Chapter 6: Come On Up to the House

Link to article: Chapter 6: Come On Up to the House.

Module Styles

• (none)

Inline Styles

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 100px; margin-right: 100px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 100px; margin-right: 100px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 100px; margin-right: 100px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

• border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px

Includes

• :scp-wiki:theme:dark [info]

CSS Classes

• (none)

Page Source

[[include :scp-wiki:theme:dark]]
[[=]]
+ //Chapter 6: Come On Up to the House//
[[/=]]

It's been two years since Casey and his band of grimy little nomads welcomed you into their fold. Casey himself has gone from "that guy who stabbed you in a back alley" to your first real friend.

But the three others aren't bad, either!

There's ##7CFF71|**McDrugs**##, the loud one who has an odd theory about literally everything. Whenever someone says her name, she always interjects with, "It's ironic; I'm actually straightedge." 

Then there's ##cyan|**Wakako**##, Casey's on-and-off girlfriend. You've stayed up late many nights talking to her about movies. As fate would have it, for ten years, you've been forced to watch her favorite kind of movies -- gory nightmares with downer endings. She taught you how to see them in a whole new way!

And last of all, ##ff99ff|**Gregg**##. Aloof, cynical, and spends most of his time reading philosophy. If anyone knows what he's thinking, that puts 'em a peg over you, Casey, and all the rest of the world put together. Very good at cards, though!

You've gone on many adventures with these four idiots. You've seen every corner of Australia from bus terminals and underpasses. You've even been to bits and pieces of the "Reconstruction Zone", like China and Singapore -- where Three Moons slowly terraforms the endless fields of Tarrare's black glass into neat little checkerboards of farmland.

And through it all, your innocent sense of humor has been the glue keeping their collective sanity together. (And it doesn't hurt that you never need to eat "real" food!)

And best of all, rival gangs like the Greensleeves leave you all alone on principle, and all it took was the Lambo Incident.[[footnote]]That was about 1 1/2 years ago, when a Greensleeve caught you opening the hood of his Lamborghini, unhinging your jaw, and swallowing the engine block whole. You smiled to him like a threatened chimpanzee. The Greensleeve in question has since devoted his life to religious monasticism.[[/footnote]]

Unlike at Site-6800, there's been a reason to laugh[[footnote]](And you //can// laugh without your voice. It's sort of a rapid-hissing-through-your-teeth thing.)[[/footnote]] every day. This has been the best two years of your life, and the only drawback is that you can't help but feel like you're forgetting something...

So, where are you now?

About a month ago, McDrugs's uncle died and bequeathed her the roadside movie theater he owned in Perth. The idea was for McDrugs to, and I quote, "settle down and fucking make something of her worthless life for a change." Fortunately, that guy was a racist, so this cinema's being used exclusively as a place for Casey and his mates to goof off.

And now that you and your friends aren't on the move as often, Dr. Fenwick might even track down your ankle bracelet and take you back...

... 

...but will you even //want// to go back?

Questions for later. 

------

> +++  ☐ Find out what movie you're watching.

For now, you've been startled awake from another of your horrible "Tarrare" dreams. McDrugs yelled something about Alan Rickman in response to a movie trailer. You stir in your leather stadium seat, one of the few in Theater 5 where you haven't eaten the cushions. The swell of an orchestra booms over some old movie trailers.

You turn to Casey inquisitively. Alas, you just remembered that he's up in the projector booth with Gregg.

But Wakako's just one seat over, staring drowsily at the screen. She's buried nose-deep in her oversized blue hoodie. This movie isn't her kinda thing. But what movie //is// it?

You wave. She raises an eyebrow.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|WHAT MOVIE IS THIS??##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

It takes her a second to read your whiteboard in the darkness.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
##cyan|{{...oh, right. I forgot the name, but Gregg likes it, and it's about the Tarrare Incident. You were sayin' you wanted to see a version that wasn't from your dreams, right?}}##
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|OH!! YES I DID!!##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
##cyan|{{Heh. Well, try not to take the story too literally. Three Moons bankrolled the production, so you know it's gonna be heavy with propaganda. I'd bet your recurring dreams would be a more reliable source.}}##
[[/div]]

A stern voice cries out from the camera booth.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
##ff99ff|{{It's //not// propaganda. It's //schlock.// Big difference.}}##
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
##cyan|{{Okay, Gregg! (It's totes propaganda, though.)}}##
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|WHAT'S A PROPER GANDA?? WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE??##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

No response. Wakako's already napping again.

It's been explained to you many, many times, but you're still not too sure what this "Three Moons" thing is. Apparently they run the whole world's government. And they come from "the afterlife" -- which is another confusing concept in itself. "The place where you go after you die." But if you're dead, how can you tell where you are?!

Oh, here's the big, fancy title logotype.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 100px; margin-right: 100px"]]
[[=]]
++ **MUTINY ON THE //PERUN//**
+++++ AN ED WOOD FILM
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

AWESOME! You're not the only person on Earth who spells "prune" wrong!

> +++ ☑  Find out what movie you're watching.

------

> +++  ☐ Decide whether or not you like this movie.

You're 20 minutes in, and it's still mostly just middle-aged men yammering military terminology to one another. Being bored by a movie is better than being horrified. But too much boredom is pretty horrifying in itself...

But what's this? Tarrare's showing up for the first time! The CGI is impressive, but it wouldn't have killed them to stick a badass set piece like this in the first ten minutes. 

(...hold on, are you turning into a cinema snob? Then again, you //have// been studying it for a while...)

There's a Pacific Northwestern forest on the screen, set completely ablaze. The night sky is red from the flames. Tarrare can be seen in the horizon, with its tornadoes of slag sucking in everything below. It looks different from your dreams -- more sharp angles, lots of glowing blue lines across its hall. (Must be some pretty advanced tech; it's got the glowey-stripey bits.)

A hard and fast zoom... 

They're on Tarrare's bridge now. It's sort of like the thing you've seen in Star Trek but with the lights dimmed, more sharp angles, and glowing stuff on the walls for no reason. There's a crowd of turtle-bug-things barking orders at each other. 

They're Threll, but the Threll you've dealt with look nothing like these stupid things. The Threll you've dealt with //in your dreams//, that is. 

...Right?

(Don't think about it too hard. That's how your head starts feeling spicy.)

Their big, scary leader appears on a big, scary hologram in the center of the room... 

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
[[=]]
++++ {{THRELL CAPTAIN}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{SSSILENCE, YOU LOWBORN //FILTH!// The Massster speakssss...}}
[[/div]]

(Threll do //not// talk like that. ...you're not sure how you know this.)
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]
[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
+++++ {{//(The captain bows.)//}}
[[=]]
++++ {{THRELL CAPTAIN}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{Oh, Most Gloriousss, Exalted, and Immortal Lord HAJHETI, the mighty Tarrare humbly welcomesssss your holographic presssence --}}
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[=]]
++++ {{HAJHETI}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{Cease your noise.}}
[[/div]]

(HEY! You remember that voice! That's the Lord Summerisle guy! And the Saruman guy! And one of the Dracula guys!)
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
[[=]]
++++ {{HAJHETI}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{Has the Fiery Harvest begun?}}
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[=]]
++++ {{THRELL CAPTAIN}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{That it has, Your Majesssty. A planet'sss worth of finessst minerals are sssoon to line the hallsss of your counting-houssssse.}}
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[=]]
++++ {{HAJHETI}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{Minerals?}}

+++++ {{//(The hologram stands up. The Threll cower.)//}}

+++++ {{You would believe that I, the almighty Prince of Commerce, would want for riches?!}}
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[=]]
++++ {{THRELL CAPTAIN}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{But, ssssire, your ordersss...}}
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[=]]
++++ {{HAJHETI}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{My //orders// were to wipe out every trace of the creatures and cultures the Weaver so adores.}}
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[=]]
++++ {{THRELL CAPTAIN}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{But thisss is a mining ship!}}
[[size 0%]].[[/size]]

[[=]]
++++ {{HAJHETI}}
[[/=]]
+++++ {{THEN DIG! DIG FOR THE **//ASHES!//**}}

+++++ {{//(17.5 uninterrupted seconds of evil laughter from HAJHETI.)//}}

+++++ {{//(Time stops.)//}}

+++++ {{//(Pan left across the completely still bridge of Tarrare, until an orange and white tail can be seen from behind a Threll guard.)//}}

+++++ {{//(Whip zoom around the guard to an old friend, lounging across the unknowable keyboard of an alien computer.)//}}

+++++ {{//(He addresses the camera directly.)//}}

[[=]]
++++ {{THE FOX}}
[[/=]]
+++++ ##e8bb3c|{{Hello, old friend. How's the Land Down Under treating you?}}##
[[/div]]

//You have suddenly decided that this movie is horrible.//

> +++ ☑  Decide whether or not you like this movie.

------

> +++  ☐ Get rid of the Fox.

You shiver in your seat. The force of your grip shatters the inner metalwork of the armrests.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|The hell's that fox doin' there? I don't remember this part.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|That can't be who I think it is.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|Oi, Casey, is this some kinda special edition?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|I don't think so.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Guys.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|Yeah, yeah, no talkin' durin' the movie.##}}

{{##7CFF71|,,...fascist.,,##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Guys... this isn't part of the movie.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|I'm trying to pause it. Nothing's working!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|What?!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Shit, McDrugs, your uncle had a haunted theater!##}}

{{##cyan|IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER SPIRITS IN THE ROOM, //WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO DAY DRINKING AND/OR MAKE OUT WITH ME IN AN UNDERPASS?//##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|It's impolite to ignore me, //Riordan.//##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|WHOA WHAT THE FUCK?!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|NEVER MIND, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY WHO I THINK IT IS!##}}
[[/div]]

You tap your sign repeatedly toward anyone who would listen.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|TURN IT OFF __RIGHT NOW__ PLEASE!!!##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|J-just shut it off, Gregg, you're scarin' Bitey Boy!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Deep breaths, Riordan... You're safe...##}}
[[/div]]

The screen goes black. Only now are you //truly// safe. You clutch your forehead in your fingertips, staring at the floor. You feel Wakako's hand on your back.

Gregg and Casey come running down the stairs on stage right.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Okay, it's off. Sorry it took so long. Had to hold down the power button for damn near half a minute.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Or, you could have just unplugged it.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|[[size 50%]]Fuck, I could've.[[/size]]##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++++ ##purple|he found me##

++++ ##purple|i thought he forgot about me##

++++ ##purple|this cant be happening##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|You know //lowercase// now?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Not the time, McDrugs.##}}

{{##cyan|Riordan, was this the Fox you were telling us about?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Had to have been.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++++ ##purple|yes he trapped me here##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Well, if he's in that movie, all we really need to do is never watch it again.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Yeah. Besides, silver linings -- if he never trapped you here, we'd have never met each other!##}}
[[/div]]

The screen floods with light once again -- with twice the intensity.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|Which is strange, because that's absolutely //not// why I trapped him here. I only did it because needs to learn how to speak.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Leave us alone!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Even if using his voice wouldn’t kill him -- which it absolutely would -- how is that //your// problem?!##}}

{{##FAFF91|Our bitey little bastard is fine the way he is!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|That's it, unplugging it myself!##}}
[[/div]]

Gregg darts up the stairs.

Your fists ball up into rock-solid, shivering masses. Fear is giving way to anger.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|Riordan, I'm all for letting you meet the terms of our arrangement at your own pace. But you've been //intentionally avoiding// the use of your voice.##}}
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|So tell me: are you even //slightly// interested in learning how to speak? Because if you are, you'll have to help me help yourself.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|//GO AWAY!//##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|Oh, for God's sake. It's a dark room! I can't bloody see your response!##}}

+++++ {{##e8bb3c|I'm starting to think that whiteboard is less of a communication tool and more of a very rigid security blanket.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Actually, I got a BETTER idea! How about you quit stalkin' our friend here before I skin you alive, then sell your fluffy little pelt to some pervert on the dark web what gets off to wipin' his arse with different textures?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|And don't think I don't know your type! I read //Le Petit Prince// like everyone else, I saw what that fox was sayin' to that __underage__ boy, all //~pweease, TAME me~// an' shit -- YOU BELONG IN PRISON!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Guys, this isn't a fucking open mic.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|Fair enough. Gregg! Hurry up and unplug it.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|...##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Gregg?##}}
[[/div]]

You look toward Gregg, slowly coming down the top of the stairs. The blood has drained from his face. He holds up half of the projector's electrical cord. 

It's been chewed off.

Smoke floods the ceiling, billowing out of the projector room.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 50px; margin-right: 50px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|You can't learn to speak without proper motivation.##}}

+++++ {{##e8bb3c|But don't worry, Riordan -- I'm going to give you plenty of reasons to scream today.##}}
[[/div]]

On a screen, the Fox is considerably larger than he'd be in life.

So, when he peeks his snout out of the screen and snarls, that's why his fangs are half a meter long.


> +++  --☐ Get rid of the Fox.--

------

> +++  ☐ Run.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|...run?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Run.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
//{{##cyan|Run.##}}//
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 100px; margin-right: 100px"]]
+ {{##e8bb3c|Run.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Run!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|RUN!!!##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

> +++  ☑ Run.

------

> +++  ☐ Inspect your surroundings.

You slam shoulder-first through the double doors into the hallway.

A flood of gray light washes over you from above, clashing with the darkness of the theater. You don't remember the hallway carpet feeling this cold and solid. You nearly stumble as your bare feet adjust.

The view around you is familiar, yet different somehow. ...that's it! You've seen this before, just from a higher floor. It's an endless field of vitrified soil, just like the one that surrounds Site-6800.

The four others trail behind. As they leave the door, their shoes make a different sound. Less of a flop-flop and more of a click-click.

You look back toward them.

All four are standing there. Gregg's a little winded. Wakako is frozen with confusion. Casey viciously scans his surroundings with his knife drawn. McDrugs is pawing through the air, trying to find the door, and --

It's gone!

THE DOOR'S GONE!

...//AGAIN!//

...

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|Try not to panic, but... where's the door?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|We're trapped?!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|//**FOX!**// BRING THE DOOR BACK BEFORE I STICK YOUR FAMILY IN A BLENDER AND BUTT-CHUG WHAT COMES OUT!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Oh my God... is this Hell? Did he take us to //Hell?!//##}}

{{##cyan|...##}}

{{##cyan|Never mind, I don't see any politicians.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|I know this place.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|You've... //been// here?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Discovery Channel, mate. Big black plains, overcast -- it's the Restoration Zone. One of the un-restored bits.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|The RZ?! Fuck me dead, what part of it?##}}
[[/div]]

Gregg checks his phone.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|The part with no reception.##}}

{{##ff99ff|...so, basically, anywhere.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|...oi, Riordan.##}}

{{##FAFF91|This was how the Fox trapped you in Sydney, wasn't it?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|I'M SORRY!##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|For what? You didn't trap us, that cunt of a fox did.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|HE WAS AFTER ME! IF YOU NEVER MET ME, YOU'D HAVE NEVER BEEN TRAPPED HERE!##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|...and I woulda shot myself, Wakako and Casey woulda shot //each other//, and, well, McDrugs can't make it on her own.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|He's right. I'm basically a newborn reindeer.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Guys. I don't think you understand. //None// of us can make it here. This is the //undeveloped RZ.//##}}

//{{##cyan|There's nothing but empty space for 200 kilometers in some parts! That means no food! No water! No -- ##}}//
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|No yuppies.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|...wait, for real?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #000000; background:#FFFFFF; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
[[=]]
++ ##purple|AND NO COPS, EITHER!##
[[/=]]
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Yeah, see?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|Not unless that place used to be a police station.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Wait, what place?##}}
[[/div]]

McDrugs points. Everyone's gaze follows it, including yours. She points to the one place none of you had checked -- a jagged black shape in the horizon. 

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Buildings?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Several. Definitely something manmade.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|I don't see any other leads on avoiding starvation.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##FAFF91|Then let's check it out!##}}
[[/div]]

> +++  ☑ Inspect your surroundings.

------

The walk is long and tedious. You don't tire easily, but you're a lightweight when it comes to boredom. Sometimes you have to dash in front of the pack and run around in a few circles to work off energy. (There's a 30% chance that you're secretly a cat.)

The sky darkens as the journey goes on. As do the buildings. As you get a better look, you get the feeling it used to either be an office building or a prison compound built after the Tarrare Incident -- and something burned it to the ground.

The closer you get, the less everyone talks.

You enter the shattered glass doorway in complete silence. Whatever happened here was worse than just a fire. There's a residual sadness here, something that washes over the whole gang as they enter.

There's a sign at the front desk -- but the smoke damage is too heavy to show anything but the vaguest outline of a circle with three arrows pointing inward.

There's a foyer area. A broken fountain. Plastic plants that melted.

You freeze.

Back at Site-6800, when construction work was being done on your usual movie floor, you passed //this very fountain// on the way to the temporary location.

...

You're home. The last you remember of it, the Fox had leapt into Dr. Fenwick's office. And two years later, there's nothing but ashes. Even someone like you can put the pieces together.

...

You clap a hand over your mouth.

Anything to stamp back a scream.

Casey glances after you. He knows something is wrong.

You drop the whiteboard. Talking won't help, only stumping back the building scream in your throat -- trying to bash its way out of your mouth with an invisible battering ram.

You fall to your knees. Tears gather.

...

There's no way Dr. Fenwick could have made it.

Before Casey or anyone else can ask you what's wrong, a familiar voice cries out from the other side of the foyer...

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|Do you know what's the funniest part about the Tarrare Incident?##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
++ {{##FAFF91|FOX! SHOW YOURSELF!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|There he is! On the box, see 'im?##}}
[[/div]]

You follow the source of the voice.

The Fox -- at his usual size, this time -- is sitting pretty on top a one-meter cube of of cold, black metal. Painted on the side: "XYANK-HENDERSON METASPATIAL CONTAINMENT KENNEL -- FOR EMERGENCY CONTAINMENT ONLY".

Your stifled scream turns into stifled growling. 

He lit your home on fire.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|Technically, it never stopped. It's still going on as we speak.##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|Oh my God, //no one cares.//##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##cyan|Just take us back and leave us alone! What the fuck is your problem?!##}}
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; 
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|Speaking of problems, I've hired a specialist. [https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-2845 Mr. Moosie] here has taken a keen interest in your case, Riordan.##}}
[[/div]]

He taps the top of the box twice.

It explodes.

A wave of invisible concussive force knocks you, Casey, and the others on your backs.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
+++++ {{##e8bb3c|See, Mr. Moosie can make an interesting little gas. If you breathe it, your voice sounds [[size 75%]]all tiny and silly,[[/size]] [[size 50%]]like this, hee-hee![[/size]]##}}

+++++ {{##e8bb3c|But here's the catch: you have to use your voice first.##}}

+++++ {{##e8bb3c|See you on the second floor when you're doooone ~ <3 ##}}
[[/div]]

The Fox's voice trails off.

The air tempature suddenly drops. You shiver.

You're scared, but at least the fear is distracting you from worrying if Dr. Fenwick is okay.

You dread to take your first look.

------

[[=]]
[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 100px; margin-right: 100px"]]
[[image thedeer.png]]
[[/div]]
[[/=]]

As if the laws of physics themselves have recognized a higher power, a powerful silence falls over you. It was noisier in the open of the RZ.

[https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/scp-2845 The ethereal deer] stares down at you with inscrutable intentions. In particular, its eyes are fixed upon you, Riordan.

None of you can muster the courage to speak in the presence of such an otherworldly --

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
+++ //{{##FAFF91|OI, YOU! BAMBI-LOOKIN' CUNT! Where'd that piece a' shit fox run off to?!##}}//
[[/div]][[/div]]

The deer glances at Casey. It raises its left eyebrow a single centimeter.

Stay quiet.

Swirling, pale vapors in the air surrounding the deer coalesce into sharp crystals.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##7CFF71|...ohhhh, this ain't good.##}}
[[/div]]

One of the crystals flies into Casey's solar plexus. Red stains the yellow of his raincoat.

Stay quiet.

His mouth opens without word, only a choking noise.

//Stay quiet.//

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
++++ //{{##cyan|CASEY!##}}//
[[/div]]

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
{{##ff99ff|Uh, just -- just stay right there, Casey, my mum was a nurse, she taught me how to--##}}
[[/div]]

Another pointed crystal lands in Casey's shoulder. Stay quiet. Then another. Stay quiet. Stay quiet. 

...

47 uninterrupted seconds pass of nothing but crystals flying into Casey's corpse until nothing is left but a red-brown slurry in a pile of his shredded clothes.

You jam your fist in your mouth. Down your throat.

Another familiar, muffled scream. ...like the first day you met Casey. He's gone. He's gone. He's gone and you need to cry and that will kill you and you don't want to die and he's gone and this deer is a piece of shit and you keep screaming into your now-open palm and Wakako is sobbing and Gregg is yelling and McDrugs is shrieking incoherently and why the **fuck** can't you join them, again?

+++ Stay quiet.

The deer stomps.

McDrugs's scream lowers in pitch. Garbling. Warping. You look at her. It's hard to move your neck when your fist is in your throat. Her clothes have evaporated into pale dust in the air. Her body is unrecognizable. A six-sided column of sallow meat.

Wakako clings to it. She begs the deer to bring her back.

It stomps again.

Wakako becomes the second pillar.

++ Stay quiet.

Something other than your ears can hear Wakako and McDrugs's voices. They're sing-screaming in a language that only plants speak.

Gregg charges blindly for the deer with fists balled.

He doesn't even get a pillar. He vanishes into gas.

+ Stay qu --

**The deer is staring at you right now.**

...

...

It's suddenly a little easier to stay quiet. You go rigid, shivering violently. You rip the fist out of your throat. It's covered in a little blood.

The deer stomps.

Your clothes fade away into pale clouds. Your whiteboard, too. The pillars are singing with their minds, not their voices -- maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

You won't ever have to scream if you're a pillar, right?

...

It stomps again.

And again.

And again.

You feel chilly each time. But you stare down at your body, and see no pillar material. Only legs. For reasons you can't understand, you're immune. Immune and alone.

The deer tilts its head. Without words, without gestures, you feel an inexplicable impulse from its mind: it has decided that you're not a threat or a victim.

It turns around. 

It takes a few steps away, curiously examining its surroundings.

...

Stay quiet.

...

...

...

You raise your fist to jam it in your throat again.

...

...

You lower it.

...

You take a deep breath.

...

+++++ {{##red|...##}}

++++ {{##red|...##}}

+++ {{##red|...##}}

++ {{##red|...##}}

+ {{##red|...##}}

+ {{##red|...##}}

+ {{##red|...##}}

+ {{##red|...##}}

+ {{##red|...##}}

[[=]]
[[image awakening5.png]]
[[/=]]

You spoke.

You spoke, and you're still alive.

You're still alive, and you're staring at the deer from a head that's four meters higher in the air.

Your skin struggles to hold you together. It cracks with every movement, but regenerates. It's shiny, rigid, and deep red, with something dark and intricate marbled underneath. 

It's making sense now. You were only human for as long as you believed. Your voice is the sound of crackling flames given thought and meaning, and the sound of it was the reminder you needed.

Your shape struggles to maintain its humanity. It's still the most familiar and comfortable one. But an ancient and terrible silhouette fights you at every step to regain control.

You are a lump of red glass and heat.

Is this what the Fox wanted? Who the //hell// would want this?

...

The deer turns around, staring up at you. Its eyes widen.

One wordless glance, and it kneels on a single front hoof, bowing its head.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
++++ //{{##FF9191|Bring them back.##}}//
[[/div]]

It says nothing. 

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
++++ //{{##FF9191|Please... just bring my friends back. I need them.##}}//
[[/div]]

The deer's head leans deeper to the floor.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
+++ **//{{##FF9191|BRING THEM BACK!##}}//**

++ **//{{##FF9191|NOW!##}}//**
[[/div]]

The ground curdles under the deer's hooves, glowing and bubbling. Its fur singes at the edges.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
++ **//{{##FF9191|BRING THEM BACK, OR I'LL KILL YOU!##}}//**
[[/div]]

But in the flames, you can already see the deer's exposed skull.

Its left antler falls off. Liquefying, it slowly floats toward your open mouth.

[[div style="border:solid 1px #ffffff; background:#000000; padding:10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px"]]
+ **//{{##FF9191|THEY WERE ALL I HAD! THEY WERE -- ##}}//**
[[/div]]

The last word becomes more of a gurgle.

The antler -- the deer's corpse -- the ground itself, now a lake of slag, bends toward your mouth. What's left of Wakako and McDrugs bursts into flames. You can't hear their song anymore -- perhaps their master's death led to their own.

You freeze. Your chest seizes up with unfamiliar emotions.

You stumble backward.

The floor where the deer once stood is now a red-hot curl of slag, as if someone had just taken a spoon from a pot of thick fudge.

You've seen this before. In your dreams.

...

Your body shrinks. You're as tall as Riordan once was, if you can even call yourself that anymore.

Though your malleable body struggles to even step forward, you make your way to the stairs.

The journey is long and hard. You end up having to crawl for the last few steps.

And once you reach the second floor, there stands the Fox, with an open Foundation laptop next to him.

Without a word, he slides the laptop in your direction.

[[=]]
+++ [https://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/dyfscp0013/offset/6 There's a document on the screen...]
[[/=]]