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-- tortileGhostwriter [TG] began pestering gaianGearhead [GG]--
TG: i think its time you consider returning
GG: no dude you will not believe the sick fires i have been starting here
GG: the phat lewts I have been gathering.
GG: shit is so cash im like scrooge macduck up in here.
GG: just
GG: swimmin in this cash
GG: doin the goddamn backstroke FUCKING SHUT UP CAL!!!
GG: you didnt see that i have everything under control.
GG: its all totally cool and rad and stuff
TG: yes of course it is
TG: how long has it been for you now
TG: four months or so yes
GG: im not so sure anymore actually?
GG: you spend so much time shifting back and forth that it all kinda blends together
GG: mad crazy kaleidoscope of total pwnage
GG: and also shithead giggling orange moron
TG: precisely my point here
TG: the stress of this journey has begun to affect you
GG: god damn it dave
GG: i thought we said that youd spare me the psychobabble bullshit
GG: thats roses shtick anyway
TG: well rose is hardly here to do it is she
GG: oh god ;_;
GG: dont remind me
TG: the point is that i daresay we have both done quite enough
TG: or is it truly your desire to dally in this empty universe
TG: even those aliens from beyond the veil do not pierce the void with their inane prattle
TG: can we continue to face the silence
GG: stooooooop!
GG: jegus please don't do the morbid thing! ;_;
GG: but i guess youre right
GG: I mean its not like we can keep going
GG: and i miss rose and john really bad
GG: i mean rose is like my sis man and just...
GG: but im kind of afraid of whatll happen when i go back
TG: i would think you would have become accustomed to that sort of thing
TG: given the number of corpses youve left around
TG: its practically the way i track you these days
GG: no im not worried about that
GG: i mean we talked about the plan i got this
GG: and i knew when rose went that
GG: okay no point being that im cool with that
TG: then what pray tell is the problem
GG: you
GG: what happens to you
GG: i mean like the two options kind of suck
GG: i cant take you back with me cause youd just drop dead
GG: if i leave like
GG: im pretty sure that this timeline will cease to exist
GG: and so do you
GG: and if im wrong like youre gonna be stuck here by yourself
GG: until you die
GG: either way like i mean i know ill see other dave on the other side but like
TG: ...
GG: dave
GG: dave are you there
GG: lofac to dave
GG: calling all daves
TG: ...
-- tortileGhostwriter [TG] has gone idle --
GG: ...
GG: i mean thx for the dippin dots dave but were kinda havin a talk here broseph
GG: dave
GG: david briar lalonde
-- tortileGhostwriter [TG] has returned from idle --
TG: apologies i had to confirm something
TG: do not worry yourself unduly jade
TG: i will find a way back
GG: how???
TG: i suspect that the land of dreams lies outside the normal flow of time
TG: i am correct am i not
GG: yeah
GG: so
TG: i am going to go to sleep
TG: and thereby merge with my main timeline self once this timeline collapses
TG: and then i will be able to see you again
GG: okay
GG: if youre sure
GG: and who knows maybe its for the best
GG: you wont have to go through all those shenanigans to figure out that you were awake the whole time
GG: me i think im gonna have to punch myself a few times to wake up at all
GG: might have to drop the whole moon or something
TG: quite possible
TG: for my part i will also ensure that rose awakens
TG: once the main threat has been resolved
GG: sounds like a plan
TG: you should go now jade
GG: you sure we shouldnt meet in person again first
GG: yknow just to make sure everythings chill
TG: i believe we have this as well as we are able
TG: there is no sense in delaying the inevitable
TG: see you on the other side
GG: okay
GG: good luck
-- gaianGearhead [GG] ceased pestering tortileGhostwriter [TG]--
TG: ...
TG: i love you
He stares at the words on the screen for a few long moments before regret sets in. He knows she can’t see it. But some part of him still twists inside. He does, yes. But he doesn’t want her to know.
He doesn’t want anyone to know.
Why? He doesn’t know himself.
He cannot dwell on this. He knows. He instead curls up in the pile of pillows and blankets he has on the floor of his house and falls asleep, waking again in the deep violet of the palace on the moon.
And he waits.
He looks out the window at the sky. He almost does not wish to, but he cannot avoid it. They whisper to him there, and he can almost hear them sing, his ears ringing with it. Sometimes he almost thinks his ears will start bleeding. They never do. And the Horrorterrors always insist that they mean well. That he shouldn’t judge by appearances.
He doesn’t believe them.
One in particular seems to have chosen him as her own; and he can almost feel her presence sometimes, a low growl that echoes only in empty hallways. He can even hear her when he’s awake, now, when he’s alone in the dark.
She’s very loud, right now.
He turns back to his room and sits down on his bed. He waits. He feels like he’s waiting forever in this empty universe, alone.
He resolves.
He cannot let this happen again. When he returns to his old self he will become stronger. He knows that Jade will keep her past self from doing anything foolish (he has faith in her) but he must keep his end. He must see the whole picture; he must become stronger than he is here. He must take a different route to power.
And with power he will ensure that no one ever dies again. He will win this evil joke of a game if it means he has to call down the skies to do it. He will save everyone he loves.
He watches the blackness descend and he resolves.
He wakes to dream, and takes his waking slow.