W5 🛸 PLAYER CYOA: FUCK IT WE EYEBALL (ALLI) 🚀 GUY, MARGARET, OWNER, SIDON

[dropoffs]

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[bossbabygirl]

[why's it gotta be rats. but then the other visitor shows up.]

Guy?

[oh, shit. she will rush over to him, but hesitate before coming close enough to touch him.]

Guy! It's Margaret!

[tombtaker]

[ BECAUSE IM NOT IN THE GRAVE I HAVE TO MAKE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF RATS

the scene seems to change without much notice - from a spaceship to a grown-over island - marble stone under foot and broken buildings around you. but it's a peaceful night. familiar constellations hang above you, the moon a half-crescent. the woman draws up her cards and shuffles them in the background.

You can talk if you like.]

[mansplains]

[ it's a good instinct! not to get too close, because guy lashes out as soon as he hears her approach, out of instinct. he swings his fist, hits nothing, and collapses to the ground again, shaky ]

What...

[ is he alive? ]

[bossbabygirl]

Take a deep breath. You're not in danger right now.

[it's not real, it's all some bullshit dream to mess with their heads. but saying so doesn't feel like it will make him less agitated.]

[tombtaker]

[ the woman continues shuffling, humming slightly.

`You aren't alive.` As if she can tell what he's thinking without him voicing it. `But you aren't dead either.` ]

[mansplains]

[ he's gazing around wildly, trying to parse what's happening, and then his eyes settle on the architecture-- his old home -- and something inside him starts to crumble ]

[ he just falls to his hands and knees, looking vulnerable in a way she's probably never seen before ]

What... what did I do, Margaret? What did we do?

[bossbabygirl]

I don't know.

[she wishes she had some sense whether reaching out to him would make him feel better or worse.]

I stopped having any perspective so early. I had that journal, and I just wanted to do what it told me.

[mansplains]

[ while he's breathing heavily, he is starting to calm down, so she could probably reach out. he definitely looks more pained than wild now ]

That journal.... the eyes... Shit. Did any of us having any perspective?

[ he looks around to see if sidon or owner are here, and finally notices (steven universe voice) this giant woman ]

Is this a dream?

[bossbabygirl]

[she will do that, then. she will crouch and put a hand on his shoulder.]

It is. I think it's one of those Thursday things. I wish I knew the point of any of this.

[tombtaker]

[ the woman looks over at them, watching, smiling slightly.

`A dream? Maybe. I'm not sure. Certainly a bit more real than a dream. A bit less real than reality.`

She stands to also come over, but she doesn't touch Guy, only kneeling down beside them.

`Perhaps the point is to understand yourself. Or to understand your friends. Even the most painful of circumstances can teach you something.` ]

[mansplains]

I don't care for this shitty lesson. I understand myself and my friends already.

[ tensing slightly under margaret's hand, but he doesn't panic the way he normally does. something about her, tangible and real -- even if maybe they weren't as close as his mind had him believe, mere minutes ago -- is calming ]

Thursday.... is that today?

[ he doesn't even know anymore ]

[bossbabygirl]

I don't know either.

[it feels like they've been here a long time, but it also doesn't make sense. the memories of the ship are clearer now. it's horrible to say but it's possible... that charthur isn't actually a thing.

meanwhile, the memories she thought she had of all their time together are something she can't seem to wrap her mind around anymore.]

Painful circumstances can teach you something, sure. Like, don't go picking up spooky journals.

[tombtaker]

[ The woman looks up again, out the door of the Inn, and into the surrounding garden. She stands politely to greet their new guest. The night is filled with the sound of cicadas, and a gentle breeze.

`Oh, there we are. Almost the entire set of actors upon the stage. ]

[discomfort]

[ hello.

owner is here now. you guys can ignore him because he sort of just walks over and immediately sits down to stare into space. ]

[mansplains]

[ owner, like guy, is reeling from the reveal that charthur isn't real... horrible ]

Owner!

[ actors on a stage. it leaves an especially bitter taste in his mouth. but he doesn't ignore owner. he looks over to him in concern ]

[bossbabygirl]

[she looks at him, too, her mouth closed in a thin, uncertain line, but not angry.]

None of us are actors.

[tombtaker]

[ The woman, in the middle of making tea, stops and looks up.

`No. I suppose you aren't.` She pours four cups. `I don't think I can put you back together in the same place. I should apologize for that. You'll have to go where you belong for now.` ]

[discomfort]

[ he glances over at them, eyeing the woman for a moment. ]

I am afraid we would not be going to where we "belong."

[ none of them belong on that ship. ]

[mansplains]

Just end this.

[ guy's tone is clipped. despite the years of memories packed into his head with these two being fake, despite charthur being nothing more than a sweet dream, he cannot help the way he draws a little close to both margaret and owner, fiercely and protectively ]

[bossbabygirl]

[the loss of charthur is what hurts most of all. she glances at owner and then at guy and nods.]

Whoever you are really, in Lucien's memories, you're not - [this isn't real, it's just some sick form of torture. which makes her realize.] Where's Sidon?

[polliwog]

[ the loss of charthur! that's what has him arriving with a tragic gasp. where's sidon? he's dead and he's here, apparently. ]

[discomfort]

[ oh, there's sidon. owner turns to look at him and nods his head. the lady apparently makes herself scarce, according to alli.

... ]

That was tiring.

[mansplains]

To say the least.

[ looking over to sidon in concern now too, join the healing circle ]

[bossbabygirl]

Sidon!

[she'll rush over to him, too.]

Thank god you're here. It was just a dream.

[polliwog]

Margaret?

[ yeah he'll join... their healing circle....... he's kind of in a daze on account of killing two of his friends and then getting murdered. ]

Where are we?