MINGLE - Post-Op(era) Recovery

[pumpkinhollow]

On this night we drink to the death of Sorrow.

After the Fall of Efrain With the Prince of Sorrow's Song dead and gone, the opera dissipates, spitting its victims out on the summit of Crane's Ridge where the Dance of Celestine was held some months before. It's getting late, and there is no one yet in town to run the train. Some will brave the trip home simply for the sake of collapsing into their own beds and achieving some sense of normalcy. Others will do so with the hope of returning with help. But many others will simply say "fuck it" and camp out on the mountain, still fitted with extra firewood from the festival and the means to build temporary structures in nearby storage sheds. The journey down will be safer in the morning, and there's solidarity to be had in a cool spring night spent under the stars.

Oh, look, there's even some non-perishable food and wine from the Dance. Combined with what can be hunted or foraged, as well as snacks and drinks stolen from the concession stand, there's plenty to go around. This might even be a little bit fun! Anyone up for another game of Never Have I Ever? Maybe a little Truth or Dare? Or perhaps you just want to chat and unwind with your friends. Whatever the case may be, have fun. This is your time. After darkness, there is a dawn. At the death of Sorrow, there is joy.

Comments

Gwen Stacy | OTA

[thismaskismybadge]

Gwen can't seem to bring herself to sit still for long. She flits around helping make the space as comfortable for this impromptu camp-out, or checking on people she knows (especially the kiddos), or just... moving. Occasionally she takes a break, warming herself by the fire or grabbing a snack, but sometimes even those breaks are taken higher up on the rocks where few have an easy time climbing—though perhaps she'd come down or help you climb up.

For the first time in... a long time, she's in her supersuit. She keeps picking at the fabric, smoothing it out, adjusting where the hood sits. Like remembering how to wear her own skin.

NHIE

"Never have I ever finished high school." She flashes a stupid peace sign. "Runaway life! Who needs a diploma, anyway."

NHIE

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar waves a peace sign back at her, with a grin. "Never had any kind of school."

[thismaskismybadge]

"Uneducated life!" Okay well she at least got some standard schooling before she became a superhero, but still. Jokes. "Is that a thing we're allowed to high-five over or is that, like, weird?"

[hate_gettin_older]

By way of answer, he holds up a hand for a high five.

[thismaskismybadge]

Gwen rears up and gives him a very powerful high-five. Like, as much oomph as she can put into it without actively causing pain.

[hate_gettin_older]

The force takes him a little by surprise, but his reaction is more approving than not.

"So ... did you want to finish high school, or better off not?"

[thismaskismybadge]

"Honestly, I don't even know at this point." She snorts and shrugs. "Younger me had these grand college ambitions but that was before the superpowers and the turning into an interdimensional runaway. These days I think I'd rather just hero full time if I ever go to a universe where it makes sense."

[hate_gettin_older]

"Huh." He contemplates that for a moment. "Tell you the truth, I dunno either. If I'd want to have it. Seems like it wouldn't do any fuckin good where I grew up, but if I lived somewhere it fit?" He shakes his head, shrugs. "Who even knows, man."

[thismaskismybadge]

"Yeah, hypotheticals are always kinda weird. Especially after you've had the whole 'there's other universes out there' lesson, I think. I'd probably have a different answer if I'd just been, like, the normal kind of teenage runaway."

Rather than an interdimensional teenage runaway.

[hate_gettin_older]

He wants to ask what she was running away from. It doesn't seem like a fair question, though, not for someone he isn't close with.

"Din't know there was a normal for that," he offers instead, which means she can talk more about it if she feels like it.

[thismaskismybadge]

"I mean, most runaways don't run away to a whole other universe. They usually just hop on a Greyhound and go to the next state over or something."

She's not particularly guarded about that part, at least. Spending so long hopping between alternate dimensions comes up a lot when you're stuck in one.

[hate_gettin_older]

Edgar's face shows a moment of confusion. "Greyhound?"

[thismaskismybadge]

"Oh, right—they're a bus company," she clarifies. "The kind of bus company you can afford an interstate trip on with a few months' allowance, depending on how far you wanna go."

[hate_gettin_older]

A silent ah, and a nod.

"Whole other universe is a lot farther than that. Guess it's different if you can do it on purpose though."

[thismaskismybadge]

"Yeah, I got lucky like that. Makes being stuck in one universe kinda weird. My travel watch died when I turned up on the ship and never started working again."

And so, stuck twice over.

[hate_gettin_older]

"Been to a couple other universes," he offers, "but not on my own, like. Dunno how you'd ever find your way in all that much ... " Waving a hand illustratively. "Everything."