(one) night | teneka & video.

[raketen]

[ Alfons is a bit wide-eyed; he's maskless and the poor lighting casts almost comically dramatic shadows. The picture shakes with his hands, but he still seems resolute. ]

I'm supposed to be dead. I have to be dead. No one lives through something like that. No one--

[ His palm presses against his chest-- the shirt's still blotched with blood,

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video, teneka

[bloodseals]

[He's stayed late at the library tonight -- not much else to do but read, really, and skim through the overly-complicated-piece-of-trash Ed refers to as The Network. He still doesn't like it much, but it's how most people seem to prefer communicating, so he doesn't have much of a choice. The cool night air is comfortable on his skin as he shuffles books from one arm and his device in the other, lazily reading over the entries and listening-watching with a mostly disinterested eye. That is -- until he reaches the most recent, even before the boy speaks (thinks) Ed's heart has already dropped out of him entirely, plunged abruptly into the earth as he freezes in his tracks.

There's no mistaking who that is. No, there's -- no mistaking Alfons at all, even with the shaky quality, but whatever part of Ed felt relief for a blessed second cuts out quick and sudden with the realization of what Alfons is saying (thinking). Dead, he says (thinks), dead, dead -- and there's blood on his shirt, enough to be alarming on its own, but how

teneka & video.

[raketen]

[ The PORTAL clatters to the floor; the screen goes black. There's a moment of fumbling before Alfons appears on the feed again, white as a sheet. It can't be-- but it is. Is it? It can't be! One word creeps along with the chill that runs his spine: failure. What's the sake of dying if he didn't bring Edward to the place where he belongs? What's the point of it? ]

Edward! I'm -- [ Huh, wait. ] I don't know... I guess I woke up here... [ The PORTAL pivots to show the bedroom; Alfons moves to give a few from the window. ] Hmm... wait, let me see if it's unlocked-- [ Click as the door opens; the picture brightens with hallway light, and Alfons blinks to adjust. ] I don't know...

Re: teneka & video.

[bloodseals]

[He nearly panics (you already are panicking Edward, stop it) when the screen goes black, almost dropping the device himself in his momentary terror, but to his immense ease of tension Alfons reappears quickly. Hearing Alfon's voice (thoughts) feels like a dream, really, thought that could be the fact that everything he's hearing sounds as though it's coming from a tunnel's distance away. He needs to clam down, but-- he can't, he needs to find Alfons first, and thankfully even in the dark he recognizes that room. Or, he thinks he does; it looks like one of the empty bedrooms in the flat--?

It must be, it would make sense; the Colonel and Lieutenant showed up there, too. But this is different, isn't it? What if he's someplace different? No -- don't think like that. He'll find Alfons if he has to ransack the entire city for him.]

Stay there! Just stay where you are for now, and I'll come find you!

teneka & video.

[raketen]

I'll be here! [ As if he has anywhere else to go. ] You don't-- you don't have to rush! I think I'm fine!

[ Small comfort, though. He isn't even sure. Alfons puts a light on in the bedroom, takes a seat at the edge of the bed. It's a little too literal (Edward wouldn't mind if he explored the place a bit more, he's sure), but it's difficult to take his mind off of -- well, everything. Why was he here? More importantly, what was Edward doing here? It doesn't add up... unless -- the thought comes with a jolt -- this is Edward's home? Did he pass through the Gate as well? ]

teneka; video

[contemns]

[ He is staring, almost as if trying to make sense of what Alfons is saying. ]

You seem to be more alive than most of the dead I have seen.

Or is that normal for you?

teneka & video.

[raketen]

I mean that I'm dead where I come from. -- I don't think I'm dead now. Physically speaking... or perhaps mentally speaking, if indeed this is a dream. Unless everyone else is dead, too?

[ He looks a bit surprised at the thought. ]

teneka & video.

[contemns]

If you died, you should still be dead.

[ This "voice" sounds incredibly matter-of-fact. ]

As far as I know, everyone here is alive.

teneka & video.

[raketen]

Hmm. One would think so... But I'm still here, right?

[ Or -- ]

I can't be a ghost.

[ ... Right? ]

[fearandxbox]

That's kind of how it works, I guess. You're supposed to die, you come here instead.

teneka & video.

[raketen]

Ah, I see. [ He pauses, turns that thought over. ] So this is an alternative to death?

teneka & video.

[fearandxbox]

I hope not. I'm still planning on moving on.

teneka & video.

[raketen]

Hmm... So people can die here too, then. What if one has already died? Do they die again?

teneka & video.

[r_a_m_1982]

I died in my world too, but dead means little here. My mirror keeps showing my world, though.

I know it 's scary, but all will be alright, I promise. [He gives him what Ram hopes is reassuring smile.]

teneka & video.

[raketen]

You did, too? [ You've caught Alfons' full attention! ] Huh... I wonder why my mirror's acting differently.

Re: teneka & video.

[r_a_m_1982]

Yes, and it took me a bit. It was rather painful. [Ey, fellow ded person.]

Not all of them work the same, it seems. Maybe it's for the best, you don't have to see your friends and know you can't help them if they get in trouble.

teneka & video.

[raketen]

I'm sorry to hear it. Are you all right now? [ He looks a bit sympathetic. ] I suppose that's true. Perhaps it means something, though... That it's frozen on those moments... how perplexing.

teneka;

[sun_droplet]

You're not dead here though. Has someone told you where here is?

teneka.

[raketen]

Ah... no, not yet. May I ask-- what do you know about this place?

teneka.

[sun_droplet]

It's the City of Dreams. Well, kinda. It doesn't let all your dreams come true.

teneka.

[raketen]

Some of them, though?