The Longest Thread (Misadventures)

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Shoe continued to sit quietly next to her.

“You should just go,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

“You should just go,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

He didn't move; just continued to stare at the ground.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

He didn't move; just continued to stare at the ground.

Shame and despair spiraled through her like a drill. I knew it. I— 

Livetha, turn it off. 

No. 

Beosta curled up tighter. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

Shame and despair spiraled through her like a drill. I knew it. I— 

Livetha, turn it off. 

No. 

Beosta curled up tighter. 

You don't deserve it, he finally whispered.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

You don't deserve it, he finally whispered.

I just told you I killed him!

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, The Halcyon Girl said:

I just told you I killed him!

You did, he agreed, But . . .

You're also trying to bring him back. You regret what you did, and you want to make it better.

Surely that's worth something.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

2 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

You did, he agreed, But . . .

You're also trying to bring him back. You regret what you did, and you want to make it better.

Surely that's worth something.

“Only if I fix it,” she whispered. “I… and now…”

[Immortal Platypus]

10 hours ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

  Hide contents

His vision faded again and swirled into a small, simple bedroom. The memory felt somehow duller than last time.  

—

Her father woke her early. She was twelve years old today, the first birthday her mother would not see. He intended to make up for her absence, Beosta knew. She just wasn’t sure how. 

Just being awake hurts, she thought as she watched her father retreat from her room. Slowly, she slid across her bed to reach for her hairbrush. She ran her fingers through her braid, then again, undoing the plait before brushing the ends of her hair. 

She had hair like her mother’s; long, dark, and wavy. Her mother could have worn it up, in the style of a woman, but she’d chosen to leave it long and loose. Beosta  wondered why. Being a woman must be better than being a girl. She would always wear her hair up when she got older.

“Beosta,” her father called. “Hurry up. We have things to do.” 

Beosta slightly hastened her brushing, then pulled on a deep green dress— her mother’s favorite color, the color of living, growing things. Her mother had always called herself lucky that her eyes were the color she loved. 

Naturally, Beosta loved it too.

She turned to the mirror and ran her fingers through her hair one more time, then reluctantly left through the door. 

Her father stood there waiting. He rested one of his strong, calloused hands on her shoulder. “You’re twelve now.”

She didn’t know why he said so. Everyone knew it already. 

“Come on out to the yard. We’ve got something to get out of the way before you head into town.”

Beosta followed quietly. She didn’t know what her father wanted. Honestly, it didn’t really matter. They let the door close behind them and crossed to the front gate, where a figure was waiting— a blonde man wearing embroidered silks and a jerkin. Beosta felt her father’s grip tighten. 

“Lordship Hecob,” he said. “What do you want?” 

“Your son,” he said. “I want your son to stop associating with Faothea.”

Father scowled. “My son is doing no wrong.” 

“Faothea is meant for Geioh.”

“She’s merely fifteen. There is plenty of time.” 

“Yes,” he said, leaning close. “Plenty of time, I’m sure, for you to find a new town to live in.” 

Beosta frowned. “Why would we need to move?” 

Hecob turned to her with a start of surprise. “Because, little girl. I am the lord of this city.” 

“But Father says you’re out of—” She cut off when he squeezed her shoulder. 

“I will keep that in mind,” he told Hacob coldly. “You may leave now. Your message is delivered.”

Lordship Hacob gave him a curt nod and held his gaze for another moment before fluffing his cape and setting off back down the road. Her father watched him go. With a little scoff, he turned Beosta around and led her to the shed by the barn. 

Nethek waited there, holding a leather bag. He offered Beosta a nervous smile. Father took the bag from him and lifted his hand from Beosta’s shoulder. “Nethek, stay away from that girl for a little while.”

“We’re just—”

“I don’t care if you’re just friends, Nethek. Stay away from her for a while.” 

Nethek scuffled his feet in the dirt. 

“Go inside.”

“But—”

“Go inside, Nethek. 

Her brother retreated. 

Father leaned on the fence around the pigpen. “What do you see in there, Beosta?” 

She frowned and copied him. “There’s a bunch of piglets with their mom. They’re eating— they’re old enough for scraps now.”

“And?” 

She tried to see whatever it was he wanted her to, but all she saw was a bunch of pigs fighting over the feeding box. “They’re hungry?” 

“Close enough.” Her father leaned forward and pointed out one of the piglets on the end. “You see that one?” The piglet in question seemed especially aggressive, shoving the others aside and snorting noisily. “That one eats a lot, but doesn’t grow very much. He takes food that could fatten the other piglets, but he won’t ever grow very big.”

“That’s sad.”

“Yes, it is. It’s sad for us, because it means less bacon. Do you know what we do when we have an unproductive piglet?” 

A cold, icy feeling wrapped around Beosta’s throat. She didn’t reply. 

“Come here.” He opened the gate. “Go get it and bring it here.” 

Beosta looked up at him. Was it her imagination, or did his eyes narrow slightly in warning? She swallowed and walked into the pigpen. 

“Here, piggy,” she said softly, half hoping that the pig would be frightened and run away, out of the pen. But the pig ate on, snuffling and grunting, eliciting squeals of protest from his siblings. 

Beosta hesitated for another second and glanced at her father’s hard face. Then she gently reached out to grab him. 

He was heavier than she’d expected, squealing and kicking to get back to his meal. She carried him out of the gate and followed her father back behind the barn. 

She hadn’t been back here before. She didn’t like to be. There wasn’t much anyway— a patch of dirt, a spigot to an underground spring, and a pole with a leash. 

“Set him down,” Father said. 

Beosta had almost forgotten how much pigs could twist themselves. She set him on the ground while her father slid the leash around the piglet’s neck. 

“All right,” he said, kneeling next to the piglet. “Hold him for me. Hold him fast, Beosta.” 

In a daze, she knelt, clutching the pig to her body. Father moved one hand to the piglet’s jaw, then pulled a small knife out of the bundle. “Now you don’t slit the throat straight on,” he coached, feeling for the right spot. “That’s not fast enough. The good arteries are all on the side of the neck.”

It was quick, so quick it felt criminal. The pig thrashed, blood dripping down his neck. Her father set down the knife and stood. 

“You can let go now.” 

Beosta clung tighter. 

“Beosta, let go of the pig.” 

Beosta opened her hands and watched the pig run, squealing, around the fence. Then he buckled and collapsed, dead. 

Her father moved next to the pig again, pulling out a tarp and several more tools. He locked eyes with his daughter. 

“Sometimes,” he murmured, “we have to do unsavory things— bad things— for the ones who truly matter. You see?”

Beosta didn’t let her eyes stray from his, terribly aware of the blood everywhere and the dead pig beneath her father’s hands. 

He sighed. “Only twelve. I’m sorry, Beosta, to make you see this. But you're the woman of the house now.”

Her gaze dropped to the dirt, stained with red.

“Go change, love. You’ve got blood on your dress.” 

As if she’d been shocked, she jumped to her feet and ran back to the house, long, dark hair fluttering behind her. 

I gotta edit it again, but this is what you get for now  

I should prolly spoiler it but I don’t really feel like it. So yuh

…Imma go sleep now. 

there I spoilered it. You’re welcome, all you TLT people. 

...

Lordship Hacob? He didn't exist until a little while ago...

1 hour ago, Sequence said:

Sequence stared at Ista for a moment. "... I... Yes, of course. Fuzzy- ... No, she's unavailable... Cardinal... Is also unavailable... Hm..."
"I can take them." A voice spoke up. Sequence, alarmed, jumped so hard she almost fell out of her chair... For like, the four-hundredth time. A... Person of indistinguishable gender stood on the porch. They wore a simple grey jacket with jeans, and had pasty white skin with short, messy black hair. Their bored eyes held a little bit of crimson, and black mist gathered at their feet.

"... I'm not so sure that-"
Everyone cut Sequence off.
"That what? I know the way, I can show them."

Sequence looked very unsettled, but nodded slowly and turned to Ista.
"This is Everyone. They are a... Friend of mine. They will help you get to unreal space, as I am occupied..." Everyone waved, giving a big, slightly unnerving grin.

Not Everyone. They're all gonna die if Everyone's their guide Sequence! Then again, he'll probably kill them anyway, so it doesn't matter that much. Hacob transmitted to Sequence.

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

Just now, Immortal Platypus said:

Not Everyone. They're all gonna die if Everyone's their guide Sequence! Then again, he'll probably kill them anyway, so it doesn't matter that much. Hacob transmitted to Sequence.

There's nobody else to do it! Plus, I trust Everyone... Marginally... Besides, I'm watching them. If anything goes spectacularly wrong, I can intervene.

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

20 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

“Only if I fix it,” she whispered. “I… and now…”

And now, you're still doing your best, he said softly. Things happen. Sometimes you can stop them, sometimes you can't. But ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you should do about it.

I . . . I've seen people who've made the same mistakes that you have. I've seen people who've made mistakes that were more serious or less serious; but that hurt them the same way. I've watched them drown themselves in their grief and regret, so caught up in their own guilt that they can't even find the strength to keep living.

But some of the best people I've ever known were part of that group. They hated themselves more than anything else. He sighed. But . . . they came back from it. They tried to find the strength to keep going, and . . . it's not that they broke themselves trying to make themselves feel as terrible as possible; it's that they tried to atone for what they did by deciding to do better.

He shrugged. Based on that . . . you seem like a pretty great person to me.

Edited November 5, 2024 by Through The Living Glass

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

6 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

And now, you're still doing your best, he said softly. Things happen. Sometimes you can stop them, sometimes you can't. But ultimately, it's up to you to decide what you should do about it.

I . . . I've seen people who've made the same mistakes that you have. I've seen people who've made mistakes that were more serious or less serious; but that hurt them the same way. I've watched them drown themselves in their grief and regret, so caught up in their own guilt that they can't even find the strength to keep living.

But some of the best people I've ever known were part of that group. They hated themselves more than anything else. He sighed. But . . . they came back from it. They tried to find the strength to keep going, and . . . it's not that they broke themselves trying to make themselves feel as terrible as possible; it's that they tried to atone for what they did by deciding to do better.

He shrugged. Based on that . . . you seem like a pretty great person to me.

Beosta didn’t know what to say to that. Suddenly, she couldn’t stop crying, and she leaned on his shoulder without realizing it. 

Really? Do you really think that?  She asked, feeling hopeful and scared and very, very young. 

[NameIess]

15 hours ago, xinoehp512 said:

"Great!" said Nogard, eyes snapping back into focus. "Let's go back to the battlefield, then."

Selppaenip frowned. "...highly limited? But I thought..."

"Yes, highly limited." Subversion's glare strengthened, and Selppaenip felt a chill seep into his bones. "Just like most magical powers." She broke off her glare, and the chill vanished. "Sounds good Nogard. I'll get to it." She hopped down into the crater and started carefully making her way to the portal stone.

15 hours ago, xinoehp512 said:

TP grumbled and did a aileron roll, then landed next to Hacob.

14 hours ago, Immortal Platypus said:

Not here! I can't be obvious about my assistance!

"Hello General. Valiant One." He gives a nod to each of them before continuing. "Can I talk to the Great Wizard? I never actually got to, and I would like to know more of his side. I know a lot from the Brave Adventurer's perspective, but not too much from him."

The General muttered something under her breath. "You may speak to him once he is secured in our custody, Narrator. There will be time before the trial."

15 hours ago, xinoehp512 said:

"I just walked through a door," said Erif wearily.

"...you expect us to believe you want to help us?" Erif asked skeptically.

"Still, you were trespassing. If you really are not guilty of a crime, then your trial will prove so." The Brave Adventurer shook his head disbelievingly. "I am always happy to help those in need. And besides, Onyx may know something about the Plotblades that could be useful in my organization's search."

14 hours ago, Immortal Platypus said:

"There was a prophecy. If I recall correctly, I was not in the list of names that could claim them. You were. I do not believe that I could claim them if I tried. Maybe I could claim one, but I do not think I could take both."

"Combat is the least of my worries nowadays anyway. The main thing I would request it have is something to help me deal with Ennullers. They've recently popped up, and I'd like to be able to Create my worlds without having to worry about hostile Ennullers. I'm sure I'll make enemies with some of them at some point. As for the form..." He paused, thinking. "Something that is light and mobile but not too small, tricky for others to notice but hard for me to miss, and... something with potential for Creation and Destruction, as I have. Oh, and probably not a hammer. Too stereotypical."

"The prophecy was merely a list of those who were most likely to claim the Blades, at the time. Things have changed since then, and the prophecy was never an exclusive list. You could..." The Dreamsmith trailed off as a tiny clockwork creature skittered into the room, carrying a small note. The creature moved swiftly around Platypus, then crawled up the Dreamsmith's leg and to his outstretched right hand. Carefully, the Dreamsmith took the note, then pulled a hidden catch, deactivating the creature. "Apologies for the interruption." The Dreamsmith scanned the note quickly. "I see events are moving quickly..." The note burst to flame in his hands, burning to ash that scattered away. "Anyways, you want something to help you deal with Enullers? Something small, with potential for both creation and destruction? I can do that."

57 minutes ago, Sequence said:

Everyone strode off in a seemingly random direction among the green hills, humming softly to themself. "Please keep up."

The Brave adventurer followed hurriedly, checking the time on his pocket watch again. "Are you... that Everyone?"

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

1 minute ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

Beosta didn’t know what to say to that. Suddenly, she couldn’t stop crying, and she leaned on his shoulder without realizing it. 

Really? Do you really think that?  She asked, feeling hopeful and scared and very, very young. 

Awwwwwwww

He put his arm around her and hugged her tightly.

Yeah, I really do.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

3 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Awwwwwwww

He put his arm around her and hugged her tightly.

Yeah, I really do.

She sniffled. “Thank you, Shoe,” she whispered. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

5 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

She sniffled. “Thank you, Shoe,” she whispered. 

Of course.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Through The Living Glass said:

Of course.

Personally, Livetha said, making Beosta jump, I don't think it was quite entirely your fault. 

What do you mean? 

I mean your father. That's what I mean. You haven't seen the whole story yet, she told Shoe. I'll show you. Later. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

9 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

Personally, Livetha said, making Beosta jump, I don't think it was quite entirely your fault. 

What do you mean? 

I mean your father. That's what I mean. You haven't seen the whole story yet, she told Shoe. I'll show you. Later. 

My point still stands.

Edited November 5, 2024 by Through The Living Glass

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

My point still stands.

Beosta hugged him. Thank you. For not... not... well, we should go find the others. 

[xinoehp512 he/him]

1 hour ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Shoe was speechless. (Well, more so than usual.)

You . . . he stared at her with wide eyes, You . . . killed him?

BACON!! GO AWAY!! he said to only Bacon.

Only.

Only is the keyword there

"Bad time," muttered Bacon, going off to prepare some things.

1 hour ago, Sequence said:

Everyone strode off in a seemingly random direction among the green hills, humming softly to themself. "Please keep up."

"Uh," said Erif, "was it green before...?"

A fluttering motion moved like a wave away from each step they took, carried by the hundreds of green-winged insects lining every surface.

21 minutes ago, NameIess said:

"Yes, highly limited." Subversion's glare strengthened, and Selppaenip felt a chill seep into his bones. "Just like most magical powers." She broke off her glare, and the chill vanished. "Sounds good Nogard. I'll get to it." She hopped down into the crater and started carefully making her way to the portal stone.

 

Nogard watched her go, moving gracefully from stone to stone. The portal stones bent space in a way that was painful to look at, but somehow he didn't mind. 

"What was that all about?" Selppaenip asked ... in a low voice. 

21 minutes ago, NameIess said:

The General muttered something under her breath. "You may speak to him once he is secured in our custody, Narrator. There will be time before the trial."

"Still, you were trespassing. If you really are not guilty of a crime, then your trial will prove so." The Brave Adventurer shook his head disbelievingly. "I am always happy to help those in need. And besides, Onyx may know something about the Plotblades that could be useful in my organization's search."

"The prophecy was merely a list of those who were most likely to claim the Blades, at the time. Things have changed since then, and the prophecy was never an exclusive list. You could..." The Dreamsmith trailed off as a tiny clockwork creature skittered into the room, carrying a small note. The creature moved swiftly around Platypus, then crawled up the Dreamsmith's leg and to his outstretched right hand. Carefully, the Dreamsmith took the note, then pulled a hidden catch, deactivating the creature. "Apologies for the interruption." The Dreamsmith scanned the note quickly. "I see events are moving quickly..." The note burst to flame in his hands, burning to ash that scattered away. "Anyways, you want something to help you deal with Enullers? Something small, with potential for both creation and destruction? I can do that."

The Brave adventurer followed hurriedly, checking the time on his pocket watch again. "Are you... that Everyone?"

"Whatever," muttered Erif. Maybe he'd get eaten by a zombie.

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

3 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

Beosta hugged him. Thank you. For not... not... well, we should go find the others. 

He hugged her back, feeling grateful and just kind of . . . good.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

4 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

He hugged her back, feeling grateful and just kind of . . . good.

Okay, let's go! Livetha ran in a lil circle. Let's go let's go let's go!

Aw, just a minute. She liked hugging Shoe. 

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

43 minutes ago, NameIess said:

The Brave adventurer followed hurriedly, checking the time on his pocket watch again. "Are you... that Everyone?"

“Which Everyone?” They replied with a bored tone. “I’m the only Everyone I know. Sequence’s Everyone, if you will.” They made a sour face as they said it.

14 minutes ago, xinoehp512 said:

"Uh," said Erif, "was it green before...?"

A fluttering motion moved like a wave away from each step they took, carried by the hundreds of green-winged insects lining every surface.

43 minutes ago, NameIess said:

oopsies, for some reason I’ve always imagined this place to look kinda like the shire 

Everyone snickered, waving their hand. Red-winged insects fluttered down to take their place.

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

9 minutes ago, The Halcyon Girl said:

Okay, let's go! Livetha ran in a lil circle. Let's go let's go let's go!

Aw, just a minute. She liked hugging Shoe. 

lil circle. heh

Wait, you do?

[xinoehp512 he/him]

6 minutes ago, Sequence said:

“Which Everyone?” They replied with a bored tone. “I’m the only Everyone I know. Sequence’s Everyone, if you will.” They made a sour face as they said it.

oopsies, for some reason I’ve always imagined this place to look kinda like the shire 

Everyone snickered, waving their hand. Red-winged insects fluttered down to take their place.

The green and red insects went to war, forming bloody trails in the air. Erif observed the battle, disturbed.

"What did you do?" he asked.

[ThroughTheLivingSequence she/her/they/them]

Just now, xinoehp512 said:

The green and red insects went to war, forming bloody trails in the air. Erif observed the battle, disturbed.

"What did you do?" he asked.

 

Everyone also observed, very amused. “What? The bugs? I’m just having some fun. It’s a long walk, after all.”