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I'm Feeling Lucky
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Serendibite OFFLINE ![]() Forum Posts: 116 |
Posted: Sun, 07/07/2024 20:58 (1 Year ago) |
Luther raised an eyebrow, not sure if he should be annoyed or laughing. Had the kid really shown up just to steal all of the candy? Peppermints no less? What, did he just collect terrible candy flavours? Well the kid wants candy. Gotta respect the grind, I guess. Shrugging, Luther turned his attention to the open door at the far end. There... the art room. It was a strange feeling, coming back here after all this time. He'd grown up in that little room, after all. Always the kid scribbling in the back, only mumbled responses whenever another kid tried to talk to him. All those days, too scared to talk to the other kids had made him who he was. An artist. Crazy stuff. [Read more] |
Serendibite OFFLINE ![]() Forum Posts: 116 |
Posted: Sun, 07/07/2024 17:57 (1 Year ago) |
Kubo clung to Lili's middle, glaring at the strange person who was trying to talk to them. "Who are you?" he demanded. "Whaddya want with Lili and me?" Math, math. A horrible mystery. He hated this math person. Anyone who liked math was stupid and mean. [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 07:46 (1 Year ago) |
Kubo tilted his head at the black things. "Those are words," he tried. "They tell you stories." No, that was stupid. Think. He thought very hard, trying to remember what big sister said about words and books. She said a lot of stuff about other worlds and realities but he wasn't sure she wasn't just messing with him. Other worlds were dream stuff. The real world was soggy paper and cities and Lili. Lili. Right. Focus. "This symbol mean you gotta put things together." He tapped on the one shaped like baby Jesus' cross. "Like apples and stuff. Then you get the whole apples." [Read more] |
Serendibite OFFLINE ![]() Forum Posts: 116 |
Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 07:24 (1 Year ago) |
Kubo pulled back, blinking up at her. "Oh. Numbers." He tried to sound happy and excited because Lili wanted him to be. He didn't want to let Lili down. Otherwise, she'd find out he was stupid. Then she wouldn't want him anymore. So he had to do the math this time, and he couldn't let the stuff get mixed up in his head. "Can I see?" he asked hesitantly, tugging on her sleeve. [Read more] |
Serendibite OFFLINE ![]() Forum Posts: 116 |
Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 07:07 (1 Year ago) |
Kubo buried his face into her stomach. She was warm and comforting, and he felt his heartrate slow down. The world was a scary place, but Lilias made it better. The monsters wouldn't come for him with her there, and he'd always be full so long as she could find a fresh loaf of bread out to cool. So long as she was here, he was fine. "Tex-ed book?" He hated books. Big sister used to throw them at him and the big ones were the worst. But Lilias liked looking at the words and said happy things about them, so he pretended. For Lili. Though he still thought they were dumb.. Maybe a tex-ed book was something different? Maybe it had the fun pictures in it, instead of all the black lines you stared at and then claimed it was talking to you. [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 06:49 (1 Year ago) |
Kubo looked up, sniffling, not quite sure what he was looking for. "A... book?" He ventured hesitantly. Then he realised who was in front of him. "Lili!" he cried, rushing forward and throwing his arms around her waist. [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 03:58 (1 Year ago) |
"Maybe later!" With a grin and a pair of fingerguns, Xenia walked off, still not sure why she'd given the dude her address. Real smart, especially considering they'd never cleared up the stalker stuff. But still... as weird as he was, as stupid as he was, they couldn't shake the feeling that they'd met him somewhere before. The feeling, deep in their stomach, that they knew him... that he was someone to be trusted. "Oh well!" Xenia said cheerfully. "That was a productive day!" And now it was time for gelato! Delicious delicious gelato, melting on the tongue, tasty on the palate, simply the most exquisite dish! Xenia made a few kissy noises to themself and giggled, already plotting to use their best bad-Italian-accent on the gelato person. They were so cool, they amazed themself sometimes. Luther was still chuckling to himself, when he noticed a little purple head poking itself through the door. A kid? He peered closer, and still couldn't see past all that floof. "Erm... hello?" he ventured. [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 03:44 (1 Year ago) |
Why'd I expect anything from this stinky old dude? They rolled their eyes. "Nope, don't care. Not going to your weird stalker hideout. You can't convince me, and you never will." You don't understand. You never could. For a second, they were tempted to start yelling at him. To say all those things they said to their older brother just a few months ago, when he tried convincing them to give the whole thing up. To dye her hair back to black, to put on those saggy clothes, and show up the next day for when the mines opened. But that was stupid. They didn't even know this weirdo, just that he was willing to help them stalk random people at a moment's notice. Still though. "Alright, stalker. Have it your way, I'll leave you be to your depressing 'peaceful' life. But when you realise I'm right..." Xenia took out a piece of paper and they scribbled something on it, then held it out. "Here, have this." [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 03:36 (1 Year ago) |
Xenia frowned. Something about that tone... It was so condescending. 'The thing you're not picking up on.' 'I own a daycare.' 'I appreciate the offer.' "So you'll throw it all away?" Xenia's voice was colder than she'd ever heard out of herself. "Your education, your position, your chance to make a difference..." While people like Xenia crouched in back rooms, praying their unprofessional photos might make a few bucks, enough to pay for this week's rent... Xenia didn't care about that sorta thing. Leave the revolutions to the people who had the time for it. They were just there to make a good story, to entertain the public. But still. Something in them had just been rubbed the wrong way with his tone. For once, they wanted a little bit of respect out of this old man. "Look, I'm not an idealist. I don't think people are naturally good, or that society is good, or that we're anything more than a bunch of monkeys who got a bit too smart a bit too quickly and screwed up our world and everything. But I think journalism's important. I think journalists gotta be better than that. We're the only thing the public's got now. Our world's dying, our politicians are getting more corrupt than ever, and if they're screwing us over in a major way... I think we ought to know. To prepare ourselves. As journalists, we have an obligation to the truth." They frowned. "I think if you can do it, you gotta do it, right? Like what if you had a superpower that could save people? You got it, so you have to pull through. I don't think it's okay to just abandon it all." It's not okay to just abandon my dream like that, a pathetic voice in their head whispered. [Read more] |
Serendibite OFFLINE ![]() Forum Posts: 116 |
Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 03:23 (1 Year ago) |
That caught Xenia off guard for a second. Not... wanting to get involved? Seeing all this stuff and not feeling the thrum in your chest, the pull of a real adventure? Not seeing the glory, the heroics, the story behind it all? And as ideallic as that life sounded... as she stared at him, that just seemed really sad. "You're a journalist, aren't you?" Xenia's voice was quiet, uncertain, even to their own ears. [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 03:19 (1 Year ago) |
"So?" Xenia felt the anger build up in her and (as usual some voice hissed that sounded awfully like her older brother) couldn't keep it down. "You think I haven't seen the dark side of society? That I didn't grow up in the same world, seeing the same awful stuff you have?" They crossed their arms, glaring at him. "Come on, old man. You and I both know we gotta do this." [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 03:15 (1 Year ago) |
"What?" Xenia asked bewilderedly. "What are you going on about? This is a serious breakthrough! We just got the confirmation that they're up to something super shady! Why are you backing down now?" [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 03:12 (1 Year ago) |
Xenia waited until they were a fair distance away and then whipped around, slamming her hands onto the old dude's shoulders, probably harder than necessary. "Did you hear that?" They shook him. "Disappear! That was a threat! There's something going on, and we're right on its tail!" Her mind was awhirl, but really all she could think about was triumph! She wasn't stupid! She wasn't wrong! Ha, take that, stupid universities that rejected her brilliant entry essays! She was meant to be a journalist! She bet that in a few months time, they'd really regret it! I'm not stupid. For a second, there was a lump in her throat, but she quickly swallowed it away. No use dwelling on the specifics! This was her big hit! It was time to celebrate! "Hey, old dude, we should go for dinner! Some fancy place, that you'll pay for with your retirement money. Wouldn't that be totally sick?" [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 02:58 (1 Year ago) |
"Hey!" Xenia protested. "I resent that!" "Don't worry, I get that." 'Nora' giggled, looking up at Aleks with a soft expression. Their eyes were bright, smile wide, and even their voice... They seemed so normal. Just a little fourteen year old, not the heir to a wealthy family. Not the rising star in junior rugby all across the nation. Not the person that they seemed to be on TV, that cold, empty presence... the stiff, padded shoulders and fake smiles. For a second, staring at little Jace, in a hoodie and jeans, hair all messed up and covered in leaves, Xenia forgot she was looking at a Mawer. Then the smile dropped. "Don't follow me from now on," she warned. "It's dangerous. If my mum and dad found you, they'd make you disappear, like every one before you." Xenia blinked and for a second, saw... something rising up behind 'Nora'. A dragon, smoke wreathing around it, twisting its way up Nora. The maw, open and gaping, ready to devour at its masters whims. Bright golden eyes met hers. She blinked again. It was gone. Then... Excitement. "We'll keep that in mind!" Xenia said cheerfully. Nora blinked, confused. "O-Oh! Yeah for sure!" They beamed. "I'll let you get back to your journalism-ing! I gotta get to school before my coach has my head for being late on my first day." [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 02:46 (1 Year ago) |
"Hey, why are we throwing me under the bus?" Xenia protested, pouting. "Besides, you're the senior. Senior citizen in fact! You should be taking responsibility." Jace laughed, eyes focused on the old dude. "Don't worry, I don't care!" They took Aleks' hand and shook it vigorously. "Nice to meetcha! Always a pleasure to meet a few journalists. We'll be friends when we make it big, right?" "It's... fine that we were stalking you to uncover your family secrets?" Xenia blinked. "You're saying that? You? Jace Mawer?" "Oh, people follow me all the time." Jace shook it off, still smiling. "And call me Nora! Jace is a bit too stuffy a name for my taste." "Uh." Xenia had no idea what to say to that. They weren't all that good at human interaction themself, but that was in no way a normal reaction. What happened? From what she'd heard, Jace Mawer had been snarky, condescending, and downright cold. There'd even been reports of minor bullying in the academy that'd been shut down by plenty of fat cheques, which was how you knew they were real. [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 02:31 (1 Year ago) |
"You're not getting away that easy!" Xenia hissed, snagging him by the collar and dragging him back to them. "If we go down, we're going down together." They stuck out their foot to trip him if he tried to escape, took in a deep breath and prepared to lie their a** off. With a smile, Xenia clasped their hands together. "I'm afraid we've taken a few wrong turns. We're part of the local horticulture club, and we were looking for a er... leafia central...ilius? But then we noticed your finely cultivated bushes here, and my rather unintelligent partner falsely determined it was edible! We only wanted a little taste, you see." Jace giggled. "That's a cute story!" "Yep!" Xenia sweated. Great one, huh? You definitely believe it and want to immediately let us go. "So which magazine do you work for?" Xenia choked. "Old man, back me up here!" they hissed. "I think we're losing her!" [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 02:20 (1 Year ago) |
"Shut up and look!" they hissed, shoving the camera at him. "What sort of journalist are you? Where's your camera, where's your binoculars?" Huffing, they pulled out their stalker gear, patted their bag back down into the bush, then peered through the lens. Jace was gone. "Whatcha up to?" someone asked. Xenia shrieked, falling back onto their butt. The binoculars thumped uselessly onto their chest as they stared up at Jace Mawer, the heir to the most powerful family in the city... right in front of them. "Uh," was the best thing they could manage. Jace grinned. "Paparazzi, huh?" She looked weirdly pleased. "I thought so! When did you guys show up? Here to capture my re-entry into the rugby world? Well you're in luck! I start today!" [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 02:02 (1 Year ago) |
Luther chuckled, his good mood temporarily restored watching Sofia shake down a hapless little kid. Apparently she made for a fantastic weapon to unleash on the public. But unfortunately, he had a little kid to torture. "He's usually in the art room," he told her cheerfully. "Wants to take after big brother Luther, I hear." Yeah right. The little 'art prodigy' just wanted to work on fake mustaches to slap on various statues around town. The mayor's statue had recently developed a floor-length beard which Luther was a little bit impressed by, but he couldn't say the same for the man in question. The mayor had ordered a crack down on the culprit, so little Harry had gone undercover for the time being. Knowing the kid though, no doubt he'd be finding new and exciting ways to get himself on the bus to juvie. With an excited cry, Jace yanked something free out of the ground. She fell back on her butt and held the thing in her hand up to the light. Xenia zoomed in, but she couldn't get a good look. Honestly, it just looked like a rock. What was the Mawers' baby genius doing, grubbing around in the dirt? What had she hidden there? Was it something important? Something related to the Mawer mystery? They weren't sure if the taste in their mouth was that of intrigue or the leaf that had somehow made its way inside. Gagging and grimacing, they rolled the camera back to the spot where the thing had been buried. "Trust the professionals, old man." She grinned, not taking her eyes off the bizarre sight. "'Next generation's not as dumb as ya think. When there's a story, we feel it, right down to our bones. There's a taste to mystery, you see, and when you get it, you know it." [Read more] |
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Posted: Fri, 05/07/2024 01:22 (1 Year ago) |
"Lookie what we have here! Perfect subject, walking right into camera range." With a grin, Xenia brought their camera up to their eye and rolled their finger over the zooming wheel thing. It focused on a blurry brown shape. Xenia willed her shaking hands to stop. Tamp down on your excitement for now, Xeni. This is it. "That," they whispered to Aleks. "Is Jace Mawer. Fourteen years old, precious heir to the Mawer family. Went right off the grid for a few months. Dropped out of school and everything." The teenager trotted along the path, humming a cheerful tune. Her hands swayed casually with her, almost ss if she were doing some little dance. Xenia held her breath, zooming right in on the face. Scarred, maybe? Bruises? Something was around her mouth. Blood!?!?! Were the great Mawers perhaps abusing that precious heir of theirs? Oh if only! What a story that would be? "Now that would be irony indeed," she mused, thinking about the recent donation the Mawers had made to the Society Against Domestic Violence. It could headline all the papers! Then Jace Mawer stopped, mid-step. Xenia froze, stupidly afraid that they'd been heard. Then the little Mawer dropped to her knees and began... scrounging in the filthy creekbed? [Read more] |
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Posted: Wed, 03/07/2024 14:50 (1 Year ago) |
Chuckling, and relishing in the chance to have finally landed on the brat's weakness, Luther lead her to the community centre. It was a nice day out, at least in this part of the neighbourhood. The air was breathable and there was no trace of ash on his tongue. A warm and pleasant breeze rustled the first leaves of fall, tossing them in the air with a rush. Of course the brat next to him wouldn't appreciate it. She'd probably spent her whole life with perfect days like these. She'd never listened to the hacking of old miners, or the dying wheezes of a sixty year old grandmother as she passed. The girl would grow up just as spoiled as she was at eight years old, and die at eighty, or ninety, or whatever the age was that people who could breathe would live to. Usually he felt angry at the injustices in the world... but right now, he just felt hollow inside. Wasn't he part of the problem? Sure, he grew up breathing the same filthy air aa everyone else, but he was also aiming to join those upper classes. Instead of playing with the other workers' kids, he'd spent hia childhood drawing in a back corner. In a way, it was his fault. And he hated mom for pulling him out of that world, for letting him be the kid drawing and losing the inside jokes and back-slaps and all the other laughing kids. She loved him so much she'd given him a world she'd never been a part of. And he was about to throw it all away. He didn't have the right to do it. But he had to. For the young grandmothers of the world, and the little boys in the factoriea who dreamed of green grass and three square meals a day. Shaking off the troubling thoughts, Luther pushed open the door to the community centre. "You seem to be under the impression that you have a choice in this." Xenia tsked, shaking their head. "Sorry oldie, but you're my rival now and yoi better get used to it. I'll drag you back into journalism if it's the death of me." Then their head snapped up. "Shh!" They snatched his shoulder and dragged him towards the ground. Nora left the ol' Mawer place with a skip in their step. They felt downright sparkly today! The world was their oyster, the possibility of infinite rice pudding was in their grasp, and most importantly, they still had syrup on their face. It was pretty sweet, getting older and wiser and getting the respect for it! Finally mother didn't pester her about wiping her face every time she went out. She was free to make her own choices. I'm free as a bird, she told herself. I can go where I want, do what I want, and could probably get away with making obnoxious squawking noises at people. This was a good thing. In her dreams, she could be a kid, and in the day she could be an adult. Both worlds were hers now. She was more alive than ever. So why did she feel so empty? The bell rang, signalling the start of class. Dana tugged daddy's toque down over her ears, trying to avoid the eyes of her obviously staring classmates. "It's okay," she whispered to fake-Whiskers on her desk. "The teacher'll be here and yhen they won't look at you." Fake-Whiskers stared sympathetically back, even as his stuffed legs gave out and his body slowly sunk towards her desk. She patted him quickly on the head and he went squash and then was lying down flat. "Is she talking to it?" Someone in the back whispered. Dana pretended not to hear, just murmuring sweet things to fake-Whiskers. The teacher would be here soon... he'd have to be... [Read more] |