001 Mix [Reprise of Arise Anew]

[moveslikestrider]

…so let’s recap here. There’s someone out there with just as much rage in his cassock as Vantas. That’s not a good thing so don’t go patting yourself on the back there, Explosion. It’s the don’t-go-down-that-road sort of thing and the less I see or talk to you, the better. Glad we got that cleared up.

And the other guy would make Lalonde get busy with her skirts. Speaking of which, Rose, you’re here right?

I’m not just the lone Dersite that popped up into that shop and waltzed right back out into space. Because I refuse to call it the plane. That’s soul bonder and hippies with their magic brownies territory and I’m not cool with that. And what’s with the talk about experiments? [Dave pulls his hood off his head and straightens his shades so he can look around.]

That sounds straight out of some horror movie where the main chick goes on about how her dad was doing all this stuff but, they never heard from him again. Only shit son he’s right behind you with a needle. Whoops, there goes chump number one. Who’s next?

[At the lack of reply he frowns, waiting but hearing nothing.]
…

Hello?

Comments

[moveslikestrider]

Any warnings beforehand or, is always a surprise?

[His shoulders fall a little, but his expression remains the same.]

Nah, you're not wrong. A Strider's always prepared.

[lamb_of_gold]

The latter, I'm afraid.

Prepared and unsurprised are not always the same thing.

[moveslikestrider]

Course, what other way is there.

It was a joke. [It wasn't. It was a misdirection.] Anyways, seen any girl in orange and gold robes around? Goes by Rose or Lalonde.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Sadly, it's not nice to call strangers on bullshit.]

I'm afraid not; I take it you've read the brochures?

[moveslikestrider]

[Eh, Dave does it all the time. Then again he's a bit an asshole.]

Only a moron doesn't read what's provided, course I did. From Captain go-kill-yourself- to I'm sorry but you're up the creek without a paddle but take this. You'll need it.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Perhaps unexpectedly, this makes Mu laugh.]

It can be quite dangerous alone, if you don't know anything about this place.

[moveslikestrider]

And that's why the buddy system is just so popular. What's to know about this place besides what the guides said? I assume you're going to tell me.

[lamb_of_gold]

I'll answer questions if you have them; I'm afraid I've been here so long by now that things don't often seem as important to me as they do to other people.

[moveslikestrider]

Well here's a start, how long have you been here?

[lamb_of_gold]

Close to four years, best as I can tell. It can be difficult to track, coming and going as we do.

[moveslikestrider]

Jesus, how are you still sane?

[lamb_of_gold]

Sanity is a relative thing, but why would I not be?

[moveslikestrider]

[His mind swirls confusion at the statement, brief flashes of the impossible odds he's fought against. And the sheer inevitability of a fighting a losing battle. Dave himself just shuts his eyes behind his shades.]

Nothing.

[He cocks his head slightly, not unlike a crow.]

So this place. Isn't constantly some wash of horrible that sneaks up and kicks you in the back of the head. More like the occasional hit and run?

[lamb_of_gold]

It is most certainly not nothing.


One may pick and choose when they come and go, but you cannot stay away too long; you'll be drawn back here like a moth to a flame.

[moveslikestrider]

[Yes it is. He's so not expecting this place to be a murder fest just like home. Nope. Nadda.]

Great. We're all in some inter-spacial bug zapper. Bzzt, whoops that was Timmy. We knew him well.

[lamb_of_gold]

That analogy is surprisingly accurate, sometimes.

[moveslikestrider]

It fits everything, and that's all there is to say on the matter.

[lamb_of_gold]

This place does have the unfortunate habit of trying to get us killed, occasionally.

[moveslikestrider]

This is my surprised face. [Flat deadpan while inward exhaustion.] Anything that takes first and shoves the contract in your face second is a douchecanoe with their 'no humans were harmed in the makings of this film' rule.

[lamb_of_gold]

A contract implies that something was agreed to, under duress or not.

[moveslikestrider]

Point. But we do accept all of this plane shit as fact when for all we know, we could be hooked up in some lab, with a vast dream supplied so we're kept stupid.

It seems a bit too convenient if you follow what I'm spinning here.

[lamb_of_gold]

Not long ago, I may have agreed with you, but now I'm not so sure.

[moveslikestrider]

Really. What made you switch tracks?

[lamb_of_gold]

[There's a small shake of his head]

I'm not sure what, exactly, but things...began to feel different. More real, if that makes sense.

[moveslikestrider]

[His lips press into a thin line.]

Yeah, makes sense. When did it start to feel that way?