The Longest Thread (Misadventures)

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

48 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

Bat arrived at the building. 

It was… taller than he’d thought. And terribly imposing. 

“Do I… knock?” He whispered to Tam. 

She shrugged. "Don't ask me; it's your hometown."

11 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“Oh yeah. So many.” He took a deep breath, then steeled himself to knock on the door. 

For a long moment, nobody came. 

She held her breath, a little nervous in this environment.

Edited January 13, 2025 by Through The Living Glass

[TwinStorm He/Him]

Just now, Through The Living Glass said:

She shrugged. "Don't ask me; it's your hometown."

 

"C'mon, Bat, you got this." he said, encouragingly.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

8 minutes ago, Ookla the Irreplaceable said:

"Are they connected, somehow? And... nobody ever bothered to come above ground?"

“Yes, and no. We came from above ground originally. We hid here from the Narrators.”

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

She shrugged. "Don't ask me; it's your hometown."

She held her breath, a little nervous in this environment.

 

Just now, Ookla the Irreplaceable said:

"C'mon, Bat, you got this." he said, encouragingly.

”Thanks.”

The door opened. The woman standing there sighed. “Bat.” 

He managed a queasy smile. So many people down here, and everyone knew him by name. “Hey, uh… did Rose get back okay?” 

“The girl we sent after you? The one you tied up in the middle of nowhere? Yup.” She eyed him. “I don’t suppose we’d get much done taking you into custody.” 

“I suppose not,” he replied honestly. “I’ll keep an eye on Gaioh, don’t worry.” 

“I’m not. But… the situation has changed, hasn’t it? For both of us. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to talk to our leaders real quick.” 

[TwinStorm He/Him]

Just now, Halcyon The Only said:

“Yes, and no. We came from above ground originally. We hid here from the Narrators.”

 

”Thanks.”

The door opened. The woman standing there sighed. “Bat.” 

He managed a queasy smile. So many people down here, and everyone knew him by name. “Hey, uh… did Rose get back okay?” 

“The girl we sent after you? The one you tied up in the middle of nowhere? Yup.” She eyed him. “I don’t suppose we’d get much done taking you into custody.” 

“I suppose not,” he replied honestly. “I’ll keep an eye on Gaioh, don’t worry.” 

“I’m not. But… the situation has changed, hasn’t it? For both of us. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to talk to our leaders real quick.” 

Cricket frowned. "Bat, who is this person? What do you mean, "the situation has changed?""

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Irreplaceable said:

Cricket frowned. "Bat, who is this person? What do you mean, "the situation has changed?""

“This is… uh…” he frowned. 

“I’m Pel. Secretary.” She rested a hand on her hip. “A couple things have… emerged. Gaioh is no longer the main thread posed to our homeland.” 

Concern flashed across Bat’s face. “That’s… oh.” 

“And we would like some help, if you wouldn’t mind.”

”I… help?” 

Pel eyed Cricket and Tam. “Yes, help.”

[TwinStorm He/Him]

2 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“This is… uh…” he frowned. 

“I’m Pel. Secretary.” She rested a hand on her hip. “A couple things have… emerged. Gaioh is no longer the main thread posed to our homeland.” 

Concern flashed across Bat’s face. “That’s… oh.” 

“And we would like some help, if you wouldn’t mind.”

”I… help?” 

Pel eyed Cricket and Tam. “Yes, help.”

"Umm, how was Gaioh a threat, exactly? And we'll help."

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

9 minutes ago, Ookla the Irreplaceable said:

"Umm, how was Gaioh a threat, exactly? And we'll help."

“I never said he wasn’t a threat. I said he wasn’t the most dangerous one. We must have misinterpreted…. At any rate, come in.” She stood back and held the door open. Bat hesitated. 

@Through The Living Glass

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

19 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“Yes, and no. We came from above ground originally. We hid here from the Narrators.”

 

”Thanks.”

The door opened. The woman standing there sighed. “Bat.” 

He managed a queasy smile. So many people down here, and everyone knew him by name. “Hey, uh… did Rose get back okay?” 

“The girl we sent after you? The one you tied up in the middle of nowhere? Yup.” She eyed him. “I don’t suppose we’d get much done taking you into custody.” 

“I suppose not,” he replied honestly. “I’ll keep an eye on Gaioh, don’t worry.” 

“I’m not. But… the situation has changed, hasn’t it? For both of us. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to talk to our leaders real quick.” 

"Changed?" Tam said in a voice that was definitely not her own.

14 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“This is… uh…” he frowned. 

“I’m Pel. Secretary.” She rested a hand on her hip. “A couple things have… emerged. Gaioh is no longer the main thread posed to our homeland.” 

Concern flashed across Bat’s face. “That’s… oh.” 

“And we would like some help, if you wouldn’t mind.”

”I… help?” 

Pel eyed Cricket and Tam. “Yes, help.”

1 minute ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“I never said he wasn’t a threat. I said he wasn’t the most dangerous one. We must have misinterpreted…. At any rate, come in.” She stood back and held the door open. Bat hesitated. 

@Through The Living Glass

She put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

It'll be fine.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

3 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

"Changed?" Tam said in a voice that was definitely not her own.

She put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

It'll be fine.

“Changed, yes,” she said impatiently. 

Bat took a deep breath and stepped up into the building. 

It was big and empty and beaurocratic. She led them down the hall and told them to sit in chairs. 

Bat did so. His leg bounced nervously when she vanished. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

1 minute ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“Changed, yes,” she said impatiently. 

Bat took a deep breath and stepped up into the building. 

It was big and empty and beaurocratic. She led them down the hall and told them to sit in chairs. 

Bat did so. His leg bounced nervously when she vanished. 

Tam cast a worried look his way, then sat also.

You okay?

Edited January 13, 2025 by Through The Living Glass

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

2 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Tam cast a worried look his way, then sat also.

You okay?

I……….. I’m okay. I’m just…. This feels wrong. She didn’t say anything about me. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, Halcyon The Only said:

I……….. I’m okay. I’m just…. This feels wrong. She didn’t say anything about me. 

Oh. She looked away.

I'm sorry . . . but I'm sure it'll fine . . . I mean, you're going to talk to the elders, right?

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Through The Living Glass said:

Oh. She looked away.

I'm sorry . . . but I'm sure it'll fine . . . I mean, you're going to talk to the elders, right?

Sorry? No, I mean… I mean she was nice to me. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, Halcyon The Only said:

Sorry? No, I mean… I mean she was nice to me. 

Oh. OH. Bat . . . oh, Bat- that's . . . uh . . .

She coughed. Do people not usually say kind things about you?

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

2 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Oh. OH. Bat . . . oh, Bat- that's . . . uh . . .

She coughed. Do people not usually say kind things about you?

I… he regretted saying anything. Well, I’m kind of infamous. I break a lot of stuff, and… and… I dunno. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

1 minute ago, Halcyon The Only said:

I… he regretted saying anything. Well, I’m kind of infamous. I break a lot of stuff, and… and… I dunno. 

Oh.

I'm sorry.

She wasn't really sure what to say after that, so she just sat there and stared at the strata in the rock.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

2 minutes ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Oh.

I'm sorry.

She wasn't really sure what to say after that, so she just sat there and stared at the strata in the rock.

It’s not important. 

The door opened. An older woman stepped out. “Come in.” 

Bat stood. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

Just now, Halcyon The Only said:

It’s not important. 

The door opened. An older woman stepped out. “Come in.” 

Bat stood. 

Tam stood also and walked out, smiling at Bat in a comforting way.

Edited January 13, 2025 by Through The Living Glass

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Tam stood also and walked out, smiling at Bat in a comforting way.

Bat smiled back. 

The room was also round, woth a crescent shaped table. Four people sat at the table, but in the very center of the table, another small table had been dragged in, as if on short notice. 

There sat Rose. 

Bat squeaked. 

“Oh, calm down and sit,” she told him, gesturing to the rectangular table across from her and the crescent. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

1 minute ago, Halcyon The Only said:

Bat smiled back. 

The room was also round, woth a crescent shaped table. Four people sat at the table, but in the very center of the table, another small table had been dragged in, as if on short notice. 

There sat Rose. 

Bat squeaked. 

“Oh, calm down and sit,” she told him, gesturing to the rectangular table across from her and the crescent. 

Aw . . . crap. Tam sighed inwardly, then sat.

At least Rose wouldn't recognize her . . . hopefully.

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

1 minute ago, Through The Living Glass said:

Aw . . . crap. Tam sighed inwardly, then sat.

At least Rose wouldn't recognize her . . . hopefully.

“Rose, you—“ 

She held up a hand, then glanced at the council members as if giving them permission to speak. 

“Things have changed,” one man said. “As I’m sure Pel told you, Gaioh is no longer a significant threat. It appears we are not yet to that place on the prophesied timeline.” 

“What does that mean?” Bat asked. 

“It means there’s a rogue Narrator,” Rose said. “And… no offense, Bat, but you should get your tattoos redone.” 

“Oh. Oh, uh… yeah. That’s probably true.”

”Your friends can get some too, if they like.” 

“Yeah, uh… we’ll see.”

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

3 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“Rose, you—“ 

She held up a hand, then glanced at the council members as if giving them permission to speak. 

“Things have changed,” one man said. “As I’m sure Pel told you, Gaioh is no longer a significant threat. It appears we are not yet to that place on the prophesied timeline.” 

“What does that mean?” Bat asked. 

“It means there’s a rogue Narrator,” Rose said. “And… no offense, Bat, but you should get your tattoos redone.” 

“Oh. Oh, uh… yeah. That’s probably true.”

”Your friends can get some too, if they like.” 

“Yeah, uh… we’ll see.”

"Rogue Narrator?" Tam raised an eyebrow. "Prophesied timeline?"

Edited January 13, 2025 by Through The Living Glass

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Through The Living Glass said:

"Rogue Narrator?" Tam raised an eyebrow. "Prophesied timeline?"

“Yes. And yes.” 

But then Bat heard something. Something faint. 

“I— I want to go fix my tattoos now,” he blurted, jumping to his feet. “And then we can— then we can reconvene. Or whatever.” 

“Okay…” Rose said, as he hurried for the door. 

[Through The Living Glass She/They]

2 minutes ago, Halcyon The Only said:

“Yes. And yes.” 

But then Bat heard something. Something faint. 

“I— I want to go fix my tattoos now,” he blurted, jumping to his feet. “And then we can— then we can reconvene. Or whatever.” 

“Okay…” Rose said, as he hurried for the door. 

"Bat?" Tam watched him leave, worried.

She sprang up after him.

Bat, what's wrong?

[Bird Furious she/her/un/important]

Just now, Through The Living Glass said:

"Bat?" Tam watched him leave, worried.

She sprang up after him.

Bat, what's wrong?

He grabbed her and dragged her out the door with him. “Something’s wrong. They— they just let me roght into the building, and now Rose is being nice, and WHY IS SHE SITTING THERE? And— and somebody’s crying! Somebody’s crying down there somewhere, under the floor!”