Xxv.f: Destroyer,then Watched As He Sneezed, Burped, And Hiccupped All At The Same Time ... I Played

xxv.f: Destroyer, then watched as he sneezed, burped, and hiccupped all at the same time ... I played with him and put the collar around him, which he seemed not to mind much … time passes and dinner had been made, The Imp brings me a plate, sits next to me and turns on some random internet video over her TV “SCP-096 Documentary” and we begin to eat the Thai scallop sauté mixed with soft white rice and steamed broccoli covered in light dabs of soy sauce. “So … are you … ok?” Loaded question really “It's not supposed to be … ” well, I mean … I'm alive and still kickin ain't I? I'd say that's pretty good, wouldn't you? “*sigh* Stop … dodging the question. Come on … please?” *sigh* yeah … I'm ok, for the most part … just adjusting to a lot, trying to figure out more or less where I stand. “Where you stand? I hope you know, we're good … I care for you and I know you care for me, so you don't have to think, at least for me … that you're on the rocks or not important … I think about you more or less every day, at least once … so you know.” I had no doubts on us, or about you … and … Thank you, you mean a lot to me as well … especially now more than ever, you're important in ways I'd never be able to express to you Imp, not easily at least, especially with … my past transgressions and idiotic mistakes towards you, sorry again for it all btw, never meant to hurt you, just wanted to protect myself and others. *a smile and eyes as big as an Olympic swimming pool grew on her face* “Heheee! … Well … I … I-i don't really know what to say. I never expected … didn't think it possible for you to apologize to me … at least not the Red I used to know … and I get it you know, I'm sure you'd understand more than anyone what it's like to be treated as a monster or a threat … especially when in reality … you're just trying to love. I understand why you did what you did, I'd probably do the same if I was in the same situation, and had similar fears. It's ok, I forgive you.” Thank you … truly. I still feel responsible, however, a debt that must be repaid. “You weren't at fault … do you remember what you told me years ago at the lake? When we all gathered around for The Jesters' birthday party?” Um … I don't, no, what was it? “Never save those truths from the heart for a rainy day, lest you'll drown in regret … speak to everyone worth a damn” “like they're You” … anything other than that … is a shitty mask, keeping you from seeing what's really going on in the moment. “Yep! You got it … I thought about that for years, especially during college, there were plenty of times I just … would put on a mask or persona, and just kind of pretend I was something or someone I wasn't … every time I recognized that, I remembered that. I tried to just, stop and switch back to what I wanted to say/do and just move on … it helped a lot … thank you.” Thank you for telling me, what was your greater point to all that though? I don't follow sorry. “It's not your fault what you did … I think you maybe put on a mask because you didn't honestly remember how to deal with inner group conflict … and in the end … it ended up hurting me yes, but not because you were purposely doing so, or at least, not in a way that I know you were trying to … you as you said, were just trying to protect. You just forgot/maybe got caught up in the whole situation and made a few rash decisions. I mean … am I right?” You're absolutely right … I hadn't even honestly thought of it like that before, partially because I feel more or less like I'm not immune, but more so … less prone to those types of situations, it's hard to accept honestly, the realization that I slipped … part of that “adjusting” I was talking about … need to learn how I ticked … need to reestablish the order of operations and become … Old … again … haha, if that crazy nonsense even makes sense ... [To Be Continued]

xxv.h: Destroyer, guess this was partially why I liked The Imp … versatility. Yeah! No totally. I had become … flustered. “*Popcorn popping* Well … isn't this unexpected” I know … that I don't have to become … me … again. I just … *sigh* I can't help feel that I could do more of what I want, and be more for everyone else, if I could reconstruct myself. I … know … but still Really! … appreciate you saying what you said, nice to hear regardless of my current progress, at least you approve, I'll keep that in mind, thanks. *I flip my hand as to connect palms and hold her hand tightly, then let go* I get up and grab both of our now empty plates, I walk to the kitchen and wash the plates immediately. “Of Course! … you're always welcome here … speaking of … I'd like it if … you were to stay here, with me. At least while you're you know … fighting this fight” Oh! “You don't have anywhere else to stay really right?? So why not here, a base of operations of sorts, Me … You … and Ein!” *I giggle* Y-yeah … I think that's probably for the best honestly. “PERFECT! Yeah … of course it's the best, I mean look who you're talking to!” Yeah yeah. I finish washing the plates. “It's getting late … think I'm gonna head in ok?” Yeah for sure, I'll stay up a little longer then, probably crash on the couch, that way I can watch over Ein as well. “Yeah ok! … you could … sleep with ... ” She paused for a good second. “I'll get your blankets and a pillow!” She rushed into her room and out came with such. I take them and set them up on the couch, I settle in and cradle Ein in my hands as he rests on my chest. The Imp walked over to be, pet Ein's head as he purred and said “Well … Aren't you cute” *She said ... smiling big.* Yeah … I was born that way. *She stops petting him and proceeds to flick my forehead* “Quiet you … good night. If you need anything, just ask” Got it … and Night! *She waves* walks into her room and shuts the door. I lay there, resting with Ein, and feel … somewhat at home … like I was kind of living in the past for a moment, in a good way. I felt calm and collected. I felt … “Confident.” I close my eyes … and soon … black.

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xxv.c: Destroyer, I will not wait idol as vultures pick her life apart, to watch her diminish … and shatter … she supports me now, further than most, and for more reasons than not to do the opposite, but she persists, even through some of the resisting Wrath that gets loose here and there, she in search of gaining dominance, without knowing, has become indomitable … I idolize her and that type of progression, because only truly amazing individuals and their already jaw-dropping pursuits like hers of becoming a new and more socially capable person against all odds, are capable of building and gaining such traits in passing while accomplishing their goals in totality … it's fucking insane … especially since they never seem to know just how great they really are, I love them. So off I made my way to the danger den that she housed in, I got to the front door, lined in gold with thick large doors made of metal and marble that was white as quartz, and looked like a palace entrance. I open the large doors and walk to the elevator, the inner front desk/hall looked like it was pulled from a steampunk novel, dark oak half-walls topped with classical-looking wallpaper, lined in copper and bronze finishes and trim. With a clean expertly embroidered and designed red thick carpet over the marble flooring. I take the elevator all the way up to the top, a full 126 floors, The Douglas Building. Walk down to her door and knocked … I waited … then I heard what sounded like someone press against the door, the peephole was broken and blocked so she wasn't looking through that, then I heard her voice “h-hello? … who's there?” The fucking milkman, now let … before I could finish, the door swung open with force and speed so fast, it felt as if a small vacuum was created and sucked in all the air. She was spread all out in a pose like she was about to prepare for a tackle, one hand still on the door, her face filled with nothing but determination and concentration, then her head tilted down slightly and she hunched forewarned like she was about to compete in an Olympic sprint, I kept my eye on her face, it darkened to near black, slightly obscured, then … a red gleam came from her right eye AND ZOOM!!! She bolted at me with lightning speeds, I swear she broke the sound barrier at that moment, by the time I realized what was happening, her fist was planted about an inch in my gut, then … an Explosive Blast of air came from her fist, it sent a Shockwave that shook the hall and sent me flying at the wall, I hit the door opposite of hers and collapse to the ground in a slobbering gasp “AND THAT'S WHAT YOU FUCKING GET FOR LEAVING ME HERE FOR SO LONG!!! What the Hell is wrong with you Huh!?!?!? Do you know how much shit I went through trying to secure your entrance to The City? You know you can't just fucking walk right in, Right!?!” Tbh … it didn't really cross my mind how I was so easily allowed to walk into The City gates without any stops or hiccups, it was definitely now in retrospect because of the support of her and probably The Knight and Jester. Sorry!? *bloody cough* The fuck boot licker … you didn't have to send my gut a fucking ICBM … shit. “Like fucking hell I didn't! Where the hell have you been?” The Over Garden “The Over Garden?!? Why’d you go there?” I went to stand and catch my breath. I went to gather myself and destress from entering The City … it was a little more than overwhelming, which I wasn't expecting when I reentered … so I needed some time. “Oh … well why didn't you say anything to me? I would have loved to know that before you just up and vanished” she stepped inside of her apartment again and to the side of the door hugging it, then motioned to come inside. I walk in take my bag and set it on her countertop then unfold the top, she closes the door and says “You know … you look like someone who has spent the night outside, go use my shower; don't … ” *Out Popped Ein from my bag* “*Scream* WOAH!!! WHAT THE FUCK!?! YOU HAVE A FUCKING RACOON IN YOUR BAG” ... [To Be Continued]

xxvi.g: Son of Salem, that drug lord has signed his death warrant *Bzzz* I can’t believe … I can’t believe I’m alive … the trash must have broken my fall, why didn’t they come and check if I was dead? What kind of lackluster effort was this shit? *Bzzz* I try to move … It sends shooting pain all across my body, it felt like I was wrapped in a web of pain for a mere second … *Bzzz* Come On!! Please!!!!! You have to pick up … I need you more now than ever *Bzzz* My face … goes dead in shock … my chest starts to sink, eyes start to dim with … fear. *Bzzz* No … no … please not now. *Bzzz* ... ... ... “you have reached the voice mailbox of … ” *click* I end the call. … … … I sink into the trash and water … looking up at the clouds as the rain falls and hits my face now like little missiles, for the rain picks up in intensity slightly. My jaw … starts to shake … my eyes start to fill with water, not brought by the rain … that sinking feeling now is so heavy, it might as well have been an elephant sitting on my chest. I start to weep … then cry … then let it all out as if no one could hear nor see my pains. I think to myself, now as tears run like rapids down my face. Oh … so this was the grand setup, wasn’t it? This was the oh-so-awaited karma payout that was waiting for me, this was the feather that broke the camel's back … is this really what I deserve? Is it my fault something like this did happen? Did my luck finally run dry? Was I careless … was I not accommodating … I was always told I was robotic in nature, always trying to figure out others … but was this the punishment that I deserved? To be left here in a canal surrounded by trash and dirty rainwater … to die now? Of all times why now? … My stress … and heartache … overwhelmed me and triggered the ill-fated passenger that had haunted me from birth … Cataplexy … I pass out. … … … It was strange, although I slept … I had never felt closer to that beating heartbeat that I strayed away from for so long, my entire life. I could feel it … it wept … it cried … I could feel as its warmth engulfed me in this empty space of abyss. I awake … I hear … footsteps trenching through the water … then I hear what sounds like someone dancing in and kicking the water around … then I hear … laughter. “HAHAHAHAHAAAAA” That voice … sounded familiar, but I could not pin it. The footsteps grow closer and closer until … Scarlet Red horns peak from the outside of my vision in … slowly … then white, ashen hair *BOOM* lightning can be heard. Then a forehead then eyebrows then … golden framed, red-tinted, glowing in crimson circular glassed, glasses. A shiver gets sent through my entire body. Then a nose then a … then a … devilish grin … then the fuller picture. “Why … hello there … having some issues?” He giggles under his breath in a dark and evil way. My eyes widen … my heart stops … my past faces me. No. I said with great struggle and fear. He removes the glasses to reveal, glowing pinkish-red eyes. He tucks them away in his pocket. “What!? Hahahaaaa … not happy to see me?” I struggle but try and move again … I jolt around but my legs still refuse to move. He laughs again, this time louder. “Well look at that!!!!! … all these years you’ve been runnin … and all it took was for you to break those little legs of yours for us to finally sit down and talk! … if I would have known that sooner, I would have wished for a bus to flatten you.” NO!!!! NO!! Stay the FUCK away from me. I struggle and struggle some more … then … I stop almost completely as if I were frozen. “Aww … what? … scared?” The man that stood above me … the devil … the careless, the heartless, and the damned. The last shard I wanted to face … was … The Son of Salem. *BOOM* Dressed in a white tight-fitted dress shirt, tucked into black jeans, while wearing a black tie, and black boots. Why now!? How’d you find me? “Oh dearest old friend … why not now? How could I Not! find you … you glow like a Fucking disco ball when hurt … it’s like a damn neon sign that says … HELP ME” No that’s NOT TRUE ... [To Be Continued]

xxv.d: Destroyer, “*Scream* WOAH!!! WHAT THE FUCK!?! YOU HAVE A FUCKING RACOON IN YOUR BAG” ... Ein scared, let out a little squeak, and dug deep into the bag to hide. Uhhh … Yea! And you just scared him! Nice going prick. Come here! tuka tuka tuka, come on! the evil little demon won't hurt you. “You KNEW it was in there!!!” Of Course! And … IT'S … name, ls … Ein. “Uhhhh Okay!?! Why the fuck do you have a baby Racoon? And WHY did you bring him here???” He was all alone and was clearly interested in me, he was walking all over my face when I woke up today, he seemed lost and scared … soooo … I've adopted him! “*Sigh* Why must you insist on making friends with strays? Do YOU EVEN KNOW IF HE'S SAFE TO HAVE???” Look at him! He wouldn't/couldn't hurt a fly … or well, maybe a fly, but not a Frog! … I start to pet Ein on his head as he pokes his head back out; isn't that right Ein! Yes! yes no you won't hurt anyone Noooo tch tch tch good boy. “I MEANT … Diseases! … fucking idiot, aren't raccoons carriers of rabies??” They can yeah … but only transmit it through biting, scratching, and getting secretions into your body, but he'd have to be rabid to do that … Which he is not! Thank You! And I'll have you know most diseases that raccoons carry are really only transmitted through their poop, so as long as you're careful, it's fine! “You are so gonna get some kind of worm or bacterial infection … and it'll be ME, taking care of you, fuck ass” Well looks like we have a plan then if that Happens!!! Now stop it … he's a hungry little cowboy bounty hunter and needs food because he is a strong boy. *Squeak* “You haven't found the shade with brains yet have you? Ok fine … what does … Ein … eat?” Well … tbh, I don't know what you're supposed to feed raccoons… but he loves granola bars. “You've fed him granola bars?” Yea! “Red, look at him! He's tiny, he can't even be a couple months old, he can't eat granola bars! Nor should he probably, he needs like … milk and stuff … he's just a baby and his stomach probably isn't developed enough to process that kind of stuff” She went and picked Ein up, started to pet him, and cradle him. “You can't just kidnap a baby raccoon and then proceed to mishandle/take care of him” I thought it was fine … look he's all chipper and ok. He closed his eyes and curled up in her hand, and started to pur. “You don't know if he's fine, we need to research this and take him to a vet, to make sure he's fine” Mmm … I mean yeah, probably right with that. “I'm gonna go research on what we should feed him and look up veterinarians in our area just in case, why I'm doing that … ”she grabbed a towel from the chair out of the recently washed laundry and threw it at me. I catch it. “Go take a shower and leave your clothes out, I'll throw them in the wash, I still have some old shorts of yours you can wear … I'll leave them on the sink” Yea yeah… got it … and … thanks. “No problem, and always … we'll talk more later, wanna know how you're holding up. But first ... ” *She pointed at the bathroom* “Shower stinky” *I grin and walk off to the shower (with full sass).* As I wash myself up, down, front to back, left and yes … right … I started to null over the lingering sound that had started to intensify since I arrived at The Over Garden, just general voices that were chatting away in the background, things being said such as ... [To Be Continued]

xxiv.e: Recompile, I slowly pet him while he nibbles and chows down … he started to pur … the world felt … better. I said, well … guess it's Me, Hope … and now You little buddy … we got lots to do, I don't even really have a full plan worked out yet but … I promise to think of something. He looked up at me while open-mouth smacking and winked … Haha, got it buddy … What should I call you? He kept eating, not batting an eye … hmm … maybe … Case? Nah … unless you're capable of net-running cyberspace … are you? He looks at me while holding a chunk of granola in his hand… *Squeak* … I'll take that as no … hmm, you like … Marty? *No Response* ok well … damn wish I was better at this … how about … Ein? His little ears popped up and tilted his head all the way back as to look at me directly with curiosity. Oh!? Well hello there Ein! I grab one of his little paws with my thumb and pointer finger as to shake his hand … Guess it's settled then … now if only we could get The Cazbium back, we'd probably be a couple of space cowboys now wouldn't we. I go to stand placing him on the ground near the campfire … I grab some twine and a linen strip I scavenged, fasten it through some holes I made in the bag to make straps … quickly turn my burlap sack into a burlap backpack, tie another twine around the top of the bag to secure the opening as well to close the top so nothing falls out. As I walked around gathering the little supplies I could gather up, Ein followed me everywhere, frantically sprinting to my feet wherever they may be placed next. Finished gathering everything, leaned down picked up Ein, and placed him on top of the back of my bag … he immediately raised his two front paws and rested them on my right shoulder, as if to look over it. Ok Ein! time we get going, gotta stop somewhere first however … gotta see if that Imp is up to no good, and to make sure she's fucking eating properly … as well talk over the past a little, need to understand what I lack most from the past, figure out what shade I should seek first. I reach over and scratch his little head, and then … I set off … to find ... The Imp.

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