Episode 59 - Friends

## Friends

White broken pieces of wood and vines surround the image. A white, decorative cabinet is being raised by a red rope. The handles of the cabinet are also red.

### Author

William A. Wellman

Nolan makes a friend, Violet has dinner guests, and Mort gets a prize. The theme of tonight's episode is Friends.

***Content Warnings:** Animal death (Bert as usual), Violence, Kidnapping and abduction, Death + Injury, Blood, Sexism and misogyny, Homophobia, Birds, Gun Mention, Emotional Manipulation, Body horror*

## Intro - No Reflection

Nikignik narrates Nolan Thair (or someone from his family) as they look into a mirror and watch as no reflection looks back, seeing only the empty room behind them, with its drape covered furniture and dust caught in sunlit rays. The attic floorboards beneath their feet creak, but they don't worry about it "these old houses, they have a life of their own" the family beneath them whisper. They hear footsteps on the floor and the door opens to reveal not their mother but a young girl. She tells them that she knew that they were up there and that they could come out as she wouldn't tell anyone. They tell her that they weren't allowed to talk to them, and she asks them who they were. They tell her that they're a ghost, as it was easier than the truth. She was the last friend they had for a very long time.

Nikignik stands on the abandoned battlefield out the front of the remains of Solomon Reed's house (see Episode 47 - Regrets), one wouldn't be able to tell that only a season ago the Hallowoods held it in a crushing grip, now the forests roots blanketed the earth, and new trees rose up to blot out all traces of mark masters and tortured orchestras to greet a living summer with vibrant cheer.

## Story One - Not A Ghost

Nolan Thair had at times wondered if he was a ghost, able to speak and be heard but not seen. But Nolan had seen real ghosts at the Storming of Solomon Reed's house (see Episode 46 - Teeth), and he finds that the landscape had changed since that twilight and early morning, gone was the wall of tress (see Episode 42 - Walls) as well as the house itself, all that remained was a great crater of gnarled roots. The air wasn't quiet either, with the chortle of a busy engine and a small crane with limbs like a spider’s was perched in the sea of twisted wood. Nolan takes this as his chance to meet new people, reflecting back on the conversation he had with Ricou Chapman in Episode 53 - Rivers and how Ricou had decided not to join him, instead staying in their home in the Shuddering Peaks. Nolan approaches the two people standing next to the crater, Elena Alder and her father and watches as they excavate a Cabinet out of it with little delicacy in the task. Elena and her dad squabble back and forth over this, their conversation ending with Elena announcing that she was taking her lunch break and stepping away to the back of a nearby parked van, which Nolan follows her to.

After a small while Nolan gets the courage to make his presence known the Elena and greets her. Elena reacts calmly to the disembodied voice, telling Nolan that it was lunch time. Nolan tells her that he wasn't her father just in case she was confused, but she tells him she knew, that her dad was old, but he wasn't a ghost yet, telling him about how when she'd grown up her family had a ghost who haunted their piano (see Percy Reed, Episode 1 - Keys, and Piano key), telling him how she'd never seen him but he'd used to write messages behind the wall paper (see Episode 1 - Keys). She tells him that she was willing to bet that half the stuff at Solomon's house was haunted. Elena asks if Nolan was one of the Instruments (see Ghosts), and after a long moment of hesitation and consideration Nolan tells Elena that he wasn't a ghost, that he was invisible. He expects her to react with horror, but she remains calm and asks him how his invisibility worked, he tells her that he wasn't sure as he was born that way. She quips that 'having an invisible baby would suck' and warns him that she was armed and didn't need to see him to kill him. Nolan tells her that he wasn't looking for a fight, that he was looking for friends as last time he was there, there had been other people like him, and asks her if she knew where any of them had gone after the fight. She tells him she didn't as she hadn't been there, but her friend Winona Carline had, and Nolan tells her that Winona sounded like the type of person he was looking for. Elena's dad starts calling for her to come and help him, so Elene quickly tells Nolan where to find Winona before wishing him care and running off to help her dad. Nolan walks away following her directions.

### Interlude - Community Centers

Nikignik tells the Dreamers that if they were a new arrival in The Hallowoods and wanted to meet some of the locals, that there were several places they could look first. The Dry Market housed small business, local artists and scavengers, and was also one of the largest community centres in the Hallowoods, often seeing travellers from farther south. The Resting Place Hotel in the Moormire was good if they were human adjacent or even if they had a high tolerance for the supernatural and was another popular destination for lonely souls. Communities like Fort Freedom, Webequie First Nation, and the Scoutpost could be somewhat more exclusive with certain requirements, as life in the hostile north had made them weary even of each other. Establishments like Downing Hill Public Library were holding no events at this time of year. There was he Pendulum Nightclub below the Spirit Sky Observatory, but the Dreamers were unlikely to be invited, as they were quite selective with their guest list. A pamphlet from the Church of the Hallowed Name may appear in the Dreamers mailbox, they should not open it and also assume that at this point no mail they received should be trusted.

## Story Two - Dinner Guests

Violet Keene hosts a dinner at the Scoutpost between its own members and those of Fort Freedom (see Episode 55 - Threats). She sits down and everyone begins to eat, Violet with Virgil Kane and Bern Keene stinting on either side of her, taking not of one of the Scoutpost children outside playing the violin to try and keep the Froglins away (see Episode 53 - Rivers and Solomon Reed). Mrs. Wicker tanks Violet for inviting them into their home, telling them that she hoped that they would be able to come to an agreement that benefited both of them. Jacob Wicker intersects his mother and asks if they ate meat, Mrs. Wicker shoots him a warning look and Virgil tells him that they did eat meat, just not often enough. Violet elaborates on this by telling them that they relied mostly on their farms, they'd had some success with chickens and bees, but they did have hunting Scouts. Mrs. Wicker tells them that they did alot of hunting around Fort Freedom, though never enough as there were so many mouths to feed. Violet sympathises with this, telling her that their first few years had been challenging, learning how to survive took time. Buck Silver speaks up, thanking them for cooking, Violet tells him that he had Cookery Potts to thank for the food, and Mrs. Wicker asks if it was a kind of pot, but Virgil tells her that they were a person, of sorts, telling them that they were one of a few interesting folks that they might meet. Buck comments on 'Cookery' being a strange name. Violet asks if they got any unusual visitors up at Fort Freedom, but Mrs. Wicker tells her that Fort Freedom wasn't very easy to reach.

Virgil asks what had made the people of Fort Freedom move up to the Hallowoods, and Mrs. Wicker tells him that many of them had been unhappy with the way that the country (U.S) was being run, and when the Rains had begun man of them were ready, and they headed North away from populated areas to where they thought was safety, they'd all taken on responsibility and no hand were idle at Fort Freedom. Buck asks about he patches that all the Scoutpost members were wearing, and Violet tells him that people got those for achievement. Buck says that he could probably get one for reading, and Violet finds that his enthusiasm reminds her of Big Mikey, though she doesn't bring this up. Mrs. Wicker brings up the Scoutpost's seeming lack of weapons, but Violet tells them that they did have weapons, jut not guns. Jacob asks why, and Bern tells him it was because of the noise as that might attract some things that they didn't want to attract, as well as difficulty to maintain, Violet adding of for cultural reasons as well. Mrs. Wicker asks about the way she'd described Cookery (and co), and Vigil and Violet tell them about The Mendies. Mrs. Wicker tells them that at Fort Freedom they prioritised safety, so she couldn't imagine keeping the undead around for utility. The warning bells sound from outside, and Violet asks for them to be excused as it seemed the Scoutpost was being attacked.

### Marketing - Strangers In Your Dreams

Lady Ethel Mallory interrupts Nikignik's broadcast with her marketing segment. She tells the listeners that they all had needs, but even deeper were their wants, and when one joined the Prime Dream, they were not just signing up for a life changing experience, they were joining a collective family of thought, a network of family and friends, and when they dreamed, they did not dream alone. The Botulus Corporation's pathing solution was able to match similar dreams based on memory, brain waves, and onboarding exam results, so that any friends they might make were a perfect complement for them. Or they could seek out human connection though Botco's Happy Dreaming Family Recreational Centers, telling the listener to check with their closest Botulus Corporation Contact Terminal for details. She tells the listeners that if they were still out there, beyond the Prime Dream, they didn't have to be alone.

### Story Two, Continued

Violet rushes from the dinner and onto a balcony, seeing Scouts reading bows and javelins, and Bern holding her crossbow against the edge of the railing, and Vigil pushes open the ramp to the inner courtyard, Huntington Waites standing ready to fight. Violet sees over a dozen Froglins clinging to the walls around the shattered barricades of the Lurch Lake gate, also coming to the realisation that no one had struck yet as a large toad stood in the open gates holding Cole Kane hostage, as well as Al's drum laying amongst the shattered barricades. Virgil yells at them to put his son down, approaching the Froglins with Huntington following close behind him. Violet yells at him to wait but Virgil continues forward, and four things happen simultaneously, there was a crackle of a gunshot that caused Violet's ears to ring, the Froglins scattered, one jumping into the crowed of Scouts but being caught and killed by Huntington, Al punches the Froglin holding Coal hostage, and the Froglin suddenly had a bullet hole in the centre of its head, collapsing and dropping Coal. Violet turns to see Jacob with his rifle propped against the railing of the balcony, smoke rising from the gun barrel, Mrs. Wicker and Buck standing in the doorway. She looks back at the collapsed barricade to see the remaining Froglins gone and Zelda Duckworth rushing forward to collect Al's drum, Virgil collected his son, Mrs. Wicker scolded hers, Bern started yelling, the Scout's scattered to begin repairs, and Violet's world was spinning.

She whispers an announcement that she was going to sit down, finding her way back inside and to a chair, and she disassociates for a while, reassociating to find Bern crouching beside her crying and, Mrs. Wicker still in the doorway. Violet asks Mrs. Wicker if they could have a minute, but Mrs. Wicker tells her that she just wanted to check on her and looking back at her wide to see her putting her hands in hers. Violet asks her what was wrong, and if Cole was okay. Bern tells her that he was okay, but the Froglins had destroyed three of their four outer garden beds, torn down their deer fence, and broken her bee boxes. Violet sympathises with this, telling her that they'd figure it out. She looks up to see Mrs. Wicker still in the doorway staring at them, and Violet asks her if there was anything she needed, if her people were okay. Mrs. Wicker tells her that she thought they should set their alliance in stone, as Fort Freedom needed Resorces and the Scoutpost needed protection, they could help each other. Violet looks back at Bern for her approval, and Bern gives her a nod. She tells Mrs. Wicker to consider it done, in the morning they'd get it underway.

### Interlude - Short On Friends

Nikignik tells the Dreamers that he did not consider himself short on friends. He had Xyzikxyz, they had been closer once, as people often were in their early years, and he had enjoyed his last visit to her shadow dome (see Episode 48 - Revelations), though he found her laboratory unsettling. There was Zazzlezazz, though they had not spoken in some time, but he assumed Zazzlezazz was still fine as the universe still existed. He tells the dreamers thar he'd had a friend once who was human (see Amaryllis), but unfortunately, she was not around to listen to his stories now, he thought she would enjoy them if she could. He tells the Dreamers that the human creature was a sad thing, the fire of life burning in them so brightly for their size, but the shell that held it withered so quickly in the face of the sun. He tells the Dreamers that he hadn't made alot of friends when he was young, being consumed with other affairs, he'd thought nothing of it at the time. When he was with someone who he thought he loved (see Marolmar) it was amazing how fast time went, and everything else with it. If nothing else, he had the Dreamers, even if they were only a captive audience for a short while and weren't they having fun.

## Story Three - A Prize With Wings

Mort stomps into a puddle and laughs when he sees the water fly into the air, Bert covering himself from the splash with his wings, and Mort apologise to him. Polly announces that the name of the place was Watertown (it isn't specified how he knows this), sarcastically stating that this was because there was water next to the town, and that this was a shining pinnacle of human creativity. Mort tells him that it made sense to him and asks Yaretzi if she was okay, as she been very quiet. Yaretzi tells him that she needed to speak to Polly, alone. Polly asks her what for, but she says nothing and keeps staring at him. Polly tells Mort that they were going to play a game, that he stretch of franchise restraints they were amongst looked to go for about a mile, that Mort was going to see how fast he could run to the end and back again, and he'd give him a prize. Mort runs off, quickly leaving Polly and Yaretzi behind, the end of the buildings arriving after a few moments. Then he runs back, and spots Yaretzi and Polly.

He sees them shouting at each other, Yaretzi bearing her teeth and Polly waving his hat in the air, and Mort understands that he was seeing something he wasn't supposed to, deciding to watch close by and out of site. Yaretzi tells Polly that she could smell Barb on him (see Episode 54 - Roads) and demands to know where Polly was hiding him. Polly admits that Barb had visited, they'd talked and then he'd left. Yaretzi asks him if he understood what she'd sacrificed to be there with him and Mort (see Yaretzi), demanding to know what had happened to the fire in Polly's Cane. Polly tells her that the Industry were going to come after them (see Episode 39 - Promises), telling her that he didn't know how it worked for Tolshotol, but he'd gone to a regional manager of the Industry, stolen his cane and told him to go screw himself, so he'd had to take some measures for their collective safety, that he'd given some of his fire to Barb to hide, he could manage his own affairs. Yaretzi tells him that he needed his fire to fight, that there was no use in hiding if he couldn't defend himself. Polly goes to reply but sees Mort. Mort asks what was going on, but Polly tells him 'Nothing' and tells him that they were going to find him a prize, but Mort tells him that he didn't want a prize he wanted Polly and Yaretzi to stop fighting. Yaretzi tells Poly that Mort deserved to know, but Polly tells her that Mort was practically a child. She tells Mort that Polly was in trouble some bad people, Mort asks her if he [Mort] needed to fight more people, but Polly tells him it was nothing of the sort, pulling a sheet of paper from his jacket and folding it into an origami bird, handing it to Mort and telling him that everything was fine. Yaretzi tells him that they should make a plan for when they found them, but Polly tells her that if it was anyone from the Industry, he could handle it (see Rick Rounds).

## Outro - Friends

Nikignik waxes poetics about Friends. Telling the Dreamers that it was comforting to find somewhere along the journey that they were not alone, that it was pleasant to have the silence interrupted by a familiar voice, a reminder that they lived in a world larger than their own mind. But more than that, a friend meant that there was something in them, warmth, humour, a mutual cynicism worth sharing. And if the Dreamers looked around and found that they were alone, then they should know two things. The first was that Nikignik was always nearby, watching. The second was that friends were easier to make then they thought, but harder to locate then they might suspect. They should search under stones, and in quiet places, and stagnate bodies of water, look for where crows and mushrooms gathered as well as leads from cryptic posters. Friends would find them when they least expected it, and after that they'd never quite be able to get rid of them.