Episode 95 - Homecomings

## Homecoming

A black background with two crookedly set white outlines positioned so that they overlap. An individual with long hair depicted in red stands before an abstract imagining of a home, depicted in white. There are splotchy markings on the floor of the home depicted in red. Bellow this image but still within the border the words "95.HOMECOMINGS" are depicted in white.

### Author

William A Wellman

Ricou comes knocking, Olivier arrives at an unexpected home, and Other Riot escapes her past. The theme of tonight's episode is Homecomings.

> ***Content warning**:* A*nimal death (Heidi as usual, two fishes?), Kidnapping and abduction, Death + Injury, Needles, Drowning, Emotional Manipulation, Body horror*
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## Intro - Home Again

Nikignik narrates to the Dreamers Elena Alder as she returns to her childhood home to find it burned (see Episode 1 - Keys). She calls out to see if Percy Reed still haunted the charred husk of a house, to no response.

Nikignik sits admits a family of plastic lawn flamingos as they watch Ricou Chapman as he makes his way to the house that now belongs to Nolan Thair. The smell of cooking fish wafts through the kitchen window.

## Story 1 - A Breathless Almost-Drowning

Ricou chapman approaches the house that now belonged to Nolan Thair (see Episode 77 - Rebels) lamenting himself as unliveable. When he comes to the front door, he sees Nolan inside and is flooded with relief that he was unharmed (see Episode 90 - Tests), and he goes to knock, only to stop and second guess himself if this was right, if Nolan would still want him in his life. Ricou knocks anyway, watches as Nolan makes his way towards the door and opens it. Nolan tells him he was beginning to wonder if he'd come at all, mentioning The Omen and begins to scold Ricou for sending someone to try and drag him back up the shuddering peaks. Ricou tells him that he had but had almost immediately set out in hopes of finding Nolan before Omen did. Nolan asks if he was there to take him back, and Ricou tells him he wasn't, that he was there to make sure he was alright, and to say that he was sorry. He tells him that he missed him, but Nolan retorts that was no one's fault but Ricou's. Ricou tells him that he knew this, and Nolan remarks that the fish was almost done, and he would rather have this conversation over dinner. However, Ricou tells him that he did not intend to stay long, he didn't want to be a part of Nolan's life as all he would do was ruin it.

Ricou starts to walk away, telling Nolan he was glad he was okay, and goodbye, but Nolan runs after him and knocks him over with an embrace. Nolan tells Ricou not to go, he still wanted him there. He's set up the house for two. Ricou had done something terrible but wasn't a saint either and didn't want to say goodbye. But if he actually didn't care anymore, he could leave. Ricou tells Nolan that he [Ricou] did care, but he had made a mistake. Nolan agrees with this but tells him that dinner was getting cold. Nolan leaves to walk back in, and Ricou follows.

### Interlude 1 - Almost Quiet

Nikignik narrates what one could see from high above the forest canopy of the Hallowoods. One would barely notice the speck that was the old Duckworth House, or Scoutpost Two miles away and all the bussing activity that took place there (see Episode 94 - Milestones). It was almost quiet, above the branches, save for one sound, the roar of a helicopter (see Episode 94 - Milestones).

## Story 2 - Freefall

Olivier Song finds that she does not enjoy flying in a helicopter, disembarking while every part of her ached from the ride. She looks back to see Diggory Graves and Percy Reed helping Danielle O'Hara down from the chopper, Riot Maidstone and Other Riot stretching, Marco Torres and Brooklyn Williams, Valerie Maidstone and Cindy Lockheart. The ride back had been quiet, but it was enough to bask in the fact that they'd all escaped (see Episode 93 - Mirrors) as they began their walk into the Hallowoods. Valerie comments that the forest hadn't looked like it did when they'd gone into the Bunker, and Marco quips that an ecological disaster would do that. Cindy tells them that it was nothing to joke about, as the Hallowoods would be the end of the human race if it was left to its own devices. Diggory asks if it had to be, but Cindy rebukes this. Percy tells Diggory they could worry about that latter, for now they could just get back to the Scoutpost, and Danielle tells them that she was looking forward to resting.

Olivier tells Riot that she was sorry she'd fallen asleep on her shoulder during the helicopter ride, and Riot tells her it was okay. She asks if everything was alright between her and Other Riot, and she tells her that she didn't know. She was angry at Other Riot, but asks Olivier's opinion. Olivier tells her that she could relate to having to do awful things for the approval who she saw as above her (see Olivier Song). Riot tells Olivier that she was fine now and had alot of things that were cool about her, before jogging up ahead to join Other Riot. She tells Other Riot that she was sorry, and Other Riot accepts, and tells her that she was going to work on finding her own identity. Riot asks Other Riot if she wanted to start thinking of each other as sisters, and Other Riot accepts. They make it to the Scoutpost, and find Scoutpost Two where they are expecting Scoutpost One. The group approaches with caution, preparing for a fight, but the front gates swing open to reveal all the members of the Scoutpost standing in wait with banners reading 'Welcome Home'.

### The Empty Space Where Marketing Used To Go

Nikignik remarks to the Dreamer that now was then Lady Ethel Mallory would normally interrupt the broadcast with her marketing segment (see Episode 94 - Milestones). It was strange, as her interruptions had become routine. He wonders if in reflecting on her absence, he was complaining. But the night had finally come where he did not have to hear her voice, and that alone was cause for celebration.

### Story 2, Continued - Freefall

Olivier reflects that she had never been to a real party until now, as they all stand around a bonfire and merrymake after a brief explanation from the Scoutpost members as to what had happened. Violet Keene announces that they would like to propose a toast, to their brand new Scoutpost Two, and the new members of the Scoutpost family, who she requests be treated kindly. Violet returns to sitting down, and many people begin to dance. Big Mikey sat in a corner eating whole squashes, Russell McGowan darted through the crowed holding Al Buckley's drum, Percy stayed close to Diggory while Diggory spoke with the other Mendies, Zelda Duckworth and Jonah Duckworth sat loudly in conversation next to Hector Mendoza. Riot stayed close to her mother, and Other Riot had disappeared completely, something that Oliver didn't blame her for. Olivier begins to think about Friday Rescher, when Riot, having snuck up on her, makes her presence known. Olivier asks how Valerie was, and Riot tells her that she'd been complaining.

Olivier tells her that it did suck that the RV was gone. Riot morns all the stuff they'd packed (see Episode 83 - Hopes), and Olivier reminds her that The Count's folks were robbing it before it got blown up, so who knew where it was now. Riot remarks it that it was all just stuff after all, they were all alive, and they'd rescued Danielle and Valerie, and even some people they hadn't been planning on rescuing, and she still had her sword and her Almanac. Olivier brings up that Riot had finished the almanac, asking what she was going to do now. Riot tells her that she'd start volume two and asks her if she wated to dance. Olivier starts to make an excuse, but Riot is already dragging her to the floor. The two dance, clumsily at first, before finding their rhythm, and share a kiss under the moonlight, repeating so several more times.

### Interlude 2 - Light Has No Home

Nikignik tells the Dreamers that he was not supposed to have a home. If this aggrieved them that did not understand what he was. He was impartial, a hurricane watching butterflies, the voice but - ironically enough for him - not the vision. This was true to his mentor, Zazzlezazz, as well. They may orate but not effect, speak but could not lay a head or claw or needle upon the tapestry as it was woven. And yet, he had come far with the little people who he narrated, seen their goodness and love, and in the pines, he was held the memory of their maker (see Marolmar). Nikignik was ruined, his purpose corrupted, and he would lay his needle to the canvas and add a stich here, a knot there.

## Story 3 - Sometimes Clementine

Violet approaches Also Rior and asks her if she wanted more soup, and Riot freezes. Violet tells her to take it and apologises for not saying her name at her speech, but Valerie had told her that it was under consideration. Riot tells her that Valerie wasn't her mother, it was complicated, but Riot didn't belong with anyone. Violet tells her that she was sure Valerie wouldn't agree to this, and Riot tells her that she was sure too, but it didn't make it any less true. Violet pauses at this but introduces herself and tell her that it was nice to have her there. Violet tells her that at the Scoutpost they all had a role to play in taking care of each other, they all had something they were good at to contribute. Riot asks what if she wasn't good for anything, nut Violet tells her that everyone had something, even if she hadn't found it yet, Violet only found guarding once she was into her 50's. Riot tells her that she wished she was her mum, and immediately apologises for it as it'd come out wrong, Violet tells her that she'd never had a chance to have a daughter, but she'd probably have named her Clementine. If she was Also Riot, she'd be happy. Violet walks away, and Clementine decides to climb one of the raised walkways.

She watches the dancers for a bit, when there's a thud next to her as Clara Martin lands next to her (see Episode 90 - Tests). Clementine greets her in confusion, and Clara tells her that she didn't look very happy to see her. Clara starts to vent to her about what had been happening in her life, when Clementine tells her that she'd been mistaken, as Clementine wasn't Riot. Clara asks if she meant that in a "you're changing your name" was or a "you don't want to see me" way. Clementine tells her that it was neither, and points Riot out bellow as she danced with Olivier, just in time for them to kiss. Clementine asks if she wanted her to pass on a message, but Clara tells her that it was fine, hopping back onto her broom. She does however ask that Clementine not tell Riot that she'd been by. Clara flies away, and Clementine sits in a world of her own apart from everyone and wonders whose world it was. Maybe it was hers.

## Outro - Homecomings

Nikignik waxes poetics about Homecomings. He tells the Dreamers that long was the journey, harsh were the fires and the suns and the winds, cruel the thickets and the grasping claws of winter and the teeth of the beast beyond the road. But kind were the strangers, and the ocean breeze, and the signs that guided them through strange towns, lead them with uncertain steps back past every milestone until they began to recognize the landscape, until the streets were familiar, until the numbers of the houses came to the one they knew by heart. It would be the same, and slough off their bags and their boots. Everything was where they'd left it, but the feeling persisted that something was different. That thing was them, for they never returned home unchanged by the world beyond it.