Episode 104 - Communions

## Communions

A black background with a white border resembling string lights. Within the border a white wreath made of plant matter that vaguely resembles mistletoe, however the berries are replaces by small red eyes. In the centre of the wreath a white sign hangs with the words "I TRIED I AM SO SORRY" written on it in red. Bellow this image but still within the border the words "104.COMMUNIONS" are depicted in white

### Author

William A Wellman

Jonah stays out of trouble, Hector prepares for the journey, and Cindy completes her list. The theme of tonight's episode is Communions.

> ***Content warnings**:* *Fatshaming, Death, Animal Death (Heidi as usual), Emotional Manipulation, Blood*
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## Intro - What Goes Unspoken

Nikignik speaks to the Dreamers of someone who is afraid to address the dire future, unwilling to be the first to say anything, so it went unsaid. The future was dark, and so far away from this brightly lit gathering of friends and the family they had found. There were many intimacies they engage in, but this one was the only that they all engaged in together: trying to forget that there was a tomorrow. It went unspoken that they may never see each other again. It went unspoken that ahead of them was an uncertain future, and a falling-apart of memories.

Nikignik dwells in a pair of hiking boots amongst the gathered supplies that Hector Mendoza, Jonah Duckworth, and Cindy Lockheart had set out in organisation for their expedition north (see Episode 96 - Horizons).

## Story 1 - Ready For The Road

Jonah Duckworth watches as Cindy Lockheart and Hector Mendoza pack for the expedition (see Episode 96 - Horizons), having set themselves up in Scoutpost Two's common hall. Hector adds a pulk to the pile, and Jonah comments on it, Cindy telling them that it would be on the group to carry their gear, until the snow set in or they reached the artic, so they needed to eliminate all the weight they could. Hector reminds her that Diggory Graves and Percy Reed were dead and could carry more than they could, so they only had to worry about themselves as the kids (see Riot Maidstone and Olivier Song). Jonah mentions Jackie, but Hector states he wouldn't be bringing her, if something happened Heidi could walk home, Jackie couldn't. Jonah tells him that this made sense, though detects that Hector was much more emotional about it then he was letting on.

Nikignik realises that he should maybe be telling the segment through the perspective of Hector and not Jonah.

Hector Mendoza smiles at Jonah and turns away before he can give any hint that he may be hurting, taking the opportunity to remove a tear from his eye. Despite it all leaving Jackie behind did give him some comfort, in leaving her behind some small part of him may live on should he die. He stayed quiet as he worked, not wanting Cindy to hear him explain to Jonah how leaving Jackie behind affected him.

Nikignik says that maybe the segment should actually be told through Cindy, but when he goes to speak from her perspective her internal monologue only retains to things they needed to pack. So Nikignik tells the Dreamers that maybe Cindy wasn't a good choice.

He asks why he was being conflicted on who's story to tell, chosen to best tell the story. It was because something else was weighing on him, that he didn't know if waking up Mort in Episode 103 - Crossroads had been the right thing to do, lamenting that he wished he could see into the future to know for certain. So he would have to confront what was coming blind, as those about to face the expedition, Cindy and Hector and Jonah packing, Riot and Olivier treasuring their last moments together, Diggory and Percy wondering the halls of the Museum of Broken Promises (see Episode 99 - Sentries), and behind them, toppling through the rooms, was Mort.

It was not strange for Indescribables to completely alter people's lives, so surely it was to no great offence that Nikignik had woken up one person. And yet, as Polly and Yaretzi looked for Mort with increasing panic, he could not help but feel regret. It wasn't as if any real harm might come to Mort. At least he hoped so. If something did befall Mort, would he be to blame?

The Scoutpost celebrated an early holiday to replace all the ones that would be missed in the coming winter, their minds turned to the north and the danger it brought. They would hardly know that at the end The Heart of Marolmar beat out black water, and all the expedition had to do was reach it. And f they did not, things would only get worse for humanity. And this did not bother Nikignik, that the Industry had given up on earth, that if Oswald Biggs Botulus sent out rockets (see Episode 94 - Milestones) he would only spread the black water to other planets until all knew Marolmar, and the bitter tase of revenge. But if that happened humanity would be destroyed, and Nikignik had found that he'd come to like humans, at least a little bit. And if they succeeded, then the story would be able to keep going.

He wasn't sure he was ready to let go of the narrative yet even if it meant letting go of all the remained of Marolmar. The journey would not be easy, but it was necessary, and that was why Nikignik had work up Mort. Because he was trying to do something right, something not born of grief. And if he failed, he hoped that the Dreamers forgave him. For now, though, they'd leave the heart where it was, and he'd try and tell the story again, this time without complaint.