Episode 57 - Edges

## Edges

A white MP3 player is broken in half, showing its insides. The title of a song shows on the screen in red writing.

### Author

William A. Wellman

The Omen reports, Hector packs his bags, and Diggory reaches a bridge. The theme of tonight's episode is Edges.

***Content Warnings:** Abuse, Animal death (Heidi as usual), Death + Injury, Blood, Mental illness, Birds, Gun Mention, Strangulation/suffocation, Emotional Manipulation, Drowning, Bugs, Body horror, Consumption of Inedible Materials*

## Intro - Spindle

Nikignik speaks of someone who is 'sharp inside' describing then walking and the razors that shifted beneath their ribs, and about how when they spoke, how the sharp edges laced their words, their tongue creating wounds, spilling blood. They question when they had first begun to swallow swords (it is unknown if this is metaphorical or literal) in order to fill was surrounded their heart with weapons. They were an armoury and they let no one open their doors should they die. They found it easy to be sharp, and they had been defending their murderous secrets for so long they had almost forgotten what they were. But it was better fight away ant hands that might try to put the key to their chest less they find it empty of treasure, containing only the first dagger that cut them and their small, blackened heart.

Nikignik sits in The Omen's nest, describing it as being made from twigs and stray pages of books, and ribbon, and frayed twine. They describe it as a secret space, lost in the rafters of the library out of space. Only two beings knew where to find this nest, The Omen, and Nikignik themself.

## Story One - A Little Unkindness

The Omen nestles together in the rafter of Downing Hill Public Library and thinks about Olivier Song's getting kicked out by C. S. Blackletter, wondering if it was possible to miss someone they'd hated, despite them having never missed anyone before. They call Olivier a 'spiteful little bird' and lament about how they'd long wanted for her to fall out of the sky (see Episode 15 - Cards). They suppose that this hatred for Olivier came from The Director's favouritism towards them, the way she smiled for Olivier in a way that she never had for The Omen. The Omen thinks that they had told themself many nights before that things would change, that Olivier would make a mistake, and when they [Olivier] did The Director would see who the better servant was. The Omen had rejoiced the day that Olivier had been kicked from the Arcane program, for after all their years, The Omen had come out victorious. But The Director had not smiled in the days that followed, she had been more distant than ever, preoccupied.

The Director summons them then, and the Omen leaves the rafters to answer her call. She asks them what was missing from the library, and they tell her that some things were pending, but nothing was overdue, she asks what else The Omen had seen, and they tell her of what remained of Walter Pensive's (see Episode 36 - Swords) collection, Polly and his manual, as well as Al's residing at the Scoutpost. The Director questions the latter, asking about Al as he was the final remaining of Solomon Reed's ghosts (see Episode 48 - Revelations), and they tell her about Al and his drum. She tells them to keep an eye on him, and asks which way Polly had gone, which they tell her commenting how they'd hoped him to have visited The Library. The Director dismisses them. Despite this, The Omen asks if they could ask a question, and she allows this. They ask her what was going to come next, after their work was done. She tells them that this did not pertain to them, and they ask her if this was because they'd be free, but she smiles at this, and tells them that she was born to work and they were born to serve, and when they were done serving, they would be nothing. This hits The Omen like a brick, so to speak, and they tell her that they understand before dismissing themself. They lament over this information, deeply hurt as they fly out of Downing Hill, having finally after years of devotion and elution come to the realisation that The Director did not love them. That they'd never actually been fighting with Olivier over who was the favourite. And so, the Omen flies South to look for Al, and Polly, and despite all reason, they hoped Olivier as well.

### Interlude - Your Own Backyard

Nikignik talks to the Dreamers about how some of them had been quick to ask him about where exactly the Hallowoods were, as the stories he told remined some of Appalachia, or the Pacific Northwest, or even their own backyard. The Hallowoods was located in North Ontario, past the lakes with their greater blackflies and the lowlands in which the sleepers dwell, but it would never be content to hide its glory so far away. If one were to stand at the edge of the forest a few hours, they might watch as it spread within that short period of time. The Hallowoods were not the only place with Black trees, nor the only forest with strange animals and terrifying doorways, as the world over had been watered with the black rains, and so the changed world could be seen everywhere one looked. If one was confused by this, they should stay clear of the Northmost Hallowoods, for that is the true forest and it cannot be pictured on any map, only found if they walk north, space and time and geography warped by a hallowed light.

## Story Two - Red Sky At Night

Hector Mendoza speaks to Jonah Duckworth about some woman who he doesn't like, and as such wouldn't do business with as he begins packing to leave. Jonah asks him where he was going, and Hector simply tells him "South". Jonah still expresses confusion, asking why he was going south, saying that he'd thought Hector was going to wait a few weeks (see Episode 51 - Maps), and Hector sets pauses from packing to tell Jonah that it wasn't safe in the Hallowoods, and it especially wasn't safe in the Scoutpost with the recent froglin attacks, and with Bern and Violet Keene willing to give away their food and weapons to Fort Freedom just because it was neighbourly. That it was time for them to go. Hector continues packing, but Jonah asks if Hector was leaving without him, and Hector freezes before telling Jonah that he could come with him, that he'd like it if he came with him. Jonah asks what would happen to Zelda Duckworth, asking if Hector had thought this decision through. Hector tells him that he felt like he was the only on in the Scoutpost that was thinking anything through, sipping his bag up having finished packing and turning to Jonah. He tells him that if he wanted to survive then he had to watch out for when things were about to get dangerous and leave before they did, and he had a bad feeling about the Scoutpost and wasn't going to stick around to find out why. He tells Jonah that it wasn't anything personal, it was just what he had to do.

Jonah asks if Hector could do him a favour, if he could go for a walk with him for a little while. Hector reads this as a warning sign but gives in on account for his feeling for Jonah. The two leave, and Hector leaves his bag behind.

### Marketing - Silver Square

Lady Ethel Mallory interrupts Nikignik with her marketing segment. She talks to the listeners, in this instant her marketing class, about 'brand aesthetic', she tells them that listeners were not just looking at the words that a band used to describe itself, but also everything else right down to choice colours and shapes. She tells them to look at the classic Botco design elements for an example of this, pointing out the silver square as representing foundation and venerability, saying that this meant that they were solid and reliable, that they were there to fight for their user base and would last long into the future to support users for their entire spending life. The square also reminded people of Botco's signature product. The Eye in the centre was to represent possibility, sight from within the box, the ability to 'wake up' from reality into a dream and that Botco was not blinded to the world outside, watchful for those who they chose to allow into the Dreaming Boxes, that they were standing guard over their user base while they slept. She says that the origin of these design elements went back to Oswald Biggs Botulus's first drafts for Botco's signature products.

### Story Two, Continued

Jonah tells Hector that the reason he wanted to leave was him, that the way he was changing (see Jonah Duckworth) was what was scaring him off. Hector tells him that it wasn't him, that he'd told Jonah that he was willing to 'take it' for better or for worse, but Jonah points out that Hector was wanting to leave him. Hector tells him that he didn't want to leave him, that he just didn't understand why Jonah was 'dragging his feet'. Jonah tells him that he'd been trying to figure out a way to tell him that he didn't think he could go, that he 'felt the Scoutpost'. Hector obviously expresses confusion over this. Jonah tells him that it was hard to describe, but he felt like he knew the trees how one might know an old friend, that he could see signs and patterns in the stars when they moved, that he could hear the song in the wind that no one else could. He tells him that The tomb of Marolmar was all around them, just out of view, and he didn't think that he could just walk out, that he thought it was living in him, or he'd been infected somehow. He tells Hector that he felt like he was dying, and that he wasn't able to recognise himself anymore, or maybe he'd never even come back (see Episode 1 - Keys), and Jonah starts to cry. Hector tells him that he believed him, that he knew something had changed for him, that he wished he knew more about it or knew someone who did.

Jonah asks him not to leave, telling him that he loved him. Jonah asks what it was Hector was afraid of, and Hector tells him that he didn't' know, that he'd never stayed in one place for so long before, that if he sat still for too long, he worried that something might catch up to him, but it was nothing he could name. Jonah takes this to mean that Hector was scared, telling him that he could understand that, but Hector tells him that he wasn't scared, that it was just common sense to leave when he could feel danger coming. Jonah calls this superstition. Jonah tells him that he'd used to wonder what 'the point' was, when he'd been out on the ocean hauling up fish doing the same thing every day, because the world was over, or at least the way it used to be. But fishing was all he had, and he might as well see it through till the end. And he hadn't expected anything that had happened to him within the plot to happen to him. But he had met Hector, so it was worth it. Hector tells him that he'd never stopped to think about it, it had always been 'survive'. Jonah tells him that he [Jonah] wasn't going to leave, because he had too much at the Scoutpost, and he didn't think that Hector should be leaving either, but he understood if he did. Hector thinks that this was a trap, and he was about to put his foot in it, but he tells Jonah that he would unpack his bags and stay with him.

### Interlude - Infinity

Nikignik tells the dreamers that humans tented to look up at the stars and call it an infinite expanse, telling them that this was a dangerous as they were ill adapted for comprehending the concept of infinity. And yet when they turned their eyes to the sky the gazed up at an ocean with no end. If one were to walk into it a million of their lifetimes would pass of them walking one foot after the other into an expanse with no light. He tells them that the universe was full of Indescribable life, but beyond the universe was unthinkable even to Nikignik as he was to the Dreamers, as it was the realm of the Outsiders, where even Indies could not venture lest they be lost to madness. And yet there it was, on the edges, where the Black Eternity dwelled. He tells them that it was strange to think about how everything could end so quickly for all of its expanse and complexity. And not because of Urnandurn, or Tolshotol, or Syrensyr, but because of Zazzelzazz, for if he were to wake up and walk from the place of his slumber all this is known would come flashing to an end.

## Story Three - Border Crossing

Percy Reed asks Diggory Graves why it was that they held Nimbus to still, and they tell him it was because they didn't want to scare it. Percy tells them that they should pet it. Diggory looks down at their sharpened fingers, and Nimbus flexes its fingers in response. Riot Maidstone asks Olivier what it was they were reading, and Olivier quips back asking if Riot was asking because she wanted to learn how. Riot tells her that this was rude, and that she could read it was just that movies were better. Digory wonders if they should have a preference between books and movies. Riot asks what Oliviers book was about again, and Olivier tells her through a mumble that it was about Vampires. Riot tells her that Vampires were real, but Olivier tells her that they weren't. Riot tells her about Wal having known The Countess, but Olivier tells her that she couldn't call some strange lady a vampire and then claim that vampires were real. Diggory points out a nearby Dreaming Box and Riot takes this to mean that they were near the bridge (see Episode 56 - Thorns) and that they should all be on their best behaviour, and she hands Diggory one of Walt's hats to put on (see Diggory Graves). They get to the gate of the bride, and find a line of two other cars, one of which is "a small read car". Olivier tells Riot to let her know if they needed her to get them through (by flying). They attempt to go through after a while and a man waves them over.

He greets them, and Riot leans out the driver's side window to talk to him. He asks them what they were paying for being allowed across the bridge, Riot asks if they accepted Scoutcoin, but he asks her what Scoutcoin was and she takes that as a 'no'. He tells her that they only took tangibles, such as gas, food, weapons, things with re-sell value. Diggory speaks up saying that they had socks, but Riot tells them that they were going to need more then socks. The guard comments on the RV's paint job, commenting that they must be big fans of the Stonemaids, and Riot tells her that Valerie Maidstone was her mum. He doesn't believe her, and she pulls out her MP3 player and tells him that it had all of her mum's music on it and passes him it. He tells her that he used to love the Stonemaids, and tells her that people couldn't get stuff like that anymore. He accepts the MP3 player and tells them to be careful driving on the roads at night, telling them that if they needed anything Glass City Farms was close by. She thanks him and drives off, as Riot begins to cry. Diggory asks her if she was okay, as they knew that the MP3 player meant alot to her, but she tells them that it was okay, that it was worth it if it would help her get her mum back (see Episode 22 - Mountains) it was worth it. Percy phases through the roof of the RV and welcomes them to the U.S.A.

## Outro - Edges

Nikignik waxes poetics to the Dreamers about edges, talking about how it seemed that one's time was defined by crossing one to the next, from youth to old age, sadness to hope, life to death, one would stand of the precipice and leap, or wait until the earth crumbled from beneath their feet. But between every two points there was a transition, a journey in the fall, an entire lifetime. Nikignik tells the Dreamers that he believed there to be as much beauty in the act of finding as there was in what was found. This was, after all, where he dwelled, in the flickering of dreamers on the verge of sleep, between life and thought, as material as fear and as solid as comfort. And yet as the Dreamers moved linearly through their life, they all approached the end together, all caught in their final transition. He knew that they were not always pleasant, but if the dreamers dreaded the shadow, he was made of it, and if they feared the future, so did he, but he would not let it find them alone.