Episode 70 - Lines

## Lines

A black background with a simple white border that only covers the bottom half of the image. The top portion of a Faris wheel can be seen, and above that a wolf depicted in red against the backdrop of a stary night sky. Bellow this but within the boarder are the words "70.LINES" written in white.

### Author

William A. Wellman

Diggory reaches a forest, Yaretzi finds a carnival, and Buck makes amends. The theme of tonight’s episode is Lines.

***Content Warnings:** Ableism, Animal death (Bert, Tulip), Death + Injury, Homophobia, Birds, Emotional Manipulation, Body horror, Smoking, Religious Violence*

## Intro - No Lines

Nikignik speaks to the Dreamers of someone who, metaphorically, lived their life like a stage act, finding that they always forgot their lines, and wonder if it was their fault, as they'd hardly been given a script, yet everyone around them knew theirs by heart. Their life wasn't supposed to be a performance, and yet they did not know their lines, and they were left stuttering as the acts collapse, one by one, until every star and stage were gone. The world left behind the velvet curtains is gigantic, the trees darker than any matte painting, they could not find the words to greet it, but the forest did not mind.

Nikignik stands on a scenic overlook, the concrete crumbled by the forces of nature and roads, yet here one could sit and enjoy the landscape.

## Story 1 - End of the Line

Diggory Graves, along with the other members of The RV Gang and Mothmobile, come to a stop just outside of Box Andromeda, no close enough that they'd be in any danger, but able to see it. Diggory comments on them being at the end of their journey, but Riot Maidstone tells them that it was only the first half (see Episode 49 - Rescues). Ray however tells them that this was the end of the line for him and asks Moth Scarberry if moth wanted to get moth's things together. Moth asks if they weren't waiting for them, but Ray tells the group that it'd been great meeting them all, but they were about to whack a hornet’s nest with a bat, maybe they could outrun them, he'd have his metaphorical fingers crossed for them, but when the hive comes crashing down, he didn't want to be nearby. Riot tells him that she understood and thanked him for showing them the way (see Episode 60 - Flies). Ray turns to Moth and tells moth that he hoped moth would come with him, he knew Vegas wasn't home for moth, and neither was Chicago, but moth was welcome to stay with him, his home was the open road. If this was where they parted ways, he understood, but once moth made up moth's mind, it was a sealed deal, because he wouldn't be back that way anytime soon.

Riot turns to Olivier Song, Percy Reed, and Diggory telling them that, thanking them for getting her that far, but telling them that from that point onwards it wasn't going to be safe, she didn't know if she was going to come back, so if anyone them wanted to leave, she'd understand. Olivier tells her that she didn't have a chance without him, so he was staying. Percy and Diggory share a look silently asking each other if they also continued on, before Diggory turns to Riot and tells her that they and Percy would also continue with her. Moth walks back to Ray with moth's bags on moth's shoulder, and thanks them for taking care of moth, that moth hoped it all went well for them. That speaking of hornets, there was a moth that almost looked like one, called a sequoia pitch moth, that they almost look like a hornet, but they were a moth. It looks like moth wasn't going to get to see one, so moth asks them to keep an eye out for moth. Ray drives away with moth in the passenger seat and wishes them safe travels. Olivier looks over to see Nimbus poking his head out the back of the RV, he tells him to 'get away from there', but Percy tells him that letting Nimbus go was probably for the best, as they couldn't leave him stuck in the RV. Olivier agrees with this, telling Nimbus that he could hang around for them if he wanted, as they would be back, and Nimbus stoles into the forest. Diggory states that although Nimbus had no great love for them, they were going to miss him, and Percy tells them that that was normal.

### Interlude 1 - Broken Borders

Nikignik tells the Dreamers that America was a country made up of broken lines. The highways that once led in tangled threads from one side to the other were cracked in the middle, too often their ends leaving off in broken expectation, final destinations swallowed by a different line: the rising ocean, sending cities inhabitants inward to new beaches and shambling villages built from the wreck. Broken was the border between countries, where the Botulus Corporation’s wings spread wide to encompass the continent, who's draining probosces bled dry what little resolve still remained within the rulers.

## Story 2 - The Bones of Coney Island

Yaretzi sits on a junk riddled beach, heaps of rusted carnival attractions and salvaged signage, a reclaimed Ferris wheel on its side, with Polly and Mort, having followed the directions of The Count from Episode 64 - Stations and G. C. Crane from Episode 66 - Morals. Mort finds the location to be amazing, running forward to play with the grave metal bones of Coney Island, while Polly and Yaretzi stay back. Yaretzi tells Polly that The Count had told them to wait till nightfall, and Polly walk back to Crane and asks them if they were in the right place. Crane tells him that the real Coney Island was underwater, what they were seeing was just the wreckage. Yaretzi repeats that they'd been told to wait till night fall, but Polly dismisses this, telling her that the only thing garbage turned into in the dark was garbage in the dark. He begins pacing, she tells him to relax as they had a few hours to wait, but he tells her that they were idiots, that the Count was pranking them, best case scenario was he'd waisted their time out of spite, worse was that he was waiting till dark to ambush them. She tells him that she was sure he could entertain himself over a single afternoon, and he sits down beside her.

He tells her that this had supposed to of been it, their beg celebration, and it was ruined, Yaretzi points out that Mort was enjoying himself, but Polly, starting to cry a little, tells her that there were no lights, or music, that for once he'd just not wanted to worry. She asks him if this was actually about the Carnival, and he confides in her that he supposed that it was all catching up with him, the stress of having to watch their backs all the time (see Episode 59 - Friends), that carnival or no carnival he still had no idea what they were doing, what they were doing with the rest of their lives. He knew how to walk, and complete business objectives, and do audits, but don’t know anything about having cohorts. Yaretzi questions his usage of the word "Cohorts" and he corrects himself to "Family". She tells him that she did, and it wasn't always running, there was no mission, except to enjoy the time they had together. It was not always easy or pleasant, but when the rain comes, they found shelter, and when the sun shines, they laid on a stone and felt its warmth, laughed together, and danced, and built a home to welcome others. She tells him that their life could be whatever they made it. Polly tells her that he supposed so, rubbing his tears away, and looked down at his cane, before bursting out laughing. She thinks to herself momentarily that she'd broken him, asking if he was weeping or amused. Polly, still in ecstatic's, tells her that he'd been carrying around so much power, and for what? They'd been looking for a carnival, well that'd have a carnival. Polly proceeds to summon a Carnival.

### Marketing - Waiting Periods

Lady Ethel Mallory interrupts Nikignik's broadcaster with her marketing segment, telling the listeners that it was easier than it had ever been to arrange for contact and entry to their local Dreaming Box. For the Botulus Corporation's first adopters it had been a far more challenging process, but with the onset of the Black Rains, the increasingly apparent effects of climate change, global conflicts, and public health emergencies made the Prime Dream a perfect product solution. To make matters even more difficult for Botco, some of their Dreaming Boxes had limited road access, ensuring scenic views and a safe distance away from local urban areas. On minimum, a clear half-mile allowed for box security to see any potential threats coming.

### Story 2, Continued - The Bones of Coney Island

Yaretzi looks around at the Carnival of Polly's making, street organs and carousels, electric games and blaring announcements. Sideshows and games of chance, prizes and strongmen, striped tents and cotton candy machines blanketing the beach, and above all towered a Ferris wheel, blinking patterns of rainbow colour. She asks if Polly was doing this, and he tells her that he was burning a little fire, just this once. G. C. Crane and Tulip turn to leave, waving goodbye, an action which Polly and Yaretzi return. Mort approaches the two of them, asking them what was going on, and Polly tells him that this was a carnival, and leads him away to have some fun. Yaretzi follows them for a bit, fining spectacle joyous, but she finds herself questioning what it was costing, surely it was power like the gods themselves, and there was a frenzy in Polly’s burning eyes that frightened her. She falls behind Polly and Mort after a while, and seeks out some fresh air, finding herself drawn to the Ferris wheel. She bords one of the baskets by herself in human form, and goes up and looking at her surroundings from her increasing height, the basket stopping when she reaches the peak of the wheel's circumference, looking up at the night sky.

She talks to Tolshotol, even though he may not be listening to her. She tells him that she was sorry, he'd asked her to slay demons (see Starwolves), and she had (see Episode 2 - Dogs), but one still remained (see Polly), and if that meant her duty was not complete, then so be it. She would not run in the light of all suns with him [Tolshotol], but run on the earth, for the days she had left. And when she was done, she hoped he would think brightly of her, and allow her to join his multitude, but if not, then she asked him only to remember her. That for a while, death had a name, and it was Yaretzi. The Countess speaks up from behind her, telling her that she didn't know what was going on, but it was very touching, and Yaretzi, startled by her sudden appearance becomes a wolf again, not quite fitting fully into the basket. Yaretzi asks why she was there, if Barb had "come to run unwinnable games", she tells her more or less, but with a sense of urgency that lets Yaretzi know that the situation was serious (see Episode 66 - Morals), so Yaretzi returns to a more human form and sits next to her. The Countess tells her that she was doing her a favour by speaking to her (see Episode 69 - Angles), but someone was coming for them, they'd be there any minute. One of them was Barb, asking that if they could help it to please not kill him, and the other one was Rick Rounds. Yaretzi asks her why she was telling her this, but The Countess tells her that she didn't, leaving in a twist of shadow. And then, suddenly, the lights flickered out, and the Ferris wheel was no more, and Yaretzi was a hundred feet in the air over a pitch-black beach and falling into the roaring wind as fire burst across the shore below.

### Interlude 2 - Great Destroyers

Nikignik describes the Great Destroyers to the Dreamers, telling them that they lived in the burrowed craters of asteroids and scuttle across the starlit expanses, with blazing eyes like black holes and countless chitinous talons. Their carapaces were planetary mantles, their mandibles the reaping-scythes of moldering worlds, death indescribable. However, in their younger aeons Great Destroyers are easier to work with, and more pleasant in temperament, and have found utility in various places across this universe, such as one which is almost still a larva, having been adopted by Mx. Morell to host the Museum of Broken Promises. Great Destroyers are friends of the Crown of Decay, for both harvest broken worlds at their end.

## Story 3 - On Tarry Wings

Buck Silver is let out of the closet that acted as his prison (see Episode 66 - Morals) by Jacob Wicker, who he thanks to no response other than a quick nod before Jacob leaves the room. Mrs Wicker speaks up from a nearby countertop, telling him that she hoped he understood why what happened was necessary as she kneaded dough. While Buck does not understand why it was necessary, he tells her that he did, that he'd learned his lesson. She asks him what the lesson was, and he tells her that it was to not question her authority. Mrs Wicker finishes kneading her dough, putting it into an oven, and tells Buck that his answer wasn't quite right, that she'd thought the quiet of the closet would give him time to speak to God, but if his heart wasn't open then she supposed it wouldn't do him any good. He feels a surge of panic but doesn't let it reach his face, telling her that he had learned his lesson, he had been sinful, complacent. But the lord talked to him, telling him "Listen here, James Buchanan Silver, you been doing all sorts of wrong. Mrs. Wicker’s been trying to help you, and all you’ve been doing is talking back. You been tempted by a sinful life. If you want to be with me in heaven, you have got to respect the sacrifice I made for you. You have got to make sacrifices too." telling her that he was humbled in his heart. She tells him that she was glad to hear it, very glad. The lord humbled them all, in his time. It had always best to accept it before they lost everything. She tells him to go home and get some rest, and he steps outside.

He finds Fort Freedom around him to be busy in preparation for their attack on the Scoutpost (see Episode 61 - Protectors), but he doesn't return to his house, but rather waits for an opening, a brief moment where backs were turned to one of the backs of the tarp-covered flatbeds, and walked as quickly as he could to get to the side of the truck. The tarp was tied down here and there, concealing the Frogsticker, and he pulls himself up over the edge, pulling his cane after him. He lays half buried in the feathers of the Frogsticker, listening to the sounds of shouting form outside, then cheering, and then the flatbed lurches into motion. He wraps his hands around one of the chains that kept the bird pinioned to the bed, and weeps against the it [the Frogsticker], thinking a goodbye to Fort Freedom, that if he lived through what was about the happen, he'd never go back.

## Outro - Lines

Nikignik waxes poetics to the Dreamers about lines, that few things in nature were straight. It was easy to imagine construct and boundary, into danger, forest, and new horizons; but every ill thing was a thousand curves and complexities. If one's life was not all that they planned it to be, if their experience had been more complex than the two-dimensional line they wanted, they should at least stop to feel all that they were feeling. In this moment, they were alive, and that was the only requirement to live.