Venn far too much to tell him what you know about his collection, which is absolutely everything.
You smile reassuringly.
[/center] it's a very, uh, good collection
there's, uh, nothing like it, in the whole world, actually
and, ah, that's a fact
Your hand is quite comfortable in Venn's. You don't think you'll be moving it any time soon. well, uh, we could, take a walk?
if you, uh, know of a good spot, we could
uh
make, a picnic, out of it
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Post by venndiegram on Apr 17, 2012 18:23:04 GMT -6
==> VC: quack like a duck and eat a window
How silly. You would never do such a weird thing IN FRONT OF A FRIEND.
Perhaps later.
==> VC: CONSIDER PROPOSAL
You CONSIDER CORY'S PROPOSAL and IMMEDIATELY TAKE A LIKING TO IT. Man Cory SURE IS ONE SHARP TOOL, MAYHAP THE SHARPEST TOOL IN THE SHED. You suppose that would naturally follow from the recently revealed OMNISCIENCE THING, which you are still trying to WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND. You wonder if she can READ YOUR THOUGHTS. She didn't exactly specify the range of her UNLIMITED KNOWLEDGE, but the conclusions it suggests are kind of mind-boggling!
Still, her suggestion is PRETTY GREAT.
[/center] VENN: haha thanks!
VENN: though ! must adm!t !t !s somewhat tantal!z!ng to know you're just there w!th all the answers!
VENN: but ! th!nk ! m!ght rather not know!
VENN: anyway, ! th!nk that's a really good !dea!
VENN: and ! know a perfect place!
VENN: ! COULD GET SOME FOOD AND STUFF TO BR!NG TOO
You make TWO SANDWICHES and pack them in your TRUSTY CRYPTOZOOLOGIST NOURISHMENT TRANSPORTATION UNIT (lunch box) ALONGSIDE A PAIR OF INVIGORATING REFRESHMENTS (sodas).
You take Cory by the hand again and open the front door out to your island.
[/center][/justify][/blockquote] VENN: well ! guess !t m!ght not be much of a surpr!se !f you already know everyth!ng
VENN: BUT ! KNOW A FEW SPOTS THAT ! TH!NK ARE PRETTY SWELL
VENN: oh man th!s !s gonna be great
you lead on.
[/center][/justify][/blockquote] |
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Post by cory on Apr 17, 2012 18:39:47 GMT -6
==> Be led.
You smile and nod, following Venn through the forest. You run your thumb over the skin of his hand, remembering the last time you'd actually held hands with anyone. It was back when Alex was just a kid.
This feels good. This feels really good. Maybe you've been a little touch-starved.
[/center] i'm, uh, glad you're, taking this so well
you're, uh, the only other person, on the planet, who, ah, knows about me
not even, uh, alex, knows the, um, whole truth
and, uh
i'm really glad, to have someone, that, uh, i can talk to
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Post by venndiegram on Apr 17, 2012 21:15:34 GMT -6
==> VC: be someone the girl can talk to
YOU SURE HOPE SO.
You are there for ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS, as a PERMANENT AND NEVER-CHANGING RULE. The idea that a friend is actually here in the island is kind of THROWING YOU FOR A LOOP. YOU ARE RIDING THE ROLLERCOASTER OF DELIGHT, AND IT IS ONLY GOING UP.
You lead Cory deeper into the jungle. THE JUNGLE OF EMOTION. Also, the literal jungle. There is an extremely nice grove there which would be just perfect for your picnic.
[/center] VENN: !'m k!nd of surpr!sed that alex doesn't know
VENN: GUESS !T'S OUR L!TTLE SECRET
VENN: TANTAL!Z!NGLY CRYPT!C
VENN: !'m very flattered you chose to tell me, cory!
VENN: AND ! AM ALSO VERY GLAD THAT YOU CAN TALK TO ME
VENN: THAT !S, TO MY M!ND, THE HE!GHT OF BE!NG A GOOD FR!END
VENN: A STATE OF BE!NG ! STR!VE FOR
VENN: everyone deserves to be able to talk to someone
VENN: AND TRUST PEOPLE
VENN: AND JUST GENERALLY KNOW
VENN: that they're okay
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Post by cory on Apr 18, 2012 12:45:46 GMT -6
==> Cory: Be okay.
You take a moment to consider Venn's words.
You change your grip on his hand so that your fingers are laced together, walking almost shoulder to shoulder with him.
You smile shyly.
[/center] |
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Post by venndiegram on Apr 18, 2012 13:11:26 GMT -6
==> VC: lay on the movesDon't be silly. You barely even KNOW WHAT MOVES ARE. You simply just DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT SORT OF THING. It does occur to you, however, that holding a girl's hand SURE FEELS NICE. And as YOU YOURSELF HAVE SAID, this particular girl is QUITE PRETTY. And, as you have more recently learned, is also god, which would probably be more intimidating if she wasn't also your FRIEND. You arrive at the GROVE. It really is QUITE NICE. You sit down with Cory. [/center] VENN: th!s !s probably my favor!te spot on the whole !sland!
VENN: somet!mes ! come here and just wonder how !t came to be
VENN: why such a strange clear!ng would've formed !n an otherw!se dense trop!cal jungle
VENN: well ! suppose you'd know, wouldn't you?
VENN: man !'m st!ll try!ng to get my head wrapped around the whole god th!ng
VENN: ! mean you must've been around for so long!
VENN: !t must've been pretty lonely when there was noth!ng but D!NOSAURS AROUND
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Post by cory on Apr 18, 2012 14:57:55 GMT -6
==> Cory: Pic nics.
You look around, admiring the scenery. Alex really did pick the perfect spot. It is serene and beautiful.
You somewhat reluctantly let go of his hand as he unpacks your lunch.
[/center] it was
uh, sometimes, it still is, maybe
which, ah, makes me glad, when I, ah, meet people, like you
He gives you a sandwich and a soda. Your hands touch briefly as you accept each one. [/center] if, uh, if there's, anything you'd, ah, like to ask, I could, try to answer, if you want?
You take a bite out of the sandwich. It's good. [/center] |
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