ROLE: Elephant John

[saturations]

ELEPHANT JOHN

Today, regardless of wherever Emet-Selch is, he will soon receive a text message from Bass.

hey!! come thru!!

Emet-Selch doesn't really have time to question what they mean by this, because immediately a shimmery, yellow archway erects before him.

As Emet-Selch enters through the archway he'll find himself in what appears to be an empty street. Walking down this street leads to a towering building with an archway covered in greenery. This area seems to be sort of like a covered patio, with several stores lining the inside of the tower, though all the names are blurred out. One sells clothing, another sells food, another sells tourist trinkets and novelty items. And in the middle of these stores is a giant planter filled with a vibrant splash of technicolor trees and bushes.

Sitting on this planter is Bass. They lift a static-y, melting hand.

"You made it! Come here, I've got something to show you."

And they hand Emet-Selch a laminated piece of paper. It looks kind of like a menu for a restaurant.

RULES
1. Dream something up!
2. Decide who you want to send a message and send them that Dream!
3. It has to be someone different each week, no repeats. Sorry!
4. Don't tell anybody. Seriously.

After reading the rules, Emet-Selch will find that an image becomes the home screen of his phone. He'll also feel something... sticky... appear on the back of his hand as a temporary tattoo of the same image appears. Only you can see the phone background and tattoo, and they both persist outside of this area.

Once the brand settles in, Bass tilts their head.

"Oh. That's probably fine? Anyway, I'm here to explain if you have questions!"

Comments

[ktiseos]

That long-?

[huh. he blinks, at that, then nods.]

...that will certainly do, although it would leave them with very little time to complete the task. But- just what are you thinking, Bass.

[he's certainly contemplating that already, but. what are his thoughts.]

[fretbro]

[a little shrug.]

It can be earlier than that if you need, but - I bet if the dream came later you'd have more time to do the task. Only seems fair.

And I dunno, nothing really. You just might think of something else, if I give you more time.

[ktiseos]

I can think of a way or two in which to experiment, but I do not know whether you are implying they might work.

[fretbro]

[he just looks up at him.]

Well? What are you thinking, don't just leave me hanging.

[ktiseos]

Well. For one thing: could they reach others, besides those of us still gathered here and living?

[he may be reading into what bass is saying, but-]

If you simply meant one never knows who will be gone, you surely know I have already chosen those I am closest to here.

[fretbro]

I don't know about the dead. Maybe? You have letters to talk to them with, though, apparently.

[as for the second part:] ... I know you have, though. You should tell those people you love them with your words, not dreams, anyway.

[ktiseos]

[the second part is giving him HIVES

he chokes on another flower, takes a moment to cough it up. a soft pink elpis bloom.]

-I will take it under advisement.

[these CALLOUTS.]

But-- yes. There would be no sense in giving the dead tasks either, I should think... Or the four of you, for that matter, although I still wonder if you would be affected.

[fretbro]

That's gonna just keep happening until you do. [STOP, TELL PEOPLE YOU LOVE THEM YOU DINGUS]

Anyway. I don't see why we wouldn't be.

[ktiseos]

[NO LOVE IS A BIG WORD HE SHAN'T.]

...mm. I will keep it in mind, then. I'll consult the others for their input as well.

[fretbro]

Yeah, for sure.

I'm glad you guys all found each other. [a beat] Oh - your update, too. I almost forgot.

[ktiseos]

As am I.

...I will admit, I doubted Jiuqing when she suspected someone else simply had the same task as her, but I suppose it has worked out in the end.

[oh right and the update. he gives bass his phone.]

[fretbro]

[when he hands his phone back, he'll see the following on his app:

Take a walk on the wild side for a little extra time.

he will understand that now his special gumball will allow him the powers from previously, but he can also use his animal form for an extra one hour a week.]

She's pretty smart. [...] All of you guys are.

[ktiseos]

We are doing what we may, at the least. This shall help.

[and since i decided my vax thread is before this one-- he's quiet, a moment.]

... I wished to ask one more thing. Less of a theoretical exercise, I promise. The other night you mentioned your worry that we would one day leave you-- but what of yourself?

Do you yet intend to stay?

[fretbro]

[a pause, as he thinks that over.]

... I don't know. [he really, absolutely sounds conflicted.] I like it here. I don't know why I'd ever leave.

[he chews his lip a little.] And I have you guys. But if you all just end up dying... I don't know.

I'd make sure you guys were safe, y'know?

[ktiseos]

We would make sure you were, as well. That you were not alone-- Vax and I have told you the very same, you know.

[they'd find a way. they would.]

If we were able to find a way to leave this place... you've somewhere to return to now. Riff, too.

[fretbro]

I know.

[he coughs - purple petals, a dark plum color fall to the ground, and then:]

What if I don't want to, though? There has to be a reason I'm here, right? What if it's so much worse where I'm from than it is here?

[ktiseos]

[he takes up one of those petals, just sort of idly toying with it.]

What if it is better? And even if it is not-- you would have us, still. I do not think it would be so bad as you fear.

[fretbro]

[he seems to be struggling with this a little.

he's... scared. all the things he knows, all the things he remembers - someone he cared about died, he might be dead, he might be stuck, and it makes him want to close off and run.

but - he hadn't been lying, when he said he trusts emet more than anybody else. he says it'll probably be okay. and bass just... reaches over and takes his hand.]

... Okay. [that's all he can manage, for right now. uncertainty, but - a willingness to let emet reassure him.]

[ktiseos]

[he holds on to that hand, steady.]

I've told you before. Whatever comes... I shall be here.

[a brief pause, and:]

I- have my own fears about the future, I suppose.

[fretbro]

[that makes him feel a little stronger, at least.]

... You said you did once, yeah. [glancing up at him.] Can I ask?

[ktiseos]

[it's always difficult. but-

he trusts bass, too. and if this might help in some way...]

...an individual came to us from the future, or so they say. One who I dismissed as a familiar of a friend of mine, whose soul shares the same color as their own. I know it to be their color, I would know it anywhere.

They say they are-- a version of that selfsame person. A shard of their soul, after... the entirety of our world was broken. Ended. They say our desperate attempts to protect it, and all our future sacrifice for its sake, will ultimately be in vain.

They say, [he continues quietly, after a few moments' pause,] that I shall survive this sundering, and three of us alone shall remain whole to witness the remnants of the world we love.

[fretbro]

[oh.

for a moment, he's quiet, and then he gently shifts to hug emet, as well as he can manage.]

... And you don't want to stay here? [because he could. then he'd never have to face any of that.]

[ktiseos]

I do not.

[his voice is quiet, soft, as he lets bass hug him. wraps an arm around him in return.]

This has not come to pass yet. It may yet be stopped. And even if it should prove unstoppable...

That is still my home. They are still my people. If I were to abandon them, then who would I be-- what of my duty? What of those I would leave behind? Etheirys is where I belong.

[fretbro]

[he knows that's the right decision. to run away from that duty is selfish, but - bass doesn't know if he'd have it in him to not be.]

... I just don't feel like I belong anywhere but here, still. [because he can't remember. this feels like home.] Shouldn't I have to stay here to fix it, then? Like you and your home.

[ktiseos]

I have a feeling it shall likely need to be fixed, in order for us to be able to leave it properly at all. Nevermind that I certainly should not like to leave you here with it still broken.

Were the Prism fixed, and were all well within it, then would you still feel as if you needed to stay?