(34) super nova

She popped back into the room with the smell of burning wood and ozone.

Scarlet's breath was loud in her ears, her heart thundering in her ribcage. She felt sticky, much too hot for comfort.

The bedroom was dark, the fireplace empty. It was maybe 2 in the morning. She was alone.

There was a note on the cork board by the door, written in blue ink.

"Out w/ Mar n Will :)

-Rui <3"

Looks like Scarlet was the first one back. Adrenaline was still pumping through her veins, causing her hands to shake with worried fervor.

Everything was still too too too hot.

She took a cold shower, wetting her head quickly and cooling off before she slipped into bed and swiftly fell asleep.

---

Bird songs woke her up, from the tree outside the window. The comforter was too warm, jolting her upwards to kick off the covering. Images of solar flares and bright skies filled her vision, coming in intrusively before she was able to focus on reality again.

Cold air nipped at her bare feet. Her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She picked it up after a few seconds.

Chrys: Is it ok if I borrow ur jeep?

Scarlet: yeah, sure.

Scarlet: bring it back in 1 piece

She dressed in shorts and an open flannel, letting her hair wave about freely. A little too light for winter, maybe, but she’d be fine for now.

Steven and Gloss were in the kitchen.

"Hey, I didn't know you were back already." Steve said, plucking two pieces of toast out of the toaster.

Mmm. Too hot.

Scarlet nodded, going to grab orange juice from the fridge. "Got back last night."

"Welcome, traveler." Gloss mumbled out through a mouthful of sandwich. It looked like the blonde had tried to fit as much between two buns as humanly possible.

"Gloss, that's gross." Steve tutted.

"Eff off, little man."

Scarlet added ice cubes to her orange juice. If either of the other two kids noticed, they didn't say anything.

"Who has time for manners nowadays?" Gloss took another bite.

"Civilized people, apparently."

"You sound like Will. Scarlet, doesn't he sound like Will?" They both looked at her.

Scarlet smiled. "No, he does not have the accent."

Gloss looked scandalized, holding a hand over her heart. "You're supposed to support me here, girl!"

"Nah, don't do that." Steve sat down across from Gloss to eat his toast.

The two continued to bicker as Scarlet downed her glass. The cup felt cold in her hand, and she held onto that. The ice cubes chimes merrily.

She relaxed, if only a little bit.

---

I cant figure out how to end this so just take it already

Wrote this in july but didnt post until just now

(33) expectations

The halls were empty.

It was late, after all. Everyone else had gone to sleep. Even the servants were long gone, leaving her to walk the halls alone, but a whisper in the warm summer wind.

Aidan had said they would be all right, held her for hours, but she wasn’t… she wasn’t sure. She had a feeling. Extra guards were posted outside their wing, extra patrols around the island.

Yet inside, all was quiet. Even the waves were distant.

It was disconcerting.

Queen Marilyn tried to run there are quickly and quietly as she could, out of fear that something sat in the hallways. An assassin or a great lumbering beast, she wasn’t sure. The summer home was built with many windows and skylights, allowing the moon to touch every corner, but that didn’t account for the areas shrouded in curtain.

She knew when she was having a vision, knew when she was seeing into the future, but her abilities as a seer did next to nothing when it came to calming her anxiety.  

When Marilyn slipped into the nursery, the beach was only a bit more audible. It soothed her, if only a little, but that calm was instantly dashed away (dashed on the rocks like the prince's head would have been dashed) the second she saw how open the window was, how the curtains billowed in the open and how her son’s bed was empty.

The blind king blind king lead by his mother the second born son-

She fainted.

She saw a girl young too young her brains dashed on the ground a tower falling a sun covered by the moon a man executed a boy, Greg, staring on as brother was dragged away, a great beast with bright eyes and strong arms tearing away pillars like the castle was made of not marble but sand, they live in a sand castle bound to topple at any second a small girl a navy a crest of silver--

“Mari… Mari. You’re alright, it’s okay.” A hand brushed some hair away from her eyes. Aidan.

It was still night, still dark, but this time a guard stood by the door holding a glowstone lamp (commodity commodity commodity). Her husband (King Aidan the Ocean King King of thousands doomed fromthestart) was cradling her in his arms like one would a doll.

Marilyn focused on him-- his golden eyes, his lumpy nose, the little scar on his cheek. The whispers faded, if gradually.

“...Hi.” She rasped. Aidan’s shoulders visibly sank with relief.

“You scared me there, for a second.” he admitted, just as softly.

“I’m sorry.” She tried to smile.

“Mom.” The voice was small, scared. Out in the hallway, the crown prince hid behind another guard. He’d wrapped his chubby hands in the guard’s golden cape, afraid to step forward. The guard himself was kneeling, trying to comfort the two year old the best he could.

“Ronan.” Marilyn breathed. He was alright. He was--

Her throat caught at the memory of what she’d seen in the vision.

“Come here, honey.”

Slowly, Aidan helped her sit up a little more so she could hug their son.

The King knew enough to recognize that his wife was shaken by whatever had happened. Marilyn hugged Ronan with what strength she had left, burying her face in his curly head of hair, breathing in his smell. The child likewise melted at her touch, holding her tight.

For now, she was conforted.

It was Aidan who saw the thing standing in the corner of the room, empty eyes bright enough to sear into his memory forever.

Then he blinked, and it was gone.

---

I wrote this like… two weeks ago

(32) trust

Louie the dog was sitting on the lawn right in front of the kitchen window, enjoying the fair summer day with a smile. In fact, nothing could bring her from her joy. Not even, apparently, Mulder the bird landing on her back to chill as well.

Mulder, Steven’s weird zero-zone1 crow.

What… Huh?

Behind Rui, someone else walked in-- Luke.

The older girl turned quickly, hissing “Look at this.”

“Look at what?”

“Look!”

He, too, was befuddled by the coexistence of nature.

Mulder ruffled their wings, settling in a bit more. Louie continued to relax with a look of content on her face.

Rui and Luke were still staring, open mouthed, when Will meandered in to refill his mug with tea.

“What are you two sods staring at--”

“No, no, shh, look at this!” Rui grabbed him, much to his dislike.

“Hey fuck off--”

“Look at what Louie and Mulder are doing!” Luke exclaimed in a hushed tone, as if the two animals could hear him.

“So?”

“So, isn’t that a little weird?”

“I--” Will’s anger cooled, if only slightly. “Well. I mean, yeah. A little.”

He stayed to watch as well, if only a little sheepishly.

A few minutes passed by, and nothing happened. What the kids thought was going to happen was probably different for each of them, but they all stayed regardless.

“Whatchya guys doing?”

“Steven!!” Rui and Luke both turned with matched enthusiasm. Will took a sip of his tea, averting his gaze.

“...Why are you all staring out the window?”

“Louie and Mulder are both coexisting!” Luke said.

“Um… what?”

“Isn’t that weird?” Rui pulled Steve forward a little to get a better look, but Steve just looked puzzled.

“You haven’t seen them do that before? They do it all the time.”

Um. What. No?

At their confused silence, Steve continued. “You’ve seriously never seen them do that before?”

“...No?”

Steve shrugged. “Huh. Alright.” He walked away.

Will sniffed, bringing his cup up to his mouth and slinking away. His face was red. Rui and Luke just looked incredulous for a few more minutes, taking a few more glances out the window before they too wandered off.

---

1. I was trying to come up w/ different names for the weird space in-between dimensions and came up w/ the ‘zero zone.’ There are probs a lot of different terms tho, like slang n shit.

also. i THINK i edited this. I think.

(31) rain storm

He’d been there for too long, again.

It felt like he had sand in his eyes, and his back hurt. Gloss came and peeked in earlier, left a cup of coffee on the table for him to drink. He’d forgotten about it until it was too cold, but he still drank it anyway.

She looked so pale, just lying there.

Will felt like he couldn't blink too often, or else she’d disappear again.

He’d left his phone in his room, didn’t want to get it.  There wasn’t any clock in this room yet, so he didn’t know the exact time. It was early morning, that he knew. A storm had moved in a little while ago, and it was still raining.

The sheets on the bed were fresh, just recently cleaned, and she’d look as if she were sleeping if it weren’t for the oxygen mask on her face and the various tubes connected to her. The tubes keeping her alive, stable.

No heart monitor yet, but Artie had been reading up on the best ones.

Layla said they could all be self sufficient for a certain period of time, but she herself had only seen that once and wasn’t sure of the certain requirements for such a situation to take place. No one wanted to take any chances. This was a rare case.

Half of the time he just spent blankly sitting there, his mind clear of any thought or feeling, but the other half he spent replaying the events that lead them to this point.

The Change, finding her, losing her again.

The way she looked just… lying there. Why she was lying there. The…

...The way her brains looked splattered on the floor like that and Oh God Will you dumb motherfucker you could have stopped all of that why didn’t you you’re useless--

His breath caught.

The the rain thrummed on the rooftop. All else was silent.

He really needed to stop going there, mentally.

Focus on her. Study her face, how familiar it was. How it brought back waves of nostalgia.

He wasn’t going to let anything touch her ever again.

Will moved to drink from the coffee cup again before he remembered it was empty.

---

haha i wonder who that is

I dont wanna strinctly say b/c it’s a big part of the plot/will’s character arch in the final Story

(30) Years in the future, but not many...

> Years in the future, but not many…

Steven Saxon woke with a jolt, tangled in blankets and falling halfway off the couch.

Louie was sitting next to him, an amiable look on her face. Smells of cake batter and frosting wafted into the room, from the kitchen across the hallway. A bowl hit the counter too hard, and Steve heard Chrys curse.

Still, it was quiet. Nothing screaming, no notifications going off, not meteors raining down on his house.

Speaking of which, what… what was that?

Fucking hell.

That was all weirdly formatted and weirdly specific and you were Rui for a moment there and everything went to shit? Also, Rick Astley?

Rui’s house doesn’t even have an observatory. Also your “chumhandle” was fucking misspelled the. Entire. Time. And wouldn’t you not be in school on your birthday?

Steve scratched Louie behind the ears for a little comfort, righting himself into a sitting position. He stayed that way until his heart slowed to a normal beat, then casually grabbed his phone. There was a text notification.

== > FILE TRANSFER: SBURB DELTA; HOST.

Jesus fucking Christ on a cracker what the fuck.

---

aaaand that’s a wrap! What turned into a cute homage for 4/13 turned into me rewriting all of act one. i dont know how this happened. Homestuck has ended, and yet i am still stuck in this pit of suffering.

where’s my fucking epilogue

i don’t know if saxon is steve’s actual last name im testing out stuff

seriously disappointed that the sweet font i found isn't transferring like it's only for a few lines but damn

(29) END ACT ONE

I POSTED THIS ON BIO-RAMA FOR A HOT TEN SECONDS WHAT THE FUCK GOODBYE

I WANT TO BURY MYSELF 

---

> Chrys: Investigate weird changes in the house.

Alright you’ve ignored this long enough what the fuck is going on.

> Steve: Run back to your room to use your computer.

Two chums have been trying to message you.

> Steve: Answer chums.

PF: ok so im working on fixing the bathroom i guess theres still some dry plaster everywhere but w/e

SS: Who the fuck cares about that there’s a meteor heading for my house!!!

PF: WHAT

SS: YEAH!!!

PF: SHIT MAYBE ITS THE GAME??

SS: NO, REALLY??

PF: ok um try using the lathe

PF: walkthroughs say you can use the card on it 2 play along with the game and uh

PF: avoid ultimate doom i guess??

PF: DONT DIE

SS: FUCKING THANKS

-- suaveHelix [SH] began pestering straightSqwawker [SS] at 15:31 --

SH: Hey heard you got the game.

SS: Yeah its kind of

SS: Problematic

SH: ???

SS: There’s a meteor heading for my house

SH: Why the fuck would that be part of the game.

SS: Well?? If i knew i would tell you?? BUT I DON’T

SH: Why did you even play this game?

SS: You got the game too!!

SH: Yeah but I’m not PLAYING it.

SS: Whats the fucking difference honestly

SH: You know what fuck you you’re one to judge.

SS: Why are you messaging me again??

SS: Hello??

SS: ???

SS: Fuck you i dont have time for this

> Steve: Use pre-punched card on totem lathe.

You know, the giant microscope.

You slip the PRE-PUNCHED CARD into a slot on the TOTEM LATHE. Above, the TOOL ARM deploys a configuration of chisels.

Now you just need something to… lathe?

> Steve: Take cruxite to totem lathe.

Cursing your lack of foresight, you return to the BALCONY for the CRUXITE DOWEL you left on the pedestal.

You navigate the hallway leery of CHRYS, who is presently puzzling over the new fixture in his hallway.

(The toilet. It’s the honest to God TOILET in the hallway of course it is.)

> PF: Put the duffel bag in a more suitable position.

Haha the perfect crime, no one will ever suspect it happened.

...Probably.

> Steve: Return to room.

You retrieved the CRUXITE DOWEL.

Chrys is gone, thankfully.

If only she knew that you were hard at work to save every hair on her little head.

Back in your room, you use the CRUXITE DOWEL on the lathe, and it carves it up to look like a vase.

You obtain ONE (1) TOTEM.

SS: Alright what next

-- plantFiesta [PF] is no longer connected! --

SS: Fucking dammit

From outside the door, there’s a loud crash as a toilet is dropped, preventing your door from opening and trapping you in your room.

SS: GOD FUCKING DAMMIT!!!

== > Be PF.

A young lady stands in her bedroom. Due to a violent storm, her house has just lost power, along with her wireless internet connection. This has severed her link to a popular video game she was playing with a young man at a critical moment. That young man is relying on this young lady to reestablish a connection somehow. This young lady named...

Named...

It's on the tip of your tongue. What was the name of this young lady again?

> Enter Name.

“BARNACLE BOOBS.”

Um, what?

> One more time.

“RUI CARTER”

That’s it!

Your name is RUI. As was previously mentioned you are without ELECTRICITY, although your LAPTOP COMPUTER still functions on BATTERY POWER. You have a variety of INTERESTS. You have a passion for FANTASY EPICS. You enjoy creative writing and are SOMEWHAT SECRETIVE ABOUT IT. You have a fondness for the BIOLOGICAL WONDERS OF THE WORLD, and sometimes dabble in CHEMISTRY. You also like to SHOP, and your room is a BIT OF A MESS. And on occasion, if just the right one strikes your fancy, you like to play VIDEO GAMES with your friends.

What will you do?

> Rui: Writhe like a flagellum and puke on your bed.

Ugh, what a terrible idea! The thought alone makes you sick to your stomach.

> Rui: Stroke writing journal and mutter, ‘My precious…’

Haha, what up HOBBIT REFERENCE.

> Rui: Make sure the plants on your windowsill are watered.

Of course! Can’t have any babies getting parched.

> Steve: Pace around your room like a caged tiger.

OH MY GOD YOU’RE GOING TO DIE WHAT DO YOU DO

> Rui: Look out window.

Your window offers a view of your yard below, and the VEGETABLE GARDEN your MOTHER so caringly tends to in the spring and summer. Your MOM made the garden shortly after you moved into this house, years ago. It’s a sort of STRESS RELIEF for her.

You can also make out a silhouette of the RADIO TOWER next door, a facility which might broadcast a strong WIRELESS INTERNET SIGNAL. You may be able to connect to the signal from a different part of the house. Maybe if you seek higher ground?

> Rui: Go explore the house.

You leave your BEDROOM.

Hanging just next to your door in the hallway is a painting of GOATS PLAYING POKER. Your mother collects these awful things IRONICALLY. She must know how much you detest them, and there is no doubt in your mind she stores these dreadful things in the house to bother you.

Down the hall to the right is the way to the OBSERVATORY. Perhaps you will be able to connect from up there?

Your mother's room is also in that direction. You will have to watch your step, since she might be taking a nap.

> Rui: Tiptoe to observatory and try to connect.

You take your LAPTOP out of your BRANCHING SYLLADEX. Predictably it collapses, having been held up by the laptop. A TEXTBOOK, a STUFFED CAT, and a BOWL OF STEAMING EASY MAC drops to the floor. The EASY MAC spills on impact.

Oh my gosh you forgot you had that in there!!

> Rui: See what you can observe.

You're in a hurry, sure, but that doesn't mean you can't take moment to peek through the HUGE TELESCOPE.

You find a gap in the clouds. It seems a flurry of smaller METEOROIDS is streaking steadily overhead. You're not sure what this means, but it is somewhat disconcerting.

> Rui: Stack laptop on textbook to maximize elevation.

Excellent!

> Rui: Access radio tower wifi network.

There are several signals being broadcasted from the LABORATORY, each of relatively decent strength.

One of them is mysteriously and quite conveniently UNSECURED, requiring no password.

You select the signal, and reconnect to the game with Steve.

PF: SORRY SORRY SORRY!!

SS: I AM GOING TO DIE THERES ONLY 40 SMTHN SECONDS LEFT

PF: OK JUST MAKE THE NEW TOTEM WHEN YOU GET OUT

SS: WHAT???

SS: ????

PF: THE APPLE LOOKING THING IT’S APPARENTLY FREE AND SUPER IMPORTANT

> Rui: Remove door from hinges.

There was probably a better way to do that but hey! Steve won’t die now!

> Steve: Take totem to alchemiter.

You need to get these STUPID FUCKING BLOCKS out of the way before you can even use the alchemiter!

The KERNELSPRITE you prototyped is getting awfully worked up about all this!

> Rui: Remove blocks.

You store the PERFECTLY GENERIC OBJECTS in your PHERNALIA REGISTRY, potentially to be deployed at a later time.

Everything seems to be going good and oh my gosh suddenly there’s a tree on your roof.

How is Chrys not seeing this right now??!

There’s an apple growing on the tree, perfectly sculpted. It falls to the ground with a thump, but you catch it when it bounces a second time.

Then the meteor is right upon you.

[S] Steve: Take bite of apple.

END OF ACT ONE

---

I THINK i edited this earlier, but im not super duper sure and i just finished writing my petit prince project so im dead inside