“I must concur with Lieutenant Spocari, Captain,” pleads 1st Science Officer Dr. I.C. Yourinsides. “All data I’m recieving states that New Eden will be crushed inside the black hole. We must reverse, full speed!”
Tropp stays calm in his chair. “Call me crazy confident, guys, but I think we can do it. One day — Spocari, I.C. — you or someone else of your ilk might be in charge. But not now, not today. This is my decision to make.”
“For-WARD!”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0410, New Eden^^
I suppose Tropp’s true home will always be New Eden, where he has the most control. However, he always seems to be running for his life from something there.
This part looks like Mars — it isn’t Mars.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0409, New Eden^^
“This use to be Chroma’s house, you know.”
“Don’t say.”
“Greg, that is. Ogden. Not the odious Oden fellow.”
“Green, yeah.” She pretend spits on the floor beside the couch. “Disgusting. Red, yellow and blue’s where it’s at.”
“‘Hidden Vilage.'”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0404, Gaston^^
“I’ve decided I like this role, Axis, and will stay a while here in Middletown with Mr. Babyface and his two goons.”
Half-Axis considered. “You’re not getting back *together* with…”
“Of course not,” Flo cut off. “Banish that from your mind, love. I’m with you now. At least until Xmas. But you’re a changer too. Better go dance up in New Eden to get back to proper form. In fact, I’ll go with you. I need a little break from Cartoon Town.”
—–
She yelled over the music (The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”) while dancing. “Ahh, this is the life.” She spun around again, then spoke directly over while facing him: “Cross your fingers (she crosses her own fingers here) — I find that treasure before you-know-who gets to it.”
He nodded and continued his frantic gyrations, but the Half-Tropp part remained in place. This was not the right core.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0312, Middleton^, New Eden^^
Better not head up there as a piece of cheese.
Treelor crosses the line.
—–
Look and learn.
Ahh, someone standing before the Kama(s) Portal (!). Chance?
Another observer?
I’m going to fly over there…
—–
He’s not exactly where I thought the portal was (256/128). Then again, maybe I was wrong.
I’m on the line once more…
—–
“Why do you need me here again, Misty? We’re a long ways from Philo… and it’s getting dark. Maybe I better escort you home now.”
“Shut up and listen, retro-boy,” Misty insisted (Misty again?). “I *need* you because I need to be part of a couple. Takes two to know, after all. You know… the portal.”
“I don’t know what you’re on about witch lady.”
“Just follow me.”
—–
“I don’t understand, Misty.” Septimius Felton’s voice was low and anxious. “There’s a bat lady over there… dancing. And then there’s one behind us. Gargoyles I fear. I read about them in the town library. It’s Salem all over again here. This is high witchery.” He stared steadily and intensely at Misty, as if she were to blame for it all.
“All right, all right,” she relented. “Just stop burning me alive with those eyes; we’ll go back. Your *comfort* zone. Swindon’s it is But first…”
—–
“*That’s* a gargoyle, Septimius. The others are just some kind of demons. See how it just perches there at the corner of a building, waiting for rain water so that it can spout out of its mouth again? Spout, gargoyle,” she demanded boldly. “Spout *observer*.”
“Interesting,” both declare in unison.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0303, The Straight^
He wandered around the living room while Misty was preparing herself upstairs. He eventually found the open alchemy book in the locked art deco secretary, as she had planned.
He had to make out what was on the pages in reverse. Oh, he thought while staring at the tree rising backwards from the man. That’s interesting, hmm.
Hmm.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0112, Heterocera, Myron^
Misty made sure she was strategically positioned on the ladder upon Septimius’ approach. She also liked to face away from him as often as possible because of the scars she was so self conscious about. Misty hoped that they weren’t a deal breaker in the end, but she doubted it. All signs point to the tree.
“Afternoon, Mrs. Dorn.” Again with the appellation, Misty thought. My husband has been dead in his grave for over 3 years now (she’s learned) and still I’ll remain a Mrs. until remarried. Not fair!
He studied both her and the tree while still standing safely in the road. “That’s not an apple tree you’re picking from, Mrs. Dorn. Those are behind your neighbor Mrs. Dabbs, remember? Seems like your picking, er, barking up the wrong tree.” He laughed good-naturedly with this attempted joke.
I seriously doubt it, Misty thought. “Oh, I’m actually picking leaves,” she said aloud. “For a decoration in my house, a garland I think it is called.”
“Oh,” a puzzled Septimius Felton responded. “Well, do you need any help? Can I… do you want to hand them down to me as you pick them?” What’s this with leaf decorations, he thought to himself. Is this more future witchery? I don’t recall other neighbors engaging in such activity. I must ask Horace Wise at the next town meeting. He’ll probably know. He’s an expert in 1880-1920 history. Post-R.B. Hayes.
“No, I have enough now, I believe. Just help me down off this ladder if you don’t mind and we’ll go inside.”
“Swindon’s starts jumping after dark,” Septimus says while walking over. “But I see you’re already dressed for the occasion.” That dress, he thinks. In truth, he’s already wondering if Swindon’s is the actual destination point tonight.
Misty jumps down the last several rugs. “Thank you.” She attempts to tip her hat as low as possible while motioning toward the house. Those darn face wounds. “Shall we?”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0111, Heterocera, Myron^
“What do you think, Brevin? Pretty good disguise, eh?”
“Haaatt!” the colorful fowl cawed. “Haaaaaaatttt!”
—–
Dearest Axis,
I miss you so much. I am sorry about the trick back at the fairy forest. Hope to see you soon.
Yours in love,
Misty.
“Misty?” she says aloud, staring at the signature line.
“Top of the day to you,” called Septimius Felton, sneaking up behind her. “See you’re using one of those fancy future machines again. Typing to your boyfriend, huh?” He laughed agreeably. “But just a friendly reminder…”
“I know, I know,” said, um — Misty (?), shutting down the window. “No future machines. No future anything.”
“Who’s the president?” Septimius tested.
“Garfield.” Pause. “Wait… Grant.”
“I know you’re funning me, Mrs. Dorn.”
Mrs.?, thought Misty(?). I’m *married*? She hadn’t turned around yet. She didn’t want him to see her scars.
“You know the presidents better than I,” he continued. “We almost didn’t make it through R.B. Hayes, though. Almost became a *socialist* country, without a true ruler. But we all got through it. But of course you’re too young to remember all that hoopla.”
“I read all about it in sex ed history class, though,” she proclaimed proudly, reverting to old, classic style bluster.
Septimius walked into the gazebo beside her. Oh it’s *you*, she thought, looking over the familiar, top hat topped gentleman, dapper in a period suit. Does he remember? Does he know? He eyed the fall leaf sugar cookies eagerly. She decides to gesture toward the opposite chair. What would it hurt?
“Don’t mind if I do,” he said matter-of-factly, scooting out the cast iron chair before sitting down, then noisily scooching it back to the table on the wood planked flooring. A sugar cookie was in his hand in no time.
Closed, thought a relieved Misty, staring at the subsequently masticating mouth. He’s at least evolved past Tin Tin, thankfully. He was really quite handsome, she thought. Despite being just a, um, prop.
He cleared his throat, and indicated the laptop with a nod of the head. “About time to put that away, don’t you think. Talk person to person, like it should be. 1920, Mrs. Dorn. And Woodrow Wilsonia is the first female president. Who would have thunk it?”
Who would have indeed, thought Misty.
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0109, Heterocera, Mountain Lake^, Myron^
“You’re changing over again.” Her voice was watery and lilting, slightly evil. “You must have stared at that chess piece too long, you *king*.”
“You said there was treasure here in the High Country,” he declared firmly with iron voice. No joking around for him now.
“There *is*.”
“But not up here.”
“No,” she admitted. “That was a trick. Did you enjoy my trick?”
Axis didn’t answer. The transformation had been completed. “Better go groundside then.”
“In just a minute. I’m going to take an (alchemical) bath first. Clean myself off of all this fairy dust.”
“Suit yourself. I’ll leave without you.”
Filed under **VIRTUAL SL, 0011, 0108, Mountain Lake^
Sunklands 