just call, we're all connected

[unbr8kable]

[It is a long, long sail to Hachijojima, but at almost 300 kilometers south of the Imperial Palace, it's one of the most remote places within the city limits, making it perfect for both urban exploration and other dubiously wise pursuits. Surely anticipation and boredom from the trip is the only reason for the frisson of nervous energy Nemesis can't shake even after an afternoon on what even in Hell TV form are gorgeous black sand beaches and lush, tropical greenery that verges on overgrowing the buildings of the port town.

That said, soon enough it's time to get to business, and after a dinner of fresh-caught fish and fruit to supplement the food they'd brought along, Hurricane and Nemesis begin setting things up.

The hotel they'd scoped out for the ceremony (thanks Yahell! Maps) was run down and abandoned even by Tokyo-F standards, its bubble-chic French Baroque architecture salt stained and half covered in vines and ferns and established greenery. Its sprawling beach patio opens straight to the sand and beyond that the ocean, though the promenade of graceful statues are now crumbling, and rather than cafe tables or lounge chairs, only moss and bioluminescent mushrooms venture over the once ornately tiled floor.

There is still plenty of space for candles and salt and whatever else one might need to do with the space, and Nemesis dumps her bag of supplies right there on one of the benches carved into the railing; turns to Hurricane beside her.]

Ready to summon an elder god?

Comments

[unbr8kable]

[From her expression, Nemesis does not know what exactly she offered herself--at least, what she'd thought she'd offered doesn't seem to have been accepted, at least not yet... In the meantime, hopefully the mainland is fully stocked with Damp-Rid,]

Cross-- Don't.

[Her tone is low, however, and with his grip on her arm it's easy enough to take his hand again, though she still tries to keep herself between him and the mushroom princess. She addresses her next:]

...I swore, not him. And you swore, too. So-- What happened to planing the knowledge of whatever? ...What...are you doing, actually?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[His hand closes down on hers, cold and clammy; he's caught sight of the fungus spreading out over the water, finally]

Looks like it's taking whatever it can get.

Dude - that ain't part of the deal. You ain't answered nothing, and even if you did, you ain't just free to do whatever. You understand me? That ain't the deal.

/3

[errours]

[ She turns to you both again, the brows of her uncomfortably human face furrowed in what might be confusion.

Her fungal fingers reach down; briefly cup each of your cheeks. There, there.

She opens her mouth— ]

[errours]

Y̷͇͉̗̼̘o̵̥̮̟u̱̱̳̜ ̥͇̣͙͕͇s͍̗͡l͎͇͍͞id̦e̮̠͓ ̜̪̰d͓̟o͚̟̤w̜̼̱̼̗n̢̺ i̬̹̲͟n͎̭̜̙̺͞t̩͓͖͞ͅo͕̞̘͚̗̬ ̗͈y̬̞͓̫̖͔̥o̲͙̲̠̠ur̫̦̗͚̹̭ͅ ͏̫̖̹̦̘͖͔b̞̯o̖͙̹d̠̝͙̩̙̞͍͞y̧̺̳͉̣̘ ͕̭̯͝a̸̗s̝̫͔ ̶i̱̗̱̻̳͓͠n͈͕͈̹ͅto̵̟̱͈ ̻̦̰c̢̩̳̫͓͓͚r̴̪̘̭̰̬a͕̜͝w̷̻l̦̺i̼n͚g͔̜͞ ̛̺̯f̢̜̫̺ŕ͍u̩̪̖͍͠i̳͖t̳̪̙̭̝ͅ ̼̖̘̘͓͙͕t̞̺͔̹̜̬̬͡h̘͕́a͢t͇͇̘̤̪̼͝ r̮̱͜ḛ̬͔̗̜̬͞m̝͚a̧͕̠̪̤̭ͅi̧n̢̳̤͓̤͎͚̱s̸̯̫̻̹̣.̯̫̬͈͎̩͜ͅ
̻͓͉͚̻
̲͖W͍͙͕̲͚̗̼h͓e͔͔̩͖̯n͏͚̟̱̲̣̬ ͎̺l̩͖͚̼̪̪a͝t̮e̻̗͖̫͜r̟͚̮͟ ̴͇y͚̠̹̩̠̖͞ǫ͚͖̭̭̜̘u͎̰̣̱͍̗ ̺͚͝a̧͇̼͖̝̜ͅr̼ͅe̺͎̻̰̩ ̧̠̻͇p̤̱͚̘̱͕̺i̪̭̳̱͙̟c͉k͎̕i͏̼̪̫̱̰n̡̟̫̺͍̗g̢͉̟̫͕͇̮̭ ̝̹͙̕ḿ͇y̘̞̬̻̦̞ ̥̺̲͙͟b̩o̵͖̳̥̻n̹̻͕̹̘̕e̘̫̪͓̺̺͈s̜
͉͙c̯ͅl̫̼̠̘̥̫͙e͚̤a̻ṋ̺,̛̞ ̟̤̫͔͡al̙̝̺͖͟l͙̻̳̖̯͟ ̥̜̥s̡͇ha͚̜̘̜l̶̩l ͇͟ͅr͔ęj̼̠̕o͚i̹̟̗̬̻̫͙c͏̦̘͖͈̯͚ͅe̻͘,̴̪̩ ̻͚͎̻̦͘f͇̮̻̮̹̰̥o̘r̼͇̰͔̖̬̪ ͕͖̹̕ͅt̪h̼̺͍̲é̬͉̝̜̤͓ ͈̘im̻̬̭̣p͈͇̱͡a̷̟̺̩̥̥t̛̲͈̺i͎͔̣͎̕eń̙̗̰̭̘c̖͖̣̹e̱̫͔̯̣̜ –͈̺̟̩̰͙̰
҉̠̝ ͓̟͕͉̰ ̟̜ ̞̫͡ ͔̼͎͓̝͘ ͏̞̤ ͔̦͚̠̠͚ ̻̼̫̫ ̧̞͔̖̜ ̱̜̮̝͉ ͎̟ ̘̞͖͜ ̙̫̳̹̣̝ͅ ̧̹̬͙͈̙̞ ̵ ̶̱̺̻͉̣̼̝y͡o̳ṵ͉̼ͅ ͍̠h҉̩a̬͈͇̦̳̺ṿ̪̻͓e̟͔͙͔͟ ͏͓̰̮ś̥̦̩͙̰̫͔e͇̗̬̠̙͈ḛ̞n̲̼͓̫ͅ ̹̰́ͅt͓͎hè̖ ̶͖s͓̤̻͎we̡̱͎e͏̠̫̲̱͍͙ͅt̀ ̜̮̥͠s̳̯̘̲t͇̣i̺͚̞̟ͅc̝͈̯͕͢k̩̩̺̩ ̦̹̰̤̩i̴̦̭̺̥ņ̤̘ṣ̮̜͇̖̖e̘̠̝̫̥̥͟c̭̙͝t͔͚͙ ̺̻̝͎͍c̼̼͈u̹͔̫͖͈̝͈r̟̼̼̜l̷̰̮̻̤s̴̬͔̖ ̛͎̤̻͍i͙̻̗̦̻ͅt̪̬s̳͡ȩ̙̳ͅl̬̗̰ͅf̦̙̹̮̻̤ ͔̯̀o̜̘͔̦̦̖̖u̟̞̰ͅt͕̮̣̣ ̴͉̺͍͓͓̥o̘̬̠̼̪̭̭f̡͙̰͓͉ ͏͓̬͙̝̥̱m͏͈͙̭̝̝y̱̗̭s̜̤e̟͡lf̢͙̬ͅ
̦̦͔̮
̧ ͓̥̰ ̙ ̯̙͙̥͚̺̹ ̞ ̛̳̺͇̳ ͏͎ͅ ̶ ̹͔̣̘͕͠h̵e͕͓̝͓̝̫͚͟r͞é̮̼̥͇̹,̸̘̠̤͈̳ ͓̪̳e̡̞͇̲͍̺̼v̙̼e̶̯r̼͜ỳ͖ ̨͕͈ĺ͎̺̘i͖̻͚f͞e̜ ̨͎̤̜̹̲ì̠n̠̼̲ ̟͡d̩̬̜͕̺̘́ͅe͙a̪͖͔̞͎̗̰͢t̜̜͔͕h̵ ͕͖͈͡f̶̠̺̞͉͚̭̭ọ̺͖̕r̬͈ ̲̳̯̙͕̫̖a͏̣ll̶͍ ͓th̻ͅa̼͍̥̖̱̥̲͘t̴͕̟̺̠ ̹̭͈k̶n̳͕̠̤o̳͎̜w͕̫͜ ̸̮̦͉̳̭̪li͈̱͡f̗͕̱̘e͓̖̪̠͇̫̥͝ ͉in͏͎ ̦͇͟d̗͍̺̣̻̹͙e̲̩͖̕a̖̺͇͈̪̱ṭ̳̱̖͇̘ͅh̢̼ ̙̮̠̱͝u͓͇̙̝̱̫̜͜p̭o̖͠ͅǹ̥̲̼͖̮̱ ̺̬͇͔̻͍͠d͝e̮͟a͍̞t͚͉̀h̗̩͈͝
̫͖t̮̮h҉̩̯̠e̞͚ ̲̞̰̣̖t̡͇̹͕͍̭̭͓ḩ̱̰̖͖̤̟i̢͎n̖̯̫̤͡ ̳̙̩͙m̜a̟̻͔̥̹̳n͖͇͕̠͓̼͈͜ ̹͔̙̤͓̙c̶̲̘̺a̠̩̜͖̹͎͚n͔ ̖͖͢b͚͉̩͕ea̕r̖̲̟͝,͍͖͈͎͕ ̘̟̼̼̮̪Í̭ ͉̳͔͠wḙ̛̰̮͎̝a̷̞̻̯͖̺͎̲r͕ ̴̳̻c̱͎̺e̠̝̘̤͡nt̡̞̙̫̠i̭̼̞̠p̱̪͈̺e̘̠͎d̘e̦̖̥̪̬͞ͅs̻̜ ͇͚̥̭̳͖i̼͓̲̟̖̮͖̕n̟̘̬̺ ̻m̪͚͓̣͕y̖̰̳͙͖̤ ̙̩̳̮̱͍̜ḩ̭̖̲̜a̮̫̝͇͈̖͝i̧̙͕̳̹r͎̤̪͇̝̥̠ ͔̯͍̘̼̳͍s̹̖̻̲̤͚̫l̲̯̺͍̦̦̘u̶̙̲̺g҉͕̼̙̼̼̫͔s͉̘̤͖̣̮͜ ͔͈̪̳̙̳cu̶̘̝̮̪̝r̥̪e̷̞͉ ̴̟̮͈͍t̫͠h͏̙̞̗e̜̥̕ ̸̗̞̮̘̟͍s͚͓̯̳͔͡t̻͔̖̲͖̰͝ra͖̞̦͈̱͙n͏̬ͅg̶͔l̮̟̳̭͈̞ͅi̥̭̫̟̗̮͟n̶̹̺̲g̺͉̞̱ ͍̳͕f̫͎r͇ui҉͕̮̯t͏ ̛͔s̸̩̟̱̖ḥ͠a̼̼ĺ͈͎ͅl̵̦ͅ ̼̖̟̟̲͞a̪̗̗̲̼c̳q̲u̺̩̳̣i̹̹̥͙͉̕r̟e͓̥̦͚͎̗ ͏̖̘͉e̲̲̲͖͇̪v҉͙͚ȩ̜̮r̶̬̙̖̩y̛̖̩̺̩͍̳ ͈͉̫v̼̯in̻e̠̫͝ ̞̝͙̝̩ͅr̲͕͚̞̼̦̮i̪̦͇̤͚̪͎v̡̮̤̣u̴̠̺͎̜͖͖l̜̼̰͕ͅe̖̻̩̻̹t͟,̵͇̦̪̗͙ ̯̲s҉̙͎̠̺̩̱u͕̗͔r͈̯̻̹̫v̘̫̖̺̕ḭ̙̖͢v̺͇̦̖̝͇e͚̘d̤̼̦̺̱̥͕
͇̲̕ ͙͉̝̯͝ ̝̜͓͟ ̢ ͠ ͔͇̪̼͍̥̀ ̨̺̬̲͈̟̬ ̙͖̖͉͞f̛͇̥̮̼̖̬͉ǫ̠̣r̨͕͚ d͖͈e̶̝̘a̖͔̪̘̠̮t҉h҉̳͈̜̮͇̩.̷̺͓̟̣̳̱
͕͚̙̱̰͖̺
̮͞T̤͎h͖̬̖͔̀ͅͅḛ̻̜ ̡ḿ̙͚̟̙o̤͕ͅư̟̼t̜̳͖͝h̻͙̩͚̝́ ̣̀&͏̘̪̙ ̩̞̞̣̀ạ͈͙̙̘l̨̠̭͎ḽ̶͇̙ ̳̖͖̦̖̟͇o͎̠t̢̩̮̺̟̪h̭e̱͈̠r ̥̖̞̼̗̟th҉͍̜̹̳̦͖at͚ ̕s̬h̳͇͍̼̬͕͔͝ḁ̸̯͈̺l̛͚͍̻̟l̜̰̪ ̻̠̙̣̘̘b͜r̨͖͎i͖̮n̪͉̩̬͇g̜̤̘͕ ̞̥͓͞i̥n͕͓̘̻͚ ̖̯t͓̗͕̘̭ḩ͉͖̲̯͎e̪̯̖͚̦ͅ ̢s͉͉̹̣ͅẖ̴̬ad̞͔͖͠o̧̬͖̦̥̗w̬̖̻͚̭̫s̡͕̲͇͇̭͚ ͙̼͜a͏͔ ̵̗͙̼̤̻g̲͈̭̙͓͚̰ŗ̯̙͉̬͚a̙̞͘c̙͉̦̙̹͚e̴͙̞͉͉̙̫͎ ̣̺̠͎a͇̗͍̖n͉̘̭̫̠̣d̛̺͕ ̨̭̠̗̖͈̯ͅa̯͔̱̺̯ ̢͍ͅm̸e͚̜̱r̺c̤y̟̤͙̻̞͕ͅ ̦̹̬̪͎́f̨r͈͉͍o̷̫m ͓͔̘̹w̸͔̩̜h͏̤̦̲i̛̺̹͍̭̰̺c͕̭͓̝̦͢ͅh̠͚̲̟̟̬ ͚͉̰͍͎͔͓s̮̞̘̣̞͇h͖̻͙͖ͅa͓͙̺̦͎l̼̗̭̝ͅḷ͕̮ ҉̬̱̤͍̹dḙ̵̬̰v̭̲ơ̻͕̰u͖ŕ̻̱̹̭͇͖ ̩̜̖͢and͓͈͚̠̥ͅ ̷̳̹̭͚̞̱sư͈̼̗̩͙̘̹ṛ̨̦r͕̗̞̹̳o͕̥̫̠͔u͎͔̯̻ṋ̷d̢ ̡̪t͕͈̻h͖͙e ̪̹͝p̖̬̖̤̱̞̺a̲̰̥̼͖s͓̕s̡̘i͔̘͝n̘͍̲̖̗͔g͘ ̼o̶f̛͔̭ ̶̬̟a̷n̵͎̘̙̬͎ a̪̝̹̩̞g̳͟ḛ̵̲. ̛T͔̪͚ha̲͙̦̠̫͠t͔̺ ͡w̵͈̟ͅh̸͕͎̗̦i͇̳͈c͔̘̥̣̠h̲ ̘̻͎dí̹͉e̡̮̣̗͖s̠̹̘ ̘͎̺͙̤̀s̪̯͎̭̻ḩ̦̥͓̤̩̥̩a̼̝̘͉̗l̰̱̠͞l̛̯ ̤͓̜̯ḅ͔̱̣̤͇͈͟e̬ ͎i̸̠͔̜̭͉͍n͖͍̱ ̲͈̞̖͎̤th̖͕̫̗̖̕e̹͇̺̞̪͎̙ ͚̻̖g͕͞a̗̻r͡d̜̺̱e̶̮̺̬̣̯n̦͠e͈͓̜̳̪r͉̞͜’̘͞s͏̘̼̦̫ ̠͔̺͖̪̱ͅl̶̬į̜̙̗k̖̣̞̳e͏̗͖͔ ̳ą͈̩̱ ̭̲͈͇̬̬sl̩̻̙̣̮͘ͅͅa͍̳̭̦̯̙͞b̪̰̗̭̭
̭̻̜̻̳́o̠͠f̺̬͈̤̩̭ ̡̙͇͓f͉̥̥̻̗͚l̤͉̱͓̻͕͔a͕͉̺ͅm͈͚͕̻e ̛̱̗s̹͖̺̼̥h̬a͕̥͚͉̹̪l̩l̥͉̝̰ ͍͓b̧̗e̫͚̜̝̼̟̰ ͏̲a̬̺͠ ̶̺͕̙̪̰f̤i̡͓̞r̲̻̳̕e͚͎̰̬͢ ̝͍͔͈͚t͇̼̪̮̖ͅh̠̣̻̠̟̪͕͘e̗̟̦̬̝͍͡ ̥̹sw̶̝̤͚̤̜e̢̻̗͙̩̪ͅl̬͙̝̩̳l̛̜̗̪͍̲ͅ ̧͇͙̜o̳̙f̥̘̝̘̤̯̯́ ̡̻t͇̻̰̜̰h̖͝ẹ̕ͅm̰͚̳͉͍͠ ̯̦͎̪̮̳̠b̨͎̠̘eḭn͔̜̮̩g̲̖̙̗.͙̰̞̟͖̫́ͅ
̛
̪̹͖͓̺̦͍c͚̥͎͙a̵̙̪̱̝n̨͕ ̡̻̭͙̰̠͔y̠̣̳o͘u͎͕̳͈̫ ͢f͕̳̗̫͔̞̗e̵͓̭e̸̬̹̲l͍̞ͅ ͟y̡̮̪̻̻̣͖̥ơ̘̤̻̯̱̰u̯͠r̜̺͈͠ ̞̖̞͡h̵͙̹͎e҉̫̰̖̭͎̻͉a̪̟̟͔̫̻r͇̥̖̳͍̝̲͢ṱ ̦͢b̀u̟̣r͈n̫̘͎̮ͅi̛n̴̻̝g̹̪̹?̠̭̻̘̜͖ ͇̫̥̳̹c̘̟̖̩̲a̶̩͈̩n̪̮͚ ͔̞͇͖̗͚̀yo͏̬̹͕̭͇̞ų͍͍ ̹̤̠͎̱̭̀f̱̥̘͉̫ḙ̱̗e̛̗l̡̗͙ ͇̜̻̜͙̖y̵͈̟̖̝̞o̙̲͎͙͍̘͇u̷͚̭̩̦̮̞ͅr̞̀ ̛̼̪̘̤̬̼̭h͈͇͇̲e̩͕̝̥̖͙a̤̼͍͜r̼̼̩͕͕t͇͍ ̯̹̙̯͠b̬͚̜̲̳́ṷ͙̯̮͟r͖̜̺̖̦̠͚n͈͕̞͘i̠ng͇͉͈͓?̦̟̣͠ ̩̮̟̤͚̮̙c̭̼̖̤a̻̱͔̮̩n҉̦ ̞y̛͚͚̳o̟͈̥u̬̙͖̹͍ͅ ̡̭͇h̯̕o̯͉̹͔u͉̗̳͠s̵̥e ̠̲͎̹͢a̶͕̯̙͓̜̗͓ṉ̜̯ ̜̗̤̺̹͢e҉̰x͎̮p̲͞a̺̲͉͓͖̭ṉ̵̯̯ḏ̦͇͉̺͓͞i̳͘n̹̥͇g̸͓ ͚̺̠̤̩n̫̲̟͚̕o̻o̳͖̻̼͉̜n̸
͓͍̙̩̫͞t̠͇͉͓͈ͅͅo a̶͖̠̖̩ ̯̥̣̺̰h̗a̝̥͡r͕̯d̤͚͘ ̫͍̤͡g̢͍͓̘̰̤̻r̨̮͎̻o̶̞̭̻̩͔̪u̵̘̯ń͙̠̣̯d̹͉ ̜̝w͈͔̺̱̰͕ͅị̸͖̰̦t͍͈h̛̘̪͓̬̳ͅͅ ̭͠ͅa͏̱̼ ̪̰̭̲̼͠s͖̝t͚r̫̠̺̺̫̀ͅa̡̺̜i̱͕g̩h̢͎̖̩t̛͔ ҉̥͈̩̫ho͚͔̤̝̘̲ri͏z̘̞͕o͖̤̘̞̩̦̙n̵
̝͚͎̟͖̘ͅ
̠̮̤̝̪̥a͎̹̰n̨̰͉̬͚͇͈d̯̬̜̜̗͇͘ ҉̝y̟̰̞̞͘ou̸
͕͢m͏̤̺̠̹̱u̧̫̱͙̬͔s̷̳̤͍͔̣t̥̮͇͘ ̸̹̪l͏͚̘̪̺̟̱e͔̣̙̻̤͘ͅa̺̖̰̦̱͈r̹͈̫̟̯ǹ ̩̯p͇̪̗̱r͔̺̳̼͙̯͟a̗͉͢y̼̻̺̫̪ͅe̕r͕̕.̦͈̹̼͖
̛͚̺ͅ
̘̙̘̭̙̬̖L̠̟̼̳o͏̹ve̶̺̰͓͚͔ ̰̪͚̖̻͝i͇̹͎̬͜s̡͖ ̲͎͈̮̤̟̦c̗h̸̗̺̝̞͖̱̰o̰͚̼͓͈͞o̖̲̜͙̪͖s͙͔̠͓̰͓i͕̯͚͎͟n̤̝g̤͇̩̻̝̹͜,̝ ̵̠̱th̯̤̳͜e̛̱̳̝ ̙̤s͍n̻̲̹ạ̪̪̭̝̜̲k͔͉̦͇̱̮͍e͙̫̭̪ ̲͙̖̯̦̩i͜ṣ͚͍ ̳o̧͖͍̩͍̩̱f̨̞͈ͅfè̼͖͚͍͓r̠̀í͚̞̝ṇ̮͟g͈̯:͙̭̤͜
̮̤̗͓͔͙̱d̻͖͉̳̗e͎̺̖̼a̳̩̦̮͎̦t̗̠̙̰͠h̘̝͇ ̥̝̙̥̬͈u̷͚p̢̝̜o̥̬̹̣n̡͖̯̲ ̘ḑ̤̜̯e̡̼̱̲̫̹͕a͕͙̰̱̥̣̖ț̯̮͔h̞͈̙ ̰̦̦͈͕̭̪s̢͖̞̩̙͓q̭̦̭́ͅų̯̥̳͔̰̟e̗͍̣e̴̘̯̪̱͉z̞̱͓͍͝e̮̪͜d̥̰̫̹̠͠ͅ ̹̦̩̞t̠o̼͇̬̗̘̳͚g͖͈͎e̱͇̼͕͖͈t̫͚h̠̳͖̗̺̹̖e̖͍̤̱̣r̶̥̹̪̮̱ͅ,̛̞
͓̰a͇̣̙̠͎͎͇ ̝̞͉̳̞ͅb̺̘l͚o͏͇̻͕͍̮o҉̳̩̼͖d̳̤̙̰̬ s̟̱̻̞͝n̨̲̳o̲w̸͙̦̰̘̣͎̙b̟̲̙̹̹̠̻a̬̳̬̼l̗l̫.̡̯͇
̳̱̝̳
̤T͕̮̱̥̪͈͡o ̨̺dev̗o͉̩̩͍̻͙ͅù̹̺͇̱̣r̳̫ ̭̘͓̠a͏̙̗͎̖n̴͙d̰ e̥̹͇x҉̦̦p̱a͉ͅͅņ̗̰̝di̖͓̹̞̠͔͡n̟̘̖͎̫g ͙̯̫g̝̙͖̝͇̼̤e͉͢ṇ̵̯̻̘̖̤o̡͍̠̝̥m̲̺̜͈̲̯͜e͇̗̣̥̣̼̱ ̷̤̹̹̜͚–̢͔͉͈̜̗̲͓ ̣̻̺͖̖̻̩th̝͍̱e̬̤̮ ҉͈̟̹͖̪w̰͎̥̰orl͓̮̰̼͡d͇̩͈ ͉̪w̫̣͔͉̲͈̼i̷̬̲͓t͈͍͓̯̫̦͡ͅh͎̻̺̖į̖̗͉͇̫n͏͍͓̳̘̥ ̵̤̖y̘o̰u̮͇͔͔ͅ
̥̭r̢͓̭̠͖e̴̯̜̙͍̞̯͚d͉̬͙̕ ͘a̗͖̙̬̤̺̝n͜d̝̖ ̜̖̻̫̕ͅc̖̫̖a̶͍̩p̖̖̰͙̞̖t̵̮̻̱̱ͅuṟ͈͍̥͔̖͙͝e̠̠͚̪͔̙͠d̛,̜̮̭̮ ͝t͚̥̲̞̞̝̯͡h̥̟͔a̵͉̩̼͕t̳ ̡͔̤̠̯͎t͖̣h͘e̫̤̺̫̩̗͟ͅ ͉̬̻ͅi̢̪̭̯̗̱͚m̺͎͖̗͜p͍͇̖̼̜̼̘a̴t̰̩͓̱́į̲͖e҉̘n̛̤̝̯c̠͙̺̩̲e ̕o̮̩͖f͏ ̷̩̯̖̤͇̰͓t̢͔͙͔̰̩h͈̺̀e ̷̹̘̮̖̩̻s̝̫̹͓o̗̰͝f̷̫̼̰ͅt̷͓̩̼̠ͅ ai̮̩͕ͅŕ̪̪̤̯̥,̮̦̪̭̠͚̗ ̷̗̬̺w̞̞͎e̛͉̺̙̰a̼͈̘r͇̱͇͔̱̥̩̕i̙n̷̜̠g̹͔ ̴̟͔̹ͅc̨̰̫o̵͎̯̬̬̥̳a̮̭̣̥̳̹͡t͎̻̣̯̱͠s̩ ͏̪ơ͓̣̹f̶̥̬͇̠͔̞̙ ̣̪͚̰͙͙ͅl̳͈̞̯̞͔͝e̯̝̝̹͔͖͡a͔f̕ ̝̼̤̫̙͖͝ͅi̸̝̙̫̳n͇͇̼͕͖̜̯s̨̲̮̙̪͉͖e̪͉͉̲͉c̨̻̣͓̦ṯ̼͝s̙.̠̫̲̕ ̹͎̳ͅS̩̺̜͍̀k̪̥̱͚̼͇͈y̘̬̰ ̵͚̗̮͕̜t͚̜̫͎̺̤a̜̝͈͓͕̫̰ll͓̞̮͙͓̯ͅ,͍͙̝͘ ̱̭̠͍̻l̨̙̞̤a̮̥̲̹̥̼n͖̪̺̳̞͓̭k̪̳̻̰y͈̳ ̵ḷ͓͍͞ón͎̰͕g̼͟ l̬̻̳͝ͅȩ̼͎̰ǵ͎̼g̸͈͓̖e̛̩̮̰͙̣̬d̳̭̯̩͉̗ ̼͚̻̣k҉̲̻̜̺̘a̱t̖̬̀y̦̹̹d̼i̢͙̜̗̟d̟̗̺̱̟s̟̠͕̭̪͚̺ ̨t͏̮r̩̭͜aip̛̦̺s̩͎̟̯ͅe͔̻͓͔ͅ ͎̮̬̣̼i͎n̖̬̱͠ ҉t͍̭͉̙̪͠h͏̠̜e̲̣̗̞͈̹̭ ̰̰̖̳fe̵w̵͉̹̼̦͕͔̬ ͓̕w̶ḩ̮̜̟̮̼͕̤o̟̝̦͝ n̰̯͉̳̯̝̪e͉̲̫̼͢v̼̙͇ȩ̥̞r̖̥̖͚̼̺̯͜ ̗d̴̠͖̮ͅͅi̬͉̟͡d̟̪̺̟̹̳ ͇̘̫͓̝b͏̰e̴̖̳̫͙͖̦f̜͕̩͉̟͙̙o̪r͔̙̘̺ͅe͈͘.͈̖ͅ
̪̣̥̞͈̦͇͜
͉͓̳T̠͖͎͓̱̕ͅh̡̖̠̮̭̬͚̮i҉s҉̥̯̹̞ ̤͔̞̜͍̯͍i̼͚͈͕͠ͅs̡ ̷ţ͍̘͎͖̠̩h̝̻̙̣̰̖̘e̩͓̭̤͘ ͔͡p̥͍̺̻o̸͕ș̩͖̣̣͎̪͞s̮̮͙̬̘͡i̘̳̖͕̻̩͓b͙̝̗̭͍̫̕i̶l̖͍̣͎͙͚i͉͈̳t̝̰͖y̸͈̗ ̺o̸̭̣̰͎ͅf̰̳̟̪̺̮ ̫̝̼̜̕ḏ̹͎̺̟̪e̡̳̺͙̱̝ͅa͓̪̙͔̦ṭh̥͜
̞̠͢t͖̗̜̱͓̰͚h͟ḙ̥̤̬̮͎̀ ͢s̠̗̠͈͡n̨̦͓a̵̹͇ke̟̺̪̮̙͡ ͕̟͙̺̗̬̝i͡s̼͔̦̻͢ ̭͎of̣fe̷͕͍̥̪r͏į͈̱ng̴̞̙̼̝͉, ͈͝I̲̮̗̙ͅ ̳̬̲͉͎̹͙g͈̦̻̫̹̖r̳o̡w̢͍̦ ͏̮̠͓̘̮͖̤ho͓͖̟r̙͜n̰s̩̜̖͖̪,̷͇̪͖̦̝͚͕ ̝̫͓s̨h̤a͓̠̰̬̙͡r̴̘̰̞̦͇p̜̞̲̗̤ͅ ̮͎a̵̮͔͇͈ǹ̰̦͚̱̬̠d̞̱̯̼̯͙ ̸̳͎̣ͅt͖̟̞̘h͎̳͝i͚͔͢c̝̖k̴̘̦̜̥ͅ,̭͈̩͕̖ͅͅ ̵I̥̰̺̙ ͓͎̥͉͙ͅḇ͙͎̰ṟ̕ͅea̸̠͍͉̤k̡͉͍̯̪͇̮̮ ̫̯̗̺t̀h̻e̳̞̺̬̤̭̺͝m̬͍͇͇̝͙͖͞ ͈̙̗͖͎͓̱o̜̠̖ͅn̷͓̫̭ ̘̖̯̗̪̩m̜̺̥̹̲y̭ ̛͖̹̣̠̪͚s̮͍͖k͈ͅi͟n, ̭͎̖t̮̩̗̤h̙̲̝̜̦̼é͚̰y͔͟ ̧c̦͉͈o̰͘o͉̫͍̕ an̼̦̠̤̙ḑ̤̘̮͕͎͉ ̛̲͈͖͖̞g̘̝̘͇͍̩r̶͙̦͇o̷̥̞̞̼̰͙w͝l̰̳͙̼̻̗̫ ̲̜̘͍͜a̝̟͎̼ṱ̪̟̱͜ ͎͈͍͓̺my̛̺ ̱̥ac̛̝̠̹h̨͈͔̟̗̟̹̪e̠̳͢ͅ,̘̭̼̕ I͇͈̲ ͍̪̝̰̜̬͜ͅd̻͕͖̪̗e̳̟̳̖͚͇ć̖͎̙o̞̙̖͓̹̺̜̕r̟̰͎̠̯̖͡a͡t̷͎̣͔e ̺̯͔̫͖̹ͅt̨̰͉̯h̡̺e̸͈̟̼͚͖̻̲m̮̪̳̗̟͚̮͟ ̥͇̰͖͉ͅo̡͇̣͍f̢͕͉̞̭̝͇͍f̷̲.̹̻͎̙̥̯ ̧Ị̷̮̘̝̺̰̘ ̛̰̫f̩̘̬̱͞a̬͇̦̖̮s̡͇̬͍͎̝̻h̩͙̰͠i̺ọ͍͙̝͓͠n͎̦̲̖̣̼ ̝͚͙̹̣͜my̡͎̬̬͓ş͎̱̦̱̩e̘̭͓̩l̛͙f͇̭̭:̦̣̩̜͔͇ ̫̲͙̟̪́wà̲̠̠͖̲s͕̳̬̣̹̟̀h̭̦̹̭̜̪̯e̜̘̣̗̩̞ͅd̪͖̟̣̬̹-͍̬̱o͙̞̺͕͞u̼͚͍̣̙t̖͇͜,̥͓͈̤̳
̮͖͔͇̜͚͉͘c͖̪̺o̯͇̱̟̩͟l̘̞͚̣̠d͓̰͓͇̘͠,̦̺ ̷̭͚͇p̼̼̫͟o͖͘n͎̩͓̼͓͍d̥̝͍͈w̛̥̖̫͎͇̱̝e̵̙e̼̘͉̞̺̬̘͟d̞̘̗͕ ͏̺̥̖̖t̺̬͜ḁn̷g̴͕̤̟̬̝l̻͈͚̘̟ͅe͙̖̙̼͈͠d̜͉͔͚̳͎ ̖͞ͅi̡̝͓ͅn̶̦̯̖͎͓͍̜ ̶̥͓͙̟̩m̙̻̭̞̺̫y̭̳̩̖̫̱͔ ̴̫̦͓͇̝̯s̞̙̱̻̼o̥̣̪̥͔̯ͅf͖͖̗̥t͖̬̪͍͓̹͕͘ ̼̗̳̩̤͍̭b̡e̪̲̙̗l̴̲̫̗l̗͕̞͇̤̕y̠̻͘.̛͍̬̪̦̤ ̤L͇̯̲͎̯e̛̘̯̜̱̹̗t̼̣͓̯̬̟͠ͅs͚̗ ̠͎̖̲̫̮ṃe̦̻̕ ̡p̯̘̟̯r̹̥͜a̴̳̳͙y̫͖̱̗̖̗͝ ͇̠t̪͇̮̣̠̫͜o̲
̛̬̭̗
a̲̝͇̤n̥̹͓͇͠ḑ͇̜̣̹̯̘̺ ͇̜y̸͓o̧̩ų̹̪ ̼͉̼a̗͖̙͕̤̱͞n̗̹̟͞d̼͜ͅͅ ͍̜̞̜̗̭͍̀ș̯̤͓͍̟p̘a̫͎̱͖͕͖̗͡c̸̖̼ͅe̘̹ ̴̝̞e͍͇͇͘n̦̮f̩͉̯̹o̩̪ͅl̜̫͉̗̬d̪͈̮͚̥̥̦s̸͕̯̞̭̫̙
y̴̖͎̘̺̱̜ó͓̮̩̲̗͚̯u̠̼̰͚͇ ̴͍̦̲̟̞i̡͔͓n̝̰̬̗ ͈͓̞͙̺̖i̴̟ts͓̻̭̤̱̩̬͠ ͈̹̜̤̯͈̲a̠̙r̜̬̖͚͓͔ͅḿi̢e̟͕̟̝͈͇̱͢s̖̝̫̤̗͈,͔̯̜̮̥͙͕ ̮̮i̻̜̗̙n҉͇ ̮̬͙͍̦̪̻t̼̭̞͚̳h̞͉̭͖͚e̝͔̻͢ ̨̫̮͍͉͔k̛͔̺̮n̷̹͖͈ow̝͚̹̰̮̯̼͞l̶e҉ḑ̼̦͚̮g̟̗͇̲͕͚e̢̜̞͔̜̜ o͢f̴̦̝ ҉̩t̟̬͇ͅh̢̪̰̰̻̤e̳̻̙̰ f̥̠e͚͚͉͚̖̹w҉̤̰͓̠͍ ͇͚̬̲͇w̨̜͕͍͕h͚̠̩̪̣̺̞o̡ ̢̲͍ņ̪̰̩e̷̝̖̗̳͎v̨̹e͉̠̰r ͏̻̲w̳͚͉͓̺e̳͚̱̦̹̲̞͠r̸̦e̢̬̮̦̜̝̗ ͕̟b̦͙͖͕ơ̗̠̦͚͕̺͍r̙̲̜n̹̩̲̜̬ ̝̱̭i̗͈ͅn̘͙͔͚t͈͜o̢ ͙̳e͇͖̗̼v̖̱̹̫e͈͖͍̣̗̮ŕ͈̩̪̼̥y̖͙̙̺̜͉t͙h̖̝͓̺̭ͅị̙͖̭͇̤n̷̮̠̠̜̪̜̥g̹̬͙͡ ͓̭̪͇͡&̩͚̬͢ ̥̲̲͇̭̺n͈̫̳̹̤ot̟̟h͉̪̖͚͈ͅi͖͙̼͕̦͉̬n̛͔̥̹g҉͓͕̜̣̙̳̤s̙̪̞͟ ̢̹͈͕̟̮̯͖of͙ ̖̜̣͍͚͚t̨̗̰̬͍̫he̷̻ ͏̯͙̱ͅéa͖̤͎͎̝͘r̡t͙̺̤̞̯͚̜h̥.͙̝̠ ̡T̲̝h͙͍̞̗̼̰͉e͚̺ ̺̮̩̥͍͝s̛̫̞̝h͙͚̰a͕͕͍d̳̹̫̖̝̮ǫ̺̭͕w̙̜s̴̜͉͔ͅ of̳̯͉͍͓̳̲́ ̼̟̻th͓̺̫͢ẹ ͈̭p͇̝̟̞̀e̞̣t̛̳̪̖͙̪̠a̴l͓̯͉ş̮̱͉ ̖̜̭̣̦͚̙o̠̟f̵̱̼͇̜̝̜̮ ̧̪͕̻̖͕t̖̜̺͠h͕̜͔̖͙̥͖͟a͕̺̠͚̘͎̪t͏̜ k̜͟n͚͕͓͞o͖̖͠w͇͇͠ͅs̯͟ ̖͠t̯̼ḥ̲̝̤̝̮e̘̳ ̴͈͔̜̻ͅs̶̹o͇̱͍f̺͖͇̘͕͈̺́t̪͕͇͉̬͟ ̧̩a͘i̪r̞,͡ ̩̭̣͔ạ͖̮́l͖̟͝l̞̮͙̠͕͉ ̵ś͈t̡̻̹͙ͅi͕̺̻̘͙̘̟c̸̣k̟͇ ̱̱̙͜ͅo̦͍̱͘ͅf̷̭̦̰ͅ ̼̱͍p͠o̯̜͔͍̻̫͇l̯̝̖̣̗̗̦l̛͙̜̠̳̪̝e̴͇̰̥̝̣̪n̘ ̸̦̻̜̟̻t̺͖̬͔̯̯o̖̱ ̷m͔̼̩ỳ̳ ̹̯̗͚͇͍͇l̶͔̹i̹͓͚̝̰̣̟p̶s ̡̜̻̩̙w̛̦̘̝̹̩͓͇h̵̩e͈̗r̥͉̠e͇ ̡̞a̲̮͉̣̦̞̳ ̸̮͉̲̲̼̞̺b̭ṵ̢̯͔̣̯ͅt̹t͇̤͇͓e̡͉̭͇̮̜ͅͅr͇̲̣̙̙̭f͙̥̜̘͞ḷ̸̝̮̼͙͍ͅy̹͖̫̞͔ ́c̵̜̝̹̱ͅṳ̢̰͓rl̟̪s͓̞͓̞͈̪̼ ̻̫̘͙̤̗̣͠i̹̺̕ṯ͍͙̹͕s͚͔̝ͅe͉̖̤l̡̳͍͖̦̪͔f͈̩͖̭̖̩ ̠̰̪̬̦o̴̠̮̣̬̝̹ͅu͚͙̻̰̙t͏ ͚̼̜̟̬o͍̫̟͇f ̜̥̟͔m̢̥͉̺̬y̻͎̭͇͘ ̝͔̟̘̠͓̺ea̰̠̼ͅr͎̥̤̦̭̠,̭ ҉̲̣͈̬̺̟̳Í̖̭̳ ̰̠͕w͎͇̟̠ear͓̀ ͓̺͍͕͠l͖̀į̟̲͓͈̜͚v̬̯̹̺e͏̦͍̟̙ ̹̣͚͙̖̜i̪n̦̠̩̤̼͔͝ș̞͈ͅe͙̩c̷̖͔͎͚t̟̹͈͍̮̣̗͜ ͖̹c͓̱̗̟̗̺ṷr̺̹̯͕̱͠ls̤ ọ̟̪ut̶,̪͎̹̼̦͇ ҉͙I̢̮̬̩̹̞̼ ͏̠w͢ḛ̯͇̳̺a̝̩̼̫̳͇r̘͚̳̝̥̀ ̱̼͠c̙̥̳͡è̲̦̰͔͖̤̦n̛̙̞͍̮̹̤t̥́ì̱͔͎͚̩̲̮p̧̘͈̭̣ẹ̹̼̱̕ͅd̥̜̞̘͔̹͇e̙̰̳̹s̠̙̬̜̩ ҉̘̻̠̝i̲͖̫̟n̙͙̰͓͎̺ ̨̳̠m̫y̯̩͉͚ ͔̹̱̰͈͎̙h̠̞̱͙͇a̼͜i̱ͅr̖ ̻̘̗ͅa͍̙͉͎̘͕͚l̡͙͕o͎̼̝̣n̳̹͉g̬
w͕̦̠i̶t̛̰͚̪ͅh̗ ̡̳̱͔͉͍̞̺y̹̩͖o͉͚̼͉̺̟ư̙͇͇̦͔r̮̭̮͎̗͍͙ ̥͎f̠̳̯i̠͓̲͙̯n͓̹̝̕g̹̹͕͕e̥r̗͖͟s̩͇͉̱͟.̩̼͚͎͡ ͍͍͈̘̩̻͢I̦̹̫̜͕̼ ̗̖̤̱̖h̦̰̝ͅa̦̟͖̺v̼͍͟ͅe̖̬͕̫ ̜̥͡ạ̟̼͖͖̤͓ļ̞w̢ạ͔̰̳̳̩͈́y̢͔̰̱s̰̼͝ ̞̞̱w͕a̭̲̙̪͔̩͇i̳̜̫̳͈̻̥t̨̙͈͚̺̙͓̼e̶͚̳͓̱d͈.̻͈̙
̭̠̟
̞̙͡T̴̳̟̘͈͔ẖ̙̦̖̪̘e ̧̦͉̭̞̗͚͔s̤n҉̻̥a̜̹͔͍̦k̻͡e͏̠̪̼ ̶i͔͕s͖̠̺͎̣̟̙͢ ̣o̴͇f̲̗̰̰͓̞͉f̤͔͚̰͖̗͓e̹͍͞r̛̹̰̭̗͖͓ͅi̧̗̘͚̙̗n͉̖̟̞̭g̘̙̰̱:̛̰̙̫̘̭͇
̷̯͚̪̭͖̱̼ḏ̼̘͢e̳̺̥͖͔͞a̦͉͚̠͟t̡̗̣̠̲h̩ f̯̩͕̦̳o͇r̩̦͔͈͓ ̰̩͈d͈̺̜̜̭͓͈͘e͡a̮̲̥̹̕t̴̫̫̰̣̮̦͈ḩ̮̺̞̱ ̤̭͍͜up̙o̥̠̞̰n̩̩̩̲͉̟ ̹͞dẹ̬̹á̯̩͚͖͚̩th̩̩͎̮̻̜̯.̯̯̼͉̲̹̯͞

̙̹Ṱ̹̘̥h̸̤̝̮e͕ ̛̺̼͖͇͍͓ͅk̺̬̬͔i̤̟͜n̡̯͉͙̟g̰̤͟d̝̰͍̮́o͇̠̙͕̝͇͚m̦ ̛̞͖̫͓͔̯o̬̘͉̗̻̣̪f͕͉̫̭͡ ̺g̭͚̜̝̘͎ͅo͢d͍̺͔ ͖̖̫̟͙̟̦i͓̯s͏̲ ̼̯̲wi̶t̨͔͕̼̞̟͙̯h̘͖͞i̥͜n͎̜̰͜ ̰m̢̼͕e̜̲͚ ͈͈i̢͚̳͍̠̠ͅs͓͇̻̰͚ ̖̰̭̮͘b̝̘͇͈̫̫͘ey̦͚͇o̥͕͇̱̮̟̖n̬͚͎̰̺̠̱͞d͙̯̕ ͏̬͓̘͓̣a̩͠n̰̹̘͉y̕ţẖ̗͖̠͔i̲̩̻͕͔̝̻n̪̯̘̠̖ͅg̖͖ ̶̜&͖ ̢͓̼̳ń̦̖̺̟̞̫̻o̶̩̲̤t̵̥̹͇͉̣̬h̳̬͎̙͜i̤̳̠̭̙̹̮n̞͡g̛ ̢̯̗al͖̮͎̖͞l͕͚̹̫̫ ̼̥ͅa̢͔̫̼͉̫̯̹t̠̻͠ ̟̯͚̥͙ͅo̥̦̖̪͖͝n͕̯͇͟c҉͚͖̪̜͇͇̟e͠ ̳̫͍͙̙̤–̦
̣̦̤
̝ ̣͔̯͚ ̴ ͏̦͕̱ ̩̙̜̲̺ ̲̹ ̳ ̴̺͎̣̲̠ ̖͖̗͉̝̕ ̥͉̙̰ ̡̬̼̭ ̼̻ ̷̺̳̥̬ ̱̕y̨͉̱o̫̬̠̹u̼̻̭͉͍̖̺͘ k̦̯͕̟̩͝ņ̤͕̪̼e̺w̧͕̲ ̭̥̟͔̮̤͙̀s̯̫̞͓̪͢e̖̖͎̞̦l̢̪f̷̭͇̗͔̪͓-̮̬̤̲d̨̘e̥͕̩̣͍͜ͅt̮o̫͠n̼͙̬̭a̵̖̹̱ț͉͙͈̫̞ì͖͙̣̺̙ọ̳n̸̜̥̭̪̱’s̨̲̯̱͇ ̜̫s̟̤̘͉͕o̻̤̙̖͇n̞̯͈͎̙̣g̜̭ ҉̟̟̰b̸̞̤͖̤͍̻ͅe̜̺̰f̩͎̟̺͎̘͕͠o͈ŗ̻̝̳e̟̥ ͎͔͢y͖̰͖͖̰̠o͇̱̖͔̯̲̘u͍̫ ̷͍͖s̫͎̭͇̟͖͝ͅw̡̦͕͇͉̝͙͈o͇͎̫̘̥͜r̮̤̣̣̻e̼͙ ̧̭͍͈̣͓̗y̳͍̙o̠̱͇̕u̠̬̻͍̜̳̮ ̮h̨̙͈̜͓͙͙ͅa̼̝v̗̼̱̫͝e̞̭̞ ̩͈s̴e͕̳̩̰e͏n̤̪͠ ̱͉̺̩͉͢t̹̟̲̝ͅh̴̺̞͔̦e͏͓̬͇̺ ̜r͓͕͇͉i͉̟͍̩̦b̡c̘̭a̰̮͚g͢e̴̳̮̗ t̴͚͖̲̤ṳ̦͍̫̻̜́ͅr̸ṇ̱͇s̠͙̰͕̱̩ e̺̝̞a͇̞͖͙̻̘c̪̝h̰̰̩̩͕͙͔͟ ̫̟̤̟̹p̣̮̤et͏̗̠̠̖al ̦͇̖͇̭͕͔͡a͏̘ṋ̙̥̯̞d̰̱͙̰͈ ͙͉̭͇̻̺͠v͉̟e͍͈̤̘̳͢ị̷͇n̶̩ ̨̭̖̦͔̯̜̱a͓̯̥͉̗n͏̭̞͉̝̗̺d̬ ̡r̼̬̼̹e̸̯̳̘̝̟͙a͏̪̜͓̱n͎̗̭̺i̷̘̭͎m̴̗̗̼͈̗̫a̘̰͓͠t̗͕e̱̪̬͎̹̖͙d̵̺̻̝̣̭̬ ̹̲̩͎̭̝̙i̵̱̗̞͔̼͍t ̠͎͕̣̹̭̪́s͔̯h̯͓̝͚͕̦al̝̥̺̩l҉͇̯̘̝̘̘ ṟ̩͇̻̩̦̜e̼̘̕j҉̰͔ọ̢͔i̝̼̳̗͎̞̬ç̜̯e͓̭͝,̱͖̞ͅͅ ͇̖̤̗͡f̠͚̤ͅͅo̩̬̭̯͎̤ͅr̮ ̛͚̹͕̻̗̠ț̠̪̮͍̱h̘̀e͏͚̻͚̜͙̬r̪ḙ̞̺͔͍͟ ̖͓͓̯̜̗́w͎͖̱̦̪̼͟a͕͞s͟ ̼̰̰͟wa̯͈̰̰n͚͇͞t̸̖̝̠̩̖̲͖.҉̫̯͚͕
̡̦̬S̯̙̞͎̠͖̼͟k̴̙̘̠͎y͙͙̱ ̡̱̰̥͓̟̯t҉̯̳̩͉̠̯a̡̖̮̠̮̝̹l͇̪̯͓̀ͅl͓̰̱͔̫͖,͙̼̳̱ ̨͖l҉̟a͟n̰k͚̩͝y̨̻͍̞̰͇͈ ̟̪̱̺̹͖̤l͈͍̦̙̹̠o̼̗̳̬͖̯͟n͙͎͔̯͟g l̡̘̜̳͔͚͎e̢̖͕̱g̻̫̲͔͘g̝̥e̖͖̥̱̺̮̻d̴̜̜ k̞̤̯̫͖̹̝a͎͈̻týd̨̞͉̱̤͚̳̙i͖̻̖͙͝d͏̹̩̠̥̼̪͎ş̤͍͔ ̢̮t͠r̰̙a̵̞̟̘̲͚i̶̲͕p̸̥̠̠̭s̵e̯̖̮̞ ͏͚͎͚͉̗̤i̸̟̖̤͕͇͙̜n͓̥ ̳̭͎͙̹̞̬t̙͕̲̦̖̩h͖̖e̼̠̺̭̺͝ ̻͕g̠͎͔a҉̠͉͎̩ṟ̣͉d̥͓͖̘̺͚ͅe̜͕͈n̪͖̥̹̦̱e̩͓ͅr̸̯’̸̰̝s̮̳̰̱̠̝ ̝̞͔̝̫͢p̗̥͖̺̬̫͙͠a̼͎l̷m̙̭͓̙͟,͚͡ t̴͉̯̻h̤̪̻̪͜ͅḙ͉̫͓̜̺ͅ ̣͓̭̤̙̕b̘̭͙͍̺l͉̟̱̲o̱̜͝o̡̻͓̗̘̫d̖͘i͓̳̮̣̣̯̕é̘̪̻͖̱̹̭s̷̙̜̬̙t
̵ ̜̤̗̜ ̼̗̦̳ ̯̱͍̦̬͕ ̤̗̯͈̮͜ͅͅ ̶̘̲̤̝̖̰͓ ̲̻̟̯̹̪̥̀ ̗̣͢ ̴̙̥̹ ̯͇̻ͅ ̢ ̧̬̺ ͇̣͙͢ ̪̱͔̯͔́ ̥̤͉̯ ̱͝ ̝͙̯͙͎̗ ̖̺̥̱̣͕͞ ̥ ̶̬̭ ̮͓͉̘̭ ͕̝̘̝͎͖ ̴̟͕̺̣̞͔͎ ͍̙̠ ̳̯̬͎̮͚̼ ̙̩͖̙̙̘ ̭̫̳͙͓ ͉̻̭c̱̤̺͍̟̟͖l҉̪̣͈o̗̹̕u̟͇̬̺̹͘d̝̠͈s̨̗̱̼ ̻̮̯&͇̲̺ ̗̣̰e̻͖̪s͍̘̫͇͟c̝̦̙̘̜͔ͅa̜͉̜̖̬̟̰p̣͙e͔̹̞̖̝̦̦͢ f̤̗͙̤̝͚͚r͇̳o͚̱m̩͔̰̼ ̬͔͚͍̱̬͟s͓k̡̲͓̝͙̱͎u͇̮̺͖ḽ̩̲̲́l̖̼̺̜̝̦͢ ̘̠a̘̦͟nd͎͔͎͟ ͢e̸̠͇̝͍x̥̥̫p̶̖͎̱a̻̪̯̯̱n̡d͍̬͉͉͓̯ ̤̘̩̖͟ṯḩ͉͎͉̻̰͓ͅe̸ ̤̖̼͍͟k͇͔͍̭̻͝n̦͔̠͔̫̗͟o̸͕̘͈̩̹w͓̯̺̻̮l̖̼͍e̴̟d̘̮̼̫̰̹͔́g̳̞̯͝e̗̪̦̲̝̦̰ ̡̲̟͔̬ͅo̵̹f̣̜̯̫͖͍̀ ̜̰̬ṯͅh̘͚̪̞͖̜e̝͔̣ ̠̪ḏ̖̳̬͞e̳̼͚͠a͕̹̩ͅd̹ ̖̺̦̩͉́t͙̪͉̰̦̭o̩̼̱̭̲̗͉ ̡̯r̨͉e̬̞̼v̞͎̙͇͎̜̘e̙͉̱͖̫̺̭l̞a̦t̹̙̲̹i̖̺̻̮on̦̩͉͜’͚s̙̰͓̭͠.̩̤͔ ̠̳̼̰̖̠n̫̟̯͍ơ͕̦̥̟̱ ͖̠̖̮̪͎͢l̢̥̭͕̯o̲̯̜̥̤̞v̮̞͓̰̱͎̼e̦̭̱̻̬͉͈͞ ̨͈̖̮h̬̰͢e̹͕̩̤̪̪r̖e̸̤͍͉̰̫.͇̜̙͉̹͍̖
̻̬
̤̀T̺̤͕͍̻̖ͅẖ̞̘͝i̯̲̝̮̬̖̕s͕̫̙͓̖̰͚̕ ҉̭̲i҉̬̪̝͎̹ś̰̝̯͈̮ ̢̱f̦͎̠̪̲u͈̩͓͔ll̵͚̫̰̹̙͖͈ ҉̮̲o͉̟͞f̳̜͈̝̬͙̼͞ t̬̤ḩe̙̝ ̫s͖̹̥̮̲̣t̴͙͕r̟͕̳̯͖a̲̥n̷̖̫̟̯͖̙ͅg͖ͅl̼̫̼̬̜̙͓i̹̩̯̣ṇ͍͖͇͈͎̯g̩̫̮̲̫͞ ̭̬̭͘ͅfr̫u͏͎̻̙̺i҉͓̙̣̞̯͕t̲̻̯̖̀,̩̜̜ ̴͕̰įt̰̤s̞̗͡ ̻̬̥͙̯͡d̫͍̙̬̺̞͝a͇r̤͖͞k̖̣͎̣ ̫fl̨̹a̛̭͍̩͙m̹̤̲͔ͅe̵̻̳͓̻͉̤ ̷̪̖̙̱s̘h̲̰̮̘̫͠ͅa̺l̙͚̪̞̬̞͝ͅḻ̖̭ ͔͔̣͚͢à͓̳̯ͅc̬͙̞̺͝ͅq͈̪̤̳̣̱ú̥i̠͔͔̖͚͠r̻̝̤ȩ̝̠̠̬͓̱ ҉̦̯̥͈̮̦e̮̪͇̪̱v̪͙͎̬̱̝̤e̡̲͔͖r͇̼̥͢y͙̪͎̲͈͡ ͈̫͇hi͏̝͈͓̖͔̩s̙͓͍̟͇͟t̶͇o̘̠͚̕r̭͙͖y̗͍̼͞ ̻̕o̸f͙͎̖͈̜ ͖͖͈̝̙ͅs̶͓͚̗ͅel̮̳̯͓̺̭f̵̞̯ ̨̩͓is̛̟͉̯̳ ͠à ̠͕q̥͙̰̭̱̩̦͝ù͇̰̜ͅͅi͍͉è̠̳̖̤͔t͈
͓̮k̵ị̡͕n͔̭̱͓̪̯̘ḍ̙̣̰ ̶̬̖o͏͈f̰̥͉ ̦͡t͍͙͔̘̹͟h̪̱́e̦͍̹͓͙͕ ̲̘͘l͚̻̣̣̞̀i͙̲̟̺g̴̥̭̗̹̥̝h̗̙̯̜t̼̙̮͎͇,̢̜̮̫̼̮
̼́h̞͖̙̙̦̗̻a̜̝͕̤͖̦͟ͅv̶̺͓i͙̗̤̤̤n͖̤̮̦͖͡g͜ ̪s̶̲̗̭o̢͉̮͚̩͕̻ ̨l͚̤̲͝ͅͅị̸͈ṯ̞͕̹̙̗̠̕t̖̗l̜͢e͓̤͓̫ ̣͇͖o͔͓̯̼f̶̙̳̣̗͖ ̰̤͖̭̘̺̙i̘̜͔̭͉̕t̪͈̭̳̮ͅ:̶͎̹̖
̛̘̖̳͓͔̠̗
̯̹̻̜̣͢t͈̣͕h͓͎̦̫̖̬̕ȩ̝̖ ̷t̯̲̙̹̗h̗̦i͖̳̤̱n̡̳̱ ̨̬̼̩̜m҉͇̬̹̙͖͓a͕͕̲ͅn̥̣ ̨̙w̧̤͖̬̗̰i̥͡t͚͚̮̫̠̤h ̺͈̱̫̜a̢̼̯͕̹͕ͅ ̘͓̘͍̥̠̫s͇͎tr͏̱̻̙̬ͅa͘i͇̘̱̫̕g̞̘̠̬ḥ̦̝̭t̝̘ ẖ̤̺̩̤̭̠o̺̮̤͔͓r̝̲̫̠͚͝i̷̫̫z̧o̴͚̲̳n̮
̩͞
̶̱̰̠a̖̤̭̻̺͡n͍̯d ͟t̕h̰e̗̬ͅ ҉̙̺͔̘̙͉̘m̛̳̤͍̯i̷̯͉͈͎͓n̻͓̩̹͔͈d͍̦̪̭͇͝ ̗̝b̺e̵̼̝̳y̙̫̠̭̠̪̳̕o̵̱̦̜̥n̵̮̖d͍̻̺̳̪̣̮ ̕w͔̖̖͓̭͡ͅh͇a͓͉̮̠̹̳͜t͎ ̺̪̹̯͓̮͠c͉͔͉̭͙ͅa̪̩̳̭͖͓͙̕m̡͕̭̬e̼̰̣͞ ̴̱͖̟̜̙̠̜f̻̰̯̜̩̝̮̕r̷̞̠̣o̕m̱͚͎ ̹̤́h̻̘͇̱̤͕o̜̖l̡̺͍l̞͇͍̝̣̦̕o͏̯͚w͔̬̠̙̺ ̥̹̹̮a̺͙͈̳͎̮̠b҉̫s̙̦̥͔͈e̳̠͟n̼̟̝̲͇ͅc̦̖͉̤͓̹e̪͈̜̳̹ ̤̮̙̰͓ͅo̲̝̖̭f͡ ͓̬̣̼̹̞t҉̦͇ḫe̱̠̞̗͚͔ ҉e͈͔̻̳͖a͙͈̖͎̝̺̺r̹̬̻̥̺͙͝ͅt҉h͉ ̤̗o̦͉͙̰̣ṛ̞̖͍̘͔͙ ̲͎̥̼a͕̞̘b̺̩͍͎o̶̟̟̣ͅv̵̯͎̠e͉ ̛̤̳͎o̤̳͟n̪̮̞̱̦ ̦̝̫͙̫̟͝g̘̫̥̖͈͙ŗ͉̩͎͖̙e̝̹͔̱̗̞̯e͓̠n̖̺̩͔̤̬͇-̬̻̘̬̻̲͖w͏̖̪̦h̪̰̹͙̭ḭ̞̗͈͈̼̳t̺̝͚̜̗͠ͅe ҉̭ͅs̘̼̬k̗̻̼̱̟̦ị̗n͠
̦̲͍̘̤͔̣ț̱̹̼̠̰h̴͕̭̪a̛̼̫ţ̮̟͉̝̹̝̦ ̩m̲͔a҉̣̱̰t̟̼͖̪̥te̞̞͇̺̖͕r̮͔̟͇͚s̪͢
̩͎͈̙̙͜
̘̞͙̲͕͡T̤̠̱̜̘͍͚h̯͚͖̹͙͕̭e͔̯̰͍̭̭̦ ̶̻̫̱͉̮̦ͅś̙n̤a̸̼̦̰͚̫̺͙k͍̟e̖͎̲͉͚͇̮ ̞̬̞͔̩e̯̰͚͘n͎̥̻͉̺t̨̝̫̦̠e̻̹̠͚͙̺̠r͚͈͈̺̻͇̝s͈̖͎͓̙̭͜ ̯͎͓̺̗y̳̦̲͓͠ͅo̰̗̦̕u̘̟r̸̭ ͎̣̲͟b̮̮̦̻͍̹͞ͅo͍̩̻̪͎d͉̙͉̙͓̘y̙͢ ̗̠͓̫̪b҉̩ut͈̩͔̕ͅ a̻͈ h͈̥̼e̻̦a̸͕̲̘̭̝͔d̛
̨̳th҉͙a͇̝̭t͕’̱̻s̘̲̮ ̢n̬̹̩̙ͅo̥̼̗ ͇̣̪̭͓̳͢a̝̟̗̲p̥̦̫̟̗͖͈p͉̻le̖͇̦̼ ͡b̡̝̰̜̱ͅu̝̣͇̹̻t̸̥ͅ ̛a̬̺̦̮͔͠ ̶͍̘̬̙̝ḫ̪͇͟e̵͉͇a̰͙̗̣̬̖̠͜d͔̯̙͖͡
t͖͚͔̟͓h̰̗͚̖̖̰͖́a͈̹̬t̬̼̳̗͚’̬̹͍̜͙͚͝s̹͞ ̠̟̞̀n̟̥̺̼̲͎̖ọ̘̜͔͚ ̬̱͈̺̀s̻̼i̘n͚ ҉i͕̭̥̙̼̠̱n̨ ̻ș̢͈͖̩̤̘h̠̲̺̹͚a̜̼͈͍͖ͅd̟̠͕̳̦o̰͞w̦̰̜̰̟͖ ̶̗̬o̲̥̱r̨̯̣̞ ̣̝̬̹̺̲i̡̗̤͙̖̻n̷͈̩͔̪̯͉ ̻͙̘t̮͓h̨͖͍͕̼ͅe ̵̹̗̤̼͈d͓͇a͙̻̟̻̹͎͇r̮͚̻̜̞ͅkńe͟ss̰͍̫.̙̮͙̞
͚̗͓̼̻̳̬
͓͠ͅH̖́ȩ̫̱r͝e͚ ̬͕̻̙̪̻̲y͡o͙̠̠̜͔͉͈u̴̥̯͙̰͇̳͙ ̜͎̮c̬̮̠̱ͅa̩̥̘n͙͈̣ p̛̟͓̟ͅr̛̠̳̻̥͉̘a̖̗̝͢i͈̫s̡̬̖͉͈̖̺̤ḛ ̝͈̞̞͎͡ṯ̻̲h͓̪̣̣̮͓e̬m̖̮͠ ̫͕͈͓̪̻̦w̳̬̺ị̦̭̱̦̫̺͜t̯̮͈̰h͡ ͉c̙̬͟o̹̠̞n̹̝̗͇͈̪͙st̠̜̩̖͙͡ͅe͔͓ḷ̠l̦͙͠a͓͙͕̺͈͙t̲͇̯i̢̤̭̠̰̟͈̩o͍͚͙̱̼͡ń̻͖̼̙͍̟̭,̱̙̤̫ͅ ̳͖an̩͕͡d̼ ̵̤͎͍̤h̟͍̮̭̙̬̱i̝̣̬̕s̷̱t͕͍̩̝͙̰͞o͚̜̬̞̣̳̺͜r̢̮̤̠y͔͕̤̳͉̤̞
͉o͓̦̫̜͚̝c̲̼̱͘c͍̦̤̲̻͈̳u̙͞r̹s̼͕ ̡̯t͔̣̦̦o ͈͉̱f̧̖͍̱̳̲̯o͈r̶̼̞̘̰g̹̺̪̩̪̖e̵͕͕̺̗̥̼t̯͉ ҉͓͍̮̩̫̳m͏̠̥͙͔͈͎y̸̟s̩͘e̗ͅḻ̙̟̣̺̀f̢̼͚̣
̠̣̫
̗̞̜͚ ̦̥̪̞̪ ̵ ̪̜̞̤̼ ̴̝͕͔̞͉ ͚̫̯̼̗ ̡̺̲͍ ̵̟̦̼ ҉̝͖ ̖͇̙͎̮͖̕ ͜ ͇̙̹̫͈̗ ̨ ͖̗͓̯̣ ̹͙̥͈̤̀ ͉̬̗o͇͍̖̺̜͓͝f̯͇ ̯̹̭̜̻á ̮̱̩t̳̱h҉̫̟o͙͉̦͡ͅu̵͉̦̳͍̠ͅs̟a̮̟̥̹͓n̡̩̼̦d͓̤̹ ̭̲̣̩͍̫͝k̟n̘̥̣i̪̕v̲̖͕͚͘e̠̪͙̻͖̯͙s͉̘̝̦̙͢ ̟̫̖̰͔ẁ̦̦̘̲̥ḩ̫̮̩i̙͈̯̞le̸̟̞̱͖̜ f͍̻̟̜̯͇͝r̘̙̻̕o̸͎̺͔̹̳̝̳m̭͈ͅͅ ̼̯̩̣͈̱ͅo̲̮͇̟u̼r̵̠̙̜̦̰͓ ̳̝̮re̴̱͎̗̘̦̼fr̺̙̼͓͖̦a̬̞͡c̮͙t̤̹e͉̯̱d͡ ̴̰͖̜̗̱͍r̴͇i̴v̭͍̱̰͇̫e̠̳r̀s͙̦̮̹̖̠,̮͜ ͕o͉̖̥̖͓f҉͚̟͇̰͎̘ͅ ͏̱͚c̪̫̣̝h͚̝͓̜̣͓ͅa̝͓͚l̫͞ḳ͢
̠ ̙͚̻ͅ ͍̳c͔͕̰l̺̤̺o̖̻̣͓̠u̻͎̲̲̕d̗̻̰̼̥s̴̱̱̣̥̹ ͇̯͙̪͈͜&̜̲̟̕ ̵̖̲̘̮͓̼e͡śc̥͎͓̳͇̺a̟̩̹̟p̦̼͜ḛ ̢͔̤f̢ṟ͍͙̼̙̹ͅo͟m̖ ͎͇̯̬s͇k͕̝̝u̵ḻ͍̹̪ḻ̬ͅ ͉͕̥͚i͝n͔̠̻̭ ̢̪̳͇f̴͇̖̤̹̘̝l͖o͠w̦̯̖͖̗̭̯͜e̜̻̼̭̘͜r̖̹͚͕̻͍e̯̱̦ͅd̘̩͍
̶̩̝͙̥ ̰͇ ͎̫̭͇̯̰ ̼̫ ̞̭̯̣̖͍ ̪̗̹͔̖͡ ̹̜̙̜͜ ̦ ͎̙̲̗͎͟ ͍͚̥ ͏̜͈̠̬ ̭̗̺̲̭͓ ̀ ͈̝͖̝̗̳̙͜ ͈̟̤̦͖͓ ̷̰̖͙͕ ̤̮̞̲ ̯̤͔̠͠ ̴͔̗̰̻ h̳͚̻̱̻e̳͈̟̤̝̟̹ŕ̮̪̦̹ȩ͍͓̮̹,̝̜̰͕̺̥ ̳͙͡e͔̣̠̜͓͢v̵̗̜͇̤̥e̪͝r̥̝͉̰͈͓y̰͚̞̺ ̴̙̩̱̤v̖̗̝͚̯͎i̝̞͈̜͖͓n͕̮͉ȩ̤̱ ̨͖&͢ ̱͍ṛ̭̀ͅo̳͉ò̺͙͓t͔̞̫̙̮ ͔̠̪͚͇de̛̖̭̬̻͈ṃ̟͕̯͢a͙̜̙̱͔̲n̤̫͈̮d̙͙̳͉̜̭̬͟s͖͚̯̝̘͉͡ ̤͎̪̤̤̪b͈̘l̹o̘̥ǫ͉̫̦̞̞͚̦d̠
̱̺͚
͈̩̭͙̙͙̀t̢̞̭̯͎̜͙o ̲̳̩̻̹̦d̠͈͈̻̠̝e͔v̙̹̗͚͎o҉̣u̗͈̖̥r̜̼͙̪̞ ̫͔̤͡a̙͙̤̺͘nd̵ ͍̤͡s̻̘̗̤̱ụ̝̻͖͓s͎̯̺̘͘t̳̖̱̻̠͉ͅà̳̹͖in ̶̞̭̣̣e̡̮̞͔v̲̭e̞͕̝̗̦͞ͅͅn͍̣̫̜̤͇ ͔̩͍̻̞̟͜t̬ẖ̴̘̖̩̻̮e͈̖̜͍̻̞̠͟ ͙͕͍̗̯b̖̥e̸̜͙͓͖̳̭̞g̳͓̝̗i̞̮͔͔͡n͏͇̲̺ni͉̰̪͎̞ṋ̨̰̱g̹͇̘͉̪.͚̮̦
̙̜̮͎̻̘̤͠
͡ͅE̢̞͇̺ͅv̙̺͢e̴̳r͜y̸͚̘̣̘̠͇o͕̗̺̥̙̪̮n̲̗̼ͅͅe̱̥͈̲ͅ ̗̘̻͉l̼͕̳̀o̩͇͝o̼̼̮͙̭̘͚k̻̮s͙͚̥͇̺͓̜ ̺̲̠͢u̙̰̲̦ͅn͇̙h̗͓a̦̫̮̼̗͍p̰̕py̱̗̙,̖̻͟
̤̻̱͉̭e̴̩̗͙̗̦̮̼v͓͔͈͟e̟n̜͕͔̫͇͎ ͔͕̞͘ͅt͙͓ͅh͏͍̜̘e̦̤̬̙̙̫̘ ͙b̗̮ͅͅe̙̙̙͙͡g͞i̻n͢n̵͚̱̩̯̟i̜͇̙̰̦n̞̟̬̖g̝ ̬͍̬̩̭̹t̮̲̟͔͚̬͝ͅhȩ̣r̦͙̣͕ḙ̖̲͔ ̗̰͍̦w͉̳͈͓̠͉̮i̹̮̟̞̪̜ṱ̱̤͚̮͍͝h̖̗̼̗͖̺̦ ̙̘͕̲̖̰̼t̗͈͚̠̟̱h͍̝̗̻͜e̴͚̥͚ ̴̤͇̱͔̝s̪̘̼͓͈̪̹̕e̶̫̝̘̭͉e̵d̷s̞͝ ̣o̞̬͟f̜͠ ̲̞̹͇͕̼ͅf̙̠̲͕l̤͖͎̠į̫̦͇͎c̜ͅk̫̲͕̠ẹ̟̗r̖͍̦i̠̹ṋ̘̤̝͙͇͉g̭̰̖̙ ̻̪̪͞ḑ̘̯̣͖̫̮̮r̲̞͔̭è͔̞̼̲̪̖a̰̬͕̤̕ͅm̦̬̤͍̝̲͓͢s̸̰̖͈̖̼̬ ̸̩̹͚t͉̮͞ha͎͠t̵̺̮̩͈̜͉̙ ̪̭̥̺͖̟͎̕g̰͖̩̪̥̭̦̀a̶͓t̞h͚͉̱͕̱͖͓e̙̯r͍̠͢ ̳̩̭͝ͅt̼͉̝͉͠h̙i͢ǹg ̢̗&̫̘̘̫̖̖̳ ̧̺͓͍̮͇̻ͅnǫ̺͎̗͎̮ͅt̝͜h̰̻̘̙̮̪i̵͖̹n̛͎̘̘̮g͎͉̰̭̩̳͔ ̻̭̰̤a͇̻̬l͚̬̩͞l̦̤͞ ̨̦͈ǫ̱̹͖̜̰ṯ̨͖͔̻̝̭h̯͓e̳̗͇͇͍r̻̙̦̦̯ ̩̣̫̻͓͇͕p͟l̷̩ac̨̜̟̳e̙̲s͇͉͎ ͡f̨͍̩̪̗ͅo̖͍͚̩͙ͅr̥͔m̮̲̣s̥͙̠̣̀ͅ ̧̰̫̮̜̰̜̹th̘̜̳͉̪̬a̟̜͚͕̳ͅţ̱͕ ͎͕̯̬̠͉̣g̢̪͍͉̼̮͎̜a̬̲̻t͚̖h͢ͅe͍̫̳̣̦̘r͙̠̲ ̻͖̝͙̼i̴̬̫̻̬͉̩̰n̥͓ ̥̰͘t͇͡h̳e͓̻͖̙͔͚̠ ̟̪̀k̦n̻͕̻̯͝o̠̬̰̼w̹l͇̻͝ẹ̭̦̭͖d͍͕̩͓̙͖͎g̟̱͇̤̲e̺͔̣͕̠̣̞ o̝͡f͓̟̲̩͕͓̝ ͚̹̰͠t̢͓̖̮̺h̥̙̫͘ͅe̫͝ ̣̤̮s̵̰͓͍̟t̫̣̟r҉͚͉͙̳̻͖a̛̬̩̙ṇ͈̪͚g̙ͅͅͅliṋg ̻̺͉̖̜f̘͔͕̘̗̦͚r̪͉̙͇̜̟u͢i̫͢t̫͈.̦̯͔͞ͅ

[errours]

[ Nailed it.




The mass of rot and blooming decay turns away from you both, to face out towards the sea where even now, the swarm spreads towards the mainland. Her entire form quivers—and then collapses into the rest of the swarm. Again, the smell of decay threatens to overwhelm you, the smell so strong it's impossible not to flinch from it.

...But when you next open your eyes, all that's left is a fading cloud of spores. ]

[unbr8kable]

Oh--

[It takes her a moment after it ends, still feeling the spongy, wet-warm touch of decay, the odor sharp in her nose, the roar of the whisper ringing in her ears.

And then it's like waking from a dream--she looks around--at Hurricane, at the altar, at the horizon]

Wait--!

[crossmyheartandhope]

Jesus. That's - that ain't -

[He pages through his notebook, frantic - back a page, and then another, and then another - returns to the altar, fale pale and hands shaking, clutching the hastily scribbled banishing ritual in his hands]

Ia ia, Cthulhu fhtagn. [He touches something invisible, above his head]

A’uk. [Draws his hand down, to his third eye] Neb em hu. [Touches his mouth]

[The ritual is longer than the other one, more involved; he is decidedly shakier, saying it. When he's finished, he points the dagger at his heart, finishes the rest of the words, and then cuts his hand to spill blood on the altar again]

[errours]

[ The blood splashes against the now-rotting wood, and—







—not so much as a whisper. All that's left of the presence is its mildew-y residue—or all that you can see, anyway. Perhaps, though, as the blood soaks into the ruined altar, Hurricane feels those words echo in his mind, infectious yet gentle, almost like a question to pose himself:

I construct arcadias to forget my ache, I decorate the light
having so little of it. ]

[unbr8kable]

Jacob--

[Sharp, and she can't stop herself from grabbing for his hand and the dagger this time, anxious and looking back to what else might be following]

E-enough--stop!

[crossmyheartandhope]

It's - it's supposed to send it back -

[Peering anxiously in the direction that the fungus-demon disappeared]

[unbr8kable]

[She does the same, hands trembling around his as the last of the spores disappear beyond the horizon.

For long heartbeats she just stares into the darkness, then over to him, expression genuinely shaken. A beat later she looks down, pressing her mouth flat]

.........You're still bleeding. Should clean that up.

[crossmyheartandhope]

...you, too.

[A beat, and then another]

Didn't think to bring bandages.

[unbr8kable]

...The swimming towels. Can use those.

Are you still bleeding or you wanna head back to town first?

[She has in fact not yet released his hand, so it is possibly a little difficult to tell, especially with the only light coming from the stars above, now that the candles have been rotted out]

[crossmyheartandhope]

I - I dunno.

I -

[A beat, and then another; from the feel of it, he is still bleeding; at least, his hand is slightly warmer than usual, with the blood]

We better check. What if it's like that one time.

[unbr8kable]

They didn't seem like the imps...

[Her face pales nevertheless, and she clutches tighter at his hand, the grip slick]

We're still hours out of downtown, we won't be able to catch up. Can text somebody to keep an eye out for trouble...or just wait; someone'll message if it's bad.

[The breeze rustles through the beach and the broken hotel and the jungle that encroaches on both, and Nemesis casts around again for new visitors]

...Either way, should get outta here...maybe head for the dock and clean up.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah... yeah. Sooner the better.

[A beat of hesitation. Then:]

Lemme text Dva. She'll keep an eye out if I ask her to.

[unbr8kable]

...Okay. Don't say nothing to freak her out too bad. She gets into enough trouble as it is.

[Another pause, and she looks at their stuff, piled by the beach and rather worse for wear, and she carefully picks her way over, tugging him after]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Kay. I'll just ask her if there's anything weird going on, and if no, to kinda keep an eye out and let me know.

[Starts to go after her - hesitates]

...you think we oughtta take the altar? If stuff goes south, we might need it.

[unbr8kable]

...Okay. Maybe--maybe. Could have evidence, or something.

[A pause, then she returns with the musty remains of her satchel, upturned]

Here. Don't touch it with your hand, just in case.

[She shoves what's left from her bag into what's left of her bag]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah. That's - yeah.

[He hesitates, then dumps the rest of the almost-empty bag of salt - uses the bag to pick it up and wrap it, then put it inside]

[unbr8kable]

[Holds it steady for him, and stuffs in the book and some of the candles after for completion's sake]

...That about it?

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Grabbing the rest of the stuff, too, and stuffing it in his own bag]

Think that's everything.

[unbr8kable]

Okay. Then--let's get outta here.

[She gives another quick onceover, mouth pressed thin, before angling her head back towards the well-lit part of town]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Nods and starts heading back toward the place where they left the submarine, markedly more subdued than when they left]

[He digs out his phone while they walk, to text Dva]

[unbr8kable]

[She sticks as close as their bags allow. On edge, she glances from his phone unseeing to the horizon to behind them, in case something was left to follow]